Solve Your Computer, and Internet
Problems --
Be PC Safe, Find PC Help Here on our
Free Self-Help Page
Hints:
One hundred percent of the Internet-using
population has now been exposed to computer viruses... And many if not
most computers have been infected. If your computer is infected and you
think you don't care, keep in mind that your computer could be infecting
thousands of other computers every day. I'm spending hours helping people
try to recover from infections. Once you are infected, the cure can be
worse than the prevention. I'm having to completely erase and
re-format some people's
hard drives to completely recover from infections. You can largely prevent infections if you take three steps. Sorry,
but this is the cost of using the Internet and e-mail today.
(1) Update your Windows XP operating system
(weekly). Using Internet
Explorer, go to
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ [it is under TOOLS] and
follow the instructions. If you have not done this during the past few
months you are seriously exposed. If you don't patch the known
vulnerabilities in Windows, your machine WILL become infected, even if you
don't read e-mail or visit web sites. Just being connected to the Internet
can open your machine to attackers.
And, Microsoft Office users must also
update Office applications... got to
http://office.microsoft.com/officeupdate/ to patch
vulnerabilities. And, if you are still using Windows 98/ME, you must
upgrade to Windows XP. Windows 98 is no longer supported by
Microsoft, and it makes no sense investing time or money trying to make
it secure. (The new Windows "Vista" operating system should be out
in 2006).
(2) Install Windows Live OneCare
Microsoft Windows Live OneCare Online PC Care Subscription [12 Months]and keep updated (weekly or better, daily, or even hourly during a major outbreak) anti-virus protection.
Windows Live OneCare
http://www.windowsonecare.com/ -
"This
PC care service is always on, running quietly in the background. It helps
give you round-the-clock protection and maintenance -- virus scanning,
firewalls, tune ups, file backups, the whole nine yards. Delivered to you
in a smooth, hassle-free package." 
I now recommend
replacing Norton with this Microsoft Windows OneCare product.
Norton has become so
unwieldy, and users have encountered so many installation and renewal
problems, that it is time to abandon Norton for Microsoft.
Microsoft has attractive pricing, and accommodates multiple PCs in one
household for a fixed price.
($50
which will cover three PCs... and introductory $19.95 pricing is good thru April
2006). OneCare includes
Microsoft's free
Anti-Spyware product which is now called
Windows Defender.
The unified OneCare package makes a compelling
alternative to Symantec's Norton products, and I expect that many people
will opt for the "all-Microsoft" solution. For more
related information, see
Windows Live Safety Center: Free online tool for PC health and
safety
Windows Live Safety
Center -- a new, free service designed to help ensure the health of your
PC: Check for and remove viruses, Learn about threats, Improve your PC's
performance, Get rid of junk on your hard disk...
http://safety.live.com/
--
Microsoft has a good overview: Security software:
Downloads and trials -- Download antivirus
software, firewalls, spyware removal tools,
and more to improve the security of your computer and to help keep it running
smoothly --
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/downloads/default.mspx
Earlier, I had written "I highly
recommend Symantec's
Norton AntiVirus which is part of "Norton SystemWorks...(which
in the past was the ideal package for most users). (Note: there
seems to be an increasing number of installation problems being reported
with various Symantec's products. I have written
an install hint below) You can find
it in many local stores, or by clicking
http://morro-bay.com/nav/ .
McAfee VirusScan is also okay.
Anything
else is questionable. Anything free is just asking for trouble*. If your PC
came with a trial version of Norton or McAfee and your free virus
definition update period has expired, you must renew. It is now
irresponsible to your fellow citizens to be online and unprotected.
*
I have had repeated requests for a recommendation for the best "free"
anti-virus software -- so, here it is:
AVG Anti-Virus (http://www.grisoft.com)
offers one free "home user" license for their
Free Edition (http://free.grisoft.com/).
AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition is for private, non-commercial, single home
computer use only. Easy registration is required for access to
technical support forums after download.
For your safety, do not download from any other site other than
http://free.grisoft.com/. Certain advanced options
related to scheduling of virus scans and handling of problems are not
supported in the Free edition. (
6-6-05 Another new free anti-virus package I have not evaluated but just
heard of is
http://avast.com/ It is a "free 60-day demo" download. After
registering online they immediately e-mail you a key good for another
year). While I still recommend using
either
Symantec's Norton AntiVirus
or
McAfee VirusScan
-- if you insist on using the best free alternative instead, AVG is the
best answer. Visit this PC self-help page
(http://morro-bay.com/pchelp/)
for more on solving your computer- and Internet-related problems.
