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Fixing a CD-ROM installation - June 29, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Recheck your installation and see that the CD-ROM is identified as the "slave" drive.
|
Put on the boot - June 28, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Know the difference between a cold, hard boot and a warm, soft one.
|
Wiping a Windows 98/SE drive
- June 27, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
You can wipe out your current hard drive's contents and start from scratch.
|
Check for duplicate codecs - June 26, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
If your video clip playbacks are jerky, check your multimedia drivers.
|
Take time to focus - June 25, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Digital camera movement is a big problem for sharp focus. Here are some steps to improve your odds of getting clear pictures.
|
Booting a mixed system - June 22, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
To set your SCSI drive as the first "boot device," reboot your system and enter the CMOS Setup.
|
Modem disconnection problems - June 21, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
If your modem refuses to hang up a connection, it's most likely time to replace it.
|
Manage heat in your PC - June 20, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Add a complementary chassis fan to help cool your PC.
|
Hardware or software DVD? - June 19, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
If you have a fast PC, instead of buying a DVD-ROM drive you can likely save the cost of an MPEG-2 decoder card and use software-based playback instead.
|
Select MPEG for captures - June 18, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
MPEG is a "quality" lossy compression because you can compress the capture dramatically, but still maintain an acceptable image quality.
|
Color depth may fix grainy videos - June 15, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
If your video playback appears grainy, your video color depth may not be high enough to support the entire color palette being used by the CD/DVD video.
|
Removing adhesive from CD surface - June 14, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
In most cases, a little isopropyl alcohol will remove adhesive on a CD surface without damaging the CD.
|
Using a C-RIMM
- June 13, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
C-RIMMs do not have any memory devices; they serve to maintain the continuity of Rambus channel signals.
|
Enable UDMA - June 12, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
You may need to download and use a utility that will enable the fastest data transfer modes.
|
Applying the SlotKET - June 11, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
You may be able to adapt a Socket 370 Celeron for a Slot 1 motherboard using an adapter known as a SlotKET.
|
Surge protectors and DSL - June 08, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
If you have trouble running a DSL modem through a surge protector, the protector itself may be the problem.
|
Keep work private - June 07, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Windows keeps track of the last few documents you've worked on unless you clear your document list.
|
Conserve monitor power - June 06, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Your monitor may offer power conservation features that allow the monitor to power-down without powering down the system.
|
Protect against rolling blackouts - June 05, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Protect your PC from unexpected power problems by installing an uninterruptable power supply (or UPS) between the wall outlet and your system.
|
The 2GB BIOS limit - June 04, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
If you can only create one 2GB partition on the drive (such as on an 8GB drive), chances are that the BIOS is at fault.
|
Paper sensor problems
- June 01, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
If you have trouble getting photo-quality printing when using photo paper, the printer's paper-type sensor may be to blame.
|
Protect your discs - May 31, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Most problems with CD-ROM, CD-R, and CD-RW discs are caused by careless handling and storage.
|
Delete old programs - May 30, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
If your Windows version lacks Uninstall, try uninstalling programs through the Add/Remove Programs wizard.
|
Trouble-shooting problems with DirectCD - May 29, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Disabling DirectCD may cause writing instability.
|
Keep your drives smart - May 28, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
To ensure the best possible reliability from your hard drives, many BIOS versions offer the option to enable or disable a hard disk's SMART capability.
|
Don't bog down the browser - May 25, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
To keep IE running its best, periodically purge the Web cache and history log.
|
Welcome USB 2.0 - May 24, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Your old USB devices should continue to work with the new standard, provided your OS is decently up to date.
|
When backup restoration fails - May 23, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
File restoration problems are often the result of drive maintenance and system (or OS) configuration issues.
|
Put backup to work - May 22, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Although Windows provides a Backup utility with versions 9x/Me, it not installed by default with Windows.
|
Make a boot disk - May 21, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Windows 9x or Me will make a boot disk automatically.
|
Clean sticky keys - May 18, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Sticky keys almost always indicate that a mechanical key switch has been fouled by dust and debris that has settled in the keyboard.
|
Keep the backup battery fresh - May 17, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
A small battery on your computer's motherboard keeps the date and time, hard drive setup, and other information needed by your PC each time it starts.
