XP SP2 & PowerPoint Viewer problems?

If you have Windows XP Service Pack 2 installed and are having a problem viewing .PPT and .PPS presentations with PowerPoint Viewer 2003, there are two solutions:

1: Save the .PPT or .PPS files as attachments and they can be viewed using the PowerPoint Viewer as it is presently installed, OR

2: Download the "Fix" by clicking on the link found in the title of this posting.

The problem arises because Windows XP Service Pack 2 as it currently exists and Windows PowerPoint Viewer 2003 (BOTH Microsoft products) are not totally compatible with one another. Hmm! How could Microsoft do a dumb thing like that? 'Nuff said, I think.

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Dumb Windows XP Menus!

My Problem:
First Windows XP hides infrequently used icons in the system tray, then it adds program shortcuts to my Start menu's left pane. Enough!

My Solution:
Take charge of your system tray icons: Right-click the "Start" button and choose "Properties", select the "Taskbar" tab, and uncheck "Hide inactive icons". Or you can decide for yourself which system tray icons you want to see and which you want out of the way by doing the following: leave "Hide inactive icons" checked, click "Customize", and then choose each icon one at a time and set its behavior to "Always show", "Always hide", or "Hide when inactive". If you don't want XP to add items to its Start menu list of frequently used programs, reopen your "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties" dialog box, choose the "Start Menu" tab, click "Customize", and set "Number of programs on Start menu" to a figure of your choosing. Problem solved!

Thanks to PC World!(link)

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Repair Scratched Disc? Maybe...

You might not have to buy a commercial cleaner if your CD disc is only slightly scratched. Sometimes you can get pretty good results with any mildly abrasive agent such as furniture polish or baking soda toothpaste. Just use any lint-free cloth, add some of the abrasive to the damaged area, and then wipe. Be sure to work radially, from the center of the disc to the rim in a straight line. Never wipe in a circular pattern! That's a definite no-no!!

This technique does nothing for the deeper blemishes, though. For that, some folks have recommended applying a carnauba-based car wax. I tried Turtle Wax, and several other similar products, and elbow grease but got nothing except a really shiny CD that still wouldn't play and which is now a coffee-table coaster for my cup.

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Handy Quick Way to Shutdown or Restart!

Shut down your computer in 1 second (well..umm don't time it)
(most current Windows versions)

Press the Windows key and then release the key, and then press the "U" key twice. Windows will automatically shut down (or re-start, if you prefer).

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