Computer 101

Your Computer Questions answered!

by Andy Patterson

Click here to submit a question

This site is intended to assist beginners and elderly people experiencing problems. Below you will find a list of topics covered, and the list will grow as you submit your questions about computer problems that you encounter.

• Problems often arise viewing picture files with Internet Explorer. Explorer can reduce them to fit your screen and you will see the entire photo, or it can leave them full size so that you only see part of the picture. To choose which you prefer drop down the "tools" menu, click on "internet options," then click the "advanced" tab. Scroll down to "Multimedia," and verify your setting in the line that says "Enable automatic image resizing." A check will allow explorer to reduce images. Sometimes this will render text too small to read.

• Need accents for the French Language?

1) The numeric keypad is the square of numbered keys on the right side of your keyboard with the zero and a dot at the bottom. (not the numbers along the top)

2) The num lock key is usually part of the numeric keypad, or near it on the right side of the keyboard.

3) There are two alt keys, one on each side of the space bar.

4) Make sure that your "num lock" key is on. There should be a light to indicate that it is on. If not try making accents and see if they work. If you do not get an accent, press the "num lock" key once and try again.

5) To make é hold the "alt" key down while you type 1-3-0 on the numeric keypad. When you let go of the alt key the é should appear.

NOTE: On a laptop there's a key at the top with a symbol like a calculator. On mine it's the F11 key. When depressed at the same time as the FN key it converts the center portion of the regular keyboard into a numeric keypad. Numbers are on the front of these keys and you can use it like a numeric keypad for creating French accents.

a with grave accent à ALT + 133 À ALT + 0192 a with circumflex â ALT + 131 Â ALT + 0194 a with tréma ä ALT + 132 Ä ALT + 142 a e ligature æ ALT + 145 Æ ALT + 146 c with cedilla ç ALT + 135 Ç ALT + 128 e with acute accent é ALT + 130 É ALT + 144 e with grave accent è ALT + 138 È ALT + 0200 e with circumflex ê ALT + 136 Ê ALT + 0202 e with tréma ë ALT + 137 Ë ALT + 0203

i with circumflex î ALT + 140 Î ALT + 0206 i with tréma ï ALT + 139 Ï ALT + 0207 o with circumflex ô ALT + 147 Ô ALT + 0212 o e ligature œ ALT + 0156 Œ ALT + 0140 u with grave accent ù ALT + 151 Ù ALT + 0217 u with circumflex û ALT + 150 Û ALT + 0219 u with tréma ü ALT + 129 Ü ALT + 154 French quotation marks « ALT + 174 » ALT + 175 Euro symbol € ALT + 0128