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Issue 186 - May 08, 2002
ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2002
==== 2317 Subscribers in 56 Countries ====
Welcome to the 186th 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.shtml
CONTENTS
OPENING THOUGHTS
We should have some more updates to the site soon. You'll notice below that
I have updated the links section of the web site. All newsletter subscribers
can have their own web sites or newsletters listed. I'm also starting to post
some links to scripts that I use on the PCIN.net site as well as other useful
links.
I almost have the Outback Plus software review done, and Chris is almost done
the VMWare Workstation 3.1 software review. I also obtained a Microsoft Office
Keyboard and a Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer for review as well. If there
are products that you would like reviewed, email either of us and we'll see
what we can do.
Lastly, I am going to sell my laptop, and thought I'd mention it in here first.
It is a Compaq Presario 1692 with the following specs: AMD 450, 192MB RAM, 6GB
HD, modem, network card. I'm looking for something around $700 US including
shipping. I'd be happy to provide any more details if you are interested. Just
email me at editor@pcin.net.
Graham editor@pcin.net
and Chris chris@pcin.net
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The NEWS
Sonicblue forced to spy on subscribers?
"In response to a lawsuit filed by a slew of heavyweight entertainment
companies, a federal magistrate has ordered Sonicblue to monitor customers'
activities to find out what TV programming they record, duplicate or send
to others - a situation the company says is tantamount to forced spying.'
We're being ordered to spy on our customers; that's the most direct way of
looking at it,' said Ken Potashner, chief executive of the digital video recorder
company.
Privacy advocates were also concerned."
For more info:
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1105-899021.html
'Spidey' Already Being Swapped By Online Pirates
"While Columbia Picture's new 'Spider-Man' movie was breaking box-office
records over the weekend, Internet movie pirates were busily downloading free
copies of the film on file-trading networks.
By Saturday, pirated versions of the comic book inspired movie were showing
up in 'screener' format on the EDonkey, Kazaa, and Morpheus Internet file-swapping
systems."
For more info:
http://www.newsbytes.com/news/02/176387.html
Internet File-Sharing Boosts Music Sales
"Internet users who download songs for free from unauthorized 'peer
to peer' services are more likely to increase their music purchases than regular
Internet users, according to a report released on Friday.
While file-sharing services like Kazaa and Morpheus enable anyone with an
Internet connection to access a huge library of music for free, experienced
file sharers are more likely to actually increase the amount of money they
spend on CDs, the report by research firm Jupiter Media Metrix said."
For more info:
http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=internetnews&StoryID=917710
McDonald's 'to offer web access'
"McDonald's fast-food burger restaurants in Japan are reportedly about
to offer equally speedy access to the web.
The burger firm has signed a deal with the Internet investor Softbank which
will lead to the installation of high-speed Internet services in almost 4,000
of its restaurants, according to the news daily Nihon Keizai Shimbun."
For more info:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/business/newsid_1972000/1972136.stm
Dell customer service complaints rocket
"Dell customer complaints have shot up nearly 40 per cent over the last
year.
A study by Planet Feedback, a US consumer consultancy, found out that American
Dell customers were getting increasingly dissatisfied with the computer giant's
customer service and technical support."
For more info:
http://www.silicon.com/bin/bladerunner?30REQEVENT=&REQAUTH=21046
&14001REQSUB=REQINT1=53030
POLL of the WEEK
Here are the responses from the last poll:
How often do you upgrade your computer?
Never, I always update individual
components 35.62 % (26)
Every couple of months 2.74 % (2)
Every 6 months 4.11 % (3)
Every year 4.11 % (3)
Every 2 years 24.66 % (18)
Almost Never. I try to use my computer forever 28.77 % (21)
Total votes: 73
Visit http://pcin.net/polls/ to participate
in the new poll this week:
How many junk emails do you get a day?
FREEHELP FORUM
Visit the new and improved PCIN FreeHelp Forum at http://www.pcin.net/cgi-bin/bb/YaBB.cgi
to post your questions or answer others.
