MIsC. TIPs

Getting rid of Spyware: All-In-One SECRETMAKER; Free: http://www.secretmaker.com
Two other programs that do a good job of removing spyware and pop-up ads: http://www.lavasoft.com (Ad-aware) and http://www.spybot.com. Both are free and should be used together. I am currently testing Secretmaker and will update this information as conditions warrant. 09/12/2004.

Removing the Password dialog box when booting in XP:
Go to: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/downloads/powertoys.asp
Download Tweak UI utility. Double click tweak1.exe to install.
Click Start, All Programs, Power Toys for Windows XP and Tweak UI for Windows XP. Click the + sign next to logon automatically at system startup. Enter your name and computer info, then click apply to finish.
The next time you start, you will automatically be logged on.

How do I start in Safe Mode?
In Win95: When you see "Starting Windows 95" Press the F8 function Key
In Win98/ME: Press and hold down the F8 or Ctrl keys until you see the menu appear. Select the Safe Mode option then hit the enter key. You can also enable the startup menu by changing options with MSCONFIG.
In Win2000 & WinXP: Repeatedly tap the F8 key as the system starts up. This will start the Win2000 advanced options menu. Select the Safe Mode option then hit the enter key.

VIRUS/TROJAN HORSES & WORMS:
Along with viruses, Trojan horses and worms can cause great damage to your data, or use your computer to spread an attack against other computers. There are three major types of viruses...file infector, macro, and boot sector...all easily fixed by up-to-date anti-virus programs. Most computers are in more danger from worms, than for other types. They often penetrate thousands of computers before the anti-virus software companies can release an update. Upon infection, the worm begins emailing itself to everyone in your address book.
Trojan horses, like the wooden horse Greek soldiers used to enter Troy, enter computers where they wreak havoc upon the unprotected. These programs are usually part of worms and they come in email attachments, but they can also infect through downloads or via network holes crackers use. Once installed, Trojans can use your computer's internet connection to send data (your passwords, financial data and other personal information) to a remote location.
Solutions: Keep your virus protection up to date. If you are on the internet often, and you have sensitive data on your computer, purchase a good Firewall program

HACKERS: One of the oldest and dangerous threats to computers. When a cracker hacks into your computer, all the information stored on your computer is vulnerable. In addition, crackers often use hacked computers to work as gateways to other computers. Effective Firewalls monitor network traffic coming and going, and stop all suspicious traffic.

REsTORING  ICONs  -- Excerpted from st. Petersburg Times

    Your system locked up and you have to shut the power off. When you reboot, you discover the NOTEPAD Icon looks like a DOs Icon. Further, when you try to open it you get an error stating the program cannot be found.

        WHAT TO DO: Make sure your PATH environment variable. 

            To check PATH, go to the DOs prompt and type set. This will list the current variable, including PATH setting. 

            Edit your MsCONFIG from windows and edit PATH if necessary, or, if you still use Autoexec.bat (located at c:\> prompt) edit Autoexec.bat to include c:\windows;c:\windows\command. Note: For clarity this is typed c (colon) (backslash) windows (semi-colon) c (colon) (backslash) windows (backslash) command

Deleting a forgotten Content Advisor password

If you have forgotten the Content Advisor password, you can delete it by browsing to this folder in Regedit (remember to backup your registry first):

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\sOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Ratings

select the icon called Key in the right-hand pane and press delete. Close Regedit.

You can now start Internet Explorer and goto Tools, Internet Options.... select the Content tab, and click on Disable. When asked for a password, don't enter anything, just click on OK. This will disable Content Advisor, since there's no longer a password. You can enable it again as soon as you think up a more memorable password.

Windows 9x Registry: HKEY_UsERs 

The HKEY_UsERs entry is where all of the users are stored. If you have multiple users (remember that password you skipped when you first installed Windows?), this is where they will reside. If you have a single-user system, then you will only have the '.default' user. The HKEY_CURRENT_UsER is a mirror of the current user. This entry and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE are the only original roots of the registry; all others are added dynamically or as users enter information.

Create A Toolbar 
If you want an instant tool bar for a specific folder that you already have on your desktop, simply grab the folder and drag it to the edge of the screen, either left, right, top or to the current tool bar menu along the bottom. An instant tool bar will appear showing all the contents in that specific folder. You can also do this from Explorer by dragging the folder to the edge where you want the new tool bar to appear.

Rundll32 Error 
The Rundll32 error is more or less a generic error concerning a DLL that Windows could not find. Usually the culprit is a missing entry that looks like this:

drivers=mmsystem.dll

In the sYsTEM.INI file, look in the BOOT area. If the device does not include this dll, then add it. Remember to back up this file before changing it. Another option is that if this dll is included, you might have other names such as power.dll on the same line. Although normally not a problem, it might be in this case. Remove each extra dll entry one at a time and see if that helps.

