Rerouting can help back up your files  (7/21/03)

Last week we began our Backup adventure by establishing why a Full System Backup is unproductive.

I also defined "Your Stuff' — what it is and why it's only what a novice needs to backup.

Today, let's discuss what to do if a program doesn't encourage you to put "Your Stuff' in "My Documents" by default.

First, open W o r d P a d (Programs > Accessories > WordPad).  Now, let's pretend that WordPad is Winchell's Folly word processing program. Click on "Save As."

Next, let's pretend that Winchell's Folly suggests saving it in "His Documents" rather than encouraging you to save your work in "My Documents."

Here's how to redirect your document, and almost any document or file that doesn't "Save As" to "My Documents" by default.

Click on the little "down triangle" to the right of the "Save In" panel.

Window XP users will see My Documents in the drop-down menu. If you're a 98/Me user, you may have to click on "Save As," the little down triangle, and then your "Drive C" to find your "My Documents." In either case, click on "My Documents." It'll bring My Documents into the "Save In" panel.  Now give your document a name and click on "Save."

Instead of being saved in Winchell's Folly "His Documents," it'll be saved in "My Documents."

Now let's just get all "Your Stuff' safely relocated to "My Documents."

For Quicken users who'd like to put a copy of their Quicken Data into My Documents, do this. Open My Documents from your Desktop.

Click on "Make a New Folder" and name it "My Quicken Backup." Then close My Documents and open Quicken. If you have a current version of Quicken, when you click on Backup you'll see the default backup location in a panel Below you'll see "Disk".

Make sure it's selected and using the "Browse" button find and click on the "My Quicken Backup" you created in "My Documents." Quicken will now backup to both locations.

Need help? Call me on the Good Boot Hotline at 239-433-0549 or email me from: www.goodboot.com.

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

Here's summary on saving stuff  (7/28/03)

Next step will be to organize 'My Documents'

I've pretty much covered how to stuff all "Your Stuff' into My Documents. I discussed:

• When "Saving As" a document you should accept the default suggestion you "Save In" My Documents.

• Redirecting your documents to My Documents when "Save As" suggests a location other than My Documents by using the down triangle to the right of the "Save In" panel to find your My Documents Folder.

• Saving your Quicken data to both Quicken's Backup Folder and My Documents by clicking on "Disk" and "Browsing" to find My Documents.

There are other ways to relocate your data to My Documents e.g..

• Saving your Internet Explorer "Favorites" by clicking on "File > Import and Export" and using the Wizard to 'Export' your Favorites to My Documents.

• Using Windows Explorer to find a File or Folder and then copying it into My Documents. However if you're a novice, I'd prefer you seek assistance or chat with me at one of my XP Summer seminars before you try this method.

It's not without potential hazards.

For those who use Outlook Express or Outlook, I suggest you go to www.ajsystems.com and take a look at Express Assist and OutBack Plus.

Express Assist backs up and restores Outlook Express. And you can:

• View any message in the backup file without restoring.

• Schedule backups.

• When necessary, backup spanning multiple CDs. OutBack Plus does the same and more for Outlook.

And then there's my favorite backup program — Second Copy. I've mentioned it before and demonstrated it many times, but it's worth mentioning again. I've yet to find a better backup program of value to both experienced and novice users. If you have my XP Workbook go to page 15 for a presentation. If not go to www.centered.com.

Second Copy is designed for Windows 9x/Me/XP. Included in this feature-rich backup program is its ability to:

• Back up your data files to My Documents, another internal or external hard drive, Zip Disk and even a floppy.

• Automatically back up in the background or at your command.

• Provide "Simple" and "Exact Copy" backups.

Like all the programs I recommend, these programs are inexpensive and novice-friendly. I also recommend them to the experienced user. Trust me. They're worth their weight in gold!

Next week I'll suggest ways to organize all the stuff you've stuffed in My Documents, one step before I suggest ways to periodically and permanently insure the safety of your My Documents.

If you missed my July 14 and 21 backup articles go to www. swfpcug.org > Good Boot.

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

Computer club not little, entirely free  (8/4/03)

This week I'm taking a break from my series on saving your "stuff' to discuss a subject that's been an obvious source of curiosity by many attending my summer XP seminars.