|
Choose microphones carefully - May 16, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Avoid using dynamic microphones unless your sound card is specifically designed to support them.
|
Disable auto insert notification - May 15, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
The "auto insert notification" feature of your CD drive will automatically try to launch each disc's Autorun file, but you can easily disable this feature.
|
Using a line input - May 14, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Sound cards have a Line Input jack that can accommodate signals from cassette, DAT, and MiniDisc and other playback devices.
|
IR connections kill batteries - May 11, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Do not suspend a Windows 98/Me computer while an IR connection is established--disconnect before putting the computer in suspend mode.
|
Close those gaps - May 10, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Adjust your recording options to remove gaps of silence between tracks.
|
Cleaning audio recordings
- May 09, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
If you've had trouble with pops and clicks when recording from a CD-ROM to a CD-R/RW drive, try these tricks.
|
Sound from multiple CD drives - May 08, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Get a sound card with two different channels, or run patch cable from the headphone output of the drive that's not connected to the Line Input jack.
|
Limit IR speeds - May 07, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
If you have an older computer, you may need to limit the connection speed in your IR options tab.
|
Manage moire - May 04, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
The most common way to correct moire is to take advantage of your scanning software's "de-screening" feature.
|
Don't mind the grapefruit
- May 03, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Your color printer may smell like grapefruit, which is normal; if the odor irritates you, however, try a local ionizer to "scrub" the air around the printer.
|
A screen saver shortcut - May 02, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
You can easily add a desktop shortcut that will allow you to invoke your screen saver immediately.
|
A blue DVD playback window - May 01, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
A blue window may mean that the color key value isn't set, the video image is not properly aligned, or the VGA loopback cable is not connected.
|
Let photos dry longer - April 30, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Some printers allow extended drying time for any printing mode.
|
Windows Me offers file protection - April 27, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
The System File Protection (SFP) feature prevents a user from installing software that might make the operating system unstable.
|
Track down CD audio problems - April 26, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
More often than not, the problem is in the connectors or in the audio settings, so check these first.
|
Update audio drivers - April 25, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
If you're having trouble capturing good sound, the problem could be with the sound card you're using on the system (rather than the capture card).
|
Clearing read-only attributes - April 24, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
When copying files from a CD to hard drive, you may find that the copied files still have the read-only attribute set. Here's how to change that setting.
|
Get a UDF reader - April 23, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Install a UDF Reader utility to augment your older CD-ROM.
|
Update VIA drivers for HP Deskjets - April 20, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
There is a known issue with a number of HP DeskJet USB printers and the VIA USB Host Controller chip.
|
Check swap file size - April 19, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
You can use System Monitor to get an idea of
the size of the swap file your system uses.
|
Try e-tagging your laptop - April 18, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
ReturnMe.com offers a reward program
called eTagit that might make the finder of your lost laptop to do the right
thing.
|
Reduce eye strain - April 17, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Feel free to experiment until you find a set of comfortable settings. Using a PC shouldn't hurt!
|
Digital focus workaround - April 16, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
There's a trick to getting a clear shot of a moving object with a digital camera.
|
Print a test page - April 13, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Windows has a "test page" option that allows you to catch any problems before performing an actual print job.
|
Update DirectCD - April 12, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
A Windows 98 error message usually indicates that an older version of DirectCD was included with the drive.
|
Schedule disk maintenance - April 11, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Run Disk Defragmenter while your system is idle by setting up Microsoft's Task Scheduler.
|
Disable power-saving modes - April 10, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
If you have trouble with power conservation, you can work around it by disabling the "standby" mode.
|
Cleaning the printer - April 09, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
The HP LaserJet Cleaning Utility is ideal for periodic maintenance of high-end laser printers such as the HP LaserJet 6.
|
Prevent transparency problems - April 06, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
A printer's paper sensor uses the white strip at the top of a transparency to "locate" the page.
|
Erect a firewall - April 05, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Always-on Internet connections will leave you more vulnerable to attacks, unless you install a firewall.
|
Use high-speed CD-R media - April 04, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
CD-R media rated for higher-speed recordings will keep up with today's faster writing speeds and also should be readable in slower drives.
|
Sort out your programs - April 03, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Follow these steps to alphabetize your Start menu programs.