Explorer Crashes! 

sometimes the Windows interface (Explorer) can crash for no apparent reason. When this happens, Windows should attempt to restart Explorer for you; however, sometimes this does not occur and you're left with a dead screen and a mouse that moves just fine.

You can manually restart Windows by pressing CTRL+EsC. Now select Run and type Explorer in the command line. This should restart Explorer for you. If not, then you'll probably have to shut down and reboot.

Windows ME search Changes 

Windows ME search expands on the Windows 9x's version of Find. The new search tool encompasses all of the abilities of the original Find function with a different user interface. The original Windows 9x Find used a screen with tabs to perform searches of the hard drive. The new search function allows you to see all of the options on one single screen.

You'll find the new search function in the exact same place as the Find--within the start menu.

Windows ME Installation 
For those of you who are the diehard "Keep my PC until it just won't run anymore" types, I would strongly advise a serious upgrade to your computer if you're considering purchasing Windows ME for your computer. The laughable 486DX joke for Windows 98 is just as funny as Windows ME's stated requirement of a Pentium 150MHz with 32 MB of RAM machine -- along with the other requirements. It will run, but it won't work.

In order to have Windows ME working on your machine, it makes sense to have AT LEAsT a Pentium II at 400 MHz, 64MB and 750 MB of hard disk space available. Along with these needs, you will want to have the latest in CD-ROM or DVD technology plus a good sound card and top-notch graphics adapters. Trying to run this operating system on a smaller muscled machine is highly inadvisable.

Windows ME search Changes 

Windows ME search expands on the Windows 9x's version of Find. The new search tool encompasses all of the abilities of the original Find function with a different user interface. The original Windows 9x Find used a screen with tabs to perform searches of the hard drive. The new search function allows you to see all of the options on one single screen.

You'll find the new search function in the exact same place as the Find--within the start menu. some who are used to using the Find might find the new search to be a bit cumbersome, but it's just as useful.

swap File Maintenance 

Many people have the Windows system manage their swap file for them, which is fine. However, there is one problem: Windows uses the swap file for virtual memory, so if the file becomes fragmented, this can cause a major system slowdown! To remedy this situation, there are three solutions.

- Copy the swap file to an empty disk and de-fragment the file. Then copy it back. (Note: This can be dangerous and somewhat risky.)
- Delete the swap file and let Windows reallocate it. (I don't recommend this method, either, since it might cause your system to freeze up or not to boot.)
- Buy a third party product such as Norton Utilities and let it defrag the swap file. (This is probably the best solution because it allows a defrag of the swap file with minimal danger to your system.)

system Restore?  

some of you may question the usefulness of the system Restore. It takes up a tremendous amount of time, space and computing power in order to maintain the system Restore functionality. If you're certain that this is a function you won't need, you can disable system Restore by going to the Control Panel, selecting system, choosing the Performance tab, and then going to the File system. Now, click on the Troubleshooting tab and checkmark Disable system Restore.

system Restore  -- Create a Checkpoint 

system Restore is a handy method you can use to put your system back to the way it was at any given point that you choose. The system Restore doesn't change data files such as emails and documents, but will change the registry and installed components to their original configuration from the point of the last restore save.

- To create a checkpoint, Click start then go to Programs, Accessories, system Tools, and system Restore.
- Now, select Create a Restore Point and click next.
- Type in any name for this checkpoint and click Next, then click OK.

system Restore -- restoring from Checkpoint 

To restore your system to a previous checkpoint you created in system Restore (you did create a checkpoint, right?), click the start button, then go to Programs, Accessories, system Tools, and system Restore.

Next, select Restore My Computer To An Earlier Time and select the name of the checkpoint you created.

Now your computer will put itself back to the way it was before. Hopefully.

startup Load Programs: No Registry 

For those of us who shake when altering the registry, there is a much easier (and safer) method to alter the programs you want to begin at startup and those you don't. C lick the start button and select Run, now type MsCONFIG and hit enter. Up comes a really nifty (yes, I said nifty) dialogue box. At the top, select the startup tab and you can now check the programs you want to start, and uncheck those you do not.

Be careful, though; some that may seem unimportant are really important for Windows. The good news is, fixing errors is easy: just recheck a box and reboot!

Registry Checker Utility

Your registry is an integral part of your system and your Windows literally cannot function without it. Although the task of changing the registry seems intimidating, you should never be afraid to change your registry. You should, however, be aware of how your registry maintains its integrity so that Windows operates properly. If you're using Windows 95, your registry is backed up each time you restart or shut down your system. Not bad, but really this is not a robust enough process. With Windows 98, Microsoft introduced a much more comprehensive registry monitoring system and continued this functionality into Windows ME. This more robust process is performed with the assistance of a registry checker utility.

