Dan's Computer Tips/Tricks

Because of the profession I'm in...I get alot of tips/tricks/hints/useful info sent to me on a daily basis. And, I always like to share. So, every day or every other day....I will try to post a tip or trick. Some useful, some vital...some just off the wall. Some may help your computer, some may just be for the look. Hope ya enjoy...

Q. I am using Windows XP. Can I change the folder icons in
Windows Explorer?

A. Windows XP includes more than 200 icons that can be used instead of the standard yellow folder. They're easy to change. Heck, you can do the same in 98 and ME too. Let's cover how to change them in XP first.

To find them, first go to Windows Explorer (Start>All Programs>
Accessories>Windows Explorer). Right-click on the folder you want
to change, and click Properties. Select the Customize tab.

At the bottom of the window, click the Change Icon button. That will present you with more than 200 icons. When you find one you like, click it and click OK. Then click Apply>OK.

You also can place pictures within the folder icons. However, you can only use Thumbnails view for that (click View>Thumbnails). The picture must already be on your hard drive. You can scan the picture in or download it from the Internet or a camera. Save it as a JPEG (.jpg).

To place a picture within an icon, go to the Customize tab as before. Click Choose Picture. At the top of the Window, navigate to the picture on the hard drive. Click it and click Open. Click Apply>OK.

Custom icons also can be designed in Paint, which is part of Windows (Start>All Programs>Accessories>Paint). Click Image>Attributes. Height and width should be set to 32 pixels. After your design is drawn, click File>Save As. Save it to any folder on the hard drive.

Users of Windows 98, ME and 2000 can use software to change icons.

Here are some free programs:
IcoFolder: http://camtech2000.net/Pages/IcoFolder.html
ActivIcons: http://www.cursorarts.com/ca_aifw.html

Dan, I'm the MOST computer-impaired person you will ever, ever meet. It's nothing short of a miracle that I can actually post here. Do you make house calls??? When you're in Cincinnati, I'll pay you to come here and teach me all the stuff I can actually do with my 'puter. I've only touched the tip of the iceburg.

Also, I have no idea how to take a digital picture, save it (or whatever you do with it), scan it and send it here so I can have an avatar and be normal like everyone else. Julianne has tried to tell me, but my head just spins and I get all "panicky"! I'm just really intimidated by my 'puter. Can you help us have a better relationship? Me and the computer, I mean. Not me and Julianne! :D

Polly...*LOL*

If you know how to turn the computer on, then you probably know more than my mother and half the other idiots I have to deal with at work. *LOL*

House calls? Well, I don't normally travel all the way out to Cinci, but if I'm in the area, you bet I'll stop and make a house call. I'll bring me and my "tool box" (Think a folder of CD's there. *LOL*)

I'm assuming by Digital Picture you mean with a Digital Camera? I've actually never used a digital camera (so sue me, I don't have alot of money, actually. Hence why I do sidework! *LOL*) If it's a digital camera, there would be no scanning it. You would use a USB cable and software that came with your camera to download it from your camera's memory to your computer.

IS that what ya have, a Digital Camera? *LOL*

If ya want, I'll PM ya with some instructions, hopefully....once I figure out what your doing and what you have and we'll see if we can get you a pertty picture up there...

How can I turn you down, anyways? You've said I was dreamy and you've swooned for me...*LOL*

~Dan

PS - Dang! I thought you wanted to have a better relationship with ME! Sorry Jules, sorry computer...*LOL*

Luv these tips Dan. Please keep posting them! I just finally figured out how to put my own picture up here! I still have to figure out how to put little pictures inside my messages, like your snake, doesn't work when I try.

Anyway, I have a question, what is the size of a thumbnail? Is it measured in pixels or in inches? I tried putting a picture on the folder of my picture files, but it didn't turn out, so how small does it have to be?


You're the best! ;)

:( I want my winXP back... winME stinks... lol

xited1 - For the picture in my signature, I actually used HTML code. I can PM you the coding if you would like. There is no standard size for a thumbnail, but it is measured in pixels, usually.

If you are trying to do what it says? Any picture will work. But, the way you view folders should be in thumbnail view. So, if you go to my documents? Then, if you go to the "View" pulldown menu (at the top...File, Edit, View)...scroll down to where it says "Thumbnail"...and click on that. Then, if you follow the directions...you should be able to get it. That help any? If you need more help, just let me know...*smiles*

Trebmal? ME, eh? Ugh...you got ripped. ME, among many, was the worst operating system ever put out by Microsoft. Very half you know what'ed. Would it take too much to put XP back on or do you have alot of stuff on your system?

oh I know, I had to downgrade for a few reasons
I had a pirated XP version that wouldn't allow me to upgrade anything

and plus my virus protector didn't work on winXP

Dan - I have tried everything with my pic to upload it. I finally downloaded a resizing program and when I resized it to100x100 it is about the size of a pencil eraser. Why is it so small? What am I doing wrong. I have been frustrating Babes with it and she said it is the first one she can't resize.

Is there something to do with how it was originally saved. I don't know much of anything either, but sometimes when I save a pic from a photo program I then just add jpg to the ending. Does that make it unusable or something?

Thanks for tips above!

Obsessing...

Assuming the initial picture isn't huge. *LOL*

If ya want, email to me at shues@nauticom.net

If it is, I'll PM you the email address I have at work. But, the nauticom addy should work...

I'll talk a look at it and see what I can come up with, okie?

~Dan

The picture muight just be too big. I have another little older pic
(3 yrs ago) and it is smaller, but when I try to resize it I get a message that says Error 52.

Have a good day and thank you so much.

Here ya go, obsessing...

I'll email this to you too...

http://web.ecomplanet.com/DAN9015/ServerContent/MyCustomImages/DAN9015CustomImage012781.jpg

I tested it and it should work.

Dan -so now do I direct options to the url you sent me, or do I download it to my desktop and upload it from there?

I am getting ready to go to work so I may not get to this until later tonight.

Thank so much Dan. You're a genius!

Abby

Abby...

I also emailed you a copy of the avatar...

Probably what would be best is to save it to your desktop and go to your avatar optionions and upload it. That space I have, only allows for 10 pictures to be on and any one time, so quite often I rotate it and I wouldn't want your avatar to get deleted accidently...

I'm glad I could help though!

~Dan

Abby! You are hot! You look so pretty! Nice pic!!

P.S. And Dan is our resident perverted genius. :D

*LOL*

I don't deny it Tru, and I'm dang proud of it!

I knew you were going to ask that Lynn...*LOL*

It was wierd, I couldn't initially open it, because it's actually an AOL .art file. The usual program I use couldn't open it. And I suspect the other programs might not as well...

What I ended up having to do was do a little search. Went to download.com and searched for a program that might look like it would help with the .art stuff. One came up.. a trial version of ACD mPower Tools. Downloaded and installed it....

It was able to open up the picture...where I could save it as a regular ole jpeg. From there? I was able to resize it down to what it needed to be.

And Voila...*LOL*

Hope that helps! *smiles*

~Dan

Here's today's tip. Might not be as useful as yesterdays, however, you might be able to pick up on it! *smiles*

Q. I have way too many people who send me jokes, Internet chain letters, Web sites they like, hoaxes and just about everything else under the sun. I really do not like getting all this junk. I want it all to stop. But, I know if I tell them, I might hurt their feelings. What can I do?

A. This is a tough one. You could change your e-mail address. That
would get you off all lists immediately. Otherwise, the right way to
say good-bye depends on how well you know the people who are sending you this stuff.

Here's how I handle it. If the person is a family member or close
friend, I will write them a note that says something like this: "Thank you so much for including me on your list of people who receive your Internet goodies. I am really glad that you are thinking about me. But there's a problem. I am overwhelmed by e-mail. So if you could please take me off the list, I would really appreciate it. Now, this doesn't mean I don't want to get e-mail from you ever again. Please keep me up-to-date on what's happening in your life. And thank you for understanding. It's nothing personal."

If I do not know the person at all, I send them a request to remove my name. I keep it simple and straight to the point. Remove me from this list. Thank you.

And if that doesn't work and I am still getting e-mail from that
particular person, I send the person a fake bounced mail message. You know, it's one of those messages that says this e-mail address is no longer valid.

Make the Subject of the e-mail something like Invalid Address. In the body of the e-mail message, I put the following:

"!! RETURN TO SENDER !!

"To: (Put your e-mail address here)

"IS NOT A VALID ADDRESS!

"Please update your database or address book accordingly."

This trick seems to work for me all the time.

***********************************

For Friday and this weekend's Tip/Trick...I'm going to put together a list and summary of some of my favorite freeware programs. I'll give you the name, website and reasons why I recommend them.

Enjoy! *smiles*

~Dan

And here's an additional Computer Tip/Trick....for those that might be buying a new computer and wondering about whether you should buy those "new fangled" 64 bit processors that have come out...

Q. I am looking at new computers. Apple has a 64-bit processor, as does AMD. Intel's processors are still 32 bits. Should I scratch Intel off my list?

A. The new 64-bit processors have two advantages--on paper, at least--over their 32-bit cousins: They can handle twice as much data at once, and they can address a great deal more memory.

They also have a current disadvantage: There's practically no 64-bit software available to run on them. Consumer versions of Windows XP are purely 32-bit. OS X has just a little 64-bit code. Microsoft and Apple are cooking up true 64-bit operating systems for consumers, but they aren't ready yet.

A bit is the smallest measure of data. It's either a 0 or a 1. Eight bits make a byte. So a 32-bit chunk of data is four bytes. To understand this issue, you need to know a little about microprocessors. They include registers, where data is placed while the chips work on it. Registers in most chips are 32 bits wide, while the new ones hold 64 bits. So the new guys potentially have more data to work on at any given time. That should make them much more powerful.

However, the software has to be coordinated. Since that hasn't happened yet, these expensive, high-tech chips will be loafing along with 32 bits in their registers.

In addition to handling more data, 64-bit chips can theoretically
address 18 million trillion bytes of memory, or 16 million terabytes. (A terabyte is approximately 1.1 trillion bytes.) Thirty-two-bit chips can address 4 GB of memory. The 4-GB limit is unlikely to be an issue for consumers, but it often is for servers that run huge databases. In fact, Sun and others offer 64-bit server chips for that reason.

