Want to "Excel"?

If you receive documents compiled using Microsoft Excel but you don't have Excel installed on your computer, you can still read Excel documents. All you need is the "Excel Viewer 2003" from Microsoft which can be downloaded and installed on your computer. Simply click here.

Note that you will not be able to alter the document using the viewer but you will be able to view it. Handy, eh?


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Recover Your Autoplay!

Once upon a time, Windows anticipated my every move, popping up a wizard when I plugged in my camera, or launching my media player when I inserted a music CD. Then one day (after I installed a new program, or clicked--without reading carefully--a pop-up dialog box), Windows forgot what to do with my music, photos, and other media files.

Right-clicking the drive or device in Explorer and choosing Properties will lead you to an Autoplay or Events tab where you can reestablish which program should do what when you plug in, but Autoplay settings sometimes remain stubbornly broken.

Microsoft's Autoplay Repair Wizard fixes the botched settings. Although the Microsoft download page asks you to validate your copy of Windows before downloading the wizard (how annoying!), you can, perversely enough, opt out of validation and still download the fix. Now, isn't that better?

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Surf With Safety!

I recently came across another weapon in the war against spyware that's so useful I can't help myself from telling you about it.

In this era of drive-by installs and unannounced browser hijacks, surfing the Web can seem like tiptoeing across a minefield: one wrong step, and you've got serious problems. For the past couple of years, I have been hoping someone would develop a tool that tests Web sites for potential safety issues, so when I found a Firefox plug-in called SiteAdvisor, I was excited. Even better, once I started testing it this tiny add-on actually exceeded my expectations, which is rare.

The short story on SiteAdvisor is that it gives you the dirt on more than a million Web sites. Its test bots constantly check sites to see whether they send unsolicited e-mail, bury users under a blanket of pop-ups, and--perhaps most importantly--contain software that could compromise your privacy. Whenever you visit a URL, SiteAdvisor's browser icon flashes one of three colors: green (safe), yellow (caution), or red (extreme caution). Then, with a couple clicks, you can head to SiteAdvisor's home page for more detailed information. According to the company, about 90 percent of the sites tested so far have scored a green rating, whereas only 5 percent haved earned the red flag for bad behavior. My favorite part about the plug-in is that it rates sites directly from search engines such as Yahoo and Google, which reduces your chances of falling victim to a drive-by install. By the way, did I say that it's FREE?

(Used with permission from CNET Networks, Inc., Copyright 2006. All rights reserved.)

Addendum: SiteAdvisor is also available for Internet Explorer. You can find it by clicking here: (SiteAdvisor for Internet Explorer)

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What Does That EULA Really Say?

End User License Agreements (EULa's) are really the bane of computer owners. Before you can install that software, you have to agree to the darn license agreement. Most EULA's are long, involved and couched in legalese and you could be agreeing to almost anything. Many a spyware program has been downloaded because the EULA was either not read or not understood by a frustrated computer owner. Javacool Software has come through again! I came across this FREE (for personal use) program called EULAlyzer that will skim through those troublesome EULA's looking for suspect words and phrases. Now you can have some idea just what the darn EULA really does say and decide whether you want to agree to it or not.

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Can't Find Your Cursor?

Have you ever had trouble locating the cursor on your screen? Whether it’s jammed in a corner or camouflaged in a cloud on your desktop, this shortcut is a clever little feature in Windows XP.

1. Open the Start menu and click "Control Panel".
2. Choose "Printers and other hardware" and click "Mouse".
3. Go to the "Pointer Options" tab and check the box that says "Show location of pointer when I press the CTRL key".
4. Click OK to exit.

Now, if you ever lose your cursor, just tap the Ctrl key to find it again. Isn't that the neatest thing you ever heard?


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Bad Time With Spyware? - Try Spyware Blaster

There's lots of troublesome spyware out there just waiting to spy on your every move. Why not handle it with "Spyware Blaster" from Javacool Software. Spyware Blaster is FREE (and free is good). You can get Spyware Blaster by clicking on the title of this posting or by clicking here.

