It's a very ancient saying,
But a true and honest thought,
That if you become a teacher,
By your pupils you'll be taught.
Thank you Oscar Hammerstein!
I have learned a lot, especially recently it seems, from working with you, my customers. and for that I am grateful and glad that I am still capable of learning.
I have learned that SuperAntispyware is as good as, if not better than, Spybot.
I have learned that Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is better than SuperAntispyware.
I have learned that RAM (computer memory) can be purchased at rock bottom prices from Crucial.com, and that the site crucial.com has a nice little applet that you download and it will scan your system, tell you what you have for memory, and show you the possibilities of upgrading, right along with the lowest memory prices I've ever seen.
The rogue programs that several of you have seemed to "acquire" on your systems lately have proven to me that stronger malware detection and removal tools are the order of the day. These rogue programs are particularly vicious and damaging to our systems.
The above-mentioned programs are all free. There's no need that I know of yet to purchase any "professional" versions. Next time I see you ask me about these newer, more powerful tools or go ahead and try them out yourself.
In any case, please heed my words to arm yourself with a complete security package. Mine is changing and now includes:
Windows Firewall
Windows Defender
AVG Free Anti-virus Version 8
Hosts File found at http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
CCleaner
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
Super AntiSpyware
Spybot
These last three may seem redundant, but until I am convinced that that is the case, I will continue to use all. I may run AdAware once a month or so.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Top 5 Netbooks per PC World
That's not a misspelling. Netbooks are the latest craze among travelers who are tired of the much larger and heavier notebooks they have been carrying around. I have been reviewing whatever I can find on these 5. So far I like the Lenovo and the Acer (NOTE: MUST get the 6 cell battery, and this means more money, but still under $400).
Understand that these do have limited function. For example, no CD/DVD drive, which means if you really need one of these, it'll have to be an add-on ($$) external drive.
I definitely recommend some hands-on with whatever model you may be considering, and that is my next step in the evaluation process. Be sure to ask questions.
Understand that these do have limited function. For example, no CD/DVD drive, which means if you really need one of these, it'll have to be an add-on ($$) external drive.
I definitely recommend some hands-on with whatever model you may be considering, and that is my next step in the evaluation process. Be sure to ask questions.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Phishing, e-mail money laundering scams on the rise
Be careful out there! They ARE out to get us - especially as we enter the holiday season! From CNET News.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Blackberry Storm a Disappointment?
If you've been awaiting the arrival of the new Blackberry Storm from Verizon, you may want to read this (and other) reviews first.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
50 Ways to Make Vista Faster
This comes from Microsoft. Your head may spin as you try to absorb this information, but maybe bookmarking it and revisiting from time to time and focusing on a few of these each visit would be wise.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Checking the health of your hard drive
Another oldie but goodie:
It’s important, especially on older computers, to keep an eye on the health of your hard drive. It goes without saying that you should have a plan to back up all of your personal data on a regular basis. That done, you should run the Check Disk utility, provided by Microsoft in both XP & Vista, on a scheduled basis to ensure that the health of your hard drive is good. If yours shows what appear to be serious errors and not just the “cleaning up of minor inconsistencies” you should keep a close eye on the drive to see if similar errors occur again. Your hard drive may be failing.
You can see how to run Check Disk by clicking below:
Monday, November 17, 2008
How to run disk defragmenter
One of my customers told me the other day that she forgot how to run the disk defragment program. What hurts is that this blogging software (Wordpress) does not to my knowledge have indexing or cross referencing capabilities. Way back in the early days of this blog I posted detailed instructions on how to do a disk defrag, but it's tough to keep paging back to find out how, even if one knows that it was once posted! So here are links to those detailed instructions:
Running Disk Defragmenter in Windows XP
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Cleanup
Okay, you've bought into the need to have a quality security environment on your PC, now don't forget to do a little cleanup once in a while.
