SPAUG Newsletter September 2003
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Notes from the Prez
by Jim Dinkey
Trials and Tribulations on upgrading to XP.
Current lore is that when you receive a new computer you should merely move all of your files over to the new computer from the old computer and that all would be wonderful with the new computer. All depends on what your objectives are and how much history you have with your old computer.
Here are some realities concerning the rules and methods of crawling onto a new computer:
- No matter what they say, the Microsoft transfer product does not work on a consistent basis. Worse, it is on the CD but is not installed. You have to know to go get it off the CD and install it. Further, while it was successful in bringing over an Address List from a '98 computer to an XP computer, the Outlook Express Mail Folder merely caused an exception and the whole process went down the tubes. Part of it worked and the other failed. And, yes, the wizard had been updated. So Microsoft might be of some help in moving to a new computer, but don't count on it.
- If you are attempting to move the e-mail files of Outlook Express to a new computer, there are several significant ways of doing it:
- You can use the EXPORT function and pray that you can divine where the files have been exported to as Microsoft doesn't tell you where the file has been stored in '98. Even when the exported information has been taken to the new computer, often the e-mail can not be unpacked.
- If you can figure out the concept of the Outlook Express file structure in relation to whether or not you have used multiple sign-ons and thus created what are called identities, then you can somehow get the files to the new machine using either a CD/RW or a network. One key piece of information is that Outlook Express has not been changed over the years and so the physical movement of the files is possible as long as you get the leveling lined up correctly.
- Finally, you can try some of the programs that purport to move your data over for you such as PCRelocator, Aloha Bob, etc. None of them seem to be able to successfully do the job as far as I am concerned.
- Having burned my fingers down to nubs on the Microsoft Transfer Problem (MTP) I decided to do it my way to avoid all of the hassles and anguish and to preserve all of my work over the years and so I opted to purchase a computer that I could control and that came with the operating system that I needed. It doesn't make much difference if it is Win2000 or WinXP, the procedure is identical but it generally cannot be employed with a computer whose manufacturer does not give you the original Microsoft install/upgrade CD for which you have paid but has, instead, given you an image of the finished disk complete with all of the "shovelware".
- By that statement, I have told you that if you do business with HP, Compaq, Dell, MicroCenter, Sony, or any other of the "big 10", that you are in for a transfer hassle of world magnitude. Many persons do business with them, but I have seen many users merely walk away from the old computer e-mail and data and just start all over again. Either that, or they have e-mailed their entire group of emails that they want on the new computer to themselves and then read them in from the server onto their new computer. Further, they have written down the address list and typed it in again on the new computer. I'm not saying it can't be accomplished, but the typing is a hassle proportional to the size of the number of e-mails and addresses to be transferred. Think what is like in a business environment.
I did an end-run around the whole problem by purchasing a computer that came with the requisite upgrade CD from Hank Skawinski [at DataWise www.datawise-pc.com] and so I took the old '98 disk out of the old computer and inserted it into one of the two 'shoes' that are on the new computer (merely attaching the old drive to the new computer is just as effective), and then Ghosted the entire old image onto the new "C" drive of my new computer, thereby wiping out all of the data that was delivered to me. Another way to go is to just put in a new drive thereby saving all of the delivered software but as you will see, that isn't too important.
Since the delivery from Hank always includes the driver CD for the motherboard, I then booted the '98 on the new computer and fed it the driver CD where requested. In this manner, '98 was brought up on the new computer.
Then I used an upgrade XP CD to install XP and the sum total was that my networking, files, accesses, e-mail, and Address Book and other critical files were all there as were most of my applications packages. It wasn't completely perfect, but it was about a tenth of the effort to reinstall al of the software I had built up over the years. Depending on what CD you use, the amount of downloading of the Security Updates and general updates is not out of line. I must say that having DSL for this function was extremely beneficial. That is a reasonable use of the Clinic on Saturday if you do not feel up to the complexities.
That is precisely what a SPAUG member did. By arrangement, we set up the computer on a separate table and the process was begun and we got involved only when requested. Worked out just fine.
A couple of caveats:
- Make a full backup just before beginning the process.
- REMOVE any anti-virus or other packages such as System Works that integrates itself into the operating system.
- Always take options that permit you to go back to some prior point. The additional space can be reclaimed at a later time.
And there you have the "simple" way of upgrading to XP. No wonder over 60% of the computers out there in the real world have not been modified since the computer was purchased. That explains how the spammers and virus writers can turn so many computers into zombies to unleash stuff your direction.
But that is another story.
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10 September General Meeting Notes
by Stan Hutchings
SPAUG Club CD Demo
John Sleeman demonstrated Brothers Keeper, a Windows genealogy program that will help you organize your family history information and let you print a large variety of charts and reports.
John Buck demonstrated IrfanView, a very fast, small, compact and innovative free graphic viewer for Windows. It has many features, including the ability to generate a slide show.
Administrivia
- The SPAUG CD is available from Jim Dinkey for a donation of $20. It has many useful and essential programs.
- Be sure to use your updated antivirus application, and use ZoneAlarm or other firewall. Bad things are happening to those who don't.
- If you need help setting up your computer to go online safely, make an appointment for the Saturday morning clinic at Jim Dinkey's.
Presentation
John Toole, executive director and CEO of the Computer History Museum, talked about their new location and exhibits. You can visit their home page here. He invited SPAUG members to consider becoming docents, volunteer for other activities, or donate old equipment or other items of interest.
