“...important As The Community And Your Club`s Membership Grows

Transcript

Vol. 2 No. 10 October 02 What’s inside President’s Message Revenue & Expense ..... 2 Questions & Answers ... 3 Editor’s message ......... 3 Product Review: Hands on with the 700MHz iBook .......... 7 What’s your E-mail License Number ..... 10 Quick Delete the jdbgmgr.exe File!! .. 13 Are you having “Buffer underrun” Errors with you CD Burner ....... 15 In-home Tutoring ...... 19 Officers Chuck Davis, President [email protected] Don Bell, Vice President [email protected] Chuck Naill, Secretary [email protected] George Freeman, Treasurer [email protected] Board Members Paul Bergondy [email protected] Bob Brill [email protected] Dick Cancellier [email protected] Judith Corman [email protected] Bernie Thompson [email protected] John Schwartz Past President [email protected] Newsletter Layout & Editor: Chuck Davis [email protected] By Chuck Davis t seems just last week, that I sat at the keyboard and entered the President’s Messages for the September issue. That issue called on the Club’s members to volunteer to become candidates for officers and members of the Board of Directors. I would like to announce that we have three candidates for each office, but I can’t. I No one has stepped forward as a candidate for a position on the Club’s Board of Directors. Please contact the Nominating Chair, Judith Corman and volunteer to be a candidate for:
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Six positions as Board Members at large. ing, there is absolutely nothing to do, and by 10 o’clock we find that we are two hours behind schedule! Send Judith a message at: [email protected] “...important as the community and your Club’s membership grows. As of the time that I am entering this, the membership is at 513!…” When Judith reported at the September Board of Directors meeting that she had no volunteers. What? Shut down the club? Lack of interest? I think An item discussed at the last board meeting concerned the not! I understand that club possibility of replacing the unmembers are always busy. When we arise in the morn(Continued on page 2) October 02 Page 2 President’s message, cont Disclaimer T he contents of this newsletter is intended for use by members of the Sun City Anthem Computer Club and their immediate families. The opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the authors and may not be construed to represent an official position of the Computer Club, nor of the Sun City Anthem Community Association, Inc. Where prices and sources of computer related products are shown within this newsletter, they represent the author’s best knowledge of current retail prices and availability. The information is subject to change, and as such, should be used for comparison only. All corporate names and trademarks used are the property of their respective owners.



Published monthly by: Sun City Anthem Computer Club 2450 Hampton Road Henderson, NV 89052 E-mail: [email protected] Web site URL: http://www.myscacc.org computers can be accommocomfortable tables in the dated, This would provide for classroom with desks designed additional students. This is esfor computers. pecially important as the comIt has been apparent for some munity and your Club’s membership grows. As of the time time that the tables were inadequate and limit the number that I am entering this, the of students due to the layout. membership is at 513! (Continued from page 1) Make a visit to the Club’s classroom and take a look at the computer desk at the front left. Don’t be surprised that the Board may ask for an expenditure authorization to provide these desks throughout the classroom. A total of eighteen desks with SCACC Revenue & Expense Month Ending 8/31/02 Revenue Dues Collected Contributions Total Revenue $8,480 979 $9,459 Expenses Computer purchases Other Expenses Total Expenses $575 3,285 3,860 Excess of expenses over revenue $5,599 Cash Balance 8/31/02 $9,924 By George Freeman Treasurer, SCACC Total Membership 8/31/02—485 On closing, please use your Club’s web site for information regarding activities, education, and the club governance. There are several pages dedicated to your being able to find things on the site:  Events calendar This new page included links to descriptive information regarding the event  Search—the search will find words throughout the entire site, including those in PDF documents (i.e. newsletters, meeting minutes, etc.)  Site map—a hierarchical outline of all pages on the site.  An archive of all past newsletters.  Governing documents. For technical help with your computer: e-mail [email protected] Class schedules are on the web site. Click on October Events!



