** Issue #26 September 1st, 2007 **
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Contents
Contents In This Issue...
#1 - Noobies Nook - Information for those who are new to computers and computing.
#2 - Problems in Paradise - Answers to reader problems and questions.
#3 - Windows Genuine Advantage Servers Down - Thousands affected by server outage.
#4 - Special Prizes - No Response - Readers are missing out by not responding!
#5 - Using Styles and Templates to Manage Formatting - Part 2 - Carol tells us how to do it in Word and OpenOffice Writer.
#6 - My Recommended Software - Need software? Check this list first!
#7 - Useful Freeware - Useful programs that you may find useful. Did I mention they're free!
#8 - Useful web sites - Websites I've visited lately that you may find useful.
#9 - The Lighter Side - Some humor to lighten your load!
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Carol is our resident "Office Goddess". If you have Microsoft Office, OpenOffice questions, or suggestions for future Office articles shoot her an email at .
Thank you for taking a few moments to read my newsletter,
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#1 - Noobies Nook
By David Hartsock
Here it is! You asked for it - you got it. I'll cover a very simple explanation of something computer related in each issue. This should help those who are new to the computer world understand things a little better. I'll try to watch my use of technical terms and descriptions. I'll keep it as simple as I possibly can.
Cookies
Chocolate chip, sugar, oatmeal, or Girl Scout? Nope, not that kind. Amazing that I knew what you are thinking! Hey, might as well go into the kitchen and eat one or two. It will help you concentrate.
Cookies refer to a small text files that are stored on your computer by your browser. Data is sent my a website to your browser, which saves the information as a text file. Cookies were invented in 1994 to make browsing the internet more convenient for users by allowing websites to store information on your computer. The information that is stored allows a website to do a few things such as:
- Remember the last time you visited.
- Remember whether you have logged in or not on a secure site like Carol's.
- Remember what you have added to your cart when shopping on sites like Amazon.
- Remember your personal preferences for the website.
- Track users through various websites.
- Track visitors for statistics and demographics.
There are very few sites that do not use cookies. Very simple sites have no need, but for those that do it works something like this. You visit www.somesite.com. Your web browser contacts the site, basically saying "hello". The website checks to see if it has previously stored a cookie on your computer. If there is a cookie it knows you aren't visiting for the first time and uses the cookie information for the purpose of which it was created. This may be anything from setting the background color you chose during a previous visit or logging you into an internet forum. If there is no cookie the site knows you are a new visitor.
Seems pretty simple, doesn't it? Well it is a bit more complicated than that, but you get the idea.
Are they spying on me?
Not really. Websites are often made up of content from other sources. Advertising is a great example of this. Site owners often advertise for products from large companies. These ads are usually managed by a third party, often times referred to as affiliate networks. These ads are stored on the affiliate network and display on the page you are visiting. Because of this your web browser is not only contacting the original site, but also the site of the affiliate network. This allows the affiliate network to also store cookies on your computer. These cookies, from affiliate networks, are called Third Party Cookies. They allow the affiliate network to know what website you were visiting when you saw the ad, and if you buy a product to properly credit the site.
Because the affiliate network may be displaying ads on thousands of websites people fear these Third Party Cookies. The reason behind this is the affiliate network can see that you last saw their ad on a site about video games and before that saw it on a site about computers. The fear mongers feel that this allows affiliate networks to track you as you go from site to site. This is somewhat true, but what does the affiliate network actually find out about you? They know the IP address of your computer, which can only identify who you receive your internet access from. They know you were at a site about video games and at what time. They know you were at a site about computers and what time. Due to this ability many people believe these Third Party Cookies are evil, which they aren't.
This does provide them with some marketing information, but in no way identifies you. They don't have your name, your address, your birthday, your SSN, or your credit card number. They just know that someone who visited a video game site also visited a computer site and can hazard a guess that people who like video games also like computers, which may help them make a marketing decision later on. Big chain stores such as Walmart do similar "tracking". They may compare purchases and know that more people buy foot cream and donuts than those that buy foot cream and cat food.
Because of this fear of evil cookies spyware software companies often scan for third party cookies and report them as spyware. This makes an uninformed user feel more secure knowing they have removed spyware from their computer.
The Facts!
