• If things can go bad, they will do it just before the big project.
• Income Taxes are a big project.
• Most people do not defragment at least monthly.
• Most tend to not check the disk before defragmenting, assuring great catastrophe if the disk is not perfect and the defragmenter is allowed to spread the corruption around.
• No matter what the defragmenter says about “Your disk does not need defragmenting”, do it anyhow. The specific files you are using, a small number, are the very ones that need it.
• NTFS trumps FAT32 virtually always.
• FAT32 stops at 37 GB; NTFS in terabytes.
• Acronis 8 and 9 run three times faster than 6.
• Defragment just before you do your first full Acronis backup. Do not defragment between incremental runs to avoid causing moved files to be copied redundantly.
• The same applies to all backup schemes.
• Making incremental backups is 10X faster.
• If Microsoft Defragment leaves too much remaining, run the defragmenter from Safe Mode.
• If that doesn't do it, use Ghost to copy the files off and then restore them; or copy to a new HDD.
• Always set the computer to download Critical Updates automatically.
• Always check manually after the second Tuesday for non-critical updates that are not eligible for automatic updates.
• Use Regclean monthly to assure the junk is removed from the registry.
• Run Systemworks from the CD to assure that overall structure is OK.
• Always have a recent backup before running Regvac or CCleaner.
• AdAware and Spybot S&D are great but not enough. Still, they should be run daily.
• Spy Sweeper seems to also be desirable — not free.
• Be sure to have Microsoft Windows Defender running.
• Be sure to download Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool.
• If your WinXP is so screwed up that nothing is right and you don't want to start over with a new HDD, then reinstall SP2 which sometimes will avoid having to scrape the disk clean.
• Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet Security 2006 seems to be quite effective and unobtrusive.
• Squirrel away an image of the registration in case of reload.
• Trend Micro must be registered for updating to occur.
• Having your MS Office patches installed onto your computer is important if you need to do certain types of transfers. Office does work just fine for many people, but it can't hurt to use the Office portion of Windows Update to bring your Office up to date.
• When upgrading from Outlook Express to Outlook, you must do the paragraph above or the transfer won't work.
• If you obtain a new computer that uses SATA drives, you can use the old HDD from your old computer as a second drive if you purchase a conversion attachment for your old ATA drive.
• Always run SystemWorks from the CD choosing the scan and the Disk Doctor. Do not install on the computer.
• Using Ctrl-Alt-Delete will get you to the System Monitor—which, when the computer is slow, clicking on CPU will tell you where your cycles are going.
• Use MSConfig to stop unneeded programs from starting up at boot-up time.
Red Calub, General Manager of Santa Clara Microcenter discussed the Media Center PC and how it will integrate into our living rooms.
Red Calub's 14 years with Micro Center have included stints as Technical Trainer, Sales Manager, Operations Manager, and Factory Quality Control Manager. Before that, he was a photographer, law enforcement agent, and in show business. He has “a passion for repairing PC's that just can't be fixed, and taking care of customers,” and regards Micro Center employees and customers as a second family. The Micro Center computer brands Winbook and Powerspec are well-respected. SPAUG members should consider them when looking at new computers.
SPAUG members who have old computers to recycle (for example, if a new one is bought from Micro Center), Red offered to recycle them as a courtesy (meaning free) - even if you don't buy from Micro Center.
Red demonstrated Mediacenter, Microsoft's integrated home entertainment operating system. It is Windows XP Home with some added functionality to allow control of multimedia hardware, like a TV or video camera. With TV tuners (standard in some Mediacenter PCs), you can use the computer as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), like the TiVo or Comcast DVR recorders, except with an Internet connection, you don't have to pay for the TV Guide - it's free. With add-on hardware, you can transmit the TV program to other TVs throughout the house. His advice is, if you're in the market for a new computer, make sure it is compatible with Intel's DIIV and Medicenter. Powerspec models will satisfy these requirments.
Markham Bennett from SmugMug gave a talk about his company. Based in Mountain View, SmugMug is a family owned business that is breaking all the rules with photo sharing and storage. SmugMug (www.smugmug.com) is the ultimate in photo sharing - it is a subscription-based site that won't surround your photos with ads, popups or serve your visitors with spam. PC Magazine has given SmugMug their Editor's Choice award two years in a row. Whether you are wanting to sell and market your photos, or simply share them with friends & family, SmugMug offers the tools you need. Markham has a special offer for SPAUG members - a free 1-year trial - here's what he said:
"I hope people take advantage of the offer we have. We are happy to partner with you and look forward to building a relationship.
Details:
SmugMug (www.smugmug.com) is offering a Free year subscription to the Power Level account ($60 value). This allows unlimited photos and video clips. Please with the code: SPAUG in it. At the end of the year you will be able to decide whether or not to continue with the subscription.
If anyone has any questions, please email me and I would be happy to work through any questions or suggestions.