October 02 Page 3 Questions and Answers — A Monthly Feature By Chuck Davis uestion: I am getting ready to buy a new computer. What do I have to buy to allow me to encrypt some of my highly sensitive files? Q Answer: Windows XP Professional provides a function called Encrypting File System. This function is not in the Windows XP Home product. If you work on these files with others, you can share the encrypted files with others. are transparent to the user. question I went to this web site that tested my connecQuestion: How fast is Cox tion at 6:20 p.m. Thursday, Cable connection. September 19. The results Answer: I have previously are just above. shown test results in this http://bandwidthplace.com/ The functions encrypts each column. The results shown speedtest/ file with a randomly gener- at that time were conducted early on a Sunday morning. Question: There is a butated key. The encryption (Continued on page 4) Following the receipt of this and decryption processes Editor’s Message By Chuck Davis W elcome to this issue of the Sun City Anthem Computer Club’s Newsletter. In order for you to be reading this, you have successfully installed Adobe® Acrobat® Reader™ on your computer. Justification The newsletter is distributed in this format exclusively. Among the many reasons are: 1. Eliminates the cost of printing. Especially, when you consider full color printing costs. 2. Trash disposal is reduced. 3. The format can be viewed on PCs with either Windows or Macintosh operating systems. 4. Many hours of volunteer time for mailing preparation is eliminated. Our volunteers are better utilized. 5. Postage costs are zero. Articles are invited Creative, dedicated, and resourceful volunteers are what makes your Club successful. All computer club members may submit original articles relating to PCs and Macs for consideration for publication. Those of you with a specific area of expertise, are urged to prepare a monthly column that will further the Club’s educational goals. Possible subjects include: 1. Windows techniques 2. Product reviews 3. Word processing 4. E-mail usage 5. Computer components, i.e., modems, sound cards, scanners, etc.. Submissions will be reviewed, and if acceptable may be edited. This editor reserves the right to withhold any material (Continued on page 4) October 02 Page 4 Editor’s Message, cont. (Continued from page 3) deemed inappropriate for the membership. All articles must be submitted in a Windows based electronic format on 3.5” floppy disk, 100 or 250 MB ZIP disks, or via email. Acceptable file types are: 1. MS Word (*.doc) 2. MS Publisher (*.pub) 3. MS Note Pad (*.txt) 4. MS Word Pad (*.rtf) 5. E-mail: directly entered into is the morning of the Board of the e-mail message. Director’s meeting. All magnetic media submissions are to Schedule be delivered to: This newsletter will be published on or after the first of the month following the Computer Club’s Board of Director’s Meeting (Last Thursday of each month.) The deadline for submitting material, or revisions to previously submitted work, Charles W. Davis SCACC Newsletter Editor 1605 Preston Park Drive Henderson, NV 89052 Phone: 614-3107 E-Mail: [email protected]



Questions and Answers — A Monthly Feature, cont. (Continued from page 3) ton on the upper right of the Internet Explorer window called “Links.” How do I use it, and how can I change it? Answer: As with so many things with your computer, there are many ways to accomplish any one function. The Links button at the right end of the address bar serves as a handy form of Favorites list. Click on the double >> symbol to the right of the word “Links.” A drop down menu will appear with several links to sites that you have probably never heard of. To remove any one of the links, right click on the name, and choose “Delete” from the menu. To add an often used favorite, click on the icon at the (Continued on page 5) October 02 Page 5 Questions and Answers — A Monthly Feature, cont “grammatical style.” What is grammatical style and how do I get rid of the squiggly lines. I The next time you want to go to your favorite of favor- some times overlook ites, click on the double >> spelling errors be cause of them. I use Word 97. and choose the link you wish to visit. I suggest that Answer: Grammar is a this list be kept short, and manner of writing or speakuse your standard Favorites ing with a set of “rules.” list for seldom used sites. There are different sets of Question: For some time rules for different styles. now, when working with The ones that Word provides are: casual, standard, Microsoft Word, I conformal, technical and custinually get little green tom. squiggly lines un(Continued from page 4) left of the address bar and drag it to the Links. der some words and phrases. I have been told that I could change the T The procedures below are the same for Word 97 and Word 2000. You can change the way your copy of Word