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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Sunday, April 24, 2005
Monday, April 18, 2005
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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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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Saturday, April 09, 2005
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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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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Sunday, April 03, 2005
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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(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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Wednesday, March 30, 2005
VOIP (Voice Over Internet)
I am currently trying out a telephone service that uses the internet rather than the traditional telephone companies. The name of the new supplier is Vonage and it is available online at vonage.ca. Just click on the title of this posting and a live link will take you to their website. The service is now up and running and, after a few missteps in the installation procedure, it now seems, so far at least, to work as advertised. The voice quality is as good or better than what you are used to from a telephone company. In addition, it comes with all sorts of features (call display,call forwarding, voicemail which can be emailed to you) and a whole host of other "included with the program" extras and all this, in my case at least, for about half what I have been paying my old telephone service provider. Only time will tell, of course, whether this turns out all it's been cracked up to be but I do note that Vonage claims to have about 500,00 customers so they must be doing something right. This not a recommendation of any type, just an information posting. Check it out and see if it's the kind of thing you might be interested in. I will do a follow up posting on this after I have had and used the program for a while.
May 1, 2005 - Follow Up!
I have now had and used the Vonage broadband telephone service for a month and, even with a few small problems, I am quite pleased. The service has been good and the sound quality excellent. On the downside, I have discovered that telephone numbers using the #310 prefix, mostly fast food ordering numbers, cannot be reached by either broadband telephone and/or some cellphones. This is because the #310 numbers are used exclusively by "landline" telephone service providers who make no provision for the connection of services other than their own. Vonage.ca assures me that they are working to find a way around this slight bottleneck. In the interim, both broadband and some cellphone users must locate and dial the "regular" numbers with area code, etc. which were in use before fastfood companies began their alternative dialing system for use in some localities. I must reiterate that the #310 dialing sequence is not in effect in all locations, and so this is a problem only in specialized areas.
Other than the item mentioned above, I have been satisfied with the telephone service, the quick customer service response, and the ability to review your calls and billing on a daily basis to keep track of costs. We have opted to pay automatically by credit card, and Vonage sends a confirming email on the payment date that this has been accomplished and for which amount. All the "included" features that one would pay extra for with a regular telephone service provider more than make up for the small problem noted above. We have tested the 911 service and, while the emergency services people cannot automatically tell who is calling (another feature Vonage is working on), 911 calls do reach the local emergency services office, in our case the local RCMP, who were not surprised by the lack of a viewable caller ID on their equipment. So no real problem exists, unless one was unable for some reason to give them an address or describe a problem. So far, not a perfect solution as the same problem occurs with cellphone emergency calls, but certainly a step in the right direction.
All that being said, we have decided that we will keep Vonage as our broadband telephone service provider for all the positive reasons noted above. Terry
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May 1, 2005 - Follow Up!
I have now had and used the Vonage broadband telephone service for a month and, even with a few small problems, I am quite pleased. The service has been good and the sound quality excellent. On the downside, I have discovered that telephone numbers using the #310 prefix, mostly fast food ordering numbers, cannot be reached by either broadband telephone and/or some cellphones. This is because the #310 numbers are used exclusively by "landline" telephone service providers who make no provision for the connection of services other than their own. Vonage.ca assures me that they are working to find a way around this slight bottleneck. In the interim, both broadband and some cellphone users must locate and dial the "regular" numbers with area code, etc. which were in use before fastfood companies began their alternative dialing system for use in some localities. I must reiterate that the #310 dialing sequence is not in effect in all locations, and so this is a problem only in specialized areas.
