Issue 129 - March 29, 2001
ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements ©2001
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Welcome to the 129th issue of the PC Improvement News. PCIN consists
of news, tips, thoughts, and contests. There is something for everyone,
and if this is your first issue, I'm sure there will be something for
you. I am willing to discuss any computer topic. Email me at mailto:editor@pcin.net with any suggestions.
If you give me two or three issues, I know that you will come back for
more!
Recommend PCIN to others and be entered in a monthly draw. Recommend
PCIN in March and win a Snappy! 4.0. The more you recommend PCIN, the
more chances you have to win. Recommend PCIN now at http://www.pcin.net/recommend.shtml
OPENING THOUGHTS
This is your last chance to recommend PCIN in March. The prize is a Snappy!
4.0. This is a device that will let you capture video on your computer.
If you don't have a graphics card that has TV or other video in, then
this is a great device to have. Recommend PCIN now at http://www.pcin.net/recommend.shtml
The NEWS
Microsoft Posts Warning on Downloads
"Downloaders beware -- someone out there could be masquerading
as Microsoft, the software company warned yesterday.
VeriSign, the company that issues the digital certificates used to authenticate
the sources of software on the Internet, accidentally issued two certificates
to someone who fraudulently claimed to be a Microsoft employee, according
to a security bulletin issued by Microsoft. That unknown person could
now post viruses or other malicious programs on the Web disguised as
Microsoft software."
For more info:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/03/23/BU103543.DTL
http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,5079987,00.html
http://www.verisign.com/developer/notice/authenticode/index.html
Eight Options for Amazon
"From partnering with Barnes & Noble to bringing in Jack Welch,
here are some ideas that could help the e-tailer become profitable
At this point, just about everyone can agree: Amazon.com's business
model just isn't working. The company lost $1.4 billion on revenues
of $2.8 billion in 2000, or $1 for every $2 of goods sold. Its plan
has always been to lose a lot up front, grow really fast, and eventually
start making money on sales volume."
For more info:
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/mar2001/tc20010322_039.htm
First 'Napster-proof' CD set to burn
"If all goes as planned, Charley Pride will make music history
in April. After selling more than 70 million records, Pride - one of
the last great figures from the pre-Garth, twang-box radio glory days
of country music - is set to release America's first copy-protected
compact disk. A tribute to singer Jim Reeves, who died in a plane crash
in 1964, Pride's CD will incorporate technology that, in theory, will
stop listeners from ripping its tracks into MP3s. If it works - a hotly
disputed question - copy protection will change the terms of the battle
over online music."
For more info:
http://www.msnbc.com/news/550565.asp
MOBILE COMPUTING NEWS and NOTES
I love surfing the web using the Sanyo 4500 phone. The larger screen
is nice, and I like accessing my company directory. Why? Because I can
log in to find the contact information for everyone where I work, as well
as see their picture. It's just kind of cool to be able to look at your
own picture...on a phone...over the Internet.
Brought to you by Shawn Bremner and The Wireless Web ezine. Sign up by
sending a blank email to mailto:wirelessweb-subscribe@topica.com
I NEED HELP
I offer a free help service via email. If you have a question, you can
email me and I will try my best to answer them. I can answer about most
of them, but there are things that I have never tried or experienced so
I don't have an answer. I post those questions here and see if any of
the readers have any suggestions. I will include all reasonable suggestions
with credit to you.
These are NOT my own questions and they are NOT my answers. I will NOT
check the validity of these comments. That is up to you. If you do try
one of these tips, please let me know how the suggestions worked out.
Did they work or not? Please send in your questions or results to mailto:freehelp@pcin.net
Previous Questions
Q 128-01
Occasionally when online, my computer suddenly comes up with the
closing screen "it is now safe to turn your computer off".
This is a new machine and has been checked by the supplier.
(AMD 800, 128MB RAM, 20GB HD, Windows 98 SE, IE5)
A 128-01
John Hills said, "I think your supplier should re check the
machine as assuming it is not a virus, it sounds like a hard ware
issue possibly caused by over heating of one or more components or
a power supply that is not up to the standard required by an Athlon.
(300 watts PSU) However, try disabling all power saving options in
the BIOS."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ken Berry said, "You may have corrupted files in either IExplorer
java or Visual Basic Runtimes that send the command to shut down.
Try a reinstall of IExplorer and/or the most recent runtime files.
Other possibilities are a virus, code at a particular website, or
hacker sending the command to your computer. In the last case BlackIce
Defender from www.networkice.com or PortICE would stop
those attacks."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
** said, "If you still get it they should too. Your best bet
is to take it back and don't leave till they have found (ok maybe
leave cos you probably cant sleep there). But a more convenient solution
may be to download a virus scanner and check your computer thoroughly
first. Actually the first thing that came to my mind is that you may
be infected with "back orifice". There are many web sites
and dedicated programs for removing such things."
Q 128-02
When I launch JPG files in MSPAINT.EXE, it gives a Dr. Watson error.
Is there any way to rectify this?
A 128-02
John Hills said, "Get rid of Doctor Watson is one way."