handles grammar. Choose Options from the Tools menu. Then on the dialog box that opens, choose the Spelling and Grammar tab. In the lower portion of the dialog box will be several options (image below). If you wish to turn off the grammar function, simply uncheck the “Check grammar as you type” box. However, if your writing style is simply non-business letter writing, you may wish to change (Continued on page 9) Web sites: Member’s choices his month, Leslie Davis has submitted yet another site that will be of interest to those at home wondering where their loved one’s plane is. Next month, if you submit some URLs, you can share your views about your favorite. Send your selection to the editor by email at: [email protected] Here is another interesting web site for our traveling computer club members, or if they have family/friends flying into town. This site, if you know the airline and flight number, will track the planes position on a map, compass heading, altitude, air speed...departure time and arrival time http://www.trip.com/trs/trip/flighttracker/flight_tracker_home.xsl Vickie Davis (my wife and your newsletter proofreader!) says that it is great to be able to renew her auto registration on line. http://www.dmvnv.com



October 02 Page 6 Dr. Seuss Explains Why Computers Sometimes Crash Anonymous—from a web forum Editor’s note: Read this parody aloud, if you can! If a packet hits a pocket on a socket on a port, And the bus is interrupted at a very last resort, And the access of the memory makes your floppy disk abort, Then the socket packet pocket has an error to report. If your cursor finds a menu item followed by a dash, And the double-clicking icon puts your window in the trash, And your data is corrupted cause the index doesn't hash, Then your situation's hopeless and your system's gonna crash!! If the label on the cable on the table at your house Says the network is connected to the button on your mouse, But your packets want to tunnel on another protocol, That's repeatedly rejected by the printer down the hall, And your screen is all distorted by the side effects of gauss, So your icons in the window are as wavy as a souse; Then you may as well reboot and go out with a bang, 'Cuz sure as I'm a poet, the sucker's gonna hang! When the copy of your floppy's getting sloppy in the disk, And the macro code instructions cause unnecessary risk, Then you'll have to flash the memory and you'll want to RAM your ROM. Quickly turn off the computer and be sure to tell your Mom!



October 02 Page 7 Product Review: Hands on with the 700MHz iBook By Bob Mitchell 'm a big fan of Apple's iBook line, and the latest 700 MHz model only increases my affection. Despite the fact that it only has a G3 processor, the iBook is more than acceptable for anyone using it for word processing, e-mail, Web surfing and the occa- I “...For the rest of us, the little, durable iBook may be all the portable Mac we need.…” sional game. The iBook runs Mac OS X fast enough for me -- and I use an iBook for a week at a time when I'm on the road. The G3 runs cooler than the G4 chip and doesn't consumer battery life as quickly. In fact, the 12-inch iBook may be the perfect computer for those people on the road. (I consider the 12inch model Apple's subnotebook, though the company probably doesn't like that designation.) Plus, iBook's are more rugged and have better AirPort (Wireless LAN) reception than their big brothers, the lustinducing Titanium PowerBooks. iBook runs up to 35 percent faster than previous models in CPU performance tests such as encoding a song from an audio CD into an MP3 file using iTunes. That "feels" about right in my day-to-day use. The portables also now feature a new video-out port that supports VGA output, as well as S-video and composite video with optional adapter. spring for the 700 MHz model rather than the lowend 600 MHz. The iBook comes loaded with tons of software — foremost among which, of course, is Mac OS X, the latest version of the world’s most advanced operating When Apple updated the system. All models include iBook line a few months ago, it took everything nice Mac OS X v10.1, Mac OS 9.2, QuickTime, iMovie 2, about the products (including their stylish "ice" iTunes 2, AppleWorks, Mac design) and upped the ante. OS X Mail, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Earthlink, AOL, The notebooks were upWorld Book Mac OS X Edidated with faster PowerPC G3 processors (now running tion, Otto Matic, Deimos Rising, PCalc, Acrobat at up to 700 MHz), double the on-chip level 2 cache, a Reader, and FAXstf, commore powerful ATI Mobility plete setup, learning, and Radeon graphics processor, reference documentation and larger hard drives. The and 30 days of free Internet service through Earthlink. video RAM has been increased from 8MB to 16MB, The 12-inch model is a great a nice boost for Photoshop choice for anyone who rescrolling and 3D