** Issue #14 March 1st, 2007 **
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#1- News, News, News
In This Issue...
#2 - Do you have a buck or two?
#3 - Super Special Announcement - Carol has a new website and a special offer for you.
#4 - What has been learned about MS Vista - What's going on since the Microsoft Vista launch?
#5 - Daylight Saving Time Outlook issues - The title says it all.
#6 - My Recommended Software - Need software? Check here first!
#8 - The Lighter Side - Some humor to lighten your load!
#9 - Useful web sites - Website's I've visited lately that you may find useful.
In the next issue...
Nothing on the radar yet, we'll see what happens.
Here is where I beg!
Please tell a friend, relative, or coworker about my site and newsletter. Use any means necessary to spread the word about Daves Computer Tips. A quick suggestion: Add www.davescomputertips.com to your email signature!
As always I appreciate your comments and suggestions about the site and newsletter. If you would like to share please contact me at dave @ davescomputertips.com.
Carol is our resident "Office Goddess". If you have Microsoft Office questions or suggestions for future Office articles shoot her an email at carol @ carolscorneroffice.com.
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#2 - Do you have a buck or two?
I'm asking those that have an extra dollar or two and appreciate the work I do to donate a few of dollars in support of the newsletter. The money will be used to purchase a new computer running Microsoft Vista. The new computer will allow me to begin adding relevant Vista content to the newsletter! There is no pressure to contribute. The only purpose of this request is the purchase of a new computer to further the efforts of my site and newsletter.
Total amount presently in the new computer fund is 23% of the cost, so the purchase is on hold for a while longer. Be assured the money is tucked away and will be used for no other purposes, as I promised.
If you enjoy the Daves Computer Tips Newsletter and find it helpful please donate by clicking the PayPal button below. You may donate any amount you feel comfortable with. Every little bit helps and is appreciated!
#3 - Carol's Corner Office
By David Hartsock
A little background
Hopefully you've been reading Carol's articles in the newsletter. Carol and I met after a brief email exchange in October 2006. She has been writing informative articles for each Daves Computer Newsletter since then. I appreciate her efforts very much. They add value to my newsletter for you the reader.
At the time I met Carol, she was writing articles (and continues to) for the infopackets newsletter and publishing her own newsletter, sent monthly to paying subscribers. We began talking about web sites and came to the conclusion that her two rudimentary sites weren't very productive. I piped up and told her I appreciated what she was doing for my newsletters and would help her with her website.
Here it is 4 months later and it's finished! After hundreds of emails, hundreds of hours on the phone, hundreds of ideas, as well as plan changes, design changes, logistic changes, and who knows what else IT'S FINISHED! Now I might have a couple of hours to watch a movie with my wife!
Here's the deal
Carol and I were talking on Monday the 26th. We finally decided everything was in place and ready to go. Monday at 7:30pm EST www.carolscorneroffice.com went live! Carol offered to pay me, and I declined. Carol then suggested she make my readers a deal as payment. I asked what she had in mind and she came back with $10 for a one year membership to her newsletter and a copy of her e-book, "Tips and Tricks for Microsoft Office - 2006 Edition". I'll take that! Carol's only stipulation is that this offer ends on March 15th! You see, I know Carol charges $18 per year for her Word Bytes Newsletter - Premium Edition and $19.99 for her e-book, which has sold hundreds of copies for $19 on infopackets and other sites. I don't want you guys to think this a ploy or usual activity. I receive nothing from this! It is a great deal and I appreciate Carol making the offer to you. That's the only reason I mention it (other than I'm very excited that her site is live).
If you aren't interested at all please help us load test the server by visiting www.carolscorneroffice.com and explore some of the pages. Use the contact link on her site to leave feedback or comments.
If you aren't interested in Carol's offer, but like her articles you can subscribe to the Word Bytes Newsletter - Free Edition by visiting www.carolscorneroffice.com/free_home.html and clicking the subscribe link.
If you're interested in accepting Carol's generous offer you may do so by clicking the special "Click Here for Carol's Offer" button below.
Offer Has Expired!