Should you buy a 64-bit computer? No, unless you are willing to pay for bragging rights. So, keep Intel on your list. But this time next year, there should be consumer programs available. The first ones will probably be games. A 64-bit machine may well be worthwhile, then.

*****************

As a side note, why you may not need a 64 bit processor right now, there is an upside to this happening, if you buy your own parts. AMD is the one that came out with this 64 bit processor recently. This has caused many of the other AMD processors to drop in price. So, a very good deal all around.

~Dan

God, I just love brainy guys! *Swoon!*

Dan, I just bought a new Dell (please don't ask me what kind) desktop? Anyhoo, ALREADY it's more sluggish and saying that it's "virtual memory" is too low! How can this be possible? It was set up in mid-July.

*LOL*...swooning for a computer geek, ain't that interesting! *grins*

Polly...

Do you have alot of programs that start when you boot up? Each thing that starts on bootup when Windows starts up, eats away at memory. The more memory you eat up, the less you can do and the slower it will get as you leave it on for long periods. (This type of thing was most noticable with the Windows 98 and older operating systems.)

There are a few things you can do (I'm not sure what Operating System you have, so I'm just going through general things here.)

You said you bought it in mid-July? Have you run the scan disk and defragmenter utilities since then? Part of the problem is that files in your system could be moved all over the place and fragmented into smaller chunks all over your hard drive. Thus making your computer slower, because it has to assemble them all.

The other possability, is that you might have spyware and/or a virus on your machine. Do you have a anti-virus program? Do you keep the virus definitions up to date? If you do...run a full scan on your computer.

As well as go to security.kolla.de (unfortunately, it looks like thier server is down) and download "Spybot: Search and Destroy" altnerative download site here: http://spybot.safer-networking.de/

Install it and get the latest updates for it and run it and try to get rid of spyware...

The thing is, Polly...alot of it depends on what came in your system. Alot of it depends upon how much memory you have (RAM). If you don't have alot, then you can't have as much running. If you only have 64 or 128 meg of RAM, you won't be able to run and have running on startup as much as, say, me...who has 512 meg of ram.

You have to be...frugal? Or...wary of what all you have running.

If anything of this confused you, Polly...please feel free to send me an email at shues@nauticom.net and Friday night or over the weekend, I'll try to write out longer/more detailed/better instructions on some things you might be able to do, to help your problem.

Hope that helps!

~Dan

The first time I tried to upload it it said it was toobig again! But I tried again and BINGO -it loaded.

Now I can quit 'obsessing' over it!

Thanke Tru btw!

You are quite welcome, obsessing! *smiles* I'm glad it worked. Not sure why it gave you that error , initially. Must of just been a glitch...

Glad it worked, though...I had fun figuring out the problem so I could view and shrink your beautiful face! *smiles*

~Dan

Dan's tip for Friday, November 21st...(over the weekend I'll be doing that list of freeware.)

****************
Do you love the little icon in the Quick Launch area of your taskbar that minimizes all your open windows and takes you directly to your desktop? Me too. But I've found it a cumbersome process to restore this icon if you happen to delete it when rearranging your taskbar.

However, I've figured out a very simple procedure that'll give you back your Show Desktop icon. And even if you don't know what I'm talking about, I highly recommend you follow these steps to add the Show Desktop icon. It's a fabulous little tool. You'll thank me!

Get your tweak on!!

Open Notepad and enter the following text.

[Shell]
Command=2
IconFile=explorer.exe,3
[Taskbar]
Command=ToggleDesktop


Now save the new file as "Show Desktop.scf" (without quotes). I recommend you save it to your desktop, then drag-and-drop the icon to the Quick Launch bar or whatever location you want the shortcut to appear. If you're a big Start Menu fan, put it there!

Dan,

How did you do all that work in, I would say, less than 10 minutes?? Thanks again.

And Lynn, thanks for all the effort you put into trying to help me.
I know you must have started to dread my emails. I'm surprised you didn't send me one of Dan's "this is not a valid email address" letters!

Dan - I'm from Pa and know of 2 different Cranberry areas - one north of Wexford, and one near Franklin. Are you in one of these areas? IM me if you don't want this out there. You don't have to answer, but I promise, I won't stalk you!;)

Obsessing...

How did I get it done in less than 10? Well, more like 15 or so. Actually, what took the longest was waiting for that program to download. Our network is horrible and is no where near what it should be.

As for which area? Hey, I don't mind saying out in the public. If anyone messes with me, that's why I got my trusty breaker bar with me. *LOL* I'm actually the one north of Wexford. The Cranberry that was the fasting growing city in America for like 5 or so years straight a handful of years ago. *lol*

But yes, that Cranberry....such a fun name, isn't it? *LOL*

~Dan

Lynn - what are you holding in your avatar? My eyes aren't that good and I'm too lazy to go get my glasses out of my purse.

Dan - I lived in Wexford about 20 years ago or so. That whole Cranberry area did grow - and when I-279 was put in it just seemed to explode. I'm up near Erie now. HOw about our weather? It's more like Spring!

Wooo Hooo!!

I also cure baldness! *LOL*

Obsessing, you're right...it did explode. Traffic is HORRIBLE around here. Why do you think I carry that breaker bar? *LOL*

This place has turned into a mini-Pittsburgh. In fact, everyone is leaving Pittsburgh and people are coming here, it seems. There is just about every kind of store you need here. Heck, there's sometimes two of some places within like 2 miles. *LOL*

The weather has been like the spring...which sucks, because you know winters around here are heck! Tuesday? It's going down into the 20's though, which I do relish...lets me start our wood burner. *LOL*

You come back down this way often?

I'll be missing warming my hiney by a woodstove - first year in many, many years. Moved out of my house and into an apartment with natural gas heat.

I never get back there unless I am on my way to the airport which almost never.

Are you a hunter? I know most of the guys are wanting the snow for opening day - a legal Pa holiday!

You're welcome to come down and warm your hiney in my house...*LOL*

This place is so built up nowadays....it's amazing. Heck, they just made it so Cranberry no longer is a toll on the turnpike. They put a connector, connecting Route 79 with the Turnpike...try to alleviate some of the traffic...

It won't work...*LOL*

And no, I'm not a hunter. My boss and co-worker is...

Which works for me because I like the office quiet. *LOL*

off-line that is.

Anyhoo....okay Dan - I'll be down. As long as you don't start singing

"put another log on the fire, then come and tell me why yer leavin' me!"

no really. I don't think my bf would appreciate me visiting ya'll.
His wife left him over an internet connection she made. He has no interest in the 'puter and tried to act like he doesn't care when I am on here so much, but I know he is still a tad uneasy about it.

I asked him if I could post a pic of the two of us here and showboat that he is, he agreed. Now i'll have to find someone with a digital!

Have a good one!

great thread dan! very useful... :cool:

Originally posted by Zephirine
Hi Dan *wink wink* I'm hoping you could help me out on this one ... Our new computer arrives next week!!!! We're so excited, my daughter and I ... But thing is we only have one internet connection to our broadband provider, and soon two computers. So I'm thinking we have to buy a hub, so that we can share the access. What kind of hub would you recommend? Or ... how should I be thinking when I buy one?

I don't know, maybe you were thinking more of a software thread, but I thought I'd give it a shot .....

I know I'm not Dan, but in my house we have the same thing and I use a Linksys router. I'm not sure why I chose that instead of a hub but I remember someone helping me in the store (this was 3 or 4 years ago)

So yeah Linksys router's work too :)

Get a router....... here is why:

Every computer needs an IP ADDRESS to *connect* to the internet. Your broadband provider is "providing" you ONE IP ADDRESS right now. An IP address is a set of numbers(octet) that acts as a gateway to the web. (###.###.###.###) It doesn't matter whether you use broadband, DSL or dialup..... you still need this.

To add another computer, you will require a SECOND IP for the new computer. To achieve this, you can do two things:

1) By a hub and pay your provider an additional monthly fee (mine was $4.95) to be issued that second IP; using the hub to split the access to the broadband.
2) Buy a router and share one IP you have and split the access to the broadband.

The router is more expensive than a hub, but pays for itself eventually by eliminating that extra IP fee. Routers have more protective features. It takes one IP and splits it to new ones that your pc's use, making it more difficult to be hacked. Usually have firewall with them, which protects further.

I started with a 4-port hub and 2 pcs; paying for second IP. It worked, but later I wanted to add two more pcs (boyfriend's) and bought a router. Much better in the long run. ;)

Only other advice is get a decent router. Cheaper one's have small amount of memory to them, and crash alot. I bought a NETGEAR router (about $60) and it's a piece of crap. I have to reset it all the time. Matter of fact .......it's being returned this weekend for a LYNKSYS router that has more memory.

Hoped that helped clarify things for you.

Thanks for the help....had some stuff I needed to do this morning and others inputs are always appreciated...

I would definetly concur with what Trebmal and Gypsy have said. I would go with a wireless router. Create yourself a wireless network in home. That way, you only would need one printer...one internet connection. You can share things out.

The information that is provided with the router and by your ISP should provide you with enough information to set up the network with no problem...

I would definetly go with Lynksys. I've used other products, like Realtek NIC cards and have always had a problem with the connection stalling out for like 30 seconds and then picking back up. When I switched the NIC card out with a Lynksys....I never had a problem. Everything was fine...

Not to mention, Lynksys always seems to give some nice rebates. Got my NIC card for like 10 dollars, after rebates. *LOL*

Zephirine, between the information that me, Trebmal and Gypsyheart provided...I hope you had your questions answered. If not, please just drop another message and I'm sure I or anyone else will do our best to answer them...

*smiles*

Been busy and don't have that list of freeware done. HOWEVER, here is a nice little tip you can download...

***************

Google Deskbar includes the same searching capabilities as the toolbar, but it lives in the taskbar at the bottom of your screen, whether your browser's open or not!

Enter a search term.

Choose to open your results as a new browser page or in a mini-viewer that'll animate over whatever you currently have open.

Use the handy icon to the right of the Deskbar as a shortcut to Google Images or News, definitions, advanced options, and more.

I love Google and I love a good program. The Google Deskbar is both. All hail Google.

