Additional help aids:
Many questions about how to maintain your computer are answerable on-line, but often the stuckee doesn't know where to go for the answer to the question.
Further, it is not unusual to NOT have a flow of incoming information (newsletters) so the context of how to answer the question is not part of the experience of owning a computer.
One of the most important actions someone can do is to subscribe to a number of services (mostly free), often ad supported, wherein all sorts of information is evaluated and presented for the general public.
Some samples are (in no particular order):
• CERT www.cert.org — from Carnegie Mellon, reviewing the patches sent out by Microsoft (and others) with descriptions of what the patches cover and their effect on the operating system. I always wait a few days after new patches are released to assure they are not regressive, and the CERT information helps in the evaluation.
• CNET www.cnet.com — Generalized reviews of about everything – trendy – tries to keep up with everything. Some deals. Newsletters both on Security and Online Courses. Much more.
• Experts-Exchange www.experts-exchange.com — Some of the best minds on the Net just itching to help you with whatever arcane problem you might have. Fast, effective, all-encompassing with awesome skills. A real gem. Use it when the usual searches don't turn up anything worthwhile. Ask me about how to transfer the email of Thunderbird to Outlook.
• WServerNews www.wservernews.com — a free or paid review of the Windows situation. Very astute generalized education on whatever is hot for the month. Great education. Besides, I like the Tips, Hints And Fun Stuff at the end.
• Microsoft provides bunches of newsletters on tons of topics and frequencies. Exploring Windows and Downloads Digest seems to be appropriate for just finding out what goodies are in Windows. Applicable as much to XP as to Vista.
• Tech Republic techrepublic.com.com — is heavy into servers and advanced topics, but you would do well to browse through what they have to offer to lowly XP users. Extensive support on the total list of topics is endless.
• Smart Computing www.smartcomputing.com, — at its level, is a valuable resource because the queries are often perused by real live carbon units and thus your queries receive some interpretation of what it is you need. Especially effective in total processes such as music making or conversions. NOTE: If you choose to subscribe to the magazine (or renew), be sure to give them the SPAUG code, 8592, so SPAUG gets credit toward a free subscription.
• Google is by far the best research tool. If you can articulate what you need, Google will often point you to one of the newsletters above which a very effective use of your time.
This from a newsletter—although I had heard of this before:
"Don't think it can happen to you? Well, two MIT students did a study. They went and purchased 158 used hard drives for less than $1000 from a web swap-meet type site. When they went through the drives, they found over 5,000 credit card numbers, medical reports, lots of personal and corporate financial information, and gigs of personal e-mail. And get this - 60% of the drives had been formatted!"
As a result of the above information, SPAUG will be offering a computer recycling service wherein it is guaranteed that the hard drive(s) will be totally erased using a DOD-acceptable secure erasing program. From there the computer will either be refurbished or junked. It takes an hour to do the security erase and another hour to format with full checking, This run tends to be started at night and then re-formatting NTFS with full checking is another run. Consider junking out your old computer an extended service of the SPAUG Clinic. Disposal of the really old stuff is through approved recycling centers. CRTs, however, are recycled by you direct to the Palo Alto Recycle Center.
In addition, if you know of someone who needs an older computer, you are invited to send them to me or better yet, you pick up and install one from the Clinic yourself.
Red Calub, General Manager of Micro Center, reviewed the marketplace and the impact of Vista, including the impact of Vista on Micro Center, and the fact that vertical marketing efforts have caused some Vista computers to be returned for good reason. He explained why several companies can and will sell you an XP computer. He discussed the future impact of new technology now in the pipeline.
Red has been a law enforcement officer wearing a bullet-proof vest, worked in a laptop facility, and been the General Manager of Micro Center for many years. The helpful tone to customers at Micro Center is a result of his management philosophy.
Red Calub has helped SPAUG and its members on many occasions. He donated two great printers, certificates for 2-GB thumb drives, trial copies of NOD32, and other items for the door prize drawing. A lot of lucky attendees went home with more than they came with.
With the give-away of free copies of NOD32, you may be considering changing antivirus programs. Here's a guide to follow.
1. Make a full backup of your working system, just in case you need to go back!
2. Run ERUNT (Emergency Recovery Utility Registry Backup and Restore for Windows NT/2000/2003/XP, found on the current club CD) to save the registry.
3. Delete the current antivirus program, first try to use the uninstall option in the application; if that doesn't work or it's not there, use the Control Panel's Add/Remove Software. It is important to completely remove the program. Some programs need special downloads from the website. Call their Tech Support if you have problems.
4. Run RegClean, RegVac (both on the club CD) or equivalent: Google: FULL SERVICE SCAN. Many antivirus (and other) applications leave traces behind in the registry. Also remove any folders that were used by the program.
5. Reboot. Run RegClean, RegVac (both on the club CD) or equivalent again.
6. If all is well, and all traces of the prior antivirus are gone, install the new antivirus program. Follow the procedure in the manual carefully. If you have problems, contact the online support area of the program, or email or call Tech Support. If you're installing NOD32, go to www.eset.com/download/manuals.php and download the relevant manual. Also take a look at the FAQs at www.eset.com/support/faq.php, and particularly www.eset.com/support/faq.php#cat_157. Get familiar with the process, then go for it. If you have a problem, use the NOD32 online support, or call. Run a full scan.
7. If all went well, the installation was successful, and the full scan found nothing or removed whatever it found, make an incremental backup.
8. Consider if the new application gives the same protection against adware, malware, root kits, etc. as you had before, and if you need to install, turn on, or turn off your firewall. For example, if you were using a security suite, NOD32 will "protect against a broad spectrum of malware. Viruses, worms, spyware, and other malicious attacks", but does not provide a firewall, and you may still want AdAware or Spybot S&D for adware prevention and elimination.