Summary: Wed Nite KH Computer Help Desk 11/01/06

[mommalina]

We were 3d or tied for 3d most of the night in our chatroom
and closed at 12:40 am.

Photolady did not attend, hope she is okay! That said, the
Acronis discussion is still on hold.

NOTE- You now have the option to be reminded by email
one hour to three days before our weekly chatroom session. You
can set it up here:
http://www.kickenhardware.net/forum/calendar.php?do=getinfo&day=2006-6-14&e=1&c=1

- We have renamed our chatroom. If you have it listed under
Favorites in Paltalk for easy access, delete the old name and
add the new one: Wednesday Night KH Computer Help
Desk.

WHO WAS THERE

KH MEMBERS - Lina, Lawrence, Vivienne, Pete, Elliot, Dan, Rob
(rbob/kern), Fred, Rich, DaBear (Lou)

VISITORS WHO PARTICIPATED - len 1942, shawnrobinson20,
jacque117, sakuya, MisterBigStuff, TraiThoiNay555, gona1986,
flipflop22, Bear_Hunter, Raw123, joubran53, jacque117, len1942

COMPUTER-RELATED DISCUSSIONS

PHOTOS ON COMPUTER - Visitor len1942 wanted to
organize photos on his computer.

- Adobe Photo Element - $10 on Ebay, $89.99 online http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshopelwin/
- Picasa - free download http://picasa.google.com/

- Rich: XP burning program very simple, put pictures
all in one place.

FIREFOX PLUG-IN PROBLEMS - Rich says
Firefox not a full browser, plug-ins often don't work.

FIREFOX 2.0 - great spell-check

AUTO COMPLETE

- Members and visitors alike seem to hate it. SeaMonkey
browser doesn't have auto complete.

- Pete: Custom-install SeaMonkey for install only, to avoid
switch to Mozilla for email..

FIREWALLS

- Lawrence recommends:
Comodo www.personalfirewall.comodo.com
and r-firewall www.r-tt.com

- AVG still perfect for Vivienne.

- Rich will go to AVG Security/Firewall for all machines.

EMAIL - All email should be scanned, but Vivienne
gets email from server, selecting only what she wants.

LOCKED OUT OF COMPUTER **See edit below

- Visitor jacque117 locked out, doesn't understand
safemode. Madboot suggested, http://www.madboot.com/

- Dan: If you don't know how to get into safe mode, getting
a tech tool will cause you more trouble than you have now.

PASSWORDS - Rich: Why use them? ... waste
of time, use a padlock. You can get in anyway using safe
mode.

DVD BURNERS - prices falling.

PUPPY LINUX

- Lawrence would like to make tutorial.

- Use Classic set-up in Windows, easier to switch back
and forth to Linux.

POWER SUPPLY PROBLEM -

- Problem with Visitor flipflop22's new Dell. Advised
to contact Dell.

- Possible hibernate problem. Lina wonders what
would happen if he turned off hibernate.

- Try Everest Home to measure voltage

- Rich: Dell, Gateway, all use inadequate power supply.

STORING FPT FILES

- Visitor Bear_Hunter having a problem. Above my head,
but Fred directed him here:

http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=472618&st=0&p=587634480&#entry587634480

VISTA - Lawrence ordered it, friend wants to see
it operating. Look forward to Lawrence's comments about
Vista.

DVD TO DVIX - way above my head, but here's
an url which seemed to delight visitor MisterBigStuff:

http://www.bluechillies.com/list.html?k=dvd+to+dvix


DELL WARRANTY / TECH SUPPORT

- Vivienne just bought a Dell, one-year warranty for parts,
three-years tech support.

- Lina bought her Dell (XP Home) over three years ago
and has lifetime tech support for which she
did not pay extra and recently used. Dan advised that
"lifetime" means lifetime of the O/S, not the computer,
will end next June for XP. .. :frown:

- So Dell now provides tech support for three years
instead of lifetime for o/s. Hey, they gotta cut corners
somewhere! .....*See edit below

SYSTEM WINDOW INFORMATION - This
came up, but I don't know why. May be useful to you.
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/msinfo_overview.mspx?mfr=true


INTERNET EXPLORER PROBLEM - What a challenge!