CCleaner will help clean your hard drive, but don't forget to do a Disk Defragment once a quarter and run a CHKDSK every 6 months.
CCleaner will help clean your hard drive, but don't forget to do a Disk Defragment once a quarter and run a CHKDSK every 6 months.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Flawed AVG antivirus update cripples Windows XP PCs
Not good, but supposedly won't affect us. I have not had any problems. Has anyone? Please let me know if you experience this problem.
From the article: "The AVG spokeswoman claimed that only users running Dutch, French, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish language versions of Windows XP were impacted. Computerworld was unable to confirm that, however."
From the article: "The AVG spokeswoman claimed that only users running Dutch, French, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish language versions of Windows XP were impacted. Computerworld was unable to confirm that, however."
Flawed AVG antivirus update cripples Windows XP PCs
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
OOPS!
A reader asked if I had forgotten to include FIREWALL in my list of items in my post on PC Security on October 29. She was right. I did forget.
It is absolutely a necessity to protect your system with a firewall. My personal favorite is Microsoft's Windows Firewall, included as an integral component of both XP & Vista. I like it because it's free, there is no install to worry about, no updates to check for, and it is a silent partner as I use my computer. I just turn it on - once and only once - and it runs all the time protecting my systems. Some argue that it is not a very strong firewall, and one reason offered for this is that it only checks incoming traffic and not outgoing traffic, to which I say "so?". I am looking for protection against the bad guys out there who are trying to get into my machines, so I am very happy with this low overhead product.
It is absolutely a necessity to protect your system with a firewall. My personal favorite is Microsoft's Windows Firewall, included as an integral component of both XP & Vista. I like it because it's free, there is no install to worry about, no updates to check for, and it is a silent partner as I use my computer. I just turn it on - once and only once - and it runs all the time protecting my systems. Some argue that it is not a very strong firewall, and one reason offered for this is that it only checks incoming traffic and not outgoing traffic, to which I say "so?". I am looking for protection against the bad guys out there who are trying to get into my machines, so I am very happy with this low overhead product.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Surge Suppressors
This is an oldie but goodie from Kim Komando's web site, http://www.komando.com/. If you don't check Kim's site every day, you should. You can almost always find some good nuggets there.
Anyway, I certainly agree with Kim's opening line in this post found on her site this morning. It's very important to understand this subject and to protect your own computer(s).
Surge suppressors
I'm always surprised when people don't protect their computers from power spikes. A strong one can wipe out your expensive computer and monitor.
A surge suppressor will provide limited protection from power spikes. Don't confuse suppressors with power strips, though. Power strips do nothing to protect your gear.
Picking out a surge suppressor can be confusing. But I can help you sort out the confusion.
First, look at the suppressed voltage rating. This is the maximum voltage that the suppressor will allow through. Lower numbers are better – I'd go for one that's rated at 330v.
Energy dissipation is also important. This is how much power the suppressor can absorb. Here, higher numbers are better. Don't settle for less than 800 joules.
Find one that has connections for your cable line and/or phone line as well.
As I said, surge protectors offer only limited protection against power spikes. For a better protection, buy an uninterruptible power supply (UPS).
In the event of a power outage, a UPS will let you power down safely. You'll have the opportunity to save your work. This does not mean you can continue to work when the power goes out.
A UPS contains a battery that is charged from a wall outlet. You can connect your computer, monitor and inkjet printer to the UPS. Do not attach a laser printer. Laser printers draw too much power.
A UPS cleans the power, so it’s optimized. This is important, because power fluctuations can corrupt data. Many people only think of protecting gear from surges or spikes. But other fluctuations, like voltage sags, can be equally damaging.
You'll need to make sure the UPS's power rating is right for your equipment. Buy one that is rated too low, and you may run out of power before you can shut down the computer.
UPS devices are generally designed to provide 10 minutes of power. If the power rating is too low for your computer, this time decreases.
