Learn how to create subfolders (06/08/09)
Last week's "Backing up Part 1" tutorial generated so many requests for additional information on how to create subfolders and how to relocate files to subfolders, I'm going to put my "Backing up" tutorials on hold for a week and respond.
Creating Documents\My Documents, Pictures\My Pictures, Music\My Music and Videos\My Videos subfolders is the best way to organize text, image and sound files.
For example: You want to organize your family photos in your Pictures\My Pictures subfolder by creating a subfolder, "My Family Photos," which in turn will have a "Good Family" and a "Bad Family" subfolder.
First left click on your Pictures\My Pictures subfolder to highlight it and then click File, New, Folder and type in "My Family Photos." Next, highlight your new "My Family Photos" subfolder and click File, New, Folder and type in "Good Family." Then repeat the process and type in "Bad Family." That's all there is to it.
There's almost no limit to the number of subfolders and subfolders of subfolders you can create to organize your text, image and sound files.
Once you've created subfolders and if needed subfolders of subfolders for your text, image and sound files, naming, saving and placing a new text, image or sound file into an appropriate subfolder is achieved by clicking on File, "Save As."
When you click on File, "Save As," a panel will appear. Among the presentations will be a highlighted generic name for the file e.g., in Words panel it'll be Doc1.doc or Doc1.docx with a suggested Documents\My Documents default location to place it. Simply type a name for the file over the highlighted file.
Once you've named a file there will be little down triangles should you need to change the file's name and\or type and more often than not, a view of your Documents\My Documents folder to scroll through to find the appropriate subfolder to place the file.
Although you may be presented with a variety of "Save As" panels, most applications provide in one way or another an opportunity to name, save and relocate its files.
Note: You can also name a new file and then save it and place it into an appropriate subfolder by clicking on File, "Save." However, I suggest you use "Save As" the first time you name, save and locate a new file and use "Save" to quickly save an edited file you have already named and placed in an appropriate subfolder.
Here's wishing you a Good boot.
Unique ways to relocate data files (06/15/09)
In this Part 2 of my backing up tutorial series, I'll discuss a few popular programs that require a unique way to relocate data files.
If you missed Part 1 you'll find it on my blog (news-press.com/goodboot).
1. Internet Explorer Favorites:
- Click File ]] Import and Export.
- Click Export Favorites from the Import/Export Wizard.
- Highlight the "Favorites Folder" and click Next.
- Click "Export to File or Address".
- Click "Browse" to find the subfolder "Favorites" you created in your Documents\My Documents.
- Click on your "Favorites" subfolder to "Open" it.
- Click Save (bookmark.htm) and Finish.
Note: It's not absolutely necessary to relocate your Internet Explorer "Favorites" to Documents if you're a Vista user. I'll explain why when I walk you through an actual backup.
2. Outlook Express Address Book:
- Click on "Addresses" to open your Address Book
- Click File ]] Export ]] Address Book (.WAB). By default you'll be taken to My Documents.
- Click on the "Address Book" subfolder you created in My Documents to "Open" it.
- Type in a file name and save it.
3. Windows Mail Address Book: As you'll see when I walk you through an actual backup, you do not have to relocate your "Contacts" to your Documents.
4. Important E Mail in Outlook Express:
- Open the e-mail you want to save.
- Click File ]] Save As.
- My Documents will open.
- Click on "the "Important e-mail" subfolder you created in My Documents to "Open" it
- Either accept the File name presented or give it an alternative name.
- Click the little down triangle to the right of the "Save as type" drop down box and select .txt.
- Click Save.
4. Windows Mail:
- Open the e-mail you want to save.
- Click File ]] Save As.
- The "Save Message As" panel will open.
- Either accept the File name presented or give it an alternative name.
- Click the little down triangle to the right of the "Save as type" drop down box and select .txt.
- Click on "Browse Folders," which will take you to your Documents.
- Click on the "Important e-mail" subfolder you created in Documents to "Open" it
- Click Save.
Note the reason that I suggest you save your Outlook Express or Windows Mail important e-mail in text format is that text can be read on any computer under any circumstances. The .eml format requires a computer to have Outlook Express or Windows Mail installed.
Next week I'll cover addition programs requiring a unique way to relocate their data files to Documents\My Documents.
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.
Free programs help with backup (06/22/09)
In Part 3 of my backing up tutorial I'll mention a few additional free backup utility programs I recommend you consider.
Google's Chrome: To backup Chrome's Bookmarks (Favorites) you can click on the little wrench (Customize and control Google Chrome) in the upper right of Chrome's menu bar. Then click on Bookmark manager, Tools and Export Bookmarks. By default you may be directed to your Download folder. I suggest you relocate the Bootmarks.html file to a Chrome Bookmark sub folder in your Documents/My Documents folder.
But if you'd like an excellent free Chrome backup utility that has a wizard to guide you through the steps necessary to backup Chrome's Bookmarks to a Documents\My Documents sub folder you've created, go to Parhelia Tools (parheliatools.com). This little utility will create, backup, restore and manage Chrome profiles which include history and bookmarks. It also creates a convenient Desktop shortcut to remind you to keep your Chrome data backup current.
Note: BackRex for IE 7/8 (backsettings.com) is a free utility that'll guide you through the steps necessary to backup IE's favorites, history auto passwords and cookies.
Belarc (belarc.com/free_download.html) and WinAudit (pxserver.com) are two free utilities that'll build a profile of your computer hardware and software.
- Belarc Advisor builds a detailed profile of your installed software and hardware, missing Microsoft hotfixes, anti virus status, CIS (Center for Internet Security) benchmarks.
- WinAudit is a software program that provides an in-depth audit of your computer.
Note: I suggest you use Belarc Advisor as a handy source of information for your technician should you have a problem. Rather than store its data in your Documents\My Documents, print the data out for easy access should your system crash.
WinAudit on the other hand produces a document too lengthy to be printed. My WinAudit is 1600 PDF pages. Store WinAudit in a Documents\My Document sub folder. It's value is its "soup to nuts" inventory of your computer available should you or our technician need information on anything from hardware to software. It's awesome.
- Erunt (Emergency Recovery Utility NT): Google it for a download site. Erunt backs up your registry to restore if needed. Because it keeps each Registry backup in a separate folder, I have found it to be more reliable than XP\Vista System Restore utility.
Note: Vista users must right click on Erunt's shortcut and click on "Run as Administrator."
Other Backing up parts can be found on my blog (news-press.com/goodboot).
What to consider before you execute a backup (06/29/09)
Make sure that you include safety net
I hope by now those of you who are Good Boot backup trainees have mastered the art of relocating all your important "Stuff" into appropriate subfolders you've created in XP My Documents or Vista's Documents, Pictures, Music and Videos as it's time to move on to tutorial 4, a discussion of what you should consider before actually executing a backup activity.
I suggest novices need only consider three options when making a determination on how to back up their irreplaceable stuff.
- Option one (Exact Copy) is a backup that creates an exact copy of XP's My Documents data or Vista's Documents, Pictures, Music, Videos and perhaps Favorites, Contacts and Games data to an external hard drive.
After you make your first Exact Copy backup and prior to making subsequent Exact Copy backups your backup program will scan the data on your external hard drive and compare it to data you're backing up from your computer. The data it finds on your external hard drive that's no longer included in the data you'll be backing up from your computer will be deleted. The result is the data on your external hard drive will match exactly the data on your computer.
- Option two is a backup that simply adds all new data to an external backup device. I call it archiving.
After you make your first Archive backup when you initiate subsequent Archive backups your backup program will simply copy all the new data from your computer to your external hard drive without deleting any data from the external hard drive.
Obviously both options have merit.
Option one provides an opportunity, should it be necessary, to restore your computer's XP My Documents or Vista Documents, Pictures, Music and Video data to exactly the state it was when you made your most current backup.
Option two provides a safety net. When properly used it will ensure the data you deleted from your computer and your external hard drive during an Exact backup will be available should you need it.
In my opinion, Option three - a backup regimen that includes both options - should be your choice. With the advent of large capacity, inexpensive external hard drives this option is a must.
Next week I'll explain how to do both using Second Copy, an inexpensive software program that's so user-friendly I guarantee you'll never again be the victim of lost data.
Download a free trial at www.secondcopy.com.
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.
Use the instructions for backing up XP (07/06/09)
Part 5 of my backing up tutorials is for XPers. Next week I'll cover backing up Vista.
If you've installed Second Copy, created an Exact folder and an Archive folder on your eternal hard drive, you're ready to go.
1. Click on the Second Copy shortcut in the Notification area of your toolbar.
2. When Second Copy opens click on the New Profile icon or click File ]] New Profile.
3. You'll be presented with two options: Express Setup and Custom Setup.
I'll describe how to configure a Custom setup for both a simple copy and an exact copy because although I'll not be using all the options Custom Setup offers, as I progress through the Exact and Simple copy configurations you'll at least become aware of options you might like to try in the future.
