Windows 8 - How to set a printer as your “default” printer..

In earlier versions of the Windows Operating Systems (XP-Vista-7) we simply went to start – control panel – devices and printers and then right clicked on the printer we wanted as our default printer.  Setting a printer as a default printer, means each time we give the print command, our “default” printer is the one that the computer will choose…

In Windows 8 it is a little different and I must admit it took me awhile to figure it out, but it is basically the same as earlier versions…(minus the start menu of course)

• Press the Windows Key to go to the Start Screen (With all the windows 8 tiles)
• Now, move your mouse to the far lower right until a list of “5” icons appear
• Move the mouse up this lit (which Microsoft calls the Windows 8 Charm Bar – the icons from top to bottom are Search, Share, Start, Devices & Settings – and these names will appear as your mouse hovers over each icon)
• Now Click Search
• When the action list appears (right side of your screen) Type Control Panel in the search box at the top
• When you do Control Panel will appear on the left side of your monitor, click on it
• Then click Devices & Printers (same list you saw in earlier versions of Windows appears)
• When you see the printer you want as your default printer, hover your mouse over it, right click and choose “Set as Default Printer” from the action list

How to Change the Size of Print on the Screen

On your home computers, Go to Start Menu, then choose "Control Panel," then "Appearance and Personalization" and finally, select "Display."… which allows you to change sizes based on the DPI*

Select a screen text size that works best for you:

• "Smaller -- 100% (default)" text size
•  "Medium -- 125%." is therefore 125% larger than the default size.
• "Larger -- 150%" is therefore 150% larger than the default size for items on your screen
•  “Select Custom Text Size (DPI*)" in the left hand pane of the window (the last selection) to customize the size you want.

*Remember, DPI stands for "dots per inch." If you select more "dots per inch," the text on your screen will be larger and if you select less “dots per inch” he text will be smaller.

Click on the down arrow in the box next to "Scale to This Percentage of Normal Size." A drop-down menu appears, displaying more options.  Choose a size you like and if the sizes still aren’t what you’d like, position your mouse pointer on the ruler visible below the text "Scale to This Percentage of Normal Size." The mouse pointer will turn into a hand symbol. Left-click on your mouse or mouse pad and drag the mouse pointer to the right to increase the size until it suits you. When you release the mouse button, the actual print size will display below the ruler, giving you an instant preview of the size you have selected.

Remember, if you are only changing the size temporarily when you are on the internet or in many other software application programs, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, use the size scroll bar on the bottom right of the status bar or try he CTRL +/- KEYS  to magnify or de-magnify what is you are seeing on the monitor. 

Making your new printer the default printer

If you've just bought a new printer and want it to be your "default printer", so it is always used unless you specify otherwise when giving the print command (versus the printer you might be replacing) - it is easy:

·       Go to your Start Menu (easy access is tap the Windows Flag Key)

·       Devices & printers (on most current start menus)

·       When you open your printers, you will see your new printer listed along with your previous printer (s) - The one that is the current default will have a green or black check mark on it

·       Right click on the printer you want as your DEFAULT and when the action menu appears, choose Set as Default Printer

Close the Dialog Box and this new setting will be saved

Note-if you do not see the "Devices & Printers" listed on your Start menu, you are using an older operating system, but that's not a problem, simply open Control Panel, then Printers-which used to be listed in the Hardware & Sound Group on older operating systems)

Remember if you want to choose a different printer than the default at anytime, when you choosing option for your print job, simply change the printer - all printers will be listed in the first option line of the Printer Dialog box, with a drop down access arrow-when you left click on that arrow-you will see the various printers for your computer-just choose the one you want to use.

When you want to delete a printer that you may no longer have or use

·       Go to your Start Menu (easy access is tap the Windows Flag Key)

·       Devices & printers (on most current start menus)

·       When you open your printers, you will see your new printer listed along with your previous printer (s) - The one that is the current default will have a green or black check mark on it

·       Right click on the printer you want to remove and choose DELETE printer - and the driver software and icon for this printer will be deleted

Close the Dialog Box and this new setting will be saved

How to uninstall software programs from your computer

If all you are trying to do is remove an icon from your desktop, but want to leave the software program on your computer, simply hover your mouse over the icon on your desktop – right click and choose “delete”  With many software programs, you will receive a quick message dialog box reminding you that you are only deleting the icon and that if you want to actually remove the software, this must be done from the control panel.

Why would you remove a software program from your computer..  Programs we never use can take up extra storage space and can slow our computer’s down – or maybe you are changing Anti-Virus providers – remember you can only have one Anti-Virus program on your computer at a time, so you must remove one before you add a new one…

The Windows operating system has a program utility that makes it easy to uninstall unused or unwanted and it’s easy to get to through your Control Panel. 