|
Eject your DirectCD disc - April 02, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Try different ways of ejecting a DirectCD disc, depending on whether you're using it or trying to write to it.
|
Quiet down - March 30, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Reducing background noise will usually aid voice recognition performance.
|
Keep your old PC "green" - March 29, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
IBM is offering a PC recycling program.
|
Avoid integrated speakers - March 28, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
If audio is important to you, forego integrated speakers and invest in quality computer speakers that you can purchase separately.
|
Give used PC a new owner - March 27, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
If you're comfortable editing the Registry, you can easily change that ownership information.
|
Check your mouse cables - March 26, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Contrary to common sense, some manufacturers appear to be providing USB mice with cables as short as two feet long.
|
Search a folder quickly - March 23, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Here are some handy shortcuts for using the Find dialog box.
|
Scan all files for viruses - March 22, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
When you first install or update an anti-virus utility, be sure to check all files on your computer.
|
Keep your video clips in sync - March 21, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
If the video and audio are out of sync in your multimedia clip, try these steps to get things back on track.
|
Scan wisely - March 20, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Save high-resolution settings for special jobs in order to save disk space.
|
Check your modem firmware - March 19, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Installing an older or incorrect firmware version may prevent your modem from working.
|
Disconnect idle USB devices - March 16, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
The ability to turn off USB devices after an idle period is not supported under Windows 98/SE, so disconnect them from your laptop when not in use to save power.
|
Tweak your modem with extra settings - March 15, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
You can "force" a modem to perform certain functions by entering the AT command string manually.
|
Upgrade DirectX - March 14, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Click Start, Run, type DXDIAG, and click OK. The DirectX diagnostic will tell you everything you need to know about the version of DirectX on your system.
|
Save money without parity - March 13, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Parity is a means of checking RAM for errors. Many PCs use memory with parity, but a growing number of low-cost PCs do not.
|
Avoid drive vibrations - March 12, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
If you've ever noticed that your home-brew CD-R seems to rattle in the drive, it may be the disc itself rather than the drive.
|
Improve DVD playback - March 09, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
When installing a DVD-ROM drive, enable the DMA data transfer mode to reduce processing load and facilitate smooth playback.
|
Unlock your new scanner - March 08, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Check installation instructions carefully to locate packing materials in places you might not expect them to be.
|
Shut down windows faster - March 07, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
If you encounter problems shutting down Windows 98, enable the "fast shutdown" option.
|
Get your drive noticed - March 06, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
When you install a new hard drive in a PC, it must be properly recognized by the BIOS at start time.
|
Clear a forgotten password - March 05, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Most PC motherboards include a "Clear Password" jumper for a lost BIOS password.
|
Help put out the flames - March 02, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
You can't see faces online, so be extra mindful of how your words may be taken.
|
Avoid overburning - March 01, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Writing beyond the official capacity of a CD-RW (cutting into "leadout" time of about 90 seconds) can make your CD unreadable and may even damage your own drive.
|
Picking a CD drive - February 28, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Consider what capabilities you want, balanced against performance of the drive.
|
Fix multiple IE browser windows - February 27, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
If Internet Explorer 5 was installed as part of Windows 98, you can use the System File Checker feature to repair the application.
|
Keep your e-mail signatures brief - February 26, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Four lines is considered acceptable for a signature.
|
Keeping track of disk maintenance - February 23, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Windows 98/SE will actually keep track of computer maintenance dates for you.
|
Update the CD firmware - February 22, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Some drive makers may need to update the drive's firmware to improve compatibility with media or to fix unexpected bugs.
|
Check file attributes - February 21, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
If you want to learn more about the files and folders in a directory, click View and select Details in Windows Explorer.
|
Choose USB cameras - February 20, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
A USB connection is quicker and more convenient than a serial port connection for transferring pictures to your PC or laptop.
|
Selecting an ISP - February 19, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Trying to choose between a local or national Internet service provider? Knowing your support and access needs will help you decide.
|
Seat new ink cartridges carefully - February 16, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
When new ink cartridges are installed, the metal contacts on the cartridge must meet the corresponding contacts on the cartridge holder.
|
Start without the floppy - February 15, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Not booting from a floppy drive any time soon? Disable your computer's drive-checking procedure and save yourself a few seconds of boot time.