- Cookies are generally safe.
- Cookies contain only text.
- Cookies are not programs and can do nothing to your computer.
- Cookies can only be read by the site that created them.
- Cookies can only contain information you or your browser provide.
- Third Party Cookies may provide usage and demographic information.
- Disabling Cookies may result on in loss of site preferences, login information, and online shopping.
- Disabling Third Party Cookies may result in someone not getting paid if you act on an advertisement.
There you have it. Nothing much to worry about! Cookies are a beneficial and necessary part of the internet. Disabling or deleting cookies can have adverse affects on your ability and enjoyment of the internet.
Making your cookies crumble
Even with the above explanation some will not believe me. For the naysayers who still believe cookies are dangerous search Google. If you feel you need to control cookies you will find the instructions for Internet Explorer 7 and Firefox below.
Manage Cookies in Internet Explorer 7
Open Internet Explorer and click Tools>Internet Options.
When the Internet Options window opens click the Privacy tab and then click Advanced.
This, in turn, will open the Advanced Privacy Settings window. Clicking the Override automatic cookie handling checkbox will allow you to change which type of cookies to allow or deny.
Manage Cookies in Firefox
Open Firefox and click Tools>Options.
This will open the Firefox Options window. Click on the Privacy button at the top. You will see the cookie options about halfway down the page. Firefox allows different options than IE7. You can choose to not accept cookies at all by un checking the checkbox. You can also choose how long to keep the cookies by changing the drop down menu titled Keep Until.
Clicking the Exceptions button will show you the Exceptions - Cookies window. You'll notice that Firefox blocks most Third Party Cookies by default.
You'll notice that Firefox also allows you to easily set permissions and edit settings. Want to block a site's cookies? Enter the address and click Block. Have a specific site that Firefox blocks, but you want to allow? Enter the address and click Allow. See a site listed that you don't want blocked? Click the address in the box to highlight it and click Remove Site.
Closing the Exceptions-Cookies window using the Close button in the lower left will return you to the Firefox Options window. Let's see what a cookie actually looks like. Clicking Show Cookies will open Firefox's Cookie explorer.
This is an actual cookie generated by Daves Computer Tips. It shows that I visited the site by following a link at the blogowogo.com site.
There you have it. The low down information on cookies for those who are new to the computer world!
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#2 - Problems in Paradise
By David Hartsock
You asked for it - you got it #2. Beginning with this issue I'll take select reader questions, "Problems in Paradise", and find a solution. Obviously I don't know the answer to every problem, but I'll take a stab at it (grin).
If you would like to see your question or problem answered here email me at
Caps Lock Problem
Pete's problem is a common one. The caps lock button, which causes everything you type to be in capital letters, is often pressed by accident. The results aren't life threatening, but having to retype a sentence or two can really tick me off. Pete had looked all over the internet for a way to warn him when he had pressed the Caps Lock key.
It turns out that the answer is right inside Windows! Windows has a feature called "Toggle Keys". When the toggle keys feature is enabled your computer emits a beep when the caps lock or num lock keys are pressed, and a different beep when they are pressed a second time to turn them off. It's a feature I enable on all of my computers.
Turn on Toggle Keys in Windows Vista
Open Control Panel in classic view and double click on Ease of Access Center, which opens the window below.
Click "Make the keyboard easier to use", which opens the window below.
Halfway down you will see a checkbox and Turn on Toggle Keys. Click the checkbox to place a check and hit apply. Now each time you hit the caps lock or num lock keys you will hear a beep.
Turn on Toggle Keys in Windows XP
Click the Start Button>Control Panel>Accessibility Options, which will open the window below.
Place a checkmark in the box labeled "Use Toggle Keys" by clicking the box with your mouse. Click OK to close the window.
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#3 - Microsoft WGA Servers Down
By David Hartsock
Last Friday Microsoft's Windows Genuine Advantage, sometimes called Windows Genuine Spyware, servers were down. As a result thousands of XP and Vista computers were deactivated when users downloaded updates, either manually or through auto update. The problem did not present itself until the computer was rebooted. Obviously not what you want to happen to legal software that you paid good money for. Imagine giving a Power Point presentation to a multi-million dollar client and getting pop-ups on the projector stating your copy of Windows isn't legal, or having Windows go into a reduced functionality mode and not being able to give the presentation at all! Not good!
