Go west young man
You have a virus, it is called Norton
I had one client today who had setup an appointment for me to get rid of a virus. Every time they turned on their computer and/or logged into their email, an error would pop up.
The error in their email was so bad that they couldn’t even read their messages.
I noticed that all of the errors were related to Symantec – the company that makes Norton.
I removed Norton and installed AVG. All of a sudden the "virus" was gone. The computer was faster and all errors were completely gone.
They said that they were going to take the money that they were saving by not upgrading Norton and apply it to a new DSL connection. I love to see people make smart decisions with their computer.
Be careful using multiple accounts
Windows XP has a unique ability to act like multiple computers on a single machine. This feature was created so that the computer could be used in a business environment allowing each user to have his or her own programs, desktop, passwords and My Documents.
Although setting up multiple user accounts allows for a lot of customization, it has some pretty screwy side effects.
If you have more than one user account set up in Windows XP, many programs allow you to install programs into only one account. This is a nice feature if you only want to install a program into one account, but it can be a real pain when it comes to spyware and viruses.
Upgrade or repair?
If I had a dime for every time this question comes up….
I actually had this happen with two of my cutomers today. My answer, the last couple of years, is a definite ‘it depends’. Wishy, washy, I know, but it really does have to be thought out. First, the proper diagnosis has to be made. What is the estimate of the repair parts and labor and how does the user use the computer factor in together. Next, a comparison of that number to what is available in the market for new computers. Last week, as an example, Office Depot had a decent little system on sale for $198 after rebates!!
Unfortunately, the market is making so much of the technology we buy disposable…economically speaking. When looking at individual situations, however, the repair costs usually are a little under a new system. And with the exception of the hard drive that died, or the spyware and viruses that must be removed, the system is still very usable. So it comes down to how the computer is used.
Elements 3 Features
What’s New In Elements 3
Quirky Features:
Not all of the new features in Elements 3 are extremely useful. Although many of the new features are designed to help the beginner, they are too complicated to be of any use. Some of theses new quirky features include:
1. Create – The most useful of the quirky new features, this feature allows you to make slideshows, greeting cards, photo album pages and more. Don’t expect the versatility of a program like Print Shop though.
Digital Camera Basics
Digital Camera Basics
| The first place I will refer you to is the link below entitled "The article to end all articles on Digital Photography."
There are a few differences between 35mm cameras and digital cameras. The following are a few that we discussed. Shutter delay: There are two types of delay to expect in a digital camera. The first is the delay that the camera needs to auto focus. The second is the delay that the camera needs to analyze the image and store it on a disk. When you take a picture with a digital camera wait a second or so before you move the camera. Remove Bios PasswordThere are two solutions to this: Solution 1: Try some of the backdoor passwords that are often built into the BIOS following the setups on this site. Solution 2:
Removing Outlook ProfilesRemove an Outlook e-mail profile
Open the Mail Setup dialog box. In Microsoft Windows XP
In Control Panel, double-click User Accounts, and then click Mail. Note: If you are using Control Panel classic view, double-click Mail.
In Microsoft Windows 2000 In Control Panel, double-click Mail. Re-installing a problematic programSometimes a program that is giving you trouble will work better after reinstalling it. Here are some tips to help make that process a little easier and more successful.
Tip within a Tip: If you are using Windows XP, just shut down any running programs, RIGHT click and exit what utilities you can from the system tray, and disable your anti-virus in place of step 3. Using the Resource MeterLack of memory can cause many of the most common computer problems. Learn how to keep track of your computer memory and what to do about it using the Resource Meter. Windows 98 and Me usually have this feature installed by default. You can find the resource meter by clicking on Start –> Programs –> Accessories –> System Tools –> Resource Meter Windows 95 users may need to install the feature by going to the Control Panel –> Add/Remove Programs –> Windows Setup –> Accessories. Once started, you will see a If you want to have the program start up automatically with your computer, then drag the Resource Meter icon to the Startup folder in Programs. |
little green indicator in your system tray by the clock. Float your mouse over it to see a readout of available memory. You need to only concern yourself with the first number (System). If this number falls below 50%, you increase your chances of lockups, illegal operations and other unwanted side effects. So, save your work and restart your computer when this number falls below fifty.