Go here to Download Google Deskbar (http://toolbar.google.com/deskbar/)

www.download.com

where dreams are made of.

Here's my "review"...I hope you enjoy the read:

IrFanView - http://www.irfanview.com/ - IrFanView is a nice little program that you can use to view graphics. It has other capabilites. You can resize pictures, flip, rotate. You can work with the colors to some extent. As well as use some filters to blur, sharpen and do other effects to your pictures. You can create slideshows of pictures on the fly. You can also save the slideshow as an executable file OR, as a screen saver file. A quick and easy way to make a screen saver, isn't it? The program is free. However, you can register your version (of course, with a little payment) and you can add some other features and get some other plugins. If you do not have a powerful graphics program but do want to be able to manipulate pictures in some aspects, this is a definte good program. It's what I use to help people with there avatars...so, it must be pretty good!

Spybot: Search and Destroy - http://www.safer-networking.org/ - I talked about this piece of freeware the other day. Everyone has heard about spyware...adware...all that type of "evil" stuff. This free program will go out and search your computer for it and delete it. The program is totally free. The creator does offer a way to make donations, but that is not required for download or keeping the program. Once you download it, I suggest you go to the "Updates" feature of the program and download the latest definitions and detections. It will automatically download them updates and install them for you. Spybot is very thorough in it's searching. Additionally, sometimes there are times when a bad file and/or program can not be deleted because it is running because you're computer has started. If so? Spybot will ask you permission to start first the next time you boot up. Before windows loads all the way, it will start and scan your drive. I personally install this on ALL computers that I do work/maintainence on and I have not had one complaint yet. Besides, how can you pass this up with a sweet name like, "Spybot: Search and Destroy"?? *LOL*

Winamp - http://classic.winamp.com/ - Everyone likes to listen to music on thier computer. Well, let me rephrase that, alot of people do. And some people don't like the default player when you install windows, Windows Media Player. Perhaps the best player out there and personally one of my favorites, is Winamp. I have given the link to where you can download version 2.9. The reason is because Winamp screwed up when they put 3.0 out, and they even admitted it. 3.0 is very bloated, resource intensive and slow. Winamp recognized that and gave people the option to download a better version. I admire them for this one, to admit that is very big of them. I digress though....winamp is very robust in that it plays most of the many file formats used today. I personally make it my default player for all file formats. Additionally, winamp will play most video file formats as well. It is a small program, only a few meg download...and it can really do alot in there. The interface is very easy to do and recommend it highly.

KaZaa Lite K++ - http://www.klitesite.com/ - Yes, I can hear what some are saying, "I'm supporting downloading illegaly." I never said that though. Yes, you can do that. However, there are so many more things you can do. You can download non-copyrighted songs. You can download videos. Maybe there are very old radio broadcasts out there. Maybe there are comic book reprints from years ago? There are all kinds of LEGAL things you can search for. And that is why I'm adding this to my list. Note, this is NOT regular KaZaa. This is a special "lite" version. This does NOT include the adds and spyware and security holes that KaZaa offers. Later this week, I will post tips/tricks to make YOUR KaZaa program optimized. You can probably figure them out yourself if you go through the options. However, I'll go through and give them to you as well...and a brief explaination of each one. The creators of this program (NOT the one's that made normal KaZaa) really took there time and gave you a program that is easy to use, easy to configure and will keep most of the "bad guys" out. KaZaa is perhaps the most popular one to use. With over 3.6 million users and over 5 MILLION gig of files out there...there are very few things you won't be able to find. If you need to use Peer 2 Peer software, this is definetly a good pick and "Dan Approved"...*LOL*

Microsoft Windows Update - windowsupdate.microsoft.com - The other way to get to this, should be at the top of your Start Menu. I put this here, even though it's not exactly freeware. However, it is something EVERYONE should do. If you haven't, you really need to. Hopefully everyone knows about Windows Updates and the critical updates. And hopefully, you are doing them. However, I've worked on many computers that people haven't done them. These are a must, really. They include security fixes and patches. They include general fixes for Windows as well that are very important. They are easy to download and once they download, they generally will install on there own. Only a few don't. These fixes are important...they can keep you from being hacked into as well as they can prevent you from being vulnerable to viruses. Definetly do these.

Zone Alarm - http://download.com.com/3000-2092-10247409.html?tag=lst-0-6 - Sorry about the long download URL. *LOL* Zone Alarm is a free firewall. I personally would go out and buy a firewall program from Symantec (Norton), but if you need a firewall asap and do not want to purchase one, Zone Alarm comes in handy and is free. If you have broadband, you NEED a firewall. Broadband connections are the most vulnerable to being hacked, because the IP numbers usually do not change and are on all the time...giving the hacker enough time to crack into your system. On the page I provided for you, it gives the publishers description of the title as well as download.com's review. Since they did, I'll shut up. But, I will say I DO recommend this free firewall...as it does it's job and does it good. You will be protected, I promise you that.

Opera Browser - http://www.opera.com/ - Some people don't like the Internet Explorer browser for various reasons. And netscape, anymore, isn't really the best thing to get. That is where the "Opera" browser comes in. Opera can be downloaded for free. It does include one ad up at the top of the browser, however, it really isn't that intrusive. (That can be gotten rid of by purchasing it, however, it's really not that big of a deal.) Opera has quite a number of good features built into it. It is pretty fast because it isn't as bloated as other browsers are. Coded excellently. If you delve into the options, you will discover that it will supress pop ups, which is always a plus. Opera is easy to use and can be customized to your liking. If you want a different browser, this is one I definetly recommend.

***************

These are just a few of my favorite pieces of freeware. If anyone has something they want to ask about these programs or another one, feel free to ask. There are a few additional programs I would like to add to the list, including another browser, which I will do next weekend perhaps. But I do want to post this one. I hope you find it informative and useful.

Thank you for reading...

~Dan

nice list dan! i agree with you on this stuff:

1. IfranViewer
-great for any use
2. Opera
-fastest and easiest browser i've ever seen
3. Adware
-for clearing out all your spycrap and ads.
4. KazaaLite
-get almost anything imaginable

Im with with you Dan on the opera browser I really enjoyed it because it was nice that you can customize it to allow pop -ups or not...the only thing I had a problem with was the fact that it cached everything and ate up alot of resources...I couldn't figure out how to make it stop caching so i finally uninstalled it. Do you know how to stop the program from caching? I would love to re-install it.

Foxy...I have the latest Opera and this is how you do it, I do believe...

Go to "File"...and then "Preferences"...

Then go down to the "History and Cache" option...

I made sure "Cache Documents", "Cache Images", and "cache other" are UNCHECKED...and I did check "Empty on Exit"...I also set, below that...where it says checking documents, images, other...I set that to ALWAYS.

That should fix it!

~Dan

Originally posted by Dan_Shues
Foxy...I have the latest Opera and this is how you do it, I do believe...

Go to "File"...and then "Preferences"...

Then go down to the "History and Cache" option...

I made sure "Cache Documents", "Cache Images", and "cache other" are UNCHECKED...and I did check "Empty on Exit"...I also set, below that...where it says checking documents, images, other...I set that to ALWAYS.

That should fix it!

~Dan
yup, or you can manually delete the cached files from the cache folder under C:\opera\cache or whatever directory the program is saved in etc.

Originally posted by youngguy914
yup, or you can manually delete the cached files from the cache folder under C:\opera\cache or whatever directory the program is saved in etc.

The problem is, that really doesn't solve the problem she had. Since, she would have to delete things from that folder every 2 minutes or so...would be mighty cumbersome.

That's why you have to make the change in program.

~Dan

Originally posted by Dan_Shues
The problem is, that really doesn't solve the problem she had. Since, she would have to delete things from that folder every 2 minutes or so...would be mighty cumbersome.

That's why you have to make the change in program.

~Dan
yup i agree. What i usually do is deleted the cached every month or so whenever i feel like too much has been saved. Sometimes i like to keep cache files to refer back to--to find a website or whatever as a reference. But yes if space/memory is a probably, don't cache anything.

I just rated this thread 5 stars, but, if there had been 10 stars I would have voted for 10.

Dan, in my opinion, this is the absolute BEST thread that has ever been created at Agelesslove!

Thank you sooooo very very much for dedicating your time and energy to helping all of us technologically-challenged folks.

C'mon fellow Agelesslove friends, let's ALL vote for Dan's thread.

:)

Yvonne

Dan,

Yes this is the best! So much info and somuch effort put into presenting it to we uniformed and illiterate...

Dan, is there a way to have your calls break your connection without using something like call-wave. I tried the *70, and no *70 but it either just rang, or rang busy.

TIA

ps....the weather must turning to your liking right about now!

Yvonne, Abby...thank you both for your kind comments *Hugs*

Yvonne, you are too kind. *smiles* I don't think this is the best thread....I just like to help people and thought this thread could. Not to mention, it's fun to do this! *smiles and Hugs*

Abby...as what you asked. I haven't really heard of anything good, other than CallWave. They seem to be the best one out there...

There are a few others, though you might try looking into...

Check with your ISP. Alot of ISP's offer some type of Internet Call Waiting.

Also BuzMe! at http://www.buzme.com/

They do have a free version that lets you see who's calling and reply with a text-to-speech message.

Another that only has a 30 day trial and then to purchase is Pagoo! at http://www.pagoo.com/

Take a look at your ISP, though and those pages I sent you. I'm not sure if they will knock you offline or not. I know for sure they should alert you, though. It may not be exactly like what you're looking for, however...it has some options...

I hope that helps! *smiles*

As for the weather down here? Good lord! Saturday/Sunday it was near 70. Today by afternoon rushhour it's going to be near freezing w/ snow flurries and tomorrow it's supposed to be a high of like mid 30's....yeesh! Talk about a swing! *LOL*

Hope that helps ya out, though!

~Dan

Dan - I can't believe that BuzMe - for free! That's all I really need. I have been paying for AOL Call Alert everymonth. Also paying 22. for internet service which is going to change. I think I'm going with unlimited service through Walmart for 9.94 a month. I'm used to AOL, but if I can save a bunch every month, what the heck.

Luv ya,

Abby...*smiles*...I'm glad you found something you like! I really hope it works for you...*grins*

Here's today's tip...