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Windows XP - On-screen Keyboard

Here's another XP secret revealed. Windows XP has an on-screen keyboard. You might need this if you can't get to your own keyboard. Here's how you do this: Open "My Computer" and browse to "C:/Windows/ System32" then double-click "osk.exe". You can use the keyboard using simple point and click commands. Handy thing to know, don't you think!


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Firefox Update, the "Googlebar" & "Spellbound"

For those of you who are using the Firefox browser, be advised that Firefox has been updated to Version 1.5. If you have been using the "Googlebar" extension from Firefox, you will find that it is no longer compatible with this version, so go to "Tools", "Extensions", scroll down to "Googlebar", right click on this item and select "Uninstall". While Firefox has not yet made a compatible "Googlebar" extension for Version 1.5, the good news is that Google has. The version from Google installs right into the Firefox browser and functions correctly. Be sure to read all the installation instructions so you know just what you're getting. The Google version can be found at the link below:

http://toolbar.google.com/firefox/

In addition, you may find that your "SpellBound" spelling checker has stopped functioning. This is because the "dictionary libraries" have not transferred correctly to Firefox Version 1.5. The easiest solution is to uninstall your present "SpellBound" program (go to "Tools", "Extensions", scroll down to "SpellBound", right click on this item and select "Uninstall"). Now, you can re-install "SpellBound" and the "libraries". You can find them both at the link below:

http://spellbound.sourceforge.net/.

Addendum:
If you still have compatibility problems the following program can solve them, but caution should be observed. This program is actually a program developers tool and not for the faint of heart. If you decide to use this, simply download it and install it into your Firefox Extensions just as if it was a regular extension but do nothing else. Just the installation of the program will present you with an option to use the tool to automatically overcome any incompatibilities. Remember, use caution with this program! It can be obtained by utilizing the link below:

http://users.blueprintit.co.uk/~dave/web/firefox/buildid/nightly.html



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Turn Off File and Print Sharing!

The file and printer sharing setting in Windows could leave you wide open to invasion from the Internet. So, turn it off, already!

In Windows 98 and ME, click Start, Settings and Control Panel. Then:
--Double click the Network icon
--Select Configuration and click the File and Print Sharing button
--Deselect file sharing and print sharing
--Click OK & OK. Restart the computer.

In Windows XP, double click the Network icon as before. Then:
--Right-click Local Area Connection
--Click Properties and the General tab
--Clear File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks
--Click OK. Close the Network Connections window. Restart the computer.

If you must use file and printer sharing, be sure you have a firewall. I recommend Zone Alarm. If possible, disable file and printer sharing until you need it.


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Maintain Perfect Time!

Don't be surprised if you occasionally end up late for a meeting when you rely on your PC's clock. Most computers do a poor job of keeping time, losing as much as a couple of seconds a day. That may not seem like a big deal, but let it go on for a few months and it's more than enough to put your PC's clock several minutes on the slow side.

Windows XP users can solve this problem easily. Simply right-click the clock in the corner of the taskbar, click Adjust Date/Time, select the Internet Time tab, and check the Automatically synchronize with an Internet time server box. When your computer connects to the Net, it will periodically check in with an atomic clock and make sure that you have the correct time.

Thanks to PC World!(link)

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Firewall Protection?

Anytime you're connected to the Internet your PC is exposed to the whole world. If it is not protected properly, crackers can detect the PC, probe it for vulnerabilities, exploit them to gain access to your machine and either openly wreak havoc by stealing and/or deleting data, or secretly plant malicious code that turns your PC into a zombie to be part of an attack on somebody's server or network. This issue is especially important for PCs with a highspeed connection to the Internet via DSL or cable modems because they are prime targets for crackers.

To find out how vulnerable your machine is, visit this excellent web site that offers some online tools to test your machine's security. Open your browser, go to http://grc.com/default.htm and click on "Shield's UP!". Read the information on this page, then click "Test My Shields!" and "Probe My Ports!". These tests check for obvious vulnerabilities of your PC and you might be surprised at the results. Chances are you have a number of open and/or visible ports that can make your machine a target for crackers.