- Visitor Rawa123 said (translated) that whenever he is typing
anything in the IE page, it shows page cannot be displayed. If he
searches through Google, no problem. Google is fine, but IE
can't find anything for him.

- Rich suggested Winsock fix (http://www.snapfiles.com/get/winsockxpfix.html )

- Rob and Rich suggested BitDefender and Ewido online scans.
Rawa did not understand the difference between an online scanner
which is not downloaded and his installed Kaspersky-installed AV.

Visitor Bear_Hunter suggested http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html#DownloadAvastHomeEdition

- Rob suggested he unblock pop-ups. Rawa didn't know what they
were. Rob directed him to IE tools menu, -> popup blockers ->
Turn off popup blocker.

- Rob and Rich left.

- Lawrence suggested installing Firefox or SeaMonkey, but Rawa
didn't know what they or a browser was.

- Lina wondered why he couldn't just do the new Windows Updates
which would install IE 7 and replace the defective IE he was using.

- Fred stood on his head to help him. Then Lawrence asked him to
install a new IE. Rawa said he could not.....his o/s was not
genuine! (That means he could not get updates or install the
new IE7.)

- We did not determine which country Rawa lived in, but he said a
genuine copy was very expensive there and cost was prohibitive. I
felt sorry for him, but the attempts to help had to cease. Fred
politely and reluctantly told him to come back after he buys a
genuine copy.

- Without establishing a precedent here, I wonder if we
could have bought a genuine o/s for him on E-bay and
sent it to him for Christmas! Maybe we could have made
a friend for America without invading his country. .. :rolleyes:
Rawa is only 18, polite as hell (called everyone "dear"),
a sweet kid who must have struggled hard to learn English.

NON-COMPUTER DISCUSSIONS

METRIC SYSTEM

- Fahrenheit to Celsius Converter http://www.wbuf.noaa.gov/tempfc.htm

- Lawrence says Australia converted to the Metric System
some30 years ago, but the UK still has not.

A TRIP FOR LAWRENCE? Lawrence has
opportunity to visit Fiji islands.... but unrest and
possible coup d'etat seem ominous.

LINA'S REFRIGERATOR - new thermostat
but acting up again. Lowered thermostat to get proper
temperature (O degrees for freezer, 38-40 degrees for
refrigerator). Gets too cold and vents clogged with ice.
Still wonder if it's heater (defrost) problem as Google
research may suggest.

Until next week, ciao,

Lina

*Edit: See Vivienne's post below.
Dell offers free tech support for only one
year now!

**Edit: SIW (System Information for Windows)
http://www.gtopala.com/index.html was also suggested by Lawrence.

[mylanta]

One of the best nights we have had in terms of steady flow...and we are defintiely attraccting more and more users there.

[Vivienne]

Thanks, Lina. As always a great summary. Sorry I could not stay longer. :-(

- Rich: Dell, Gateway, all use inadequate power supply.

Is it possible to upgrade Dell power supply?

[ DELL WARRANTY / TECH SUPPORT

- Vivienne just bought a Dell, one-year warranty for parts,
three-years tech support.

- Lina bought her Dell (XP Home) over three years ago
and has lifetime tech support for which she
did not pay extra and recently used. Dan advised that
"lifetime" means lifetime of the O/S, not the computer,
will end next June for XP. .. :frown:

- So Dell's now provides tech support for three years
instead of lifetime for o/s. Hey, they gotta cut corners
somewhere!

They have cut even more than indicated!

I bought a 3 year total care warranty which includes three year tech support - otherwise tech support is only good for *one* year!

Vivienne

[Tortanick]

The "British Mess" of Metric and Imperial is a natinoal treasure, it annoys forigners, keeps us practicing maths conversions and makes us look unique in the world.

Besides Imerperial measurments often have the better names.

And Rich XP passwords are very effective at keeping technically illeterate family members out.

