Every so often I receive an e-mail from a reader scolding me for using too many computer technical terms. The implication is my computer speak prevents readers from benefiting from my pearls of wisdom.

If an e-mailer includes a reference to his age be it septuagenarian or octogenarian, I usually ignore the e-mail as I can almost guarantee it's from a whiner who uses age as an excuse for an unwillingness to invest the personal effort it takes to become computer literate.

Believe me, senior citizenship in no way is a negative when it's associated with ones ability to become computer literate. How do I know? I've been a senior citizen for a long as I can remember.

It may take a bit longer for those in their Golden Years to master the "Beast that sit on their Desktop" as they must first locate their Power Button and overcome being keyboard challenged. But if they persevere and are willing to make the effort to learn the language, success is only a Boot or two away.

However, even an e-mail from a lazy learner has merit as it's a reminder that perhaps it's an appropriate time for me to suggest once again a couple of ways to assist new Good Booters in their quest to become computer literate.

• Get involved in a significant computer activity.

The definition of a significant computer activity is one you consider so worthwhile mastering when it challenges you you'll persevere. Perhaps it's a greeting card or genealogy program the end product being something you'll be proud to send or will impress the gallery. Or maybe it's a data base or spreadsheet program that contains important information. Information that must be accurate to be useful.

Keep in mind 3rd party software programs don't add computing features. They only access features Windows provides to them. Although a program's menu terminology for a Windows feature may vary, the Windows feature is universal. Copying and Pasting text or graphics from a Web page to a Word document is no different than Copying and Pasting text from one e-mail to another or to a data base or spreadsheet.

I guarantee with a bit of perseverance, one by one you'll learn those features of Windows that will allow you to 'go anywhere and do anything'.

Here's wishing you a Good Boot  [index]

Your response to my first Beleaguered Novice Anonymous Windows seminar was so enthusiastic, I’ve decided not only to continue the Windows seminars, but to add a second monthly seminar dedicated to all Good Booters wandering the streets of Southwest Florida with a lamp in hand seeking someone, anyone, who can help them make sense out of XP. Probably as Diogenes would have done had he been an XP Beleaguered Novice.

And for all those snowbirds who are lamenting because all too soon they’ll be leaving the land of palm trees and computer wisdom and they’ll miss out on my pearls of wisdom and — most important, the free seminar support CDs I’ll be offering at all future seminars — I’ll have tidings of comfort and joy. So it’s best all snowbirds attend at least one seminar before departing the area.

• On March 13, promptly at 9:30 a.m., I'll begin my mini seminar. This month I’ll demonstrate how to import photographs and graphics into documents and e-mail. If they need resizing after they’re imported, I’ll demonstrate that too. For those who may have received photos too large to view and/or print, I’ll demonstrate how you can get a ‘“handle” on your photos. And finally I’ll demonstrate how to expeditiously attach photos to your Outlook Express and yes, even AOL e-mail.

And I guarantee the supporting CD you’ll receive will be coveted by your friends, relatives and even your “son the computer genius.”

• On March 20, promptly at 9:30 a.m., I’ll begin my first XP mini-seminar.

I’ll begin at the beginning by helping you understand what happens from the time you press your computer’s power button until ‘hopefully’ you arrive at your Desktop. Then I’ll demonstrate ways to personalize your Desktop and, most important, how to ensure your XP is safe from the bad guys.

And of course you, too, will receive a supporting CD. One so special I dare not tell you what it is. For if I did, it would attract an attendance only TECO Arena could accommodate.

Obviously the March 20 seminar is for XP novices. But I suggest XP novices also consider the March 13 Windows seminar as my general Windows seminars will always be dedicated to explaining and demonstrating a universal Windows feature. One appropriate for all Windows users and one a novice can go home and without further ado put to practical use.

There’s no need to register, just arrive. The cost is only $10 per person, which goes as a donation to LMHS SHARE club.

For seminars’ location, additional information on all SWFPCUG and Chapter meetings and seminars go to: www.swfpcug.org.