|
Take faster pictures - February 14, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Speed up your digital picture-taking by pressing the shutter only part way down for focusing; then press all the way down to snap the shot.
|
Choose USB cameras - February 13, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
USB offers a quick and convenient way to transfer pictures to your PC or laptop.
|
Read a CD-RW disc - February 12, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Installing a UDF reader utility will saves time and disc space, and allow you to open your CD-RW disc.
|
Try Web voice mail - February 09, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
You can access all of your messages by phone or through the Web.
|
Check startup programs - February 08, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
To check which software is loading at start time and disable programs you no longer need, use the System Information utility.
|
Remove online services - February 07, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Save some space and remove the services you're not going to use.
|
Keep Defrag running smoothly - February 06, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Ideally, Defrag should run with as few programs in the background as possible.
|
Set your printer timeout - February 05, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
You may be able to reduce the occurrence of error messages by adjusting the printer's timeout values in Windows.
|
Pick a new CD player - February 02, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
If you'd rather play CDs with the generic Windows CD Player applet than Windows Media Player (or another player application), you can change some file associations to make the Windows player your default.
|
Use DMA access on your CD-RW drive - February 01, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
You can often ease the processing load on your current processor by enabling DMA data transfers for your CD-R/RW drive.
|
Remove your volume control - January 31, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
If you feel more comfortable adjusting volume through the speakers rather than the Speaker icon, remove the Speaker icon from the System Tray.
|
Secure your media player - January 30, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
There's a new patch available from Microsoft that fixes two unrelated security holes in Windows Media Player versions.
|
Set camera compression carefully - January 29, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Digital cameras usually offer fine, normal, and basic compression settings that allow you to capture LPEG images of varying quality depending on your needs.
|
Erect a firewall - January 26, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Zone Labs' Zone Alarm and Symantec's Norton Personal Firewall 2001 are two popular firewall software products designed to protect individual PCs from intrusion via the Internet.
|
Clean your cache - January 25, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Eventually the cache file of your Web browser will become so large that the browser's performance will start to slow down, so you should periodically clear the cache.
|
Test your connection speed - January 24, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Before you invest time and money in new modems or fancy software utilities, it's a good idea to test your connection speed first and find a good working average.
|
Save color ink - January 23, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Color ink is usually expensive, so you can save money by printing a color document in "monochrome" (a.k.a., black and white).
|
Disable call waiting - January 22, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Call waiting is great at interrupting your Internet connection, but once you turn it off, the next time you dial in to the Internet, your modem will include the extra digits to disable call waiting.
|
Adding a CD session - January 19, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
When you want to use Adaptec's Easy CD Creator to add more data on a CD at a later point in time, put the CD in the drive and launch Easy CD Creator.
|
Careful with cable modems - January 18, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
The Ethernet cards used with cable modems sometimes fail, and it's generally your responsibility to replace them. Be sure to check with your cable provider for a precise procedure before replacing the Ethernet card.
|
Update video drivers today - January 17, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
You can find detailed information about a system's video card by right-clicking the My Computer icon and selecting Properties from the shortcut menu.
|
Install Me faster - January 16, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
If you have the extra hard drive space, you can cut your installation time dramatically. Simply copy the entire Windows ME (WinMe) folder from your installation CD to your hard drive, then run Setup from there.
|
Create a new toolbar - January 15, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
It's easy to create a new toolbar for a frequently-used folder with Windows 98.
|
Keep Nero burning - January 12, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
If your Nero software reports errors during the writing process (such as "Lost Streaming"), but you're using good-quality media, you may be facing software problems. You may need to update the Nero Burning-ROM software to the latest version.
|
Adjust for daylight savings - January 11, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
If you can't remember whether to "spring forward" or "fall back" when daylight savings time comes around, Windows 98 can easily make those adjustments for you automatically.
|
Keep cookies in the jar - January 10, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Whether you like the idea of cookies or not, you can stop them by tweaking preferences in Netscape or Internet Explorer.
|
Fix Scanjet USB errors - January 09, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Turn the system off, unplug the scanner power cord for at least 30 seconds, and then power everything back up again.
|
Check CD-RW media and software - January 08, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Try updating your CD-RW software with the latest version of Adaptec DirectCD (version 2.5D or later).
|
Calculating download time
- January 05, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Follow this formula to come up with an educated guess about how long that download will take.
