Computer Genealogy Specialists

Do it yourself Computer Repair. If your computer is doing strange things and giving you error messages, try closing down the computer and restarting it. Restart clears many program problems. If the problem persists, try running Norton System Works, Fix and Repair Problems, Win-Doctor and Disk-Doctor for the C-drive. These also correct many computer problems. You might also try deselecting several of the non-critical programs from starting up each time you boot. This will free up active memory space and be less likely to freeze-up. If you must take the computer in for repair, make sure you make backups of your data files (Word documents, WordPerfect documents, PAF files, Email address book, Favorites, etc.). If the computer store must reformat the hard-drive and reload your Windows operating system, at least you won't lose your data. Our training CD called Windows Tips and Tricks For Genealogists has step-by-step demonstrations of many of the above procedures.

NSDAR Volunteers Offer Lookups. Would you like to know if one of your ancestors served in the Revolutionary War (1775-1783), of is listed with the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) in the "Patriot Index"? NSDAR Volunteer Genies monitor the RootsWeb DAR Message Board every day and welcome any lookup request for your Revolutionary War ancestor. Include your Patriot's first and last name, spouse's name (if known), dates of birth, death, and state of residence when posting your lookup request. You need not be interested in joining the NSDAR to request a lookup. Click here to post your query on Ancestry's DAR Message Board. The volunteers will send you an Email in response to your query.

Use City Directories to Find Ancestors. City directories are one of the most over-looked resources by genealogists. They have been around since the 1700s. USCityDirectories.com attempts to identify all printed, microfilmed, and online directories and their repositories for the United States. This site will let you know if the directory exists for a locality, and where it may be found. City directories can help you locate people in otherwise un-indexed censuses as well as provide valuable information about names, addresses, occupations and even deaths. The website also has directory instruction, helps, and search strategies.

Create a Desktop Icon -- If your would like a program icon on your Desktop and it is listed in the program listing (Start, Programs), there is an easy way to get it to the desktop. Find in the program listing the program that you would click on to start (NotePad for example). Click and hold the right-mouse button and drag it to the Desktop. Release the right-mouse and a list of options appears. Left-mouse click on Create Shortcut Here. An icon for the program will appear on the Desktop.

Rename an Icon -- If you want to rename a Desktop icon (PAF-English to PAF 5.2.18) there is a simple process. Many icon names are more than two lines which makes them difficult to read. Renaming them to something shorter can help. Here is what you do. Right-mouse on the icon to be changed and select Rename. Type in the new name or alter the existing name until it reads the way you like. Press Enter or left-click outside the icon to have the new name take effect.

Change Your Background Picture -- To select a different picture for your desktop background, right-mouse click in the middle of the desktop (not on an icon), and from the drop-down menu left-mouse on Properties. The Display Properties window appears with the Background tab already selected. You will see picture choices displayed in the lower section of the window. Each picture you click on will be displayed. When you find one you like, make sure the Picture Display setting reads Stretch, then click OK. Any bmp (bitmap) file you store in the Windows directory is selectable in this way as a background picture.

Free-up Disk Space -- To do a quick, easy, and safe hard-drive cleanup, click on Start (lower left corner of the desktop), Programs, Accessories, System-Tools, Disk Cleanup. When the cleanup program starts, select the drive letter you want (generally the C-drive), and click OK. The program will scan your drive for safe items to be deleted. Un-check items if you like (generally I leave them all checked), and click OK, and Yes. The job is done.

Rename an Icon -- Some icons on the desktop have names that are longer than can fit in two lines, which makes them hard to read. To rename an icon and shorten it to two lines, right-mouse click on the icon and select Rename from the drop-down menu. Type a completely new name or modify the original name and press Enter to have the name take effect.

Gedcom Exports -- Gedcom exports may be used to share portions or all of the names in a PAF database. If the person you are sending the information to has an interest in only a portion of your pedigree, be kind enough to select only those of interest before exporting. When sharing a Gedcom file use the export option designed for the receiving program. For example, in PAF-5 there are Gedcom export options specifically designed for PAF-5, PAF-4, PAF-3, PAF-2.31, Ancestral File, Pedigree Resource File, TempleReady-DOS, and TempleReady-Windows. If the receiving program does not support all fields of information supported by PAF-5, the fields will be eliminated by PAF-5 (by selecting one of the options), or will be dropped by the receiving program on import.

Adobe PhotoDeluxe Business Edition -- This is the easies to use photo editor that Adobe has ever produced. It does not depend on memorizing icons, moving pictures to a work layer before making changes, and it has more filter routines to improve a picture than does the newer Adobe Photoshop Elements 1.0, 2.0, or 3.0. And it is all in English. Unfortunately, it is no longer marketed by Adobe. If you are looking for an install CD, check our CGS Website, or try eBay or Amazon. Click here for tips on using Adobe PhotoDeluxe Business Edition under Windows XP.