Other than the item mentioned above, I have been satisfied with the telephone service, the quick customer service response, and the ability to review your calls and billing on a daily basis to keep track of costs. We have opted to pay automatically by credit card, and Vonage sends a confirming email on the payment date that this has been accomplished and for which amount. All the "included" features that one would pay extra for with a regular telephone service provider more than make up for the small problem noted above. We have tested the 911 service and, while the emergency services people cannot automatically tell who is calling (another feature Vonage is working on), 911 calls do reach the local emergency services office, in our case the local RCMP, who were not surprised by the lack of a viewable caller ID on their equipment. So no real problem exists, unless one was unable for some reason to give them an address or describe a problem. So far, not a perfect solution as the same problem occurs with cellphone emergency calls, but certainly a step in the right direction.
All that being said, we have decided that we will keep Vonage as our broadband telephone service provider for all the positive reasons noted above. Terry
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Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Lost DSL/Cable Connections
The Annoyance:
I spend a couple of frustrating hours trying to figure out why my DSL connection can't access the Internet. I check my connection with utility programs, reconfigure my pop-up and ad blocker, fiddle with Windows' TCP/IP settings, and call tech support--still nothing.
The Fix:
A simple, 2-minute reboot of your DSL or cable modem may be all it takes to get you back online. The mystery is why there isn't a diagnostic tool that can tell you it's time to reset your Internet access device. Frustrating, yes, but don't get so annoyed you forget to do it.
Thanks to PC World!(link)
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I spend a couple of frustrating hours trying to figure out why my DSL connection can't access the Internet. I check my connection with utility programs, reconfigure my pop-up and ad blocker, fiddle with Windows' TCP/IP settings, and call tech support--still nothing.
The Fix:
A simple, 2-minute reboot of your DSL or cable modem may be all it takes to get you back online. The mystery is why there isn't a diagnostic tool that can tell you it's time to reset your Internet access device. Frustrating, yes, but don't get so annoyed you forget to do it.
Thanks to PC World!(link)
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Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Vanishing Web Data?
The Annoyance:
I spend an hour filling in a lengthy form on a Web page only to be told after I submit it that it's missing an item. My fault, sure, but when I hit my browser's back button--zap!--everything's gone. Now I have to start from scratch. Aggravating? You bet.
The Fix:
Instead of growling, fix your browser's cache settings to hold on to the information. In Internet Explorer, click "Tools", "Internet Options", select the "General" tab, choose "Settings", and then check "Every time you start Internet Explorer". In Netscape, click "Edit", "Preferences", double-click "Advanced", and click "Cache". In Firefox, it's "Tools", then "Options", and finally "Privacy".(Note that Firefox has only one adjustable cache setting.) For the others: set the memory cache to at least 1024KB, and the disk cache to a minimum of 7680KB. Then clear both caches. Note that you may have to click your browser's refresh button to see a revisited page's dynamic data.
Thanks to PC World!(link)
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I spend an hour filling in a lengthy form on a Web page only to be told after I submit it that it's missing an item. My fault, sure, but when I hit my browser's back button--zap!--everything's gone. Now I have to start from scratch. Aggravating? You bet.
The Fix:
Instead of growling, fix your browser's cache settings to hold on to the information. In Internet Explorer, click "Tools", "Internet Options", select the "General" tab, choose "Settings", and then check "Every time you start Internet Explorer". In Netscape, click "Edit", "Preferences", double-click "Advanced", and click "Cache". In Firefox, it's "Tools", then "Options", and finally "Privacy".(Note that Firefox has only one adjustable cache setting.) For the others: set the memory cache to at least 1024KB, and the disk cache to a minimum of 7680KB. Then clear both caches. Note that you may have to click your browser's refresh button to see a revisited page's dynamic data.
Thanks to PC World!(link)
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Tuesday, March 08, 2005
Shortcut to your favorite Favorites?
