Grinches eager to deliver computer viruses (11/17/00)

Here I go again - nag, nag, nag.

What in the name of common sense are you all doing out there? Don't you ever listen to me?

David Keller, my personal technician (he who must be obeyed) told me that in the last couple of months, he has been called to clean up more virus-damaged computers than he has in the last two years,

Guys and gals - the rascals are out there just waiting for you, particularly the Beleaguered Novice. So if you do not want to pay a couple of hundred dollars to restore your system - for gosh sakes listen.

I will not bore you with another complete article on viruses. Instead I recommend you go to - www. swfpcug.org and click on the Good Boot icon and read Virus Siren. But I will discuss why there's an uncommon growth in virus infected computers.

The first reason is a nobrainer. There are more of you to infect. The extraordinary growth of those who have become addicted to e-mail provides the virus rascals with a much greater opportunity to display their wares.

And folks, this is the time of year they enjoy extraordinary success. How could anyone believe someone would take advantage of anyone during the holiday season? Well they do. Maybe an e-mail that tells you its attachment shows Santa delivering presents down your chimney. Ali, yes it does. But what it does not tell you is that when Santa leaves; he takes your system with him. Or, perhaps it might tell you that this is a cute screen saver for Hanukkah - allowing you to light a new candle each evening. What it does not tell you is when you light the first candle your monitor goes black and cannot be restored for viewing.

Please know that I am not being cute or irreverent. These two viruses made honorable mention in the 1999 holiday season "Most Successful Viruses."

When you receive an email attachment, before you open it, ask yourself these four questions:

Do you know who the email is from?

Do you know what the attachment is?

Do you know what the attachment does?

Does the attachment originate from the person who is sending you the e-mail?

If you can answer "YES" to ALL four questions, you can be assured that you may open the e-mail attachment with impunity.

If you answer no to any one of these questions. delete the e-mail.

Here's wishing you a good boot.   [index]

Computer Journal reveals valuable information   (12/8/00)

For those of you who are proud to be known as a Good Boot Beleaguered Novice. May I impose upon your hospitality and offer a suggestion?

The Southwest Florida PC User Group publishes the Southwest Florida Personal Computing Journal - a 48 page monthly that I truly believe will provide you with extraordinary computer and computing information and instruction.

It is one of the few publications that is written and illustrated for a Beleaguered Novice.

The articles are selected based on the feedback received from our 2000 user group and chapter members, not selected by some Silicon Valley, techie-talk editor wearing a "Beanie with a spinner on top."

The journal includes illustrated articles and tutorials: "Beyond the Start Button" for those who may have only mastered the art of turning on their computer. "A Byte Beyond Novice" is for those who are a bit bored with Solitaire and e-mail and are ready to come out of the computer closet.

For those who long to participate in the brave new world of the Internet and email, we offer. How to master AOL, Outlook Express and Internet Explorer.

One of our most popular monthly Internet articles is Surfing with Browser and Links. Our Internet travel agents Judy Griffiths and Marilyn Samuel, will provide suggestions for discovering timely and interesting Web sites.

When you receive your first copy of the Journal, you also receive a free CD that has copies of all the year-to-date and the previous year Journals. This is an important perk.

For if your first journal contains an ongoing series (say on AOL or Internet Explorer), you have an indexed CD-ROM to find all the previous articles. Individual articles can be read and printed.

If you are so inclined, you can print an entire past Journal. Simply by clicking on a dated journal file.

Instructions come with the CD. And know that we had one of our most Beleaguered of Novices test the instructions to ensure they were appropriate and understandable.

A subscription to the Computing Journal also includes a personalized name tag that allows the subscriber to attend any Southwest Florida PC User Group or Regional Chapter meeting without additional cost or obligation.

And if you request it, I will send you my personal Good Boot Beleaguered Novice name tag that you can proudly wear to proclaim to the world that you have taken up residency in the wonderful world of cyberspace.

If you are interested in subscribing, e-mail me at fmbigal@embarqmail.com.

The Journal is available in the magazine section of any Lee County library branch.

If you need help on any computer problem Go to www.swfpcug.org. Click on "Need Help!" Send me your question in the preaddressed e-mail.

