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Issue 205 - September 18, 2002
ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2002
==== 2181 Subscribers in 57 Countries ====
Welcome to the 205th 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
Last call for your technology pet peeves. I've received quite a few responses,
but I'm surprised that more people haven't sent their peeves in. This is your
chance to vent a bit. Email me at editor@pcin.net
and let me know what bugs you about computers (your email, the web, software
that you use, hardware you have, etc.) or other technology.
Graham editor@pcin.net
and Chris chris@pcin.net
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The NEWS
Chipset could give sight to the blind
"A long-held hope could be approaching reality, as researchers in the
United States get closer to an eye implant designed to restore sight to the
blind.
Researchers at Sandia National Labs have developed the Multiple-unit Artificial
Retinal Chipset, which sits inside the eye. It is aimed at those suffering
from macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa, where the light-sensitive
cells on the retina stop working but the nerves survive.
The project, which is funded by a $9 million, three-year grant from the Department
of Energy’s Office of Biological and Environmental Research, is a collaboration
between U.S. national research labs and universities."
For more info:
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1103-958402.html
Novell blasts Microsoft licensing
"Novell on Monday blasted Microsoft's controversial software licensing
plan and business practices, hoping to lure frustrated customers to its own
products and services.
In a full-page advertisement in The Wall Street Journal, Novell said that
Microsoft's licensing initiative 'only benefits their bottom line--and not
yours.' In a white paper linked to the advertisement, the company warned that
Microsoft's licensing plan locked customers into expensive upgrades.
The Provo, Utah-based software maker is embarking on an offensive against
Microsoft after announcing a new pricing structure of its own earlier this
month. Novell said the revamped prices would make it cheaper for large Web
sites to use Novell's software, such as applications for Web-based e-mail
and authentication and login services."
For more info:
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104-958052.html
Microsoft's new deal with Uncle Sam
"Why does the White House refuse to tell Microsoft to get tough on security?
On Wednesday, the Bush administration is scheduled to publish its proposal
to increase the security of the Internet. Properly titled the "National
Strategy to Secure Cyberspace," it's said to talk with great earnestness
about helping home users safeguard their computers, about thwarting online
intrusions into business systems, and about providing better training to federal
network administrators.
But, according to people familiar with the draft report, it pays scant attention
to Microsoft, which has been responsible for more online security woes than
any other company in history."
For more info:
http://news.com.com/2010-1074-957970.html
Controversial Web Filtering Storms Schools
"As schools across the nation get settled into the academic year, students
may notice something strange about accessing the Internet on campus computers,
as some sites, whether pornographic or not, simply may not load.
Under the Children's Internet Protection Act, which takes affect this school
year, the use of Web filters is mandated in order for most publicly funded
schools to receive so-called e-rate funds for Internet access and internal
connections.
While many are praising the effort to rid schools of offensive material, civil
liberty groups, teachers, and students around the nation are up in arms about
the filters, asserting that the software is ineffective, often blocking access
to sites needed for study."
For more info:
http://www.internetnews.com/isp-news/article.php/1465271
POLL of the WEEK
Last week I added a new poll to the web site, but I did not update the polls
page so you could actually vote :-) I've since updated the page, so you can
now go to http://pcin.net/polls/ and vote
for this week's poll:
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
I have winME. When I try to create a user backup using the restore cd things
start out fine and then i get "error #1805 writing to image file"
This may happen at 10% compete or 98% complete a which point the process quits.
It used to work fine and I dont know of anything I changed. There is plenty
of space in the D: partition about 7.6 gig free. If I cant fix this error
how can I get rid of this partition and use this space for other stuff.
Response
Check the volume with SCANDISK.
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 "error #1805" 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
The Debate to Turn Your Computer Off or Not
This is a common question that never seems to be answered authoritatively.
Visit http://certtutor.net/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=10&threadid=34965
for some more opinions on this.
Another Computer Tips site
As I was looking through the referrer log for my site, I came across a site
I had exchanged links with years ago. I checked it out, and even though there
is a lot of content that is quite old, it is still very useful. http://malektips.envprogramming.com/
is described as follows:
"Welcome to MalekTips! Learn how to save time using your computer. Enjoy
some great software. Get educated with our tips and industry news. Chat with
others in our tech forums. And much, much more!"
Rob van der Woude's Scripting Pages
"This site is chock-full of scripting examples, ready to be used.
The primary objective of this site, however, is to teach you how to use batch
and other scripting languages yourself.
So read the explanations that are available on these HTML pages or embedded
in the scripts as comments."
Check it out at http://www.robvanderwoude.com/
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.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.shtml
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