|
Music connoisseurs need DAE - January 04, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Want to make music compilations from your
existing CDs? Make sure your CD-ROM drive
supports digital audio extraction (called DAE or
ripping).
|
Disable auto-insert notification - January 03, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
If you find your application stuttering periodically,
try turning off the drive's auto-insert feature.
|
Put your modem on "speed dial" - January 02, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Speed up your modem by
adding an AT command
string.
|
Specify your speakers - January 01, 2001
by Stephen Bigelow
Pick the proper speaker
setup in Win98 for
high-quality sound.
|
Keep track of your downloads - December 29, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Always save downloads to one
particular folder.
|
Protect your hardware from power problems - December 28, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
The best way to protect
against lightning strikes and
other power problems is to
put a surge protector between
the AC outlet and your PC.
|
Save Camera Memory - December 27, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
If you're taking pictures
with a digital camera you can
usually forego the HyPict
(high resolution) photo mode
in favor of the normal photo
mode.
|
Manage your swap file size - December 26, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Windows uses a permanent swap
file to serve as virtual
memory -- a means of
supplementing the RAM in your
PC.
|
Cleanup your disk for more space - December 25, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
If you always seem to be running short of drive
space, you may be able to pick up hundreds of
MBs by cleaning up the unused and neglected
files on your hard drive.
|
Restart without rebooting
- December 22, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
If you make some changes to your computer that
require you to restart Windows, you can do so
more quickly if you don't restart your computer.
|
Don't split cable service yourself - December 21, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Unless you have the experience and the
equipment, it's usually best to let the experts
handle extending your cable service to additional
rooms.
|
Creating a windows Me checkpoint - December 20, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
You can reset Windows Me to an earlier
checkpoint--ideally restoring Windows to a point
where it was working properly.
|
Dump unused desktop themes - December 19, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Desktop themes take up a lot of storage space.
|
Try downloading from mirrors - December 18, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Choosing a mirror site that's farther away can
often provide faster downloads.
|
Lease or buy a DSL modem
- December 15, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
To make sure your DSL modem will operate with
your local DSL provider, lease your service
provider's modem. Leasing also saves you from
getting stuck with a modem you can't use if you
move to another city.
|
Working with strange dial tones - December 14, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Set your modem to ignore a dial tone.
|
Put scraps on your desktop - December 13, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
To create a scrap, select data and drag it to the
desktop in any program that supports OLE (Object
Linking and Embedding).
|
Windows Me protects your files - December 12, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
System File Protection (SFP) prevents a user from
installing software that might make the operating
system unstable.
|
Try USB for quick device swaps - December 11, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Hot-swappable pointing devices (like USB
trackballs and mice) will allow you to quickly and
easily change pointing devices if a particular
pointing device is more appropriate for the current
task.
|
Eliminate cleaning with optical mice - December 08, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
An optical mouse uses a sensor that tracks mouse
movement across a stationary surface, so there
are no moving parts to collect debris.
|
Enable seagate drives for udma/100 - December 07, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Enable seagate drives for udma/100.
|
Make a printer shortcut - December 06, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Make a printer shortcut.
|
Hiding folders - December 05, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Designate any folder on your
computer as Hidden.
|
Clearing multimedia drivers - December 04, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Video clip players (such as QuickTime) are also
very sensitive to multimedia drivers and codecs,
so check your multimedia drivers.
|
Manage system power - December 01, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
The sophisticated power-
management features under
Windows 98 can help you
control the power consumption
on both a desktop system and
a laptop.
|
Reconnect Power Cables Carefully - November 30, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
It's easy to reconnect those
4-wire drive power cables
improperly when upgrading or
replacing drives.
|
Save MP3 player power - November 29, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
If you want to get more life from your batteries,
remove the batteries from the player.
|
Using hotmail through Outlook Express - November 28, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
It's easy to add your HotMail account to Outlook
Express.
|
Preserve your windows 98 registry - November 27, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
You can run a Windows 98 Registry backup
yourself before installing new software.
|
Improve typing with keyboard repeats - November 24, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Adjust the keyboard's repeat rate to better suit the
way you type.
|
Careful with bios updates - November 23, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
BIOS, the vital instructions that are needed to boot
up and operate a computer, can be updated to fix
bugs and improve compatibility.