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#4 - What we've learned about Vista
By David S. Hartsock
Vista just had it's 1 month birthday. I haven't heard too many bad things. No serious driver, hardware, or security issues. Actually a new OS is a major event, and often not without headaches. With all things considered there are many, many issues that often arise and, in reality, should be expected. I honestly expected quite a few major stories about some catastrophic occurrences following the release. Actually there are some issues certain manufacturers are having with peripheral compatibility. The result is these PC are shipping with XP and can be upgraded once the issues are worked out. It's been quiet... too quiet.
Actually there are some very interesting things happening in the Vista 3 ring circus. Microsoft has released a list of Applications Certified for Windows Vista. This list is not the end all be all, by any means. It's a start. Most programs will work with Vista. The only exceptions may be older DOS and 16-bit based programs. So don't get all worked up just yet.
- Buy Vista - get 3 months of free Wi-Fi access. Users of Vista in the U.S. get a free 3 month account to all T-Mobile HotSpots in the US. Our friends across the pond in England receive a similar deal through The Cloud. I know it's only a tease, but it's free and both offers run through April 30th, 2007.
- The items that have been burning up the internet are activation "features". If you've ever installed an upgrade version of Windows you know the media you are upgrading from is required. If you install an upgrade version of XP the installation routine will look to see if you have a previous version of Windows installed. If you are installing to a clean hard drive the installation routine asks you to insert your installation disk for a previous version.
- Nothing new here, right? Wrong. You can install the upgrade version of Vista without having any previous Windows version at all. The Vista will accept an unactivated Vista installation as a previous version. This can save you between $75 and $160 by buying an upgrade version instead of a full version of Vista.
How does it work? |
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Step 1 - |
Boot from the Vista installation CD. |
Step 2 - |
Select "Install Now" and DO NOT enter product key. |
Step 3 - |
Turn off option to "Automatically activate Windows when I'm online". |
Step 4 - |
Confirm that you truly want to install without entering a product key. |
Step 5 - |
Indicate which version you wish to install (choose the version you have the license for). |
Step 6 - |
Select Custom Install, DO NOT select upgrade |
Step 7 - |
After installation is complete and you are finally at the Vista Desktop navigate to the installation DVD and double click on setup.exe - DO NOT activate yet! (you can also eject the DVD and then reinsert it. This should start the installation program) |
Step 8 - |
Once the setup program runs select Install Now. Select "Do not get the latest updates for installation". |
Step 9 - |
Enter the product key now. (you are now doing an "upgrade installation" of Vista) |
Step 10 - |
Again, turn off "Automatically activate Windows when I'm online". |
Step 11 - |
Choose "Upgrade" and wait while the installer copies files and reboots. |
Step 12 - |
DO NOT boot from the DVD if asked. Just wait a few seconds and setup will continue. |
Step 13 - |
Several menus may appear that appear to be DOS windows. Don't touch. These will take care of themselves. |
Step 14 - |
A Thank You dialog box will appear. Click the "Start" button and wait for the login box. |
Step 15 - |
Reboot. At the Welcome Screen choose "Show more details". |
Step 16 - |
Click "Activate Windows now". |
Step 17 - |
That was easy! You've just completed a full install with an upgrade version. |
Now doing this may present some moral delimas for some, and I can not decide for you whether or not to do this. I'm sure if you check the EULA for Vista that this is a violation. I take that back. I'm positive this is a violation.
But why is it possible? You can't tell me that thousands of programmers at Microsoft, and thousands of beta tester throughout the world missed this. I don't believe it. There has been talk that this may be an interesting "backdoor" marketing move by Microsoft. What do I mean by that?
Marketing ?
If you look back to my February 1st newsletter you will notice the prices are the highest of any OS in history. I believe my price comment from that issue was, "Ouch!". I'm not alone on this one either. The internet is full of others commenting on Vista's price. Maybe (just guessing here) Microsoft knew there would be a big brouhaha about the price. Maybe this "work around" is included on purpose in hope that it would secretly spread though the internet allowing Microsoft to save face, feel warm and fuzzy inside, and still maintain a market price they think is fair?