Here's wishing you a Good Boot.  [index]

Most proprietary e-mail programs such as AOL offer a backup feature that’s nothing more than an opportunity to print your address book. Microsoft, on the other hand, has made a concerted effort to secure your Address Book and Favorites by providing Outlook Express Address Book and Internet Explorer Favorites Import/Export utilities. And to their credit, they’re now offering an excellent Outlook backup download.

But all of these opportunities presuppose you’ll remember to back up every time you add an address, favorite or receive an important e-mail (perhaps with an equally important attachment).

By now, most Good Booters should know how even the most novice user can expeditiously perform a daily backup by copying and pasting the content of their My Documents to include all their irreplaceable “Stuff” to a CD-RW. So if you’re one of these enlightened Good Booters, why not let your daily backup session be a reminder to back up to your My Documents your Favorites, important e-mail and Address Book.

First I suggest you create a My Documents subfolder “My E-mail and Favorites” by clicking on My Documents and “Make a New Folder.” This should become the destination folder for placing your Outlook Express Address Book (File > Export > Address Book) and Internet Explorer Favorites (File > Import Export).

When you receive an attachment other than a photo via any e-mail carrier, save it to your “E-mail and Favorites” folder. Photos should be saved in My Pictures.

If the content of an e-mail is important, copy and paste the content to a word processing document, e.g. Word, WordPerfect or WordPad, and save it in your new “E-mail and Favorites” folder.

I recommend you AOL folks log on as you normally would and then minimize your AOL. Now, rather than accessing the Internet via AOL, access the Internet by clicking on the Internet Explorer shortcut (the Blue E) on your desktop. By doing so you'll be able to save your Internet favorites like the rest of us and then be able to export them to your “E-mail and Favorites” folder using IE's Import/Export Wizard.

Now when you back up your My Documents to a CD-RW, you'll be including the content of your important e-mail (copied and pasted to a document), attachments and your Outlook Express Address Book and Internet Favorites — both of which can be restored by their respective import utility. Not perfect, but certainly a viable alternative to a third party backup program.

My apologies for not indicating in last week’s Good Boot that my seminars are at Lee Memorial Hospital Auditorium (Cleveland Avenue).

Here’s wishing you a Good Boot.   [index]

Last Week's Good Boot generated an extraordinary number of e-mails requesting additional information on backing up. Unfortunately to adequately cover the subject it must be demonstrated. By the way, I'll be doing just that in my April Beleaguered Novice Anonymous Windows and XP seminars.

I will, however, address the most frequently asked questions.

To those who chastised me for not mentioning that backing up America Online's Organization or Backup Folder to My Documents and then to a CD will save all ones AOL stuff, know there was a reason. I've received all too many woeful accounts of failure when Good Booters tried to copy back these folders. Perhaps I was remiss in not encouraging AOLies to at least give it a try.

I also appreciate those who took the time to e-mail me asking why I didn't mention my personal recommendations for backup programs. The reason was it wasn't my intention to recommend third-party backup programs. Rather, it was to encourage Good Booters to expeditiously begin a disciplined backup regimen that wouldn't require them to find, purchase and learn a third-party program. Or, if nothing else, a regimen they might remember if they unexpectedly did receive irreplaceable stuff.

How could one unexpectedly be the recipient of irreplaceable stuff? An example: Recently a Good Boot grandmother called me in a panic. Her children and grandchildren had just left after a visit that included trips to many Southwest Florida vacation attractions. All were chronicled with, as she put it, wonderful togetherness photos of the family.

Fortunately for grandma, her family downloaded the photos to her new computer before leaving for home. Unfortunately, after previewing the photos, grandma realized she had the only copies of these wonderful family mementos. For the first time, she had irreplaceable stuff on her computer without any inkling on how back it up.

This vignette had a happy ending. I was able to talk her through a backup. And it does have a moral—you may not have any significant stuff on your computer today, but always be prepared should you receive irreplaceable stuff tomorrow.

