Sarasota PC Monitor

Review Chairmans Industry Comments (06/03)

The Computer Buffet: This & That from Here & There

by Herb Goldstein, Review Editor

E-mail comments, suggestions, etc. to Herb Goldstein at: revieweditor@spcug.org

DEAD LINK? It may happen that a link offered in this column occasionally does not work. My humble apologies. The information provided here is gleaned from many usually reliable sources. Some may not be as accurate or current as they would appear when gathered. Others may have expired between the time originally discovered and the time you get to see it in print. As you are also aware, the slightest error in copying a link will make it non-functional. When I originally insert them, it is usually by cut-and-paste to avoid error on my end.

Additionally, I do not personally try every link or program mentioned. That's your job if a particular link interests you. Also, if you want to research an item mentioned in a past issue, go to our web site at spcug.org and perform a search in the Monitor area.

TACKLE YOUR SHUTDOWN PROBLEMS. I've been waiting for this one for a long time. Perhaps you have too. Windows, particularly 95 and 98, have long been burdened with shutdown problems. Microsoft has attempted several fixes which have helped some but not most. I have finally discovered a freeware app that really does the job. It's called Smart Shutdown and is a free, commercial-quality shutdown utility. The program is based on an easy 1-2-3 interface and has an immense number of shutdown options. It allows you to shut down, log off, reboot, lock, turn off, hibernate, disconnect from the Internet or network, enter standby mode in Windows, and shut down and reboot computers in your network-all both manually and automatically. Its built-in Smart Shutdown technology can shut down your computer if you are inactive for a specified period of time. Plus, with its Easy Shutdown technology, you can shut down your computer with just a single click. The program displays options available in your OS only, supports command line options, and uses little system resources. In addition, our exclusive Dependable Timer System technology, ErrorGuard, and other similar features give you a 99.9% guarantee that your system will be shut down on any occasion, according to our tests. Get it at www.slawdog.com/products/smartsd/

WINDOWS XP REPLACED IN 2005. According to IDG News Services, Microsoft's new operating system replacing Windows XP will debut in 2005. Beta testing should begin as early as next year on the new system code-names Longhorn. A big change in Longhorn will be the new Windows Future Storage (WinFS) file system, based on SQL Server database technology and designed to give users a direct route to data, making the physical location of a file irrelevant. WinFS replaces the NTFS and FAT32 file systems used in current Windows versions.

INTUIT TURBO TAX DROPS PRODUCT ACTIVATION. It looks like 2003 was the year that Intuit both adopted and recently dropped (commencing with 2004) product activation for Turbo Tax that restricted installation to one computer. Intuit's aim was to copy protect its software by following Microsoft Windows XP's lead. Their problem was that users did not need Turbo Tax as badly as XP what with TaxCut readily filling the void for angry buyers. A law suit against Intuit brought by a Turbo Tax user who objected to there being no warning about the restriction prior to purchase is still pending.

COLOR THOSE FOLDERS. If you get tired of those plain old yellow Windows folders, grab some software that will allow you to set the folder colors. One such program is called Rainbow Folders. Although you may want to change the folder color for esthetic reasons, there is also a practical side to color changes. For example, you might want to color your My Documents folder green, or perhaps color the Windows folder red to remind you to be careful in there. Rainbow Folders is freeware. Download a copy at www.rainbowfolders.k7.pl

ADIOS POP-UPS. Adios Pop-Ups is a free, strict pop-up killer with additional functionality to delete cookies and browsing history. Detected pop-up windows are automatically added to the built-in black list to prevent all future pop-up attempts.

In addition, an optional alert sound lets you know when a pop-up has been blocked. You can also choose an interactive mode that lets you confirm each pop-up before it is closed. Adios Pop-Ups can also block IP advertisements. www.mywebattack.com/gnomeapp.php?id=106163

ERROR CODES? There are few things more frustrating than meaningless error codes that pop up in one application or another to supposedly inform you as to why something unexpected just happened to interrupt your work. It must be a form of sadism that programmers seem to enjoy. You can sometimes find the meaning of the error code by entering it into Google. It's not a certainty but occasionally works.

