If you are a Mac user and want a program to start automatically, follow these steps:
Today marked my second Linux/Ubuntu casualty in almost 2 dozen attempts. As I’ve learned more about Ubuntu the past couple of years, I carefully selected clients who would have little problems dealing with a non-Microsoft operating system.
You may have read my take on Ubuntu usage for the average computer user before, but here it is again to setup the rest of the story: I believe that any computer users who uses only email, word processing, Internet, digital photography, and maybe a solitaire or mahjong like game can function perfectly and happily in Ubuntu. Those who need proprietary Windows programs or like to buy and try out different types of software will not do well with Ubuntu.
OK, that being said, I consulted on the purchase of an Acer mini-desktop about 2 weeks ago from a local big box. It had a fast AMD processor, 4 GB of RAM, and a 320 GB hard drive and of course pre-loaded with Vista. I took the system home and booted into Windows to create the restore DVD set just in case. To fully boot into Vista took approximately 3:30. At initial boot, it took the computer nearly 19 minutes to finish whatever a Vista computer has to finish when you first take it out of the box.
After completing the DVD recovery set, I inserted my Ubuntu 8.10 CD and restarted the system. Literally 15 minutes later I was browsing the web in Ubuntu after the install CD wiped the hard drive, installed itself, shut down and rebooted. Later I timed the Ubuntu startup time: 49 seconds.
Anyway, the folks who I setup this computer for could not play online poker with Ubuntu. After some quick research, the service they use (I forgot which one), is the ONLY online poker service that needs a Windows download. I could have installed and configured the poker service to work under Wine in Ubuntu, bud didn’t. After hearing that “everything is different”, and they wanted to install Windows based software that was never mentioned before today, I inserted the first Vista recovery CD and showed them how to finish it up. They brought the computer back to the big box for a refund and ordered a Dell with XP and probably spent twice as much as the Acer.
My first Ubuntu failure was a couple of years ago and ended because the woman missed her AOL software and didn’t like using AOL web mail in Firefox. Being approximated 21 for 23 on my Ubuntu converts isn’t bad, and is actually kind of humorous that the two defeats were at the hands of AOL and online poker.
Lately, I’ve run across many printer problems so I’m going to share with you my formula for approaching a printer problem.
Additional steps to take if the above steps don’t get the printer working:
These steps should get you pretty far in solving many printer dilemmas. If they do not get you printing again, contact a computer professional or call the printer manufacturer.
Microsoft Framework .NET consists of a set of tools that allow programmers to tap into some web related technologies for creating rich, interactive applications for our computers and web sites. Unfortunately, it sometimes causes problems as well. This week alone, I helped 3 Quickbooks users overcome problems with their programs hanging or failing to start by uninstalling and reinstalling the .NET Framework.
Unfortunately, uninstalling .NET via the add/remove programs doesn’t work in these situations. As is almost always the case, an extremely smart and industrious individual came up with a solution. I found this tool on a blog while searching for a solution. It is a clever removal tool for all aspects of the .NET Framework. It is recommended that you try using the Add/Remove programs method for uninstalling it first, but if it doesn’t work, use the tool.
Once you remove the .NET software, however, you need to install it again. To do so, download a copy of the .NET installer software by clicking here.
Again, this tip is for very specific instances of .NET Framework problems. It can also be used in situations where you have a Windows update for .NET that never installs properly.
photo credit: Extra Ketchup
Not long ago, a commenter on the web site suggested we put up some links to our some of our best and most visited tips. I thought it was a great idea, and here are seven that I came up with. If you have your own favorite or most helpful HelpMeRick.com tips, please share them with everyone by leaving a comment below.
Remember to tell us which are your favorite HMR tips by leaving a comment below.
Adobe released a new version of Photoshop Elements this week. I haven’t read everything about it, but looking over the "What’s New" section on the website it appears that there is little to get excited about.
The new features and upgrades fall in four main catagories, organize, edit, create and share. These four catagories can be narrowed to two, useful and arts-and-craftsy.
On the useful side, Adobe claims to have improved the panorama feature for blending multiple pictures into a single panorama. Listed as a totally separate feature is improved blending of multiple group shots into a single good good picture. Perhaps what may be the most significant upgrade is speed. Adobe vastly improved the startup time of full Photoshop CS3, hopefully this same improvement has been made to Elements 6. Other vague improvements have been made to the clone tool, brightness and contrast, and the black and white conversion.