|
Don't scan all files - November 22, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Most virus scanners save time by scanning only
file types that are commonly infected (i.e., files with
an .EXE or .COM or .VBS extension).
|
Update DirectX - November 21, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
DirectX is a suite of utilities that allows Windows
95 (and later) to talk directly with your multimedia
hardware.
|
Prevent laptop theft - November 17, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Try a new palm-size alarm for times when you
must leave your laptop briefly unattended.
|
No more dialup prompt - November 16, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Change your settings through the Dial-Up
Networking folder and never click Connect again.
|
Position your speakers - November 15, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Place a speaker on either side of your PC (equally
far apart) and turned in slightly toward your chair.
|
Manage zip files through explorer - November 14, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
WinZip allows you to move and extract files within
a zipped archive located in one folder into
another folder right from within Windows Explorer.
|
Modify partitions without losing data - November 13, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Partition Magic allows you to create, merge, and
resize partitions on your hard drive without losing
your valuable data.
|
Stabilize a PC with Safe Mode - November 10, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
When a PC gives you problems, you may need to
make the system as stable as possible to run
some tests.
|
Change passwords frequently - November 09, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
One of the basic tenets of computer security is to
change your password regularly.
|
Fix bugs in advance - November 08, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Checking for patches and updates before
installing new software can save you endless
hours of frustration.
|
Save your searches
- November 07, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
If you use certain file search parameters regularly,
you can easily save the search and execute it with
a couple of mouse clicks.
|
Understanding a virus scanner - November 06, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
The scanner's database includes pieces of
computer instruction code (called signatures)--
extracted from known virus programs--that are not
likely to show up in legitimate programs.
|
Pick a new startup sound - November 03, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
You can easily change the Windows bootup
sound to another available .WAV file, or create
your own.
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Add a separator between print jobs - November 02, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Add a separator between print jobs to more easily
find yours in the office stack.
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Delete unneeded utilities to free space - November 01, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Recover a few megabytes of hard drive space by
removing any Windows utilities that you don't use.
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Plan on lots of space for me - October 31, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Media Player software requires that you have at
least 1GB of storage free on your PC's hard drive.
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File checker vs. integrity checker - October 30, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
File checkers and integrity checkers are not the
same, but they are complementary.
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Checking for dangerous files - October 27, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Microsoft maintains a list of file types that contain
executable code often used by malicious hackers
to spread viruses.
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Digital cameras and Windows Me - October 26, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
To preview images from a digital camera without
having to download them first, you must have a
camera certified for compatibility with the Windows
Image Acquisition (WIA) protocol.
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Supporting UDMA/100 - October 25, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
To use the drive to its maximum potential, you'll
need to install a UDMA/100 compliant drive
controller.
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Upgrade your video drivers - October 24, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Check the system or video card maker's web site
for driver upgrades.
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Expand USB with a hub - October 23, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
You can connect far more than two USB devices
through the use of a USB hub.
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Show your file extensions - October 20, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
You can show all your file extensions or just the
ones you choose.
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Be careful with auto-open of files - October 19, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Save document and executable files that could
have viruses to disk first and scan them with your
anti-virus software before opening them.
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Open your downloads automatically - October 18, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Set your desired file type(s) to open automatically
in the Folder Options dialog of your PC.
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Consider the scanner software - October 17, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Check out the software packages bundled with
any scanner you consider buying.
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Don't worry about cookies - October 16, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Cookies are generally considered safe from virus
infection.
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Shifting virtual memory to another drive - October 13, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
f you have more than one hard drive, you
probably want Windows 98/SE to use the faster
drive for its virtual memory support.
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Encrypt file backups with a password - October 12, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
If you backup files with Microsoft Backup, you
might wish to protect them with a password.
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Recover your Presario resources - October 11, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Compaq users can download the latest version of
the Service Connection utility to fix resource
errors.
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Get better sound now - October 10, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Get better sound from your sound card without
upgrading it or messing with its drivers.
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Enabling mouse tails - October 09, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Set up cursor trails (or mouse tails) to easily see
the cursor without flinging the mouse wildly about.
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Setting up for 10-digit dialing - October 06, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Sage computer advice.
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Don't be taken in by color depth - October 05, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Sage computer advice.