And finally for those who did request my recommendations for user-friendly, inexpensive third-party backup software, I suggest you consider:

• To Backup Outlook Express: Express Assist 7 (www.ajsystems.com)

• To Backup Outlook (all versions): Outback Plus (www.ajsystems.com)

• To backup files to any other location on or off your computer: Second Copy  (www.centered.com).

Happiness is a CD with a recent backup of all your irreplaceable stuff.

Here's wishing you a Good Boot.  [index]

These are Winchell’s Good Boot remedies for computer infections and technical malpractice.

Infection: Viruses transmitted via e-mail attachments.

Remedy: Keep your Norton antivirus up to date and never open an e-mail attachment (or for AOL users, never download an e-mail attachment) unless you can answer ‘yes’ to all four of these questions:

1. Do I know who the attachment is from?

2. Do I know what the attachment is?

3. Do I know what the attachment does?

4. Did the sender create the attachment?

If an attachment is part of a forwarded e-mail message the answer to question four is ‘no.’

Infection: Viruses e.g. Blaster, transmitted via the Internet.

Remedy: Ensure your Windows Critical Updates are current and your XP Firewall is enabled.

Once only a problem for cable and DSL XP users, these viruses must now be considered a concern for XP dial-up users. A consensus of opinion among our consulting technicians is in addition to those who access the Internet via Comcast, Roadrunner and DSL, those who access the Internet via a dial-up ISP (Earthlink, Cyberstreet, etc.) should also activate XP’s Firewall.

There’s also a consensus of opinion that Zone Alarm’s Firewall may protect XP users accessing the Internet via AOL, Juno, Compuserve, etc. against Blaster type viruses. Go to: www.zonelabs.com. There’s a free Zone Alarm download.

Although to date Blaster-type viruses focus on XP, those with other versions of Windows might consider downloading Zone Alarm just in case the bad guys become equal opportunity villains.

Infection: Potential bad stuff that can happen when you respond to an unsolicited e-mail suggesting you should be aware of a critical update or fix and suggests you take a specific action or access a particular Web site.

Remedy: Never respond directly to an e-mail notification of a critical update or fix or go to a Web site suggested in an e-mail announcing a critical update or fix without first getting advice from a qualified technician or by contacting the alleged source by a means other than an e-mail response or a Web site link.

Be aware Microsoft doesn’t announce its critical updates via e-mail. And the recent alert from Comcast suggesting you click on an Internet link is fictitious.

Here’s wishing you a Good Boot.   [index]

The glad news is my first three Good Boot Beleaguered Novice Anonymous seminars attracted more than 600 attendees. The sad news is the number of snowbird Good Booters who’ll be unable to attended my April seminars.

I’ll miss you all and sincerely wish you a safe trip north and a wonderful summer. Please keep in touch. If you’ve a free moment, why not access www.news-press.com and check on all that’s happening in Southwest Florida. Perhaps even read my most current Good Boot. If nothing else, you’ll be able to chuckle over our hot, muggy weather as you light another log in your fireplace.

Those snowbirds who provided their summer addresses at the seminars so as not to miss any of my complimentary seminar CDs, please keep an eye out for the Good Boot newsletter announcement you’ll receive each month. When you receive the announcement go to www.swfpcug.org and click on “Beleaguered Novice Anonymous Snowbirds.” You’ll be able to automatically send an e-mail requesting that month’s complimentary seminar CD. There’s absolutely no cost or obligation.

But life must go on here, so best I announce my April Beleaguered Novice Anonymous seminars.

Both seminars will cover how to find, relocate (if necessary) and safely back up your irreplaceable stuff without having to be an experienced user or invest in third-party backup software.

In response to those who’ve asked, the difference between the Windows and XP seminars know that, although the seminar subject may be the same, at the Windows seminars I cover the subject in a way that’s appropriate for all versions of Windows to include XP. The Windows seminar CD is also appropriate for all versions of Windows. At the XP seminar, I concentrate on techniques specific to XP and the CD may only be appropriate for XP.

Be assured, however, both my Windows and XP seminars are 100 percent novice friendly. And because I’m not a qualified technician, I’ll always have one of our consulting technicians available.

