I want to thank all those who ended my July computer d Internet seminar at the North Fort Myers Library. We had a full house. This month, at 2 p.m., Aug. 21, I will be returning to the east county (Lehigh) library for a similar seminar. These seminars are for self conscious novices. If you are shy about joining a computer club, this seminar is for you.

By the time you read this article we will have had our second Cape Coral Chapter meeting. But I do want to thank all who made our first meeting so successful. Over 100 Beleaguered Novices packed Cape Coral Hospital's new cafe to meet our Technical Troika: Dwayne Alton (manager communications and technology, Lee County School System); Dave Keller (The News-Press Best Of - Computer Services) and Bill Sklodowski (aka Bill Stevens of WOLZ-Oldies 95.3, The News-Press Best Of - Morning Drive Team). All are computer technicians and entertainers of great repute.

Meetings are at 5 p.m. the third Wednesday of every month.

Now, for the best news you will read in The News-Press this August. Folks, there will be rejoicing in North Fort Myers. We have found a home - Del Tura Country Club. The Southwest Florida PC Users Group chapter caravan will arrive at 6 p.m., Aug. 22, to make North Fort Myers "safe for computing."

But, perhaps, the most popular part of all our meetings is our Q&A session. We dedicate as much time as necessary to allow every attendee a chance to ask a question.

Answering a question, however, is only half of what makes our Q&A so popular. The other half is the ability of our presenters to do so in plain English. In a way that ensures the novice is never intimidated.

Oh, and be assured that humor is always a part of these sessions. It helps make the medicine go down.

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

Never delete, move or rename any file you did not put on your system yourself with a Save or Save As command or receive as e-mail. This is David Keller's, aka Compu-Doctor, First Law of Safe Computing.

One of the great computer ironies is that the compulsion to delete "Stuff' has not diminished even though hard drive capacity has exceeded our wildest hopes and dreams. Why, may I ask, if one has a 40 gigabyte hard drive does he or she become obsessed with deleting files of kilobyte or even megabyte size?

And then, when asked what file they deleted, the answer is: I haven't the foggiest.

Now I know. Enlightened Good Booters understand why it is NOT necessary to delete Cookies and why it is counterproductive to delete Temporary Internet Files. But I do not think even enlightened Good Booters have been paying enough attention to Keller's First Law of Safe Computing.

I suggest unenlightened Good Booters read: "What, No Chocolate Chip Cookies" and "Storage Files Handy Tool for Web Surfers" .

If you are in doubt about deleting a file, for whatever reason, and you do not know what that file is or does, do this:

Flip a coin. If it comes up heads - do not delete it. If it comes up tails - do not delete it. If it stands on edge - keep the file.

And if you call technical support and they start making you prance around your computer, suggesting you delete, rename or move a file - shoot the messenger! Ask me where you can get advice with your problem. Besides providing assistance, I will be a character witness at your trial. Any computer knowledgeable judge or jury will acquit you on grounds of self defense.

If you must delete a program, click on Start, Settings, Control Panel, Add and Remove Programs. All the programs in the window pane are true Windows 95/98/Me programs. Windows will safely delete them for you (most of the time). Notice I say most of the time. Nothing in Windows is cast in bronze.

And during the deletion process. If you get a Window telling you that a file to be deleted might or might not be a Shared File - and asking you if want to delete it. Just Say No!  Unless you are positively sure there is absolutely no chance it is a shared file. They will be small files, safe to leave installed.

Never delete, move or rename any file you did not put on your system yourself with a Save or Save As command or receive as email.

Here's wishing you a Good Boot   [index]

One of the great features of Windows 98/Me is that, by default, it suggests you put all your "Stuff" in the Windows My Documents folder. Why? Because with Windows 95, so many found their "Stuff" disappeared like the legendary "other sock in the washing machine."

What's your "Stuff?" It's anything you command to be "Saved As" or "Saved" - something of value you created, or, perhaps, something important you received via e-mail or downloaded from the Internet.

What is unique about the My Documents folder?

It is a systems folder and cannot be deleted. Not only is it a convenient location to store your Stuff, but it is a safe place to locate or relocate your Stuff, as you can delete what is in it. However you cannot delete all of what is in it by an unintentional deletion of the folder.

Although your My Documents folder is a convenient and safe place on your hard drive to locate your valuables, you should not rely on it as your permanent safety deposit box. Your permanent safety deposit box should be a floppy disk, Iomega Zip or a CD-RW.

Why? Well, if you should lose your hard drive, your My Documents folder will go with it.

You probably are thinking: "Winchell, I am a beleaguered novice, but I am not stupid.  Of course I should move my valuable Stuff off my computer! So what else is new?"

How about this. You all should know by now that a full system backup (backing up everything on your computer) is a waste of time and effort for the average user. The reason is that if your hard drive goes south or Windows becomes so corrupted you must reinstall it.  Also, unless your full system backup includes every single change you have made to your system, it may not be current enough to be useful. If it is not, you will have to reinstall Windows and then all your programs.