[mylanta]

Is it possible to upgrade Dell power supply?

Dell's today will take any normal psu Viv!

[Vivienne]

Dell's today will take any normal psu Viv!

Thanks, Rich!! However, I forgot to say that this is for the laptop just ordered (which we will receive tomorrow). How about laptops? That might be a problem?

Vivienne

[mommalina]

They have cut even more than indicated!

I bought a 3 year total care warranty which includes three year tech support - otherwise tech support is only good for *one* year!


I guess I lucked out with the "free" lifetime o/s tech support and
"free" one-year total-care warranty three years ago. I have gotten
my money's worth of free tech support. Most of it has been good,
but they should have paid me to take some of it!.. :rolleyes:

I was told by a savvy son and the KH posse that if something is
going to fail, it will probably do so in the first year and not to get
the extended warranty. My Dell 4550 is undoubtedly not as powerful
as your computer and probably not as expensive--although prices
have come down in three years. I paid $762 without monitor,
including RAM/DVD/floppy upgrades, taxes, and shipping.
Forgoing the warranty in my case was good advice.

Congratulations and good luck with your new computer, Vivienne!
Enjoy it in good health! .. :)

Lina

[mylanta]

Thanks, Rich!! However, I forgot to say that this is for the laptop just ordered (which we will receive tomorrow). How about laptops? That might be a problem?

Vivienne


Well that is another story Viv, no choice there but Dell.

[Vivienne]

Rich:

Well that is another story Viv, no choice there but Dell.

If I have problems maybe they will let me upgrade to a more powerful Dell PSU. I never thought to ask what PSU it used. I have sent them an email now asking them this. A bit late :-( but it still would be good for me to know.


Lina:

I guess I lucked out with the "free" lifetime o/s tech support and
"free" one-year total-care warranty three years ago.

That's such a great deal!! I bought a Dell about 15 years ago with free tech supoort lifetime warranty. But if that was just the life of the OS, then that would have expired a very long time ago!


I have gotten
my money's worth of free tech support. Most of it has been good,
but they should have paid me to take some of it!.. :rolleyes:

Like all the others! I've had terrible advice from Toshiba, Dell, HP as well as the shop where we've had our last four computers built. :-(

I was told by a savvy son and the KH posse that if something is
going to fail, it will probably do so in the first year and not to get
the extended warranty.

Funny how different experts have different ideas. I was told on TSG (which is a great forum also) years ago, to get the longest warranty I can because if just one thing goes wrong I would have spent the money anyway. I didn't get the longest which was four years because they wanted over $500 for it!!


I paid $762 without monitor,
including RAM/DVD/floppy upgrades, taxes, and shipping.

My laptop ( my grandson's, actually) pre taxes was $3000. After all expenses it was $3750.00 (ouch!!)


Forgoing the warranty in my case was good advice.

It's so nice when it works out that way. I think with a laptop it maybe (?) makes more sense to have a warranty than with a desktop.


Congratulations and good luck with your new computer, Vivienne!
Enjoy it in good health! .. :)

:-) Thanks, Lina

[PeteF]

- Pete: Custom-install SeaMonkey for install only, to avoid
switch to Mozilla for email..



Pete recommends to do the custom install for Seamonkey
and set it to install the browser only. I always prefer to
use a separate Email client. Browser only also helps to
avoid problems associated with the default email program.



LOCKED OUT OF COMPUTER

- Visitor jacque117 locked out, doesn't understand
safemode. Madboot suggested, http://www.madboot.com/

...

PASSWORDS - Rich: Why use them? ... waste
of time, use a padlock. You can get in anyway using safe
mode.

......

SYSTEM WINDOW INFORMATION - This
came up, but I don't know why. May be useful to you.
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/msinfo_overview.mspx?mfr=true



Visitor jacque117 was locked out due to Windows password protection.
I think I heard someone suggest a free program named SIW or WIS that
would reveal the password if run from the administrator account. Did I
hear correctly, and if so, where can I find this free program?