Your registry checker utility performs three operations:
- Makes up to five copies of your registry daily.
- Actively looks for registry errors, attempts to fix them; and if it cannot, the checker will restore a backup automatically.
- Continually looks for unused data blocks and if enough are found, optimizes itself for better response time. (All versions)

 

startup Load Programs

Have you ever wanted to know all the applications and programs that Windows ME is loading when it first starts? Perhaps you'd really like that virus program to stop loading at startup!

To see this list, click start, and then choose Run. Now, type in Regedit and hit enter. You will now see a list of all the high-level registry entries. Go to the following registry entry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run.
In here, you'll find all of the programs that begin at startup.

WARNING: Do not alter your registry without backing it up first!

Be Good to Your PC

Most users put their PCs at risk through carelessness and neglect at some point. It doesn't have to be anything as drastic as a virus, either -- installing or uninstalling software, upgrading software, changing settings, and even sloppy housekeeping can hurt or kill your machine. CNET's techs have compiled a handy online list of 18 common misha ps and how you can avoid or fix them. They tell you how to manage software safely, how to delete files or clean up your Registry without zapping anything important, and how to take care of your computer so it will live long enough to be truly obsolete. If you've ever suffered through a major problem, you're probably willing to go a few extra steps to avoid the hassle and expense of a repeat performance.

Treat your PC with respect! Click here to learn how.

sAVE ON THE COsT OF INKJET PRINTER INK

by Dean Andrews

By now, you've probably heard about the hidden costs associated with inkjet printers--namely, paper and ink. If you didn't anticipate the ongoing costs associated with these materials, you may find yourself spending more than you bargained for or budgeted to use your inkjet printer.

Fortunately, we have a cost-saving tip regarding printer ink. set your printer to draft quality and it will use less ink per page. While the draft setting may not be appropriate for printouts you intend to send to others, it's a perfectly good setting for documents you just intend to use yourself--and it will save you a lot of money over time.

CREATE NEW DEsKTOP sHORTCUT

Want to place a new shortcut on your desktop (a shortcut to a file, folder, or program). Right-click the desktop, select New, shortcut and so on. Or, simply locate the item to which you want to create a link -- in any open Explorer window, on the desktop, in the start menu, wherever. Right-click the item, drag it out to the desktop, let go, and select Create shortcut Here.

AN ONLINE TRANsLATOR

Of all the language translators online, Alta Vista's is definitely one of the most useful. You can do two-way translations in a half-dozen languages, and it'll even take a stab at phrases. Best of all, you can enter a URL and Alta Vista will translate an entire Web page. Though we wouldn't recommend it for anything formal, Alta Vista's online translator could be just the thing if you want to find some key words in another language, perhaps just prior to a trip. Visit it at

http://babelfish.altavista.digital.com/translate.dyn

saving Drive space From Help Files

PLAY GAMEs ONLINE

by Valerie Murray Ryan

Tired of single-player computer games? Windows Millenium Edition comes with five new multiplayer games: Backgammon, Checkers, Hearts, Reversi and spades. Where do you find other players? Why, all over the world, of course.

select start, Programs, Accessories, Games and choose one of the five Internet games mentioned above. Click the Play button, and wait as you're connected to the Internet game server. Before you know it, you're paired up with a player of the same level. Have fun!

MIssING TAsKBARs

Oftentimes, we get email from readers with missing Taskbars. "All I have is a small gray line at the bottom of the screen. When I hold the mouse pointer over it, the line gets wider, but the Taskbar doesn't appear."

This behavior occurs when you have the auto-hide option turned on AND you've manually shrunk the Taskbar down to nothing (by clicking and dragging it downward--most likely by mistake). Holding the mouse pointer over the Taskbar's edge instructs Windows to display the Taskbar (as auto-hide was designed to do), but the Taskbar expands only as far as the size you've defined (currently a flat line).

Regardless of the cause, here's how to fix the problem. Hold your mouse pointer over the Taskbar's edge, and when the pointer changes to a double-pointed arrow, click and drag upward until the Taskbar appears at normal size.

PAssWORD PROTECT sCREEN sAVER

by Valerie Murray Ryan

Don't want your nosy office neighbors peeking at your computer when you step away from your desk? Your screen saver's certainly not going to stop them--unless you password protect it. Then, once that screen saver kicks in, you can't access the screen unless you enter the right password.

Right-click the desktop and select Properties to open the Display Properties dialog box. Click the screen saver tab, check the box next to Password Protected, and then click the Change button. Type your password of choice twice, click OK and you're protected.

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