This is a catch-all page, designed to accumulate tips that may only help a few people. Notes are generally added at the top. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK! But if you have problems, let me know and I may get convinced to change this material for others.

Time of Day -- AM/PM vs. a.m./p.m.

DNS tends to get these times from the Windows regional settings -- as is appropriate. If you have a strong formatting preference, go to your Windows Control Panel, Regional Options, and change the format for your machine.

VNC/Microsoft Terminal Server Client

DNS works OK, but there is a single window and the Natural Language commands do not work.

For key commands, you can define global commands, or else put all these commands in an application-specific set for VNC or Terminal Server. But you generally can not get as sophisticated with your command usage as when the programs are run on your local system.

This is a good place for keystroke commands instead of commands using application objects, which aren't visible when running in this fashion. You can set up commands that put the (remote) application in the title bar, allowing commands access to this information.

Word "normal.dot" Template

If you use Word, it is likely that at some point you will hear about "normal.dot." It is technically important, and contains many settings, macros, etc.

You should almost never delete this file -- rename it so you have a chance at rescuing settings, macros, etc.

For detailed information about it see: http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/Pub0009/LPMArticle.asp?ID=151

USB Microphone Problems

When your USB microphone acts strange, try the following IF the USB microphone is your only USB device and if you think the issue is with the drivers, not with the microphone itself:

1) unplug USB microphone from the computer.
2) Go to Start, Settings, Control Panel, System, Device Manager (or on Windows-XP, Start, Control Panel, System, Hardware, Device Manager)
3) Remove everything under USB Controller.
4) Reboot the computer with USB adapter unplugged.
5) When system stabilizes, plug USB back in. This should load all drivers back in.

Updated March 2003

Copyright 2003 by Softnet Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. If you wish to post this information in an e-mail or Internet group, please provide the URL, not the text.