If you have several often-visited Favorite sites, here's a quick way to access these:
When you have a favorite site on screen, notice the address shown and to the left of the address you will notice an icon. Put your mouse cursor on this icon and hold down the left mouse button. Then drag the icon to the task bar and position it near the Start button or a little bit to right of it. Then release the button and a small pop-up menu appears. Click on "move here" and that will do it. You will have the short-cut icon on your task bar for easier access. You can do this with several of your favorite Favorites. At some point you may have too many on your task bar, so you will see a >> symbol. Put your mouse cursor on the >> and left-click it. You will then get a pop-up menu and you can select your favorite link. You can remove these shortcut icons from the task bar by simply right clicking and selecting delete. Simple, yes???
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When you have a favorite site on screen, notice the address shown and to the left of the address you will notice an icon. Put your mouse cursor on this icon and hold down the left mouse button. Then drag the icon to the task bar and position it near the Start button or a little bit to right of it. Then release the button and a small pop-up menu appears. Click on "move here" and that will do it. You will have the short-cut icon on your task bar for easier access. You can do this with several of your favorite Favorites. At some point you may have too many on your task bar, so you will see a >> symbol. Put your mouse cursor on the >> and left-click it. You will then get a pop-up menu and you can select your favorite link. You can remove these shortcut icons from the task bar by simply right clicking and selecting delete. Simple, yes???
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Wednesday, March 02, 2005
Internet Explorer Tips!
In some applications (such as Internet Explorer), holding the "Control" key while turning the mouse wheel will change the font size.
In Internet Explorer, hold the "Shift" key while turning the mouse wheel to go forwards or backwards.
In Internet Explorer, hold the "Shift" key while clicking on a link to open the Web page in a new window.
In Internet Explorer, use "Ctrl"+"D" to add the current page to your Favorites.
This and many more keyboard shortcuts can be found by going to Internet Explorer, clicking the "Help" menu, then selecting "Contents and Index". From the table of contents, open "Accessibility" and click "Using Internet Explorer keyboard shortcuts".
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In Internet Explorer, hold the "Shift" key while turning the mouse wheel to go forwards or backwards.
In Internet Explorer, hold the "Shift" key while clicking on a link to open the Web page in a new window.
In Internet Explorer, use "Ctrl"+"D" to add the current page to your Favorites.
This and many more keyboard shortcuts can be found by going to Internet Explorer, clicking the "Help" menu, then selecting "Contents and Index". From the table of contents, open "Accessibility" and click "Using Internet Explorer keyboard shortcuts".
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Tuesday, March 01, 2005
How to Delete Temporary Files...
Click on your start button, then go to "Search", then "All files and folders"......in this "Find All Files" dialog box, make sure where it says "look in" that you enter your search object into "All or part of the file name"and that it is looking at your C: drive (or, if you have multiple hard drives or partitions, be sure "All Local Drives" is selected) and be sure there is a check in the box next to where it says "include subfolders" (scroll down to "More Advanced Options" to find this).....Now, click your mouse pointer in the box that says "Type of File" and type the following, exactly as it is here. *.tmp
Once it finds all the files, it will list them in the box below and at the bottom it will tell you how many it found. Hit ctrl+A to select them all, then hit your delete key. If it won't delete some of them, that's because they are attached to some program running in the background, so you may have to delete them one at a time. All of these files are safe to delete. Once they are all deleted, you can save this process as an Icon on your desktop so you can repeat it with one click. Still inside the "Find All Files" box, go to the File menu (on the top toolbar) and click on "Save Search". This will put an icon on your desktop that you can click on any time you want to delete temps again!
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Once it finds all the files, it will list them in the box below and at the bottom it will tell you how many it found. Hit ctrl+A to select them all, then hit your delete key. If it won't delete some of them, that's because they are attached to some program running in the background, so you may have to delete them one at a time. All of these files are safe to delete. Once they are all deleted, you can save this process as an Icon on your desktop so you can repeat it with one click. Still inside the "Find All Files" box, go to the File menu (on the top toolbar) and click on "Save Search". This will put an icon on your desktop that you can click on any time you want to delete temps again!
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Monday, February 28, 2005
"Control Key" shortcuts
The "Control" keys are located at the bottom left and right corners of the main portion of your keyboard and can perform many functions once you know how. Here are some "shortcuts" to get you on your way!