You can protect your machine by closing these security holes with the help of a program called a firewall. Firewall software monitors your Internet connection and filters all traffic to keep undesired traffic out and only allows legitimate traffic through. There are a number of software firewalls available on the Internet and in stores. The one we recommend is ZoneLab's Zone Alarm. You can download a free version (for personal use) from ZoneLab's web site at http:///www.zonelabs.com. Note that you should only have one firewall program installed and operational at a time to avoid conflicts between them.

After installing Zone Alarm, go back and perform another Shields UP! Test and Port Probe. You should see a big difference and find that all tested ports are now closed and in stealth mode.

Since Steve Gibson did an excellent job at explaining firewalls, the tests, and the dangers, and the topic is beyond the scope of this article, we'll refrain from going more into detail at this point, but you are encouraged to read more about this fascinating topic at http://grc.com/su-explain.htm.

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WinMX failure?

For those of you who may be using "WinMX" to download music, you may have noticed that this program ceased to function a few days ago when the WinMX servers were changed due to an RIAA regulation. This means that the program, as you currently have it, cannot connect to music sources. There are two possible solutions: 1 - Uninstall WinMX and use another program OR 2 - click on the link below and download and install the "fix" (be sure to use the "fix" that matches your operating system (windows 98, Windows ME. Windows XP, etc.). You may have to reboot for the installed fix to take effect but you will find that WinMX works again perfectly.

http://www.winmxunlimited.net/Peer-Cache-Patch-1.1.exe

An alternative patch for WinMx is available here if the first one won't work for you:
http://winmxgroup.com/


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Security Tip: Use a Blank Password

Here's a little-known fact: In Windows XP, it is often more secure
to use a blank password than to make up a password. When an account
has a blank password, you can log on locally but not through the
network. This prevents anyone from using that account to break into
the computer remotely via the local network or the Internet. This
Microsoft article explains more and has many other security tips:

http://microsoft.com/technet/archive/security/chklist/xpcl.mspx

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Is Your Cookie Jar Full?

Checked your Cookie folder lately? OK, so you delete your Temp and Temporary Internet files on a regular basis. You do, don't you? I recommend that you do!!

Among the reasons your Browser and even your 'puter may have slowed down is that you have been accumulating Temp files, Temporary Internet files and Cookies.

Yes, Virginia, there is a "Cookie Monster". But he's not stealing cookies.....he's passing them out as quickly as he can to whomever he can easily pass them off on!!!

I was probably as guilty as anyone about cleaning out Cookies until...... One day I went in to dump the "Cookie Jar" and started looking at some of them. Hundreds of them, no, thousands of them. Where did they all come from? I could have opened a national bakery if they were edible.

Well, I decided to find out just where they were all coming from. I use Internet Explorer 6 and there is a Cookie manager in "Tools"/"Internet Options" that will allow you to manage the Cookie activity. Here is how to set it up.

First you need IE6 and OE6 to use the options. Go to the "Tools" menu and select "Internet Options". Click on the Privacy Tab. Now click on the "Advanced..." button. Make sure the "Override automatic cookie handling" box is checked.

You have some options here. I decided after a week to" Accept First-party (named and verified) Cookies", but kept, and still use, "Prompt for Third-party Cookies". You will go nuts if you ask for a prompt on both. However you might want to try the Prompt on First-party for a few days just to see where they come from.

When you have your choices made, click OK to close the dialog box and then click Apply, OK to close the Internet Options box. Now you are set to be overwhelmed. This will also alert you to Cookies that come in your e-mail. WHAT? Cookies in my e-mail? Yup, it will blow you away. More on this in a minute.

So what kind of Cookies are there? Chocolate chip? Raisin? I call them Good Cookies, Bad Cookies and Rotten Cookies. But like I said you get them in e-mail as well as from site visits. Any of these Cookies can be placed on your 'puter through your Browser or through your e-mail.

