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Issue 203 - September 04, 2002
ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2002
==== 2181 Subscribers in 57 Countries ====
Welcome to the 203rd 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
I can't believe the summer is over already. I'm sure many of you have the kids
back at school and are looking forward to some time to get organized again.
And I know there are many of you who don't have any kids at home. In either
case, I hope you all have a relaxing Autumn.
It's been a while since I've done a special issue of PCIN, so I figured I'd
try it again. I'd like to compile a long list of your computer pet peeves. What
annoys you about computers, hardware/software vendors, or other technologies?
Maybe you just have some questions that no one can answer. Email me at editor@pcin.net
with your comments. Keep them short, and feel free to include as many pet peeves
as you have in your email. For example, some of the things that annoy me are:
Who really needs a toaster or fridge connected to the Internet? Why doesn't
Microsoft just give Windows away? Whatever happened to manuals? Trust me, I
don't need to get rich quick, take HGH, join the web's hottest singles community,
or anything else that might come in through email.
Get the idea... email me and in a few weeks I'll send out a special issue with
all of them.
Graham editor@pcin.net
and Chris chris@pcin.net
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The NEWS
Labels put brakes on CD copy blocks
"Fearful of consumer backlash, major record labels in the United States
have slowed controversial plans for making CDs more difficult to copy, even
as tension over online music piracy mounts.
Last year, news that record companies were planning to add technology to CDs
that would block people from making copies or MP3 files--and in many cases
might even prevent playback on computers--sparked considerable controversy
online, and even lawsuits.
Now major record labels themselves have put the brakes on the drive for copy
protection, at least in the United States, even as record stores lobby for
the locks to be added as soon as possible."
For more info:
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1103-956069.html
Hotmail Embroiled in Moussaoui Case
"The legal battle of alleged Sept. 11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui
has taken a turn into the world of tech, as the case focuses on a missing
Hotmail e-mail account that Moussaoui claims will back up his alibi for taking
flying lessons in Minnesota, according to a report by the Washington Post.
Moussaoui, representing himself in the case, had requested that the government
turn over all records related to his Hotmail.com e-mail address.
Unfortunately for Moussaoui's case, his Hotmail address, xdesertman@hotmail.com,
is nowhere to be found, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),
which supplied U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema with a certificate from
Microsoft attesting to the fact that the account does not exist."
For more info:
http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/1455111
http://www.vnunet.com/News/1134675
China Blocks Google Search Engine
"As China's government prepares for its annual Communist Party meeting
in November and clamps down on various media sources, the country has been
left without major Internet access: popular search engine Google.
Attempts to look at the site through Chinese Internet services Tuesday were
rejected with a notice saying it couldn't be found. Users and technical consultants
who monitor the Chinese Internet said the site has been blocked for several
days."
For more info:
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/technology/AP-China-Google.html
Spam hits 36 percent of e-mail traffic
"Corporate networks are becoming increasingly clogged by e-mail pitches
for pornography, money-making schemes and health products, and there's little
relief on the horizon.
Once a mild annoyance, unsolicited bulk e-mail--also known as spam--could
make up the majority of message traffic on the Internet by the end of 2002,
according to data from three e-mail service providers.
Businesses 'are seeing an enormous increase in spam,' said Enrique Salem,
CEO of anti-spam service provider Brightmail. 'It's become a huge problem.'"
For more info:
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1106-955842.html
POLL of the WEEK
Here are the responses from the last poll:
Do you prefer Brand Name or Generic computers?
Brand Name 27.27
% (21)
Generic 49.35
% (38)
Doesn't matter to me 23.38 % (18)
Total votes: 77
Visit http://pcin.net/polls/ to participate
in the new poll this week:
How many music CDs have you burned in the last month?
FREEHELP FORUM
Visit the new and improved PCIN FreeHelp Forum at http://www.pcin.net/help/forum/index.php
to post your questions or answer others.
Question
I was making some changes in Msconfig. when I clicked apply and then OK,
a message asking for system restart appeared. I clicked OK with the Shift
key pressed so that only windows restarts.
Then a blue screen appeared saying a fault had occured at some ......, I didn't
understand what it meant.
From then onwards, whenever I shutdown my system, it restarts; even if the
shutdown radio button is selected in the shutdown menu.
Response
Here is an excellent link to help solve your problem.....
http://aumha.org/a/shutdown.htm
To post a response, visit the General Software Help forum at http://www.pcin.net/help/forum/index.php?board=3
and click on the "Recording Problem" subject.
Visit http://www.pcin.net/help/forum/index.php
to post a question of your own.
PCIN.net UPDATE
Check out these new or updated pages on the PCIN.net site:
PCIN.net Search
http://PCIN.net/search/
Some Useful Registry Tips
http://PCIN.net/help/articles/registry_tips.shtml
PCIN.net FreeHelp Forum Update
(I've updated the forum and there is a new calendar feature. If you go and
edit your profile to add your birthday, it will show up on a public calendar.
Kind of neat!)
http://PCIN.net/help/forum/
Outback Plus 3.0 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/outbackplus3.php
THE TIPS and OTHER STUFF
Always Trust in Internet Explorer
I'm sure that you've all come accross windows that have popped up telling
you that something wants to install. You are prompted to allow the install,
and you also have the option to always trust requests from that company. Have
you ever checked the "always trust" box and then wanted to change
it back, well here's how:
In IE, go to Tools - Internet Options - Content.
In the Certificates section click Trusted Publishers.
You can then click on the company that you don't want to "always trust"
and click Remove.
Books Online
Visit the Open Books Project at http://www.oreilly.com/openbook/
and find 23 free books online. They are technical books, but may be useful
to you. I would assume that they add books as they can.
Dragging Items in Outlook
I love Outlook. I use it at work and at home. One of the things I like is
the ability to drag items from one folder to another, irregardless of the
type of data that is stored in that folder. For instance, if an email message
comes in that tells me something I need to do, I can drag it to the Tasks
folder and it will automatically create a task for me. I also will often drag
emails to the Notes folder to create notes out of the emails.
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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