|
Issue 234 - April 09, 2003
ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2003
==== 2167 Subscribers in 61 Countries ====
Welcome to the 234th 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
Is that an echo I hear? No, it's an Echo! A Toyota Echo! Yep, Lisa and I became
a 2-car family this week. We purchased a 2000 Toyota Echo. We've been thinking
about this for quite a while, but this opportunity just came along and we couldn't
pass it up. Now Lisa and Andrew can get out of the house. But many of my co-workers
are sad they won't get to see them that much anymore :-(
Speaking of :-( we've had some terrible weather here.
We're a couple of weeks into Spring, and we still have several inches of snow.
It is supposed to warm up, but that is what we thought a couple of weeks ago.
Hopefully Spring weather is actually on the way.
Graham editor@pcin.net and
Chris chris@pcin.net
The NEWS
Amazon signs search deal with Google
"Google plans to provide search services and sponsored links to Amazon.com
under a multiyear deal the companies announced Thursday.
Financial details of the deal were not released. Sponsored links from Google
are available now on a selection of Amazon pages. More links, and Google's
Web search service, will be made available in the next few months, the companies
said.
Google, which dominates the search arena, has been beefing up its sponsorship
deals as it expands its ad network and seeks new revenue. The Mountain View,
Calif.-based company recently launched a program that identifies the meaning
of a Web page and then automatically places relevant ads."
For more info:
http://news.com.com/2100-1019-995280.html
Pakistan Tries to Block Porn Web Sites
"Pakistani authorities said Sunday they've blocked 1,800 Web sites
in a crackdown on Internet pornography in this deeply conservative Muslim
country.
But it's not proving to be easy.
'Curbing porn sites is as difficult as blocking the wind,' said Web engineer
Farhan Parpia, of the state-owned telecommunications company. 'You block
one, and dozens more come up like mushrooms.'"
For more info:
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20030407_612.html
AOL Dial-Up Accounts Expected To Dwindle
"America Online Inc. is projecting for the first time that its base
of dial-up subscribers will decline on an annual basis, a drop that Wall
Street analysts predict will be in the range of 500,000 to 1 million customers.
AOL reported 26.5 million domestic subscribers Dec. 31, a decline of about
200,000 during the fourth quarter of last year. In a filing with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, Dulles-based AOL projected a further drop in dial-up
subscribers in 2003."
For more info:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14792-2003Apr2.html
POLL of the WEEK
Last Week's Poll
Have you ever downloaded an entire feature-length movie from the Internet?
| Yes |
 |
18.18 % (26) |
| No |
|
81.82 % (117) |
| Total votes: 143 |
This Week's Poll
You can also vote online at http://PCIN.net/polls/
PCIN.net FREEHELP
FORUM
Visit the PCIN.net FreeHelp Forum at http://PCIN.net/help/forum/ to
post your questions or answer others.
Question
I've been advised that where there is a yellow circle with a ! in Device
Manager, there is an issue. We have
3 yellow dots w/ !'s. 1 is by PCI Multimedia Audio Device,
1 is by PCI Serial Controller, and the last is PS/2 Compatible Mouse Port.
The apparent issue is that "the drivers for these devices are not installed
(Code 28)".
Response
PCI Multimedia Audio Device has something to do with your sound card.
PCI Serial Controller is most likely a modem.
PS/2 Compatible Mouse Port could be a mouse that doesn't exist anymore. Are
you using a USB mouse?
In the first 2 situations, finding the latest drivers and reinstalling them
should fix it. I would delete the PS/2 Compatible Mouse Port and then reboot
and see if it reappears.
To post a response, visit the Software How-To forum at http://PCIN.net/help/forum/index.php?board=4 and
click on the "PCI issues" topic.
Visit http://PCIN.net/help/forum/ to
post a question of your own.
PCIN.net UPDATE
Check out these new or updated pages on the PCIN.net site:
Logitech Cordless Freedom Optical Hardware Review
http://PCIN.net/help/hardware/lcfo.php
Some Useful Registry Tips - Now 171 Tips!
http://PCIN.net/help/articles/registry_tips.php
Paragon Hard Disk Manager 5.5 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/paragonhdm55.php
Object Desktop Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/objectdesktop.php
THE TIPS and OTHER
STUFF
Excel Help
You can solve almost any advanced Excel question you have by visiting http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/excel.htm
Patches/Updates for Windows NT/2000/XP
The company that helped Microsoft develop some of their security tools is
Shavlik. They have a tool of their own that is much better, but it is for
a large corporation and is quite expensive. They also have a Lite version
of the product. The web site describes it this way:
"Real functionality from a free product? Try it and see for yourself. Completely
manage 50 machines for free.
HFNetChkLT is the fully functional free version of HFNetChkPro - the industry
standard patch management solution. HFNetChkLT offers unlimited scanning,
a complete GUI, and Shavlik's exclusive PatchPush - capabilities. No timeouts
so you can use this useful tool all you like."
I've tried it and it is quite impressive. You can check it out yourself at http://www.shavlik.com/pHFNetChkLT.aspx
F-Lock Key on Microsoft Keyboards
Many of you know that I recently reviewed a Microsoft Office Keyboard. It
was very nice, but my biggest complaint was about the F-Lock key. By default,
when the computer starts up, the Function keys are disabled in favour of
some Microsoft presets. There did not seem to be any way to force it one
way or another. A visitor to the web site sent me this:
" I noticed your article @ http://www.pcin.net/help/hardware/msok.php regarding
the F Lock Key. I found a site that has 2 reg files on it that remaps the F button
so you can permenantly disable the F Lock Key located @ http://mvps.org/jtsang/flock.html
It basically flips the mapping around in W2K and WXP so that by default it
acts as if the F Key has been pressed when u logon to Windows.. Very useful
cos myself I hate not using the old way of doing things.. I press F5 a lot..
and I use a IRC Script that has F keys shortcuts so it makes it a pain in
the butt ..
Hope this information helps..
Cheers.. goofydave"
Thanks goofydave! Indeed it does help!
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://PCIN.net/ and
follow the appropriate links.
- Recommend PCIN to others at http://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://PCIN.net/donate.php
Return to the top
Graham Wing can be reached at editor@pcin.net
Chris Empey can be reached at chris@pcin.net
Copyright 1998-2003, 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://PCIN.net/donate.php
PC Improvement News Home Page
PC Improvement News Archive
|
