Computer could become a personal computer it would not be an exaggeration. The revolution is still on. Windows is far beyond what a common man presently knows and uses.

Internet surfing

For searching something, search engines are being used. However, if you know a Windows trick, then searching for information on Net may become easy, all you need to do is simply locate address bar in Internet Explorer and write in phrase that you want to search on Internet. Here it is important to remember Internet Explorer (IE) recognizes a phrase and not a single word. If it's a single word, then Internet, Explorer assumes it as a domain name and attempts to create a URL in its place. However key in a few words and IE will run your phrase through a search engine on Microsoft's Web site.

If you want to search for a single word then you should put a question mark at beginning of line to tell IE that this is a search keyword. The same thing applies to Netscape Communicator also and searching Web is as easy using Netscape as it is with IE.

Transferring files

Another common use for which computers are being used is for transferring files over Internet. Normally FTP client is being used for transferring files, which is a common application among Internet users. However, very few persons realize power of Windows.

You do not need a separate FTP client for transferring files. The basic Windows constituent IE already has a feature of FTP. Thus if you type an FTP address in address box of any Explorer view, whether on Internet or while browsing your own hard disk, you can go to site and be able to use window as an FTP client.

Create link in MS Word

Windows users sometimes complain of working on too many applications for a single work, for example, work related to Web. However, this is probably due to ignorance of persons as all major applications have features that arc quite universal in nature. Take for example, MS Word. Most of us know about MS Word as most wonderful word processor. However, quite a few of us know that it is a good tool for Web based applications also. The Web-based functions of MS Word are worth trying as it gives you endless features. One such feature is option of creating a link to a Web page in a Word document. Thus if you are creating a MS Word document, you can create a link to a Web page or other HTML document rather than just including address in text. The procedure for this is simple first copy address (URL) to which you want to link, then select word, phrase or sentence in your document that you want to create as link. Now on Insert menu in Word, click hyperlink and then in link to file or URL, paste address by pressing Ctrl + V. This will create a link to a Web page in Word document.

However you can use your computer for purposes other than Internet also and make better use of it. Normally we all crave for faster performance. In a Majority of cases you do not require a replacement or up gradation as you can enhance performance of your existing computer running Windows.

Manage hard disk

The first thing in this regard is better management of hard disk; it has been discussed many a times in article on tips and tricks that you can manage your hard disk better by defragging it regularly. However, there are some more steps, which should be performed before you defrag your hard disk in order to optimize performance of your hard disk.

These steps are:

· Delete IE temporary files and history regularly before defragging your hard disk.

· It is also important to delete all TMP and BAK files present in hard disk as these files are not generally required and unnecessarily consume hard disk.

· Normally you will find *.TMP files in TEMP directory or WINDOWSTEMP directories. Thus you must locate these directories and delete aforesaid files.

· As a next step defrag your hard disk without swap-file. The instructions for this can be found at defragmenting swap file. It is a standard feature of Windows 98 as per which it has a built-in utility called Disk cleanup.

You can run it from either Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Disk Cleanup or directly run CLEANMGR.EXE. This is also an important feature of Windows that takes care of all deleted files and other junk files as this feature deletes them as a part of disk cleaning exercise.

Use Address bar

Windows makes your work so easy that it can actually take unnecessary load off you. For example, if you are a Windows 98 user, then you can use browser for purposes other than browsing Net.

Did you know that you could use address bar to run programs on your computer?

This is very much possible as all you need to do is just type program name, including its path its location, you may type c:msofficewinwordwinword.exe. This will open MS Word depending upon its location.

Send Web page via e-mail

For sending a Web page, while viewing page, click File menu, and then click on Send sub menu, then click either Page by e-mail to send a copy of page or Link by e-mail to send a short-cut to it. This way you can simply send a Web page by e-mail. This is also a great option of keeping a site in your record, as it will also facilitate in viewing it offline. Similarly, it is also easy to send a video clip or an audio clip, which you may find on Internet.

Thus to send a video or audio clip simply right-click icon or link for item you want to send, and then click Save Target As. Specify location, where you want to save file. Now open your e-mail client and click Insert file or attach file as case may be. You can also add your message in message window if you wish to send a message to recipient of mail.

Enjoy power of World Wide Web in lesser time with these tips.

Do you feel anxious whether your important mails have reached their destination?

Use feature which is available on most e-mail clients and requests recipient to confirm that he has received message by a return e-mail. It is called Read Receipt in Outlook Express.