Archive for April, 2006
Tips on dealing with computer problems
The title Never Call Tech Support Again! of a PC World article is probably overstating its usefulness but nonetheless it has some tips about common computer problems that are worth reading. The introduction says
Bad things happen to good computers: Motherboards fry, hard disks die, and spyware and viruses muck up Windows. You’d call tech support, [...]
Some facts about Windows XP System Restore
The System Restore function in Windows XP is one defense line against file corruption or loss but it is far from a complete backup. Many PC users are confused about what System Restore actually does. When you create a restore point, what is actually being saved? One place to go to get information about which [...]
Imaging software for system backup
Everyone needs some sort of backup and one type is imaging software that creates a large file that is a complete image of a particular drive or partition. For years I used Ghost, but as I remarked earlier, Symantec’s treatment of the program since they bought it leaves much to be desired. The same [...]
A Windows update saga
You are probably tired of hearing about Windows Update problems but this story from Ed Bott is about a situation so bad that it is almost funny. His saga of the confusion of updates that he ran into contains this tongue-twister
Alas, the download page for that last one indicates that the update rollup for the [...]
How to uninstall a Windows patch
I’ve been grousing about the problems caused by the recent security and other patches that Microsoft issued. One way to deal with the problems caused by a patch is to uninstall it. Here’s a Desktop Pipeline article that gives instructions on how to uninstall.
Tweak your LCD display settings to see better
Many PC users never consider changing the settings for their monitor. They just accept whatever default settings came with their system. If you have a new LCD, you may be giving yourself a headache for no good reason. A few adjustments can improve your viewing. PC World has a column with some suggestions. As Kirk [...]
Web site changes
Because of the convergence of a number of events, quite a few changes in my Web sites are upcoming. The recent modifications to Internet Explorer, the expected coming of Vista and the obsolescence of Windows 98/Me mean changes for my site at http://vlaurie.com. Old material is going to be or has been removed and new [...]
Customize your Start menu (continued)
In a previous entry I showed how you can turn off the “Recently used programs” section of the Start menu. Instead of disabling this feature entirely, you can just customize which programs are allowed to appear on the menu. The free Microsoft Power Toy “TweakUI” has a function that makes this easy. (More [...]
References on being more environment- friendly
We all want to help protect the environment and cNet has a list of references
When it comes to the environment, technology is both problem and solution. In honor of Earth Day, we’ve rounded up a guide to going greener: how to recycle your gear safely, news about tech addressing environmental issues, ways you can save [...]
Customize your Start menu
There is a section of the Windows XP Start menu that lists the programs that you have recently opened. Not all programs are listed, just those that Windows decides to put there. How Windows decides what to list and what length of time it leaves them there is not always clear. By default, up to [...]
Why can’t software companies leave good programs alone?
It just keeps happening. An excellent piece of software comes out. It’s fairly lean and does it’s job well. Then it gets “upgraded” or another company buys out the original and “improves” it. The result is a bloated and often more unstable product with added “features” that I don’t want and don’t use and that [...]