I hate that IE adds the Links folder to my Favorites by default. I don't use it and it doesn't fit into how I organize my links. Try to delete the folder and it comes back empty the next time you launch IE. Totally annoying!

I found two easy ways to get rid of that pesky Links folder. If you're not into messing with the Registry, stick with the first one.

Delete the Links folder for good

Find the Links folder on your C: drive. It lives in a different place depending on your version of Windows.

In Windows 98, you'll find the file in the C:\Windows\Favorites directory.
In Windows XP, you'll find it in C:\Documents and Settings\User\Favorites.

Do a search if you get lost. Once you find the Links folder, just delete it. I promise it'll stay gone forever and ever.

OR....Way #2

RegEdit your way out of Links folder hell:

1) Back up your Registry.
2) Launch the Registry Editor by clicking Start, Run, and type "regedit" (without quotes).
3) Go to HKEY CURRENT USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar.
4) Double-click LinksFolderName in the right pane.
5) Delete the word "Links" in the Value data text box.
6) Click OK.
********

If you never have worked with the registry, I would advise you to NOT do the Way #2. If you don't do something right and mess up another value in the registry, you have the risk of basically hosing your computer...

You'd end up having to redo your system and that's not a very good thing to spend your time doing...*LOL*

If you have worked with the registry before....then be my guest and try! *smiles*

Enjoy...

~Dan

Here's some good stuff for Tuesday, November 25th....enjoy!

Do you hate your alarm clock? I do. Mine is huge and cumbersome, and it takes up too much space on my nightstand. It's really old, and lame to boot. So I decided to turn my computer -- which is in my room and always on -- into my new alarm clock and save myself money, space, and hassle.

I selected two free downloads that turn an everyday computer into a super alarm. I strongly suggest all you dorm-dwellers get one. I know you're packed in like sardines as it is. I really don't miss college.

Daily Alarm Clock - http://www.litespring.com/alarm/
Daily Alarm Clock calls out to you college kids who get sleep in fits and bursts, getting up at different times throughout the week (and day). You can schedule your alarm to go off once or twice a day with any sound you like.

Karen's Alarm Clock - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptalarm.asp
Karen Kenworthy's site, KarenWare, always has good stuff. This nifty little alarm clock is no exception. You can set different alarms throughout the day and you can't miss the huge display

If you have an operating system that I'm not doing tips/tricks for, and would like to see them (say you got Windows 98 or ME)....feel free to let me know...and I'll tackle that too...*smiles*

**********

The Windows logo key, located in the bottom row of most computer keyboards is a little-used treasure. Don't' ignore it. It is the shortcut anchor for the following commands:


Windows: Display the Start menu
Windows + D: Minimize or restore all windows
Windows + E: Display Windows Explorer
Windows + F: Display Search for files
Windows + Ctrl + F: Display Search for computer
Windows + F1: Display Help and Support Center
Windows + R: Display Run dialog box
Windows + break: Display System Properties dialog box
Windows + shift + M: Undo minimize all windows
Windows + L: Lock the workstation
Windows + U: Open Utility Manager
Windows + Q: Quick switching of users (Powertoys only)
Windows + Q: Hold Windows Key, then tap Q to scroll thru the different users on your PC

************

Something I didn't mention the other day. Did you know WindowsXP comes with it's own firewall?

Windows XP contains its own firewall. A firewall is a security system that acts as a protective boundary between a network and the outside world. Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) is firewall software that is used to set restrictions on what information is communicated from your home or small office network to and from the Internet to your network.

ICF also protects a single computer connected to the Internet. If you have a single computer connected to the Internet with a cable modem, a DSL modem, or a dial-up modem, ICF protects your Internet connection.

Enable the ICF by right clicking on your Internet or Network connection and then going to the ADVANCED option and ticking the ICF enable box.

Dan, Dan, the Computer Man.....

Wow, this thread is great, thanks, Dan. I just wanted to say I downloaded the Spybot...Search and Destroy....wow, it's so cool. It got rid of that stupid Comet Cursor, and Gator thing that I had on my puter, and some other junk...and it blocked a whole bunch of other stuff.

I love reading your tips...thanks so much.

Kye

Kye...I'm glad you liked the program. Too bad I can't get a lil "somethin'somethin'" for directing people to his program. *LOL*

During this holiday season...people will be possibly out buying new systems for loved one's, or buying upgrades in some fashion. Now, most people won't be buying individual parts like I did and building thier own system. However, it is good to know some general recommendations for when you do go through someone like Dell, for the various aspects of it.

Alot depends upon what the general use of the system is going to be. Someone that is going to use it for Gaming, will need more "Ummppf" than someone who might only use it for just homework and surfing around the internet. So, when reading these short general recommendations....you got to consider that. As well as, if you do have any questions, feel free to ask. *smiles*

Memory - For the most part, memory is cheap anymore. I would recommend a mininum of 256 meg of memory. If you can find afford it, go with 512 meg of memory. There really isn't much use going with 1 gig of memory. Why? Well, personally for most that is just an overload. You would notice *some* performance enhancements, but it's not going to be as noticable. Not to mention, if you are buying memory as an upgrade for someone who has Windows 98? 1 Gig of Memory will do more harm than good. Windows 98 can not handle that much memory.

Processor Speed - I'm going to say that, you should go with a minimum speed of 2.0 ghz. In a time when top processors are above 3 ghz...much lower than 2.0 is not going to cut it. Most Dell computers are coming with processors above what I said the min. should be. This is extremely critical if you are buying this for someone who is a gamer. The faster, the better. And with games constantly coming out and requiring stronger machines...buying a fast processor now (that is within your budget)...that means you won't have to spend the money to upgrade later.

Hard Drive - I would recommend going with a hard drive that is no smaller than 40 gig or 80 gig if you can afford it. Once again, if you are buying it for a gamer....the bigger hard drive the better. And some of the bigger hard drive's are around 200 gig or more. And some of today's games take up over a gig itself. However, for most, 200 is overkill...heck, 120 gig is overkill for most! Mininimum of 40 gig, because some programs will eat that up in a hurry!

CD Drives - Alot of people are putting DVD Rom Drives in computers now. DVD-ROM drives allow you to enjoy the crystal clear color, picture and sound clarity of DVD video on your PC. It will also prepare you for future software and large data files that will be released or can be created on DVD media. A DVD-ROM drive can also read CD-ROM discs, effectively providing users with full optical read capability in one device. Just as with its CD-ROM drives, DVD-ROM drives allow for high-quality Digital Audio Extraction even when discs have become somewhat scratched or dirty.
I'm going to suggest, though, still going with a CD rom. I'd say...a good 52X CD Rom drive will do you wonders. Want to Add a burner? Burners go up to 52X as well. However, you might not want something that fast. However, a burner (CD-RW) drive is good to have. Why? Well, you can make copies of CD's (By law, you are allowed to make one copy of a purchased software CD, for backup.) And, burning critical files to a CD is a great way to make backups of all important information. Got pictures or financial files you want ot save? Burn them to a CD...always good to have, because they rarely go bad.

Video Card - There are two main manufacturers of video cards: nNivida and ATI. I, personally, prefer ATI cards. How big the card is, depends upon the use. For gamers, 128 meg video card is a must. Foro ther uses...you can probably get away with 64 meg video card. I could actually write a full page just based upon video cards. But...what i said is just a general rule of thumb. I'll just leave it at that, if you want more details on this, let me know.

Sound Card - Depending upon the computer you get, some motherboards are coming with excellent on board sound. Excellent. The thing is, though, onboard devices can use up CPU power. For the gamer type...I would go with a Sound Blaster 2 Audigy card. Provides crystal clear sound and a plethora of options. If you get a sound card you will definetly want to get quality speakers. Speakers are a subject I can't really give help with...because there are just a variety of speakers. But, if you aren't buying a system for a gamer....I wouldn't go with the card I suggested.

Misc. other things - Floppy Drives (3 1/2 inch drives) and Zip Disks. For someone who is taking this computer to college, these are almost a must. Why? Most colleges still use computers that have either/or/both. Usually, both. Floppy Drives are pretty much standard. And most people choose 250 meg zip drives. As for Modems....if you have dialup...a modem is needed of course. There really is no specific brand I would suggest...US Robotics. Some computers come with an on board modem. The same goes for a Network Interface Card. If your reciever is going to take this to school (and can use thier network) or if you have broadband at home...you will need a NIC card. Some computers will come with an onboard LAN (Local Area Network) connection. If it doesn't or you want a Nic card...I would go with Linksys. I've never had a problem with them.

These are just some general rules of thumb, coming from me. If you want more specific...feel free to ask. I will offer as much or as little help as you want. And if you don't understand something, please continue to ask questions. It doesn't annoy me or bother me...

I enjoy doing this stuff...

*smiles*

~Dan

Hey Dan, great thread and great idea.
I have a question...... I get some nice e-mails that I wish to send on to someone. These have been "forwarded" a dozen times or more. If I want to send this e-mail to soneone else without sending all the other addresses, how would I do it? In other words, how do I forward an e-mail that was forwarded to me without all the other addresses?

Thanks

Cowboy

Cowboy....

What are you using to read your email? Are you using Yahoo, hotmail, outlook express?

~Dan

Mostly Hot mail and some yahoo.

Cowboy

Cowboy...

I was doing a little searching around yahoo and hotmail. I don't usually use them, only for a few things where I don't want to give my home account out.

From what I seen, pretty much there isn't exactly a good way to do what you want to do. From what I can see, there is no set way to do that...

With something like Outlook Express, it's easier to do, cause you can go to the initial forward itself and forward that.

For you, probably the easiest thing to do? Is to copy the message and paste it into an entirely new and fresh message and then forward it to all the people you want to forward it to. The advantage of doing this, is you can also clean the message up...you can first page the message into wordpad? And using the find and replace feature feature, find all the <'s in the msg and replace them with nothing...

Sorry I can't fix the exact problem. (If anyone does know how, please do speak up, because I'm curioius myself. *LOL*) But, I hope that helps regardless.

~Dan

Babes....

Thanks for clarifying that up. I suppose I do make things difficult sometimes. *LOL*

*Hugs*

~Dan

Thanks yall.
I will try that.................

