Issue 129 - March 29, 2001

ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements ©2001
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Welcome to the 129th issue of the PC Improvement News. PCIN consists of news, tips, thoughts, and contests. There is something for everyone, and if this is your first issue, I'm sure there will be something for you. I am willing to discuss any computer topic. Email me at mailto:editor@pcin.net with any suggestions. If you give me two or three issues, I know that you will come back for more!

Recommend PCIN to others and be entered in a monthly draw. Recommend PCIN in March and win a Snappy! 4.0. The more you recommend PCIN, the more chances you have to win. Recommend PCIN now at http://www.pcin.net/recommend.shtml

OPENING THOUGHTS

This is your last chance to recommend PCIN in March. The prize is a Snappy! 4.0. This is a device that will let you capture video on your computer. If you don't have a graphics card that has TV or other video in, then this is a great device to have. Recommend PCIN now at http://www.pcin.net/recommend.shtml

The NEWS

Microsoft Posts Warning on Downloads

"Downloaders beware -- someone out there could be masquerading as Microsoft, the software company warned yesterday.
VeriSign, the company that issues the digital certificates used to authenticate the sources of software on the Internet, accidentally issued two certificates to someone who fraudulently claimed to be a Microsoft employee, according to a security bulletin issued by Microsoft. That unknown person could now post viruses or other malicious programs on the Web disguised as Microsoft software."

For more info:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/03/23/BU103543.DTL
http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,5079987,00.html
http://www.verisign.com/developer/notice/authenticode/index.html

Eight Options for Amazon

"From partnering with Barnes & Noble to bringing in Jack Welch, here are some ideas that could help the e-tailer become profitable
At this point, just about everyone can agree: Amazon.com's business model just isn't working. The company lost $1.4 billion on revenues of $2.8 billion in 2000, or $1 for every $2 of goods sold. Its plan has always been to lose a lot up front, grow really fast, and eventually start making money on sales volume."

For more info:
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/mar2001/tc20010322_039.htm

First 'Napster-proof' CD set to burn

"If all goes as planned, Charley Pride will make music history in April. After selling more than 70 million records, Pride - one of the last great figures from the pre-Garth, twang-box radio glory days of country music - is set to release America's first copy-protected compact disk. A tribute to singer Jim Reeves, who died in a plane crash in 1964, Pride's CD will incorporate technology that, in theory, will stop listeners from ripping its tracks into MP3s. If it works - a hotly disputed question - copy protection will change the terms of the battle over online music."

For more info:
http://www.msnbc.com/news/550565.asp

MOBILE COMPUTING NEWS and NOTES

I love surfing the web using the Sanyo 4500 phone. The larger screen is nice, and I like accessing my company directory. Why? Because I can log in to find the contact information for everyone where I work, as well as see their picture. It's just kind of cool to be able to look at your own picture...on a phone...over the Internet.

Brought to you by Shawn Bremner and The Wireless Web ezine. Sign up by sending a blank email to mailto:wirelessweb-subscribe@topica.com

I NEED HELP

I offer a free help service via email. If you have a question, you can email me and I will try my best to answer them. I can answer about most of them, but there are things that I have never tried or experienced so I don't have an answer. I post those questions here and see if any of the readers have any suggestions. I will include all reasonable suggestions with credit to you.
These are NOT my own questions and they are NOT my answers. I will NOT check the validity of these comments. That is up to you. If you do try one of these tips, please let me know how the suggestions worked out. Did they work or not? Please send in your questions or results to mailto:freehelp@pcin.net

Previous Questions

Q 128-01

Occasionally when online, my computer suddenly comes up with the closing screen "it is now safe to turn your computer off". This is a new machine and has been checked by the supplier.
(AMD 800, 128MB RAM, 20GB HD, Windows 98 SE, IE5)

A 128-01

John Hills said, "I think your supplier should re check the machine as assuming it is not a virus, it sounds like a hard ware issue possibly caused by over heating of one or more components or a power supply that is not up to the standard required by an Athlon. (300 watts PSU) However, try disabling all power saving options in the BIOS."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ken Berry said, "You may have corrupted files in either IExplorer java or Visual Basic Runtimes that send the command to shut down. Try a reinstall of IExplorer and/or the most recent runtime files.
Other possibilities are a virus, code at a particular website, or hacker sending the command to your computer. In the last case BlackIce Defender from www.networkice.com or PortICE would stop those attacks."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
** said, "If you still get it they should too. Your best bet is to take it back and don't leave till they have found (ok maybe leave cos you probably cant sleep there). But a more convenient solution may be to download a virus scanner and check your computer thoroughly first. Actually the first thing that came to my mind is that you may be infected with "back orifice". There are many web sites and dedicated programs for removing such things."

Q 128-02

When I launch JPG files in MSPAINT.EXE, it gives a Dr. Watson error.
Is there any way to rectify this?