Those who would like to bring a complete audit of their computer in case they’ve a technical question, go to www.belarc.com and download the free Belarc PC audit program. Print it and bring it. In fact, I suggest all Good Booters investigate this program.

Here’s wishing you a Good Boot.  [index]

Most Good Booters know my technicians have traditionally discouraged me from ever entertaining the thought of discovering what’s under the cover of my computer. In fact, to keep me honest, they apply sealing wax over the screws holding my CPU cover in place. Their concern for the well being of my computer isn’t without merit as they know my lack of patience has always called into question my ability to “use my thinker before I tinker.”

However, my one and only New Year’s resolution was that in 2004 I would make an effort to discover what’s under the cover of a computer. How? By constructing a state of the art computer from scratch. What’s more, I decided if I discovered something of benefit to aspiring Good Boot computer architects, I’d mention it. Well, I have so I will.

What I discovered was, if you’re planning on purchasing hardware and aren’t absolutely sure of what you want or need — best you find a retailer who specializes in computer hardware. A retailer who is also a professional technician willing to provide advise, iron clad warranties and a fair return and exchange policy.

I’m not implying if you definitely know what you want you should ignore local retailers who offer but do not specialize in computer hardware and peripherals. In fact, often they offer the best prices on a specific item. And to tell you the truth, I was pleasantly surprised to discover most of the Southwest Florida retailers I shopped who stocked but did not specialize in a wide variety of computer hardware courteously responded to my needs by suggesting I find a dedicated computer hardware dealer.

But how does one find a reputable dealer specializing in computer hardware? I was lucky. My technician suggested I shop his supplier. And, believe me, it was good advice.

For example, I was advised although I was prepared to purchase the most costly state of the art motherboard available, it was not a legacy peripheral-friendly motherboard. And everyone knows I’ve got a room full of legacy peripherals. So I had to settle on an almost state of the art motherboard. And when I questioned the need for a 3.5 inch floppy disk drive, I was advised that now there is a media drive that consolidates all the different memory card standards into one unit which includes a 3.5 inch floppy disk drive.

I may not have a state of the art motherboard but at least my floppy drive is state of the art!

I’ll keep you posted on my future computer construction adventures.

Here’s wishing you a Good Boot.  [index]

I’m seeking a sympathetic Good Booter. One prepared to offer a kind word and humane treatment when it becomes known throughout Southwest Florida that I, the little engine who thought it could — couldn’t.

For it came to pass when I decided to begin my white box computer construction adventure, it took but one look at the motherboard with its plethora of thingamajigs and doohickies to realize it’s best I use my thinker before I tinker and dial 911 for my technician.

And by doing so ended my resolve to walk tall among those who’ve built their own white box computers.

However, there’s a happy ending to my humbling experience, for I did discover:

• A white box computer can be a viable alternative to purchasing a brand name computer.

• By buying hardware locally from a reputable dealer and having it assembled by a qualified technician, not only can one cherry pick the hardware one wants, but he or she will probably experience a significant savings over what a national brand computer with comparable components would cost.

• By reinvesting the savings one can purchase more power and/or additional peripherals.

• There’s absolutely no substitute for the advice a local reputable hardware dealer can provide.

• Local tech support and warrantee assurances are priceless!

Like all our consulting technicians, I’ve traditionally shied away from recommending white box computers. That’s an attitude acquired over the years from hearing horror stories concerning those assembled and sold by unqualified technicians. But I’m now convinced white box computers can be a viable alternative to national brand computers if the advice you receive on what hardware to purchase is combined with the advice of a reputable dealer and a qualified technician.

For example, I discovered I could significantly increase the speed of my computer even after installing the fastest legacy peripheral friendly motherboard and processor available by installing a 10,000 RPM hard drive. And who would deny having a floppy drive I’ll probably never use that consolidates all the different memory cards standards into one unit is not exciting?

If you’re interested in a particular hardware item or how to get started in your search for expert advice, you are welcome to e-mail me.

Here’s wishing you a Good Boot.   [index]