gaming. quires ultra-portability. But Apple claims that the new The bigger iBook's top resolution -- 1,024 x 768 -- isn't (Continued on page 8) October 02 Page 8 Product Review: Hands on with the 700MHz iBook, cont. (Continued from page 7) any higher than that of the smaller iBook’s, but the extra two inches does offer a “...Apple claims that the new iBook runs up to 35 percent faster than previous models in CPU performance tests such as encoding a song from an audio CD into an MP3 file using iTunes. …” ROM/CD-RW Combo optical great deal of extra screen real estate. The bigger size drive. also accommodates a bigger battery. Apple claims that it will run up to six hours, but four hours of normal use is more reasonable. But note that the larger screen and bigger battery makes for a much heavier portable: 5.99 pounds compared to the 4.9 pounds of the 12-inch models. Unless you need a supercomputer-on-the-go, the iBook should serve you well. If you're into videography, high-end graphics work or hardcore gaming -- or if money is no object -- the Titanium PowerBook is for you. For the rest of us, the little, durable iBook may be all the portable Mac we need. •The $1,499 model includes: a 700MHz PowerPC G3 processor with 512K onchip level 2 cache; a 12.1inch (diagonal) activematrix TFT display; 128MB SDRAM; a 20GB Ultra ATA hard drive; and a DVDROM/CD-RW Combo optical drive. •The $1,199 iBook comes with: a 600 MHz PowerPC G3 processor with 512K on•The US $1,799 iBook includes: a 700MHz PowerPC chip level 2 cache; a 12.1G3 processor with 512K on- inch (diagonal) activematrix TFT display; 128MB chip level 2 cache; a 14.1SDRAM; a 20GB Ultra ATA inch (diagonal) activematrix TFT display; 256MB hard drive; and a CD-ROM optical drive. SDRAM; a 30GB Ultra ATA hard drive; and a DVD



Hotmail e-mail addresses should be avoided. On some club notices and newsletter distributions, all are rejected by Hotmail and never delivered. At other times, a small percentage are actually delivered! October 02 Page 9 Questions and Answers — A Monthly Feature, cont. tab. This time choose Dictionaries. Then choose Edit from the dialog box that opens. Carefully note the instructions about the spell checking when you edit the And now, on to another rea- dictionary and remember to reset the spell checking. son that you may missed some spelling errors. You may have accidentally added a misspelled word to your Custom Dictionary. Consider the image below, the word “limits” is misspelled. Note that the Question: I read somepointer is on the Add butthing in the NY Times reton. This would place garding the possibility of “limmits” in your custom programs on my comdictionary. Unfortunately, puter that divert an affili(Continued from page 5) writing style to “Casual.” You may easily change back for a more formal document that you are working on for your club. you really meant to click on the Change button. ate web site’s commissions to others. My question will be in three To verify the contents of parts; 1) What is an afyour custom dictionary, filiate. 2) How do I recagain choose Options from the tools menu, and click on ognize an affiliate site? 3) If I have these diverthe Spelling and Grammar sion programs on my computer, how did I get them? 4) How do I remove them? Answer part 1): An affiliate web site is usually a small site that can’t justify setting up a “shopping cart” and enters into an agreement with a larger site to send buyers to the larger site. In return, the smaller site receives a commission on each sale executed. Answer part 2): Look for logos or text links to other sites. One of my two web site’s is affiliated with Builder’s Book Source, Amazon.com, Amazon.de (Germany), and Amazon.co. uk (England) and the other solely with Amazon.com with commissions of 5% of sales. Your Club’s web site is affiliated with Shop Microsoft.com with commissions of 12%. Look for their logo in the left border of each page. The Club’s affiliation with Microsoft is so new that there is no history of payments. However, my two sites together produced an average of $55 per quarter up until these programs became widely distributed. Nothing in the past nine (Continued on page 18) October 02 Page 10 What’s Your E-mail License Number? Bass explores ways to send better e-mail, not waste your recipient’s time, and make sure your mail’s read By Steve Bass, Pasadena IBM Users Group ashington is considering legislation that will force you to get a license before you can send e-mail. No, don’t worry, you’ll still be able to receive e-mail without any W “...still going to send jokes, remove the millions of “>>>” brackets. The damn things make everything difficult to read….” and, of course, dumb. (Did I miss anything? Right—emails full of Fwd: Fwd: Fwd: and >>.) Over the years, I’ve collected e-mail tips: ways to help you create e-mail that not only doesn’t annoy others, but actually makes your e-mail worth reading. Think