4. Click on Custom Setup ]] Next.
5. On the "What do you want to copy?" panel use the Browse button to scroll to your My Documents folder. Click Next.
6. On the "Which Files?" panel click "All files and folders." Click Next.
Note: In the future you may want to experiment with "Only selected files and folders" as you may decide not to back up all the files and folders in My Documents.
7. In the "Where?" panel use the Browse button to scroll down to the "Exact" backup folder you created on your external hard drive. Click Next.
8. In the "When" panel I suggest you use the little down triangle to set your "When" to "Manual." Click Next.
9. In "How" Panel use the little down triangle to select "Exact Copy." Click Next.
10. In the "Finish" panel Type in "Exact Copy."
When you are returned to the Profile panel, open a new Profile and follow steps 1-8.
9. In "How" Panel select "Simple Copy." Click Next.
10. In the "Finish" panel Type in "Simple Copy."
When you return to the Profile panel click on Edit ]] Select all and then click on the Blue arrow on the Menu bar.
The backups will begin. They'll take awhile as they'll be making first-time complete copies of your My Documents.
In future "Exact" backups, Second Copy will copy all new files and synchronize your Hard Drive and External drive My Documents. Simple Copy will add new files to your external hard drive but will not expunge old files from your external hard drive.
It's the perfect backup duo to protect all your irreplaceable "Stuff."
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.
Part six: Backing-up tutorial for users of Windows Vista (07/13/09)
If you've installed Second Copy, created an "Exact" and an "Archive" folder on your external hard drive, you're ready to go.
One of the most significant changes to Vista's Start Menu is that, unlike XP, where your data subfolders were subfolders of My Documents, Vista's data subfolders are individual subfolders of your User Account "Personal Folder."
Although a more practical way of displaying your data subfolders, because they're listed among many other subfolders that need not be backed up, the initial configuring of Second Copy requires you to specifically select them.
1. Click on Second Copy's shortcut in the Notification area of your toolbar.
2. When Second Copy opens click on the "New Profile" icon or File ]] New Profile.
3. Select "Custom Setup." Click Next.
4. On the "What do you want to copy?" panel use the "Browse" button to find and highlight your User Account "Personal Folder" subfolder. Click "Include subfolders" and Next.
5. On the "Which Files?" panel click "Only selected files and folders" and then click "Select."
In the list of subfolders presented click Contacts, Documents, Downloads, Favorites, Music, Pictures and Videos. Click Next.
Note: You can add and subtract subfolders any time.
6. In the "Where?" panel use the "Browse" button to scroll down to the "Exact" backup folder you created on your external hard drive. Click Next.
7. In the "When" panel I suggest you use the little down triangle to set your "When" to "Manual." Click Next.
8. In the "How" panel use the little down triangle to select "Exact Copy." Click Next.
9. In the "Finish" panel type in "Exact Copy."
When you're returned to the Profile panel, open a new Profile and follow steps 1-7. But this time scroll to the Archive folder on your external hard drive.
8. In the "How" Panel select "Simple Copy." Click Next.
9. In the "Finish" panel type in "Simple Copy."
When you're returned to the Profile panel click "Edit ]] Select all" and click on the Blue arrow on the Menu bar. The backups will begin.
In future "Exact" backups Second Copy will copy all new files and synchronize your "Personal Folder" data subfolders with the data subfolders in your external drive "Exact" folder. Simple Copy will add new files to the data subfolders in your external drive Archive folder but will not expunge old files. The perfect backup duo.
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.
Free application helps keep icons in their place (07/20/09)
Over the past six weeks I've tried to encourage you to begin a backup regimen. Not because I enjoy nagging you, but because I know if you do not there'll come a day when you'll wish you had.
By demonstrating how with just a minimum of effort and an inexpensive backup program you can protect yourself from the loss of irreplaceable data due to a virus, hard drive failure or perhaps as I have more than once, from kittens on your keyboard, should you not heed my advice, I'll feel comfortable responding to your Awoe is me@ e-mail with an I told you so.
That said, I'll switch to a more light hearted subject. The care and maintenance of desktop icons.
I've always been a desktop icon junky. My unbridled addiction to those cute little desktop graphics has always been a source of amusement, even ridicule, from those who use my computers.
At one time or another I've considered installing a program that would expeditiously hide my desktop icons should I hear someone sneaking up behind me for a pre-ridicule peak at my desktop, pepper spraying uninvited interlopers and even subjecting myself to an desktop icon intervention.
But alas, I am who I am and do not plan on changing. Particularly now that I've a 24-inch monitor that'll display almost an unlimited number of desktop icons.
By publically confessing my addiction, I hope there are Good Booters who will feel less self conscious about their desktop icon addiction.
For those of you who are addicted, I'm sure you've experienced the frustration of having your meticulously organized desktop icons scattered by an unruly pop up menu, a program that changes your monitor's resolution or just a bit of carelessness on your part.
For you my fellow travelers, I've the perfect solution. DesktopOK, a free program that's:
- A lightweight and effective software application that can save and restore the position of your desktop icons
- A solution for users who frequently change the screen resolution.
And:
- Does not have to be installed
- Can be executed easily from the desktop.
- Can be carried on a small USB stick or other memory device.
- Allows you to save your icon locations for multiple screen resolutions.
- Provides multiple users the option of saving their own arrangement.
- Minimizes to tray area for easy access.
- Provides an option to launch at Windows startup.
Go to softwareok.com for additional information and to download.
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.
Scan old photos in small lots (07/27/09)
I received an e-mail from Brad, a Good Booter who after six months of procrastination decided it was time to fulfill his New Year's resolution to scan, edit and organize his print photos.
A New Year's resolution I had suggested.
The reason for his e-mail was a tongue in cheek notice he was suing me for, as he put it, causing him to become a Trichotillomaniac (a person with an uncontrolled impulse or compulsion to pull out their own hair).
His tale of woe went something like this: Before he began scanning his prints he decided to sit comfortably before his TV and remove literally many hundreds of prints from their albums. And do so without sorting them by album. He figured he could sort them after he had scanned them onto his computer. Certainly a possibility, but in Brad's case a bad decision.
For as Brad discovered after many hours of scanning individual prints and attempting to edit them on the fly, he was slowly going mad with the boredom. But because he had denuded his albums of their prints without sorting them by album, it would take as long to sort and remount them to albums as it would to scan them.
If you're one of those who might be considering a print scanning regimen, I've a few suggestions.
1. Gather your prints to be scanned in manageable collections. Don't ravage all your albums.
2. Set aside a specific time each day, week or month to scan. Perhaps during a favorite talking head radio broadcast.
3. Do not attempt to scan and then edit each print. Save the editing until you recover from the boredom of scanning, You'll be much more patient when editing. And you might discover some aren't worth editing.
4. When shopping for a photo editing program consider Photoshop Elements 7. It'll cost you about $80, but will have all the features you'll probably ever need to edit your photos.
And here's the best part: It has a feature that allows you to place as many prints as will fit on your flatbed, scan them all and then with one click, separate the multiple scan into individual digital photos.
Think of it this way. If you've 600 prints to be scanned, Photoshop Elements will reduce most of your scans from 600 to 150 to 100 scans.
Photoshop Elements and a $100 to $150 scanner is a less expensive way to preserve your photos than having them professionally scanned.
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.
Handy desktop shortcuts are easy to build, embellish (08/03/09)
Thanks to all the Good Booters who thanked me for my article on Desktop shortcuts. Apparently my article encouraged many to exit their computer closet and admit to the world they loved their darlin' little Desktop shortcuts.
Desktop shortcuts besides being collector items placed by installed programs or web sites you "Send to Desktop", can be useful for reminding you to perform a task or a way to create folders for your special "Stuff."
Displayed on my Desktop are shortcuts to Erunt=s registry backup, IE and Chrome "Favorites" backups, Outlook's (Outback) backup, DesktopOK's backup and WinAudit and Belarc utilities. All prominently displayed as backup reminders.
I also have a Desktop folder containing individual shortcuts to my music albums (25 Gigabytes) on an external hard drive.
To create a Desktop shortcut to a program, right click on the program's .exe file and click "Create a Shortcut". A panel will inform you "Windows cannot create a shortcut here. Do you want the shortcut placed on your Desktop instead?" Click "Yes."
To create a Desktop shortcut to a folder or file, simply right click on the folder or file, click "Send To" and "Desktop (Create Shortcut)."
You can also use Windows' Shortcut Wizard to create a shortcut. Right click on your Desktop, click New, Shortcut. Then, using the Wizard, "Browse" to the item to which you want to create a shortcut.
Once you've created a shortcut to a file or folder, if you'd like to add a graphic image to the shortcut to enhance the shortcuts appearance, right click on the shortcut and select "Properties." Then, depending on the panel that opens, click the "Shortcut tab" and "Change Icon" or the "Customize tab" and "Change icon."
You'll be presented with images you can assign to a file or folder shortcut by clicking on any one of them. You can change a shortcut's image as often as you like or by using the "Restore" option, return the shortcut to its default image.