I don't know why. I can't explain it. I don't think Microsoft overlooked it. It boils down to you. If you feel comfortable using this work around, then by all means do. Hey! What a few hundred bucks between you and Microsoft?
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#5 - DST issues with Outlook
by Carol A. Bratt
In August 2005 the United States Congress passed the Energy Policy Act, which changes the start and end of Daylight Savings Time (DST) as observed in the United States.
Starting in the spring of 2007, the DST start and end dates for the United States will change in order to be compliant with the Act. DST dates in the United States will start three weeks earlier (2:00 A.M. on the second Sunday in March - 03/11/07) and will end one week later (2:00 A.M. on the first Sunday in November - 11/04/07), which will result in a new DST period that is four weeks longer than previously observed.
Microsoft has released a program that will update calendar items in Microsoft Outlook to facilitate the changes in DST during the extended DST period. The program is called the Time Zone Data Update Tool and it is available HERE.
All users running Outlook 2000, 2002 and Office 2003 should download and run the Time Zone Data Update Tool.
The update tool is necessary to ensure that the meetings and appointments you have organized in Outlook during the DST period are shown at the correct time on your and your invitees calendars.
When you create appointments and meetings in Outlook, Microsoft uses Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) format, which is an international 24-hour timekeeping system.
When a DST update is made to your operating system to accommodate the new DST definitions, your computer's local time will reflect the change to DST, but appointments made in the extended DST period will be one hour off because changes made in Windows do not change UTC time, but the local time of your computer.
If you do not install the Windows updates and run the Time Zone Data Update Tool then, during the extended DST period the impact on your Outlook calendar will be that appointments and reminders will be one hour off. All-day events will shift and span two days because these events are associated with 24 specific hours rather than an individual date.
Due to the manner in which target time zone is reflected in appointments and meetings, the Time Zone Data Update Tool attempts to update all single-instance items that fall into the affected date ranges and all recurring appointments that have instances in the affected date ranges and were not created for other time zones.
The tool only updates meetings for which you are the organizer and then automatically sends updates for those meetings to all other attendees so they will have the correct start and end times.
Outlook 2007 has this functionality already. You aren't required to manually run the tool since Outlook 2007 automatically detects a time zone definition change and will automatically prompt you to complete the update process. Users running Outlook 2007 are not required to download and run the Time Zone Data Update Tool in most instances, but it is recommended that you do so because it includes the most recent improvements.
Windows Vista already includes the new DST rules and automatically updated time zone definitions on January 1, 2007. Other operating systems will receive a DST update Via Microsoft updates.
Carol writes the monthly Word Bytes Newsletter with more tips and tricks each issue. Visit Carol's website for more great Microsoft Office tips and tricks! Visit Carol's site at www.carolscorneroffice.com
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#6- My Recommended Software
Anti-spyware and Anti-malware Software
Webroot SpySweeper - Daves Computer Tips Seal of Approval Winner! See the test results HERE. Spysweeper provides the best protection of the seven anti-spyware programs tested! Great detection and removal rates with a small real-time protection memory footprint. This is the one you want! SpySweeper includes the ASK toolbar. Be sure to uncheck this option during installation. Free 14 day trial.
CounterSpy - Runner-up in my Anti-Spyware test. Not only does CounterSpy scan and remove spyware, it also uses real time protection. Real-time protection prevents spyware infection. Free 15 day trial. Winner of Computer Shopper Magazine's Best Buy Award!
Antivirus and Firewall Software
ESET Smart Security - New from the maker's of NOD32. Antivirus, Antispyware, Antispam, and Firewall all wrapped into one effective, swift, and low resource package. It is what I use to protect each of my computers!
Kaspersky Antivirus - Kaspersky is my second choice for antivirus software. A good program that is very close in performance to NOD32. Free trial.
Online Armor Firewall - You shouldn't be on the internet without a software firewall that offers inbound and outbound protection. Online Armor is the Best of the Best. Online Armor uses an interface that is easier to navigate than most other firewalls and the protection level can't be beat! Online Armor is available in both a free and reasonably priced paid version, which offers even more protection!
Audio and Video Software
Acoustica Audio Converter Pro - This program converts audio formats and bitrates. Perfect for those with portable audio players or large music collections. 30 day trial.