in Paragraphs: You’d be surprised how many e-mails have one, long paragraph. Oddly enough, you may be using paragraphs but your e-mail program may be missing the hard carriage returns. Suggestion: send yourself, or a buddy, an e-mail and see how it looks. If necessary, add two “returns” between paragraphs when creating the e-mail. Write Short: Keep your sentences short and limit yourself to three short paragraphs. Go beyond the Bass restrictions. Int’l. limit of, say, four paraSure I’m kidding. But it’s no graphs, there’s a good joke: People send out lots of chance it won’t be read. email, with much of it need- No Subject? Adios: Here’s lessly long, valueless, band- my steadfast rule: If I don’t width-hogging, inaccurate, know you very well and your message has a blank subject line, it goes into the trash. The reason is there’s a strong possibility a virus or worm is attached. Use Smart Subjects: Say the right thing in the subject line and your recipient gets fair warning what to expect in the message. For instance, even before I started using Yahoogroups, I started my message subject with “PIBMUG.” For one thing, it helps AOL and Hotmail users, the people who get tons of spam, sort out real messages. (Others thought PIBMUG messages were spam, but that’s another story.) More important, it makes applying rules or filters to email easy. For example, after a Home Office column hits the newsstand, I sometimes receive 100 messages a day. That’s in addition to the usual stuff from PR flaks and PIBMUG correspondence. So I’ve encouraged everyone who sends me jokes to start the subject (Continued on page 11) October 02 Page 11 What’s Your E-mail License Number?, cont. mining if it’s really funny. line with “jokes” enabling me No, really—people often to separate them from busi- send me lame jokes that are ness messages. excruciatingly bad. Keep a “Fwd Fwd Fwd”: Of course mental note of the type of if you get lots of email, your joke you send and match it threshold for junk isn’t very up with their response (or non-response). You may notice you rarely hear back when you send a text joke but often get an “LOL” from a cartoon. (Continued from page 10) “...When replying, it takes a few seconds to snip extraneous junk and leave only essential portions of the previous message….” Want to see if people are reading your mail? Flood them with lame jokes—I mean fifth generation forwards of ribald stories or cartoons that weren’t funny when they first ran in Playboy 20 years ago. Then slip in a legit e-mail and see if you get a response. gram, and it drives me crazy trying to figure out who’s writing. For instance, one person uses a period—that’s right, a dot—as his name. So when I look at the e-mail header, I haven’t a clue (and still don’t) who he is. Another person didn’t know what to use so she stuck “Netscape” into the field figuring, well, something needed to go there. Head for your e-mail program’s Options and poke around until you find a spot that asks for a “Reply with” or “Real Name” and put in your name. Mail List Netiquette Many of you subscribe to interactive mail lists. I’m on And if you’re still going to many, and I moderate quite send jokes, remove the mil- a few, including my broadlions of “>>>” brackets. The band and CD-ROM yadamn things make everyhoogroups. When you reply thing difficult to read. to a message on this sort of list, it’s essentially the same No Reply Needed: I send as sending e-mail, but with dozens of e-mails each day with an explicit message that added restrictions. high and subjects can give strong clues for what to de- the recipient needn’t reply. Here are a few list rules to lete right off the bat. For in- That’s only polite because in consider adhering to and many times the e-mail’s just maybe applying to your estance, if I see more than two “Fwd: Fwd:” in the sub- an FYI. So right above the mails. ject, it’s immediately sent to message, I type, “This is just an FYI so no reply is neces- Don’t Waste Bandwidth: the trash. Adios. So many messages, so little sary or expected. –Steve.” That’s Not Funny: Make time, right? Well, avoid reWho Are You? Many users sponses that the entire list sure you at least read the joke before sending it. That’s haven’t changed the “Reply won’t find useful and feel oba great technique for deter- to” name in their e-mail pro(Continued on page 12) October 02 Page 12 What’s Your E-mail License Number?, cont (Continued from page 11) ligated to at least glance at. So don’t reply to the entire list with “thanks,” “good idea,” or “I’ll try it!” Instead, reply to the sender. Look carefully and you’ll probably see the sender’s e-mail address near the top of the message. the previous message. Keep Snipping: Did I explain that it’s best to quote only those brief portions of the previous message, and only items that are necessary to make your point? Good. I’m not kidding. to avoid any chance of getting a virus. Steve Bass is a Contributing Editor with PC World and runs the Pasadena IBM Users Group. He's also a founding member of APCUG. Check PCW's current edition at Avoid HTML: Stick with straight text when replying www.pcworld.com/ Good one, Steve! In case resource/toc/index.asp or sending messages on you weren’t clear about lists. Not everyone’s e-mail and sign up for the Steve Wasting Bandwidth, conBass online newsletter at program can read all your sider this: When replying to fancy fonts and formatting. www.pcworld.com/ messages, do it only when bass_letter Keep Files to Yourself: you have something sub



