Quick Computer Tips
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Viruses
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How do viruses work?
A file virus attaches itself to a file (but see the section below or the comp.virus FAQ on the subject of companion viruses), usually an executable application (e.g., a word processing program or a DOS program). In general, file viruses don't usually infect data files. However, data files can contain embedded executable code such as macros, which may be used by virus or trojan writers. Recent versions of Microsoft Word are particularly vulnerable to this kind of threat. Text files such as batch files, postscript files and source code, which contain commands that can be compiled or interpreted by another program, are potential targets for malware (malicious software), though such malware is not at present common.
Boot sector viruses alter the program that is in the first sector (boot sector) of every DOS-formatted disk. Generally, a boot sector infector executes its own code (which usually infects the boot sector or partition sector of the hard disk), then continues the PC bootup (start-up) process. In most cases, all write-enabled floppies used on that PC from then on would become infected.
Multipartite viruses have some of the features of both the above types of virus. Typically, when an infected file is executed, it infects the hard disk boot sector or partition sector, and thus infects subsequent floppies used or formatted on the target system.
Macro viruses typically infect global settings files such as Word templates so that subsequently edited documents are contaminated with the infective macros.
The following virus types are more fully defined in the comp.virus FAQs (see preamble):
1) STEALTH VIRUSES - viruses that go to some length to conceal their presence from programs, which might notice.
2) OLYMORPHIC VIRUSES - viruses that cannot be detected by searching for a simple, single sequence of bytes in a possibly infected file, since they change with every replication.
3) COMPANION VIRUSES - viruses that spread via a file which runs instead of the file the user intended to run, and then runs the original file. For instance, the file MYAPP.EXE might be "infected" by creating a file called MYAPP.COM. Because of the way DOS works, when the user types MYAPP at the C> prompt, MYAPP.COM is run instead of MYAPP.EXE. MYAPP.COM runs its infective routine, then quietly executes MYAPP.EXE. NB: this is not the only type of companion (or "spawning") virus.
4) ARMOURED VIRUSES - viruses that are specifically written to make it difficult for an antivirus researcher to find out how they work and what they do.
How do viruses spread?
A computer is infected with a boot sector virus (or partition sector virus) if it is (re-)booted (usually by accident) from an infected floppy disk in drive A. Boot Sector/MBR infectors are the most commonly found viruses, and cannot normally spread across a network. These (normally) spread by accident via floppy disks, which may come from virtually any source: unsolicited demonstration disks, brand new software (even from reputable sources), disks used on your computer by salesmen or engineers, new hardware, or repaired hardware.
A file virus infects other files when the program to which it is attached is run, and so can spread across a network (often very quickly). They may be spread from the same sources as boot sector viruses, but also from sources such as Internet FTP sites and bulletin boards. (This applies also to Trojan Horses.)
A multipartite virus infects boot sectors and files. Often, an infected file is used to infect the boot sector: thus, this is one case where a boot sector infector could spread across a network.
How can I avoid infection?
There is no way to guarantee that you will avoid infection. However, the potential damage can be minimized by taking the following precautions:
1) Make sure you have a clean boot disk -- test with whatever (up-to-date!) antivirus software you can get hold of and make sure it is (and stays) write-protected. Boot from it and make a couple of copies.
2) Use reputable, up-to-date and properly installed antivirus software regularly. We suggest using this brand and we can also show you how to set it up and use it properly as well.
3) Backup your data on a daily or weekly basis. We can also show you how to do this the cheapest and easiest of ways.
4) Make sure the anti-virus program updates automatically everyday and that it is turned on and on the internet during that time so it can grab the updates it needs to keep your computer safe and free from viruses. If the computer misses that update then your computer will be vulnerable to whatever viruses the update was supposed to protect you against. It is up to you to run the anti-virus update before going online or checking email for that day if the computer was not turned on during the time it was supposed to automatically receive the updates.
E-mail Viruses: How Catchy Are They?
