Questions and Answers November 2008

 

Q. (Email message) I purchased a new Dell computer several months ago that came with Windows Vista but no word processing program.   I don't need anything as complex (or expensive) as Word, but I do need something small and simple.   Have found some on line that can be downloaded but I don't know whether to trust them.   Do you know of anything you could recommend?  

A. Two word processing programs come with your Windows Vista operating system i.e. Notepad (Start> All Programs> Accessories> Notepad) and WordPad (Start> All Programs> Accessories> WordPad). The former is more of text editor used for simpler word processing e.g. used for programming and configuration and less frequently used for documentation. WordPad is more “sophisticated” but not nearly so as programs like MS Word and Word Perfect.

            OpenOffice is a suite that contains Writer, a word processing program. The suite is a free, open source product. It is comparable and compatible with the expensive MS Office suite. Among other things it also contains spreadsheet (Calc), database (Base) and presentation (Impress) programs. I have usedWriter often especially to create documents then export as PDF files. The suite is available as a download at: http://www.openoffice.org/ .

            Microsoft Works is another suite that is much less expensive then MS Office. Besides containing a word processor, it also has spreadsheet and database programs. I understand that MS Works 9.0 is in the process of offering a free version using advertisements for support.

           

Q. (Email message) The name of the free program on the web that is like Microsoft Office is called Neo Office. I went ahead and downloaded it. I definitely like the spreadsheet feature better than the one that I bought for my Mac. The Neo Office may only be for the Mac...I'm not sure.

A. You are correct stating that Neo Office is only for the Mac. It is a full-featured set of office applications (including word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, drawing, and database programs) for Mac OS X. Based on the OpenOffice.org office suite, NeoOffice has integrated dozens of native Mac features and can import, edit, and exchange files with other popular office programs such as Microsoft Office.

            For Mac users, I would strongly recommend the entire suite. It is available at: http://www.neooffice.org/neojava/en/download.php#download .

 

Q. (Email message) Followed your instructions (my column dated October 2008 detailing a method of creating a shortcut on the Desktop to shutdown a computer) but got "the file shutdown.exe-s-t01 cannot be found".

  A. This is a common error committed by PC users. With any computer command the details must be specific including spacing, caps etc. In your case you failed to insert a space between thet and the number 01. The correct command should be “ shutdown.exe -s -t 01” (without quote marks).

 

Q. (Email message) I was reading your Meeting Notes (computer club SIG) today and realize that there are some Computer Mtce (Maintenance) programs that I need to add.   Tell me your feelings about RegCure.   I keep getting notices about my virtual memory being low and wonder if I should purchase RegCure to help me with that problem.   I am always afraid to add anything to my computer without a suggestion from an expert.

A. Although I have not used it, I suggest that you not download RegCure or participate in the “free scan” that is offered. The program has received some "bad press". Some have endorsed it and feel that it has been worthwhile. Why take a chance?

            Easy Cleaner ( http://personal.inet.fi/business/toniarts/ecleane.htm )

or CCleaner ( http://www.download.com/3000-2144_4-10752696.html ) are used by many of our computer club members to help “clean up” their computers . Both are free and very useful and function much like RegCure.  

            There are many causes of “ low virtual memory”. Virtual memory is located on your hard drive as a swap or page file and is used when your computer runs low on RAM (Random Access Memory) or “hard” memory i.e. sticks of memories that are inserted into slots on your motherboard PC. Virtual memory is essential; if absent your computer would not function. In your situation, when you use multiple applications at the same time, your computer slows up and you receive “ notices about my virtual memory being low”.

            I suspect that in your case you need more RAM. You should check this possibility out. Adding RAM is relatively inexpensive.

            There are other factors to consider in managing a slow computer. These include going through all your programs and removing those that you no longer use or need. In Windows XP click Start; click Control Panel; click on Add and Remove Programs; select those you want to remove; click Remove. If the program has an uninstaller, use it. Get rid of certain items in your startup. Click on Start; click Run; type in msconfig; click on the Startup tab and uncheck the appropriate boxes. Some of these names are cryptic. Do not uncheck your antivirus program, Task Monitor, Scan Registry, System Tray and Load Power Profile. This Web site might help you decide what to uncheck i.e. http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php .

Rule out a virus or Trojan infection. Make certain your antivirus software is updated .

Rule out malware with the appropriate Spyware removal tools, e.g. Ad-Aware and SpyBot. I currently use BO Clean http://www.comodo.com/boclean/CBO_download.html

Use an adequate firewall with software, e.g. Zone Alarm or hardware, e.g. router.

            Make certain that you have the latest Microsoft service packs and critical updates.

Scandisk and defrag routinely. The former is to check your hard drive while the latter properly aligns file fragments so that they are contiguous.

Periodically, use programs such as CCleaner.

Run Processes (right click the Taskbar; select Task Manager; click Processes tab).   Check if any unnecessary program is taking up a large amount of memory.

 

Q. How do I find out in Vista if I have downloaded a specific security update e.g. KKB950582? It was not difficult in Windows XP.

A. The procedure is different in Vista. Click Start; click Control Panel; click Programs; click Programs and Features; click View installed updates (left panel) and use the horizontal scroll. You should be able to see if the update in question e.g. KKB950582 is present.

 

Q. (Email message) Recently, I began using Vista. How do I include Pictures to the list of options in the SendTo menu? It is not listed at the present time.

A. In Vista, Pictures is not present by default in the SendTo menu. You must add its shortcut to the SendTo folder. One method to do so is to click on the Start button; type shell:sendto (or %appdata%\microsoft\windows\sendto) into the search box; click Enter which opens the SendTo folder; click the File menu; click New; click Shortcut and follow the Create Shortcut Wizard. In your case, use the Browse button to your Pictures folder. The path using the Browse button on my personal computer to the Pictures folder is: Browse button> John> Pictures> OK> type in name e.g. Pictures> Finish.

 

Q. (Email address) When I try to access www.yahoo.com (Internet Explorer) on my desktop PC, it always goes to m.www.yahoo.com. I have tried putting www.yahoo.com on the trusted sites list but that didn't work. I have also looked for www.yahoo.com on the restricted sites list but it wasn't there. I don't have this problem on my laptop PC. I believe this started happening after my son visited us and worked on the PC. Any suggestions. This is similar to the problem a friend of mine is having on his PC. He can't access www.google.com on his PC, but he can access every other site he tries. He says the Google site is not on his restricted sites list.

A. To be safe, run a virus scan. Your situation has been experienced by many others and has responded to the following therapy: Open Internet Explorer; click on Tools; click on Internet Options; click on the General tab; select Browsing histories Delete button and delete Temporary internet files, cookies and history.

            (The questioner later wrote back: “ I deleted the cookies, history and temporary internet files and it worked. I believe my son my have gone out to the Yahoo mobile site and caused a cookie to inhabit my machine so that every time I tried to go to yahoo.com, the cookie redirected me to the mobile Yahoo site.”)

 

Q. (Email message) How can I do mass emailing in outlook express without showing all recipients names?  

A. Revealing other email addresses than your own is a definite “no-no”. Send the message to yourself and send the rest as BCC (Blind Carbon Copy). I use this method often e.g. sending an email to my personal email address and the many addresses in a group as BCC.