Tips and Tricks

Tip # 3. 08/19/2009

Multi-touch tab switching in Firefox

July 01, 2009 Using a hidden setting you can switch tabs in Firefox by making a twisting motion with your fingers. This will only work if you have a multi-touch surface like the trackpads on newer MacBooks. You will also need to make sure you have the latest version of Firefox.

To change the setting, just type about:config into the address bar. A warning will appear telling you that these are advanced settings. Click the "I'll be careful, I promise" button to continue. Don't worry about breaking anything, you can right-click and choose reset on anything you change.

Type "twist" into the filter box to filter down to just the settings we want. Find browser.gesture.twist.right and double-click on it. Change the value to Browser:NextTab. Do the same for twist left, but use Browser:PrevTab instead. The gesture should work right away. Try putting one finger down and rotating another around it.

If you find that it is a bit slow to respond, you can change browser.gesture.twist.threshold to a lower value.

Changing the filter to "gesture" will let see all the other gestures that are available. Pinching is set to zoom, and swiping is set to go back and forward. You can change any of these to do something else if you want. For example, the twist gesture is a bit awkward, you might prefer to have tab switching set to the swipe gesture instead.

If you are looking for more settings to change in about:config in Firefox,
[via CrunchGear]

 

Tip # 2. 08/12/2009

Enlarge the cache

Windows Vista stores your hard drive writes in a cache. This helps it to write data more efficiently and improves performance. To run faster still, launch devmgmt.msc, expand the Disk Drives section, right-click your drive, select Properties | Policies and check Enable advanced performance.

Windows now uses a larger cache and writes from it less often, improving performance but also increasing the risk of data loss if the drive loses power.

 

 

Tip # 1. 06/04/2008

Problem Solver from (Smart Computing Magazine July 2008)

I want to repartition my PC's main hard drive, but Windows XP won't let me.

If we all had crystal balls, we could accurately partition hard drives when we first install them so that they can accommodate all of our future needs. But because we don't, the next best solution is Gparted, which you can download from gparted.sourceforge.net. Burn the Gparted image to a CD, boot directly to that CD, and resize your partitions.

My LCD monitor displays an image for only a few seconds after I trun it on, and then it goes black.

Check that the power cable is inserted firmly into both the monitor and outlet. Also, check the monitor cable on both ends (at the monitor and the PC). If there are no apparent cable problems, try shining a bright flashlight at a sharp angle onto the screen. If you can see an image, your monitor's backlight as likely failed. You'll need to contact the manufacture for a replacement.

I haven't used my printer in a while. The ink cartridges are full, but nothing will print.

Over time, when not used, cartridge (or printer) heads can dry out, in turn preventing ink from flowing to the printer. If the head is on the cartridge it self, try placing the cartridge in a sealed plastic bag and placing the bag in warm water. After 10 minutes, lightly wet the head, wipe it clean, and try again.

I installed a new motherboard, but the PC isn't powering up at all.

Assuming all of your power cables are properly connected and that the power supply isn't broken, check the setoff screws on the motherboard. If on of them is touching a part of the motherboard that it shouldn't, it can create an electrical short that prevents the PC from starting.