ItsGeekToMe.co

Q: I have a full-size laptop and just purchased a mini-laptop with an 8G hard drive  My question is where I should load Microsoft Office so I can access it on both laptops.  I plan to buy an external hard drive to take with me if I need to use Microsoft Office products.  Can I still have a copy of Microsoft Office on the full size-laptop?  I know Microsoft allows you to copy it to a desktop and a laptop.  Do they allow you to use it on two laptops?

– Theresa M.
Fort Walton Beach, FL

A:  I’m no Microsoft lawyer, but I will believe you if you say their EULA (End-User License Agreement) says it can be installed on two computers.  I don’t see why they would care if it was a desktop and a laptop, or two laptops.  Regarding your computers, there has been a storm of these new sub-notebooks released in the last 6-8 months.  Their hardware capabilities are far inferior to traditional desktop and laptop systems, so most manufacturers don’t even call them “computers,” preferring the name “Net Book” instead.  Their appeal is their small size and light weight, not their performance.  Just my 2 cents worth, but it seems to me you’re compromising that if you’re lugging around an external hard drive too.

Q: I am trying to transfer files from an old computer to a new one.  I was told that an easy way to do that is with a USB data stick.  I went to my files and started to select them, to copy to the USB drive.  There’s where the fun started.  As I started selecting the files, my computer started making copy after copy after copy after copy after copy after copy after copy.  I saw as many as twelve on some files. I started deleting copies, which the computer promptly started COPYING AGAIN!   AAAARRRRRGGGHHH!  Please, please, please!  Say you can help!

– Carol M.
Valparaiso, FL

A: I can help, Carol.  First, take a deep breath and relax.  File selection can be tricky business, but is simpler if you know how the modifier keys Ctrl and Shift work in conjunction with your mouse.  To select a single file, you click on it with your mouse.  To select multiple files, you can then Shift-Click, and Windows will select every file between your first and second click.  If you Ctrl-Click, you can add files to your selection at random.  The problem is, that if you move the mouse while either Shift-Clicking or Ctrl-Clicking, you’re telling Windows to drag-copy and drop everything that’s currently selected (watch for a little + sign to appear near the cursor).  If your mouse is still within the window you’re dragging FROM when you release the button, you will make a copy of the entire selection right there where you started.  So, make sure you don’t move the mouse while you have the button down.  You might also try learning some of the Ctrl key shortcuts, like Ctrl+A (Select All), Ctrl+C (Copy), Ctrl+X (Cut), and Ctrl+V (Paste).