Attachments are usually stantive to say. Sorry, “Good one, Steve” does not frowned upon on mail lists qualify as substantive. “...You’d be surprised how many e-mails have one, long paragraph.…” Snip, Snip: When replying, it takes a few seconds to snip extraneous junk and leave only essential portions of the previous message. No matter what you do, get rid of the tag line— the info about subscribing and unsubscribing—from October 02 Page 13 Quick: Delete the jdbgmgr.exe file!! By Gabe Kingsley, PIBMUG’s San Francisco Special Correspondent ’ve received a few of these dumb alerts over the past week. You haven’t received one? It’s an email hoax pretending to be a virus warning that tells people to delete their Java Debugger Manager file, called jdbgmgr.exe. I What really ticks me off is the open list of recipients, often 30 to 50 of them, that become fodder for all sorts of junk through the systems of others. So I’m on a one-man crusade to get people to use Blind Ccs for all mail, unless there is a compelling reason (such as a work group, etc.) in which they need to know who else received the message. Heck, I even send out tutorials for most e-mail programs to eliminate any excuses they may have. Here’s what I tell people whenever they forward me an ALERT!! ALERT!! About any virus: Hey, Klez? The most recent e-mail virus you’re asking about is the Klez, and it has powers not seen in earlier types. Klez can select an e-mail address at random from a CC list in a message on your or someone else’s computer and send itself to the recipients of other messages. It’s not limited to those addresses in your address book. In addition, it can “spoof” the return address, so that even if you were not the sender of a message infected with the Klez virus, your name and address may appear as the originator. lete a specific file from your system because it contains a virus. This is a hoax! The file, jdbgmgr.exe, is one that Windows put there and enables certain Java scripting capabilities. You need it! You may receive either the Klez virus or the relatively innocuous hoax warning described above because your name and address were in someone’s CC list. One of the greatest potential dangers is in the e-mails that are forwarded, forwarded and forwarded again by unwitting people. I’m sure you get them every day, and may even pass them along. The result is list after list of available addresses the Klez virus can This is bad stuff and we should expect a raft of “me use to send itself to people too” versions to come along! you don’t know, and for people you don’t know to Another, less harmful but no send it to you, possibly givless irritating offense is the ing the impression it came warning running around the (Continued on page 14) world, advising you to de- Editor’s note: If you have succumbed to this invitation to remove the jdbgmgr.exe file, you may get instructions to reinstall the file directly from Microsoft at: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q322993 You do not need to reinstall this file unless you are a Java Programmer. October 02 Page 14 Quick: Delete the jdbgmgr.exe file!!, cont. (Continued from page 13) from you. When you forward a message, copy only the text into a new message and send it to your friends. DO NOT just forward the existing message, complete with “...What really ticks me off is the open list of recipients, often 30 to 50 of them, that become fodder for all sorts of junk through the systems of others….” Learn and Use Blind CC When sending messages to a group of people, unless it is REQUIRED that each one see the names of all others who received the message, PLEASE USE A BLIND RECIPIENT list. I am not aware of an e-mail program that does not allow you to send messages to a list of “blind” recipients, in which each person who receives the messages sees only their own address, and not the entire list of recipients. If you have AOL, it is the easiest thing to do: Simply bracket all recipients in a pair of parentheses (address1, address2) each separated by a comma. make them blind, and as with AOL, they must be separated by a comma. By doing this each recipient will see only their own address, and not anyone else’s, just as with this message. So far, because Mac’s represent such a small percentage of the computers in use, the