Prefetch!

Posted in: Computer Tips & Tricks

If you’re using Windows XP, a system called Prefetch often runs in the background while you work, organizing and preloading some of the data necessary to run the applications and files you use on a regular basis.  Prefetch stores this data in a folder called – yep, you guessed it – prefetch.

After weeks of constantly storing information, your prefetch folder can clog up, and this can sometimes decrease your computer’s performance. This is why it’s smart to empty out older files from your prefetch folder at least every other month or so.

To access your prefetch folder, simply go to My Computer, then C drive, then Windows, then prefetch. Once there, delete all the .PF files you see that are more than a couple weeks old. Doing so helps keep your computer happy and healthy!

Email Tip of the Week: Gmail Makes Unsubscribing as Easy as Cake

Posted in: Email

Attention all Gmail users!

No longer must you search through individual eNewsletters from which you wish to unsubscribe, looking for the tiny “Unsubscribe me” or “Remove me from your list” buttons/links. Google has recently added a new feature that makes the process of unsubscribing from just about any newsletter or email list as easy as cake.

To use Gmail’s new feature, simply click the “Report Spam” link, then choose the “Unsubscribe and report spam” button in the box that opens up.

Or, if you’d prefer to unsubscribe from the newsletter without reporting the email as spam, click the “Show details” link in the top-right corner of the email, then click “Unsubscribe from this sender”.

Google will automatically send a request back to the sender on your behalf so they’ll stop emailing you. Like I said — piece of cake!

Grab Bag: Your Five Links of the Week

Posted in: Website Links

  1. www.trunkt.org – Wonderful work sale, handcrafted by amazing artisans.
  2. www.remime.com – A totally free online reminder service that can help you remember birthdays, important tasks, upcoming events and more. Say no to post-it clutter!
  3. www.truefoodnow.org – A project site of the national, non-profit Center for Food Safety that’s dedicated to protecting human health and the environment by “curbing the use of harmful food production technologies and by promoting organic and other forms of sustainable agriculture.”
  4. www.scambusters.org/legends.html - Have a look at these popular emails (I’m sure you’ve received at least a few of them over the years…) and find out whether they’re true – or just urban legends or hoaxes. Warning: Though this is good information, it does take a bit of effort to ignore all the advertisements spattered across the site.
  5. www.askpatty.com – A website devoted to providing automotive advice, help, and support to women. Great site, even though I’m not quite sure why they chose to make the gal in the logo look so evil.