Note: When you create a program shortcut it will by default create its own unique shortcut image. Their images can be changed, but to do so you need to know where to browse for image .dll files. I'll discuss that exercise in a future Good Boot.
One other note: If you really become enthusiastic about adding images to your shortcuts, you can download icons from the Internet or if you're artistically inclined, create them yourself.
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.
Make sure backed up data free of viruses, malware (08/10/09)
Shortly after completing my backup tutorial series, I received a call from David Keller, Compu-doctor (compudoctor.com). David began our conversation with a bit of a riddle - "When is a backup not a backup?
The appropriate answer is "when it's a copy".
David's point was that to be a backup of value, one that can be used to restore your irreplaceable "stuff" or for that matter your system if you perform full system backups, you must insure the backed up data is free of viruses, malware and spyware.
A backup of infected data has the potential of re-infecting your computer when it's copied back to your computer's hard drive.
David also offered a bit of wisdom that brought me up short.
He first asked me whether or not I disconnected the external hard drive to which I back up my data. When I answered no, he suggested I spend some quiet time in a corner of my computer room.
I along with I'm sure many Good Booters probably never considered the consequences of not disconnecting the external hard drive to which we back up. But think about it. Should a virus, malware or spyware attack our system, it's not going to leave our external hard drive unscathed just because it's attached to our computer via a USB connection.
In an attempt to regain my credibility I asked somewhat sarcastically how often he's found external hard drive data corrupted by transmitted viruses, malware and spyware. David shot me down again with "often enough to consider it a significant danger."
There was one bright spot in our conversation. My awareness of the importance of always using the "Safely Remove Hardware" shortcut located in Toolbar Notification Area before disconnecting an external hard drive.
Keep in mind an external hard drive is nothing more than a hard drive housed in a protective case. But unlike the hard drive on your computer that Windows will shut down before you're allowed to log off to insure no data is being copied to it, there's no such safety feature should you simply pull the USB connection from your computer.
If you do not use the "Safely Remove Hardware" feature and abruptly disconnect your external hard drive, the data being copied will more than likely be corrupted. In fact, all the data on the external hard drive may be corrupted.
Disconnecting your external hard drive properly between backups should become one of your housekeeping activities!
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.
Archiving leads to look back at earlier computing (08/17/09)
I'm going to beg a boon of those Good Booters who at one time or another were members of the Southwest Florida PC Users Group or one of its affiliated chapters.
And the boon is: Please e-mail me if you were or know how I can contact an officer or director of the SWFPCUG or its predecessor, the Southwest Florida IBM-PC Users Group, between 1983 and 1996 or an officer of a SWFPCUG affiliated chapter between 1996 and 2004.
My search for User Group and chapter officers and directors began shortly after Lida sarcastically asked me how long I planned on keeping my library of yellowing newsletters and soon to be yellowing computing journals.
I of course responded with a "funny you should ask dear, but I was just about to begin archiving them to my computer."
When I did begin the archiving activity, I took time between scans to read the 1980s one-page newsletters. The more I read the more I realized they, along with the more sophisticated computing journals of the 1990s and early 2000s, were a historical narrative of the extraordinary interest and curiosity so many laymen had in just about all personal computing activities.
An interest and curiosity that has been replaced by a more, shall we say sophisticated, attitude toward computing. Using the computer for specific activities of personal interest rather than a source of general discovery.
Be as it may, I'm editing a leave behind historical CD presentation of all the User Group newsletters and journals as well as slide shows of events and of those who assisted so many in Southwest Florida to become computer literate.
I'd truly appreciate your assistance in my hunt for photos.
So as this Good Boot is more than just a beg a boon, I'll end it with tip that may be helpful to those who might like to make a quick list of all the files in a particular Vista or XP Windows Explorer folder without the hassle of having to type them into an application.
1. Open the folder and select all the files in the folder by either pressing CTRL-A or clicking Edit ]] Select All.
2. Right click on any highlighted file.
3. Click Send To and select Mail Recipient.
4. Your default e-mail client will open with a list of all the files in the folder.
5. Highlight the list and copy and paste it into your word processor or for that matter any application.
— Contact Al Winchell at fmbigal@embarqmail.com
Here's an easy way to sort your photographs in XP (08/24/09)
I'm going to revisit a feature of Vista and one that can be added to XP via a download. The reason: A number of Good Booters have discovered that although they've organized their photos with Picasa or Photoshop Elements, to be sure their photos are permanently sorted in their Pictures or My Pictures folder they must create individual folders and relocate the appropriate photos into them.
If you're involved or contemplating becoming involved in sorting your photos, Vista provides a user friendly way to expedite your sorting adventure.
To enable this feature click Start ]] Documents ]] Organize ]] "Folder and Search Options". Click the View tab, scroll down and click on the "Use check boxes to select items" check box.
Although you can still continue holding down the Ctrl key to click on individual photos or holding down the Shift key to select groups of photos, you can now simply click on the check boxes in front of each photo to make individual selections. Or if you want to select all the photos in a folder, click the check box to the left of the "Name" column.
If you've just a few photos you do not want to relocate mixed in with those you do, click on the check boxes of the ones you do not want to relocate. Then on your Toolbar click Edit ]] Invert Selection. Now, only the ones you want to relocate will be checked.
Unfortunately XP doesn't provide this feature. However there's a small freeware program TrayProdder (Google TrayProdder) that although it's not quite as resourceful as Vista's Check Box feature, will provide a similar check box opportunity.
Note: The value of check boxes is not limited to relocating photos, it can be used to safely copy or move any file or folder or group of files and folders.
To turn the checkbox feature off in Vista simply uncheck the "Use check boxes to select items" checkbox. In XP, delete the Trayprodder utility.
A Good Boot tip: Vista's "Switch between windows" utility is a handy way to view all your open applications. But here's a way to cascade, stack or view "all" your open Vista or XP applications side by side.
Holding down your keyboard Ctrl key, left click on the Taskbar buttons of the applications you want to cascade, stack or view side by side. When they're all highlighted right click on any one of them and select a view.
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.
Uninstall application can delete any trace of unwanted programs (08/31/09)
The subject of many Good Boot e-mails is "I remember you mentioned ...., would you refresh my memory." More often than not, it's from a Good Booter who is considering becoming involved in a new computing activity and recalled I had mentioned a free or inexpensive application that might meet their needs.
With this mind I thought it would be appropriate to dedicate a Good Boot or two to not only recommending my favorite software programs but why I recommend them.
Please be aware my recommendations will be my personal favorites and not necessarily your only options.
My first recommendation and one I've mentioned in several Good Boots is a freeware utility for XP and Vista - Revo Uninstaller (revouninstaller.com). The reason it's my first recommendation is if you're going to download and install an application I mention, or for that matter any application, should you decide it's not for you I want you to be able to do a complete, in-depth uninstall.
Revo will access your Windows uninstall utility to perform a normal Windows uninstall. But once Windows has completed the uninstall, Revo will assume command and with your permission remove any unnecessary files, folders and registry keys that often remain on your computer.
Although Revo's most important feature is its after deletion housecleaning, it has among its many other features one that you shouldn't be without.
Many times an application will, without your permission, install an additional application. Or perhaps you discover by chance an application with which you're not familiar or one you installed but have forgotten why you did so.
By right clicking on an application Revo offers a menu of options that includes a Google search for the home page of that particular application and/or its vendor as well as a quick link to the application's "About" and/or "Help" file.
Revo also has an Auto Run Manager utility that, in addition to allowing you to turn off a Start Up application by simply clicking on a checkbox, offers information about the Start Up program. Far more information than does the Window "msconfig" utility. By right clicking an a Start Up application you can Google directly to the Web site of the Start Up application and/or its vendor.
Although Revo will clean up remnants of deleted applications and offer an expeditious way to obtain information about applications, please continue to create a Restore Point before installing or uninstalling an application.
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.
Seminars to tackle computing (09/07/09)
Before I present one of my favorite software programs I want to mention a series of free Lee County Library seminars David Keller, a Southwest Florida PC User Group consulting technician, will be hosting.
His 2009 "How To Not Kill Your Personal Computer" seminar schedule:
• Thursday, Oct. 8, 10 a.m. at North Fort Myers Library.
• Thursday, Oct. 22, 10 a.m. at Lakes Regional Library.
• Tuesday, Nov. 3, 10 a.m. at Fort Myers Library.
• Thursday, Nov. 12, 10 a.m. at Cape Coral Library.
• Thursday, Dec. 3, 10 a.m. at North Fort Myers Library.
• Thursday, Dec. 17, 10 a.m. at Lakes Regional Library.
David's seminars are well know for their unique combination of wit and wisdom. And are always appropriate for both novices and experienced users.
Slides and film
I'm sure if you're anywhere near my age you can remember having to sit through hours of boring slide or 8mm film presentations of Uncle Bob's or Aunt Jenny's vacations. Presented in their entirety regardless of the quality of the photography.