So - you would have to reinstall Windows and all your programs anyhow. It follows that all you really need to back up is your My Documents folder with all your Stuff.

The Big Bang happens - you reinstall Windows, then your programs. And from your backup media, you copy back the contents of your My Document folder. How sweet it is! And, oh, so easy.

For those who may be confused or want additional information, know that at all of our September chapter meetings, there will be a presentation on backing-up and a demonstration of what a CD-R and CD-RW is and how to use them to back up all your Stuff.

Regional chapter meeting schedules are posted on our Web site at: www.swfpcug.org

At our September user group meeting at Lee Memorial Hospital Auditorium, Dwayne Alton, our digital guru, will present "Managing Your Digital Photographs."   [index]

Hey, I never claimed to write like Sam Cook, or be The News Press Poet Laureate.  But I am smart enough to listen to our User Group technical consultants.

What are they saying? That BEFORE you consider upgrading to Windows XP, be sure you know what you are doing and how to best do it.

With this in mind, our technical troika will be in attendance at our User Group and all our chapter meetings the month following the release of the retail version of XP.

Meeting times and places will be available on our Web site.

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

Last week's XP article generated a surprising number of e-mails, many asking these questions: What's so special about XP that I should consider technical advice before upgrading? Why are you discussing an Oct. 25 event in September?

Before I address your questions, let me generalize by saying that any significant Windows upgrade is focused more on being prepared for the future rather than enhancing the past.

This leads to my response to the first question.

XP certainly is spectacular! It goes a long way to being the Windows we have always wanted: a future without the instability of DOS. However it is not necessarily the Tiger Woods of Windows that many seem to expect. There is no indication that XP will make current hardware more efficient or sluggish software a world-class sprinter.

There could be compatibility issues with aging computers, scanners, printers, etc. I have been advised that Microsoft has done its best to make XP as compatible as possible with all computers, hardware and legacy software, but as with any significant Windows upgrade, assume nothing.

Many may recall that HP 4200C scanner users were confused when they discovered that after upgrading to Windows ME their scanner hardware was not recognized. Was it their fault? Did they miss something during the upgrade? Or, was it just a coincidence? Some novices, who did not consult a technician, sent their scanners for repair.

Perhaps the most significant unknown is how well XP will upgrade. Those of us who have been through all of the upgrades since Windows 95 know that the most fundamental upgrade issue has always been "Excess Baggage," the unwanted residual from the previous version carried forward during the installation to a new version.

It probably will come as no surprise to battle-hardened Windows upgrade veterans that our consulting technicians are warning that a simple upgrade rather than a complete new installation of XP could be a recipe for disaster. But novice users should take note.

My response to the second question is that XP will be installed on new computers sold this month. Enticing? Yes. A concern for novices? Most definitely. I would suggest novices wait until December or so to purchase a new computer with XP installed. Or, if you cannot wait until December, at least attend one of our November seminars before you do. They will be hosted by our consulting technicians throughout Lee County. They are free and open to the public.

And, please! If you must buy a computer now, do not buy one with ME and a chit to get a free XP upgrade when it is released!

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

When the general public fell in love with the PC, it also naively fell in love with its marketing philosophy - offering their latest state-of-the-art computers at a lower price than previous models and always without adversely affecting quality, customer support and commitment to their warranties.

Initially, volume and technical efficiencies supported this philosophy; however, because consumers became so accustomed to it, manufacturers felt compelled to continue catering to their expectations. But lately it has become apparent that, to satisfy this expectation and be profitable, the industry has initiated an insidious reduction in product quality. And an incredible disregard for meaningful and translatable customer support - particularly when dealing with unsuspecting novices.

David said: "Based on my service calls, I can no longer recommend to my clients many PCs and peripherals that for years I considered standards of the industry."

I was stunned at his list!

With the holiday "gimme" wish list season almost upon us. I prevailed on David to compile a list of the naughty and nice to be included in future Good Boots.

In the mean time, I suggest you consider using your credit card for all purchases to protect yourselves from mischievous elves. And, until you are satisfied with your purchase, make installment payments rather than a lump sum payoff. The security provided will far and away offset the interest charges. American Express and many gold and platinum Visas and Master Cards will also provide a free, one-year factory repair extended warranty.

If, within the warranty period, you are not satisfied with the product or the customer support you are receiving, return your purchase and stipulate that if you do not receive satisfaction you will notify your credit card company of the situation. Most credit card companies will not hold you responsible for payments if you do not have the product in your possession. Dave told me he has witnessed the renewed sense of urgency this has on PC and hardware manufacturers.

All of this suggests that you should get reliable advice on computer and peripheral purchases. And you should employ a qualified technician to set up your system.

Here's wishing you a Good Boot    [index]

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