Control + Esc: Displays the Start menu.
Control + Z: Undoes last command.
Control + B: Bolds highlighted text.
Control + U: Underlines highlighted text.
Control + I: Italicizes highlighted text.
Control + A: Selects all items in current window.
Control + Tab: Moves through Property tabs.
Control + F: Opens the Find window. Type in what you're searching for.
Control + F4: Closes current window in multiple document interface (MDI) programs such as MS Word and Excel
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Control + Esc: Displays the Start menu.
Control + Z: Undoes last command.
Control + B: Bolds highlighted text.
Control + U: Underlines highlighted text.
Control + I: Italicizes highlighted text.
Control + A: Selects all items in current window.
Control + Tab: Moves through Property tabs.
Control + F: Opens the Find window. Type in what you're searching for.
Control + F4: Closes current window in multiple document interface (MDI) programs such as MS Word and Excel
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Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Change The Desktop Theme
Did you know that you can use a desktop theme to personalize the appearance of windows? Each desktop theme contains several coordinated items, including a desktop background, screen saver, colors, sounds, mouse pointers, icons and fonts. Here's the way to spice up your desktop!
Right-click a blank area on your desktop and a menu appears. Click "Properties" and the "Display Properties" dialog box appears. Click the "Themes" tab, and click in the search box under the word "Theme" to display a list of the available desktop themes and click the desktop theme you want to use. The center display area will now show you a preview of the desktop theme you selected. Click "OK" to confirm your change and windows will apply the theme you selected. To return to the original theme proceed as above but select the theme you were originally using.
Themes available are usually shown with names such as "My Current Theme", "Windows Classic" and "More themes online". You can use this last option to find additional themes on the Internet. The Microsoft Internet Explorer window will display a web page that allows you to obtain additional themes, or you can find themes using a traditional web search engine like Google, for instance. If you make any changes to any theme, such as changing the desktop background, a new theme appears with the word "Modified" in it's name. You can rename this "Modified" theme to any name of your choosing.
Have some fun with this one and see what you can come up with!
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Right-click a blank area on your desktop and a menu appears. Click "Properties" and the "Display Properties" dialog box appears. Click the "Themes" tab, and click in the search box under the word "Theme" to display a list of the available desktop themes and click the desktop theme you want to use. The center display area will now show you a preview of the desktop theme you selected. Click "OK" to confirm your change and windows will apply the theme you selected. To return to the original theme proceed as above but select the theme you were originally using.
Themes available are usually shown with names such as "My Current Theme", "Windows Classic" and "More themes online". You can use this last option to find additional themes on the Internet. The Microsoft Internet Explorer window will display a web page that allows you to obtain additional themes, or you can find themes using a traditional web search engine like Google, for instance. If you make any changes to any theme, such as changing the desktop background, a new theme appears with the word "Modified" in it's name. You can rename this "Modified" theme to any name of your choosing.
Have some fun with this one and see what you can come up with!
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Monday, February 07, 2005
Remove The Animated Dog From Your Search! (Windows XP)
When you search for an item in Windows XP, an animated dog automatically appears in the Search Companion to work as your search assistant. If you find the animated dog annoying or distracting, you can remove it from the Search Companion. To remove the screen character from your search, you need to change your search preferences. The other available search options will not be affected by this removal. Here's how you do it!
Click "Start", then "Search" and the Search Results window appears. Now scroll down and click "Change Preferences" and a list appears displaying the various ways you can customize the Search Companion. Click "Without an animated screen character" to remove the animated dog from your screen and the animated dog will leave your search window.
If you decide to keep an animated character in the Search Companion, but don't want the dog, you can choose from several other search characters. To display a different animated character, perform the first few steps but click on "With a different character". Use the "Back" and "Next" buttons to scroll through the available characters, then click "OK" to select the one you want to use.
