  |
|
|
Any suggestions, recommendations or ideas found on this site
are applied at your own risk.
Have thoughts, problems or ideas you would like to have us address here?
-or-
If you want to be notified when our next newsletter is available, let us know!
Printed copies are available at the store. For
previous newsletters click here.
.
September - 2003 |
|
|
BCSWe soon will stock a variety
of printer paper, Old cell-phones, Eyeglasses and Ink CartridgesIf you have either of these, please do not throw them away. We are collecting them at the store for specific charities. Thank you... Looking to buy a new computer?Here are some ideas that may help you decide: http://www.bergesch.com/bcs/newcomputer.htm |
-
|
|
August brought forth five major viruses, some new, some variants of previous viruses. Blaster and it's variants shut down computers all over the world and Sobig is still causing major headaches with email. Sobig spoofs email addresses making it appear to come from one computer when in-fact, it came from another. If you received dozens or even hundreds of messages claiming your computer is sending a virus, don't worry too much... you are one among thousands. Sobig, like many viruses causes unnecessary Internet traffic slowing it down for everyone. MSBlast virusBy now, you have all heard of this one. It has caused major problems for XP and NT users that did not have their systems up-to-date. Unlike most viruses, this one did not require and email attachment, it was planted on the victims computer remotely. Our area got hit with this virus beginning about Noon on August 11th. The Dcom-RPC exploit would cause un-patched computers to shutdown by themselves. Upon reboot and reconnection to the Internet, the shutdown process would begin all over. Imagine how frustrating this was for the user (and probably how amusing to the hacker...) Click for article on MSBlast suspect arrest Concerned you may have been infected? Search the machine for any files named msblast.exe, penis32.exe, teekids.exe and root32.exe." If any of these are found, you are infected. Fortunately this recent exploit served as harmless a warning to users as well as Microsoft but the next exploit may not be so gentle.
Do not ignore those "updates are available notices" you get from Microsoft. But remember; Microsoft will NEVER send you a patch or update via email! If you are on the mailing list, they will send you a notice but if you are not, the Windows Update will inform you when downloads are available. (XP users, see tips below.) It's a good idea to manually use the Windows Update on occasion just to be sure there is no "critical updates" available. |
-
|
|
Weird Email?If you receive an email message with a bunch of garbage that begins with <html>, don't be concerned there is a problem with your computer. These messages were formatted as HTML but for whatever reason, have been sent (or received by your computer) as plain text. HTML is the programming language used to program web pages but can also be used for email messages. Originally, email messages were plain text meaning just that; there was no bold, no italic, no indenting, no color or anything else that makes HTML messages a lot nicer to read. But HTML also opened the door for malicious messages. Email using HTML formatting can include Hyperlinks which may (or may not) open your web browser to the indicated web site. They can also include scripts which could be malicious. Concerned about security? Be sure to pre-screen your email with a spam filter. Keep your Antivirus application up-to-date. Hard drive failures are inevitableIf your computer is three years or older, or you are hearing a loud
"clicking" noise, or you see a HDD (hard disk drives) error
message or warning when starting your computer, or scandisk is reporting
"bad clusters", this article is
especially important! HDD's are mechanical devices and like any mechanical device, they have a maximum life span. Western Digital for example, rates their drives for five years but offer a maximum extended warranty of only three years. That tells us they expect failures in the fourth year of operation. It has been our experience in the business that drives fail typically within the first few months or in the fourth year or so. We cannot really say if it is better to leave your computer run 24/7 or shut it down however, failures almost always occur during the startup process. There are companies like On-track of Eden Prairie, MN that may be able to recover data from failed drives but be aware, their minimum charge is in the (high) hundreds of dollars and with no guarantee of success. Be sure you backup your data on a regular basis and plan on replacing the computer (or at least the drive) in the fourth year and before you start having HDD problems, transfer your data to a new drive! Note, while moving data from your old computer to your new one is typically very easy, moving an application is nearly impossible. Almost every application written within the last 6 years or so must be installed! For more information on moving data, click here. |
-
|
|
Can't receive attachments in Outlook Express?Chances are you just updated to OE 6.x where Microsoft took security to an absurd level by hiding all attachments. Fortunately this is an easy fix: Open OE and from the Tools menu, select Options then the security tab. Uncheck the second option (check box) down...
Why Microsoft made this so difficult for Outlook users is beyond anyone's guess... Depending on your version, you may not be able to easily resolve this issue! Outlook 2000 and later have add-ins and registry tweaks available. Our suggestion is visit support.microsoft.com and search the Outlook category for "attachments". If you can't find an answer there, try www.slipstick.com.
Filling out formsWhen filling out on-line forms, it is best to use the Tab key to advance to the next field. Pressing the Enter key often submits the form.
Windows UpdatesIf you have never updated, there may be 50, 80 or more Megabytes in updates available. Dialup user will be on-line for many hours downloading these updates but it will be worth the time! If you are having problems whereas your computer terminates the connection during these long downloads, try this: Open the Explorer to this address then click the link at the top of the page which will open another session of the Internet Browser. In that new session, click the Tools menu then Windows Update and proceed with your scanning and updates. The original keepalive page will refresh that page every minute fooling your connection in to thinking you are clicking a link, i.e., using the Internet. Problem with windows opening in an odd size? Click here |
-
|
|
General
Now open that template, use it as desired and when you click save, rather than changing your saved template it will prompt you for a new document (doc) file name. More on Word templates, click the following:
Do you have more icons than Desktop? If so you may want to organize your icons. Any icon you do not **want or use can be deleted by right clicking and selecting delete or simply drag it to the recycle bin. Clean up remaining icons; add new folders to the Desktop by right clicking a blank area, selecting New then Folder. Rename the new folder as needed, e.g., Games and drag all those game icons to that folder. Repeat for utility applications, etc... XP will automatically cleanup unused icons every 60 days.
Shutdown your Antivirus application and/or try reinstalling the Windows installer.
When you insert or eject a CD there is always a slight delay before the operating system realizes what you have done. So for example, if you're installing disc two during and install, don't be to quick to click OK when prompted for the second disc. Windows XP
Go to your control panel then Administrative Tools, open Services, right click Messenger and choose Stop. Then right click it again and change the Properties from Automatic to Disabled (if you never use it) or Manual (if you want it available but not always running). Hate those ads at the bottom of the messenger? Click Here. For more information on this type of problem, click here. Know your way around the registry? (If not or if this looks really foreign
to you, don't go there): [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Messenger]
Again, if you are not familiar or comfortable working in the registry, stay out. Otherwise delete these two entries: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\window_placement HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\internetexplorer\desktop\oldWorkAreas\OldWorkAreaRects |
-
Belkin
10' USB Cable Featuring 24K gold plated connectors, which maximize conductivity and provide up to 480Mbps error-free, high performance transmission for your USB printer, scanner, hard drive and more. $19.95 Regularly
$24.95 Price and availability subject to change.
Sales tax not included.
Available at the shop only (we do not ship.) |
That's all for now but we
will leave you with this:
A couple is lying in bed when the man says, "Tonight, I'm going to make you the happiest woman in the world." She replies, "I'll miss you!"
When a man marries a woman, they become one; but the trouble starts when they try to decide which one.
