Archive for December, 2005
Temporary fix for security breach with WMF files
The possible solution given here is insufficient. Use the patch mentioned in the Steve Gibson reference given by Joel May in his comment.
The security problem mentioned previously grows apace. One possible temporary solution is to remove the WMF file type. Go to any folder and open the menu Tools-Folder Options- File Types. Scroll down [...]
Be sure to show file extensions
Ever since Windows 95, I (and many others) have been complaining about the default setting in Windows that hides file extensions. I have seen innumerable examples of how this decision by Microsoft causes confusion. I can’t count the number of times that I have told people in classes or lectures how to make file [...]
What’s that file?
Ever wonder what a particular file was for? Want to check if a file really belongs on your system? Process List is a site with a compendium of information on a host of different files. I use it to check suspicious files or just out of curiosity.
Batteries
These days there are hosts of gadgets that use batteries. Maybe you got a few for Christmas. With all those batteries around, it pays to know a few facts about how to use them properly. PC Magazine has an article Getting the Most from Your Batteries.
Retrograde experience with Windows 98
I was using a computer with Windows 98SE for a few days while traveling and I have to note that I longed to get back to Windows XP Professional. Getting wireless Internet connections to work in various motels was a pain with Windows 98, not to mention the occasional system crashes.
More on archiving or transferring email
In the previous entry, I mentioned a method for combining Outlook Express (OE) email messages into a single file for the purposes of archiving or transferring to another computer. That method works nicely as long as no message contains a picture. Hypertext links are OK but mail with embedded pictures doesn’t work. Either the combination [...]
Combining and archiving emails in Outlook Express
I get a lot of email newsletters and I don’t always have time to read them all or extract the items that I like to save. I have a folder for saved emails and often the number builds up. Since I sometimes want to archive the collection, I make use of a feature in Outlook [...]
An opinion about Microsoft
No, not my opinion, I try to keep these blog entries fairly short. The opinion is that of Scot Finnie, a frequent writer on computer subjects and currently editor at TechWeb. He has an interesting article where he gives some thought on what he thinks of Microsoft as a company. He complains that Microsoft [...]
About the BIOS
While cleaning out my email, I ran across a reference to an article in PC World on the BIOS. It’s two years old but still pertinent. Generally, the BIOS is a mysterious place for average PC users. This article will help you understand this very important basic function. It might even help you with some [...]
Quick tour of the motherboard
Ever wonder what was on a motherboard? PC World has an article that will give you a short tour around what’s on the newest motherboards.
Quick way to “undo” an action
Sometimes, right after you carry out an action on the computer, you wish you hadn’t. Or maybe you hit the wrong key or clicked the wrong button by mistake. Fortunately, many actions have an “undo” feature and can be reversed. Very often the keyboard combination Ctrl+z will undo a previous action. Examples are copying, moving, [...]
