Issue 264 - November 05, 2003

ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2003
==== 2140 Subscribers in 61 Countries ====

Welcome to the 264th 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

As I mentioned last week, I'm on vacation this week. We haven't gone anywhere, but we're having a great time. Lisa is busy getting ready for her craft sale and Andrew and I are having lots of fun together. It would be nice to be able to go away somewhere, but it's also nice to just relax at home!

I received a nice present in the mail today... I received a check from Google for the Adwords banners I have on my site. I don't know if you've noticed them at the bottom of the page or not, but they are helping to pay for the site. I'll probably move the ads so they are a little more visible. You are under no obligation to click any of the ads, but remember that it is one of the ways that I can afford to keep this going.

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

The NEWS

MS Calls Out Bounty Hunters

"Microsoft said Wednesday it would offer cash bounties for information on the authors of the crippling MSBlast and SoBig computer bugs.
Microsoft, joined by U.S. and international law-enforcement groups, said it would offer $250,000 apiece for information leading to the arrest of the writers of two of the costliest computer-bug outbreaks to hit the Internet."

For more info:
http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,61086,00.html

Blogger dismissed from Microsoft

"Michael Hanscom admits it probably wasn't the best idea. He thought the photo on his personal blog of Apple computers being offloaded at a Microsoft loading dock might get a couple of smirks from friends. He never imagined it would cost him his job.
That's precisely what he says happened, though. Hanscom has found several minutes of Web fame this week as the latest example of how bloggers' blend of personal and professional can backfire. Hanscom, who says he has kept an online journal since 1998, worked in Microsoft's copy shop, taking printing and publishing orders from employees at the software giant's headquarters in Redmond, Wash."

For more info:
http://www.msnbc.com/news/986750.asp

Red Hat Cans Linux Distribution

"Leading Linux distributor Red Hat Inc. on Monday made clear its intention to focus on the enterprise space, telling customers that it will no longer be maintaining or releasing any of the its Red Hat Linux line after the end of April 2004.
The Raleigh, N.C. firm sent its Red Hat Network customers an e-mail, informing them of the upcoming discontinuation of Red Hat Linux and providing them with "resources to assist you with your migration to another Red Hat solution."

For more info:
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,4149,1371219,00.asp

Microsoft and Google: Partners or rivals?

"Wall Street is not the only one wooing Google. Microsoft is as well.
Google, the high-flying Web search company, recently began holding meetings with bankers in preparation for its highly anticipated initial public offering. At the same time, it was still engaged in meetings of another kind: exploring a partnership or even a merger with Microsoft.
According to company executives and others briefed on the discussions, Microsoft--desperate to capture a slice of the popular and ad-generating search business--approached Google within the last two months to discuss options, including the possibility of a takeover."

For more info:
http://news.com.com/2100-1030_3-5100360.html

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POLL of the WEEK

Last Week's Poll

Have you used a legitimate online store to purchase songs electronically?

Yes 16.81 % (19)
No 83.19 % (94)
Total votes: 113

This Week's Poll

Will Linux suffer now that RedHat has dropped its distribution

Yes
No
I don't care

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

Operating System: Windows ME
Problem: Cant Format Windows ME Computer
Reason: The reason why is that everytime i put in a bootdisk for Windows XP or Windows 98 it wont boot from it. Also when I try and use the floppy drive in windows its says unformatted disk, so i go to format it then says wrong size disk and crashes. Has anyone got any other ideas how to format this machine. CDROM doesn't boot automatically either...

Response

Enter the BIOS Setup and change the boot order configuration setting.
To enter the Setup:
Press DEL, or F1 or F2 or F10 at first POST.
You'll find the setting in:
Phoenix BIOS: Last screen
AMI BIOS: Second option.

To post a response, visit the General Hardware Help forum at http://PCIN.net/help/forum/index.php?board=4 and click on the "Windows ME" 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:

Sunbelt Software iHateSpam Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/ihatespam.php

Logitech Cordless Elite Duo Hardware Review
http://PCIN.net/help/hardware/lced.php

XemiComputers Ltd. DeskLook 3.0 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/desklook3.php

Symantec Norton Ghost 2003 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/ghost2003.php

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THE TIPS and OTHER STUFF

Windows Task Schedule

Windows Task Scheduler is a small utility included with Microsoft Windows that allows you to schedule programs to be run at set times. This is a great utility to automate such things as backup routines, log rotation, or running batch files. To access the task scheduler, open Scheduled Tasks in the Control Panel. Creating new tasks is wizard driven for complete ease of use.

Windows XP Tips and Tricks

I mentioned this site about a year and a half ago, but the site is still being updated and has a lot of information.
"The wonderful world of Microsoft and their operating systems, Windows XP, Windows 2000, NT, 98, Longhorn, Windows 2003, Windows ME, etc, are ever changing, with news and info coming at you from all directions. We try to wade through the crap to bring you Windows XP news and info you can rely on, and return too again and again."
Check it out at http://www.tipsdr.com/

Some tips for tackling Windows worms, viruses, and hackers

"Owning a computer can be positively terrifying. Some days, it seems that every command might send me and my PC over a precipice into a world full of crashes, fatal errors, illegal operations, viruses, worms and other foreign invaders. Having a computer connected to the Internet will always involve some risk, but there are a few things we can do to reduce our chances of falling prey to Net-crawling critters."
Check it out at http://www.hubcanada.com/story_10752_34

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PCIN.net AFFILIATED SITES

Both of us have other sites other than PCIN.net. These are all sites that we are actively involved in (they aren't client sites). Don't forget to check them out from time to time for updates:

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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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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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