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LACS Computer Forum: Jan 10, 2006 Information on some items discussed: 1. Norton Anti Virus - Someone talked about the problems he had in upgrading Norton Anti Virus (AV). Such problems may be related to an incomplete uninstallation using Add/Remove Programs. Norton has additional removal tools:
2. (Norton
AV 2004 - 2006)
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Information on some items discussed: 1. Personal Firewall - While Windows XP includes a personal software firewall, it controls incoming traffic but not outgoing. Some recommend using a personal software firewall which also controls outgoing traffic, e.g. programs which want to "call home". Probably the most popular personal software firewall is offered by Zone Alarm (both free & pay versions). In the past few months two software developers who offered persornal firewalls have been sold: 1. Sygate has been sold to Symantec. Their firewall has disappear as a stand alone product and will probably be integrated into applications in their product line.
2. Kerio has been sold to Sunbelt
Software. They are continuing to offer a free version. It is
the same as their pay version with some features shutting down after 30
days.
Fasterfox
(free) is a Firefox extension of performance and network tweaks for Firefox.
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POST MEETING NOTE - A club member reports that UPS replacement batteries
are readily available from vendors at the W6TRW ARC Swapmeet noted (below).
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Information on some items discussed: 1. Patch Tuesday - On the second Tuesday of the month Microsoft releases critical updates for Windows and Office. One way to get them manually is to open Internet Explorer, click on Tools | Windows Update and follow the instructions. For information about the current patches and those for some prior months (here). 2. Updating Sun Java - A user encountered an error when he tried to update Sun Java on his system. To ensure that you have a "good" installation, uninstall the program - "J2SE Runtime Enviromment..." via the "Add or Remove Programs" on the Control Panel. It may be necessary to edit the Registry to get rid of any "left overs" before installing the updated version which you can get (here). |
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Information on some items discussed: 1. E-mail .JPG Viewer - If when viewing a .jpg file attached to an e-mail message you don't like the program which displays it, some e-mail clients include a provision to select one of your choice. If there's no such provision, you'll need to change the .jpg file registration - left click on My Computer | Tools | Folder Options | File Types. Change the registration on .jpg to the program of your choice. 2. Blogs - What is a Blog? According to Webopedia a Blog is: (n.) Short for Web log, a blog is a Web page that serves as a publicly accessible personal journal for an individual. Typically updated daily, blogs often reflect the personality of the author. (v.) To author a Web log. Other forms: Blogger (a person who blogs). One popular Blog host (advertising
based) is Blogger.
Go
Daddy gives you advertising based Blog hosting with each domain registration.
Of course you can get advertising free hosting for a fee.
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Information on some items discussed: 1. XP Services Configuration - A question was asked about what Services in Windows XP may not be needed. The Black Viper web site had an extensive discussion and recommendations on this matter. While the site is currently no longer on-line, a copy of a key page is available (here) with the following note: Editor's Note: This information was originally created and belongs to Black Viper (Dead link, obviously). We have reproduced it, in large part until the original website returns, if ever. There were a lot of pages, so if you dig far enough reading it here, you will eventually hit dead links from older pages we do not have. 2. Printing a Web Page - When printing a web page you may wish to change the header, footer, a/o margins from the default setting. To do this in in either Internet Explorer or Firefox, click on File | Page Setup. 3. Central Office Distance - The speed of a DSL connection is related to the distance you are from your Central Office; the further away you are the maximum speed is reduced. To find the approximate distance to your CO, click (here). |
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Information on some items discussed: 1. Windows Update Alternatives - Updating Microsoft Windows requires that you use Internet Explorer. WindizUpdate is reported to be a plug-in which permits you to use non-Internet Explorer browsers, e.g. Firefox, Netscape, Opera. 2. PDF File Creation - There are many programs which permit you to create PDF files. Two freeware ones were mentioned. For both the conversion engine is Ghostwriter. As of this writing the versions offered were: (1) Cute PDF - GPL Ghostwriter 8.15 (2) PDF Creator - AFPL Ghostwriter 8.53 A test
of a 26 page document written in MS Word showed that the latter program
created a PDF file which was almost 25% smaller. Of course YMMV.