The subject concerns the extraordinary number of free services offered by the SWFPCUG. The question most often asked is - how can a little SWF computer club offer so much free assistance?

If I had to hazard a guess as to why the question is asked so frequently, it would be because so many attendees are Good Booters who've never attended one of our meetings.

Well, know that we're not little and not everything is free. We enjoy well over 2,000 members (99 percent novices) and there's a nominal cost to become a member of our User Group or one of our affiliated Chapters.

But for that, you receive my 56 page monthly Computing journal dedicated to subjects of interest to all beleaguered novices. And as a member you're eligible for special offerings from our "Partners" e.g. Adobe, Comcast, Corel, Gateway, Road Runner and Microsoft.

But everything else is free and offered to everyone whether or not they're a member of our organization. Why? Because we're a nonprofit Florida corporation dedicated to "community service and computer education" And the reason we can offer so much is because of dedicated volunteers and professional technicians willing to provide pro bono services.

Take for instance our Web site, www.swfpcug.org. There you can discover the locations, dates, directions to and scheduled presentations of all our meetings. We even provide pictures of our members attending meetings so you can be assured they're quite normal folk. Just computer novices sans beanies with spinners seeking enlightenment. Some meetings like the Lee County Library seminars are free and open to the public. Others, such as our User Group and affiliated Chapter meetings, require membership after a no cost or obligation invitation to those who've never attended a meeting to do so.

Our Web site also offers:

• A downloadable sample copy of my Computing Journal.

• A fantastic "Need Help" site.

• An opportunity to subscribe to our free Bulletin Board

• A "FAQ" site answering questions asked by our Bulletin Board subscribers.

• "Browser and Links" dedicated to assisting the novice in their quest to become significant surfers.

• All my Good Boots indexed by subject.

Add to all these free offerings an opportunity to get up close and personal with XP by attending my free summer seminars and I believe you'd have to agree we've gone the whole nine yards

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

Microsoft Outlook best e-mail handler  (8/11/03)

Upgrade worth chore of transferring information

Believe me, I know a Good Booter's computing life is fraught with myriad challenges.

I also know it can be frustrating when folks (me included) frequently recommend software programs with an implied suggestion they can make one's computing adventure more fulfilling, safer or less complicated.

So if you're one of the many Good Booters who've only recently stopped white-knuckling it through your first boot of the day and are enjoying just sitting and admiring your desktop with perhaps a brief excursion now and then to your email, you may not be ready for this recommendation.

My feelings will not be hurt if you decide it best to move on to another article in the Business Monday section.

However, if you're a Good Booter searching for a sophisticated communications, i.e., e-mail handler and personal information manager program, I suggest you read on.

Microsoft Outlook, the big brother of outlook Express, provides one-stop access and total Address Book, Contact and Calendar integration as well as the most sophisticated e-mail handler available. In my opinion, it's arguably the best e-mail handler and PIM available.

Although there's a significant learning curve if one wants to access all of Outlook's more advanced features, when installed, all its basic features are available and obvious. And because it's a Microsoft product, it integrates seamlessly with Windows and is the darling of third-party software add-on programmers.

In fact, although I've always been an advocate of Outlook, it was only after recently installing a truly amazing third party, anti-spam add-on program that I decided it was time to formally recommend Outlook.

Many are reluctant to upgrade to a state-of-the-art e-mail handler such as Outlook because they're so committed to their current e-mail program's address book and they're reluctant to take on the task of having to transfer all their e-mail addresses.

Or if They have a PIM program they've been using for a while, they're concerned about the time and effort it will take to transfer all their contacts and their calendar.

Although Outlook will import Outlook Express addresses, for those of you who use any other e-mail or PIM program there's no doubt you're in for a bit of a chore. But once you've completed the task of transferring your e-mail addresses and PIM information to Outlook, you'll experience a unique computing opportunity — having everything you'll ever need to communicate and organize your life available in one extraordinary desktop, laptop and handheld program.

Outlook is now available as a stand-alone program for about $100.