Good Cookies: These remember that you have been to a site and help it load faster. Also, it may keep the site from giving you redundant information.

Bad Cookies: These aren't all really that bad but some can be very undesirable. These can do a number of things like: Track who you are by your IP (internet provider) address. Obtain information by the site owner so they can decide how to hit you with pop-up windows. Find out how many times you have been to their site, what time of day and what pages you visited. There are a number of other things as well.

Rotten Cookies: This is bad news. besides tracking all the above, they can let a hacker come back and infiltrate your hard drive obtaining vital information like passwords, credit card information and other sensitive data. They can also infect you with a virus, collect e-mail addresses from your address books and literally do major damage to your system.

So if your Browser has the ability to let you monitor the Cookies you are getting in your Cookie Jar, use it. With the Prompt option you can accept or refuse Cookies by your choice in both your Browser and e-mail.

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Handy Keyboard Tips!

a) Copy and Paste
Select the text or image that you want to copy, highlight it and press Ctrl and C. Then position your cursor in the spot you’d like to copy it to and press Ctrl and V. Like magic...it copies!

b) Cut and Paste
Select the text or image that you want to cut, highlight it and press Ctrl and X. The text or object will disappear. Then to paste it in a different location, position your cursor in the desired spot and press Ctrl and V.

c) Select All
Holding down Ctrl and A selects all the text or objects in the open window. This is a great feature---use it when you are trying to copy large areas of text in your word processing document, or a whole page of information on the Internet.

d) Increase/Decrease Font Size
Here’s a little trick to help you emphasize your words, or make them fit better into the space you have. Just highlight the words you want to change, hold down the Ctrl key and press one of the bracket keys---left bracket to shrink--right bracket to enlarge. You change the font size by one point each time.

e) To Print
Sure, you can use the pull down menus if you want to print an e-mail, a word processing document or even a an Internet page. But, here’s an easier way. Just hold down the Ctrl key and press P.

f) To Save
It’s always important to save your work often. You never know when you might have a power surge or outage that could ruin hours of effort. That’s why this keyboard shortcut is especially helpful. To save your document, simply press Ctrl and S every five minutes or so while you type.

g) To Undo
Pencils aren’t the only writing instruments with erasers. Computers have them too. If you would like to undo some typing, press Ctrl and Z as soon as you realize your mistake to restore your document to the way you want it.

h) To Use Mouse
You may at some point experience problems with a
program or Windows that disables your ability to use
your mouse. This usually calls for restarting your
computer, but you'll want to save your work and shut
down any applications you're using first. You can do
this without a mouse.

To select an open application, use Alt + Tab. A small
box will pop up showing icons for all your running
applications. You can choose any of them by continuing
to hold down your Alt button while pressing Tab until
you reach the program you want. When you release the
buttons, that application window will come up.

To save your work, press Alt by itself. You should
notice that the 'File' menu, usually in the program's
upper left corner, will be selected. Use your up and
down arrows (not your Page Up & Page Down buttons) to
choose 'Save' or 'Save As' and press your Enter button.
You can then close the program by pressing Alt again
and using your arrows to select 'Exit', 'Quit' or
'Close'.

Once all the applications are closed, pressing Tab will
select your Start menu at the lower left corner of your
screen. Press your Enter button to open the menu, then
use your arrows to choose 'Shut Down'. You'll see the
familiar Shut Down window. Use your arrows to make your
selection, then press Enter.

There may be times when you're unable to use your
mouse, but want to run a virus scan, ScanDisk or
defragment your hard drive before shutting down. Once
again, save your work, close your programs, press Tab
to select the Start menu, press Enter and use your
arrows to choose the application you want to run.

i) Other Common And Useful Keyboard Shortcuts
CTRL + P to print a document, CTRL + F to bring up a Find window (if the program uses one), CTRL + A to select all
(highlight all), CTRL + O to choose a file to open and
CTRL + Z to undo your most recent action.

j) Typing URLs
If the site you want starts with "www" and ends with "com", just type in the part between the two and use CTRL + Enter. Here's an example: You want to visit Knowledge Hound (of course
you do!). Just type in "khound", then press CTRL + Enter. See? The "www" and "com" parts got added
automatically! It sure saves those fingers.