CrossTalk/Random Access
- Bill Goldmacker suggested turning off some messenger services in Windows to prevent pop-ups. He will investigate two methods and determine the best way. Unintended consequences is the big concern - in addition to pop-ups, what else is affected?
- Norton Antivirus will optionally scan outgoing email to ensure you are not inadvertantly sending virus-contaminated mail. This is a good thing; after you send the email, a box pops up saying it's being scanned. If you're not scanning your outgoing email, it would be good to do so.
- Use MailWasher to get your mail, and view it online before downloading it. This will help keep viruses off your computer.
- Eudora causes some computers to lock up. If this happens, go to the Control Panel, Add-Remove Programs, remove Eudora, and then install version 6.0
- About 10% of hard drives fail in the first week of operation. Backup soon and often.
- Having problems with your computer? Make an appointment with Jim Dinkey for his Saturday Morning Clinic.
Presentation
After refreshments, Rick Altman of R. Altman Digital Consulting gave a presentation An Evening with PowerPoint, illustrating its use and abuse. (A similar cautionary article is available online at What's wrong with PowerPoint--and how to fix it by David Coursey, Executive Editor, AnchorDesk, and a lot of readers' comments.) As usual, Rick gave an informative and interesting presentation, liberally sprinkled with humor and advice. Rick's website has a lot of information, too.
Rick advised all would-be presenters to know the tool, ensure high-quality content, and give a good delivery. He then gave examples of good and over-done animation, with advice when and how to effectively use it. Then came advice on important "infrastructure" considerations: will it be printed?; what quality projector?; distance and size of audience from screen?; stand-alone or explained?.
Some of his advice included: start with Word, import to PowerPoint later; don't use font size less than 18 pt; create a global "look and feel" using the Master View; dark blue background with light (white or yellow) text is good for projection, but use black text on white background to print; avoid red; use light upbeat music, unless you'll talk a lot; Word Perfect Presentations is as good as MS PowerPoint, but not so widespread; IrfanView (available on the club CD) can build a slide show.
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17 September Planning Meeting Notes
by Stan Hutchings
- The meeting was held at Bev Altman's house; attendees: Jim Dinkey, Dick Delp, John Sleeman, Bev Altman, Susan Mueller, John Buck, Stan Hutchings, Nat Landes. The attendees enjoyed the refreshments served.
- Jim reported that the check sent to the State for our non-profit registration has not yet been cashed. Arlan Kertz is investigating what we need to do.
- Jim will try to get some hardware stuff of general use for the door prize. Bev will look for things, too. Any member contributions, suggestions or advice would be appreciated.
- Nat reports the treasury is holding steady at about $7200. Bev added another $900 to the account, mainly from CD sales and donations from Jim's Saturday Clinic, where non-SPAUG persons are invited to join SPAUG, and usually do. The Newsletter is paid up, and in advance.
- Jim reports the search for a new projector is ongoing.
- Susan has about 100 copies of PrintScreen printed. She brought up an interesting issue regarding speakers and general meeting programs, about broadening our interests to encompass technology advances in all fields, not just computers. Nat agreed, and gave several examples of interesting technology. He'd like to hear a "futurist" talk about where computers and technology are heading. A couple of things occurred to John Sleeman - the DISIG is well attended and involves a lot of "hands-on" activity, rather than just attending talks; the early PC clubs were largely for techies doing their "homebrew" thing. We are concerned about falling membership and activity. Maybe we should see a connection between the time when PC clubs were vibrant and members were more active. Can we use this idea?
- John Buck adds, SIGs should be even more "hands-on" than a general meeting; certainly the WebSIG is. The only reason for voluntarily joining any organization is one or more or of these --
• It allows you to do something better than you could do it on your own;
• It allows you to do something you couldn't do on your own;
• It allows you to do something cheaper than you could do it on your own.
• to participate with people of similar interests, and to share knowledge and experience.
How might we apply these as tests and tools to find and create an appropriate fit between SPAUG and our larger community?
- Coming meeting speakers were announced and confirmed.
- Elections will be held in November. The current slate of officers is up for re-election, but Jim would like a Publicity Chairman. Susan Mueller graciously volunteered.
- John Buck has some ideas for Club CD demo of Slowview and Irfanview. We need some graphical demos with interest.
- At the WebSIG, John Sleeman offered to do a demo of OpenOffice.org, which is on the Club CD and is one of the major offerings (sizewise). The WebSIG group loaded it onto the club computer to check out the process, and were successful. They checked out the spreadsheet program, using some of the functions, and loading an Excel spreadsheet. The charts were not rendered perfectly, but the data was present. The group loaded and ran Excel Viewer v8.0, which is also on the CD, and opened the spreadsheet - it rendered accurately.
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Unexpected Attachment Deletions by Outlook Express 6
by Bill Goldmacker
Have you had someone send you attachments that mysteriously disappeared before you got them? I had forwarded some mail with attachments home from work. The attachments were deleted by Outlook Express (OE) because, according to OE's rules, they POTENTIALLY had viruses. These particular files made it through a corporate system similar to Mail Washer and Symantec antivirus. I think OE's deletion of a text file (.txt) and a Adobe Acrobat file (.pdf) is a little ridiculous.
I was able to turn off this "feature" by going to the Tools menu, then Options, then Security. That is where I saw the phrase "potentially contain a virus" and clicked to uncheck the feature.
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