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Information on some items discussed 1. Restoring a Dell Backup - A member backed up his Dell PC to an external hard drive using a Dell program, name unknown. Having heard from Dell that NTFS was superior to FAT32, the user formatted his Dell to NTFS. When trying to restore his PC from the backup, he was unable because of errors. Of the many ideas and suggestions offered, the best is most likely, "Call Dell Tech Support." 2. E-Mailing Pictures - Someone asked about how to send pictures via e-mail with files appropriately sized. Picasa, a free program from Google was highly recommended. In addition it was generally agreed that most cameras come with software which will do this, with some being easier to use than others. +
Post Meeting Note: This subject was discussed briefly earlier, (Jan
13, 2004 Forum).
(1) Basic photo editors: These are the editing programs that come with your camera or printer, plus other free programs. They are simple to use with not much of a learning curve. (2) Easy to use: Roxio PhotoSuite, Corel Photo Album. Simple one-click editing to automatically fix red eye, contrast, etc. or utilize easy-to-do-it-yourself editing processes. Easy to learn. (1) and (2) will probably meet the expectations of most click and shoot photographers. (3) Intermediate: Adobe Photoshop Elements, Corel Paint Shop Pro. Automatic fixes or precision editing tools. More features than (1) or (2). Medium to hard learning curve, depending on users' experience with computers. (4) Expert: Adobe Photoshop. Professional image-editing program. Elements has editing features that are not contained in Photoshop. Big learning curve and over-kill unless you want professional results. |
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Information on some items discussed: 1. Safe Mode - Q: What is it? A: The Safe Mode is a special way for Windows to load when there is a system-critical problem that interferes with the normal operation of Windows. The purpose of Safe Mode is to allow you to troubleshoot Windows and try to determine what is causing it to not function correctly. Once you have corrected the problem, then you can reboot and Windows will load normally. Safe
Mode starts up automatically if Windows does not boot on the previous attempt.
You can also invoke Safe Mode by pressing F5 or by pressing F8 and selecting
it from the boot menu. Most users prefer the latter because you have
several boot options rather than only one which you get with F5.
A: Tools > Options > Spelling
> Autocorrect Options > Autoformat As You Type. Then uncheck the
"Internet and Network paths with hyperlinks" option, (source).
A: A copy the USB 1.1 specification can be found (here). Following is a snip from page 90 of this 327 page document: "6.6 Cable Mechanical Configuration and Material Requirements Full-speed and Low-speed cables differ in data conductor arrangement and shielding. Low-speed cable does not require twisted data conductors or a shield." It seems that if a particular USB 1.1 cable will fully support USB 2.0 depends upon the specific cable mechanical configuration. |
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Information on some items discussed: 1. Picasa Update - After a user installed an update, the program started but would shut down before fully launched. After an uninstall/reinstall, no change. Was unable to do a successful Restore to a time before the last update. Suggestions: Clean the Registry
of all references to Picasa after doing an uninstall before doing another
reinstall. An update, Build 32.95, was released today; perhaps that
will work correctly. If all fails there's a link (here)
to submit a Help Ticket.
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Information on some items discussed: 1. Vista Show & Tell - A visitor, an MSDN (Microsoft Developer Network) member, did a brief Show & Tell using an Alienware laptop with a late beta of Vista:
2. CDR Write Problem - After upgrading a PC to WinXP from Win98SE, the CDR can read CDs but can no longer write them. After reviewing the many things which had been tried, it was generally agreed that installing a new unit made the most sense; they now have the added ability to read/write DVDs at a relatively low cost, e.g. $25.00 range on sale, (local stores), 3. Personal Domain - A member recommended getting a Personal Domain to avoid having go through the Change of Address every time you changed ISPs or the ISP changed. Information on this and other options is presented (here). |
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Because of the holiday party, there was no Computer Forum this month. |