Most viruses are spread through files that are sent via e-mail, as attachments to mail messages. In most e-mail programs (including Netscape and Eudora), programs contained in attachments don't run until you click them -- so don't open programs that come from people you don't know. Don't even open attachments from people you do know if you weren't expecting to receive them. Many successful viruses replicate themselves by sending copies of themselves to the first 50 people in your address book, people who know you.
If you use Microsoft's Outlook Express 5.0 or later, or Outlook 97 or later, the situation is direr. Outlook (which comes with Microsoft Office) opens attachments as soon as you view the message. Outlook Express (which comes with Windows) provides a preview pane that displays a file and its attachments before you click it at all. Early versions of Outlook Express 5.0 and Outlook 97, 98, and maybe 2000 allowed attached programs to do all kinds of horrible things to your PC. Luckily, Microsoft has changed the default settings on more recent versions of Outlook Express and Outlook.
To find out ways to make your e-mail program less prone to viruses, be sure to check your e-mail program's Web site for late-breaking information.
A Spam Suggestion
One place to pick up a lot of unwanted spam is in a newsgroup. Therefore, when you participate in a newsgroup, you should mask your e-mail address. For example, if your e-mail address is jane@wherever.com, enter it in the newsgroup as jane@delete_wherever.com.
With your e-mail address entered this way, people who need to send you e-mail can see that they have to delete the "delete_" party of the address. Computer programs that troll for e-mail addresses aren't that smart.
Virus Alert
According to recent reports, the virus-geeks have figured out yet another way to vomit their filth onto everyone's computer by infecting files that were once thought to be virus-proof such as picture files and text files.
Apparently, one of the dregs of the techno-world has stayed up late scheming a method to infect these files. Please make sure to inspect all incoming emails and downloads from the Internet with a virus scanner and firewall.
There are many third party products that do quite well at protecting computers from attacks, but it is difficult to keep up with individuals determined to be destructive.
Keep your virus software updated and always be cautious when receiving emails from unknown individuals.
Individuals who engage in the development and propagation of viruses are the banal scum of the software world.
Cookie Alert
You may have heard horrible stories about things called cookies that Websites reputedly use to spy on you, steal your data, ravage your computer, inject cellulite into your hips while you sleep, and otherwise make your life miserable. Extensive investigation reveals that most cookies aren't bad; when you're shopping online, they can even be quite helpful.
A cookie is no more than a little chunk of text a Website sends to a PC with a request (not a command) to send the cookie back during future visits to the same Website. The cookie is stored on your computer in the form of a tiny (up to 4K) text file. That's all it is. You can see the cookies now on file in your PC in a file called something like Cookies.txt, but they are usually encoded in a way that makes them unintelligible.
For online shopping, cookies let the Web server track your "shopping cart" of items you have selected but not yet bought, even if you log out and turn off your computer in the interim. Stores can also use cookies to keep track of the last time you visited and what you bought, but they could also keep that data on their own computers, so what's the big deal?
Computer Basics
Cleaning Your Keyboard
Keyboards are pretty delicate and can be easily damaged through improper cleaning techniques. So when you can't stand the dust bunnies and food crumbs between the keys any longer, try this: Turn off your system and use a handheld vacuum cleaner to gently remove any dust. Then dampen a rag and lightly wipe the tops of the keys. (Use plain water to lightly dampen the rag -- solvents or too much water will damage the keyboard.)
Loud Dial-Up Modem
If the screeching sound make by your modem (called handshaking) is too loud, you can decrease the volume. Go to the Control Panel and click the modem icon. Click the Properties button and in the general tab, slide the speaker volume as far to the left (towards off) as you want until the sound is at a level that you want. You can even turn the volume the entire way off if needed. "
Here is a comment from one of our readers --- I have actually found that this doesn't always work.
Sometimes when I put the slider all the way to "OFF", the modem still makes that god awful screeching.