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

Storage files handy tool for Web surfers   (12/15/00)

In "The Aeneid," Virgil told us: Fama malum quo non aliud velocius ullum.

Translated, he is telling us that: Nothing travels faster than scandal.

Virgil, of course, was not a computer "Beleaguered Novice."  If he was, he would have substituted computer misinformation for scandal.

I am constantly asked by "Beleaguered Novices" how they can find and delete cookies and TI (Temporary Internet) files.  And so doing, protect themselves, their families and their pets from these menaces to life, liberty and the pursuit of computer happiness.

Am I being too facetious? Perhaps. But please know that it is only because the "Beleaguered Novice" has much more to be concerned about than cookies and TI files. Maybe - like mastering Windows 95/98!

In this article, I will discuss TI files. If you want my opinion on you and your cookies, you can go to www.swfpcug.org, click on Good Boot and read my article "What, No Chocolate Chip Cookies?"

TI files are placed on your hard drive for a very important reason. Windows knows that access to a Web site is much faster if the location of that Web site is on your hard drive. You may have noticed that the first time you access a Web site, it may take a while for the site to completely appear.

But if you go off to another site and then return to that site. It snaps back almost instantaneously. This is because the site location, the graphics and even the music associated with the site are placed on your hard drive.

For the surfer who repeatedly goes to particular sites. This is an extraordinary time saver.

As for the space these temporary files take up on your hard drive: If you are using Internet Explorer. go to tools, Internet options, settings.  By default the setting is for about 2 percent of your total hard drive capacity. You can adjust if to whatever you want.  When your TI files reach the size setting you have chosen, the oldest files are blown off to make room for the new.

Thus, your most accessed Web sites are always expeditiously available to Windows because they are on your hard drive.

Is there a reason to delete these files? In my opinion, only if you have gone to a site that for whatever reason, you do not want anyone to know you have visited.

The only other reason I can think of for you to reduce the space TI files take up on your hard drive is that you are running low on hard drive space.

If you are, it is more practical to reduce the amount of space allotted to them.   Better yet.  Invest in a hard drive with a gaggle of Gigabytes.

Remember, if you need help on any computer problem or when to upgrade, go to www.swfpcug.org. Click on "Need Help?". Send me your question in the pre addressed e-mail.

Here's wishing you a good boot.    [index]

Don't be embarrassed to as for help  (12/22/00)

Letting pro assemble computer good idea  (12/29/00)

A Fort Myers man I was told

Thought he was brave, courageous and bold

Without using his thinker he attempted to tinker

With the 'puter he was recently sold


Now sadly the 'puter doth reside unattended, alone were it died

For our man from Fort Myers forgot

That the beast he had recently got

Had thing-a-ma-jigs and do-dads galore

That without a technician aware of the mission

Would forever reside on the floor

For most Beleaguered Novices, their inability to assemble a computer rivals my inability to create poetry. But with so many of them, and because of the "macho factor", they will attempt to give it the old college try. An attempt that more often than not leads to frustration and a huge bill from their technician, who must spend extraordinary time repairing the damage.

Why do I use the term "macho factor"? Because the challenge of putting together something they have no business attempting to put together, is a guy thing. The ladies are much more willing to seek assistance.

You do not believe me? Well know this. More often than not when I receive a phone call requesting assistance, it will be from the lady of the house. But I will hear in the background Mr. Macho telling her to ask me this question or that question.

Why am I seeming to brow-beat you guys? Honestly, it is only because you do not need to feel masculinity challenged if you employ a qualified technician to assemble and tweak your new computer. In fact, the money you save might even provide a bit of extra cash to purchase an additional do-dad for your computer. It will also prevent those annoying "I told you so's", from your significant other.

Please consider having a qualified technician set-up your new computer. And have it done in your home with your printer, scanner and phone line attached: By doing so, your technician can tweak it to perfection.

My definition of a qualified technician is: He will discuss your problem on the phone before he comes to your home - that is, in fact, if you know what your problem is. Unless your problem is hardware related, you will not be charged if he cannot fix the problem. He does not sell hardware. He charges about $65 an hour. Less than that, I believe you probably are dealing with a wannabe technician.

If you do not know of qualified technician, e-mail me and I will recommend one.

Here's wishing you Good Boot.    [index]

[ Home ]

09/11/2007