2 FIND MP3 is the ultimate free tool to locate and retrieve MP3 music files on the net. It uses the top MP3 search engines available on the net today. It not only finds the music you want, it also verifies the search results, lets you download and listen to the MP3 files with a single mouse click. http://www.npssoftware.com/

BRAINBLISTERS. BrainBlisters is a collection of puzzles, games, illusions, and other fun stuff. The site, up since 1997, brags (deservedly so!) that it has over thousands of puzzles, and adds five new puzzles every week. In the puzzle section, you can have the site randomly select a puzzle for you based on difficulty. Next to each puzzle is a rating based on user ratings. You can search for a puzzle by keyword, or select a puzzle by all- time top ten, recent top ten, logic, and crosswords. Games are just that: games such as board games, strategy, word games, arcade, and contests. Illusions are the place to do some fancy eyework. The site does have advertising, but the games are worth it. www.brainblisters.com

TEMPMEASURE If you live in the U.S., you may intuitively know that subtracting 32 from a Fahrenheit temperature and then multiplying the result by 5/9 will give you the Celsius equivalent... but who wants to do all that math in your head? This free app will covert Celsius to Fahrenheit, Fahrenheit to Kelvin, Kelvin to Celsius, and various other combinations of temperature conversions. You also get common temperature info like absolute zero, boiling points, melting points, and normal body temperature. Don't be confused by temperature calculation again. You will find it at www.handango.com/brainstore/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=813&productId=30868

OPERA 7.1. A recent Opera update to version 7.1 offers lots of interesting new features. Opera is smaller than Netscape and Internet Explorer, yet it has some neat features that those browsers lack: it can open multiple windows, even at start-up, without running out of memory; it lets you zoom in and out of pages, as you would in Word or Excel documents; and it lets you navigate with your keyboard, which can speed up your surfing. The browser includes a newsreader, so you can keep abreast of your favorite newsgroups. Because of its low memory usage and small footprint, Opera is particularly useful on older PCs (386SX with 6MB of RAM minimum), yet it has all the bells and whistles you need in a browser.

Opera is a free browser if you don't mind the occasional ads, or a low cost ad-free version. I use Opera frequently in preference to Internet Explorer. It is faster and often brings me into sites that Internet Explorer can't access. It provides many preferences to suit your needs. One of them permits you to accept cookies so you won't be denied entry into sites that require them, but then obligingly deletes all cookies when you exit Opera. There is much to be loved and enjoyed in Opera. Find out more about it and get it at www.opera.com

SOME OF THE BEST FREEWARE in existence is yours for the download at www.shellcity.net. Additionally, you will find a treasure chest of goodies at this location worth a trip from anywhere. Don't miss it!

ATOMTIME. Keep your system's clock from losing time. AtomTime synchronizes your PC's clock with one of the most accurate time pieces on the planet: the Atomic Clock time server in Boulder, Colorado. The utility can schedule automatic updates to your PC system clock to match the atomic clock; if the site is not responding, the program will access other time servers for you. Free trial; $10 to purchase http://www.atomtime.com/

PASTING IN WORD. If you would like a one-key approach to pasting clipboard contents in Microsoft Word, just go to Tools|Options and the Edit tab. There, place a check mark at "Use the INS key for paste" and OK. Thereafter, pressing the INS key will insert copied material at the cursor location.

LCD MONITOR SIZES. LCD flat panel monitor sizes may be deceiving when compared to CRT monitors. To clarify the matter, a 15" LCD is equivalent to a 17" CRT. A 17" LCD is equivalent to a 19" CRT. A 19" LCD is equal to a 21" CRT. Don't worry about any LCD larger than 19" because you won't be able to afford it.

Prices on LCD monitors have been dropping steadily, but remain well above equivalent CRT's. LCD's also carry distinct differences compared to CRT's that may not please you. Considerable reviews exist that highlight the differences between them. Investigate carefully before you buy!

