Changing Normal.dotm

I seem to be having good moving moments all over the place today.  This one fixes the problem of not being able to see documents on the computer as easily as I once was able to do. 

On a computer using Windows 7 and Microsoft Word 2010. To change the normal.dotm template find where it is located.

c:\users\John Doe\app data\roaming\microsoft\templates

Format a blank document in Word to your specifications.  On 2/4/12 I chose: Arial, Font size 14, No spacing and the zoom factor is 120%.  Save it as a macro enabled template to the desktop and call it something like Normalthenewone

Resize the window where your normal.dotm is located and drag the new file Normalthenewone.dotm to that window.  Make sure Word is closed and delete Normal.dotm.  Make sure you’ve got the right Normal.dotm by right clicking and looking at the properties.  If you’ve got earlier versions of Word on your computer there will be a Normal.dot for them. 

Rename Normalthenewone.dotm to Normal.dotm

Tossed Up and Tossed Out

Well, there went my lovely ergonomic keyboard. Somebody, we're not naming names, but I think her initials are Fluffy Drawers, threw up a hairball sometime during the night on my keyboard. Actually, the blame for the damaged computer component lies squarely in Mommy's lap because somebody (probably the same cat) threw up the night before too. Except that hairball hit the floor and missed the computer equipment. This is one of those deals the universe hands you sometimes where you go, "Oh, shit. I should have seen that one coming." Big fluffy cat isn't going to just throw up one hairball. I hope she feels better now.



Luckily, I had another keyboard. So, after swearing a bit. And, being saved by Spirit because I turned on the computer without thinking and they said, "Not a good idea." I turned it off real quick. That would have been worse to short the whole thing out with cat throwup inside my keyboard.



I wiped off the surface of the keyboard and then left it upside down on the kitchen counter. Looked underneath after a couple of minutes to find more cat throwup. So, I decided to open it up. Yuck. It was everywhere. Also, there was the usual crud that you'd find inside a keyboard after a few year's worth of use....wet from the cat throwup. It was really gross.



I decided then to just toss the whole thing. Fifteen years ago I cleaned off another keyboard that a cat had thrown up on. It was tedious work and it only lasted for 6 months after that before it bit the dust. I learned my lesson. Don't bother. And, close up the keyboard drawer at night so it isn't in the way of flying hair balls.

What Will They Think of Next?

Who would ever have thought in the early days of the internet that one day you’d be able to google the instruction manual you can’t find. The days of looking for some things are over.

Tuning Up my Computer

I had a bad problem last week with spyware. I downloaded a program for $30 from PC Tools called Spyware Doctor. This program did a real good job on clearing my pc up. The problem came later on as my whole system started moving real slow. I’d get error messages that my virtual memory was low and Windows wanted to do something to fix it. Whatever Windows did I didn’t notice any perceptible increase in the speed of which my usually zippy pc zipped along.

Then, all the programs started being real slow. I knew I had to do something. I called my computer guy who said to unload Spyware Doctor and only use it when I’m under attack. He said spyware programs are really big and take up a lot of memory. I did as he said, and things picked up again. But, I was nervous that it might happen again. In searching out solutions on the internet (mostly from Windows) I came upon Microsoft's offer of a 90 day free trial of their online One-Care Virus and Spyware Repair Tool program (good on 3 pc's). It’s a tune up sort of a program and they promised that it would monitor against threats, etc.

I figured, “What the hell” and I downloaded it. So far it’s been pretty good. My computer is actually faster than it’s been in ages. The price on the service is $50, though I've since found out it can be gotten from any number of places for less money. Microsoft has countered with a $20 rebate. I’m thinking I really like being able to listen to my music, surf the internet, check my mail and use Word all at the same time. This one may be a keeper.

My New Monitor

I had the best day off today. We went to CostCo and I got a new monitor. This is a 21 inch ViewSonic Wide Screen. I should have done this a long time ago. It is just fabulous. My sorry old diabetic eyes with outward facing focus are having a good time now. I can see everything really good. Next step will be to see about putting the screen down on the lower level. This is my birthday present.

I’ve got the old monitor out on the side walk with a free sign on it. Hopefully somebody will scarf it up. It has a great shelf on the top that you can use to put a printer on. I’d run out of room. With this flat panel LCD screen I can’t take advantage of the shelf, so I put the ink jet printer off to the side. All the cords reached fine. Man, this is absolutely fabulous. All those folks with old monitors…go buy a new one. Nice big wide screen. It’s well worth every penny.

Computers As We Might Use Them Someday

A particularly interesting example of what can happen when a person puts their mind to something spectacular. You envision something and then you go out to acquire the tools to make it happen. And, you do not give up. Enjoy.



Find out more information about Jefferson Han at FastCompany