Microsoft now offers free Anti-Spyware Software (Beta)... Worth
downloading (same as $20
CounterSpy
product by
http://sunbelt-software.com/.
NEW
Feb. 2006, The above Microsoft
Anti-Spyware product is being replaced by
Windows Defender (still free) (Beta download available as of
2-14-06). Microsoft will be offering both Anti-Virus and
Anti-Spyware protection in 2006 for about $50 which will cover three
PCs. This unified package will make a compelling alternative to
Symantec's Norton products, and I expect that many people will opt for
the "all-Microsoft" solution. For more information, see
Windows Live Safety Center: Free online tool for PC health and
safety
Windows Live Safety
Center is a new, free service designed to help ensure the health of your
PC: Check for and remove viruses, Learn about threats, Improve your PC's
performance, Get rid of junk on your hard disk...
http://safety.live.com/
NEW
Microsoft has a good overview: Security software:
Downloads and trials -- Download antivirus
software, firewalls, spyware removal tools,
and more to improve the security of your computer and to help keep it
running smoothly --
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/downloads/default.mspx
Trend Micro
offers a free on-demand service which scans your PC for viruses, spyware,
and more.
Trend
Micro™ HouseCall™ is a free Web-based solution designed to scan
your PC for a wide range of Internet security threats including viruses,
worms, Trojans, and spyware. It also detects system
vulnerabilities and provides a link so you can easily download missing
security patches. After each scan, HouseCall delivers a detailed
report, which identifies security threats detected on your computer.
New Spyware Deep
Scan at PC Pitstop -- a new deep spyware scan is now available, powered by
technology from Computer Associates' Pest Patrol. Its detection signatures
are updated frequently. Check it out, it already detects Sony's rootkit
and it's free at
http://www.pcpitstop.com/pestscan/
(3) Never open attachments in e-mail unless you know what you are doing.
In theory, if you practice #1 and #2 above religiously, #3 is of less
concern.
Stop Spam with SpamNet, the absolutely best solution (not free). Outlook 2003 now comes with free good spam control support by Microsoft (be sure to update Microsoft Office regularly for best protection)
Be PC safe: Run Norton's free Security and Virus Detection scans; Update Windows; Install Norton System Works (Norton Antivirus and Norton Utilities) If you are having a problem, make sure your Norton virus definitions are updated (run Live Update one more time!) and run a complete system scan to detect and eliminate viruses. Don't open e-mail attachments unless you know what you are doing.
In addition to virus detection and prevention,
a whole new category of "malware" often called spyware and adware is not
contaminating computer systems. Here is what you can do to protect
yourself against these malware threats:
Run
PC Pitstop's free security tests
Run
Steve
Gibson's
ShieldsUP! free security check
* Install
PestPatrol (~$40, one of the best packages available) -- security and personal privacy tool that
detects and eliminates destructive pests like trojans, spyware, adware and
hacker tools. Pest Patrol's NEW
PestScan is a
very limited function but free online scan utility.
* Also,
Spybot -
Search & Destroy
here [note
ver 1.3 now available] (free)
can detect and remove a multitude of adware files and modules from your
computer. <-- you may be amazed at the number of intrusive programs
that have found their way into your PC already.
*
Lavasoft's Ad-Ware
is perhaps the most popular package, and, it is free.
*
Microsoft offers free Anti-Spyware Software (Beta 1-6-05)... well
worth downloading.
Stop e-mail Spam
with SpamNet, the absolutely best solution.
Panicware.com has an
effective pop-up blocker (free
trial available).
It is reported that
help2go.com
is a good free forum site to explore questions online.
answersthatwork.com is another free forum site to explore
questions online.
liutilities.com can help identify some of the applications listed
in the WinTasks process library (type CTL-ALT-DEL to see task list)...
look for suspicious tasks running... "Google" any task name to help
determine origin.
The
free
F-Secure
Online Virus Scanner
http://support.f-secure.com/enu/home/ols.shtml might be worth
running to double-check your system for infections.
