URLs from 12/19/06

iPod won't turn on

How to edit, backup, and restore the Registry

Restore an iPod to factory settings - will wipe out all contents of iPod

System Restore not working
--Microsoft article
--Techguy.org forum

Nintendo Wii Controller Damage
--Wiidamage.com
--Digitaldisplacement.com
--Kotaku.com

McAfee spam filter causes problems with email (2 callers with identical problem)
--During the show the guys found references to message boards that recommended turning off the McAfee spam filter and filter through your email program.
--Listener Steven of Dublin, IN writes: "I have used anti-spam tools (other than McAfee) and may have seen the behavior your callers reported. Some of these tools pickup the mail from the server, remove spam and then behave as a POP server where my mail client can pickup the filtered mail. In the cases I have seen, the instructions on using the tool said to enter the mail server in the tool and configure my mail program to retrieve mail from 127.0.0.1." We have not independently verified this advice.
*UPDATE* from Steven 1/3/07: Check the following:
--Spampal.us
--Keir.net
--Techsoup.org

URLs from 12/12/06

Kyocera Wireless router for cell phones

Microsoft's Zune Mp3 player
--The "Pink" Zune -- special edition, randomly distributed to 100 purchasers

What are the different version of Vista that will be available?

CPU Fan Error message at startup
--Whirlpool.net forum
--Techspot.com

Can I switch ISPs and keep my email address?

OS X Driver for HP Deskjet 855C Printer

URLs from 12/5/06

Switching from PC to Mac: how to
--Switch 101 (Apple site)
--ProQuest

Removing old version of Norton Utilities

AVG Virus protection

Motorola Wireless headphones

Pioneer Powerline speaker system (run speakers through electrical wiring)

psap.dll Startup error

Olympus 720sw digital camera

Parallels - Lets you run windows on Intel Mac

URLs from 11/28/06

MP3 Players:
--iPOD Shuffle
--Nike/iPod Information

iPod/MP3 Wireless headphones

Pioneer MT-01 home entertainment system

Olympus 720W digital camera

News:
--Chumby (hard to describe, it's a clock radio that uses wireless internet connections to fetch stuff from the web-- music, chat, photos, messages. Not yet available.)
--Airlines and Apple iPod Team up

Mac OS DMG Security Flaw

Comparing LCD to Plasma

How to find out information on a Macintosh Powerbook G4

Places to buy a used Macintosh
--Tips on buying a used Mac

Deleting cookies in Internet Explorer 7:

To delete a single cookie
--In Internet Explorer, click the Tools button, and then click Internet Options.
--On the General tab, in the Browsing history section, click Settings, and then click View files.
--Cookies will have the prefix Cookie: and usually contain the name of the website that saved it.
--Select the cookie you want to delete, and then, on the File menu, click Delete.

To delete all cookies
--In Internet Explorer, click the Tools button, and then click Internet Options.
--On the General tab, under Browsing history, click Delete.
--In the Delete Browsing History dialog box, click Delete cookies.
--When you are prompted to confirm that you want to delete cookies, click OK.
--Click Close, and then click OK.

Notes
--Some websites store your member name, password, or other information about you in a cookie. If you delete that cookie, you might need to re-enter your personal information the next time you visit the site.

URLs from 11/21/06

Information about Zune, Microsoft's new Mp3 player

Installing 10.4 on a Macintosh that does not have a DVD drive
--OS X 10.4 CDS available on the right side.
--Start your computer in target disk mode then install from another computer that has a DVD drive
--Using Target disk mode
--DVD drive for a Macintosh G4 Tower

How to fix hard drives with bad blocks

Macintosh firmware updates

Broadband speed comparison

URLs from 11/14/06

Resetting a BIOS password

Kaspersky Antivirus 6 review from CNET

Problem with Virtual Truck message at every restart

• In some circumstances (believed to be associated with previous failed installations that did not run to normal completion), on every restart, Windows asks for:
• Insert CDRom.
• Please insert your CDRom with the Virtual Truck program. Looking for file: E:\INSTALLS\TERAETH\VTRUCK.EXE
  
  
• The name of the file requested may differ in detail. Even after inserting the CD-ROM, the PC continues to make the same request on every restart. To repair this situation under Windows 98/ME:
• * Click Start, click Run.
• * Enter msconfig and click OK.
• * Click tab Win.ini to bring it to the front.
• * Click the [+] sign beside [windows] to expand this item.
• * If you see an entry run= involving \vtagent\reboot.exe, then uncheck it.
• * Click OK to exit the System Configuration Utility.