FIND YOUR UNCLAIMED FUNDS. Kim Komando can help. Did you know there's about $20 billion of unclaimed money available every year? Included are old 401K plans, bank accounts or other assets. Find them at www.komando.com/kool_show.asp?showID=4047761

THEELDERGEEK may sound like an odd name for a web site, even to all us elder geeks, but it's a super collection of great tips, how-to's, and other info that everyone who owns a computer will find interesting and extremely valuable. Go there. It's more than well worth your visit! http://www.theeldergeek.com/ Another interesting site for tips, tricks, freeware, etc. is located at www.techtv.com

MUSICMATCH JUKEBOX BASIC V7.5. This free program combines CD ripping and encoding for one-step recording from your CD-ROM to your hard drive. It also can convert .mp3 files into .wav files, and vice versa. This version offers a MusicMatch guide for finding free MP3s; improved support for CD burning; and new multimedia plug-ins. This update's new interface lets you listen to the files in your playlists and share your playlists with friends online. You can also create personalized radio stations. The free version of the program lets you play, rip, and burn CDs; to use the many other features, you have to register the program, which costs $19.95. Www.usicmatch.com

IRFANVIEW is the king of graphics viewers and proves that the best things in life are often free. If you're looking for a lean and mean graphics utility, IrfanView is a top choice. Import images, view images, perform basic image editing, create slide shows, and convert files from one format to another. Crop, blur, and sharpen your images. Make modifications in regular mode or, if you have a jeweler's eye for detail, make changes in zoom mode. The program lets you set the compression level when you save files, and it supports all major graphics formats, including .bmp, .gif, .jpg, .png, and .tif. This version lets you save comments to JPEG files, and it supports the OGG sound format. www.irfanview.com

CLICKZAP allows you to run a predefined action when you right click two or three times at your current mouse double-click speed.

There is no faster way to lock your computer when screen security is needed quickly. ClickZap will do any of the following actions when you right click repeatedly... Lock Computer, Log Off Computer, Shutdown Computer, Minimize Window, Minimize all Windows, Close Window, Close all Windows, Mute Sound. ClickZap runs automatically on startup and remembers what action you want to run. Try ClickZap today to help secure your work area! ClickZap includes an uninstall. http://www.shellcity.net/

SHELLCITY.NET is liable to become one of your very favorite stops on the net. It's a treasure chest of freeware and a variety of all kinds of interesting information you will enjoy. Make it a point to go there today and browse!

BROTHER PRINTER RECALL. Brother is recalling several printer models because of a fire danger. The problems arise when the printers' fusers overheat. The model numbers are HL-1040, HL-1050, HL-1060 and MFC-P2000, made from 1997-2000. The model numbers are on top of the printers, next to the Brother logo. Brother asks that customers not use the printers.

Customers should take their printers to an authorized service center. The fuser will be replaced. Customers may call the company at 866-236-6835 for more information, or check the Web site at: http://www.brother.com/usa/recalls.html

ADD TO YOUR 'SEND TO" MENU. Right-c;ick on a file in Windows Explorer and you will see a list of choices of various things you can do to that file. One choice is "send to"which provides options as to where you can send the file. You can add your own destinations with a simple, free utility:

"SendTo" http://www.trogsoft.com/products/sendto/new.php is a freeware tool that sets up in seconds on any version of Windows from Win95 through XP, and instantly lets you specify any folder (including even FTP folders on remote computers) as a Send To destination.

SendTo integrates into the Windows shell. To get started with SendTo, all you have to do is select some files or folders in Windows explorer, right click on any one of them, choose "Send To," and "Any Folder," and SendTo will appear to give you the option to do any of the following:

CUT YOUR PHONE BILLS by going to www. wantcheaperphonebills.com This site will offer some excellent suggestions on cutting phone use costs and explore with you methods geared to your own personal choices and habits. It's a unique service, not an advertisement.

SPLITTUR is a free file splitter-Split a large file into parts for archiving, sending via e-mail, or uploading to a Web server that has limitations such as the size of the file or the file type. The split files are executable, enabling the original file to be automatically recreated. Create custom messages to display when a file is going to be recreated, add a 64x64 picture, automatically unpack zip archives, and password-protect the files. http://www.fixlinks.does.it/

3 FREE UTILITIES. This software is 100% free, no ads, no banners, no spyware. You will find these at www.freshdevices.com

  1. Fresh Download is an easy-to-use and very fast download manager software that turbo charges downloading files from the Internet, such as your favorite software, mp3 files, video files, picture collections, etc.
  2. Fresh Diagnose is an utility designed to analyze and benchmark your computer system. It can analyze and benchmark many kinds of hardware, such as CPU performance, hard disk performance, video system information, mainboard information, and more!
  3. Fresh UI is a fresh solution for configuring and optimizing Windows. Loaded with hundreds of useful hidden settings in Windows XP/2000/ NT/98/95/Me, this software covers the customizing and optimizing techniques that you'll be glad to know.