Help tackle nasty Adware and Spyware
problems (and block pop-up ads) by installing the free
Yahoo! Companion
Toolbar, featuring an effective Pop-Up Blocker AND
(new) free AntiSpy (based
on the most popular and trusted Spyware program by
PestPatrol
(normally $40/year)
highly
recommended)
Yahoo offers new
Desktop Search Beta... Worth downloading
(1-11-05)
Get the free
Google Toolbar, which
makes searching easy, which also has an effective Pop-Up Blocker
(highly recommended)
Disable your Messenger Service (you have no need
for this) - it is a source of annoying and dangerous pop-ups.
Windows XP Home users:
Click Start ->Control Panel
Click Administrative Tools
Double click Services Scroll
down and highlight "Messenger"
Right-click the highlighted line and choose Properties.
Click the STOP button.
Select Disable or Manual in the Startup Type scroll bar
Click OK
Homepage been hijacked?
Here are some tools to try from download.com:
HijackThis 1.97
Spy Sweeper 2.2
If your
home page was set to netspry.com, these files flagged by HijackThis 1.97
need to be removed:
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page =
www.netspry.com
O2 - BHO: WinPage Blocker - {12DF6E3E-6272-4AE8-880B-2158D60791C0} -
C:\Program Files\Homepage\WinPage.dll ; Reboot and you are set (Courtesy
Sandra Beebe),
Run
PCPitStop's free PC Tuneup
Sign up for the National Cyber Alert
System --
provides timely information about current and emerging threats and
vulnerabilities as well as advice about protecting your computer and
networks. US-CERT, a partnership between the Department of Homeland
Security's National Cyber Security Division (NCSD) and the private sector,
has been established to protect our Nation's Internet infrastructure. It
will do this through global coordination of defense against and response
to cyber incidents and attacks across the United States.
Search the entire "Web" below using
Google for answers to other problems...
For example, click "Web" and try to search on "computer won't shut down
Windows XP" or whatever your problem is... and you will most likely find
the answer. With the power of the Internet today, self-help is the
answer to most computer problems.
Extras:
Firewalls: (Microsoft
introduction)
Windows XP users can turn on the built-in software firewall.
If you have Windows XP running on your computer, you can check to
make sure the firewall is enabled: Click Start, and then click Control
Panel. Click Network and Internet Connections, and then click
Network Connections. (Tip: If the Network and Internet Connections category is
not visible, click Switch to Category View on the upper left of the window.)
Under the Dial-Up or LAN or High Speed Internet category, click the icon to
select the connection that you want to help protect. In the task
pane on the left, under Network Tasks, click Change settings of this connection
(or right-click the connection you want to help protect, and then click
Properties). On the Advanced tab, under Internet Connection
Firewall, make sure the box is checked next to Protect my computer and network
by limiting or preventing access to this computer from the Internet. If a check
mark is in the box, the firewall is on. If the box is clear, the firewall is off
and your computer is potentially vulnerable on the Internet. If you have a
different version of Windows, such as Windows 2000, Windows Millennium Edition,
or Windows 98, you should obtain a hardware or software firewall from another
company and install it.
Hardware Firewall for DSL and Cable Internet users:
If your PC is connected directly to a cable or DSL modem, worms and other
nasties can attack and access your PC. I recommend that you install a $50
"router" to put up a physical hardware firewall between your PC and the
Internet. In addition, a router lets you connect several computers to your
single Internet connection at no additional cost. There are several
popular brands of routers. I strongly recommend the Linksys brand router.
You can get
"wired" Linksys BEFSR41 Wired Router or the "wireless"
Linksys WRT54G Wireless-G Router version.
Buy
a New DELL Now -- You Deserve it!
Has a virus struck your
PC?
Do you need self-help?
Don't spend big bucks on professional help - tackle the basics yourself.
Other more advanced resources:
Microsoft's "The
Antivirus Defense-in-Depth Guide"
Dell Computer has a good security reference and
learning site at
http://dell4me.com/security
Microsoft's security site at
http://www.microsoft.com/security/ is a good starting point also.