Just to clarify, Rich had stated that Windows user account
passwords are a waste of time, but only because most PC owners
never put a password on the Administrator account, and when that
happens, anyone can start into Safe Mode as Administrator and
reset the passwords on other accounts.

---pete---

[Vivienne]

Hi Pete

I think I heard someone suggest a free program named SIW or WIS that would reveal the password if run from the administrator account. Did I hear correctly, and if so, where can I find this free program?


Lawrence suggested a program called System Information for Windows

http://www.gtopala.com/index.html

I have never used it but on the website it says it does. Below is a description of it as stated there. When reading it, I was thinking the fact that it's a standalone that needs no installation and can be carried around on a flash drive would be great for you when you have to diagnose and repair at people's homes.

SIW performs computer configuration analysis and diagnostics. It gives detailed information about your computer properties and settings, detailed specs for:
- Software (Operating System, Installed Programs and Hotfixes, Processes, Services, Product Keys, Serial Numbers, Users, Open Files, System Uptime, Passwords hidden behind asterisks, Installed Codecs),
- Hardware (Motherboard, Sensors, BIOS, CPU, chipset, PCI/AGP, USB and ISA/PnP Devices, Memory, Video Card, Monitor, Disk Drives, CD/DVD Devices, SCSI Devices, S.M.A.R.T., Ports, Printers),
- Network (Network Cards, Network Shares, currently active Network Connections),
as well as real-time monitors for CPU, Memory, Page File usage and Network Traffic.
SIW can create a report file (CSV, HTML, TXT or XML), and is able to run in batch mode.
SIW is a standalone tool that does not require installation - one less installed program on your PC as well the fact that you can run the program directly from a USB flash drive (Portable Freeware).

Vivienne

[mommalina]

Pete and Vivienne, thanks for the clarifications.

I googled SWI instead of SIW, and I did not notice the url Rich
typed into the text box ( http://www.gtopala.com/index.html ).

I will edit my summary and add the System Information for Windows
url.

Thanks again.

Lina

[photolady]

Sounds like you guys had a full house Wednesday. Sorry I missed it. Woke too late to come in. :eek:

[mylanta]

Sounds like you guys had a full house Wednesday. Sorry I missed it. Woke too late to come in. :eek:


Hey there is always next week!!!

[kern]

Sounds like you guys had a full house Wednesday. Sorry I missed it. Woke too late to come in. :eek:

it sure is encouraging to see increased interest in the chatroom. over the last few weeks we helped quite a few paltalk "visitors" who seemed interested in joining KH. hope they didnt forget about us. adding "wed night" to the room name should help.

[mylanta]

I think adding Wed Night to the name will pick up Paltalkers because they realize right away we are only there on Wednesday...so we become more special and curiosity alone makes them come in then.

[mommalina]

LINA'S REFRIGERATOR - new thermostat
but acting up again. Lowered thermostat to get proper
temperature (O degrees for freezer, 38-40 degrees for
refrigerator). Gets too cold and vents clogged with ice.
Still wonder if it's heater (defrost) problem as Google
research may suggest.

UPDATE

Kudos to Lawrence, Google, and me!

Repairman was here again. He was patronizing, and he
intimated I was making a mountain out of a molehill and
there was nothing wrong with the refrigerator.

I read him Google's diagnosis (defrost/heater problem).
I mentioned the diagnosis by a wise computer buddy
(:hail: Lawrence) (defrost/heater problem). The repairman
then decided to have another look.
:jaw:

An iceberg or igloo was hiding behind the panel in
the freezer!.......:peep:

New parts ordered, repairs when they arrive. All that
plus two home visits so far, one new thermostat installed,
one-year warranty (fix it or $500 towards new fridge)
for $213! When I first called for service, I allowed
myself to be talked into the $213 service contract
because I suspected major repairs. Lucky guess!:D

Aaaaah, the wonders of computers and the KH chatroom!

Lina

[mylanta]

Hey two more points for Paltalk Chatroom without which none of this would have helped! Isn't it great so many people who read these notes every week are so perfect they never need any help?