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LACS Computer Forum: Jan 8, 2008 Information on some items discussed: 1. AOL Spam - An AOL user reported a recent dramatic increase in spam. Suggestions: Review/update Spam Control settings. If that doesn't result in reducing spam to the former level, contact AOL Tech Support. The user thought that AOL offered e-mail forwarding, a feature which would permit using a mail service with better spam protection while keeping his AOL address. According to Forward America, a fee-based e-mail forwarding service, says that AOL does not currently offer e-mail forwarding. To minimize getting spam and controlling matters relatively easily when you do, is to start with a base of at least one e-mail address for those correspondents you trust and a few other addresses all others. One
free mail service with good spam protection is Google Mail (Gmail);
spam protection details here.
Gmail offers web mail with free POP and IMAP options permitting you to
use a mail client, e.g. Outlook, Outlook Express, Thunderbird.
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Information on some items discussed: 1. Tech Support Website - LACS member Jim McKnight has a personal website with a large selection of PC Support documents written for his personal use to help in his assisting others with their PC problems, (click here). "I am happy to share, so use whatcha like and ignore whatcha don't like. These documents are updated regularly as I learn new stuff. Stay tuned." 2. Firewall & Router - Question was asked about using both a firewall and router. Two Cent answer: Routers, by their very nature, contain a firmware firewall which only operates on incoming Internet traffic while most software firewalls operate on both incoming and outgoing Internet traffic. While there's some functional overlap, they can be used together without difficulty. NOTE:
When using a router, it is strongly recommended that you change its password
to keep the router from being hacked. For a list of default router
passwords, (click
here).
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Information on some items discussed: 1. Buying an XP Desktop Computer - A visitor asked about buying a moderately priced replacement desktop computer with Windows XP rather than Vista. Computer activities are limited, e.g. e-mailing, web browsing, and word processing. Since XP is being phased out, sources are limited. Following are some suggestions: Mail Order - Factory refurbished
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Information on some items discussed: 1. Keyboard Comparison - A member did a brief "Show & Tell" of two keyboards, one with conventional "soft keys" and the other which used "Buckling Spring" type keys. The latter was made by Unicomp who purchased the technology in 1966 from Lexmark International, the former IBM Division and long-time maker of high quality keyboards for IBM. Many consider this "IBM click" type keyboard superior. For more information (click here). 2. Patch Tuesday - On the second Tuesday of the month Microsoft (MS) releases critical updates for Windows XP/Vista and Office, and occasionally at other times. While MS recommends that users let them update your computer automatically, some users prefer to use the "Notify me but don't automatically download and install them." option so that they can schedule the update at their convenience rather than that of MS. To check/change the update option, open the Control Panel and left click Automatic Updates. 3. Mouse Change - Q: Would there be a problem changing from a mouse with extra buttons to a conventional one, i.e. 2 buttons with a scroll wheel? A: While you'll lose the additional functions provided by the extra keys, the conventional mouse will most likely work without a probem. To ensure that, uninstall any special software which the old mouse used (this also reduces memory usage). In addition right click My Computer | left click Properties | left click Hardware | left click Device Manager and scroll down to Mice & other pointing devices | left click the box with a + | highlight the name of the current mouse and left click | left click on Driver | left click on Uninstall | left click OK | shut down and reboot, During the boot process you'll be notified that New Hardware was found. Done. |
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Information on some items discussed: 1. TweakUI - is a Microsoft PowerToy which gives you access to system settings that are not exposed in the Windows XP default user interface, including mouse settings, Explorer settings, taskbar settings, and more, (click here) - WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage) not required. :-) 2. Windows Secrets - is an i-newsletter which brings you essential tricks of running Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, Internet Explorer, Firefox, Windows Update, and more. Published twice a month and occasionally more. Two versions: free and pay, (click here). 3. Norton Anti Virus - A member is having a problem uninstalling Norton (Symantec) Anti-Virus. This is a common problem with Windows Add/Remove Programs. Many others have reported a similar problem when trying to uninstall McAfee. Symantec knows that many user have this problem and have provided a tool to augment the Windows Add/Remove Programs, (click here). |
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Information on some items discussed: Since
the General Meeting was an Open Mouse Night (an open Q&A+) much
of the discussion was of a broad nature. Following is one topic which
the group did discuss:
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Information on some items discussed: 1. Patch Tuesday - If you open Internet Explorer, click on Tools | Windows Update | Custom, you are presented with a menu to select updates by Product, e.g. Windows, Office, and Silverlight. 2. Trend Micro Updating - A member talked about the difficulty he had uninstalling Trend Micro Internet Security so that he could install a later version. While he was ultimately successful using a special uninstall file from Trend Micro, another way which has worked well is to use the (Revo Uninstaller), a free application. 3. XP SP3 - When XP SP3 was released about 2 months ago, several users had problems installing it. A member reported that he had installed XP SP3 on three PCs without a problem using a CD he had created from a download from the Microsoft web site about 2 weeks ago. Another member reported he had installed XP SP3 on a PC earlier in the week without a problem using the on-line Windows Update. |
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Information on some items discussed: 1. MS Office Professional 2003 - Someone inquired about the availability this program suite. One source for an OEM version is (Price Grabber) starting at about $117.00. Another member said that he bought several new on ebay recently. 2. Trend Micro Internet Security 2008 - After upgrading from the 2007 version, a user is having a problem updating the virus definitions. A method which has worked well is to uninstall the problem installation using the Revo Uninstaller (free), and installing the latest release from Trend Micro, currently v16.1 dated Mar 6, 2008. NOTE: Before uninstalling,
record the Serial Number to enter after the reinstallation; the expiration
date will be unchanged.