Cowboy

Does the new Windows XP Start menu take up too much space on your desktop? You can easily change the look back to the Windows Classic Start menu by following these steps:

Right–click the Start button, and then click Properties.
Click Classic Start menu.
Click the Customize button to select items to display on the Start menu.

By default, selecting the Classic Start menu also adds the My Documents, My Computer, My Network Places, and Internet Explorer icons to your desktop.

************

More comfortable performing a task with the familiar Windows Classic user interface? You can quickly switch the user interface to the familiar Windows Classic appearance on your computer if it helps you remember a task in your operating system or program. You can go back to the original Windows look with a couple clicks.

Right-click on your desktop, and then click Properties.
Click the Appearance tab.
On the Windows and Buttons menu, select Windows Classic. Click OK.

There you go, now you can feel right at home with the old look, and you'll still get the best out of Windows XP, new look or old.

Dear Danno, Almighty God of Computers and all that they encompass, as you know from being in chat with me last night, I installed Yahoo Messenger so my Yahoo buds could see me online (I have AOL Broadband), and it did something really weird to my computer. As I was chatting with you guys in the chat room, all of the sudden, everything I typed was in caps, then it turned to lower case, then I couldn't type anything, it froze. I did get a message when I was at Yahoo, something about my browser not being compatible.

I don't know how to switch browsers or do anything through Internet Explorer...in fact, I get sweaty and panicky at thought! Help me, Oh Great One!!!

Polly...

What happened last night definetly made me wonder.

If you want to try switching browsers? Try going to www.netscape.com and downloading that browser.

Are you keeping current with your Windows Updates? Because you shouldn't have to worry about a browser being incompatible. Hmmmm....I'll brainstorm more throughout the day and see what I can come up with, okay? *smiles*

OH! Something else. You're on AOL Broadband....are you running a firewall? Because, it's possible someone could be breaking into your computer. If you don't have a firewall up, get that zone alarm firewall I was talking about and make sure you do a virus scan with an up to date set of virus definitions.

Like i said, I'll brainstorm more through the day and see what I can come up with...

*Hugs*

~Dan

Q. I think someone is hacking into my e-mail. People tell me they send me e-mails but I don't get them. Could someone be using my account?

A. This is pretty scary. I can think of a few ways someone could do
this. They may have placed a program on your computer that allows them to operate it. Or they may have gotten access to a program you use for remote control.

Before we get into those ideas, there are some things you should do immediately. First, turn off your computer when you're not using it.

Next, change your e-mail password. The intruder might be able to get your e-mail now because the password approval is automatic. Most e-mail programs allow you to enter your password and check for new mail automatically. Change your password, and set the e-mail program to require that it be entered manually each time you check for new mail.

Lastly, remove credit card and Social Security numbers, passwords and other sensitive data from the computer. If someone has access to it, they could loot your bank account or steal your identity.

So let's look at how an intruder might do this. Perhaps the intruder has placed a program on your computer. This probably would be done through trickery, or "social engineering." An intruder would offer you a free program, usually through spam. When you downloaded the program, another secret program also would download. You wouldn't know anything about that.

That secret program may be communicating with the intruder's computer though a backdoor communications port on your computer. Conceivably, it could be used to control your computer. Or it could download another program to give the intruder control.

Check these sites to see if there are any open ports on your system:
https://grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2
http://www.dslreports.com/scan

If this is the case, there are two things you can do. Use anti-virus
software. This should identify the rogue program and help you eliminate it. And install a firewall.

Today's tip...

In the past it was darn near impossible to create a personal screen saver using your own photo collection. You had to track down a third-party application and sloppily piece together your pictures. The engineers at Microsoft must have realized they hated third-party applications and decided enough was enough. This shows you how to take the pictures stored in your My Pictures folder and display them in random order as a screen saver in XP.

To make a personal screen saver in XP, follow these directions:

1) Right-click an empty spot on your desktop and choose Properties.

2) Click the Screen Saver tab inside the Display Properties dialog box.

3) In the Screen Saver pull-down menu, choose "My Pictures Slideshow."

4) Underneath the Screen Saver pull-down menu, adjust the time of inactivity before Windows will initiate your screen saver.

5) Click Settings to make additional adjustments. You'll be able to adjust transition effects between pictures, how frequently they change, what size the pictures should be, and more.

6) Click OK when you're done tweaking the settings adjustments.

7) Click the Preview button to see what your screen saver looks like.

8) If everything is to your liking, click Apply.
***********************
Have you ever wished you could customize your computer to greet you with sounds of your choosing? Whether you choose Windows-preformatted WAV files or ones you've created or downloaded, you have the option to easily switch sound properties for almost any event in Windows. This walks you through these steps to customize sound settings for most events within Windows.

1) Single-click the Windows button.

2) Mouse over Settings and open Control Panel.

3) Click Sounds icon.

4) Scroll through the menu and notice which events have a speaker next to them.

5) To preview a sound, highlight an event and click the black triangle.

6) To change this highlighted event sound, use the pull-down menu and select a new sound option.

7) If you'd like to use your own sound for an event, hit the browse button and map the path to where the .wav file is stored on your hard drive.

8) Click Apply after you've finished making your changes.

Looking for free WAV files? This will point you in the right direction: http://www.thefreesite.com/Free_Sounds/Free_WAVs/index.html

All righty....I have a puter problem. I'm running Win ME. Now, for MONTHS....my puter has been screwing up. I get all these little error messages on start up...about three of them. I just close them and they go away. My printer and webcam will absolutely NOT work, no matter that I've tried to reinstall and stuff. I have up to the minute virus control, so that's ok. When I try to scandisk or defrag, i don't get anywhere. It says a part of my HD is damaged. Well, what do I do about that? Darn it, this is a new 40 gig HD, I haven't had it that long. What do you suggest? Do I have to erase my HD, and then reload Windows? I can do that if I have to, but only as a last resort. Or do you think I'll have to replace the HD?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this.

Oh, also, I'm in a new house, a BIG OLD one, and will be networking four computers together. I'm at a loss here. Cable or DSL? I read the tips about the Lyncsys router. Gah. At my old house, we had dial up, and only one computer could be online at a time. I have no idea how to do this. Any tips are welcome.


Kye

Kye....

To be quite honest, Windows ME was probably the worst operating system that Microsoft put out. It was thrown out there and was buggy as heck...so, that's part of the problem...

What error messages are they? Depending upon what they are, I'll be able to help better...

Even though you shouldn't have to, have you tried doing scandisk and defrag in safe mode? It's possible something is running, that is writing to the drive and not allowing those to function properly...

As for the hard drive issue itself....

Does it list the full size when you check the properties of the drive out? (I mean, it's going to say less than 40 gig because of the difference between bytes and megs)...but, is it listing most of the drive? And when you got the hard drive...how did you format the drive?

If you can get me the errors and such, that'll help me more probably.

As for DSL vs. Cable?

Are the phone lines old? Because if the phone lines are old and have never been replaced, the DSL service might be very...bad? It may not perform up to proper standards or, they may not be able to do it at all. If the phone lines are new? I would go with DSL...

Cable, yes, is faster. However as more people get on, it can slow down. With DSL, it's a constant speed, more or less. But alot of it, is going to depend upon the phone lines...as well as how far away you are from one of thier nodes. Once you talk to them, they will be able to better inform you...

Does that help, Kye?

I hope so....if ya have more questions and that info, just let me know!

~Dan

I have to leave for work right now, but I will gather some more info for you. I'll restart the computer and check out the error messages. I'll look into a diff windows version, find out about my phone lines, and all that other stuff you said. It might be Friday before I have a minute tho, I work a lot. Thanks, Dan.

Ok Dan. I still can't get a picture in my posts. What am I doing wrong? I just don't get it. Please help! Do I have to click on IMG in the vB code when posting a reply or a thread? Then the little box comes up to enter the script prompt, and you have to paste something in the box: http://

So, where do I get the info I need from a picture to paste it in there? Properties? This is so frustrating. :confused:


Thanks for your help, Dan, I couldn't do it without you!
*flutters eyelashes at Dan*

kye...no problem on that. *smiles*

Xited...to get the URL of a picture, right click on the image and choose properties, yes. You'll see Address (URL)...you can then use your mouse to highlight that text, right click and copy...

Then, when you want to post an image, it's like you said. Click on the Image Button and paste the URL into that line and hit okay. One thing though because I've seen some people do it. Make sure there are not two instances of http in there, because by default it does put that much in when the box first pops up.

Hope that helps...if you're still having problems, just let me know! *smiles*

~Dan

Originally posted by Dan_Shues
Kye....

To be quite honest, Windows ME was probably the worst operating system that Microsoft put out. It was thrown out there and was buggy as heck...so, that's part of the problem...
~Dan

Yeah Dan, it probably was. 98SE is great...... but ME does have one thing, and for many, imo, it is great.....

IT'S LOADED WITH DRIVERS:D

For that reason alone, and on systems where thye driver discs are non-existent, ME has it over 98SE. Many of the bugs can be overcome with the patches from Microsoft...

But, I prefer Win 2000 pro.

Just prior to my getting out of the industry (early 2003), LOLOL, a person brought in an OLD 386 machine, and asked us to update it so it could run XP and get on the net. They didn't like the answer they got:D , thought we were just trying to sell 'em a new box. "But my nephew, who is an expert, said..."

I do not miss the retail / repair side at all;)

I do agree with you there, Salt...that is the only reason ME is better than '98. *LOL*

But if ya think about it, once you get modem/NIC card drivers loaded and functioning, it does make things easier since you can get some drivers at the Windows update...and others from the manufacturer's websites or, if all else fails: www.drivers.com

Both Windows 2000 and XP are good. They are both stable and I've done gaming on both of them and both are just as good. I use XP at home and at work and have very little trouble.

I don't envy you having to tell that woman what you knew...*LOL* Not a good part of the job....

But see, I do like the repair side. I like building them, setting them up and repairing 'em....

Just something about getting into the guts of these things and when you turn it on and it boots? Instant gratification. *LOL*

~Dan

Man, Humpday snuck up on me! *LOL* Didn't realize it was Wednesday....

