What tips would you like to see?

I am curious to find out what kinds of tips or help people need with a computer or any electronic device.  If you have a question regarding programming, internet, or anything regarding computers, send them my way.  I will try and answer your question to the best of my knowledge.

Computer Repair Scam (what a shame)

I post my services on Craigslist for computer repair and recently I got the same type of e-mail from 5 different people.  One reads,

Hello Tech

 I would like to know  if you are capable of repairing 5 Dual core Dell Inspiron Laptop.  Anticipating on your response

Another reads,

Hello let me know if you are capable of repairing computers in volumes.
And one more reads,

Good day,

Am looking for a professional computer repairer? I permanently work
on offices and investors computers,i have been contracted to fix up
five HP laptops but at the moment i am far away attending to some
other jobs.In view of this i want a professional computer repairer to
handle the fixing of the laptops on agreed terms.

What needs to be done on each laptops.

1 Laptop Cleaning of the keyboard
2.(2)Adobe Acrobat
3.AVG Virus Software
4.Microsoft Office Package
5.Format Hard Drive and Install Win XP with Service Pack and screen
and other case.

If you can handling this get back to me with the total cost for
handling each unit based on a total cost of Five units.I have the
necessary software for the installations if you will need them. Please
get back to me as soon as you get this,so we can proceed and i can go
ahead to arrange moving and its will be drop off delivered at your
residence and payments.


Regards,

If you receive e-mails like these, then just delete them.  These are people just trying to scam other people out of their hard-earned moeny.  Plus, they are targeting people that just want to help people and make money with a small business.

I just wanted to put this tip out there for scammers that think they can just earn money by taking what isn't theirs.  What a shame!

Did you know you can turn your screen without tilting your laptop?

Did you know that if you hold down CTRL + ALT and then press an arrow key, your screen will turn that direction?  For example holding down CTRL + ALT and the down arrow will turn your screen upside down.

I don't know what the practical reason would be to do this, but it is kind of fun to do.  Just remember that the up arrow will turn your screen right side up.

Pass-Through Query in Microsoft Access

If you would like to use a SQL query that does not have to be formatted to be used for Microsoft Access, then you can use a Pass-through query.  Go to SQL view of the query and click on the option of Pass-through query.  There you can build your query for an ODBC connected database (i.e. MySQL, SQL Server, Oracle) directly to the database rather than using a linked table in the Microsoft Access database.

This works well if you don't want to change your apostrophes to quotes for string values or apostrophes to pound signs for dates.  And you can use the specific SQL language of the database you are querying.

Save files often

If you are working on an Excel file or a Word file or anything for that matter and the power goes out!  When that happens, you wish that you had saved your file so you don't have to retype everything.  This has happened to me so I always make sure I save often.

Making Internet Explorer the Default Browser

If you have ever installed a new Internet Browser other than Internet Explorer (i.e. Mozilla, Google Chrome) and you no longer have Internet Explorer as the default web browser, then this tip is for you.

To make Internet Explorer the default browser, first open the Control Panel:

Next you would choose Internet Options and go to the Programs Tab

While you are on the screen above, you can click on the Make Default button or select the option to have the computer tell you if the Internet Explorer is not the default browser.  Once done, click on Apply and then OK.



SQL Query vs Microsoft Access Query

There are subtle differences in the way that you write queries depending on if you use SQL Server or Microsoft Access to write your query.  One difference is that Microsoft Access uses the pound(#) sign for a date and SQL Server uses an apostrophe(') for a date. 

SQL Server Example:  WHERE Date_Found BETWEEN '11/1/2010' and '11/20/2010'
Microsoft Access Example:  WHERE Date_Found BETWEEN #11/1/2010# and #11/20/2010#

Another difference is with the LIKE command.  When you use the LIKE command with SQL Server, you would use the percent(%) sign.  With Microsoft Access, you would use the asterick(*).

SQL Server Example:  WHERE Example LIKE '%this%'
Microsoft Access Example:  WHERE Example LIKE "*this*"

As you can see, Microsoft Access utilizes quotes(") for strings and SQL Server utilizes apostrophes(') for strings.  These differences can cause errors, and even though you may think you are writing the correct query, you are actually not.