However, if you're among those who because you suffer from childhood slide show and film presentation flashbacks have been reluctant to take your place as the official historian of your family know that today you can create entertaining slide shows featuring scanned in film and/or digital photos you've edited or at least selected for quality of content. And to entertain the guests held hostage during your presentation, you can add appropriate music, dialogue and titles.
Photo Story 3 for Windows is an excellent free slide show software program with which to begin your adventure, but Photodex ProShow Gold is my recommendation if you're ready to edit a more feature filled slide show presentation.
In my opinion, for adding video and music, panning, zooming, fading, custom captions, rotation and backgrounds ProShow Gold's user friendly interface is second to none. And when you're ready to add transition styles e.g., dissolves, fades, wipes, and shapes, PhotoShow's 280 transition styles will meet your every need.
When you've completed a slide show ProShow Gold can output it in over 40 formats to include DVD, Blu ray, CD, the Web and devices such as cell phones, mp3 players and game consoles. You can even upload your slide shows directly to YouTube.
ProShow Gold provides novice friendly tutorials, a basic photo editing feature and as you become more skillful, a user friendly way to re-edit earlier slide shows to improve their content.
Photodex (www.photodex.com) offers a free trial download.
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.
Aero burns too much power (09/14/09)
Microsoft touted Vista's Aero as a premium desktop experience. And I guess a legitimate ballyhoo it is if eye candy can be considered a premium desktop experience
Unfortunately however, for many laptop users the problem with Aero has been the extraordinary demand it places on their system's resources. Unbridled Aero can reduce a laptop's battery life by 50 percent.
If you're a frequent flier, you may be aware you can regulate Vista's power saving options by clicking on the Power icon in the Toolbar Notification Area. But I suggest to ensure you do not forget to adjust your power settings you consider the following.
Open your Control Panel, right click on the Power Options icon and click Create Shortcut. When you return to your Desktop place the Power Options shortcut in a prominent location. A visual reminder to adjust your power settings.
The Power Saver setting may result in a slower performance, but at least you'll be assured the movie you're watching will not end prematurely.
My recommended software program this week is Post-it Digital Notes brought to you by the folks at 3M.
Of all the digital sticky note programs available, in my opinion Post-it Digital Notes is second to none.
Post-it Digital Notes has all the features you might expect from a sticky note program. You can make and organize lists, plan projects, sort your notes by category, personalize messages with photos and set alarms to remind you of appointments or key dates on both memoboards and on your Desktop.
But the three features I believe you'll find most unique are:
1. You can format a Post-it note as you would format a word processing document to include font types, size, color and appearance (bold, italic, underline, strikethrough) as well as adjust the size of the note, add a photo and move a note between your Desktop and a memoboard.
2. If you have information on a note you want available to refer to while working on another document, the note can be set to "always be on top" of whatever document you're working on.
3. My favorite. The ability to click a Post-it icon on Internet Explorer's menu bar and have a note appear with the hyperlink to the Web site you're viewing. Available to copy and paste information from the Web site and/or add your own notes about the site.
Google Post-it digital notes. There's a free 30-day trial version. Or purchase it for $19.95.
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.
Windows Vista helpful in removing personal info (09/21/09)
Many digital photo enthusiasts tag and\or keyword their photos rather than creating subfolders to organize them. By tagging or keywording a user can call up all photos associated with a particular word.For example if you tag or keyword every photo of your grandchild "Joanie" and then add a tag or keyword to each of Joanie's photos describing the photo, e.g., "birthday" or "Halloween," you can recall all photos of Joanie, just the photos of Joanie's birthdays or Halloweens or all of Joanie's birthday and Halloween photos.
Tags and keywords are included in a digital photo's metadata along with information placed there by your digital camera. Right click on the photo and select Properties and left click on Details.
If you do not tag, keyword or geolocate should you decide to e-mail a photo or upload the photo to a photo sharing Web site the metadata available to anyone downloading the photo should be of no concern.
But what if you're in the habit of using creative descriptions as I do. Say for instance I forget to remove a "good family" tag or keyword from a photo I e-mail or post to the Web. It'll probably not be noticed. But a "bad family" tag will probably be a different story. And I'll certainly have a problem if the date the photo was taken and its geolocation indicates I blew off an invitation to a bad family's reunion to attend a Red Sox game!
Vista offers a solution. At the bottom of the "Details" panel is a "Remove Properties and Personal Information" feature. Click it and it'll remove all the photo's metadata. Just be sure to make a copy of the photo if you plan on only removing the metadata from the photo you're e-mailing or posting to the Web.
XPer's can download a free utility to purge metadata. Google: "JPEG & PNG Stripper."
This week's recommended software is one among the many excellent, inexpensive software programs offered by Ashampoo.
When I became frustrated with the hard drive hogging and the extraordinary demand placed on my system resources by Nero and Roxio, I decided to give Ashampoo's free CD burning program a try. I became so enthusiastic I purchased Ashampoo's Burning Studio 9 and have never looked back. It has all the ACD/DVD/BlueRay burning" features offered by Nero and Roxio, is less expensive and does not hog my disk drive or my system resources.
All Ashampoo programs have a free trial download.
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.
Bulletin board has answers (09/28/09)
If the quantity of Good Boot e-mail I've received of late concerning Windows 7 is any indication, there's a definite need for a source of unbiased advice and recommendations.
And there is a source.
For information on Windows 7 or for that matter any computer, computing or digital photography topic, it's the Southwest Florida PC User Group Afree@ community bulletin board.
Perhaps our bulletin board can best be described as a convenient way for a subscriber to obtain expeditious assistance and advice on any appropriate computer or digital photography question or problem from our User Group professional consulting technicians and knowledgeable subscribers
It works like this:
When you subscribe to our bulletin board, you're authorized to post via e-mail any computer or digital photography question. All current bulletin board subscribers receive your posting. Because of the number of subscribers and because our consulting technicians review all posts, you're assured of an expeditious, courteous response regardless of how basic it may be.
Our bulletin board also provides expeditious virus, Spyware and malware alerts, a heads up when a local retailer has an exceptional hardware or software offer and general computer and digital photograph tips.
There's no limitation on what computer or digital photography subjects may be presented on the bulletin board. In fact I've been told by many the bulletin board can be a learning experience.
Is the bulletin board for everyone?
In the past some novices have complained that because they received every e-mail asking a question and every e-mail answering that question, they became disenchanted with the quantity of e-mail they received.
It's true. A successful bulletin board will generate a significant number of e-mails each day. But in my opinion the value of having a way to expeditiously receive assistance and garner useful information far outweighs having to delete a few more than usual e-mails.
But if you do object to the number of e-mails generated by our bulletin board, know we provide a user friendly way to subscribe, ask a question and then unsubscribe when your question has been satisfactorily answered.
To subscribe go to: www.swfpcug.org, click on Bulletin Board and follow the directions. Or if you have a specific question about the bulletin board you're welcome to contact Brian Barnes at computermetutor@comcast.net.
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.
Keep three things in mind when organizing photos (10/05/09)
Apparently for many Picasa users my Good Boot article concerning tagging digital photos was a bit confusing.
When organizing your photos in Picasa there are three things to keep in mind.
1. Picasa doesn't add, remove or relocate photos on your computer. When you open Picasa it simply looks for the folders on your computer containing photos and displays those folders and their photos.
2. When you create Picasa albums you're creating "virtual" (computer- generated) groups of photos taken from the folders on your computer you designated for Picasa to scan.
3. When you use a Picasa Tag that tag is applied to a virtual photo in a Picasa album and is not added to the permanent metafile information located in "Details" of a photos Properties.
A Picasa album displays a group of virtual photos without actually moving the photo from the folders on your hard drive. When you delete or move photos from one Picasa album to another the original files remain in their original folders on your computer.
Unfortunately it's almost impossible to move Picasa's albums and tags from one PC to another or recreate an album and tags if you corrupt Picasa.
And even more disconcerting is if you decide to forgo Picasa for another photo organizer e.g., Photoshop Elements or ACDSee, you'll have to reorganize your photos using their catalogs and tagging feature.
Picasa is an outstanding product and I'm not suggesting you consider any other organizer.
But consider this. Perhaps someday you'll want to purchase a new computer, perhaps want a new larger and/or state-of-the-art hard drive or because of a hard drive failure, need a hard drive replacement. Unfortunately, if any of these scenarios come to pass, all your hard work organizing your photos in Picasa albums could be for naught.
The only way to be sure all your photos are presently organized and available regardless of where and how they're organized on your current hard drive or organized on a new hard drive is to add tags to a photo's Properties "Details."
A demanding task? Yes. But well worth the effort.
Adding tags to a photo's Properties "Details" in no way prevents you from organizing and tagging your photos in Picasa's albums or for that matter just about any photo organizing program.
Note: The most recent version of Picasa is 3.5, free to download at picasa.google.com. It has some outstanding new features.
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.
Windows 7 a must for Vista users
The release of Windows 7 will soon be upon us. With this in mind I'd like to offer a few suggestions. For those who are currently running Vista, upgrading to Windows 7 is almost a no-brainer. From all I've read and been told by technicians whose opinions I respect, Windows 7 will be a must have.