Question
My brother has a HP Pavilion, Intel Celeron 533MHz and it takes forever for
the boot up to complete. It took a little more than one minute for the Windows
98 screen to stay on.
Does any one know how/what to do to shorten the boot up time? He re-formatted
the hard drive and got rid of many start-up applications to no avail.
Answer
I think I may know an easy solution to your problem...
Windows 98 Machines pause for about 30 seconds during bootup with no disk
activity and then continue to boot normally.
This happens if there is a Network Adapter installed and is configured to
use DHCP (Automatic IP Addressing), but no DHCP server is running or connected.
Windows 98 requests an IP address via DHCP during bootup and after the Network
layer loads. Since the Windows 98 bootup isn't parallel but serial, Windows
must wait for an IP address to continue booting. If the DHCP server isn't
found Windows will timeout the connection and then use the default IP address,
but during that time Windows is stuck in a waitstate.
To resolve this: boot up with the connection to DHCP, such as a router or
cable modem plugged into the Network Adapter so that the DHCP request will
be processed immediately, or disable DHCP or the network adapter. You can
assign the adapter a static IP address via the TCP/IP properties in the Networking
control panel item by placing a valid internal network IP address instead
of "automatic" such as 192.168.1.10
Alternatively, if the network adapter isn't being used then disable it from
the Device Manager and from the Network control panel item.
To post a different suggestion, visit http://www.pcin.net/cgi-bin/bb/YaBB.cgi?board=How-To
and click on the "Tricks & tips to shorten boot up time....."
subject.
Visit http://www.pcin.net/cgi-bin/bb/YaBB.cgi
to post a question of your own.
PCIN.net UPDATE
Check out these new or updated pages on the PCIN.net site:
Updated Registry Tips (now 131)
http://PCIN.net/help/articles/registry_tips.shtml
New and Improved PCIN.net Links section
http://PCIN.net/links/
pdf995 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/pdf995.php
CuteZIP Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/cutezip2.php
THE TIPS and OTHER STUFF
Using Windows ME defrag
I haven't tried this myself, but it was mentioned in the May 1, 2002 issue
of the Neat Net Tricks newsletter (issue 125):
"06. FASTER DEFRAG. In response to comments about the unreliability of
the onboard Windows defrag utility, a number of readers recommended the Microsoft
WinMe Defrag. It reportedly works not just with WinMe but with Win95 and Win98
as well. It's a small download at http://www.homestead.com/Scotterpops/Files/download/winme_defrag.zip"
When I checked it, the link mentioned above wasn't active any more. If you
have a copy of Windows ME yourself, then you may be able to use the defrag
utility on your Windows 98 system.
The Tips Doctor
Visit the Tips Doctor at http://www.tipsdr.com/
for all sorts of tips on Microsoft operating systems and programs. There are
also some tip for other programs as well.
Workstation Ergonomics
There has been a large push regarding healthy workstation ergonomics in the
past few years. Proper position of your body in relationship to your peripherals
can help make a long sit at your computer a safe and enjoyable one. The following
links offer tips on how to best set up your environment for healthy computing:
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/ergo/default.asp
http://www.logitech.com/cf/support/comfortguide.cfm
http://www.onsightergo.com/articles/kbdarticle.html
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.
- If any of the links are too long to fit on one line, you may have to cut
and paste.
- You can only win one contest every 30 days.
- To subscribe another address or unsubscribe, please visit http://www.pcin.net/
and follow the appropriate links.
- Recommend PCIN to others at http://www.pcin.net/recommend.php
and be entered in a monthly draw.
- There are only 2 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,
or you have requested FreeHelp from me in the past.
- If you have a web site or run your own newsletter, please email me at editor@pcin.net
and I will add it to the subscriber web pages that I have on my site.
- Support PCIN by visiting http://www.pcin.net/donate.shtml
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Graham Wing can be reached at editor@pcin.net
Chris Empey can be reached at chris@pcin.net
Copyright 1998-2002, 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://www.pcin.net/donate.shtml
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