January 2009

Site Hints | Shop Hours

Clean it up!

Newsletter Index

Recovered data  --top

If we have done data recovery or data transfer for you, please be aware...

Prior to mid-September we connected your computer to our network then created a shared recovery folder for data transfer purposes.  Since then we are using special hardware for data transfer.  This allows us to save and transfer data directly to your computer, i.e., a shared folder is no longer needed.

So if we did salvage data for you before mid-September and you have not yet finished moving or deleting data, do so soon!  That shared folder could be viewed by an unscrupulous person when you connect to a wireless network, e.g., at a coffee shop. 

If applied, the folder exists on the root (C:) and can be accessed from the My Computer icon then the C:\ (local) drive.  There you may see a folder with a hand under the icon, that is a shared folder.

Right click the folder and from the popup menu, select Sharing and Security. Change the option to: Do not share this folder (may be labeled stop sharing).

Thanks, Deb

Norton Security Scan  --top

We have been finding "Norton Security Scan" on some computers.  Be aware this utility from Symantec is simply an online scanner and does not protect your computer!

Do not rely on Security Scan for real time protection...

Phony warnings  --top

Here is an email supposedly from eBay...

Once again, there are some initial clues that should tell you these are not legitimate - - - > If you receive something like this from a company you do business with but suspect the email is phony, go to their site directly then log in.  Do not click the email link.
Hovering over the link typically shows the designation website and as you can see, it is not eBay.com.

Thanks, Justin

Outlook images --top

We are unsure which versions may be affected, but (our) version '03 has a quirky issue where some images embedded in an email may not appear.  The circumstances are: 

We open an email message and while it is open we delete it, or we move to the next message.  If that next message has embedded images we see only a blank box.  To view the images in that second message, we must close and reopen it.

We have not yet found a fix for this problem, only the work-around stated above...

WIFI problems? --top

If you have erratic wireless connection problems, here is something to consider...

Radio signals from various electronic products can interfere with WIFI wireless network signals, e.g., cordless phones, Bluetooth devices, garage door openers and microwave ovens.

If you are having problems and suspect interference issues, try changing the router location.  If that does not resolve the problem, log into the router and change the channel settings.  More information here.

Obscure Word feature --top

Word has an odd feature allowing you to select a very specific area of the paragraph or document.   While this is not very useful in a typical Word document, it could be handy when working with tables or columns.

Hold the ALT key while using the mouse to select the area desired...

Reseating RAM --top

Occasionally we see computers where the fans (may) start but the computer does not.  In many cases it's simply a matter of reseating the RAM (memory).  This is a very easy process, more information and images here.

Laptop connections --top

Just a reminder...

Although laptops are built fairly well these days, there are some areas that require care.  The monitor is the big one; break it and you may as well buy a new laptop.  Be sure to lift the lid at both corners.

The second area of concern deals with whatever connections protrude from the body, for example, the power supply and USB connections. We see a handful of laptops each year with broken power supply connections (red circle) and a few with broken USB connections. In this example, the USB guide (yellow circle) has been broken out of the top port and the electrical connections are crushed against the back of the port. Power supply connections can be repaired by a couple of facilities in the cities, but generally the cost exceeds the value of the machine.

Quick Links...  --top

Backup information and tools

Hard-to-find 800 numbers

Very good articles on scams...  Part 1 and Part 2.

We will leave you with this from Al Lowe

A couple walked into a dentist's office. The man told the dentist, "Can you pull a tooth quickly? I'm really late! Another couple is waiting for us at the golf course and our tee time is in thirty minutes. I don't have time to wait for anesthetic to take effect." The dentist thought, "This is one brave man, asking to have a tooth pulled without anesthetic." The dentist asked him, "Which tooth is it, sir?" The man turned to his wife and said, "Honey, show him your tooth!"