Microsoft's marketing theme for Windows 7 is "The New Efficiency." If I had to pick one of its most appealing "new efficiencies" it would be that current Vista users will not have to be overly concerned about whether or not their current software and peripherals will be accepted by Windows 7.
Most Windows 7 beta testers have commented that they've experienced no significant software or hardware problems after upgrading to Windows 7.
In fact because of Windows 7's improved memory management, many have commented they did not have to increase their RAM memory to experience a significant improvement in the performance of their resource demanding programs.
If Windows 7 is all it's been touted to be, I suggest current Vista users will not have to concern themselves with the possibility they'll have to upgrade their current computer's hardware as they did when they upgraded from XP to Vista.
For the Xpers who decide to make the leap to Windows 7, there's bad news and good news.
The bad news is current Xpers may have to upgrade their computer's hardware and some of their software, perhaps even have to consider purchasing a new computer.
The good news is that unlike the XPers who upgraded to Vista only to discover there were no drivers available for their hardware or upgrades for the software, current Xpers will be able to expeditiously find driver upgrades for most of their hardware and upgrades for most of their software.
And if all of Windows 7's new efficiencies come to pass perhaps the "greatest" good news is that no one will have to experience "the great Vista debacle of 2007."
I suggest if you're an XPer looking to upgrade to Windows 7, your personal technician is your best source of advice. However as an alternative, www.microsoft.com offers Web sites for hardware/software compatibility and software\ device downloads and a Windows Upgrade Advisor.
Keep in mind Windows 7 is a Vista upgrade. Though Microsoft's Web sites are labeled Vista the information is appropriate for Windows 7.
However I reiterate - your personal technician is your best source of advice.
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.
Organizing photos isn't always a choice (10/19/2009)
The e-mails continue to arrive from those who discovered to their dismay the Picasa albums they created and Picasa tags they applied to the photo in their Picasa albums cannot be relocated to another computer or reconstructed in the event of a hard drive failure or should their Picasa program be corrupted.
In a previous Good Boot I mentioned applying tags directly to a photo's "Details" (right click on a photo, click Properties and Details).
Details is where you'll find information added to the photo by the camera that took the picture e.g., when the photo was taken and Image and Camera information. Or if you scanned a photo to your computer, image and file information.
Unfortunately if you've not maintained a disciplined tagging regimen, individually tagging photos could consume most of your remaining years.
I suggest a compromise. Organize your photos into appropriately named permanent Pictures or My Pictures sub-folders. Obviously if you've not already done so this will be a demanding task, but I suggest not one that'll consume your remaining years as would tagging each one.
When you've completed sorting by sub-folders, obtain a quality batch file renaming software program and rename the photos in each sub-folder. Either with the name of the sub-folder or telling descriptions.
By doing so you'll accomplish two things:
1. If by chance a photo is copied or moved by mistake to an inappropriate location, it can be easily identified and restored to its proper sub-folder.
2. If you install Picasa on a new computer or reinstall Picasa on your current computer when Picasa scans and presents your Pictures/My Pictures sub-folders, because the photos are easily identified the task of organizing and tagging them into Picasa albums will be less daunting.
Renaming photos can also assist you in adding a photo to multiple, permanent Pictures/My Pictures sub-folders.
Example: You have all your granddaughter's photos in a sub-folder. From that folder you can individually select all her birthday, vacation, etc. photos, copy them to appropriate sub-folders and then by renaming them, accordingly make the creation of Picasa albums even less of a chore.
I recommend "Better File Renamer" ($19.95). It has a bit of a learning curve so it's best to test its features on a practice folder of photos. But once you get the hang of it, you'll discover its extraordinary menu of renaming and sequencing opportunities.
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.
Prepare if you're upgrading to Windows 7 (10/26/09)
In a recent Good Boot I mentioned Microsoft offers Web sites for hardware/software compatibility, software/device downloads and a Windows Upgrade Advisor. All available to help you prepare for a Windows 7 installation.
In this Good Boot I want to be more specific about the preparation you should consider to insure your software is Windows 7 compatible. Particularly if you'll be upgrading from XP to Windows 7.
I suggest you expeditiously begin a hunt for your stash of program CD's and backup the programs you've downloaded to an external hard drive or jump drive. There's nothing more frustrating than discovering during a program reinstallation exercise you're missing an installation CD, a proof of upgrade CD or one of your downloaded programs.
I misspeak. Not having all your program registration numbers handy or discovering after you've reformatted your hard drive you forgot to deactivate a program that requires you to do so before it can be re activated on a new computer "IS" as frustrating.
Note: If you plan on upgrading to Windows 7 on your current computer, it's best to reformat your hard drive and perform a clean Windows 7 install.
Although you might want to take advantage of Microsoft's Windows 7 software compatibility Web site, I want to make you aware of an additional and in my opinion a quicker way to determine software compatibility. Particularly if you're an XPer.
Go to revouninstaller.com and download Revo's "free" uninstaller. Besides being an excellent deep clean uninstall program it has an extraordinary feature - the ability to obtain information on any installed program.
When Revo opens it presents all your installed programs. By right clicking on any one of the programs, Revo will:
- Initiate a Google search for a program's parent company.- Open a program's Update Link.
- Open a Program's About Link.
I suggest because Revo provides a one-stop, in-your-face list of all your installed programs and a convenient way to access their Web sites, your chances of obtaining a program's most current Windows 7 compatibility status - if there's a free download to make it compatible or if you must purchase an upgrade - is superior to even Microsoft's Web site.
And you know I have to nag you.
Please consider having a qualified technician set up your new computer or upgrade you current computer.
Believe me, knowing your new or current computer is tweaked to do all it can do is worth a few dollars.
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.
You must make a habit of backing up your files (11/02/09)
Of late, their seems to a growing interest in software programs that back up logical drives and partitions to image files. Simply put and a bit of an oversimplification, this software creates an image of "everything" on your hard drive that can be stored in an alternate location, such as an external hard drive.
Should your hard drive fail and have to be replaced or for whatever reason have to be reformatted, the image file can restore your operating system, system settings, programs and all your data in one fell swoop.
Eliminating the need to first reinstall Windows, then your programs and finally all your backed-up data may seem like a convenient way to recover from a disaster. And in the hands of an experienced user it can be. But in my opinion if you're a novice it should not be your backup method of choice.
If you must give disk-imaging software a try, be absolutely sure you purchase a quality program such as Acronis True Image software. It's reliable and has a user-friendly, Windows-style interface.
But please do not rely on disk-imaging software programs as the lone guardian of your data files. Backing up your data files to an external device should always be part of your housekeeping regimen.
There is, however, an almost foolproof way to protect yourself from a hard drive failure disaster - one that heads my new computer wish list - RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks).
Although it's more or less a luxury for personal computers, it's a must for small business computers.
RAID version 1 provides a simple form of redundancy for data through a process called mirroring. RAID 1 typically requires two individual drives of similar capacity. One drive is the active drive and the secondary drive is the mirror.
When data is written to the active drive, the same data is written to the mirror drive, providing a full level of redundancy for the data on the system. If your active drive fails, the mirror drive with Windows, your system settings, programs and data will allow you to continue computing as though nothing happened.
When you replace the failed drive, the RAID controller will mirror the data from the usable drive onto the new drive.
RAID does not preclude additional hard drives, or if you're an ultra conservative as I am, backing up your personal data to an external hard drive.
Here's wishing you a Good Boot
Getting into Windows Registry can be tricky (11/09/09)
Last week's Good Boot generated quite a few questions concerning why I did not recommend novices use disk imaging backup software.
For disk imaging software to effectively restore your operating system, applications, settings and personal files to a new hard drive or reformatted hard drive, the disk image backup must be as current as their most recent modifications.
For those who have never viewed their system's Registry, click Start, Run and Regedit. Carefully so as not to make any changes, open each HKEY folder. I'm sure you'll be impressed with the number of Registry entries.
Registry entries began the day Windows was installed on your computer with new entries added for every subsequent change you've made to your system. A new Registry entry or change to a current Registry entry can be as uncomplicated as recognizing the deletion of a Desktop shortcut or as complex as the number of entries made when a new program or a program update is installed.
To ensure an accurate disk image restoration of your system to include your most current Registry as well as your operating system, applications, settings and personal files, you must either initiate a time consuming daily full disk image backup or schedule "automatic" incremental and/or differential backups.
An incremental backup backs up only the changes made to a disk image since the last disk image backup. Although it's the quickest means of backup, as it makes copies of only what has not been backed up since the last incremental backup, its downside is that in order to perform a full restore you must restore the last full backup first, followed by each of the subsequent incremental backups to the most current in their correct order.
A differential backup is a cumulative backup of all changes made since the last full disk image backup. The advantage is it's quicker, requiring only a full backup and the last differential backup to restore the system. The disadvantage is for each day elapsed since the last full backup more data needs to be backed up, especially if a significant proportion of the data has been changed.
A word of caution: Should a full disk image backup or any one of its incremental or deferential backups be damaged, the restore will be incomplete.