Other computer suggestions:
Add
Microsoft's NEW Lookout indexing capability to Outlook and MyDocuments
Play in Microsoft's SANDBOX of
other interesting services and downloads including
TerraServer
high-resolution aerial imagery and topographic maps
The best and cheapest way to learn about computers and the Internet is to take the free and affordable "hands-on" computer classes at KCBX.net in San Luis Obispo, CA. Online learning is also available -- $5 per month buys you unlimited access to 34 different Desktop Computer User courses, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook, Exchange, Paint Shop Pro, and many others.
Want to e-mail someone a VERY LARGE attachment? 
Go to
YouSendIt.com
and your friends will receive a link to your file, which will be uploaded
and stored online for one week - at no cost. You can send files as large as
1GB. No registration is required. Warning - in
experimenting with this free service recently, some have found it to wrapped
around intrusive spyware/malware... be careful. Aslo...
Use Microsoft's FolderShare
to Transfer Files to 2GB in Size --
Use Microsoft's FolderShare to securely keep files synchronized between your
computers, share files with friends or colleagues, and remotely download
your files from any web browser -
transfer up to 10,000 files up to 2GB in size each (this is sort of like
magic)
http://pchell.com/ has a collection of various hints and tips that are interesting to browse.
Pleasing error messages - Zen Haiku for Computer Users
Free
wireless Internet access can be had in Morro Bay at or near any
of these establishments:
2 Dogs Coffee Shops
and Internet Cafes (map),
Twin Dolphin Inn
(map1
map2),
The Embarcadero Inn
(map),
and
The Flying Dutchman (very strong signal, from
DigitalPutty?) (map1
map2) (more,
more,
more info...). Other open hotspots are
The Bay View Inn
(map)
(park on Market Street) and
Blue Sail Inn
(map)
(has multiple WAPs for high-speed DSL). SLO County directory at
www.slopages.com/information/wifihotspots.asp
The
Morro Bay Library has wireless Internet
access as of 3-16-06.
Dell owners can upgrade to the latest online
support software by going to
http://support.dell.com/dellsupportupgrademe/
(includes real-time health scans, proactive alerts, automates "fixes,"
software updates, error identification... etc.)
Having problems installing an application?
Is your machine running too slowly? Start your PC in "Safe
Mode."
Click Start > Run ... and then type "msconfig" (don't type the quotes)
Set the screen you see next to the following and re-start.
<= this is very useful, esp. when installing Symantec Norton products.
Also, see Microsoft's "How to perform a clean boot in Windows XP" to rule out even more conflicts.
Windows XP Tech Tips;
View Word documents using the free Microsoft
Word Viewer 2003
Free Microsoft PowerToys:
Install PowerToys
for Windows -- includes the following and many
more...
Image
Resizer
Resize images using Microsoft's free
PowerToy
Image
Resizer (This PowerToy enables you to resize one or many
image files with a simple right-click.)
ClearType Tuner - (This free PowerToy lets you use ClearType
technology to make it easier to read text on your screen, and installs in
the Control Panel for easy access.)
TweakUI
PowerToy -- this will allow you to
avoid logging into Windows every time you re-start.
SyncToy - for doing simple backups... SyncToy can help you
copy, move, and synchronize different directories, etc.
Password Safe
-- Many computer users today have to keep track of dozens of passwords:
for network accounts, online services, premium web sites. Some write
their passwords on a piece of paper, leaving their accounts vulnerable
to thieves or in-house snoops. Others choose the same password for
different applications, which makes life easy for intruders of all
kinds. With Password Safe, a free Windows utility designed
by Bruce Schneier, users can keep their passwords securely encrypted on
their computers. A single Safe Combination--just one thing to
remember--unlocks them all. Password Safe protects passwords
with the Blowfish encryption algorithm, a fast, free alternative to DES.
The program's security has been thoroughly verified by Counterpane Labs
under the supervision of
Bruce Schneier, author of
Applied Cryptography and creator of the Blowfish algorithm.
Password Safe features a simple, intuitive interface that lets users set
up their password database in minutes. You can copy a password just by
double-clicking, and paste it directly into your application. Best of
all, Password Safe is completely free: no license requirements,
shareware fees, or other strings attached.
pcstats.com PCSTATS provides guides that detail many facets of modern computer use. Their "Beginners Guides" are especially recommended.