A 128-02

John Hills said, "Get rid of Doctor Watson is one way."
Ken Berry said, "It sounds like your file associations for images aren't registered correctly. TweakUI can repair these for standard file extensions. It's available at almost all freeware/shareware sites out there. You can go into windows setup and remove the paint application then reboot your computer and reinstall, or you can reinstall windows."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
** said, "Last I looked MSPaint didn't support jpeg files (thus the error). Try another program, ACDSee for viewing is good and I like Paint Shop Pro for editing pictures, both should be available in the Internet for trial and support a wide variety of file types, especially jpeg."

New Questions

Q 129-01

Problem driving me crazy is that I suddenly cannot download any file attachment when I receive an email in my Hotmail inbox. No matter what the attached file name or type (.doc, .exe, .pdf) I can "view it from its current location," but if I click "download now" that attachment's name changes to "getmsg" and what downloads is a tiny file that when double-clicked just brings me back to the Net and the view-or-download dialogue box.
I think I have proved that the problem is specific to my home computer, because the problem does not exist when I access the email from my office computer. Since I'm guessing that it's some setting causing the problem, I've made sure that my Internet settings in IE 5.5 are all at "default." Just don't know what else to do.
(PIII 800, 128MB RAM, 6 GB HD, Win98SE, IE5.5)

Q 129-02

Is it possible to "piggyback" 2 graphics cards? I am using a Monster4 and an Intel i740. Even if these can't work together, any information on piggybacking would be appreciated.
(AMD 800, 128MB RAM, 6GB HD, WinME, IE5.0)

If you have an answer to these questions or have a question of your own, please email me at mailto:freehelp@pcin.net

THE TIPS and OTHER STUFF

Cheap Trick of the Week

**Stalling technique**
Ever been downloading one of those really important files from the Internet and you've got about two minutes left when you get a message saying your download timed out?
With the help of a little Registry edit, you can tell your computer to wait longer before giving up on a download. (If you are unfamiliar with editing the Registry, check out the instructions and precautions at www.WE-Compute.com/registry.html before attempting this.)
In your Registry Editor go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\Modem\(number of your modem, most likely 0000)\Settings. Click on the string value titled Inactivity Timeout and change the numbers in the brackets. For example, if you want your computer to wait 20 minutes for the stall to recommence, type a 20 into the brackets like this: S19=<20>.

Get your own copy of "The Little Black Book of Cheap Tricks: 2001" by visiting http://www.pcin.net/lbbct

New PCIN.net Features

I'm finally finding some time to work on the site. Here are some of the latest additions:

Book Review of The Little Black Book of Cheap Tricks: 2001
http://pcin.net/help/books/reviewed/lbbct2001.shtml
Each week We-Compute! Magazine provides me with a "Cheap Trick" to include in the newsletter. They have combined hundreds more tip into a small book. The link above is for the review of the book that I did.

More Registry Tips (now 22)
http://pcin.net/help/articles/registry.shtml
Anytime I see a tip or tweak for the registry, I add it to this list. I add several new ones each week.

Lockergnome Tip of the Day
http://pcin.net/help/articles/lgtod.shtml
Chris Pirillo of Lockergnome has syndicated his daily tip. This page has it.

Nerdy Books Tip of the Day
http://pcin.net/help/articles/nbtod.shtml
This is another interesting syndicated tip. It is in the form of a cartoon (kind of) and has daily tips for Microsoft Office. There is a corresponding book, which I will be reviewing in the next couple of weeks.

Cheap Tricks Page
http://pcin.net/help/articles/cheaptricks.shtml
The "Cheap Tricks" mentioned above have been appearing in PCIN for over a year. I have put them all together on one web page. There is a printable version that is about 20 pages worth of tips. I will break it up into smaller pieces in the future, but for now, they are all there in one place for you. Since it is a big page, and it is in a table, it may take a few extra seconds to load.

Microsoft's Tips for Using the Internet

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsme/using/internet/tips/default.asp
This is a collection of 32 tips that have to do with the Internet. The links on the left side of the page also take you to some other interesting articles on the Microsoft site. It is in the Windows ME section of the site, but is applicable to virtually all of their desktop operating systems.

Unfreezing a Computer

I came across this at work the other day and thought it might be worth sharing. I was helping a co-worker (Cindi Stranges who is also a subscriber) try and unfreeze her computer. The computer was a Compaq Presario that has one of those power buttons that if you press it quickly, it tries to put the computer into standby mode. If you hold it in for 5 seconds, it powers the computer off.
Well, Cindi went to turn it off, but didn't hold the button in long enough. A message came up on the screen from Windows saying that there was a program running that wouldn't allow the computer to go into sleep mode. The computer wasn't frozen any more, and all of the programs were working.
I don't know why this fixed it, but if you are experiencing a total freeze on your system and you have no choice but to restart, try and see if the hibernation/standby feature works. It may "unfreeze" your computer in a similar way.

DISCLAIMER and OTHER STUFF

PCIN is brought to you by PC Improvements. The opinions expressed are those of the editor, Graham Wing. PC Improvements and Graham Wing accept no responsibility for the results obtained from trying the tips in this newsletter.

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