When filling out forms,
some find it easier to compose their in an editor such as MS Notepad, copy
to the Clipboard, and Paste into the application window. If you use
MS Word, make sure that you compose as Plain Text.
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Information on some items discussed: 1. Web Site Address Book - Q: How do you make an Address Book for web sites? A: Modern browsers
contain such a feature. In Internet Explorer the "website address
book" is found on a menu bar near the top of the page labelled Favorites,
in Firefox it is labelled Bookmarks. Both have Add To
and Organize functions.
By default Windows XP indexes files on your hard drive and stores them in memory to speed up its' built-in search. But if you rarely use Windows search, turn off indexing to free up memory and CPU horsepower for the files and applications you actually do use." For how-to details, (click
here).
Some believe that online
backup is the wave of the future, an aspect of Cloud Computing,
All have much in common. Each requires you to download and install a desktop client that you use to configure your backup, manage restores, and handle the regular background backup of new and altered files to the service's remote servers. Each
service specializes in backup rather than in simpler and less-secure file
sharing. All three encrypt your data before transmission and store it in
encrypted form on their remote servers. You can also restore your data
to a different computer.
In Window XP HU files are compressed and stored in directories of C:\WINDOWS in the form: $NtUninstallKB*$. |
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Information on some items discussed: 1. Windows Genuine Advantage - Recently Microsoft released a new version of Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) for Windows XP. Someone asked if it were safe to install. WGA notifies you if a copy of Windows XP is not genuine. The notification messages only appear on computers that have failed the WGA validation process and that are running a copy of Windows XP that is not genuine. If you are running a validated, genuine copy of Windows XP, you will not receive notification messages. More information (kb905474). Past versions of WGA have been criticized since they sometimes reported genuine copies of XP as not genuine. Another criticism is that WGA continues to "call home" from time to time after the installed version of XP has been validated. On
the pro side, someone said if you have WGA installed you are able to download
some "free" Microsoft programs.
A: While it most likely is, many who have installed SP3 several times strongly recommend creating a full disk image just prior so that if you run into a problem, you can restore your system easily. It has been reported that machines using an AMD CPU require a special installation procedure and that Sony recommrnd not installing SP3 on their machines. Jim McKnight has written "Service Pack 3 Install Guide XP" which can downloaded from his (PC Help & Support Website). |
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1. SHOUTcast Radio - Free Internet Radio. You can tune-in to thousands of free online radio stations from DJs and broadcasters around the world via (Winamp), a media player, or via a Toolbar or Widget, (click here). 2. External Hard Drive - By using an external hard drive you can increase your file storage capability substantially at a moderate cost. Often times units are on sale at local stores, (click here). 3. Sandbox - "Sandbox" is a computer security term which is in common use today. For a Wikipedia article (click here). 4. Malicious Software Removal Tool - A Microsoft program which checks computers running Windows Vista, XP, 2000, and Server 2003 for infections by specific, prevalent malicious software - including Blaster, Sasser, and Mydoom - and helps remove any infection found. Microsoft releases an updated version of this program on the second Tuesday of each month, (Patch Tuesday), as a part of the Critical Update package. It can also be downloaded separately, (click here). |
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Because of the holiday party, there was no Computer Forum this month. |