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

The desktop concept is pure Windows. genius  (8/18/03)

Have you ever wondered why when most of the computing world created a lexicon of technical jargon to describe their activities and creations, the folks at Microsoft preferred to use mundane words like Desktop, Folders, Files and Documents to describe Windows' anatomy?

Probably not, as most Good Booters are just thankful that Windows terminology offers at least a few recognizable words.

The reason is quite logical if one considers that when Windows was only a gleam in the eye of its programmers, their targeted market was the computers used by business professionals.

Try this: Right Click on Start and left click on Explorer (not Internet Explorer).  Notice Explorer presents a graphic presentation of your computer's hierarchical structure of Drives (often referred to as Disks).

Most will have only an A (floppy drive), drive, C (local drive) and a D (CD ROM\DVD drive).

Think of your drives or disks as drawers in a filing cabinet. If there's a "+" sign to the left of your C Drive, click on it. Like opening a filing cabinet drawer, you'll see folders alphabetized and described. If you click on a folder it may contain sub folders.

However, eventually, whether it be a first level folder or a sub folder, you'll discover your folders contain files and documents also alphabetized and described.  Make sense?  Well, it did to Microsoft's marketing department catering to novice office employees concerned about where their documents went.

However, it's the Windows Desktop concept that in my opinion is pure genius.

Recognizing that we all configure our home or office desk to reflect our work habits and personality (organized or disorganized), Microsoft provided a wealth of features that can satisfy every user's individual preference as how they'd like their desktop to be arranged.

If you would like to discover just how utilitarian your Desktop can be, join me at one of my Free XP Summer Seminars for novices.

• 1 p.m. Aug. 22, South County Regional Library, Three Oaks Parkway, Estero.

• 6 p.m. Aug. 27, Del Tura Country Club, Route 41, North Fort Myers.

Here's wishing you a Good Boot  [index]

Don't let bad guys dim your enthusiasm  (8/25/03)

Computer viruses will always exist, so live with it

Sunrise at the Winchell homestead usually arrives just about the time I've finished reading The News-Press and I'm ready for my second cup of coffee.

As this daily routine takes place on my lanai, I spend my time enjoying my second cup of coffee while inspecting my rather extensive Florida gardens.

I inspect them for the little rascals that like to use my carefully cultivated plants and flowers for munchies. Although over the years I've become familiar with the many crawling and flying bugs indigenous to Southwest Florida, each season I discover a few new garden criminals.

But as hostile as Mother Nature can be at times, I've never let her discourage my enthusiasm for gardening.

So it should be with your enthusiasm for e-mail and the Internet. Never let the bad guys deter you from enjoying your e-mail and arguably the most significant source of information since mankind began scribbling information on stone tablets — the Internet.

I knew Blaster, the most recent Internet worm, would generate many e-mails and phone calls asking advice on how to evade this nasty virus.

Even my new digital answering machine could not handle the load.

My closing plea to all who phoned or e-mailed and now to all Good Booters is don't become paranoid and please don't be intimidated. Until some computer wizard finds a way to filter the hundreds of new viruses authored each week, there'll always be an opportunity for the bad guy computer wizards to come up with a new and better way to circumvent current anti-virus systems and procedures, so live with it. That said:

• Always have a quality anti-virus program and update its data files often — automatically if possible.

• If you subscribe to cable or DSL, ensure your XP Firewall is activated. With other Windows systems (98, Me), download or purchase a quality Firewall.

• Adhere to Keller's Rules for Safe Computing: Before you open an e-mail attachment, know who it's from, what it is, what it does and never, never open a forwarded email attachment. I also suggest you contact David Keller (277-7100) if you've any questions concerning viruses.

Besides being voted the best computer services provider for the past four years in The News-Press Reader's Choice poll, David (Compu-Doctor) is our local media's technician of choice when a significant virus requires an explanation. His advice is free.

• Keep your Windows system updated, automatically if possible. Updates and patches are free.

• Subscribe to our free SWFPCUG Bulletin Board at www.Swfpcug.org.  Virus alerts are expeditiously posted.

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

Computer upgrades not always necessary  (9/1/03)

Only exception is if you use program extensively

Each time AOL offers a new software version, I hope this will be the version the company thoroughly beta tested before release and one that will not place Good Booters in harm's way, particularly novice Good Booters.