While I prefer Picasa for organizing and sorting photos, many people swear by the Elements photo organizing features. Adobe lists improvements to the speed of this feature, if the program opens quickly and thumbnails appear as fast as they do in Picasa, this could be pretty significant.
Now for the arts-and-craftsy features. Adobe has added features for creating photo books and other photo projects that have been so popular from services like iPhoto, Shutterfly and HeritageMakers. These features must be popular because adding arts-and-craftsy features have been the only major features added to each new edition of Elements since version 3.
Perhaps there is a major market for these features, I tend to believe that Adobe has perfected the editing program so much that all they can really do to sell new copies is add more fluff. Call it Vista-izing Photoshop Elements.
If I was independently wealthy, I would give discounts to customers with Windows Vista. Alas, I am not independently wealthy and my business supports my family, so I charge for time I spend in a client’s office or home. One customer , today, could have saved 30-40% off their bill had they bought one of the few remaining laptops with Windows XP.
This brand new Toshiba laptop with only 1 GB of RAM (half of the minimum need to run Vista with any appreciable speed) took a full 4-5 minutes to boot up each time it required a boot. And that was down 2-3 minutes after I took off the bloated trial security software and the other trial software loaded on this machine. True, the extra software contributed to the slowness…initially, but even with the startup cleaned up, the machine was pathetically slow. Her husband’s almost 5 year old Dell desktop with 512mb of RAM could run circles around this ‘new’ laptop.
With Microsoft releasing nearly 50 updates in just the six months since its release and their first service pack (major re-tooling) already announced as well, Microsoft has pretty much admitted that Vista has not lived up to its own expectations. I sure hope Service Pack I for Vista (due out next spring) brings some major improvements to this seriously flawed operating system.
In the mean time, for those who want to listen and save time, money and frustration, here are my suggestions for those looking to buy a new computer:
1. Go through the business arms of Dell, HP, or small, local retailers and get Windows XP with 1 GB of RAM and you can work circles around Vista machines.
2. Consider getting a “new” machine by switching to Ubuntu Linux on your existing machine. If it is less than 7 years old, has at least 256mb of RAM, and other wise functions well, you won’t be sorry.
4. STRONGLY consider a Macintosh computer from Apple
5. IF you absolutely MUST get a Vista machine, make sure it has AT LEAST 2 GB of RAM, a dual core processor, and a fast, dedicated video card. Unfortunately, this means that to get a decent running Vista machine, you will need to spend a minimum of $900-1000 and probably upwards of that.
Some computer users who work in an office or on a PC with other roomates or kids would like to password protect their email, calendar, contacts, etc in Microsoft Outlook. Until today, I didn’t know how to do that. As you know, when I learn something new, I pass it on to you. Remember, this tip is for OUTLOOK users NOT Outlook Express users:
The next time you open Outlook, you will be prompted for the password you just set thus protecting access to your Outlook data.
Greg called in and is using the OpenOffice Word Processor (Writer) and had a problem with outlining. Here are two links to read up on possible solutions or post the question at these forums:
512mb of RAM is not enough for Windows Vista…any flavor. Vista has been out almost three months now, and I have setup almost a dozen Vista machines. Thankfully, they are rolling out slowly. All the machines I setup, until today, came with 1 GB (1024mb) or 2GB of RAM. And although not blazing, the computer's ran at an acceptable speed.
I just finished spending nearly 2.5 hours setting up a laptop with Vista Basic and only 512mb of RAM. It was painful. Normally, I can clean all unwanted and trial software (crapware) from a new computer, install and update AVG Antivirus, optimize the startup and Internet settings, shut off unnecessary special effects, setup email and test both email and the Internet all in under 1.5 hours. This little laptop required extraordinary wait times to get anything installed or uninstalled. Very frustrating.
The moral of this story follows what I have been saying all along…if you do need to get a new computer, and Windows Vista is the option you choose, it absolutely has to have a minimum of 1 GB (1024 megabyres) of RAM and preferably 2 GB or more. Otherwise, you will be sorely disappointed in the lack of speed in your "new" system.
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