Did I mention that this also happened in October of 2006? When will Microsoft learn that it's not a good idea to treat every customer like a criminal?
The servers are back up and functioning as expected. Alex Kochis of the Windows Genuine Advantage team had this to say about the incident:
- "Two key things happened. First, activations and validations were both affected when preproduction code was accidentally sent to production servers. Second, while the issue affecting activations was fixed in less than thirty minutes (by rolling back the changes) the effect of the preproduction code on our validation service continued after the rollback took place."
- "Nothing more than human error started it all. Pre-production code was sent to production servers. The production servers had not yet been upgraded with a recent change to enable stronger encryption/decryption of product keys during the activation and validation processes. The result of this is that the production servers declined activation and validation requests that should have passed."
You can read the entire explanation on the Windows Genuine Advantage blog. Wake up Microsoft. This draconian practice has got to stop!
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#4 - Special Prizes - No Response
By David Hartsock
In celebration of Daves Computer Tips 1st Anniversary I solicited the software companies that I recommend to readers. I asked them to provide free software for newsletter readers, and many kindly offered. A very special Thank You from me to Kaspersky Lab, Sunbelt Software, Acronis, and RarLabs!
The problem is I've had to send out over 25 emails and only 4 people have responded to claim their prize. This requires me to allow those that didn't reply significant time to do so, and when they don't I have to choose another random subscriber and start the process again. Hence, two weeks and only 4 winners.
Today and tomorrow I will send out emails for the remaining software. Please be on the lookout and respond as promptly as possible. I would LOVE to announce all of the winners in the next issue!
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#5 - Using Styles and Templates - Part 2
by Carol A. Bratt
Hello everyone. It's that time of year again - all the kids are back in school and all the parents and spending money for school supplies.
One good note is that if you have kids going off to college, you don't have to spend a ton of money for Office software. Oh, to be sure, Microsoft Office is a great suite of applications, but so is OpenOffice and it is absolutely FREE.
So, lets get on with the article showing you how to use it once again! And those of you that expressed a desire for meatier topics in OpenOffice, please be patient. We will all get there eventually, but first we have to learn the basics, myself included!
Styles and Templates in MS Word Continued
As you can see from my last article, styles and templates are inextricably related. Many of the style you use are stored in templates and so managing styles comes right back down to managing the templates that contain them.
Where Does Word Store Templates?
When you save a new template, Word will attempt to save it in your User templates folder. You will find that in the File Locations tab of the Options dialog box. Unless you specifically change the location on the File Locations tab, custom templates you create are stored in a standard location within your personal documents folder. You can open this folder directly by typing %appdata%\Microsoft\Templates in the Run box on the Start menu or in the Address bar of Windows Explorer.
To create a new tab for the Templates dialog box and place your template on that tab:
- Click on File | Save As.
- Select Document Template from the Save As Type list.
- Click on the Create New Folder icon.
- Give the new folder the name you want to appear on the new tab.
- Click on Save.
You can follow the same steps if you would like to add a custom template to one of the existing, predefined tabs on the Templates dialog box.
Templates that are stored in the Startup folder are automatically loaded by Word when it starts. If you have any VBA macros that you want to be available every time you run Word, they would be placed in templates located in the Startup folder.
When you open a template instead of creating a new document based on a template, you can modify it in exactly the same ways you would as if changing a document. You can add text, pictures, macros, etc. However, any text that you place in the document itself is considered to be boilerplate and it is copied into any new documents that you created based on that template. If, however, you attach a template to an existing document, saved items in that template are available, but the boilerplate text is ignored.
Word has a tool called the Organizer that allows you to copy styles, toolbars, and macro projects between documents and templates. The Organizer also allows you to copy AutoText entries although they can only move from template to template.
To use the Organizer, follow the steps below:
- Click on Tools | Templates and Add-ins.
- Click the Organizer button.
- Make sure the from and to files are referenced in the Styles Available In boxes.
- If you have the wrong files, click Close File, then Open File and select the correct ones.
- Select Styles, AutoText, Toolbars, or Macro Project Items, depending on which setting you wish to manipulate.