Adobe Premier Elements - Elements is the consumer version of Adobe Premiere. It costs 1/6th the price, but is very capable of making videos that will impress everyone.
DVDFab is my favorite DVD software. I tried over 30 different programs before settling on DVDFab. It offers every function of the other programs and more! Copy, burn, shrink, convert for mobile devices, or convert for streaming. Almost all of the other programs I've tried did not function as advertised, were extremely slow, or did not have features that worked as advertised. DVDFab works, and works as advertised! It's easy to use, has a pleasant user interface, and it updated often.
Computer Hardware
Crucial Memory - Memory (RAM) is the upgrade that gives any computer the best bang for the buck. If you want to speed things up with more memory, why not purchase it from the leading source of quality RAM memory. Great selection, good prices, excellent support, and a lifetime warranty! A real winner!
CyberGuys - The place to get those hard to find cables and accessories for your computer!
HP Computers
- My current pick for new laptops and desktops. In the current market I don't think you can beat HP's combination of price and performance. Their laptop line is very cost effective and the design is absolutely beautiful!
Newegg - Newegg.com is known for great service and awesome pricing on computers, upgrades, and electronics. If you're looking for computers, computer parts, or electronics you owe it to yourself to start here! Great Products. Great Prices. Great Customer Service!
Computer Maintenance Software
Diskeeper 2008 - My current favorite defrag program. As files are written and erased from the hard drive they begin to leave "spaces" behind. When the drive is written to again files are broken up to fill in these spaces. This causes the drive to go to several different locations to read an entire file, which slows performance greatly. Diskeeper has several advanced features such as; automatic defrag, scheduled defrag, and the ability to defrag the MFT (Master File Table) and paging file. 30 day trial.
Registry Mechanic - A very thorough and efficient registry cleaner and defragmenter. A definite must to maintain peak performance and stabile operation. 30 day trial.
Computer Utility Software
Acronis True Image 11 - Do you value the data on your computer? Do you value your time? How much time will you spend recovering data and returning your computer to its original state after a hardware failure or software glitch? True Image is my #1 choice in backup tools. Whether you choose file or image based backups (you should use both!) True Image will perform better than any other application I've used. Disk images created with True Image are generally 10-20% smaller than those from comparable programs. If your time and files are as important to you as mine are to me this is a must have.
Acronis Disk Director - My favorite tool to partition, format, and resize hard drives.
Roboform - This program is the next best thing since sliced bread in my book! This program integrates into Internet Explorer and firefox. It generates very secure passwords at the click of a button. How do I remember these complex passwords? Roboform allows you to save passwords and personal data in an encrypted format. A master password (yes only one password to remember!) allows access. Roboform in IE and FireFox works like a super powered bookmark. You click the site you want to go to and Roboform opens the site, enters your username and password for the site (if required) and as if by magic clicks the submit button. If you shop online Roboform can enter your personal information and credit card information, which is also stored in a secure encrypted file, in one click. A real time saver with great security thrown in to boot! 30 day trial.
WinRar - What is commonly called a zip utility, similar to the more widely known WinZip. WinRar is faster and works with more formats for about 1/2 the price of WinZip. 30 day trial.
Desktop Utility Software
LogonStudio - Change the screen that appears when you boot Windows (the one with the moving bar graph). Hundreds of free skins available online. It's free.
Cursor XP Plus - Change the cursors on your computer. Hundreds of cursor packs are available online for free.
Icon Packager - Change the icons on your computer. Icon Packager puts you in control to change every icon with the click of a button. Tired of the plain icons built into Windows? There are hundreds of Icon Packs available online for free, which will add a truly personal feel to your computer.
WindowBlinds 6 - This is the icing on the proverbial cake. WindowBlinds changes the look and feel of Windows. By changing the appearance of the task bar, start menu, and any other window or program you open. It adds transparency, shadows, alpha blending, and animations. Hundreds of themes are available online for free.
Internet and Email
1&1 hosting - If you want to start your own website, blog, photo gallery, or have a personalized email address then 1&1 is for you. 1&1 can not be beat for reliability, features, support, and price. 90 day guarantee.
