KawarthaNet User Group: October 2005

Attendance:
Bob Stokes, June Gall, Larry Muter, Dan Jackson, Mike Ricks, Don Jardine, Evelyn Finlay, Beth Steinbeck, Anne Panter
Minutes of last meeting: not available.
Financial report
(not included in online minutes)
New Business:
1. Discussion of what to do with assets. One suggestion was to subsidize high-speed internet for Henderson House. However, there is currently only one computer there, and it is not in the area used for the meetings. As we could only guarantee one year, it would probably not be worthwhile.
  Other suggestions were to use the Seniors' Centre, but when we considered this in the past it was fully booked.
  Don suggested having a motion on the books stating what to do with any outstanding amount if the group should dissolve. We agreed to do this at the Christmas meeting, which should have a fairly large attendance.
2. Copies of Internet Working News are available at the Fenelon and Bobcaygeon librabries.
Housecleaning your computer

If your computer is running slowly, or you are annoyed by a lot of pop-up windows, it's time to do some housecleaning.
- First, get rid of unnecessary files:
    ° Empty the recycle bin
    ° Clean up Internet Explorer (Tools / Options )
    ° Set Home Page to a blank page
    ° []Delete Cookies and []Delete Files (All offline content)
    ° []Clear History
  
  There are "housekeeping" programs that do this (and more). Some are: Empty Temp Folders, Cleanup! or Easy Cleaner
- Next, clean off spyware by running AdAware or SpyBot
- You can reduce pop-ups by using a an alternate browser: Firefox or OffByOne.
'Round the Table:
1. Q:(Bob S.) Before my computer shuts down, it pops up a window saying a program is still running with 3 choices: Wait / End Task / Cancel. How do I get rid of this?
  
  A: (Beth): This sounds like spyware. Run AdAware or SpyBot (with up-to-date data files) to see if that solves the problem.
  You can see what programs are running at any time by bringing up the Task Manager with cntl-alt-delete keys. Do this after cleaning spyware with AdAware or SpyBot, and make a note of what is running. Then, if you check later, you can see if anything else is running.
2. Q: My Home Page in Internet Explorer has been changed. How do I set it back.
  
  A: You can re-set it in Tools / Options, but if was changed by spyware it will just set it back again. In that case, clear the spyware (AdAware or SpyBot) first, then re-set the home page.
3. Q: Someone else was using my computer, and resized the browser window. How do I restore it?
  
  A: Maximize using the icon on the top left corner, or resize by dragging the lower right corner. When you close the window, it will re-open at the size you left it.
4. Q:I have new computer with XP. I'm not familiar with the interface, and when others use it I can't find anything.
  
  A: You can change the Windows XP menus to "standard" (Windows 95/98) on Start / Settings /Taskbar. If you are sharing a computer with others (including grand-kids!) let each one set up his own login, so your preferences won't be changed.
5. Q: I sent a PowerPoint presentation, which included MP3 files, to two correspondents. One was able to play the audio file, the other wasn't. I packaged the PowerPoint viewer with the file.
  
  A: Perhaps they didn't use the viewer, but used an older version of PowerPoint, or another viewer instead.
6. Q: (Mike) Instead of loading AdAware I installed Adware. Now I can't install AdAware.
  
  A: (Beth) Try running SpyBot to get rid of the Adware.
7. (Mike) Thanks to Nexicom, and Beth, for bringing the projector to the last meeting, particlarly on such short notice.
8. Q: How do I un-install SpyBot.
  
  A: Use Start / Settings / Control Panel / Add or Remove Programs. If that doesn't work, Search Program Files for spybotsd.exe ... and delete it.
9. Q: Internet Explorer is no longer on my desktop. How do I put it back?
  
  A:Go to Start / Settings / Control Panel / Internet Options / Advanced
  and check []put IE on desktop
10. Q: Where is the gingersnap recipe?
  
  A: Click here
11. Q:I received an email with a red check-box which was suposed to link to an internet site, but it didn't work.
  
  A:If you are able to view other "live" links in email messages, there must be a problem with that link. It could be an error in the email.
12. Q:I had a Kodak Easyshare digital camera, but have replaced it with a Fuji.Should I have any problems deleting the Kodak software?
  
  A:No, just un-install it. However, there's no harm in having multiple photo editors. Irfanview is a handy (and free) program which can read and convert multiple graphics formats. You can use it to view photos, convert them to different formats, and edit (eg. shrink) pictures from your camera. It also has some other handy features: adding text to a photo (thanks Larry!), and a batch file-rename (which can be used for any files).
13. Q: (Larry) I'm using Windows 98, Netscape, and Norton and have had no problems with Spyware.
  
  A: The biggest spyware threats are file-sharing (eg. music downloads) and Hotmail and MSN. If you aren't using these, you won't have as much trouble.
14. Beth: Dialler frauds are more serious than spyware. There are programs which disconnect your current connection, then re-dial a long-distance number, which is then charged on your phone bill. Watch for this if your computer re-dials the connection.
15. Q:How do I change the default font size on emails?
  
  A:In Outlook Express menu item Tools / Options / Compose: set the font size.
16. If you have a slow dial-up connection, try the bare-bones search page at www.google.com/ie
17. Beth suggested sending out a questionnaire before the next meeting, asking people to submit questions for the meeting. Anne will include this in the meeting notice.

Next Meeting
Tuesday, November 8, 2005, 7:00 pm
Compu-Dynamix, Fenelon Falls