CHOOSING A MONITOR. If you are faced with choosing a new monitor you are going to have a wide variety of choices. Some time back we explained the differences between various types available. If you are looking for something very current you may want to go to http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/bguide/0,guid,9,page,2,00.asp It's the best rundown on monitors that we've seen in a long time. It will cover all the ground completely and provide the education you need before you make a selection. Even if you are not currently in the market for a new monitor, it's well worth your perusal.

XP FUN PACKS. Windows XP puts your imagination in charge, making it easy to create greeting cards with your own photos, spice up your home movies with new sound effects and turn them into video screen savers, turn your computer into the party jukebox, and more. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/experiences/create/

GOOGLE HAS YOUR NUMBER. If you are listed in the telephone directory, entering your phone number in Google will not only bring up your name, but a map to your house as well. If that offends your privacy, bring up your phone number on Google, click on the telephone icon next to it, and you will be de-listed from the Google directory.

BORED WITH SOLITAIRE? Then how about a deck with Iraq's most wanted? Silver Creek Entertainment is offering just that for Windows. You can download the free game at: http://www.iraqimostwantedsolitaire.com/

GOOGLE USERS, which includes most everyone that owns a computer, will find all kinds of neat tips and tricks in using this master of search organs by going to http://www.idg.net/go.cgi?id=802838/ PC World's Steve Bass offers a collection of Google goodies that should not be missed!

SMARTBARXP is a free customizing utility ofr your WinXP desktop-Quick launch, task bars, and vertical toolbars... Microsoft continues to add more shortcuts around the screen. SmartBarXP is an application bar that offers more customization options for the side of your screen, with built-in panes to access the audio player, POP3 mail, MSN Messenger contact list, Web search, system performance, weather information, calendar, stock watcher, news feeds, and more. You have the option to select the panes to display, the order of the panes, and the shortcuts to use. http://www.smartbarxp.com/

KIM KOMANDO'S .DLL FILE ADVICE. The letters DLL stand for dynamic link library or, sometimes, dynamically loaded library. These files have names like VMMREG32.DLL.

They are collections of more common functions used by Windows and other programs. By calling on DLLs, the programs do not have to have common functions built into them.

You'll find many DLL files by searching for the files using Windows Explorer. If you try to open them in Notepad or WordPad, you'll find they are unreadable. That's because Microsoft doesn't want you messing with them. These files are absolutely critical to the proper functioning of your computer. If you change one, you're going to have a problem. So, just leave them alone. They're not bothering you.

Missing DLL files usually result from over-enthusiastic cleaning of hard drives. When you remove a program from your computer, you'll often get messages about DLL files. They'll say something to the effect that a DLL file was shared, but no longer appears to be used. The messages give you the option of killing the file. They also warn that killing the file may keep a program from running.

I never delete these files. Even if the DLL file is never used again, it won't hurt anything by sitting on the hard drive. Why take the chance that it will be needed? You can usually recover the missing DLL by reinstalling the program.

The same is true if a DLL file becomes corrupted. Just reinstall the software for the program or peripheral that won't run.

If nothing else works, there are lots of free sites on the Internet that have DLL files, such as www.dll-files.com. You might be able to find the file there and put it back on your system. (By Kim Komando- With permission)

CONTROL YOUR STARTUP LIST. Thanks to SPCUG member Rod Warner who passes along a useful tip extracted from Kim Komando's newsletter:

Many programs install files in MSConfig so they start automatically with Windows. You can uncheck them so they don't start, but MSConfig doesn't like those empty boxes. The result is the message that you received. Worse, Windows won't let you delete those entries.

MSConfig is a Windows utility. It tells Windows what programs to start along with Windows. There may be stuff in there from Microsoft that needs to start. But lots of other programs stick their noses into MSConfig, too. America Online and the RealPlayer are common offenders.

