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Issue 211 - October 30, 2002
ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2002
==== 2215 Subscribers in 56 Countries ====
Welcome to the 211th issue of the PC Improvement News. PCIN consists mainly
of news and tips. There is something for everyone, and if this is your first
issue, I'm sure there will be something for you. If you give me two or three
issues, I know that you will come back for more!
You can reach me at editor@pcin.net with
any suggestions or comments.
Recommend PCIN at http://PCIN.net/recommend.php
Support PCIN at http://PCIN.net/donate.php
CONTENTS
OPENING THOUGHTS
I'm sitting here at my desk finishing up the newsletter. Andrew is falling
asleep in his bouncy chair beside me. I love being a Dad! Every day that goes
by brings something new. Andrew is so much more alert than before. He smiles
all the time (sometimes even when he cries!) and we just love him to pieces.
Many of you know that I've had some desktop wallpaper of Niagara Falls for
a while. I've moved where the pictures are. You can now find them at http://www.accessniagara.com/
Graham editor@pcin.net
and Chris chris@pcin.net
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The NEWS
MSN, Yahoo pose threat to AOL crown
"America Online will lose a good chunk of its subscribers if it fails
to develop a compelling broadband offering, a study released Monday concluded.
AOL, currently the largest Internet service with 35.3 million subscribers,
could see its main rivals Microsoft and Yahoo close in on that lead by luring
broadband-hungry AOL users to their own high-speed services, according to
Forrester Research. While still relatively new, Microsoft's MSN and Yahoo's
broadband services are priced low enough to lure on-the-fence AOL users."
For more info:
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-963629.html
Who owns your e-mail?
"Nancy Carter has a message for Internet service providers: Keep your
hands off my e-mail.
The Toronto-based freelance TV producer has been battling U.S.-based Inter.net
Group for the past 16 months over a billing dispute she says may have cost
her a lucrative job opportunity. Now she wants $110,000 in damages over a
policy that led Inter.net's Canadian subsidiary to keep her ISP account open
for incoming e-mail even while denying her access to the account."
For more info:
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-963631.html
Reuters hacks accused of hacking
"Reuters, arguably the world's best known news agency, stands accused
of hacking today amid accusations that it broke into the computer systems
of Swedish IT group Intentia to publish its results ahead of their official
release.
Intentia said it would file criminal charges today after its internal investigation
of how its disappointing third quarter figures came to be obtained before
their scheduled release pointed the finger of blame at Reuters."
For more info:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/27816.html
Spam Law Foe Reverses Direction
"Spam is reaching such epidemic proportions that even the Direct Marketing
Association (DMA), which has staunchly opposed any federal anti-spam bills
in the past, now plans to seek help from Washington in the form of legislation
designed to slow the proliferation of 'unsolicited and untargeted' e-mail.
Earlier this year, the New York-based DMA joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce,
Financial Services Coordinating Council and the National Retail Federation
in testifying against anti-spamming legislation introduced by Senators Conrad
Burns (R.-Mont.) and Ron Wyden (D.-Ore.). The trade groups have traditionally
opposed any legislation that would limit their members' ability to use e-mail
as a direct marketing tool.
Now, however, the DMA wants federal legislation."
For more info:
http://dc.internet.com/news/article.php/1489211
POLL of the WEEK
Last Week's Poll
How long does it take to completely rebuild your computer?
| < 2 hours |
 |
25.00 % (15) |
| One morning, afternoon or evening |
|
25.00 % (15) |
| One day |
|
25.00 % (15) |
| One week |
|
8.33 % (5) |
| More than one week |
|
1.67 % (1) |
| I am never finished |
|
15.00 % (9) |
| Total votes: 60 |
This Week's Poll
FREEHELP FORUM
Visit the new and improved PCIN FreeHelp Forum at http://www.pcin.net/help/forum/index.php
to post your questions or answer others.
Question
I want to re-format my hard drive, but don't know how to re-start my pc
in MSDOS. I'm running Windows ME.
Response
Create a boot disk from Windows ME.
Start > Settings... > Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs > [Boot
Disk]
Restart the computer with the Boot disk in the floppy diskette drive.
On the "Windows Millenium Boot Menu" that appears, select Command
Prompt.
Once you're at C:\>, type "FORMAT C: /S /Q" and hit ENTER.
After that, restart the computer with the boot diskette in the drive and the
OS (Windows) installation CD in the CD-ROM drive. Follow the on-screen instructions
to reinstall the Operating System.
To post a response, visit the Software How-To forum at http://www.pcin.net/help/forum/index.php?board=6
and click on the "MSDOS" topic.
Visit http://www.pcin.net/help/forum/index.php
to post a question of your own.
PCIN.net UPDATE
Check out these new or updated pages on the PCIN.net site:
LG GCE-8400B 40x 12x 40x CD-RW Hardware Review
http://PCIN.net/help/hardware/lggce8400b.php
PCIN.net Search
http://PCIN.net/search.php
Some Useful Registry Tips
http://PCIN.net/help/articles/registry_tips.php
THE TIPS and OTHER STUFF
Color-Code Incoming Mail
This was the PC Magazine Tip of the Day yesterday:
"Color-coding e-mail messages automatically as they arrive in your Inbox
can help alert you to messages from a VIPs (such as your employer, or important
clients). To do this, click the Organize button on the standard toolbar, then
select the Using Colors option. In the field next to Color Messages From,
type in the desired name, select a color (red is the default), and click the
Apply Color button."
Organizing Microsoft Access Queries
This is from Chris:
" I have been developing in Microsoft Access for several years now. As
development progresses, the number of queries, tables and forms grows. Keeping
functions organized, especially when utilizing multiple queries, tables and
forms for a function, can become daunting. Help yourself by organizing these
into groups within Access. In the main Access window, right click in the navigation
bar and chose new group, then rename the group to something descriptive. Now,
simply drag your selected queries, tables, reports or forms to the group to
organize all object related to that particular function."
Windows XP Tips
"Welcome to the definitive online guide for users and soon-to-be users
of Microsoft's newest operating system Windows XP.
Check out the features section now to find out more about Service Pack 1 for
Windows XP - get the lowdown on what it contains and why you should be upgrading.
Meanwhile, if you've got questions, visit the forums to find answers!"
Visit http://www.windowsxpuser.com/
DISCLAIMER and
OTHER STUFF
PCIN is brought to you by Graham Wing. The opinions expressed are those of
the Editor, Graham Wing and the Assistant Editor, Chris Empey. Graham Wing
and Chris Empey accept no responsibility for the results obtained from trying
the tips in this newsletter.
- If any of the links are too long to fit on one line, you may have to cut
and paste.
- You can only win one contest every 30 days.
- To subscribe another address or unsubscribe, please visit http://www.pcin.net/ and
follow the appropriate links.
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be entered in a monthly draw.
- There are only 2 ways to get on the subscriber list. You have either been
subscribed by filling out a subscription form on any of the pages on my
site, or you have requested FreeHelp from me in the past.
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I will add it to the subscriber web pages that I have on my site.
- Support PCIN by visiting http://www.pcin.net/donate.php
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Graham Wing can be reached at editor@pcin.net
Chris Empey can be reached at chris@pcin.net
Copyright 1998-2002, Graham Wing. All rights reserved.
This publication may be reproduced in whole, or in part, as long as the author
is notified and the newsletter is presented as is.
Support PCIN by visiting http://www.pcin.net/donate.php
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