Look at the VA rating — this is amps multiplied by voltage (120v). The amp rating is listed on your computer. Add up the VA ratings of everything you will connect to the UPS. Purchase a UPS with a VA rating 20 to 25 % higher than the total.
There are different kinds of UPS devices. An online UPS always draws power from the battery. If your power fails, the UPS doesn’t need to switch from one source of power to another. There won't even be a momentary interruption in power. The battery buffer will probably protect you from lightning strikes.
If the battery fails, you'll still receive power. The UPS bypasses the battery and functions like a surge suppressor.
An online UPS is the most expensive kind. It is about twice the price of other types of UPS devices. Expect to pay $150 or more for an online UPS. As the VA rating increases, so does the price.
A line interactive UPS is less expensive. When the power fails, it switches your computer to a battery. You will have a momentary power failure. This can cause you to lose data.
No matter what you purchase, watch out for lightning. Otherwise, you'll be reading my tip on recycling computers. There is only one surefire solution to safeguard your computer against lightning.
You should also make sure you have a good backup solution for your data.
Anyway, I certainly agree with Kim's opening line in this post found on her site this morning. It's very important to understand this subject and to protect your own computer(s).
Surge suppressors
I'm always surprised when people don't protect their computers from power spikes. A strong one can wipe out your expensive computer and monitor.
A surge suppressor will provide limited protection from power spikes. Don't confuse suppressors with power strips, though. Power strips do nothing to protect your gear.
Picking out a surge suppressor can be confusing. But I can help you sort out the confusion.
First, look at the suppressed voltage rating. This is the maximum voltage that the suppressor will allow through. Lower numbers are better – I'd go for one that's rated at 330v.
Energy dissipation is also important. This is how much power the suppressor can absorb. Here, higher numbers are better. Don't settle for less than 800 joules.
Find one that has connections for your cable line and/or phone line as well.
As I said, surge protectors offer only limited protection against power spikes. For a better protection, buy an uninterruptible power supply (UPS).
In the event of a power outage, a UPS will let you power down safely. You'll have the opportunity to save your work. This does not mean you can continue to work when the power goes out.
A UPS contains a battery that is charged from a wall outlet. You can connect your computer, monitor and inkjet printer to the UPS. Do not attach a laser printer. Laser printers draw too much power.
A UPS cleans the power, so it’s optimized. This is important, because power fluctuations can corrupt data. Many people only think of protecting gear from surges or spikes. But other fluctuations, like voltage sags, can be equally damaging.
You'll need to make sure the UPS's power rating is right for your equipment. Buy one that is rated too low, and you may run out of power before you can shut down the computer.
UPS devices are generally designed to provide 10 minutes of power. If the power rating is too low for your computer, this time decreases.
Look at the VA rating — this is amps multiplied by voltage (120v). The amp rating is listed on your computer. Add up the VA ratings of everything you will connect to the UPS. Purchase a UPS with a VA rating 20 to 25 % higher than the total.
There are different kinds of UPS devices. An online UPS always draws power from the battery. If your power fails, the UPS doesn’t need to switch from one source of power to another. There won't even be a momentary interruption in power. The battery buffer will probably protect you from lightning strikes.
If the battery fails, you'll still receive power. The UPS bypasses the battery and functions like a surge suppressor.
An online UPS is the most expensive kind. It is about twice the price of other types of UPS devices. Expect to pay $150 or more for an online UPS. As the VA rating increases, so does the price.
A line interactive UPS is less expensive. When the power fails, it switches your computer to a battery. You will have a momentary power failure. This can cause you to lose data.
No matter what you purchase, watch out for lightning. Otherwise, you'll be reading my tip on recycling computers. There is only one surefire solution to safeguard your computer against lightning.
You should also make sure you have a good backup solution for your data.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Friday, November 7, 2008
Netbooks Come Into Their Own
Walter S. Mossberg's article on this new breed of PC makes for good and enlightening reading.