To find MSConfig, click Start>>Run. Type msconfig in the box and click OK. Select the Startup tab. You'll probably find several files there. Some you'll recognize; others, not. You can uncheck those that you recognize and are not interested in starting automatically. Some may be from Windows, which might need them to start properly. You can find a list of entries and explanations at: http://www.lafn.org/webconnect/mentor/startup/PENINDEX.HTM

Unchecking the boxes brings up another problem. Windows doesn't let you delete these files. They just sit there, cluttering up MSConfig. Furthermore, they result in the message telling you that you made changes! You can check a box that causes the warning to disappear. But there's a better way to solve this problem: a program called Startman. You'll find it at: http://www.spywareinfo.com/downloads/startman/

To clean out MSConfig, I first changed the setting on the General tab to Normal Startup. That loaded everything in MSConfig. Otherwise, Startman could not see all the entries. Then, in Startman, I highlighted the entries that I didn't want, one at a time. Each time, I clicked Edit>>Remove. I deleted five of the seven entries. It could not have been simpler. Windows 98, ME and XP all have MSConfig. Startman works on all of them. And it is free.

Add/Remove+ 2003 - The first choice uninstaller!

Installing most software is child's play when compared to trying to get rid of it when you no longer want it. Installation leaves bits and pieces of software all over the place, especially in the registry. Those segments occupy valuable space and can conflict with other programs. While there are many applications that will uninstall software, the safest to use is the software publisher's own uninstall routine. Our first choice for performing this deed is Aurelitec's Add/Remove + 2003.

AR+ exhibits the qualities that are most endearing to any program. It is the epitome of simplicity. Open AR+ and you will see a list of every program installed on your computer presented in a colorful, inviting interface. Select the one you want to uninstall and either double-click on it or click the uninstall button, and in the blink of an eye, it's gone! Additionally, the program is no longer listed in Windows own add-remove programs list. Now that's something that Windows itself does not do.

AR+ works safely by discovering and activating a program's own uninstall command. This provides the safest means of getting rid of it. Safest is not necessarily the most thorough. Every uninstall application will frequently leave some registry references and often an innocuous folder or file in Windows Explorer. If you are fastidious and experienced, these are easy to remove. The fault lies with the software publisher whose uninstall routine may not be as thorough as we would like.

Add/Remove + 2003 is the most popular application of its kind and the one most frequently recommended by reviewers. Download it for a free test drive for a time at aurelitec.com. If you decide to keep it, as I am certain you will, the price is $19.95. You will find it to be a favorite of yours as it is to me.

Dr. Seuss Explains Why Computers Sometimes Crash

If a packet hits a pocket on a socket on a port,

and the bus is interrupted at a very last resort,

and the access of the memory makes your floppy disk abort,

then the socket packet pocket has an error to report.

If your cursor finds a menu item followed by a dash,

and the double-clicking icon puts your window in the trash,

and your data is corrupted cause the index doesn't hash,

then your situation's hopeless and your system's gonna crash!

If the label on the cable on the table at your house,

says the network is connected to the button on your mouse,

but your packets want to tunnel to another protocol,

that's repeatedly rejected by the printer down the hall,

and your screen is all distorted by the side effects of gauss,

so your icons in the window are as wavy as a souse;

then you may as well reboot and go out with a bang,

'cuz sure as I'm a poet, the sucker's gonna hang!

When the copy of your floppy's getting sloppy in the disk,

and the macro code instructions cause unnecessary risk,

then you'll have to flash the memory and you'll want to RAM your ROM,

then quickly turn off the computer and be sure to tell your Mom! :

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Copyright 2003. This article is from the June 2003 issue of the Sarasota PC Monitor, the official monthly publication of the Sarasota Personal Computer Users Group, Inc., P.O. Box 15889, Sarasota, FL 34277-1889. Permission to reprint is granted only to other non-profit computer user groups, provided proper credit is given to the author and our publication. We would appreciate receiving a copy of the publication the reprint appears in, please send to above address, Attn: Editor. For further information about our group, email: admin@spcug.org/ Web: http://www.spcug.org/

The Sarasota Personal Computer Users Group, Inc. has 1,100+ members and was established in 1982. We are members of the Assoc. of PC User Groups (APCUG), the Florida Assoc. of PC Users Groups, Inc., and we are members of the America Online Ambassador Program.

See http://www.spcug.org for all reviews from the Sarasota PC Monitor, go to the Newsletter Section.