You can bring back an animated character at any time by clicking "With an animated screen character". The last screen character that you used will reappear and you will have to change to another if this is not the character you want to use.
Now you can perform a search or simply close the search window. Now, wasn't that easy?
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Click "Start", then "Search" and the Search Results window appears. Now scroll down and click "Change Preferences" and a list appears displaying the various ways you can customize the Search Companion. Click "Without an animated screen character" to remove the animated dog from your screen and the animated dog will leave your search window.
If you decide to keep an animated character in the Search Companion, but don't want the dog, you can choose from several other search characters. To display a different animated character, perform the first few steps but click on "With a different character". Use the "Back" and "Next" buttons to scroll through the available characters, then click "OK" to select the one you want to use.
You can bring back an animated character at any time by clicking "With an animated screen character". The last screen character that you used will reappear and you will have to change to another if this is not the character you want to use.
Now you can perform a search or simply close the search window. Now, wasn't that easy?
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Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Delete Temporary Files Automatically
You can make Internet Explorer automatically delete files in the Temporary Internet Files folder by doing the following -
While in Internet Explorer, click on "Tools", then on "Internet Options" in the drop-down menu. Now click on the "Advanced" tab and scroll down to the "Security" section and put a checkmark in the box beside "Empty Temporary Internet Files Folder When Browser Is Closed". That was easy, wasn't it?
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While in Internet Explorer, click on "Tools", then on "Internet Options" in the drop-down menu. Now click on the "Advanced" tab and scroll down to the "Security" section and put a checkmark in the box beside "Empty Temporary Internet Files Folder When Browser Is Closed". That was easy, wasn't it?
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Wednesday, January 19, 2005
SpellBound for Firefox - New Version
Version 0.7.3 of SpellBound, the spellchecker for Firefox , is now available for download. Open Firefox, go to "Tools", then scroll down to "Extensions", then click "Update" (the middle button). This will enable you to download and install the new version right over top of the older version. When you have completed this, you will have to restart Firefox to activate the new version. Now go to your "Extensions" again and make sure the version shown is SpellBound 0.7.3. Now you're all done and properly updated. It's that easy!
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Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Spell-Checker for Notepad & Wordpad
You have probably found that Notepad and Wordpad do not have a SpellChecker included. However, I have found this SpellChecker add-on that will do the trick for you. It's called Tiny Spell. Click on the title line of this posting and you can download the installation file. If your firewall asks you if it's okay to change settings, say yes. When you have opened and installed this program you will have the installation file on your desktop which you can drag and drop into your "My Documents" folder for safekeeping and also a desktop icon (which you probably won't need and you can right-click and delete if you want) . This will leave you with a blue and white icon at the bottom of your screen (with a checkmark and the letters TS - for Tiny Spell I guess). From now on, as you are typing in Wordpad, Notepad or most other Microsoft programs you will hear a beep and the icon will turn yellow if it detects a misspelled word. When this happens, click on the icon and a page will pop-up with suggested corrections to the last word you just typed. When you pick a correction or ignore and move on the icon will turn blue-white again waiting for the next word as you go along. I have just installed this to try and it works great! Price: FREE!!! Hope this helps you out.
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Tuesday, January 04, 2005
GMail Invitations!
I have a limited number of Gmail invitations available for those who may want one. Email me with your reason why you should be one of those lucky people that get an invitation to open their own Google GMail account and I'll send you one (until I run out, of course). Click on the title of this posting. First come - first served!
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Monday, January 03, 2005
Was Santa Good to You? New LCD Monitor?
Here we are already into January 2005 and I hope Santa was especially good to you. One of the most asked for and received items at Christmas for the true computer geek is a flat-panel LCD monitor. If you were one of the lucky ones to receive this then this item is for you. The first thing you will notice is that LCD displays are much easier on the eyes after prolonged use. This is because the customary flicker of CRT monitors is not apparent on an LCD. Secondly, you'll wonder how you ever got along without all that extra space on your desktop that an LCD will give you. LCDs also run a lot cooler than CRTs and heat is the enemy of electronics, so this cooler running temperature is another advantage for LCD displays.