A recently added feature of Outlook Express (it's included in version 6, which comes with Windows XP) is the ability to read your Hotmail messages. This gives you an easier to use and nicer way to compose and read messages, compared to accessing Hotmail through a browser. If you are familiar with the features of Outlook Express for reading regular POP3 email, you will really appreciate having the same format and tools for using Hotmail.

To set up a Hotmail account with Outlook Express, first open it from the Start Menu. If this is the first time you are opening OE, you will automatically find yourself in the new account wizard. If you have already been using OE, and you want to add a Hotmail account, click the Tools menu, then click "Accounts..." Click the Add button, then choose "Mail..." Enter a display name for you to use to reference the account, then click Next. Then enter in your Hotmail email address and click Next. Make sure that your email server is HTTP, and your provider is Hotmail, and click Next. Verify your email address, and enter your password (optional). if you leave the password field blank, you will be prompted for it each time you open Hotmail in OE. Click Next, then Finish to complete the setup. You may be prompted to download the folders from Hotmail; choose Yes to be able to read your Hotmail email now.

OE will not really download your messages - instead it synchronizes them with the Hotmail web server. This can actually be convenient if you switch back and forth between using OE and using Hotmail from a browser. If you receive many messages, or have a really slow network connection, you may want to change your synchronization settings. Right-click the Inbox (or any folder), and hold the mouse cursor over "Synchronization Settings," then click "Headers Only." This means that only the title of the messages will be downloaded into OE, and the message itself won't be downloaded until you open it. This is also handy for SPAM, which you can delete without opening it.

You can now use Outlook Express for Hotmail in all the same ways that you use it for your regular POP3 email, including creating new folders, moving messages to different folders, contacts/address book, receipts, signatures, etc. Once you have OE set up for Hotmail, you can send a blank email message to hmoex@hotmail.com, and you will receive an automatic response back from Microsoft with some useful information about using Hotmail with Outlook Express.

There is another Update feature of Windows XP that will allow you to do some or most of this process automatically. First, open the Control Panel from the Start Menu. Open the Performance and Maintenance category, and choose System. Click the Automatic Updates tab, and choose which level of automatic updating you prefer by clicking it under Notification Settings. Then click OK and close the Control Panel. You should then (depending on which option you choose) receive little balloon messages in the System Tray (the area by the clock) when updates are available.

********************

A common problem that is mentioned in our Forum is what to do when your computer account password is forgotten. In an attempt to help out with this problem, Windows XP now includes a Password Reset Disk feature. To create a Password Reset Disk, open Control Panel from the Start Menu, open User Accounts, then open (click on) the User for which you want to create a Password Reset Disk. Along the upper left side of the window, click on Prevent a Forgotten Password. This starts the Forgotten Password Wizard. Insert a blank floppy disk and follow the prompts through the Wizard. When the process is complete, label the disk and store it in a safe place.

Here is how to use the disk if you have forgotten your password.

From the Welcome screen, click your user name, then click the Question Mark button. Click Use Your Password Reset Disk, and follow the instructions to create a new password. Once you are logged in with the new password, store your Password Reset Disk in a safe place again

Hello....me again. Ok, my error messages that pop up on every start up are....Mprexe has caused an error in MSLocusr.dll Mprexe will now close. and then Tppaldr has caused an error in unknown....etc etc.

I downloaded the updates for Win ME. I haven't tried scandisk and defrag in safe mode, I'll do that this morning.

Properties of HD....space used is 27.2 Gigs. I don't know how the HD was formatted, a friend had done it for me. I don't know a whole lot about formatting a hard drive, when I do it myself, I just erase it, and then reload my stuff....I don't do anything in particular with the formatting.

I will have DSL as of next Monday. Got a big box in the mail from them full of junk....man. Thankfully my son knows how to network, so hopefully he can get the puters all connected and running. I am in a new house in a new town, I have no idea if the phone lines are old.

I think I answered all your questions? :) Thanks Dan....

Kye

Kye....

Thanks for the information. I'm working on it this afternoon and will post what I find later today, okie? *smiles*

Kookie...thank you! I am glad you enjoy it and find the information useful! *smiles and hugs*....now, can I borrow your comb? *LOL*

~Dan

Okay Kye...here is what I found out...

I wasn't able to find something that narrowed the mprexe problem down to one thing. There are a multitude of things that can result in an mprexe error. MSlocusr deals with Local User management. Meaning, the "profile" that you are using when you log onto your computer. The Mprexe, though...is the problem. I'm going to spend tonight looking over it...because, there is a whole series of things that you could do to try to resolve it...and, I don't want to give you this whole list when it all my be futile. So, I'll see what I can figure out by doing more research tonight...

As for the other error message, Tppaldr? This is what was said about it on one web page:

TPP Auto Loader Application. Background task installed with the drivers for DataStor’s USB 2.0 based external cases for DVD, CD-ROM, and CD-Writer drives, or also installed by the Ahead’s InCD packet writing software (direct write to rewritable CDs). Many DataStor products are re-badged by other manufacturers so this task will be found in other manufacturers’ products

Does that sound like anything you do? If not? Here is how you can disable it so it shouldn't come up again...

Go to the start menu...
Then go to "Run"
Type in: msconfig
You will get the System Configuration Utility with a series of tabs up top?
You will want to go to the startup tab, okay?
You'll see a series of processes that boot up when you start your computer up.
What you need to do, is go down that list and look for Tppaldr and UNCHECK it.
Hit apply and then okay. You'll have to reboot your system.
Hopefully, that will get rid of THAT error...

If you try running scandisk and defrag and it doesn't fix the problem or doesn't do anything at all. There's only one other thing I would try...and that's Norton Systemworks. (You'd have to purchase it...good software to have regardless!) But...with the symptoms you're talking about and the OS that you have? As much as you may not want to, it may require reformatting and putting on either Windows 2000 or Windows XP (if your machine can handle it, that is). If you end up redoing the system and reformatting, if you want to try to salvage that hard drive and not try to be another? Here's what I would do...find out who manufactured the hard drive (seagate or maxtor or western digital) go to there website and download there disk utilites. You can download an executable that when run, will make a formatted disk to boot up to, or you can download an iso. and burn it to a CD (first option is probably the best to do for you)...I'd use that and what I would do? I'd boot up and usually, it's under "Utilities" in the main menu. You would want to choose "write zero's to hard drive"...what this is doing is basically setting it back to the way it came from the factory. No Fat32 formatting, no NTFS...nothing...you can sometimes repair bad sectors that way....sometimes.

Then...I would use a Windows 98 Startup Floppy...and do the formatting the way you probably do.
Hopefully, I didn't make that too confusing. If I did, I apologize and I"ll try to do a better job! *smiles*

I hope the DSL installation goes good, too! If everything is in good shape, you'll really enjoy the speed! *LOL*

Hope all this helps and hopefully by Saturday morning, I"ll have more information on that other error...

~Dan

Wow, thanks for all that info! No, you are not confusing me. I'll let you know things turn out. I didn't mean to take up so much of your time tho!

I have a couple diff Windows laying around....it seems each computer has a diff version, so I could use another one.

Ya know....it's possible that my computer has been screwing up since I added the CD burner. Not sure. Would that have done that Tppaldr thing?

I'm pretty lazy, I think I'd rather install a new HD than try to repair it if it has messed up sectors. I'll look for that program you suggested. Let's see...wjhat kind of HD do I have....let me think....can't remember...I will go gather more info and come back. If this is getting too boring for the masses, I could just PM you..... :)

Thanks SO much for your trouble, Dan
Kye

Kye...

It really is no problem. I enjoy working on computers, enjoy trouble shooting them and enjoy helping others...*smiles*

As for that other error...the mprexe. I haven't been able to narrow it down to one thing. And, quite frankly there are so many possabilities, that I could basically write a whole book on this error so it seems...

I'm going to provide a link to Microsoft's knowledge base...specifically dealing with mprexe problems...if you have time, take a look at it...see if anything might ring a bell, okie?

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=http://support.microsoft.com:80/support/kb/articles/Q178/0/84.asp&NoWebContent=1

*******

It is quite possible that the addition of the CD burner could of caused the Tppaldr error. There could of been a file that was corrupt on the installation of the CD Burner. It wouldn't of been something you did...it would of just happened. It is not an important file, though unless you do the kinds of things that was explained in my last message...

And the instructions that I provided for you, should get rid of that...

I know, trying to fix a bad hard drive is heck. It's also possible that, upon installation of a new Operating System, it's liable to fix that problem as well. I've seen stranger things happen, trust me...(like tonight when a driver malfunction left me with no sound on this machine. *LOL*)

Hope that helps a lil bit more, Kye...

~Dan

Thanks again, Dan. I marked that link you posted, and will look it over tomorrow. I have a big lack of free time lately. Sunday, I plan on just staying home all day, so hopefully I can sit down and try some of your suggestions. I'll keep you updated. Thank you, you're such a sweetie.

Kye

No problem Kye...always glad to help! *smiles*

*****

You don't have to settle for the drive lettering that Windows 2000/Windows XP assigns to your disk drives and CD/DVD drives. You can change them to whatever letter you like! Simply right-click the My Computer icon on the desktop, and choose Manage. In the Computer Management window that opens, in the left-hand pane, click Disk Management, under Storage. In the right-hand pane, right-click the disk that you want to change, and choose "Change drive letter and path..." In the window that appears, click the Edit... button, choose the letter that you want, and then click OK. Be cautioned that if you have programs or anything that referenced that particular drive letter, it will no longer work.

In other words, I would really only rename drives such as CD/CD-RW/DVD drives or Zip Drives.

Kids know not to talk to strangers, but all the rules seem to fly out the window when it comes to the Internet. Bad people online prey on unsuspecting youth, often gathering information through screen names, profiles, and information from conversations. Today I tell you how to protect your identity when you chat and reveal what to do if you think a stranger knows who you are.


Information in your screen name, combined with information from your profile and the things you chat about, can paint a very telling picture of who you are. Here are a few common mistakes and common sense solutions.



Screen names
When creating a screen name, many people use a combination of their first or last name, age, birthday, address, school name, or phone number. For example, you can assume a person with the screen name SFAbbey13 is a 13-year-old named Abby who lives in San Francisco. Football45 could be a person who plays football with the jersey number 45.