Thanks,
Markham Bennett
Director, Business Development"
Additional note: Chris MacAskill, a co-founder of SmugMug.com, will be a featured speaker at the Digital Imaging SIG meeting Monday, March 20 from 8:00 to 8:45 PM. The lecture: Color Spaces and Megapixel Myths. He will discuss the differences between the Adobe98 and s-RGB color spaces and how to calibrate your monitor for the best prints. He will also address the myths surrounding megapixels and camera resolution for viewing and printing photos. Maury Green is the DISIG Leader (contact info for Maury), and will provide more details if necessary. The March DISIG Newsletter, with complete meeting information, is available here.
I just learned how to capture video on Windows XP and it was a frustrating beginning. I went to Fry's and bought a Firewire card and installed it. Windows picked up the card and installed driver without me providing a disk. The problem was when I hooked up a Sony DV Camcorder and went to capture some video in Ulead Video Studio 8 and I got an error that it couldn't capture video [N.B.- usually error "class not registered" or "unknown error"]. After hours of table banging and so on, my mother tried to get me to call the SIIG company http://www.siig.com/ Multimedia link that makes the Firewire card in Fremont to get them to tell me what the problem is. [N.B.- the online support is at http://www.siig.com/faq.asp?faqid=10050875 but does not give this solution]. I tested the card out with the iPod and it worked fine, so that is an indication that the card worked and drivers were OK in the Control Panel. I decided to enter the error message into Google along with Ulead Video Studio - I got a message board with other people who also had the same problem [N.B.- http://www.windowsmoviemakers.net/Forums/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=12304 is one], and one of them had the solution. The following statement solved the problem: "regsvr32.exe c:\windows\system32\qdv.dll" [N.B.- regsvr32 %windir%\system32\qdv.dll is the generic version. You should then get a "DllRegisterServer succeeded..." message] . Copy/paste the text into the "Start - Run Open: " dialog field and Enter. It did something to qdv.dll within Windows XP. I am not sure what it did, but the problem no longer exists. As a result of this, I captured over 2 hours worth of video. The only thing I need now is a bigger hard drive. The system specs are 2 GHz P4, 512 MB memory and 260 GB hard drives. This machine seams to handle video editing just fine. I want to save other people within the club from having to go through what I did. I have always experienced capturing video on the Macintosh, on which I didn't have any of these problems.
Everyone who pays the minimum for their Laptop usually winds up with a 30 GB drive that should have been an 80 GB drive. This link to a 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.
I have to add to my side of the fence something like: Changing out the hard drive on a laptop is really the easy part. It is absolutely critical to have a plan on how you are going to transfer the data from the old drive to the new. Many of the upgrade kits also include a CD that has a backup program that can be used. If you need it, then buy that kit.
Another means is to use something like Acronis [N.B.- Gene Barlow gave the group his User Group Pricing on Acronis True Image 9.0 at the January meeting. If you missed out, visit his website at www.usergroupstore.com] with the capability of addressing the old hard drive and copying it over to your new hard drive.
A third (safer) way is to back up all of your data to a neutral (borrowed) USB external drive and then bringing the data back onto the new hard drive using something that can recognize the USB drives, such as Acronis.
It's time to remind all SPAUG members why backups are important *AND* why those backups are important for not only disaster recovery, but upgrades, reconfiguring, and moving to new systems. (Except for Craputers...)
Remember Bruce Benz's rules for Hard Drives:
1. All hard drives fail.
2. All hard drives find the quickest way to the floor.
3. 70 degrees C permanently encrypts all hard drives.
4. The hard drive will blow in order to protect the fuse-link.
5. The first connector used to connect the hard drive to the motherboard will be the non-keyed one that goes on backwards.
7. Backward connected hard drives will be powered up several times in order to verify their non-function.
Regards,
Jim
==========================================
I recently added a 2nd USB powered HD to my Toshiba laptop. My nephew gave me a USB 2.0 HD aluminum enclosure 2.5" he picked up at Fry's; normal price $19.99, he got it free with rebate. It comes with a Y-connector USB cable that can be plugged into 2 USB ports for use with higher power HD, and CDROM software.
I got a 60 GB 2.5" 5400 rpm Seagate drive on sale at Best Buy for $80 after rebate [normal price $150]. The original drive was a Hitachi 60 GB 4200 rpm HD. The new one has a more efficient motor so the higher speed is OK. Both are ATA-6. My new HD was an OEM model with warning label not to install unless you are a qualified technician with appropriate software and hardware. Anyway, I did install it OK.
Note that Best Buy keeps the OEM Hard Drives behind the counter in the repair department; not on the shelf with the rest of the Hard Drives. They offered to install for $60, which I declined.
I found a website showing disassembly of the Toshiba case, just remove a screw. The screws are tiny. You need a jewelers screwdriver. I did everything inside a plastic box, in case I dropped a screw. Hardest part was pulling off the pin to ribbon connector adaptor off the old HD male connector; took about 15 min of very careful pulling. Then moved the mu metal shield on; put it back together.