I use Windows XP for my operating system and I have found that the text on my LCD monitor can be improved by using ClearType, a font smoothing program that comes with XP. If you have XP you can turn on ClearType as follows: go to "Start", then "Control Panel", then the "Display" applet, then "Appearance", then "Effects", and then "Use the Following Method to Smooth Edges of Screen Fonts", and select "ClearType" from the dropdown menu, then "Apply" and then "OK". You can turn ClearType off again if you decide you don't want to use it by simply re-selecting "Standard" from the drop-down menu and then clicking on "OK".
I note that ClearType is available from Microsoft as a separate download for those who don't have it and as a downloadable portion of the "Microsoft PowerToys" program. Additional information is available about ClearType in my Sunday, August 8, 2004 posting on this subject. Enjoy your new clarity of vision and start wishing for the good stuff for next year!
More info available HERE
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I use Windows XP for my operating system and I have found that the text on my LCD monitor can be improved by using ClearType, a font smoothing program that comes with XP. If you have XP you can turn on ClearType as follows: go to "Start", then "Control Panel", then the "Display" applet, then "Appearance", then "Effects", and then "Use the Following Method to Smooth Edges of Screen Fonts", and select "ClearType" from the dropdown menu, then "Apply" and then "OK". You can turn ClearType off again if you decide you don't want to use it by simply re-selecting "Standard" from the drop-down menu and then clicking on "OK".
I note that ClearType is available from Microsoft as a separate download for those who don't have it and as a downloadable portion of the "Microsoft PowerToys" program. Additional information is available about ClearType in my Sunday, August 8, 2004 posting on this subject. Enjoy your new clarity of vision and start wishing for the good stuff for next year!
More info available HERE
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Thursday, December 16, 2004
Update, Update, Update
The holiday season is upon us once again and, while most of us enjoy the festivities and the company of our friends, there is a segment of our fellow man who's contribution is to try to make things just a little bit worse than they really are. These are the virus writers and they take pleasure in ruining things for folks they don't even know. The good news, is that you don't have to be infected with their garbage. If I sound ticked off, that's because I am.
The best way to win this game is simply not to play. Have a good antivirus program and make sure it's always up to date. Antivirus companies are usually very good at finding solutions for these viruses, and usually very quickly, but all their work does no good if you haven't updated your antivirus definitions. So, check the title of this item again. Remember, if you haven't taken precautions and you get infected with a virus, there are virus removal tools available for free from all major antivirus companies. It's also a good idea to create a snapshot of your system, after you have insured it's virus free, using the system restore programs found in Windows. In XP, this is found as follows: Start, All Programs, Accessories. System Tools, and finally System Restore. Your Windows version may be slightly different but it's worth locating this program and using it.
Another important thing to remember. Don't open any attachment from anyone you don't know. It could be anything and opening the item is a sure way to find out. Even if the item comes from someone you do know, it's always a good idea to screen the item before opening it with your antivirus program and to make sure the sender was really the person you know. Remember that the sender (your friend) may not even know that the message contains a virus unless he also has screened it. Some viruses are forwarded because part of the virus program pulls names and email addresses from your address book and automatically sends itself to every email address found without you knowing it. So be kind to your friends. It's as easy for them to be a victim as it is for you. If you should get something nasty from them, let them know gently that they have unwittingly been used and advise them about the offending item so they can delete it and clean their system. Be prepared to do the same for them if you unknowingly become the bad guy and send something along to your friends.
Caution, security and understanding are the secrets of a happy online holiday season. Be part of the joy!