Google Gmail - The best internet based email (webmail) available. Each mailbox has a 6.5GB limit. The interface is superb, and the spam filter is top notch. You will never need to delete an email again! It has a great search function and a feature called thread view, which makes finding emails easy. A webmail account offers several advantages including not being required to change your email address if you change service providers. Gmail requires an invitation from a current member. If you are interested shoot me an email and I'll send you an invite.
Microsoft Outlook 2007 - Outlook is the current email client of choice for corporate America. I get well over 200 emails a day. Outlook has a few features I really need such as a plug in for automatic backups, office sounds which offers me some audible feedback, and the ability to change headers. I've used Mozilla Thunderbird and liked it a lot. With the amount of mail I go through I really need the features of Outlook. If you aren't a heavy user, or don't need the features I do then Thunderbird is a great alternative.
- An amazing, free, web browser. If you aren't using it you should be! Highly customizable through addins called extensions. There are thousands of extensions which can allow FireFox to do just about anything you can imagine. More importantly, Firefox is not subject to ActiveX, which is a large part of Internet Explorer, AOL, and MSN. No ActiveX means much less chance of getting spyware! Firefox also conforms to web standards more closely than Internet Explorer, which means you will see what the authors intended, not Microsoft.
Mozilla Thunderbird - A great free email client, from the same folks that brought us FireFox. Easy to use and highly customizable through extensions.
Photo and Picture Software
Adobe Photoshop Elements - Photoshop Elements is a consumer version of Adobe Photoshop. If you are serious about digital photos you will find Photoshop Elements a great program to have at your disposal. Elements provides all the functionality most will need at 1/6th the price.
Picasa - A great (FREE) way to organize, edit, and share your digital photos.
#7- Who is Julie Amero?
By David S. Hartsock
If you've been reading my newsletters for some time you may remember my recent anti-spyware tests. Often spyware and malware infections are thought of as annoyances or time consuming pains. Sometimes as avenues for identity theft.
Have you ever given thought to losing your job because you are infected? How many of you think you've committed a crime by being infected? Can you be arrested because you are infected with spyware or malware? YES! It's happened. It will happen again.
Both of these horrible results happened, unjustly, to Julie Amero. Julie was a substitute teacher from Norwich, CT. The basic story is Julie, a computer illiterate person, did not have a network account at the school. When she arrived for word a teacher logged onto the computer in the classroom and instructed Julie NOT to turn it off. Two students used the computer, while Julie was out of the room, and visited a site that installed spyware. Julie returned to find a computer monitor populated with porn popups. She attempted to correct the problem, but did not know enough to fix the problem and couldn't get any help from the teachers in the lounge.
A school system with poor administration. A police department with poor computer crimes investigation. A Prosecutor's office with some weird agenda. 1+1+1=Conviction, 40 years in prison, and convicted sex offender when released.
That's the very short version. Here are links to the full story and details (which you should read):
Nancy Willard, a nationally recognized authority on internet use in schools, has written about this subject in this pdf download - 105KB.
Herb Horner, a highly regarded computer forensics examiner, has examined the hard drive of the computer involved in this case. His report is available here.
Mark Rasch, former head of the Justice Department's computer crime unit, has an excellent article about this matter here.
The point to take away from this is: Take spyware warnings to heart. Don't be lax in your protection and prevention. Monitor your children's internet activity.
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#8- The lighter side
After spending countless hours surfing the web in search of various funny or interesting things to share with you here are a few of my finds to lighten your day! I go through a lot to please my readers!
Sharpshooter's Miniature Golf - 3.18MB - A free, fun, and very addicting game of miniature golf! Clif from FreeWareWiki turned me on to this one.
This video will make you laugh and pull at your heart strings! The beginning is a tab slow, but it's worth it! - Thanks Larry.
Pipe Dream - This is computer animation at it's best! Very entertaining! - Thanks Larry
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#9- A few website's you may find useful
Hardware Logic - This site is a great place to find information on computer hardware.
QuestGems - Don has got a some very good stuff here. Check out his list of resources.
DomDeDomDom - Dominick's site covers various topics and has some great air show pics.
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