Ken Berry said, "It sounds like your file associations for images
aren't registered correctly. TweakUI can repair these for standard
file extensions. It's available at almost all freeware/shareware sites
out there. You can go into windows setup and remove the paint application
then reboot your computer and reinstall, or you can reinstall windows."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
** said, "Last I looked MSPaint didn't support jpeg files (thus
the error). Try another program, ACDSee for viewing is good and I
like Paint Shop Pro for editing pictures, both should be available
in the Internet for trial and support a wide variety of file types,
especially jpeg."
New Questions
Q 129-01
Problem driving me crazy is that I suddenly cannot download any file
attachment when I receive an email in my Hotmail inbox. No matter
what the attached file name or type (.doc, .exe, .pdf) I can "view
it from its current location," but if I click "download
now" that attachment's name changes to "getmsg" and
what downloads is a tiny file that when double-clicked just brings
me back to the Net and the view-or-download dialogue box.
I think I have proved that the problem is specific to my home computer,
because the problem does not exist when I access the email from my
office computer. Since I'm guessing that it's some setting causing
the problem, I've made sure that my Internet settings in IE 5.5 are
all at "default." Just don't know what else to do.
(PIII 800, 128MB RAM, 6 GB HD, Win98SE, IE5.5)
Q 129-02
Is it possible to "piggyback" 2 graphics cards? I am using
a Monster4 and an Intel i740. Even if these can't work together, any
information on piggybacking would be appreciated.
(AMD 800, 128MB RAM, 6GB HD, WinME, IE5.0)
If you have an answer to these questions or have a question of your own,
please email me at mailto:freehelp@pcin.net
THE TIPS and OTHER STUFF
Cheap Trick of the Week
**Stalling technique**
Ever been downloading one of those really important files from the Internet
and you've got about two minutes left when you get a message saying
your download timed out?
With the help of a little Registry edit, you can tell your computer
to wait longer before giving up on a download. (If you are unfamiliar
with editing the Registry, check out the instructions and precautions
at www.WE-Compute.com/registry.html
before attempting this.)
In your Registry Editor go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\Modem\(number
of your modem, most likely 0000)\Settings. Click on the string value
titled Inactivity Timeout and change the numbers in the brackets. For
example, if you want your computer to wait 20 minutes for the stall
to recommence, type a 20 into the brackets like this: S19=<20>.
Get your own copy of "The Little Black Book of Cheap Tricks: 2001"
by visiting http://www.pcin.net/lbbct
New PCIN.net Features
I'm finally finding some time to work on the site. Here are some of
the latest additions:
Book Review of The Little Black Book of Cheap Tricks: 2001
http://pcin.net/help/books/reviewed/lbbct2001.shtml
Each week We-Compute! Magazine provides me with a "Cheap Trick"
to include in the newsletter. They have combined hundreds more tip into
a small book. The link above is for the review of the book that I did.
More Registry Tips (now 22)
http://pcin.net/help/articles/registry.shtml
Anytime I see a tip or tweak for the registry, I add it to this list.
I add several new ones each week.
Lockergnome Tip of the Day
http://pcin.net/help/articles/lgtod.shtml
Chris Pirillo of Lockergnome has syndicated his daily tip. This page
has it.
Nerdy Books Tip of the Day
http://pcin.net/help/articles/nbtod.shtml
This is another interesting syndicated tip. It is in the form of a cartoon
(kind of) and has daily tips for Microsoft Office. There is a corresponding
book, which I will be reviewing in the next couple of weeks.
Cheap Tricks Page
http://pcin.net/help/articles/cheaptricks.shtml
The "Cheap Tricks" mentioned above have been appearing in
PCIN for over a year. I have put them all together on one web page.
There is a printable version that is about 20 pages worth of tips. I
will break it up into smaller pieces in the future, but for now, they
are all there in one place for you. Since it is a big page, and it is
in a table, it may take a few extra seconds to load.
Microsoft's Tips for Using the Internet
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsme/using/internet/tips/default.asp
This is a collection of 32 tips that have to do with the Internet. The
links on the left side of the page also take you to some other interesting
articles on the Microsoft site. It is in the Windows ME section of the
site, but is applicable to virtually all of their desktop operating
systems.
Unfreezing a Computer
I came across this at work the other day and thought it might be worth
sharing. I was helping a co-worker (Cindi Stranges who is also a subscriber)
try and unfreeze her computer. The computer was a Compaq Presario that
has one of those power buttons that if you press it quickly, it tries
to put the computer into standby mode. If you hold it in for 5 seconds,
it powers the computer off.
Well, Cindi went to turn it off, but didn't hold the button in long
enough. A message came up on the screen from Windows saying that there
was a program running that wouldn't allow the computer to go into sleep
mode. The computer wasn't frozen any more, and all of the programs were
working.
I don't know why this fixed it, but if you are experiencing a total
freeze on your system and you have no choice but to restart, try and
see if the hibernation/standby feature works. It may "unfreeze"
your computer in a similar way.
DISCLAIMER and OTHER STUFF
PCIN is brought to you by PC Improvements. The opinions expressed are
those of the editor, Graham Wing. PC Improvements and Graham Wing accept
no responsibility for the results obtained from trying the tips in this
newsletter.
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Graham Wing can be reached at mailto:editor@pcin.net
Copyright 1998-2000, PC Improvements and Graham Wing. All rights reserved.
This publication may be reproduced in whole, or in part, as long as the
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