A trick that I have used back in the days of BBS's and MS-Dos was to go to the advanced properties of the modem... within there, you'll find something along the lines of "Additional Parameters" and a back text box beneath it. In there, if you type in "m0" (without quotes) it will completely mute the screech from the modem... also, you can change the number from 0 - 3 and that will change how loud the modem speaker will go.
Changing the Volume
Although Microsoft designed Windows XP to be easier than ever to use, the programmers stubbed their toes when it came to changing the volume.
Here's how to put the volume control back where it belongs -- right next to the little clock in the bottom right corner of the screen:
1. Click the Start button, open the Control Panel, and click the Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices icon.
2. Click the Sounds and Audio Devices icon and select the Place Volume Icon in the Taskbar check box. A little speaker then appears next to your clock.
3. Click OK to close the window.
Now, if you need to turn the sound up or down in a hurry, click the little speaker by your clock. A volume control appears, enabling you to turn the sound up or down by sliding the control up or down. Or, to turn the sound off completely, click the Mute box. Whew!
More Advice/Tips on Recovering Disk Space
On one of our older PCs with several hard disks installed, Windows XP is configured on the C drive and disk space is quite limited. In fact, the automated Windows kept warning us that free disk space was almost totally consumed. The error message offered a button to launch the Windows "free disk space" wizard for deleting temporary files from your Windows folder, removing your temporary Internet files, etc. The wizard is invaluable but may not be sufficient to give you the ample disk space for Windows to operate.
As a rule of thumb, our Windows C drive should have a minimum of 10% of disk space and nothing less. Even 10% won't be enough for any PC user who has a broadband connection and surfs on the Internet for an hour a day. If you download large binary files to your default Windows C drive, we also strongly recommend that you leave at least 3 MB for every 1 MB of content you download per day, especially if you download multimedia files. If you are running out of space we can offer you with a newer, bigger hard drive and we can also clone your data to the new drive making the switch a snap.
If you are running out of disk space, then you have several options to help clear the clutter quickly. Before doing anything drastic, take these easy steps.
Delete any Readme files that you don't need.
Delete Help files that you don't need.
Delete old Internet Temporary Files.
Archive or delete old documents.
Check your Internet mail. If you have old mail you no longer need, delete it.
Remove old games you don't play anymore.
One good trick is also to perform a search on files that are over 100 MB. This will identify the biggest offenders first and help to concentrate your efforts.
My Computer vs Explorer
If you have ever opened 'My Computer' and Explorer, you may wonder about the difference between the two. Well, there isn't much. The major difference is Explorer has a left pane that contains folders within a tree structure so that you can easily locate folders and see the hierarchy. My Computer does not have this functionality. You can alter it, but why? Explorer already does it.
As far as I can tell, the functions served from within My Computer can be duplicated, and usually more easily, from within Explorer. Skip My Computer, and get used to Explorer. If you can think of a valid use of My Computer that Explorer cannot do, I would love to hear from you.
Neck Strain
Minimize neck strain by placing your monitor at eye level. Always use a keyboard pad in front of the keyboard, and take a 5 minute break at least once for each hour you spend at the computer.
Print Key
The Print Screen key is a leftover from DOS, before Windows took over the desktop, but the key isn't useless – just different. Now, instead of sending the contents of the screen to your printer, it stores it in Windows temporary memory. You can still get a printout though.
Press the Print Screen key, then open up the Paint program, which you'll find in the Accessories on the Program menu. Choose Paste from Paint's Edit menu to display the screen image. You can then print using the Print command in the File menu.
If you just want to capture an active window or dialog box, hold down the Alt key while pressing the Print Screen key.
Filling a Printer Cartridge
The prices of printer cartridges are outrageously high, and as an alternative many have turned to filling the printer cartridge using a refill kit. These kits are much less expensive and can be reused.
Exercise caution, ink is very unforgiving, so read all instructions carefully that come with the refill unit. Always check to make sure that your type of cartridge is one that can be refilled. Not all are refillable.
Also, printer cartridge ink is not like regular ink. It was designed with specific usages in mind. You cannot fill a printer cartridge with any other kind of ink! Doing so may cause irreparable harm to your printer. Be as Green as you can!