But, alas, the number of complaints I've received indicates its most current version (9), like all its previous versions, shouldn't be installed for at least six months from time of its release.

That's the bad news. The good news is each release of AOL reminds me to remind Good Booters about upgrading and updating.

My advice concerning upgrading a program is unless the upgrade has a feature you cannot live without, don't waste your money upgrading.

The only exception I can think of is if you use a particular program extensively, you might want to keep it as current as possible. But even this exception is debatable.

Take Quicken, for example. I've been a Quicken user since the first release. I can honestly say, however, unless I was into downloading portfolios, household inventories or masochistic enough to enjoy being reminded every morning I have bills to pay, Quicken 2000 or even an earlier version would well serve my needs.

Another example: Last year I discovered that upgrading WordPerfect Office and Microsoft Office for many hundreds of dollars would have provided absolutely no new feature that would have been of significant value to the average user. Need I mention Print Shop? A plethora of graphic CDs has added little to current versions.

The point is software companies need new releases each year to maintain a healthy bottom line. Upgrades are extraordinarily profitable. I suggest a profitable bottom line for users includes a prudent selection of what programs they really need to upgrade.

Admittedly, this advice comes from one addicted to the panel announcing an upgrade download is complete and the sound of Mr. Brown's horn announcing the delivery of an upgrade — any upgrade. But if you're not an addict, my advice is appropriate.

My advice concerning upgrading is just as appropriate for upgrading to XP.

If your computer is doing all you want it to do and is doing an acceptable job, don't upgrade to XP. Wait until you purchase your next computer.

Also be aware upgrades don't always produce a better product.

Take Roxio PhotoSuite 5. In my opinion, it's not near the product PhotoSuite 4 was. And unless you'll be burning to DVDs, stick with Easy CD Creator 5 rather than upgrading to Roxio's Easy CD & DVD Creator 6.

Contact me if you need advice on an upgrade.

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

PC User Group offers a variety of opportunities  (9/8/03)

New offerings are sure to entice more novices

It's my bet the 2003-04 Southwest Florida PC User Group season will be the second most significant in our 22-year history.

The first was our 1997-98 season, when we made the decision to shed our "for techie types only" image and become Southwest Florida's most important source of reliable computer information for the beleaguered novice.

That decision morphed us from a 150-member "beanie with spinner" organization into one that currently enjoys a membership that includes more than 2,000 enthusiastic novices.

Continuing to be Southwest Florida's most successful User Group requires that when planning a season's-activities we address the current needs of our members as well as those needs that may be blowing in the wind.

This is traditionally a task frustrated by the constant and unheralded changes we've come to accept from the computing industry.

However, when planning for our upcoming season I was able to do something extraordinarily unique - ask a significant number of the more than 400 novices who attended my XP summer seminars but were not members of our organization what would most influence them to join our User Group or one of our chapters.

Based on their input and our experience, our 2003-04 season will offer a smorgasbord of additional opportunities for the novice to become computer literate, the most significant being.

• Beginning in September and every month thereafter, our talented, lovable and outrageously irreverent consulting technicians will pack their computer first aid and survival kits and travel to Bonita Springs offering to the members of our Bonita Springs Chapter the wit and wisdom they've provided for so many years to the members of the SWFPCUG.

Their "your time with the experts" begins at 5 p.m. At 7 p.m. they'll provide a multimedia presentation of interest to all novices.

• XP Seminars will continue with Part 4-6 etc. at our North Fort Myers and Estero chapters. However, beginning in October at our Alva/Lehigh, Grey Oaks and Sanibel chapters, I'll begin my XP seminars with Part 1 "From Boot to Desktop - An XP Adventure." Thus if you missed a seminar this summer or miss one during season, you'll be able to attend a makeup seminar at one of our other chapters.

• Beginning in October, our Cape Coral Chapter presentations will be dedicated to Dwayne Alton's digital photography and photo editing presentations.

If you're sincere about becoming computer literate, I cannot imagine what more we could offer to entice you to become a member of our User Group or one of our chapters.

Dates, times, locations and presentations are always available at www.swfpcug.org.

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