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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
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
You can also vote online at http://PCIN.net/polls/
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.
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
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
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:
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://PCIN.net/ and
follow the appropriate links.
- Recommend PCIN to others at http://PCIN.net/recommend.php and
be entered in a monthly draw.
- There are only 3 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,
you have requested FreeHelp from me in the past, or you have registered with
the FreeHelp Forum.
- If you have a web site or run your own newsletter, please email me at editor@pcin.net and
I will add it to the subscriber web pages that I have on my site.
- Support PCIN by visiting http://PCIN.net/donate.php
Return to the top
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.
Support PCIN by visiting http://PCIN.net/donate.php
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