Seem complicated and/or risky? Perhaps not for an experienced user, but probably so for a novice.
Next week I'll revisit my recommendations for novice friendly backup techniques.
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.
Backing up hard drive essential (11/16/09)
Most often after convincing a novice that hard drives can fail without notice, they do have irreplaceable "Stuff" on their hard drive and they do need to consider a backup regimen, I'm asked to recommend both the best method of backing up their Stuff and the software they should consider to accomplish the backup
Traditionally any recommendation I make to a novice is based on the K.I.S.S. (keep it simple, stupid) principle.
Select a software program that will backup in standard format to an external device such as a CD/DVD or preferably an external hard drive.
For most novices should their hard drive fail it will be necessary for then to reinstall Windows and their software programs. If this be the case, I suggest a novice should only be concerned with backing up their irreplaceable Stuff. And this can be done with inexpensive, user friendly software.
I've mentioned my favorite backup software program Second Copy many times, but in my opinion it's well worth mentioning again as it has all the features a novice needs to insure successful backups.
Second Copy:
1. Is inexpensive (29.95)
2. Is appropriate for all versions of Windows to include Window 7, 32 and 64-bit.
3. Places a shortcut in the Taskbar Notification Area that's both an effective reminder to backup and a single click quick trip to its backup profiles.
4. Will pop up a reminder and pause for 30 seconds should a file in use need to be closed.
5. Provides both manual and scheduled backups.
6. Backs up files in standard format rather than proprietary format.
Note: Many backup software programs backup files in a proprietary format requiring it's program to be installed to restore files. Because Second Copy's backup files are in standard format you can view the file and if you wish, relocate a file or files using a simple copy and paste from the backup source device.
7. Allows you to configure as many profiles as you want to backup in any way you want.
For example: You may want to create an "Exact Copy" backup profile that purges files on your backup device that you've deleted from your current Documents/My Documents and other folders and/or a "Simple Copy" that just adds new files from your Documents/My Documents and other folders creating an on going, just in case archive of all your Stuff.
Go to www.centered.com for additional information and excellent video tutorials.
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.
See the pointer's power (11/23/09)
I hope by now most Good Booters are aware of the power of the pointer, a quick way to discover XP, Vista and Windows 7 information and options.
However as a reminder to current XP, Vista and Windows 7 users as well as information for new users who will be upgrading or purchasing a new Windows 7 computer, I'm going to revisit the awesome power of the pointer.
Perhaps a sampling of how valuable a tool for discovery your pointer and mouse's right button can be will tweak your curiosity.
Right click on:
- Start and left click Properties (Properties is Windows' term for information). Xpers will discover Start Menu and Taskbar options. Vista and Windows 7 users will discover Start Menu, Taskbar, Notification Area and Toolbar options.
Spend some time investigating the options offered. Note their default settings should you want to return to them.
- Your Toolbar and left click Toolbars. Investigate some of the many Toolbars and Menu options offered.
If you've not done so already I recommend XP and Vista users activate the Quick Launch Toolbar. It'll appear on left of your Toolbar. In addition to its default shortcuts you can add selected programs and Web sites for convenient access from your Toolbar by dragging their shortcuts from your Desktop onto the Quick Launch Toolbar. Windows 7 users need only drag and "Pin" the shortcuts from their Desktop to the Toolbar. Shortcuts can be removed by dragging them off the Quick Launch Toolbar or Windows 7 Toolbar.
- A blank area of your Desktop and left click Properties (XP) and Personalize (Vista and Windows 7). Investigate the options. Note their default settings should you want to return to them.
Also:
- At the right of your Taskbar is your Taskbar Notification Area. The icons displayed are Asome@ of the programs currently running in the background@. To discover what programs they point to, pass your pointer over their icons. For additional information on how the program can be configured, right click on the icon.
* Open any software program and right click in its work area and/or Internet Explorer and right click on a Web page. You'll be offered a menu of options and configurations.
I hope this mini tour will provide an incentive for Xpers, Vista and Windows 7 users who have not done so already to begin a power of the pointer adventure. For those soon to be new Windows 7 users, keep the power of the pointer in mind.
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.
Malware can set up user for real trouble (11/30/09)
Every year about this time David Keller, aka Compu-Doctor, e-mails me a reminder to mention in a Good Boot it's the season to beware of the grinches offering computer viruses, spyware, malware and phishing disguised as cyberspace goodies e.g., Internet free stuff downloads, help with a virus and virus-infected e-mailed funny stuff from friends.
Although this year I thanked him for his reminder, in my e-mail reply I expressed disbelief that there could be anyone left in Southwest Florida unaware of how grinches can infect their computers.
David responded back with: Then why is it that disinfecting computers continues to be one of my most significant sources of income? And why during the holiday season does my computer disinfecting business peak?
The obvious reason is that in fact not every Southwest Florida user is aware of how grinches infect their computers and even those who are can become so distracted by holiday activities, they let their guard down.
Now if at this point in my Good Boot you're pooh poohing the idea that you could become a victim of the infamous grinches and are ready to accuse me of creating unwarranted paranoia, mull on this for a moment.
There's a new malware that can be best described as functioning like the software program Napster created at the end of the 1990s that allowed mp3 files to be shared among multiple computers. Users could access and download music stored on multiple computers.
Although this emerging new malware uses the same principle for file sharing as did Napster, it's purpose is insidious and goes far beyond just placing a computer's system in harm's way. It can actually place a user in harm's way.
It functions like this: A user is phished to a fake Web site via an e-mail link, duped into downloading a free program or asked to respond to an Internet pop up alert claiming their computer may have a virus.
When the user becomes involved in any one of these activities a program is surreptitiously installed on their computer. Once installed child pornography is downloaded onto the victim's computer. The folder containing the child pornography is well hidden on the unsuspecting user's computer but is available to be shared by other child pornographers.
Sound scarey? It is! A computer can become a safe harbor for child pornography available to any pervert who knows the location of the computer on which the malware program is installed. And the owner of the host computer will not be aware of the downloaded child pornography nor the activity when a pervert accesses it.
Some are worried that innocent PC users could become legally responsible for the child pornography on their computers.
- For additional information on this new cyberspace conspiracy contact David Keller at compudoc@cyberstreet.com and/or go to his Web site at www.compu doctor.com.
Vista users, you must upgrade to Windows 7 (12/07/09)
Because I'm waiting on a new computer in order to become up close and personal with Windows 7, I had Brian Barnes install Windows 7 on our user group laptop.
As it turned out, doing so was fortuitous as it provided me an opportunity to evaluate Windows 7 on a 3-year-old laptop with only 2 gigabytes of RAM.
Folks, as far as I'm concerned, if you're a Vista user you must upgrade to Windows 7! It's a no brainer. And if you're an XP-er, the time has come for you to consider upgrading.
Windows 7 on our vintage laptop far and away outperformed Vista. From the very first boot after installation, it was obvious Windows 7 managed the laptop's 2 megabytes of RAM far more efficiently than Vista. And then it continued to do so as I installed some of my most resource-demanding software. In fact, and I kid you not, had I not known better I might have been fooled into believing the laptop was a new computer.
Although I've not installed all my software, most of the software I did install was accepted without having to seek out a Windows 7 upgrade. But be aware there are Vista software programs that will require a Windows 7 version.
My next adventure involved dusting off and connecting a vintage inkjet printer and scanner. Neither were Vista friendly. Even XP had experienced a problem locating their drivers. Without the slightest hesitation Windows 7 had them up and running.
As for the Windows 7 presentations, if you're a Vista user, after a few walkabouts you'll feel right at home. And if you do need help there are many "How Do I's" strategically placed to assist you.
With the exception of pinning shortcuts to the Taskbar (Vista's Quick Launch has been eliminated) the Taskbar, Start Menu and Toolbar properties are pretty much the same.
The only significant change to the Control Panel is the "Action Center" where the "Security Center," among other settings, is now located.
As far as I'm concerned, the way in which Windows 7 presents its features and settings is far more well thought out and user friendly than those of Vista.
It goes without saying that XPers upgrading to Window 7 will experience an extraordinary adventure. But at least they'll do so without suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune we who upgraded from XP to Vista experienced.
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.
Vista can add external hard drive files to Start Menu (12/14/09)
Windows 7 makes task even easier
Maybe you've accumulated so many music and/or photo files you're using an
external hard drive to store them. And maybe you've created Desktop shortcuts by
right clicking on the music and/or pictures folder on your external hard drive
and clicking "Send to" and "Desktop" (create shortcut) to conveniently access
your music and/or pictures folders on your external hard drive.
However, there may come a time when rather than Desktop shortcuts, you might prefer accessing your external hard drive's music and/or pictures folders directly by clicking the "Music" and "Pictures" tabs on Vista's Start Menu.
If this druthers tweaks your curiosity, I suggest you first create a Music and/or Pictures folder on your external hard drive and relocate all your music and/or pictures files and sub folders into the music and/or pictures folder you created.