URLs from 11/7/06

Duplicate messages when downloading email from Outlook Express
--Mail Box Index is probably damaged; see
--Microsoft article
--Vicman.net

Macerena -- possible OS X Virus

Black Friday newspaper ads

Securely erase a hard drive
--mireth.com
--search VersionTracker

Test Trap spyware changed my desktop background
--It may be Active Desktop

URLs from 11/7/06

Duplicate messages when downloading email from Outlook Express
--Mail Box Index is probably damaged; see
--Microsoft article
--Vicman.net

Macerena -- possible OS X Virus

Black Friday newspaper ads

Securely erase a hard drive
--mireth.com
--search VersionTracker

Test Trap spyware changed my desktop background
--It may be Active Desktop

URLs from 10/31/06

Happy Halloween! Not too many issues today, but here are a couple:

126 Gig Hard drive problem

Keeping hackers out of your computer

URLs from 10/24/06

Recycling news: Dell Computers is hosting a free recycling event on November 4th from 9am to 3pm. It will be at their facility off I-75 near Cincinnati. Initial reports suggested that all brands of computing equipment would be accepted, but the Dell web site appears to indicate otherwise. We are attempting to confirm the status. No electronic gear. 9701 Windish Rd, West Chester (use the Union Centre exit from I-75; Google 'dell computer west chester oh' for a map).

Quad Boot Macintosh with 4 operating systems

New release of Firefox Web Browser

Changing the default application in Macintosh OS X

External hard drive adapters:
--byteccusa.com
--wiebetech.com
--cwol.com
--informit.com
--wikihow.com

How to remove Norton Antivirus Suite

Reverse lookup (to find out if an IP address has a DNS name)
--psacake.com
--arin.net

Norton 2007 not compatible with Spybot -- solution

URLs from 10/17/06

Bryan Powell's website recommendations
--daringfireball.net
--www.internet-nexus.com

Tutorial for C++

Playing VCDs on DVD players
--www.videohelp.com/vcd
--answers.yahoo.com/

Free Midi Software

Backup Software

Web site we use:
--Annoyances Windows
--Versiontracker
--Daring fireball
--Edmonds
--Macbytes

Game Design
--http://www.amazon.com/Macromedia-Flash-Game-Design-Demystified/dp/0201770210
--http://3d-game-design.internaldrive.com/
--http://www.digitalmediaacademy.org/courses/game-design-training.html
--http://www.cprogramming.com/tutorial.html
--http://www.bunchball.com/devnet/resources.html
--http://www-cs-students.stanford.edu/~amitp/gameprog.html
--http://www.deitel.com/computergames/gameprogramming/
--http://dmoz.org/Games/Video_Games/Game_Design/Resources/
--http://www.gdse.com/
--http://www.tutorialized.com/tutorials/C-and-Cpp/Games-and-Entertainment/1
--http://triplebuffer.devmaster.net/links.php

URLs from 10/10/06

Use Symantec Ghost to create an image of your entire hard drive -- useful for backups

Noisy hard drive

Getting files from Windows 98 machine using a flash drive

Fixing a Windows modem problem -- modem does not appear to be working

Add a firewall by using a hardware router for a broadband connection

White square suddenly appearing in upper left corner of desktop

How can I find out what are all of the processes I see in my task manager?
--Google.com
--Liutilities.com

Internet explorer 7 has just been released as a critical update

URLs from 10/3/06

Security Update for Windows XP Service Pack 2 (KB925486)
--A security issue has been identified in the way Vector Markup Language (VML) is handled that could allow an attacker to compromise a computer running Microsoft Windows and gain control over it. You can help protect your computer by installing this update from Microsoft.

More on restoring clogged Canon print cartridges -- listener Lee in Clayton disagreed with some of last week's info and gave several tips:

• Remove the ink tanks from the print head.
• Removed the print heads.
• Take a paper towel and fold it over to 4 thickness and soak it with tap water.
• Place the towel on a surface such as a dinner plate.
• Set the print head on the towel with the copper jets against the towel.
• Let it sit overnight.
• Air dry. Whatever, never never never ever rub anything over the jets on the print head.
• Reinstall and run the head cleaning several times until you get printing.
  

Lee comments that because Canon uses very tiny droplets of ink, 3rd-party cartridges can cause problems. Consider using only Canon cartridges (neither Lee nor we get any funds from Canon).