- Select the individual items and click Copy, Delete or Rename.
As in last week's article, I could go on, but there is a holiday weekend looming and so I think I need to do something a little more relaxing don't you think? Right! More next time!
More in OpenOffice
Templates are models that you use to create other documents. You can create a template for the letterhead for your company that has the company's logo on the first page. New document created from this template will all have the company logo on the first page.
Templates can have anything that a regular template can, such as tex, graphics, styles, toolbar and menu customization, etc.
All documents in OpenOffice, as in MS Word, are based on templates. If you do not specify a template when you begin a new document, the document will be based on the default template to all text documents. If you have not specified a default template, Writer will use the blank template for text documents.
To use a template to create a document in OpenOffice Writer, follow the steps below:
- Click on File | New | Templates and Documents.
- In the box on the left, click the Templates icon if it is not already selected.
A list of template folders will appear in the center area.
- Double-click the folder that contains the template that you would like to use.
A list of all the templates contained in that folder appear in the center area.
- Click the template that you want.
You can preview the selected template and view its properties. Follow the steps below to do so:
- To preview the template, click the Preview icon.
- To view the template's properties, click the Document Properties icon.
- Click Open.
The Templates and Documents dialog closes and a new document based on the selected template opens in Writer. You can then edit and save the new document as you would any other document.
To create a template from a document follow the steps below:
- Open a new or existing document that you would like to be a template.
- Add the content and styles that you wish.
- Click on File | Templates | Save.
The Templates dialog box opens.
- In the New Template field, type a name for your template.
- In the Categories list box, click the category to which you want to assign the template.
The category is the template folder in which you want to save the template.
- Click OK.
Writer then saves the new template and the Templates dialog box closes.
Any settings that can be added to or modified in a document can be saved in a template.
You can use wizards to create some types of Writer templates, such as:
- Letter
- Fax
- Agenda
To create a template using a wizard, follow the steps below:
- Click on File | Wizards | and the template you wish.
- Follow the instructions in the Wizard. They may be a bit different depending on which type of template you are creating, but the format is very similar for all of them.
- In the last section of the Wizard, you can designate the name and location where you save the template.
Believe it or not, there is more to this subject in both MS Word and OpenOffice Writer but we will cover it in a future article.
I hope you all have a great holiday! Give me a shout if you have any questions! Until next time...
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
Please take a moment and comment on Carol's article in the box below!
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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.
Ashampoo Burning Studio - My current pick for a low resource, easy to use CD/DVD burning application. Easier to use than Nero or Roxio, with a low memory footprint and much smaller installation requirement.
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.
Please take a moment and comment on this software in the box below!
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#7 - Useful Freeware
Tweak Genie - a free program for Windows XP and 2000 that allows you to easily change hidden settings without editing the registry. Look for the FreeWare download 2/3rds of the way down the page.
VistaTweaker - from ajua is a nice program that allows you to easily change hidden settings in Vista without editing the registry.
Rockbox - if you have an iPod or other hard drive based mp3 player you should really check this out. This software adds a ton of features to your player.
Please take a moment and comment on this software in the box below!
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#8 - Useful websites
Temerc Internet Countermeasures - Tom Mercado's website is a treasure trove of spyware and malware help. Tom is a Microsoft Security MVP and helps users clean infections for free. As a user you will spend less time waiting for help from Tom. Tom has also written a few columns here at Daves Computer Tips!
Yelp.com - Yelp is a new site that provides reviews by readers. The cool thing is it's broken down by city. Doctors, restaurants, almost anything. As the site becomes more popular that will become very valuable! Stop by and have a look.
InterfaceLIFT - This site is a great find for desktop wallpaper and icons. The free wallpaper on this site is amazing!
Please take a moment and comment on these websites in the box below!
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#9 - The Lighter Side
I spend countless hours searching the internet to bring a little laughter to my readers!
Franks Cubicle - Frank works in a cubicle. Frank has lots of USB toys. Stop by and you can play with his toys!
Port a-Potty #1 - Hilarious! Things are not always what they seem!
Port a-Potty #2 - May be offensive to some, but very funny! You've got to wonder what's going through the "victims" mind!
Feed the Cat - Another addictive flash game!
Please take a moment and add your comments about these in the box below!
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