1. Left Click the "Start" button on your taskbar.
2. When the Start menu appears, left Click "Control Panel."
3. When the Control Panel appears – left click “Add/Remove Programs”
4. It will take a moment and then list all software programs on your computer
5. Scroll thru the list to find the software program you want to install
6. Under each program on the right side, you will see a "Uninstall” button.
7. Left click on the “Uninstall” button and it will remove the program and once removed it will no longer appear on the program list
8. Once removed it will also remove icons from desktop, quick launch and taskbar)
9. Repeat process for any other programs you want to uninstall. 

Reminders…

Some programs include an option to change or repair the program in addition to uninstalling it, but many simply offer the option to uninstall. To change a program, click Change or Repair.

Some programs might ask you to enter an administrator password or confirmation before this can be done, so you’ll need to type the password or provide confirmation.

When you can't cancel a print job..

From time to time there will be print jobs that just won’t seem to delete no matter how we try to cancel or delete the print job - whether we try to cancel:

• By using the cancel on the printer OR

• From the Printer in the Start Menu OR

• Using the Printer Icon & Menu from the system try (bottom right corner of the monitor above the clock)

Don’t panic – try the following – which usually corrects the problem …

In Windows XP

• Go to Control Panel

• Select Administrative Tools

• Double-click on Services (Icon is usually 2 gears)

• When the list of services appear, scroll down until you find one called "Print Spooler"

• Highlight this service option – and on the left column choose "Restart"

• The "deleted" jobs will disappear and any queued jobs in your print queue will print

In Windows Vista

• Go to Control Panel

• Select System and Maintenance

• Select Administrative Tools

• Double-click on Services

• When the service list appears, scroll down until you find one called "Print Spooler"

• Right-click on "Print Spooler" and select "Restart"

Success - the "deleted" jobs will disappear and any jobs waiting in your print queue will now print

Change the style, size & color of your Cursor/Pointer

Quite often I hear “I can’t find the cursor” – So for those of us who may from time to time “lose the cursor” on our desktop and other screens when we are moving the mouse around – the best thing to do is to make the cursor larger or change the color from white to black – there are numerous choices…you decide.

To change the cursor/pointer appearance & other “hardware” settings follow these simple steps by going to the various settings available in your "control panel"

• Left Click on your Start Button
• Left Click on Control Panel
• Left Click on "Hardware & Sound"
• Now choose & Left Click on "Mouse", then "Change Pointer Appearance"
• You will see is a drop down list of choices under "Schemes"
• Once you decide which you would like, highlight it and click "Apply"
• A good choice is: Window Standard (extra large) system scheme

If you aren't happy with your choice, No Problem - Just repeat the process until you find a style, color & size that you are happy with

These steps may vary slightly based on the level of your operating system (Windows 98, XP, Vista or 7) but remember, they are basically the same for all..

INCREASE YOUR LAPTOP BATTERY'S LIFE

Without fail, the battery on our laptops – notebooks or netbooks, always stop working and run our of juice at the most inconvenient time – in the middle of that rush report or when you are on a flight and watching a DVD movie

Laptop screens take up significant amount of power and we usually don’t require maximum brightness, so check your system and decrease the screen brightness it to a comfortable point.

Stop your wireless signal when you aren’t using it - After turning off your Laptop, right click on your WiFi control signal and be sure it is off to save a considerable quantity of battery power

Check your power plans - Windows XP has several predetermined power plans to control settings like how rapidly your laptop turns off and when your screen saver boots in. You can change your laptop power scheme by choosing Control Panel, then choose Power Options. For maximum battery life from the “Maximum Battery” option from the "Power scheme" and decline the list. Other good choices might be "Low Power Mode" and Portable /Laptop – they may not conserve as much power as Max Battery, but they still help. After choosing the power scheme, click Ok to finish the process.

What is the Computer Control Panel?

The CONTROL PANEL is where we can change many ways in which our computer and the peripheral hardware work, including your printer, keyboard, mouse, monitor – your audio & video functions and add or remove software just to name a few..

To access the control panel – you can go to Start and when the Start Menu appears – choose control panel (in older versions of Windows – you need to go to Settings to find the control panel).

The look of the Control Panel has changed considerably with with Windows Vista & Windows 7 Operating Systems. Both of these newer Operating Systems offer two different views of the Control Panel: Classic View and Category View, and it is possible to switch between these views through an option that appears on the left side of the window

Many of the individual Control Panel “commands” can be accessed in other often quicker ways – a favorite is when you want to make changes to the Display Properties – instead of going to the Control Panel and choosing Display, when you are on the Desktop – simply Right Click on any emptry area of the Desktop, choose Properties and the same Display Properties Dialog box will appear for you to work with.