Solution: Don't put anything in your screen name that strangers can relate back to you.

Getting too personal in your profile
Many profiles ask for your name, address, phone number, age, gender, and personal news.

Solution: Try to use sites that don't require personal information. Whenever filling out an online profile, remember: Less is best, and try not to reveal personal information.

Chatting with strangers
When you decide to chat with a stranger, they'll typically ask you about yourself. For example, you'll see "A/S/L," which asks your age, sex, and location. When you answer, you reveal identifying information. Indirect questions, such as queries about the weather, sports, school mascot, school colors, and local cultural events, combined with other questions can also reveal your identity to a stranger.

Solution: Chat with people you personally know from your family, school, or other community activities.


If you feel like someone knows who you are, or if you just feel uncomfortable, stop chatting and tell your parents right away.

good post dan

what pisses me off is that people bad mouth the internet as "unsafe" and crap like that but let's face it if you have the computer in an open area there's almost no way a child can get involved in something unsafe. Idiotic parents need to realize this. It's also the fact that the computer revolution pretty much happened with the younger group. The majority of advanced users of the internet are younger while the subpar users are older. Regardless, if your child is spending hours in their room on the computer you check it out. That goes with any other thing: sex romps, orgies, drugs, whatever:p

right, "Young"guy?

Originally posted by xited1
right, "Young"guy?
i dont get what you're saying...it went over my head...

Thank god I'm doing this on a message board, because my voice is SHOT!

Q. Is there any way to stop what appears to be valid Web sites from changing your toolbar, adding desktop icons, and changing
your home page? Ad-aware is good for removing the Registry things they add, but what can stop them from coming into your computer in the first place?

A. While it is possible for a Web site to download spyware or malware to your system, it is very unusual. I spend a great deal of time on the Internet and have never had this problem. If people are attacking you from the Web, you should think about the sites you are visiting there.

If you're having this problem, it's probably because you're downloading intrusive programs. There are many on the Internet, and they do just what you're describing.

You'll often get a message that says something like, "Do you want to download (name of program)." These programs usually offer some kind of Internet search capability, or perhaps changes to your browser. But their main goal is to spy on you or to route you to their advertisers.

When you get one of these messages, stop and think. What does
the program do? Can your browser already do this? Is this new
functionality worthwhile?

In all likelihood, the program offers you next to nothing. In some
cases, there is no explanation. I treat these things as I do door-to- door salesmen and telemarketers: I just say no.

Q. I'm looking at new computers. I see references to HT Technology and HyperTransport. The salespeople cannot explain this clearly. Are they the same thing? Are they necessary?

A. They are not the same thing. HT (Hyper-Threading) Technology is from Intel. HyperTransport was developed by Advanced Micro Devices. Both are relatively new. They are theoretically complementary.

You'll see these technologies advertised with high-end computers. Basically, Hyper-Threading allows the microprocessor to use idle time to perform certain tasks. It can do this with two programs running simultaneously, or with one program that has been written to take advantage of the technology.

According to industry tests, Hyper-Threading works best with programs that tax the microprocessor. On its Web site, Intel has a demonstration that shows a music file being converted to MP3. With Hyper-Threading, it takes 33 seconds. Without it, the job takes 43 seconds.

Hyper-Threading also speeds up the use of filters in Adobe Photoshop CS. According to Adobe, Photoshop has been optimized to take advantage of HT Technology whenever possible. That could be a big deal. Some of Photoshop's components, especially filters, really tax the microprocessor. If you use Photoshop regularly, Hyper-Threading could well be worthwhile.

Microsoft Office is not optimized for Hyper-Threading. Microsoft says that Windows XP is optimized, and that Hyper-Threading would therefore be advantageous for Office. But Office already runs quickly on high-end machines; I wouldn't expect a great deal of improvement.

HyperTransport is a new, faster way to link the chipset on the motherboard with the microprocessor. The chipset is the traffic cop on the motherboard. It tells the various pieces how to work together.

HyperTransport is a protocol that moves data at an effective rate of 1.6 GHz. The idea is to get the data moving closer to the speed of the microprocessor. AMD's fastest chips run at 2.2 GHz. You are most likely to find HyperTransport on systems using AMD's 64-bit chips.

So, here's what I suggest: If you use programs that tax the microprocessor, such as games, photo-editing and video-editing, you need a high-end machine. Most likely, you will see Hyper-Threading or HyperTransport (but probably not both). Even if your programs are not written for Hyper-Threading, they will be in the future.

If you use mostly business programs and surf the Web, you don't need a killer machine. In that case, I'd go for a chip three or four steps down from the top. That might be a 2.4 or 2.6 GHz Intel microprocessor, or the equivalent chips from AMD.

There are several reasons why your Windows XP PC could spontaneously reboot. Here's a quick tip to troubleshoot the problem.


-Right-click My Computer and select Properties.
-Click the Advanced tab.
-Under Startup and Recovery, uncheck "Automatically restart" on a system failure.

Don't buy that book! Download it from the fine folks at Project Gutenberg. Better yet, help it post a book the whole world can enjoy. MP3s are cool, but classic literature e-texts are sublime. They're also legal, as long as the book is in the public domain.

Project Gutenberg started in 1971, long before there was a particularly cheap or open means of making or distributing texts.

What started with the Declaration of Independence has now blossomed into Virginia Woolf novels, Whitman poetry, Shakespeare plays, a few sci-fi titles from Jules Verne and H.G. Wells, and the 10,000th e-book, Magna Carta. Don't miss the brilliant and eclectic reads of which you may not have ever heard.

What they really need is volunteers and funding. Too busy to volunteer? Think about a tax-deductible donation. Visit Project Gutenberg for complete information about how it works and how you can contribute.

http://www.gutenberg.net/

Yvonne...

Thank you! *smiles*

Just as an FYI...the main page of the project is here....it gives alot more information...

http://www.promo.net/pg/

Okay...today's tip....

I do a ton of side work, besides my normal job. Sidework for me is, of course, working on other people's computers. Sometimes, I make house calls...sometimes, I have them bring the computer here.

If it comes here, I have DSL so doing Windows updates aren't a problem...

However, when the person has a dial up connection and I need to do Windows Updates there? It can be....well, a long and arduous process.

If you have to update someone's computer as well (be it parent/grandparent/child)....this tip will come in handy, because you can actually burn the updates to a CD, which is alot easier if you have broadband. You of course, would need a CD burner.

Here is how you do it:

1) On the side of the Windows Update screen, click Personalize Windows Update.
2) Check "Display the link to the Windows Update Catalog under See Also."
3) Click the Save Settings button.
4) Click the Windows Update Catalog link.
5) Click "Find Updates for Microsoft Windows operating system."
6) Select RTM (if she's never installed an update) or SP1 (if she has already installed the service pack).
7) Click Search.
8) Put the updates you want in your download basket.
9) Select your Download Location.
10) Click Download Now.
11) Burn the updates to CD.

******

Happy Updating!

Ok, im fairly good myself, but this problem is stumping me like a tree. Recently, I had a problem with windows installer keeping popping up a lot, during startup - well, i followed some instructions from somewhere (I WISH I REMEMBER WHERE I GOT THEM!) to disable windows installer - BIG mistake, now I can not install anything that uses windows installer! not a game, not anything... is there any way to re-allow windows installer to work? :) I think I changed the registry settings somehow...to disable it.

Thanks a lot, Bud :)

What operating system are you using?

sorry :) wasn't very giving with the details there :p i'm using windows xp, pentium 4, 2.4ghz - oh, and occasionally, when I try to load certain applications, windows installer will randomnly open, but instantly close, about 10 times before the application opens...

Here is a link that may help. If this does not help, holler.......

oops,,,, scrap that link....

BTW, what Ver. of Win are you running?

Quite often the files can be replaced/repaired by reinstalling windows 'over top' without damaging your programs or data.

Okay....this might work, Alex...

To enable it...

This is going to be long and hopefully, not confusing...

Go to the Start menu and to Run...
Type in the run box: mmc
Hit okay
You'll now be at the console/console root...
Go to "File"...and then, "Add/Remove Snap In" from the file menu
Click "Add"
And then in the list, go to "Group Policy" and click "Add"
Click Finish
Close the List of Snap In's...
Then click "Okay" in the Add/Remove Snap In box...
You'll see a tree of Console Root and then Local Computer Policy
And under that, Computer Configuration and User Configuration
Expand the Computer Configuratino Tree out
Click on Administrative Template
Then, in the right window, double click on Windows Component
In that same window, then doube click on Windows Installer
You should then see a list...
The first one should be "Disable Windows Installer"
Double click on that...
And then, change the setting to the approriate one...so that it enables it...
Once you are done...go back up to File...and Save.

I hope that works, Alex...

Windows XP comes with the latest installer, 2.0...so, you won't be able to reinstall it. But, hopefully that will fix your problem. you might have to reboot once you do that....

~Dan

thank you for the effort you put in to helping me Dan :) sadly, I cannot progress further than the "add -> group policy" stage though :( as there is no group policy option... the options are...

.NET framework 1.1 configuration
ActiveX control
Certificates
Component Services
Computer Management
Device Manager
Disk Defragmentor
Disk Management
Event Viewer
Folder
Indexing Service
IP Security Monitor
IP Security Policy Management
Link to Web Addess
Local Users And Groups
Performance Logs And Alerts
Removable Storage Management
Services
Shared Folders
WMI Control

...is it one of these under another name dude? :)

DOAH!

I Think I know why...

You are probably under an account that doesn't have local Administrative rights? I believe to get to THOSE snap in's...you need to have Admin rights, because you are missing a few...

That, or it's possible if you're using XP Home, you might not have those. I'm using XP Pro....so I'm just going by that...

OHH! im using xp home, yes! is there any way to get these rights? or another way to re-enable windows installer? :P afterall, I am the admin of my own computer lol :)

Alex...

For home, it's even messier...

I'm going to provide a link to Microsoft's Knowledge Base about Windows Installer. There are a few things you can do...but, you have to be careful doing them.....

I would write out the instructions, but it's a long process....

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q315346

See if that helps...if you have any questions, feel free to ask...I'll answer them the best I can.

