GREATER BOSTON SENIOR COMPUTER GROUP NEWSLETTER
Issue No.59, November 10, 2004
CHAIRPERSON:: Arline Ekman, AVE@alumni.unh.edu
EDITOR: Harriet Mandell, harrietd@rcn.com
WEB PAGE: Garry Ziffer, http://users.rcn.com/gbscg
LIAISON: Eve Welts, ewelts@rcn.com
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NOT TO BE MISSED...FREEWARE ON THE INTERNET by Garry Ziffer and featured on the Groups web page http://users.rcn.com/gbscg You will find various utility and other programs to assist you in spyware protection, virus protection, file compression, system information, image viewing and audio listening. All programs have been used by members in the group.
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SPYING ON THE SPIES…In October the Federal Trade Commission filed the first case in the country against software companies accused of infecting computers with intrusive “spyware” and trying to sell people the solution. It is seeking to get the companies owned by the same person, to stop and to offer restitution to consumers. The House passed two bills that would outlaw spyware and hopefully the Senate will also work toward control of spam harmful to someone’s computer. Thanks Othok@aol.com for informing us of the situation.
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FROM BACK-UP TO XP SERVICE PACK 2 as done by Garry Ziffer…First he used an external 120 GB hard drive to do the backup via a program called Acronis True Image (easy to use..costs $50) After completely imaging the computer he installed SP2 and replaced the built-in Microsoft firewall with his Sygate firewall. He decided to install SP2 because he had some annoying access violations which ended after the installation. Not to worry, with the back-up in place, should there have been a problem, he could have restored his computer to its previous set-up. Many other members report they had no problem because of the updated Windows XP SP2.
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DECISIONS, DECISIONS…….Should you decide to update to Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 you may be interested in obtaining that release on a free CD from Microsoft instead of downloading it from the site. Go to http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/sp2/cdorder/en_us/default.mspx and click on “order a CD” Fill out the forms. This tip submitted by Al Ward .
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ZIP CODE SLEUTHING MADE EASY….If you have the address, you can go on the Internet to http//zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.isp. If you have the telephone number and the party is listed you can type the phone number on Google and get the complete address and zip code. From Eve Welts
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HIDE YOURSELF… from the Google reverse phone directory…enter your phone number in the search panel, when your name and address appear, click on it and it will open the “opt out of Google” reverse phone directory form and Submit!
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FOR YOUR KNOWLEDGE BASE…The following web site is informative and useful for monitoring the start up programs. Ones that you do not need at start up or you do not want can be removed from that folder or deleted if they are malicious. www.pacs-portal.co.uk Info for various systems.Thanks to Mel Cerier .
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SECRET DIARY….Mel Richmond suggests the program “Any Password” from www.romanlab.com which is an easy-to-use tool that lets you store and arrange all you passwords, user ID’s, and related information in a tree form. It will save this information in encrypted files and can be protected by a password. Just remember the one password you give the file. Any Password can also generate random passwords with specified parameters (length, used characters, etc.) You can find any stored informaton using the incremental search feature. It’s free.
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KEYBOARD TIPS…To flip through desktop windows when you have several opened ALT + TAB…Hold down the ALT key on your keyboard and then tap the ESC key (repeatedly, if necessary.) This will cycle through all Windows on your desktop. When you find the window you want to use, let go of the ALT key.
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DIGITAL CAMERA MYSTIQUE…The term megapixel means 1 million pixels. A pixel is the basic building block of a digital photo. It is a tiny colored square much like a tile in a mosaic. Your digital camera builds photographs by arranging pixels in a rectangular grid. Most digital cameras today can generate at least 1-megapixel images. The more megapixels your camera offers, the larger you can print your photos without noticing any drop-off in photo quality.
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PROBLEM AND SOLUTION….when you want to copy and paste text or the URL from a web page into a Word document without the formatting from the web page, Copy it and then Paste it into the document use the Edit tab “paste special” and click unformatted text.
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WHAT IS FREERAM XP PRO and what does it do? FreeRAM XP Pro is a freeware application to free and defragment your computer’s RAM (Random Access Memory). As you use your computer, open applications, surf the Internet, and navigate Windows, your system’s memory will usually decrease because some software do not use memory correctly or do not return all of it after it is done using it. FreeRAM XP Pro frees up this memory, thereby increasing system response time, stability, speed, and efficiency. As a result, FreeRAM XP Pro is recommended for almost anyone, from low memory systems to high memory systems, from home office users to MP3ers to 3-D gamers. This version introduces RAM-Cuts (shortcuts designed to free RAM). Download from http://www.yourwaresolutions.com/ May be for the more advanced user.
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WANTED: URL's of web sites; Helpful hints for Mac users, Win 95/98/ME/XP. Software reviews, desired topics for future meetings. Send these items via email to the editor. Please sign your email with your name. We will publish your email address, but not your name, phone number or address without your permission