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Make a START UP disk and do a REGISTRY backup !

Here are two important steps to take to help out in a computer emergency, that is, if your computer won‘t start with Windows. If your computer fails to start in Windows, power it off. then insert the StartUp disk in your floppy drive and restart your computer.

Here's what you do to make START UP disk and do a REGISTRY backup.

a:To make the Start Up disk:

From the "Start" menu, select "Settings/Control Panel".
Click on "Add/Remove programs" icon.
Next, click on the "StartUp disk" Tab, and select "Create disk".
(You will need a formatted floppy for this)
Follow the on-screen directions to complete the process.
Store this disk in a safe place where you can get the disk, when you need it.

(The Registry maintains all the vital system information and changes made to your computer, such as software installed and system settings).

b:To back up the Registry, use the built-in Registry Editor.

Click on "Start", select "Run" and type: "regedit" (without the quotation marks) and then click "OK".
Next, select "Registry" on the top row of menu items. On the drop-down menu, select "Export Registry File".
Now navigate to where you want to store the backup file. Select "ALL" under export range and click "Save".
The result is a ".reg" file in the location you specified.

I hope you never need either of these, but they're sure handy to have if you do!

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View Outlook Express E-mail Safely!!!

To be able to safely check your e-mail messages in Outlook Express before opening a messages, here's what you do....

a) Right-click on an unopened e-mail
b) Select "Properties" then click the "Details" tab
c) Now select "Message Source" to read an e-mail in a safe manner.

This allows you to decide if the e-mail was spam, carried a nasty payload, or was a complete waste of time. You can then delete it safely. Handy to know, don't you think?

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Adding Animated Icons to E-mail

1. First you, need to build up a file of animated GIFs then:

a) copy/paste this address in your browser address window: www.gifs.net/animate/giflist.htm OR click on the title line of this posting
b) browse through this site, select a GIF that you might want to add to your file.
c) right-click the animation and on the drop-down menu, select "Save Picture as"
d) in next screen select "Desktop" as the place to save it, and then hit "Save"
e) repeat these steps for as many icons you want or need (this can be repeated at a later date to acquire more)
f) close the animated GIF window
g) right-click on an empty space on your desktop. On the drop-down menu, select "New", then select "Folder"
h) right-click "New Folder" and select "Rename" from drop-down menu. Name the folder "Animated GIFs" or whatever you wish.
i) drag each animated gif icon from your desktop to this new folder, giving you a folder-full of animated gifs.

2. To add An animated icon (or more than one) to a new E-Mail

a) write your new e-mail message
b) minimize the message
c) hit the WinKey and D key at the same time, which will bring up your Desktop
d) open your "Animated GIFs" folder
e) select an icon and left-click it
f) when the animated gif appears on your desktop, right-click it and select "Copy" from the drop-down menu
g) close this window and then maximize your e-mail that was minimized on your taskbar
h) place the mouse cursor at a place in message, then hit the "Ctrl" and "V" key.
i) this will insert the animated gif in your message.

Now you can have the most distinctive E-mail in town!

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I've Been "Setup" Again!

When I download a program or an upgrade, the last thing I want the file named is "setup.exe" or "install". Because I don't always install the program right away, I may lose track of it. Worse, other downloads invariably have the same name, making it even harder to figure out which is which. What a pain!

Here's the solution: Simply right click and rename the file in the "Save As" dialog box before downloading it, using the program's name and version. Now why didn't I think of that?

Thanks to PC World!(link)

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"Urban Legends" Spam?

If someone sends me a stupid "forward this to all your friends" urban-legend e-mail, I look it up on About.com's Urban Legends and Folklore page and then send them the link. It's amazing what people will believe just because it comes in a nicely typed e-mail. I guess I've embarrassed enough people that they don't send those messages to me anymore, but I still get lots of other spam. Anyway, now you know how to check it out for yourself. Have fun!

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