Sources for freeware or shareware
--IUseThis.com (Mac)
--VersionTracker.com (Mac, PC, Linux, Palm)
--download.com (Mac)

Macintosh tutorials for new users

Syncronizing (SYNC) Folders for the Mac
--via VersionTracker.com
--QuickSync

Resetting an iPod

Converting Cassettes to CDs- How to

URLs from 9/26/06

New Microsoft IE vulnerability could get early patch
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/5377802.stm

Windows 98 won't Shut Down properly
--From PC World
--From Microsoft.com
--More from Microsoft.com

Apple Airport Security Update

A British take on Silicon Valley: In Search of the Valley

Clean Clogged Canon inkjet
--We don't know if this method works and so cannot endorse it. An emailer today also suggested soaking the print cartridge head overnight in a solution of half-ammonia, half water. The easiest and probably safest solution is just to buy a new print cartridge.

Use Audacity software to digitize Lps (or cassettes).
--Don't forget you need a pre-amp to boost turntable signals.
--See also our blog item from 8/29/06.
--For Mac users, a caller also reports that GarageBand can do the job.

Clamav account in Mac OS X
--This is generated as part of an anti-virus software for the Mac called Clam AntiVirus (which we have not reviewed). We presume someone installed it on purpose on your machine. If you want to remove it, check their web site.

Great list of Windows "Run" Commands

Windows users, don't forget about the Run option in the start menu. You can also pull up the "run" command box by pressing the Windows Key + "R." From here you can initiate a lot of useful coommands. For a complete list, click here.

URLs from 9/19/06

Trojan/Linkoptimizer removal; also:
--anandtech.com
--castlecops.com
--Stinger

Is Apple's iTV a good idea? One negative view

Office 2007 info for the Mac

Anti-Spyware Guide

Windows 98 reboots instead of shutting down
--microsft.com
--5starsupport.com

URLs from 9/12/06

How secure is eBay bidder information?
--We talked with a caller who was contacted by a seller after he had changed his eBay email and password. We concluded that his eBay profile probably did not suppress his email address, and it should be updated. Anyone with concerns about security and phishing (phony offers, usually emails, that try to capture sensitive financial information) should look at antiphishing.org

Recovering files from damaged hard drives:
Recovery only Programs:
--FileSalvage (Mac)
--Data Rescue (Mac)
--Virtual labs (Mac & PC) -- a recovery program, pay as you go
--Data Rescue (PC)

Hard drive Recovery Utilities

Beginners Guide to hard disk recovery

Hard disk data recovery myths

Getting the Volume control back in the task bar

URLs from 9/5/06

What End Users Hate About IT Professionals

Epson software for Intel Macs

Slow wireless, but wired connection is fine
--Use war driving software to see if there's a channel conflict from another wireless node in your neighborhood

Sources for used Mac Laptops
--macofalltrades.com
--dvwarehouse.com
--Ebay

AirLink 101/Macintosh wireless problems:
--First turn off security, and test ethernet connection directly to make sure it is working. When trying wireless check Network in System preferences to see if you are getting a valid IP address. More . . .

Spam Filtering programs for the Macintosh

Epson all in one intel Mac Support
--Check for updated drivers

URLs from 8/29/06

Sharing files between Windows 98 & XP computers on the same network

How to start Windows in safe mode

A caller wanted to know why her roommate could log her PC into a network, but she couldn't log in with her Mac. One answer is to use the PC password preceded by the $ sign -- this lets the Mac know the password is a hexadecimal number.
--What are hexidecimal numbers?

Recording LPs to CDs
--Here's a tutorial
--Digitizing LPs or Records
--a turntable that you can plug into your sound card

Mac backup software: SuperDuper

War driving software lets you find local wireless networks

Now it's Apple's Turn- Huge Battery Recall for Apple Notebooks

In a relative sense, this is probably on a larger scale then Dell's, with 1.8 million batteries eligible for replacement. As with the Dell recall, the batteries were manufactured by Sony. Sony has stated this will be the last major recall of batteries they produced.

Follow this link to see if your previous G4 or iBook G4 battery is eligible

Apple's statement reads:

Apple has determined that certain lithium-ion batteries containing cells manufactured by Sony Corporation of Japan pose a safety risk that may result in overheating under rare circumstances.

The affected batteries were sold worldwide from October 2003 through August 2006 for use with the following notebook computers: 12-inch iBook G4, 12-inch PowerBook G4 and 15-inch PowerBook G4.

Apple is voluntarily recalling the affected batteries and has initiated a worldwide exchange program to provide eligible customers with a new replacement battery, free of charge. This program is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and other international safety authorities.