~Dan

Dan, I have this program on my desktop, probably put on by one of my boys.....it is called Power Scan. I have not tried to use it but it always pops up after I log on to the internet. I can't seem to get rid of it. I have tried removing it using the Add/Remove feature in the control panel, but still it remains. How can I get rid of this? Thanks! You're awesome!

xited...

Try going to the website at: http://www.power-scan.com/ (assuming this is the piece of software that is coming up on your system.)

And in the upper left hand corner of the website there is a link to an uninstall file....try using that...

Be careful though...there are some companies that try to pull BS with the uninstall file. In other words, watch when you download the file and execute it. In fact, scan the file once you download it, for virus....just to be on the safe side...

If anything looks suspicious as you're uninstalling things, cancel the uninstall and let me know...

~Dan

Read on for some great tweaks that will let you get the most out of your system. Make sure you're logged in as "Administrator" or have administrator rights before performing these steps.


Reclaim your RAM

Reducing overhead associated with the new themes in XP Home and XP Pro can save you between 4MB and 12MB of RAM.

Here's how to optimize your system if you're using the default Category Control Panel in XP.

Click the Start menu.
Select Control Panel.
Select Performance and Maintenance.
Select System.
Select Advanced Tab.
Under Performance, select the Settings button.
Select the Visual Effects tab.
Select "Adjust for best performance."
Click OK.

If you're using the Classic Control Panel, follow these steps instead.

Click the Start menu.
Select Control Panel.
Select System.
Select the Advanced tab.
Under Performance, select the Settings button.
Select the Visual Effects tab.
Select "Adjust for best performance."
Click OK.
Select Disable and Stop the Themes Service.

You can also shut off XP's themes a different way.

If you're using the default Category Control Panel, follow these steps.

Click the Start menu.
Select Control Panel.
Select Performance and Maintenance.
Select Administrator Tools.
Select Services.
Scroll down and double-click "Themes" in the right menu.
Select the General tab.
Select Disabled under "Startup type."
Click OK to close the panel.

If you're using the Classic Control Panel, follow these steps.

Click the Start menu.
Select Control Panel.
Select Administrator Tools.
Select Services.
Scroll down and double-click "Themes" in the right menu.
Select the General tab.
Under "Startup type" select Disabled.
Click OK to close the panel.

Here are some tips/tricks for using a scanner.

Rules to scan by

<b>Negatives are a plus:</b>
Scan from negatives if you have 'em. The colors will be more true, and you'll avoid problems introduced by print-processing. You'll want to scan your negative at 3000 dpi, according to the very serious guidelines laid down by the California Digital Library.

You could also have a service bureau scan it. If it can wrap your original around a drum scanner, you'd be shocked by the quality a service bureau can deliver. The file will be huge, but it'll offer every bit of detail the original does.

<b>Prep your scanner:</b>
Don't have the negatives? No problem. First, clean the platen (the glass part) of the scanner. Then clean any dust and fingerprints off your image with photo tissue. This is very important. A scanner will pick up anything on the surface of your picture. Having an otherwise-perfect scan ruined by a dirty platen is truly annoying!

<b>Pre-scan the image:</b>
Only scan the portion your picture takes up. You'll want to cut off the empty area of the scanner bed before scanning, rather than scanning the entire 18-inch by 12-inch bed. It's easier to adjust colors this way. This is a good time to spot any fingerprints, hair, or dust you missed earlier!

<b>If you have the storage space, scan at 600 dpi:</b>
That's another expert suggestion from the California Digital Library's Digital Image Format Standards. Because they're trying to make digital images available for future generations in a standard format that preserves detail, it's got some great guidelines.

<b>Save in the best format your storage space allows:</b>
Save your image file as a TIFF (a lossless file format), 8-bit grayscale, or 24-bit color. If storage space is a major issue, use a high quality JPEG.

If at all possible, use the TIFF! That way you can convert your archived photos to other standards 10 years from now with a minimum loss of quality.

<b>Pick the right disc:</b>
If you store your pictures on a CD-R, use an archival quality CD-R disc. At the very least, use a high-quality, brand-name disc. A couple years from now, you don't want find out your pics are stored on a disintegrating disc!

<b>Get to know your scanner's controls:</b>
If you're really serious about scanning, you'll want to learn how to use the histogram in your scanner's controls. It resets the maximum black and white settings, which helps things considerably. You'll probably also want to experiment with the unsharpen mask in your photo-editing software to bring out the details.

<b>Plan B:</b>
If all else fails, have it done professionally. (Just kidding... but if you don't want to deal, and can pay for it, it's not a bad way to go.)

My 'puter took a dump. It says I have to reload windows, a bunch of DLL files are missing or corrupt. Oh well. Might as well get a new system now, that one is so old and slow. Thank God I have my laptop!

Originally posted by kookie1
Please help this computer cripple!

I was playing around with settings (per your post above) and now for some strange reason, when I open a link the new window comes up in a minimized form. It used to always come up maxmized.

I know this is a teeny inconvenience when compared to world peace, but it's driving me NUTS!

Is there a setting somewhere I can change?
i'm pretty computer knowledgeable and i can't figured this out either. Sometimes if you exit and save with the windows all maximized it will stay that way, other times, it doesn't. It's a mystery...Dan englighten us...

kookie...

youngguy is right...

If you open a window, and make sure it's maximized and then go to file and close? That should basically save that "setting"....and then when you open other windows, those should be maximized too...

~Dan

Installing a CD-RW or DVD-R drive in your computer:

When you're installing any type of new drive inside your computer, you should take several issues into consideration. Let's take a look at how to connect a drive to the IDE chain inside your PC:



Unplug your PC and open the case.

While working inside your case, place one hand on your PC's power supply at all times to properly ground yourself. Doing this will lessen the chance of static electricity seriously damaging any of the hardware inside your case. When the unit is disconnected, the power supply is not dangerous.

Most motherboards have primary and secondary IDE channels that are capable of supporting up to four IDE devices. Generally, one of these channels is used by the hard drive and an existing CD-ROM drive. If you have more than one hard drive, more than one CD drive (ROM, DVD, or RW), or a Zip or tape drive, you want to make sure that you still have space for the new drive. In other words, make sure you haven't exceeded the four-device capacity, including the new drive you want to install.

Once you've verified that you have room for the new drive, you'll need to determine which devices are "masters" and which are "slaves." Follow these steps:




When you boot up your computer, it will automatically detect your IDE devices. It will tell you whether the device is a primary or secondary master/slave.

You can also enter into the BIOS/CMOS on bootup. Depending on who makes your motherboard, it should list your devices and specify which are primary and which are secondary master/slave.

Open your machine and look at the pin settings on the drives and check the IDE cables to determine which is the primary or secondary.

Most CD devices have a set of six metal pins (two rows of three pins) located on the back of the drive. These pins are often labeled, telling you which two pins to put the jumper on so as to designate master, slave, or "cable select." Cable select means that the master or slave position will be determined by how the IDE cable is connected to the drives.

You need to determine which devices are masters and which are slaves because the new device will need to be installed as the one that is not taken. If your hard drive is the primary drive, then the CD device should be set to the secondary.


Follow these directions to finish the job:

Once you've set the jumper, it's time to plug your IDE cable and power cable into the drive.

If you have a sound card, connect the cable that came with the new drive to the sound card.

Close your tower and start your computer, making sure your computer sees the new drive.

If your computer doesn't see the drive, try swapping the jumper to the opposite of what you originally set it. If you set it as a master, switch it to slave, and vice versa. Windows operating systems should see the drive without any special drivers, but most CD drives come with a driver just in case you're using a non-Windows operating system.

The last step is to locate the disk that came with the drive. This disk should contain the burning software you'll use to burn. Most likely it's either Easy CD Creator or Ahead Software's Nero.

Q. I use Windows XP and have 128 MB of RAM. I want to add another 128 MB. What do I need to know so that I can be sure I order the right kind? What's the difference between the types of RAM? Is the RAM's speed important?

A. Smart move. XP is pretty limp with 128 MB of RAM. In fact, I recommend 512 MB if your machine will hold it.

New machines today almost all use DDR SDRAM(double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory. That's a mouthful!). Some high-end computers use RDRAM, made under license to Rambus. And older computers used SDRAM.

Check your computer's manual. It should have the specifications for memory. The type and speed of the memory depends on the motherboard. If you can't find the information there, check one of the memory sellers online. They have memory listings for virtually any computer. Three sites to try are Crucial Technology, Kingston Technology and PNY Technologies. They're at:
http://www.crucial.com
http://www.kingston.com
http://www.pny.com/configurator/

SDRAM runs as high as 133 MHz. DDR SDRAM is an evolutionary
development, and originally was rated at 266 MHz. It is now rated
up to 400 MHz. DDR reads the data twice, whereas SDRAM reads it once. If your computer is new, you almost certainly have DDR SDRAM. If it is older, you may well have SDRAM.

An older machine could also have RDRAM. This memory is very fast, achieving speeds in excess of 800 MHz. That is partly offset by latency, or delays in chunking data out. RDRAM is expensive, and even in its heyday, was only used on top-end machines.

You cannot mix types of memory. Most motherboards can take only one type. That is what you must use. You can sometimes mix speeds, but I would try to duplicate exactly what you have now. Why ask for problems? The RAM's speed is much less important than the amount of RAM you have.

Having problems with your computer? If you think corrupted memory is the culprit, or if you're just not sure, try the free Windows Memory Diagnostic test to check your RAM for errors.

The diagnostic includes a comprehensive set of memory tests. You can use them to determine whether failing hardware (such as RAM) or the memory system of your motherboard are to blame for problems you experience while running Windows.

1) Download and save Windows Memory Diagnostic.

2) Launch the .exe file and create a bootable floppy with it or save the ISO to CD.

3) Restart your computer with the disk in your disk drive.

4) When the Windows Memory Diagnostic interface appears and loads, the first test pass begins using the default standard test suite. The test will continue until complete unless you pause or exit Windows Memory Diagnostic.

5) Once the first test pass is complete, Memory Diagnostic will begin a second test pass using the same settings as before.

6) Windows Memory Diagnostic will continue to run test passes until you exit.

Using Windows Memory Diagnostic shouldn