Google
recommends "If you're interested in learning more about computer
applications that embed themselves into your computer without your knowledge
(often called "adware" or "spyware"), we suggest reading
http://www.doxdesk.com/parasite/"
Donate used computers to Central Coast Exploration Station Computers for
Youth Program. The program mission is to collect, repair, and
distribute older technology computers to low income families and
non-profit organizations.
http://www.kcbx.net/~estation/computers.html -- located in
Grover Beach (805) 473 3486 or (805) 473-1421.
Got E-waste?
Donate used computers to Central Coast Exploration Station Computers for Youth
Program. The program mission is to collect, repair, and distribute older
technology computers to low income families and non-profit organizations.
http://www.kcbx.net/~estation/computers.html -- located in Grover
Beach (805) 473 3486 or (805) 473-1421.
Local e-waste disposal & re-cycling options. Morro Bay residents can
drop off computer monitors and televisions sets at Morro Bay Household Hazardous
Waste (HHW) Facility Located at the Morro Bay Waste Water Plant, 160 Atascadero
Road, Morro Bay. Or, Call you
garbage company to arrange for a pickup of your computer monitor or
television set.
Who needs Microsoft Office to create or share the occasional letter or
spreadsheet? Use
http://writely.com/ and
http://numsum.com/ for
free. This is a glimpse of the future -- there is not much reason
to have expensive applications running on many PCs when these things can
now be done online for free. Here is
my
sample publicly viewable numsum.com "social" spreadsheet that you
can view online. Here is
my sample publicly viewable writely.com document that you can view
online. Writely.com documents that you create online can also be
saved as Word ".doc" files on your hard drive. These utilities
allow you to easily share and collaborate with others in the creation of
such documents.
ajaxWrite.com is the
newest player in this space... "the look, feel, and functionality of
Microsoft Word, in a completely web-based... platform."
See also
http://www.thinkfree.com/
Create Microsoft Office compatible files and more,
all online, for free (Beta, July 2006).
See also Ajax-based
zoho.com Office Suite and
Productivity Tools - excellent! "Zoho Writer is by far the best browser
based word processing software available." Try
Zoho QuickRead -- View
Office files available online directly using Zoho QuickRead (formats
supported: doc, xls, ppt, odt, rtf, sxw, sxc, sxi, pps)
http://www.carbonite.com/ Backup your PC online automatically for about
$5 a month. This PC Backup Software and Online Automatic Backup Service get
good reviews (alternatives described here also). Expect competing
(free?) services soon (2006+) from Google's Gdrive and
Microsoft Onecare.
Submit technical questions about the Internet, PCs, networking, etc., to mike [at} mikebaird d o t com, and select answers will be posted at docents.info/tech-tips
Some people have asked, so I'll mention that
Registry Mechanic is a download (limited use before purchase is
required) that may help you clean and repair registry problems. Before I
used this, however, I'd use Norton WinDoctor as part of Norton Utilities...
also part of Norton SystemWorks.
Process Explorer v9.0
Windows Task Manager
(CTL-ALT-DEL) tells you what applications and processes are running, but
some process names aren't very clear to the casual reader. Process
Explorer helps you get to the bottom of things by digging down to see
which application started a process and which resources that app is
currently using. This excavation can be a big help when you're
trying to figure out which background processes you dare shut down. It
can even help sniff out spyware, too.
Download Process Explorer v9.0 --
Read more about this Windows Security Tip.
SEE BELOW
I NOW (2006) recommend buying for under $30
Registry Booster from the
liutilities people
that bring you this process finder service below. "Clean,
repair, and optimize your system with the leading and award-winning Registry
Booster from Uniblue."
Also, consider getting
SpeedUpMyPC 2.0 - Performance Made Easy - The award-winning and
leading software utility that automatically optimizes and maximizes the
performance of all computers within minutes.
Search below for information on any suspicious process (as
seen in an error message, or in the "Processes" tab in the Windows Task
Manager (invoke via CTL-ALT-DEL) to secure your system and detect Spyware,
Adware, Viruses, Trojans and other unwanted processes (from
www.liutilities.com
and
processlibrary.com)
Okay, you got to the bottom of the page and
you still can't solve your problem?
Do
You Give Up?
DoYouGiveUp.com is Your
source for "paid" solutions for personal computer
& home networking (wired & wireless) problems
in the Morro Bay, CA area
|
|
Local Morro Bay computer expert
Carol DiNolfo
offers expert tutoring help at
http://www.slocomputertutor.com/