KK Presentation Sept 11, 2007

1. Welcome to Giveaway of the day project, the new initiative in the software distribution world

Every day we offer for FREE licensed software you'd have to buy otherwise!

(Do at your own risk. However, I feel they are essentially safe to install. Occasionally one is very worthwhile but most are of questionable value.)

2. So, what do you do if someone sends you a file created in the latest version of Word, Excel or PowerPoint You won't be able to open the file

with earlier versions of Office. That is, unless you download the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack. It will help you with these files:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspxFamilyID=941b3470-3ae9-4aee-8f43-c6bb74cd1466&displaylang=en

3. If email messages gets stuck in Vista Windows Mail Outbox: MS has released a fix for this problem. http://tinyurl.com/2rkaro

4. The following from Dick Smith: Disable Error Reporting notification

When Windows XP encounters a severe error that has the potential to crash the operating system, it immediately halts the offending

program and displays an error message that says the application has encountered a problem and needs to close. Then, the operating

system prompts you to send an error report to Microsoft. You can avoid having to click the Don't Send button by disabling Error

Reporting. Here's how:

1. Press [Windows][Break] to display the System Properties dialog box.

2. Select the Advanced tab and click the Error Reporting button.

3. When you see the Error Reporting dialog box, select the Disable Error Reporting option. (If you don't want to see any type of error

message, clear the But Notify Me When Critical Errors Occur check box.)

4. Click OK twice - once to close the Error Reporting dialog box and once to close the System Properties dialog box.

Note: This tip is for both Windows XP Home and Professional.

5. Another tip by Dick Smith: I thought you might be interested in this program to Disable Vista's User Account Control prompts while

protecting your system. It is a freebee.

http://tinyurl.com/2qdwmf

(The source of next presentations: October 07 Smart Computing)

Answers to Users most common questions about device drivers

What are device drivers, and when should I update them How do I know if new driver versions are available

Small programs that let an operating system recognize and operate specific hardware devices
Ties software and hardware together
Windows ships with drivers for many basic devices
You should typically install the manufacturer s drivers that ship with the device itself particularly if you want to use advanced features

of that hardware

Some manufacturer Web sites recommend updating drivers regularly
No need to update drivers once your hardware devices are installed and working properly Consider updates when

-Something in the PC changes and you encounter performance or operating problems

-Encounter problems with another device that had been working properly

-Issues arise with the PC in general

Hardware manufacturer usually the best source
If there is a newer version available, read the documentation or Readme file that describes the changes and fixes in the update
If the new driver addresses problems that you re experiencing, then upgrade

How should I update my device drivers

Distributed as executable files (usually marked with an .EXE extension)
Simply download new installer and run it> will locate old driver and then remove it or overwrite it with new driver
Load up into memory and run from memory, ergo, reboot the PC so new driver version loads into memory as your computer starts
Downloading the driver file without an automated installer, try updating the driver using the Device Manager

Windows XP> Start> Control Panel> Performance And Maintenance (in Category View)> System> Hardware tab > click the Device
Manager button

Vista> Start> right-click Computer> Properties> click the Device Manager link in the left pane

Scroll down> expand device tree until you locate the device you want to update> right-click the device> Properties> Select Driver tab>
click Update Driver> follow Hardware Update Wizard to install the new downloaded driver

Important: always refer to the manufacturer s installation instructions for details and caveats
Another option: Microsoft Update (update.microsoft.com), which scans your system and determines what updates are available for your
computer

What happens if the new drivers don t work properly Can I get the original drivers back

Roll Back Driver i.e. use Properties of the device in Device Manager

If this doesn t work, reinstall original driver or download from manufacturer Web site

Differences Between Windows Live Messenger & Windows Messenger

Messenger service

Created for Microsoft network system administrators

Network-based system notification service

Included in the Windows OS (operating system) since Windows 3.0

Used to connect with a LAN (local-area network)

Your computer can receive up-to-date information and notifications from system administrators re status of your network

Automatically boots whenever you log in to Windows when it detects a connection with another computer, then communicates with via opened ports

Commands and notifications from the network are sent and received

Notifications appear Notification Area

Consumes memory and slows your computer s operations> Windows will notify you that it is running low on memory instead of shutting down
Messenger> recommends user close user applications instead of Messenger service, so that the OS can maintain the connection initiated by
Windows Messenger.

Windows Live Messenger (WLM)

End-user chat and instant messaging client; replaced MSN Messenger

Available for download at messenger.live.com

Allows communication in a variety of ways with friends (contact list)

Includes standard text-based instant messaging and voice and video chat

Problems with both

Consume fair amount of resources resulting in a slow PC

Can be security risks, allowing unwanted advertisements to reach the computer through ports opened by the applications

Internet advertisers get through ports used by Messenger service to send pop-up advertisements via connected computers: these open in a window
entitled Messenger Service allowing malicious software to open into the PC thus attacking the OS

Getting rid of Messenger on home PCs

Recommended by MS
Messenger dcd with later vers of WinXP and Vista

Start> Run> type services.msc> double click on Messenger> General tab> note description and path> at Startup type, select Disabled

Disabling/Uninstalling WLM

Choose never to download WLM in the first place

If installed it is possible to disable its connection to the Internet

Open WLM> Tools> Options> WLM offers a different options

Another option: Start> Control Panel> Add Or Remove Programs

Disable Unused Services

Eat up resources and poses a security risk

Click Start> Run> type services.msc > OK

Click the service to show description of the service> right-clicking to toggle its options

Use caution when changing the status (some need to be enabled for operating system to function properly; if unsure do NOT disable

Easy-to-use guide to which services can and can t be disabled:

www.theeldergeek.com/services_guide.htm