Once you've accomplished this, changing the default settings for Vista's Start Menu "Music" and "Pictures" tabs is as follows.
Note: Windows 7 has greatly improved and simplified this task. I'll review it next week.
To Redirect Vista's Start Menu "Music" tab:
Click on Start ]] right click on the "Music" tab ]] click "Properties" ]] click "Location" ]] click "Move" ]] click "Computer" ]] double click on your external hard drive ]] double click on your external hard drive "Music" folder ]] click "Select Folder" ]] click "Apply" ]] on the "Move Folder Panel" click "No" ]] click "OK".
Now when you click Start ]] Music you'll go directly to your external hard drive's Music folder
To Restore Vista's Start Menu Music tab to it's original default location:
Click on Start ]] right click on the "Music" tab ]] click "Properties" ]] click "Location" ]] click "Restore Default" ]] click "Apply" ]] On the "Move Folder Panel" click "No" ]] click "OK".
To Redirect Vista's Start Menu "Pictures" tab:
Using the steps above simply substitute "Pictures" for "Music".
Now when you click Start ]] Pictures you'll go directly to your external hard drive's "Pictures" folder.
To Restore Vista's Start Menu "Pictures" tab to it's original default location:
Using the steps above simply substitute "Pictures" for "Music".
Note: Redirecting Vista's Start Menu "Music" and/or "Pictures" tab to your external hard drive does not change the location nor the content of Vista's original "Music" and/or "Pictures" folder.
A heads up: Our 2010 User Group's free, open to the public meetings begin Jan. 14. They will, as you might guess, be dedicated to Windows 7.
Our User Group consulting technicians will be available to answer your questions and provide enlightening "walk abouts" of the new Windows 7 features.
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.
— Contact Al Winchell at fmbigal@embargmail.com
Upgrade optional for XP users (12/21/09)
If your Windows XP operating system and your current software programs are doing all you want and/or need them to do and you're not planning any new significant resource-demanding computing adventures in the near future, then there's no compelling reason for you to upgrade your operating system or your software.
I'm reiterating this bit of Good Boot philosophy as it addresses the most often asked question I received via e-mail following my Dec. 7 article on Windows 7.
But there were a couple of other issues I'll mention.
Let me first reassure irate XPers that contrary to what they've heard, their monitors will not go blue on July 13, 2010, when XP becomes, shall we say, a legacy operating system.
All that will happen on July 13 is that Microsoft will no longer provide individual support or security updates for XP.
XP will be around for many years to come. And if you're concerned about XP security issues, I suggest the bad guys have so much on their plate trying to come up with bad things to do to Vista and now Windows 7, they'll relegate trying to sabotage XP to a back burner.
Now for those who questioned my enthusiasm for Windows 7.
If you've been around for a while, you probably remember my enthusiasm for Windows 98 and XP. Both included the sum total of all the Band-Aids Microsoft had to apply to their predecessor to insure a stable and reliable operating system.
As 98 was to 95 and XP was to Millennium, Windows 7 is to Vista: Windows 7 is a ready for prime time version of a reliable, stable and user-friendly operating system.
With this in mind, I recommend all Vista users consider upgrading to Windows 7. As for XP users, it's your call.
And for those who suggested there's a conspiracy among software vendors to intimidate users into upgrading to a newer version of their software, I maintain it's nothing more than an attempt to insure they stay in business for another year and/or an opportunity when a new version of Windows is released to provide valuable new features.
If you're offended by the annual software vendors' upgrade marketing frenzy, simply check the upgrade features they offer and make your decision based on whether you believe those features are worth the cost of the upgrade.
I do, however, recommend upgrading your most often used software current at least every two years.
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.
Windows 7 upgrade questions answered (12/28/09)
The following is my response to the many questions I've received about upgrading to Windows 7.
A Windows 7 upgrade means you can install Windows 7 simply by inserting the Windows 7 upgrade software into your computer's DVD drive and follow the instructions on your screen. Although you're not required to backup and reinstall your files, or reinstall your programs, I recommend you back up your irreplaceable stuff to an external hard drive before you start the upgrade.
A Custom (clean) installation erases the contents of your computer's hard drive. Your files, settings and programs will not be transferred to Windows 7. This means to install Windows 7, you'll need to backup all the files and settings you want to keep, Install Windows 7 and reinstall all your files programs.
Note: Windows 7 includes an Easy Transfer feature. It's a free tool you can use to copy your information (but not programs) off your computer to be copied back after you install Windows 7, but it should not preclude a "just in case" backup of your irreplaceable stuff to an external hard drive.
A Custom (clean) Installation takes time and a bit of technical skill. Although the Windows 7 Easy Transfer can help, if you're not comfortable with the process, I recommend having the installation done at home by a qualified technician.
A Custom (clean) install is required to upgrade:
- XP (all additions) to Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate.
- Vista Home Basic to Windows 7 Professional.
- Vista Home Premium to Windows 7 Professional.
- Vista Business to Windows 7 Home Premium.
- Vista Ultimate to Windows 7 Home Premium and Professional.
A simple upgrade is available to upgrade:
- Vista Home Basic to Windows 7 Home Premium and Ultimate.
- Vista Home Premium to Windows 7 Home Premium and Ultimate.
- Vista Business to Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate.
- Vista Ultimate to Windows 7 Ultimate.
If upgrading to Windows 7 seems a bit confusing, why not attend our free, open-to-the-public User Group Windows 7 orientation meeting at 6 p.m., Jan. 14, at the Lee Memorial Hospital auditorium.
In fact, whether you're a Vista or an XP user, if you have any questions or concerns about Windows 7 or would just like to view its most significant features, I know you'll enjoy the multi-media presentation offered by our consulting technicians.
And if you're interested in an ongoing series of in-depth Windows 7 seminars that will be offered at Lee Memorial Hospital auditorium beginning at 9:30 a.m., Jan. 9, contact me for additional information.
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.
Download trial versions to decide on photo software (01/04/10)
I'm often asked to recommend user friendly photo editing programs designed with the amateur photographer in mind.
It's not a difficult task for me to recommend quality photo editing software as there are many, but unless I know whether there's a need for a specific editing and/or organizing feature I more often than not suggest a user download trial versions of the most popular photo editing software and decide for themselves which one best meets their needs.
However, when I do recommend to novices they download and install multiple trial versions of photo editing programs or for that matter a trial version of any software program, I always include a suggestion that prior to doing so they download and install a quality uninstaller program.
All state of the art software programs particularly photo editing programs will populate your Windows Registry with literally hundreds of entries. So many entries, that often Windows' Add or Remove Programs feature will not purge them all. An accumulation of these Registry leftovers may eventually cause serious problems.
With this in mind, I encourage novices to download the "free" version of Revo Uninstaller (revouninstaller.com). Revo Unistaller for XP, Vista and Windows 7 will not only scan and remove all Registry leftovers it will uninstall software that for whatever reason Windows cannot uninstall.
In my opinion, for the novice Revo is a far more reliable way to purge a Registry leftovers than the by guess or by golly method used by many Registry cleaners.
There are many photo editing programs available, but I suggest if you're in the market for a quality, reasonably user friendly XP, Vista or Windows 7 photo editing and/or organizing program that has a reputation for a "safe and secure" trial version download, you investigate:
- Picasa 3.5: picasa.google.com. An outstanding, user friendly program for organizing and tagging photos and performing "limited" photo editing. Cost: Free.
- Adobe Photoshop Elements 8: adobe.com. Arguably the best choice for amateur photographers seeking a user friendly program that includes the features of Adobe Photoshop CS4 that are appropriate for their level of expertise. Cost: $99.
- ACDSee Pro 3: acdsee.com. In my opinion ACDSee Pro is the most often overlooked photo editing/organizing program for those a bit beyond novice. I've found it to be even more useful than Adobe Photoshop Elements. It's well worth investigating. Cost $170.
- Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 Ultimate: adobe.com. A fair to middling photo organization and editing program. Cost: $99, currently with a $40 off promotion.
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.
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If computer is slow, it's most likely something
you've done (01/11/10)
For those who may be wondering who or what contributed most to robbing their computer of its speed, I suggest it's more than likely a who, who did it and the who is you.
Perhaps a kinder and gentler way to put it is that although your computing regimen has always been marked by good intentions, because you became less vigilant about safeguarding and cleaning your system, you robbed it of its vitality and transformed it from a sprinter into a dawdler.
And here's how you did it.
You failed to control your addiction to installing junk software that bloated your registry with conflicting information, installed poorly written applications that cluttered your system with unnecessary DLL files and added unnecessary, always-running-in-the-background services.
Obviously listing all the applications I've discovered over the years to be "junk" is not possible, but I can suggest three categories of applications to avoid.
1.Utilities claiming they'll "Optimize Your RAM" or "Speed Up Your Computer". More than likely they'll either slow it down or do nothing at all.
2.Poorly written Explorer plug-in applications. Because they hook directly into Explorer's shell may slow down and in a worst case scenario crash your computer.