Windows Basics
Start Without the Mouse
Is your mouse broken or unusable? You can activate the Start menu without using your mouse. Press Ctrl-Esc on your keyboard. Or, if you have a Windows compatible keyboard, then you can press the button to the left of the Alt button that is left of the space bar. Once the Start menu has been activated, you will then be able to navigate the menu without the mouse. Use the up and down cursor arrows to rotate through commands in the menu. The right and left cursor arrows will allow you to jump from the left side of the menu to the right side. To expand a selected folder, press Enter; to collapse it, press the Esc key.
Windows Printing Made Quick and Easy
There are many ways to quickly print documents in Windows. The quickest way to print something that you are viewing on the screen is to simultaneously press the Ctrl button and the P button. The Print dialogue box will open and you can just hit then enter button or use the mouse to complete the printing process. Another way is to open the Printer Window from the Control Panel and Windows Explorer. Click and drag files from Explorer to the printer's icon. The printer will automatically print the documents you have dragged to the printer icon.
Windows Explorer
To open Windows Explorer hold Windows key and "e" it's a lot faster than opening it through MY COMPUTER. Now all you need is a new keyboard with a Windows Key on it.......
Back Grading or Down Grading Advice for New Pre-Installed Vista PC Buyers
Here is something to consider before buying a PC with a pre-installed version of Windows Vista. Most of all the new PCs from major brand manufacturers come with pre-installed Windows Vista. If you are planning to migrate all your software applications, including games, utilities, network applications, even vertical business applications that you use for running your business, make sure that your current versions will run under Windows Vista without modification.
Many PC buyers have discovered that many mission critical applications as well as their core office applications will not work under Windows Vista. One solution is to down grade to a copy of Windows XP. Is it worth the effort? That will depend on the performance issues and whether or not that is even an option. Some computer manufactures are making it difficult to down grade from Windows Vista to Windows XP. You may discover that the new PC does not provide Windows XP updated drivers for the new PC's video, sound, and network cards.
Windows XP
Microsoft designed Windows XP Professional to run on laptop or notebook computers. The Professional version works better with battery-driven computers and offers more wireless Internet connection options.
Laptops should be beefed up with the following to run Windows XP Professional:
* A separate copy of Windows XP. Remember, each copy of Windows XP may be installed on only a single computer. No longer can you install the same copy on both your desktop and laptop computers.
* 600 MHz or faster processor with 128 MB RAM
* 20 GB ATA/66 hard drive
* 8 MB AGP graphics adapter and 3D hardware acceleration
* DVD Player or CD-RW/DVD player
* Built-in speakers
* Built-in 56K modem
* Two USB ports
* Port replicator for easy connection to external keyboard, mouse, and monitor
Folder Names
When naming folders, make sure you use a standard name, or a name that is descriptive enough so that you will remember its purpose. For example, a folder named EZGDOC may make sense at some time, but later, it is meaningless.
Name the folder appropriately. In this case Emazing_Documents would be better understood.
Too Many Folders
A desktop can soon become over-cluttered with too many folders. Whenever you double click on a folder in Explorer, it pops open in its own folder. Repeat this several times, and you have a slow, cluttered system. This process is fine for copying a file from one folder to another, but if you are just wanting to do some "exploring" it can become a nuisance very quickly.
To have all folders opened in a single window, open Explorer and click on the View menu in Windows 98, and on Tools for Windows Me. Click Folder Options. Within the window that pops up (labeled Folder Options), select the 'Open each folder in the same Window' option within the 'Browse Folders' section. Click OK (or Close for Windows 98).
Finding Help and Support
Have you ever needed assistance in finding Help and Support? If you do not know how to perform a task in Windows, you can use the Help feature to find information about the task. Here's how:
1. Click start to display the Start menu.
2. Click Help and Support. The Help and Support window appears. Common help topics, ways that you can ask for assistance and the tasks for which you can receive help are displayed.