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Installing UDMA/100 drives - October 04, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Sage computer advice.
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Installing UDMA/100 drives - October 04, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
If you work with the
emerging line of fast
Ultra-DMA/100 hard
drives, you will need to
use a drive controller card
that is UDMA/100
compliant.
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Check your clipboard - October 03, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Sage computer advice.
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Steps to virus safety - October 02, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Sage computer advice.
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Consider the cost of inkjet paper - September 29, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Sage computer advice.
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Creating a startup diskette - September 28, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Sage computer tips for the little--but indispensable-
-things.
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Avoid labels on cds - September 27, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Sage computer advice on the little--but
indispensable--things.
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Overclocking can cause system crashes - September 26, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
PC enthusiasts like to
wring greater
performance from their
computers by running the
processor at a
higher-than-normal
speed. The safest course
is to avoid overclocking.
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Overclocking can cause system crashes - September 26, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
PC enthusiasts like to
wring greater
performance from their
computers by running the
processor at a
higher-than-normal
speed. The safest course
is to avoid overclocking.
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Keep your wireless LAN running - September 25, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
If you have a wireless
LAN, make sure that you
don't need to reboot your
PC if you move your gear.
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Check for bad sectors - September 22, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Sage computer advice on the little--but
indispensable--things.
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Play CD audio from two drives - September 21, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Techniques for playing
CD audio from another
CD drive
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Don't forget to terminate external SCSI devices - September 20, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Sage computer advice on the little--but
indispensable--things.
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New cables may speed printing - September 19, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Sage computer advice on the little--but
indispensable--things.
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Use portable dvd drives with laptops - September 18, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Sage computer advice on the little stuff.
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Upgrade your bios before a new OS - September 15, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Sage computer advice on the little things.
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Control sound volume without knobs - September 14, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Sage computer advice on the little things.
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Converting Celsius to Fahrenheit - September 13, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Sage computer advice on the little things.
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Share the internet with a proxy server - September 12, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Sage computer advice on the little things.
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Don't choke your monitor - September 11, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Sage computer tips for the little things.
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Keep your work private - September 08, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Sage computer tips.
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Listen to the radio with RealPlayer 7 - September 07, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Sage computer tips.
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Get unneeded items off your toolbar - September 06, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
How to clean up your
Quick Launch toolbar!
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Turn off the clock - September 05, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Sage computer advice on the little things.
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Keep your IR ports clean - September 04, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Sage computer advice for the little things.
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Kill Pesky Startup Apps - September 01, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Sage computer advice on the little things.
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Playing MP3 Files With MusicMatch Jukebox - August 31, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Advice for the little things.
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Check Your System Before Upgrading - August 30, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Computer questions answered.
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Save monitor power - August 29, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Taming your
power-hungry monitor
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Uninstall Unused Apps - August 28, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
How to clean up your computer.
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Terminate unneeded applications - August 25, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Even Windows can be overwhelmed by the many
different applications running on today's PCs.
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Keep your hard drive spinning - August 24, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Tweak yoursettings for better performance
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Easy on the eyes - August 23, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Reduce fatigue and eye strain.
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Record CDs reliably - August 22, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Trouble-shooting your CD burner.
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Clean out your browser cache - August 21, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Over time, Web page files and long lists of URLs
take up valuable disk space, bogging down the
browser.
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Update your modem firmware. - August 19, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Firmware updates are typically released to fix
bugs, correct compatibility issues, and improve
modem performance.
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Select a CD-RW - August 18, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
A CD-RW drive will read all of your existing CDs, it
will burn new CDs like a CD-R drive (which can
be read on other CD-R or CD-ROM drives), and it
will support rewritable CDs.
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Sticky keys can be cleaned. - August 17, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Clean between the keys with a can of compressed
air.
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Prevent AGP overclocking - August 16, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Increasing the speed of your motherboard from
100MHz to 133MHz may cause unforeseen
problems with your AGP video card.
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No USB with Windows NT - August 15, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
If you're planning on installing Windows NT 4.0 on
your current PC, you will not be able to use USB
(Universal Serial Bus) devices attached to your
system.
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Replace Your Backup Battery - August 14, 2000
by Stephen Bigelow
Stephen Bigelow offers a daily word of advice.
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