I reinstalled software from the original Toshiba boot disk since the original HD had crashed due apparently to a bad boot sector. Otherwise, I believe I could have used Acronis True Image to duplicate the image. I recovered the data from the old HD and now use it as a 2nd HD. Probably should reformat it per my nephews suggestion.
CompUSA has a similar USB enclosure for $19.99. Note that some laptop HD come complete with the 2.5" enclosure kit and instructions.
Regards,
Bill
The VA project met with a success in that there will be sufficient funds to provide about a year of support for the Veterans in the Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Section.
It was the decision of the SPAUG Planning Committee to match any donations up to $500.
Thanks go to all of the persons below we gathered $465 which, when matched by SPAUG will total $930.
I hasten to add that checks are accepted at any time. See me at a meeting is you so choose. Next Wednesday, March 8 will be a good opportunity.
The generous contributors: Ron Nicholas, John Sleeman, Jim/Ro Dinkey, Marj Balazs, Lois Durham, Robert Page, Chuck McGary, Hardin Smith,
Jean Robertson, Peter Barba, Robert White, D. K. Holmes, William Scharfen.
In addition, Lois Durham provided a certificate for a trial subscription to NetFlix which I will be mailing directly to Dom Garofano.
Thanks to everyone who participated in this activity.
I have some information regarding Internet Tier Pricing used by the phone companies like AT&T, etc.. This is not the price charged to us consumers that we pay for Internet access. It is for the content providers that use the bandwidth for things like their websites and other services like Voice over IP. Large sites like Microsoft might pay more for having their website have better performance over the Internet. Their website would come up faster then a competitor's who doesn't want to pay the extra fee, and so their website might be sluggish. This would turn people off and they would avoid it in favor of the large sites. ATT will be offering their own Voice over IP service like Vonage, but a smaller company like Vonage might not want to pay the extra premium for faster service, so would definitely be at a disadvantage to them. This could lean people in favor of AT&T's service. I think this would be bad for small and medium size businesses. Especially affected would be small businesses like my brother's wife's business that sells Scent Diffusers, which is in competition from upscale companies like Tommy Bahama that also sells a line of scent diffusers. The large companies might not have to raise prices very much to compensate for the extra charges, but smaller companies almost certainly would have to charge higher prices for. This would give another unfair advantage to large businesses.
There is a bill in congress right now that would fight this tier access pricing and protect smaller businesses. I thought this would be of some interest to the members of the club
[N.B.- you can read an article on this topic by J. Nicholas Hoover titled "Test of Net Neutrality" in the Feb. 13, 2006 issue of InformationWeek. "Telecom companies want to change long-standing practices that treat all network traffic equally. Businesses could face application degradation-- or higher prices."
I recently got an email from "Internal Revenue Service <admin@irs.gov>", Subject: IRS Notification - Please Read This. The message said in part, "you are eligible to receive a tax refund of $63.80. Please submit the tax refund request ". And there was a link, "To access the form for your tax refund, please click here". Being careful, I looked at the HTML source, and saw the link would take me to http://211.21.60.106/IRS/refund/caseid886432/index.html. Plugging the IP address 211.21.60.106 into Whois (www.internic.net/whois.html), I found the Server Name: MINGO.DUOPROSYRINGE.COM and Registrar: WEB COMMERCE COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED DBA WEBNIC.CC. Not the U.S IRS! This was a phishing attempt. I reported the attempt by forwarding the email to FTC Spam Report (uce@ftc.gov), Attorney General California (caspam@doj.ca.gov), and AntiphishingOrg (reportphishing@antiphishing.org).
I then went to the IRS website, and posted a question, "Where do i report email scams and phishing attempts, supposedly from the IRS?". Here's their reply,
The Internal Revenue Service does not send out unsolicited e-mails. Also, as a general rule, the IRS does not ask people for detailed personal information. Additionally, the IRS does not ask people for the PIN numbers, passwords or similar secret access information for their credit card, bank or other financial accounts.
If you have received an e-mail asking for such information, you may be the object of a “phishing” expedition by identity thieves.
Scam artists use tactics such as bogus e-mails to “phish” for information from unsuspecting victims. The information is then used to steal the victim's identity and financial assets. Generally, identity thieves use someone's personal data to steal his or her financial accounts, run up charges on the victim's existing credit cards, apply for new loans, credit cards, services or benefits in the victim's name and even file fraudulent tax returns.
Please report any suspicious e-mails claiming to be from the IRS to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) toll-free fraud hotline at 1-800-366-4484. You may also call the toll-free IRS customer service line at 1-800-829-1040. Do not open any attachments to questionable e-mails, as they may contain malicious code that will infect your computer.
Visit the Federal Trade Commission's Web site at www.consumer.gov/idtheft for information about preventing or handling the aftermath of identity theft.
For more information on scams, visit the tax scams and consumer alerts page on IRS.gov at http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=98269,00.html
Sincerely,
The IRS Website Support Team