From the article: "Somewhere between the laptop and the smart phone, the computer industry has long believed there could be a small, low-cost device that would please consumers and sell well.
The device would be more versatile than, say, an iPhone, but much cheaper and more portable than, say, a ThinkPad. The trouble is, every attempt to create such a category of computer has met with failure — until now."
From the article: "Somewhere between the laptop and the smart phone, the computer industry has long believed there could be a small, low-cost device that would please consumers and sell well.
The device would be more versatile than, say, an iPhone, but much cheaper and more portable than, say, a ThinkPad. The trouble is, every attempt to create such a category of computer has met with failure — until now."
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Password Protect a Word or Excel Document
This is a handy little technique for password-protecting a Microsoft Word or Excel document.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
External Storage
Shopping in Costco today I saw the Western Digital 1TB My Book external hard drive priced at $179. They also had another brand 750GB drive for $109.
This is inexpensive additional hard drive (disk) storage folks. Of course it'll continue to get cheaper, but these are great buys. If you need some, now is a very good time to buy. In making technology buying decisions we usually have to go with our instincts and an analysis of what is available today and what is the cost.
These external hard drives come in very nice hardware packaging and connect to your PC, laptop or desktop, with a USB cable.
This is inexpensive additional hard drive (disk) storage folks. Of course it'll continue to get cheaper, but these are great buys. If you need some, now is a very good time to buy. In making technology buying decisions we usually have to go with our instincts and an analysis of what is available today and what is the cost.
These external hard drives come in very nice hardware packaging and connect to your PC, laptop or desktop, with a USB cable.
Monday, November 3, 2008
How much ink is really left in that printer cartridge?
This is a good article from PC World that gets to the heart of the matter!
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Windows 7
Windows 7 is the name currently given to the system that will replace Windows Vista. Microsoft hopes to deliver Windows 7 in 2010, perhaps earlier. That means that Windows 7 could be delivered in time for Christmas NEXT YEAR! PC World gives us a look at the pre-Beta version in an article worth perusing.
Those of us who will be able to stay with Windows XP and avoid Vista should be able to jump from XP to 7 directly - should we decide we want to or need to. Remember that Windows XP will be supported until 2014!
From the article: "Windows 7, successor to Windows Vista, is slated to ship in early 2010 (although rumor has it that Microsoft hopes to get it out even earlier. But aside from saying it will refine Vista's kernel, Microsoft hadn't released many details about the new OS--until now. Pre-beta code distributed at the Microsoft Professional Developers' conference suggests that Microsoft is serious about creating a less in-your-face OS."
Read the article and view screen shots from the pre-Beta version:
Those of us who will be able to stay with Windows XP and avoid Vista should be able to jump from XP to 7 directly - should we decide we want to or need to. Remember that Windows XP will be supported until 2014!
From the article: "Windows 7, successor to Windows Vista, is slated to ship in early 2010 (although rumor has it that Microsoft hopes to get it out even earlier. But aside from saying it will refine Vista's kernel, Microsoft hadn't released many details about the new OS--until now. Pre-beta code distributed at the Microsoft Professional Developers' conference suggests that Microsoft is serious about creating a less in-your-face OS."
Read the article and view screen shots from the pre-Beta version:
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
PC Security
It seems strange to be repeating a post I just wrote two weeks ago, but in these past two weeks I have been very busy fighting fires on customer machines with serious problems. As said earlier, just because you are not paranoid does not mean they are not out to get you! There are lots of bad guys out there just looking for vulnerable systems. Unfortunately, several of you know exactly what I mean.
Once again, the best defense is a good offense. You have to take action to protect your systems. I use and recommend all 6 of these, and they are all absolutely free:
CCleaner
AVG Free Anti-virus
Spybot
Windows Defender
Hosts File found at http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
AdAware
These help me to keep my systems running virus-free and spyware-free. In spite of what I said on October 14 about AdAware, I still keep it on my systems and will run it periodically.
