Issue 297 - June 23, 2004
ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2004
==== 1932 Subscribers in 58 Countries ====
Welcome to the 297th 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
Still no baby :-( Only 2 more days till the due date. Lisa did get her cast
off yesterday.
A few people emailed us tips in exchange for a GMail account invitation. Both
Chris and I have several more invitations to send to others so they can sign
up for an account. If you know a few tips, send them along and we'll send you
a GMail invitation.
Graham editor@pcin.net and
Chris chris@pcin.net
The NEWS
Blind Get Earful of Spam Daily
"Think looking at spam is offensive? Try listening to it.
For the millions of blind and visually impaired Internet users around the
world, using text-to-speech software is often the only way to check e-mail.
But as the spam problem gets worse, more and more of those users are finding
that having their e-mail read aloud can be a minefield. Listening to the
next message in the inbox may reveal an important letter from an old friend
or, more often, an embarrassing ad for penis-enhancement therapy.'
For more info:
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,63934,00.html
Is E-Mail Doomed?
"Between spam and viruses, e-mail is taking a battering as users'
favorite online application. Add to that privacy concerns and a few emerging
alternatives such as messaging and voice telephony, and the killer app may
be losing favor, say some experts at the recent E-mail Technology Conference
here.
No single product or technology will keep our inboxes clean or our computers
safe, speakers and attendees agreed. But some say it won't be possible to
sufficiently stem the tide."
For more info:
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,116606,00.asp
School Internet program abused
"Beset by poor design and oversight, the federal program that connects
schools and libraries to the Internet is a target for fraud and abuse, an
independent review shows.
Financed through phone charges, the $2.25 billion-a-year program, known as
E-rate, provides discounted Internet access and internal connection gear
such as wiring and adaptors.
But it's also proving messy, as cases of wasted equipment, improper or falsified
purchases, insufficient payments and poor oversight have been found or alleged
nationwide."
For more info:
http://www.cnn.com/2004/EDUCATION/06/17/schools.internet.ap/index.html
POLL of the WEEK
Last Week's Poll
Do you subscribe to any RSS/ATOM feeds?
Yes, I use standalone software |
|
9 % (8) |
Yes, I use software that integrates with my email client |
|
1 % (1) |
Yes, I use a web-based service to retrieve my feeds |
|
0 % (0) |
No, I prefer newsletters |
|
23 % (21) |
No, but I'd like to move in that direction |
|
4 % (4) |
What are RSS/ATOM feeds? |
|
63 % (57) |
Total votes: 91 |
This Week's Poll
You can also vote online at http://PCIN.net/polls/
PCIN.net UPDATE
Check out these new or updated pages on the PCIN.net site:
Updated Windows Registry Tips and Tweaks Article
http://PCIN.net/help/articles/registry_tips.php
MySlideShow 2.3 by Anix Software Software Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/myslideshow.php
Anyplace Control by Anyplace Control Software Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/anyplacecontrol.php
Inboxer 1.1 by Audiotrieve, LLC Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/inboxer.php
Microsoft Outlook Add-Ins by MAPILab Ltd. Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/mapilab.php
THE TIPS and OTHER
STUFF
Jeff Weiss' Tips
Subscriber Jeff Weiss sent in a few tips and got an invitation to sign up
for a GMail account
Hardware:
1) Ground yourself with a strip avail at computer stores. Unplug system before
opening case.
2) Do NOT use magnetic screwdriver when working inside your system.
3) When something fails check ALL cables inside and outside of system.
Software:
1) WinXP Keep safe by creating a System Restore point before making changes
to system.
2) Win 98 Via System Properties uncheck 'Find floppy drive'
3) Win2k Do not just delete old user accounts, disable them. In the future
it will make it easier to re-establish that account.
JC's Tips
Subscriber JC sent in a few tips and got an invitation to sign up for a GMail account
"The Windows tips were from my compiled list with many many other ones from
my browsing on the Internet. However I just remember the source for those. It
was http://www.dougknox.com/
1. How do I enable CD burning for Limited accounts?
This tip does not apply to Nero users, it is only for XP's built-in CD burning
feature.
Allow limited users access to CD Burning:
To allow Limited User's to burn CD's, click Start, Run and enter REGEDIT. Go
to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Look in the right pane for AllocateDASD and double click the entry. Set the
value to 2.
On PRO, this is exposed in Local Security Policy under Security Settings\Local
Policies\Security Options "Devices: Allowed to format and eject removable
media".
For XP Pro, you can do this by clicking Start, Run and entering SECPOL.MSC
Go to Local Policies, Security Options, look in the right pane for Devices:
Allowed to Format and eject removable media. Set this option to Administrators
and Interactive Users
2. How do I delete an "undeletable" file?
Open a Command Prompt window and leave it open. Close all open programs. Click
Start, Run and enter TASKMGR.EXE Go to the Processes tab and End Process on
Explorer.exe. Leave Task Manager open. Go back to the Command Prompt window
and change to the directory the AVI (or other undeletable file) is located
in. At the command prompt type DEL <filename> where< filename> is
the file you wish to delete. Go back to Task Manager, click File, New Task
and enter EXPLORER.EXE to restart the GUI shell. Close Task Manager.
3. Windows. XP - Remote Desktop Web Connection - How to use
Host Machine:
On the server machine, go to Control Panel, System, Remote. Check Allow users
to connect remotely to this computer. Any account that you want to have access
the machine remotely should have a secure password.
On the server, you need to install Internet Information Services from Add/Remove,
Windows Components. Specifically you need to install the Remote Desktop Web
Connection. This will make your computer accessible via the web. The URL to
use would be http://<youripaddress>/tsweb You can also use the hostname
if one is available for your connection.
Guest machine:
You will be presented with a login screen. When asked for the server name,
use the IP address or host name of the server. Check Send Login information.
Enter the user name (this must be a valid user account on the server). Domain
name (on my setup) is left blank
Click continue
You'll get a new screen, and a login prompt. Enter your password and you're
all set to go.
4. Lock your Desktop
Press the Windows key and the L key (WinKey+L) at the same time. Additionally,
you can create a new shortcut, with the following command line:
rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation
Copy the new shortcut to your Quick Launch bar and you have one click access
to locking the desktop.
Notes: If you are using the Welcome screen and Fast User Switching is enabled,
other users will still have access to you computer, by selecting their Username
and entering their password. Additionally, if you don't have a password on
your account, then all that is required is to click on your Username on the
Welcome screen.
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.
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Graham Wing can be reached at editor@pcin.net
Chris Empey can be reached at chris@pcin.net
Copyright 1998-2004, 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.
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