3. To search for specific help information, click this area and then type a word or phrase that describes the topic of interest.
4. Press the Enter key to start the search. Help topics that match the information you entered are displayed.
5. Click the help topic of interest. The help topic you selected is displayed. Windows highlights each occurrence of the word or phrase you searched for.
6. When you finish reviewing help information, close the Help and Support Center window.
Locked Out
Ever press the Caps Lock button by mistake while you're typing? Before you knOW IT, EVERYTHING YOU TYPE IS IN ALL CAPS. Same with that Num Lock key? If it's on and you try to use the PgDn key, suddenly you've got numbers3333 all over the place. To keep those two keys (and the Scroll Lock key) from sneaking up on you in the first place, turn on ToggleKeys.
Open the Control Panel to the classic view and open Accessibility Options (or from the Categories view, open Accessibility Options, then click Accessibility Options under "pick a Control Panel icon").
On the Keyboard tab, select Use Toggle Keys, then click OK.
The next time you press Caps Lock, you'll hear a high-pitched tone. Press it again and you hear a different tone. The same goes for Num Lock and Scroll Lock. Those keys will never sneak up on you again.
Change File Association
Want all your .TXT files to open in Word instead of the default program, Notepad? Change their association.
Inside any Explorer window, select Tools, Folder Options.
Click the File Types tab and under "Registered file types," select the file type for which you'd like to change the association — in this case, TXT Files.
Click Change, select your program of choice — in this case, Microsoft Word--click OK then click Close.
Change Icon Used For File Type
Bored with the icons Windows XP uses for files? You can change the icon used for almost any file type to your icon of choice.
Inside any Explorer window, select Tools, Folder Options. Click the File Types tab and under "Registered file types," select the file type you want to edit. Click Advanced, then click Change Icon. Select a new icon, then click OK (or click Browse, navigate your way to another icon file, such as c:\Windows\System32\Pifmgr.dll or c:\Windows\System32\shell32.dll, click Open, select an icon and click OK). Click OK, click Close, and from now on, files of that type will display the icon you selected.
(Note: If you've customized a file type, you'll see a Restore button instead of an Advanced button. Click Restore to restore the file type to its default, follow the steps above to change the icon, then go back and set the customization. The new icon won't show up on the File Types tab, but it will appear on your desktop.)
Display Full Path In Address Bar
Want to view a folder's complete path in the Address bar of an Explorer window? That way, you know exactly what you're looking at.
Select Tools, Folder Options and click the View tab. Under Advanced Settings, select "Display the full path in the address bar," then click OK.
For your screen, a quick dusting with a clean soft dry cloth will usually do the trick. If your screen is especially dirty, try either a commercial cleaner made for your screen type, or an ammonia free glass cleaner, or isopropyl alcohol mixed with water. Never put the cleaner directly on the screen surface. Instead apply the liquid to a clean soft dry cloth.
For dusting, use a clean soft dry cloth to go over all the surfaces of your computer. Microfiber or electrostatic cloths work well at trapping dust. Pay special attention to the fan vents, and make sure that they aren't blocked by dust. Compressed air can also be a useful tool when cleaning dust from computer surfaces. Do not forget to dust underneath your computer and the cords to your computer which can collect dust.
Internet Basics
Bandwidth
Bandwidth is a term used to describe how much information your computer (usually via modem) can receive in a predetermined amount of time (per second). The most common measure is Bps (bits per second). You will also see Kbps and Mbps that stand for Kilo (thousand) bits per second, and Mega (Million) bits per second.
The larger the bps number, the more information you can receive per second, therefore, the higher the bandwidth. This does NOT mean that you will always get faster download time. Download time also depends upon how fast the computer on the other end is sending information.
More to come, and remember.... these are only suggestions. Use this self help section at your own risk! For more information or help please contact us at info@comnetsol.net or come by our shop in Fairplay at 295 5th Street right behind the post office and the Fairplay Hotel. Hours are Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:00am till 3:00pm or anytime by appointment.
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