Keep in mind that these programs have versions, and you may not have the latest. Examples, Spybot is Version 1.60, Adaware is AdAware 2008 7.1.0.8, and so on. Check yours and make sure you have the latest, as well as all updates to the latest versions.
Once again, the best defense is a good offense. You have to take action to protect your systems. I use and recommend all 6 of these, and they are all absolutely free:
CCleaner
AVG Free Anti-virus
Spybot
Windows Defender
Hosts File found at http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
AdAware
These help me to keep my systems running virus-free and spyware-free. In spite of what I said on October 14 about AdAware, I still keep it on my systems and will run it periodically.
Keep in mind that these programs have versions, and you may not have the latest. Examples, Spybot is Version 1.60, Adaware is AdAware 2008 7.1.0.8, and so on. Check yours and make sure you have the latest, as well as all updates to the latest versions.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Ronald McDonald House
Those of you who know me or who have been reading my blog know that I have been asking for donations of used laptops since the Spring of this year. My idea has been to clean and tune these machines and make them available to people who are residents at the Ronald McDonald House (RMH) in Burlington, VT. People, usually parents and families of premature babies or cancer patients or others, can stay at the RMH. The RMH has one desktop PC and a wireless network that those who bring their laptops can use. Many families do not have laptops and I saw this as a need I wanted to try to fill. With a wireless laptop they can then have easy access to e-mail and the internet, or perhaps even online classes for their co-resident kids while staying at the RMH. More importantly, in my vision of this over time, these folks can carry the laptops up to the hospital and access e-mail and the internet from the patient's room. This vision requires cooperation from the hospital in allowing the users to access the hospital's network. I am happy to report that I have already had one successful situation with the hospital doing just this.
So where am I now with this project? I have met with the RMH management and they support me in this. I have 3 usable laptops I have cobbled together from your donations. Starting in November I will make these machines available to the RMH by leaving them at the RMH with the local team of staff and volunteers, and they in turn will make them available to residents who have a need. This is a good news situation and I am really excited about moving forward with the program. As stated elsewhere, I think, this will be done at no cost to anyone, and I will maintain the laptops and provide support to users, again at no cost to anyone.
What can you do to help? I have an urgent need for laptop carrying cases. Most people give me an old laptop along with its power cord, and that's about it. If you have a carrying case you are not using, please contact me and I'll gladly pick it up. I also need more donations of used laptops. It would be great if they work, but I realize I can't be fussy about this. I will do my best to make parts from broken machines into whole working machines. Also, I really only want machines that have run or are running Windows XP. This is a statement about age of the machine more than anything else.
Finally, I want to carry this further. The RMH may not have a great need in terms of numbers, so any machines I have more than the RMH needs I will begin to use at other charities that have residents who can make use of the technology.
So where am I now with this project? I have met with the RMH management and they support me in this. I have 3 usable laptops I have cobbled together from your donations. Starting in November I will make these machines available to the RMH by leaving them at the RMH with the local team of staff and volunteers, and they in turn will make them available to residents who have a need. This is a good news situation and I am really excited about moving forward with the program. As stated elsewhere, I think, this will be done at no cost to anyone, and I will maintain the laptops and provide support to users, again at no cost to anyone.
What can you do to help? I have an urgent need for laptop carrying cases. Most people give me an old laptop along with its power cord, and that's about it. If you have a carrying case you are not using, please contact me and I'll gladly pick it up. I also need more donations of used laptops. It would be great if they work, but I realize I can't be fussy about this. I will do my best to make parts from broken machines into whole working machines. Also, I really only want machines that have run or are running Windows XP. This is a statement about age of the machine more than anything else.
Finally, I want to carry this further. The RMH may not have a great need in terms of numbers, so any machines I have more than the RMH needs I will begin to use at other charities that have residents who can make use of the technology.
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