Issue 251 - August 06, 2003

ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2003
==== 2312 Subscribers in 64 Countries ====

Welcome to the 251st 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

I finally got the pictures up from Andrew's first birthday party. You can see them at http://www.wingfamily.ca/lisagraham/Andrew/20030726/

I'm still looking for a few more volunteers who will help me do some testing on the web site and with the newsletter. I only had a couple of people who volunteered (thanks to those who did), and am hoping for a few more. I would like to test some different features of the mailing list software and also with the layout/style of the newsletter. I also want to test a few new scripts on the site. If you are interested in helping, please email me at editor@pcin.net Don't worry, I won't be bombarding you with a lot of emails :-)

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

The NEWS

Print a hologram? Almost, Xerox says

"It's a little much to expect a hologram to come out of your office printer, but scientists at Xerox think they have the next best thing.
On Thursday, the company is unveiling a new technology it calls 'Glossmark,' which can use ordinary office printers to superimpose a glossy image on an ordinary printed document in a way that can't be photocopied or otherwise easily reproduced.
Taking advantage of eccentricities in laser printing processes, once viewed as flaws, the Xerox scientists think they've found a way to authenticate hard copies of printed documents in much the same way that holographic stickers prove the validity of credit cards and drivers licenses."

For more info:
http://news.com.com/2100-1008_3-5058052.html

'Do Not Spam' Lists Find Customers, Skeptics

"Frustrated Internet users inundated with unwanted get-rich-quick schemes and herbal Viagra offers may have noticed a new, unsolicited pitch promising to reduce the amount of "spam" e-mail they receive.
Pointing to Web sites with names like remove.org and globalremoval.com, the messages promise -- for a nominal fee -- to stop spam at its source by placing their addresses on a 'do not spam' registry.
The services say they have hit on a novel and cheap way to reduce spam, and point to bulging customer lists as proof. Government and private-sector experts say such 'do not spam' services are not likely to work because marketing firms are under no obligation to comply.
'It's probably not worth signing up. You can get plenty of spam for free,' said Howard Beales, head of the Federal Trade Commission's consumer-protection division."

For more info:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=internetNews&storyID=3210217

Network Solutions glitch darkens sites

"A software glitch in Network Solutions' hosted Web addressing system knocked what may have been as many as 30,000 Web sites and e-mail addresses offline for several hours Thursday morning.
The problem with the company's hosted domain name service, which provides links from sites' domain names to the numbered Internet addresses where data is actually reached, affected only Web sites which had allowed Network Solutions to take over this address-book service for them. The company had recently touted the near-infallibility of its addressing system as a core selling point for new customers."

For more info:
http://news.com.com/2100-1032_3-5058519.html

Spam emails hide key logger virus

"Careful what you click on - it could steal your identity.
A dangerous strain of 'virus spam' is tricking computer users into allowing serious infections into home and business computer systems, IT experts have warned.
According to industry body The Corporate IT Forum (Tif) virus spam, or 'v-spam', dodges antivirus and firewall systems by tempting users to click on a website link contained in an email which then sends them a virus.
Tif said that incidents of v-spam are increasing at the same rate as spam, which has doubled over the past year."

For more info:
http://www.vnunet.com/News/1142716

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POLL of the WEEK

Last Week's Poll

Which remote control software do you use?

pcAnywhere 10.42 % (5)
GoToMyPC 6.25 % (3)
VNC 18.75 % (9)
Microsoft Terminal Services 8.33 % (4)
Citrix MetaFrame 0.00 % (0)
Other 10.42 % (5)
What is remote control software? 45.83 % (22)
Total votes: 48

This Week's Poll

How much total hard drive space do you have on your home computer?

Less 2 GB
Between 2 GB and 10 GB
Between 11 GB and 20 GB
Between 21 GB and 50 GB
More than 51 GB
I don't know
I don't have a home computer

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

I have a few folders set up on my XP taskbar. They are set up as "custom toolbars". One of the folders I have set up there is "My Pictures." I have a lot of pictures in that folder. When I click on this toolbar, the list of files comes up in a long line, and I am forced to scroll through hundreds of files to get to the one I want. I could just open the folder and find the file the long way, but this eliminates the convenience of this toolbar in the first place.
So here's my question: how do I force XP to cascade these file names instead of scrolling them? I tried the "scroll programs" option in the start menu configuration but this doesn't affect the custom toolbars; they still scroll instead of cascading.

Response

First of all, the obvious question... Do you have "Scroll Programs" checked or unchecked? You'd want it unchecked.
You might want to check the registry to make sure that has been applied correctly.
Check out http://www.ntfaq.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=38200
Also, go to Control Panel --> Display Properties --> Appearance tab --> Effects button and check some of the settings there.

To post a response, visit the General Software Help forum at http://PCIN.net/help/forum/index.php?board=3 and click on the "prevent scrolling of file list on toolbar folder" 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:

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

Amic Games Email Saver Xe Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/emailsaverxe.php

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THE TIPS and OTHER STUFF

Google Synonym Command

This came from the latest Search Engine Update newsletter:
"Want Google to look up words related to a keyword you've entered? Now there's a new synonym command that you can try. Just place a tilde character (~) in front of the word. For example, while a search for 'gardening tips' would look for pages relevant only to both of those words, 'gardening ~tips' will make Google look for synonyms for tips, such as 'help,' 'guide' and 'techniques.' A bit more information on the command is provided by Google at the URL above, and we'll probably take a closer look at it in the SearchDay newsletter later this month."
http://www.google.com/help/refinesearch.html#tilde

Computer Help and Support

"Welcome to Hardware Hell! We've all been there and hopefully this site will help you out."
http://hardwarehell.com/

Barbecue'n On The Internet

"Summer is now in full swing and the living is easy. Sweet aromas are wafting throughout the land. Here, we offer over 700 pages to feed your egos, teach you to barbecue correctly and help you become the expert that others seek your opinions. Read On!"
http://www.barbecuen.com/

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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.
  2. You can only win one contest every 30 days.
  3. To subscribe another address or unsubscribe, please visit http://PCIN.net/ and follow the appropriate links.
  4. Recommend PCIN to others at http://PCIN.net/recommend.php and be entered in a monthly draw.
  5. 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.
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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.

Support PCIN by visiting http://PCIN.net/donate.php

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