By the way, if you like this kind of article, click the icon
- he has a free version, and an even better paid subscription that is very inexpensive considering the value of the information.
Submitted by Stan Hutchings
The Webmaster will provide links to files or sites of potential interest to SPAUG members, which are suggested by other members. Just connect to the web and click on the hyperlinks. If that does not work, copy the links into your browser URL address field and press enter.
If any of you members have suggestions, they would be more than welcome - . Share your favorite sites with other SPAUG members.
Here is an interesting evaluation of the Microsoft Windows Defender Beta 2. Also there are interesting comments about SpyBot's and AdAware's effectiveness to keep the various bots out of your computer. I use both, and am aware that they are far from perfect, but guess that I am not fully cognizant about just how bad they are. I also use Spy Sweeper and Microsoft AntiSpyware to round out the cocktail. Enjoy the article and evaluate whether or not you are doing enough.
Submitted by Jim Dinkey
Paul English's website contains information for the major wireless, local & long distance, and broadband service providers in the U.S. In addition, most of the major credit card companies, many utilities, financial service companies, insurance companies, and others are also listed in an easy-to-use, categorized database. His website home is at www.gethuman.com, click this link to the gethuman database.
Among the many customer service FAQ tips on English's site, he lists good advice for dealing with customer service representatives who are based overseas and may not understand or speak English well.
English also includes tips on finding companies' 1-800 phone numbers. The easiest way is to dial 1-800-555-1212, a free listing service. Another way is to use Google and enter "company name" and "phone number" (include the quotes if the company is more than one word). The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission also runs a free service call EDGAR which lists the mailing addresses for public companies.
Submitted by Stan Hutchings
Everyone pays the minimum for their Laptop and winds up with a 30 GB drive that should have been an 80 GB drive.
This linked URL shows you how to safely do the upgrade (even includes a quite-good video on how to accomplish it) by using a kit (under $50) that permits you to come up with a USB hard drive kit for eventual backups by using the old, replaced drive. If you have need and don't feel up to the hassle, plan on a Clinic visit. See more in the March Newsletter.
Submitted by Jim Dinkey
A very informative article about search engine records and the law. Scary!!!
Submitted by Larry Templeton
An article by Fred Langa tells how to put Windows XP on a USB Thumb Drive. Here's the intro, "Chances are you already either have a USB "thumb" or "flash" drive, or you will have one in the near future--- these little solid-state flash memory devices are inexpensive, nearly ubiquitous, and very, very handy. Not only can they replace floppy drives for casual file transfers, but the larger capacity thumb drives also can serve as the basis for an excellent, fit-in-your-pocket software repair kit, letting you diagnose and repair PCs, including those that might otherwise be unbootable or that are locked by passwords or other problems. I've pulled the whole thing together in a complete step-by-step article illustrated with many live screen shots. It's posted now, free."
By the way, if you like this kind of article, click the icon - he has a free version, and an even better paid subscription that is very inexpensive considering the value of the information.
Submitted by Stan Hutchings
