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Issue 204 - September 11, 2002
ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2002
==== 2180 Subscribers in 57 Countries ====
Welcome to the 204th 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've received several replies regarding your computing pet peeves, but I still
need a lot more. What annoys you about computers, hardware/software vendors,
or other technologies? Maybe you just have some questions that no one can answer.
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 at editor@pcin.net
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
Microsoft wants to hire Xbox hacker
"In another indication of how serious Microsoft is about cracking down
on 'mod chips' used for hacking its Xbox game console, the company is seeking
to hire a software engineer to investigate the gray-market add-ons.
A notice posted on Microsoft's hiring site seeks an engineer charged with
'collecting, evaluating and conducting analysis of modification chips' as
part of security research on Xbox hardware and software.
The engineer will 'assist in designing hardware detection code fragments to
be embedded in future versions of the product,' according to the notice, another
sign that Microsoft plans to devise technology to test for hacked Xbox hardware.
'Preference is given to those with...gaming hacking knowledge,' the notice
states."
For more info:
http://www.msnbc.com/news/806064.asp
HSBC rejects Microsoft licensing model
"High street bank HSBC has criticised Microsoft's moves towards subscription-based
licensing, claiming that it forces too fast an upgrade cycle with few benefits
for business users.
Talking exclusively to vnunet.com, Alan Jebson, worldwide group IT director
at HSBC, insisted that the bank, which has over 180,000 desktops, would resist
moves to subscription licensing.
'It is more cost effective in the long-term for us to repurchase the software,
rather than subscribe to updates that provide little or no direct business
benefit, and which we therefore consider unnecessary,' he said."
For more info:
http://www.vnunet.com/News/1134807
PC makers slow to endorse XP update
"Microsoft on Monday issued the first update, or service pack, for the
Windows XP operating system. But the update, available as a free download
from Microsoft's Web site, may not appear on some new PCs until next year.
The release of a first service pack is typically a watershed event for a new
version of Windows, signaling that the initial shakedown is over and that
the operating system is ready for primetime. Many businesses waited to upgrade
to Windows 2000, for example, until Microsoft released the first update in
July 2000, about five months after the operating system launched.
However, PC makers plan to be slow to add the Windows XP Service Pack 1 to
new systems. PC makers say they are in no hurry to support the service pack
because the OS was launched with few major bugs, an automatic update feature
keeps users current with new fixes, and many businesses still favor Windows
2000 over XP."
For more info:
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104-957077.html
POLL of the WEEK
Here are the responses from the last poll:
How many music CDs have you burned in the last month?
None, I don't have a burner 15.63
% (10)
None, I don't know how to 4.69
% (3)
None, I don't think it's right 17.19 % (11)
1-5 48.44
% (31)
6-10 7.81
% (5)
10-20 1.56
% (1)
20-50 1.56
% (1)
>50 3.13
% (2)
Total votes: 64
Visit http://pcin.net/polls/ to participate
in the new poll this week:
What steps do you take to backup your data?
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
For almost three weeks now I have been unable to log into my MSN Explorer
Browser.
It starts the login proceedure saying 2nd attempt. then makes about five attempts,
and then says
Login failed Check Internet Connection etc.
My Connection is fine for all other programs.
My Zone Alarm Firewall is set Ok for MSN Explorer
I have tried totally Uninstalling and Reinstalling from the original .exe
file
All to no avail !! The problem remains!
Response
Are you using a Router or Proxy?
Possible causes solutions:
1. You have setup MSN Messenger to use a Proxy server, but you don't have
one running. To correct this so to Tools > Options > [Connection] and
uncheck "I use a proxy server"
2. You are using a Router or firewall and are blocking the MSN Messenger port.
See your hardware or software documentation about Enabling ports, or blocking
ports and making sure the MSN port isn't blocked.
3. Check you Internet Options (from the Control Panel)setting for [Connections]
and make sure it is appropriate for your connection, i.e. choose "Never
dial a connection" if you are on high-speed DSL or cable=, or via LAN/WAN.
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 "MSN Explorer Browser" 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.php
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
Last week I mentioned a way to change which companies you "always trust"
when a windows pops up in Internet Explorer telling you that something wants
to be installed. Well, subscriber Mike passed a long a Microsoft Knowledgebase
article that contains more information. Visit http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q293816
for a very good article entitled "How to Determine Whether You Have Accepted
Trust for Fraudulent VeriSign-Issued Certificates" It contains information
on how to check your certificates, as well as links to other articles. There
is also a registry key that can be edited.
Renaming files in Windows XP
Windows XP has a feature that lets you rename multiple files at once. Although
in most situations it won't be very useful, it could be useful in others.
If you select several files and then either press F2, you will be able to
change the name of the first one. Lets say you have 10 pictures... you'd rename
the picture to 20020911.jpg and then the second picture would automatically
be renamed 20020911 (1).jpg, then 20020911 (2).jpg ... 20020911(9).jpg. As
I said, this might not be that useful in most situations, but in the case
of digital cameras, it may. My camera labels everything with a DCP beginning
which means absolutely nothing to me. In Windows XP I can change this quite
easily using the example above.
Don't make the same errors as these folks
"Disaster recovery is designed to safeguard a company's data, but sometimes
getting the system to work properly can result in catastrophe.
CBL Data Recovery Technologies Inc. recently published a top 10-style list
of storage blunders, most of which are the result of human error. One story
refers to a Unix network that was regularly backed up, but there was nothing
attached to the back end, so the data disappeared. In another instance, an
organization froze its disks after its office flooded before sending them
off to a data recovery lab."
The complete list is available at http://www.cbltech.ca/english/newsitbiz.html
Read the rest of the article at http://www.itbusiness.ca/index.asp?theaction=61&lid=1&sid=49850
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.
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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.php
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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.php
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