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
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
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
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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?
| Return to the top | Recommend PCIN Poll of the Week |
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.
| Return to the top | Recommend PCIN FreeHelp Forum |
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.shtmlPCIN.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
| Return to the top | Recommend PCIN.net Update |
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.
| Return to the top | Recommend PCIN Tips and Other Stuff |
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.netCopyright 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