Issue 233 - April 02, 2003

ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2003
==== 2164 Subscribers in 61 Countries ====

Welcome to the 233rd 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

Last week I commented that I was alone since Lisa and Andrew had gone away for the day/night to visit with her family. I had a subscriber email me who was in the same circumstances. Small world! He sent a nice note saying that it was great how "in-tune" I was with my subscribers. Actually, I think it was more a coincidence than anything, but it was still a nice note. Thanks Alex! I hope your wife and daughter made it back safely.

It always amazes me the information that you can find on the Internet. A month or so ago I decided I'd start a coin collection. A search on Google for canada coin collection brought 77,000 results. A search for history of Canadian coins brought 45,500 results. I've read a few things, but I guess I still have 100,000+ articles to go!

Graham editor@pcin.net and Chris chris@pcin.net

The NEWS

House vote bans deceptive urls

"The U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to ban pornographic Internet sites with misleading addresses and computer-generated child pornography.
During a debate over a bill to create a notification network for child kidnapping cases, House members added two technology-related amendments to the legislation. The first measure, which was approved by voice vote, says anyone who knowingly uses an innocent-sounding domain name to drive traffic to a sex site could be fined and imprisoned for two to four years."

For more info:
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1105-994460.html

High-Tech Flier

"Low-cost airline Song, which is owned by Delta Air Lines Inc. and launches next month, wants to make time fly on its four daily flights between New York and Florida. It has installed screens on the back of every seat, and an onboard server delivers video games, movies, and MP3 audio to passengers; some services, including satellite TV, will be free. Song will analyze data on its passengers' preferences. Says Tim Mapes, managing director of marketing, 'It's the equivalent of a flying focus group.'"

For more info:
http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20030314S0022

When a Free Download Isn't Free

"An author hoping to spur sales of his book is facing a gigantic bill after an online publishing experiment went horribly awry.
Last week, writer Glenn Fleishman offered his book, Real World Adobe GoLive 6, as a free download.
But instead of the few hundred downloads Fleishman expected, the book was downloaded about 10,000 times in just 36 hours. And because he's charged incrementally for bandwidth, Fleishman estimates he could be billed $15,000 at the end of the month -- possibly a lot more."

For more info:
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,58219,00.html

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POLL of the WEEK

Last Week's Poll

How do you feel about online gambling?

All gambling is wrong 12.33 % (18)
Doesn't interest me 65.75 % (96)
I prefer to gamble in person 19.86 % (29)
I love it 2.05 % (3)
Total votes: 146

This Week's Poll

Have you ever downloaded an entire feature-length movie from the Internet?

Yes
No

You can also vote online at http://PCIN.net/polls/

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PCIN.net FREEHELP FORUM

Visit the PCIN.net FreeHelp Forum at http://PCIN.net/help/forum/ to post your questions or answer others.

Question

I am using Win98SE, IE6.0
When I click Start, then Run and type in: msconfig and OK then click start TAB, I have a huge list of programs that are unchecked, plus check marks on programs I want to start when I turn on computer.
How can I delete the unchecked programs, that I am sure I won't want on StartUp? When I right-click an unchecked program I get a message: "what's this?"

Response

I always just go into the registry and remove the items. You can find them in either of these keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run (or any of the keys here that start with Run)
or
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Other items might be in your c:\autoexec.bat file or in the Startup folder of the Start Menu.

To post a response, visit the Software How-To forum at http://PCIN.net/help/forum/index.php?board=6 and click on the "Start Menu in MSCONFIG" topic.

Visit http://PCIN.net/help/forum/ to post a question of your own.

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PCIN.net UPDATE

Check out these new or updated pages on the PCIN.net site:

Logitech Cordless Freedom Optical Hardware Review
http://PCIN.net/help/hardware/lcfo.php

Some Useful Registry Tips - Now 171 Tips!
http://PCIN.net/help/articles/registry_tips.php

Paragon Hard Disk Manager 5.5 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/paragonhdm55.php

Object Desktop Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/objectdesktop.php

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THE TIPS and OTHER STUFF

More Shortcut Keys

It seems like people either love keyboard shortcuts or they hate them. Well, for those who love them, here is another site:
http://www.computerhope.com/shortcut.htm
The web site describes it this way:
"Shortcut keys are created to allow easier maneuverability in and between application using your keyboard. The following are listings of different shortcut keys for basic windows environments as well as major programs. To help you get the most out of your programs and get to where you need to go the fastest way available."

eBay Internet Explorer Toolbar

I've recently started collecting coins. I'm collecting all of the coins (1¢, 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, 50¢, $1.00, $2.00) through all of the years. I've collected a lot on my own, and the other day headed over to eBay to check out what was listed. They have a new toolbar that works with Internet Explorer. It has a search bar, and integrates with the My eBay feature. You can also choose to have warnings when an auction is going to end. It certainly seems very interesting. I've installed it and it seems very handy, but I really don't use eBay that much. You can check it out for yourself at http://pages.ebay.com/ebay_toolbar/

Computer Tips Site

Irving S. posted the question up above and then mentioned his web site. He has a lot of tips that you can check out. He described it this way:
" I have created this site to help anyone that can use computer help via computer tips, cool links, and everyday tips."
Check it out at http://www.irvings-info-page.cityslide.com/

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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.

  1. If any of the links are too long to fit on one line, you may have to cut and paste.
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  3. To subscribe another address or unsubscribe, please visit http://PCIN.net/ and follow the appropriate links.
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  5. 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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Graham Wing can be reached at editor@pcin.net
Chris Empey can be reached at chris@pcin.net

Copyright 1998-2003, 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.

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