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The best way to win this game is simply not to play. Have a good antivirus program and make sure it's always up to date. Antivirus companies are usually very good at finding solutions for these viruses, and usually very quickly, but all their work does no good if you haven't updated your antivirus definitions. So, check the title of this item again. Remember, if you haven't taken precautions and you get infected with a virus, there are virus removal tools available for free from all major antivirus companies. It's also a good idea to create a snapshot of your system, after you have insured it's virus free, using the system restore programs found in Windows. In XP, this is found as follows: Start, All Programs, Accessories. System Tools, and finally System Restore. Your Windows version may be slightly different but it's worth locating this program and using it.
Another important thing to remember. Don't open any attachment from anyone you don't know. It could be anything and opening the item is a sure way to find out. Even if the item comes from someone you do know, it's always a good idea to screen the item before opening it with your antivirus program and to make sure the sender was really the person you know. Remember that the sender (your friend) may not even know that the message contains a virus unless he also has screened it. Some viruses are forwarded because part of the virus program pulls names and email addresses from your address book and automatically sends itself to every email address found without you knowing it. So be kind to your friends. It's as easy for them to be a victim as it is for you. If you should get something nasty from them, let them know gently that they have unwittingly been used and advise them about the offending item so they can delete it and clean their system. Be prepared to do the same for them if you unknowingly become the bad guy and send something along to your friends.
Caution, security and understanding are the secrets of a happy online holiday season. Be part of the joy!
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Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Create a Personalized Sound Scheme for your computer!
You can create a personalized sound scheme for your computer by having Windows play specific sounds when certain events occur. Assigning new sounds to events can make Windows more entertaining and interesting.
You can assign sounds for up to 40 different events on your computer. Here's how you do it. Click "Start" then click "Control Panel" and when the Control Panel window appears, click "Sounds, Speech and Audio Devices". The Sounds, Speech and Audio Devices window appears. Click "Change the Sound Scheme" (the Sounds and Audio Devices Properties dialog box appears). Go to the "Sounds" tab and on the lower portion of the page you will see the "Program events" box that lists the events that you can assign sounds to. A speaker icon appears beside each event that plays a sound. To assign a sound to a particular event, click the event, then click "Browse" to search for the sound you want to use. The "Browse for" dialog box appears. The "Look in" box will allow you to search your entire computer for sound files. If you have downloaded sounds from the internet and saved them to your hard drive, you can also assign them to various computer events. Keep in mind that sound files downloaded from the internet must be in the "Wave" format, that is, they must have the".wav" extension, such as "chimes.wav". Now click the sound you want to play each time the event occurs. Click on the arrow next to "Preview" to test play the sound. Click "OK" to confirm your selection and "OK" again to confirm your changes.
Now you have a computer with a sound scheme unlike any other computer in the world and customized to your specific choices. How cool is that!
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You can assign sounds for up to 40 different events on your computer. Here's how you do it. Click "Start" then click "Control Panel" and when the Control Panel window appears, click "Sounds, Speech and Audio Devices". The Sounds, Speech and Audio Devices window appears. Click "Change the Sound Scheme" (the Sounds and Audio Devices Properties dialog box appears). Go to the "Sounds" tab and on the lower portion of the page you will see the "Program events" box that lists the events that you can assign sounds to. A speaker icon appears beside each event that plays a sound. To assign a sound to a particular event, click the event, then click "Browse" to search for the sound you want to use. The "Browse for" dialog box appears. The "Look in" box will allow you to search your entire computer for sound files. If you have downloaded sounds from the internet and saved them to your hard drive, you can also assign them to various computer events. Keep in mind that sound files downloaded from the internet must be in the "Wave" format, that is, they must have the".wav" extension, such as "chimes.wav". Now click the sound you want to play each time the event occurs. Click on the arrow next to "Preview" to test play the sound. Click "OK" to confirm your selection and "OK" again to confirm your changes.
Now you have a computer with a sound scheme unlike any other computer in the world and customized to your specific choices. How cool is that!
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