3.Registry Cleaners. Unless you're at least a bit beyond novice do not install a Registry cleaner. Novices will often discover that cleaning their Registry is a lot like playing Russian Roulette. And even if you consider yourself a bit beyond novice, do not allow your Registry cleaner to run in the background. Most versions will significantly hog your Windows resources.
Also do not install multiple anti virus applications. Multiple anti virus programs are counter productive and can create serious Registry problems.
And do not select an anti virus program by the number of features its vendor advertises. Bloated anti virus programs like Registry cleaners will make extraordinary demands on your system's resources.
In fact, I suggest you investigate AVG (the free version) and Microsoft's Security Essentials (now offered as a free download).
Beware becoming a junkie of junk applications, but if you've been seduced and your computer has gone from sprinter to a dawdler, I suggest you:
Identify your junk applications and use Revo Uninstaller (revouninstaller.com) to uninstall them and clean your computer of application leftovers.
Better yet, why not start the New Year right by inviting a qualified technician to your home and, with all your peripherals attached, thoroughly purge the junk from your computer.
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.
Upgrade shouldn't affect XP software programs (01/18/10)
Although the Good Boot e-mail I receive is the way I most often discover the concerns of individual novice users, my first seminar of each new season has always been the way I discover the most prevalent general concerns of novice users. Often they are concerns I've not addressed in a Good Boot.
And so it was at my first seminar (Windows7) of the 2010 season. I discovered I had not devoted a Good Boot to the most significant concern of the XP attendees.
I had enthusiastically recommended XP-ers upgrade to Windows 7 in many Good Boots. However, that recommendation came with a caveat that they consider employing a qualified technician to install it, configure it and transfer files to it. But I failed to mentioned that after upgrading to Windows 7 and installing their programs, XP-ers should not experience any significant problems doing what they did with most of their XP software programs.
If your XP software programs are the most current version, most of them will be compatible with Windows 7 and when installed will insure you'll be able to proceed with normal daily computing activities.
However, should you discover one of your programs is not compatible, know that most vendors will probably have a free Windows 7 update to download or a reasonably priced Windows 7 compatible version.
Keep in mind that an operating system, be it XP, Vista or Windows 7, is nothing more than a platform on which software programs run.
Obviously for XP-ers, the Windows 7 landscape will look significantly different. But unless, for whatever reason, an XP-er updated an XP program that included a significant face lift, its landscape will look as it did when it was running under XP.
I'm in no way implying that XP-ers will not have to dedicate considerable effort to mastering Windows 7's features. What I am saying is XP-ers should not be reluctant to upgrade to Window 7 because of any concern the new features specific to the Windows 7 operating system will adversely affect their ability to perform most of their former XP computing activities.
In fact, XP-ers may actually discover their computer and software programs will be more responsive and that Windows 7 will recognize some of their antiquated hardware that XP had difficulty recognizing.
Note: For those who had difficulty finding the free version of Revo Uninstaller, do a Google search for "free Revo uninstaller." Go to the bottom of the "Download Revo Uninstaller Freeware - Free and Full Download" Web page and download the free version.
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.
Carbonite online backup program a security blanket (02/01/10)
Recently I had some free time and decided to satisfy my curiosity on whether or not my Carbonite's online backup program was all it was advertised to be. And because it was I decided to mention it again in a Good Boot.
Carbonite automatically backs up the most important files on your computer and stores them in a secure, off-site location.
Those files include but are not limited to: AppData Local, Locallow and Roaming, Contacts, Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Favorites, Music, Pictures, Programs and Videos -files that can be easily recovered from any computer.
Carbonite is novice-friendly, installs quickly and easily, works in the background to update your backup without slowing down your computer, "double-encrypts" files so only you can see your files, retrieves your backed up files over the Internet with its remote access and "just in case" does not delete a file for two weeks after you delete the file from your had drive.
To retrieve one, several or all your files you simply click on Start ]] Computer and scroll down to the Carbonite folder. It opens and displays like any Windows Explorer folder all your backed up folders and files. In addition there's a folder displaying files pending backup.
Carbonite also provides an e-mail warning if for whatever reason a week passes without it being able to back up your data.
As an example: I seldom use our user group laptop between meetings. If I do not boot it for over a week I'll receive an e-mail sent to my desktop computer alerting me that there has been no recent updated backup of the data on the laptop.
The cost is $54.95 per "year" for unlimited backup space with no limit on file size.
The only complaint I've received concerns the length of time it takes Carbonite to initially upload data. It's true that depending on Carbonite's access to your computer and the amount of data to be uploaded, the initial upload may take several days. But once the initial upload is complete, updating the backup is so efficient you'll not be aware of it.
Carbonite offers a 15 day risk-free, no-credit-card-required, full-version trial.
I'm not suggesting you forgo backing up to an external hard drive. However keep in mind an external hard drive is nothing more than a hard drive in a box, subject to the same hazards that can corrupt your computer's hard drive.
Carbonite has become my data security blanket.
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.
Utility extracts photos, sound from PowerPoint (02/08/10)
Almost every day I receive at least one e-mail with a PowerPoint attachment.
Many of the PowerPoint presentations contain extraordinary photos and/or music (wav files). Photos and music I extract from the PowerPoint presentation and relocate to my personal photo and music collection.
If you'd like to do the same, Google "PowerPoint Image Extractor v1.2" (be sure it's version 1.2). Download it, unzip it and install it.
Powerpoint Image Extractor is a user-friendly Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 "freeware utility" that extracts picture and wave files embedded in PowerPoint presentations (.PPT) and sideshows (.PPS files).
Note: The Web site does not list Powerpoint Image Extractor as Windows 7 compatible, but it is compatible.
When PowerPoint Image Extractor opens there's a "Load" button in the lower right of the panel. It'll open your Windows Explorer. Scroll to where you've saved your PowerPoint files (.PPT and .PPS) and click on the appropriate file.
Powerpoint Image Extractor will extract the photos and sound files and copy them to a folder it creates in the same folder as the PowerPoint file. The photo and wav files can then be relocated to your Pictures and Music folders.
Another "freeware" utility that might interest "a bit beyond novice" users is Autoruns for Windows v9.57 (Google it). Although it's listed as an XP utility, it will run under Vista and Windows 7.
This little utility is a comprehensive, all-in-one presentation of a description, the publisher and the auto-starting location of the start-up monitor. It shows you what programs are configured to run during system boot-up or log-in with the entries in the order Windows processes them.
The auto-run programs include those in your startup folder, Run, RunOnce and other Registry keys. For those definitely "a bit beyond novice," Autoruns for Windows can be configured to show many other locations and auto-start services.
On a final note. If you're new to Windows 7 or a bit confused about Windows 7's Explorer Documents and Libraries presentation, know my Feb. 13 seminar at 9:30 a.m. at Lee Memorial Hospital Auditorium will be dedicated to all you must know about Windows 7 Explorer.
I'll also demonstrate an extraordinary and useful features of Windows 7. A feature that allows you to configure your Start Menu tabs (Documents, Pictures, Music and Videos ) to add to their default view, the Documents, Pictures, Music and Videos folders on an external hard drive(s).
For additional information e-mail me at fmbigal@embarqmail.com.
Be careful when choosing, disabling startup programs (02/15/10)
Too many Good Booters suffer Startup paranoia. They believe startup programs are the most significant cause of their computer losing its out-of-the-box verve.
It's true an excessive number of startups and/or Startups that are slow to start can contribute to slowing down a boot to desktop and because many run continuously in the background, can contribute to sluggish computing activities. But startups are not necessarily the only nor often the most significant contributor to computer lethargy.
The good news is managing (disabling and enabling) most startups is not a difficult task.
However before disabling a startup, consider this:
1. There are many necessary system startups dedicated to initiating Windows. Should you eliminate a necessary Windows startup, guess what, when you next reboot, Windows will not start up.
2. There are startups dedicated to insuring all the default features of your hardware and favorite programs initiate. The consequence of eliminating their startups is obvious.
3. There may be programs and utilities you might like to be up and running or have shortcuts in your Notification Area when you arrive at your Desktop to begin your daily activities.
When I arrive at my desktop I want several of my programs up and running. As the folks in the JG Wentworth ad would say, "They're my programs and I need them now!" But because I've designated the programs as startups, I must be willing to accept the extra few seconds it takes for my desktop to completely initiate.
Example: My Post-it notes program is a notoriously slow startup. But because it posts to my desktop all my to dos -particularly of all my honey dos, I tolerate its slow start up.
And when they're all up and about, be willing to tolerate a bit of system slowdown.
To view most of your startups, click Start, Run, type in msconfig and click OK. On the msconfig panel click Startup. Most of your startup programs will be listed.
By unchecking the check box to the left of any one of the startup programs, you can prevent it from starting up. Conversely, if you want to activate or reactivate a startup program in msconfig, because all your startup programs (checked or unchecked) will always be listed, you need only check a checkbox.
The problem for a novice can be knowing what startups are absolutely necessary. So if you're a novice, I recommend consulting with your technician before attempting to eliminate a startup.
Here's wishing you a Good Boot.