people who create the worms and viruses do not make them work with Mac computers. However, any- “...Please try to use blind recipient lists. It will make us all safer from viruses, worms and hoaxes. ….” If you use Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express, there is a special field for “Bcc” (Blind copies) just below the “To” and “Cc” rows. If you do not see it when you open the program, click on View and select “Bcc Field.” Eudora and Netscape Navigator also have blind recipient capabilities. one using a Mac who does not hide the recipients of Yahoo! And Hotmail users the previous lists of recipitheir e-mails makes their recan find the “Bcc” field for ents and their addresses. If entering addresses in the cipients vulnerable to the you want to forward a mes- online address header. The possibility of being hit with a sage, take care to manually Juno mail software works virus from someone else on remove the list of previous very just like AOL, in that their CC list! recipients to preserve their you can enclose multiple ad(Continued on page 17) safety. It’s really easy. dresses in parentheses to October 02 Page 15 Are You Having “Buffer Underrun” Errors With Your CD Burner? By Ira Wilsker uring one of my recent radio shows (KLVI 560AM, Tuesdays 6-7 p.m., Saturdays, 1-4 p.m.), I received many calls asking how to overcome the infamous "Buffer Underrun" error when writing to CD-R discs. While many of the newer CD-RW drives have built-in protection to prevent this error, the vast majority of CD-RW drives in use are subject to this most frustrating discruining error. D According to several of the CD-RW drive manufacturers' websites, as well as the websites of several of the major CD burning software publishers, this error is the single most common problem encountered by users when creating CD-R discs. A buffer underrun occurs when the buffer or memory cache (temporary storage) either built in the CD-RW drive, or supplied by the CD burning software, can not keep up with the data being written to the CD disc. Normally the buffer receives data from the computer, and parcels it out to the disc, the buffer supposedly holding enough data to feed and write smoothly to the CD-R disc as it is also receiving data from the computer. Ideally, the data this error are inadequate system performance (not enough memory, slow processor, hard drive problems, too many programs loaded and running), and low quality or defective CD-R discs. There are several simple tasks that can be done to reduce the chance of buffer underrun errors due to poor system performance. Most CD burning software indicates the maximum speed that the CD can write, typically in the format of "8x" or "10x" on a pull down menu. By selecting a writing speed one or two levels lower than the maximum, the error often disappears. Running both the Windows integral Scandisk and Defrag programs, or similar third party utilities, can possibly ensure that the hard drive is not the culprit causing the errors. Most of the CD burning software uses that hard drive as intermediate storage while the CD is being stream should be smooth created, and the rule-ofand continuous. If, for any thumb is that hard drive of many reasons, the buffer space of at least 150% of does not have the requisite the amount of data being amount of data available, it written must be readily is possible that a buffer un- available on the hard drive. derrun error may be cre(Continued on page 16) ated. Common causes of “...Most software included free with CD-RW drives is the "lite" or "limited" version lacking some of the features of the full commercial versions….” October 02 Page 16 Are You Having “Buffer Underrun” Errors With Your CD Burner?, cont. tion", and uncheck "Sync If cluttered with obsolete Data Transfer". On many data, simply cleaning the c: computers, properly setting \windows\temp directory by this configuration alone may deleting obsolete files can be adequate to eliminate often help prevent the prob- the error. lem. In many older Windows If inadequate system recomputers, mostly running sources cause the problem, Windows 98 and 95, the CD it may also be easily redrive settings may be incorsolved without the necessity of spending money to add memory or install a faster processor. Sometimes programs that have been already exited leave kernels of code or data in memory that unnecessarily consumes resources; typically the easiest method to restore those resources is to simply reboot the computer. By simply stopping any unnecessary programs from running in the background, and not performing any other tasks while burning CDs (multitasking), system resources consisting of CPU power, memory, and other resources may be easily and rectly configured. Go to My quickly made available. That Computer – Control Panel – traditional method to stop System – Device Manager – unwanted programs that click on the "+" to the left of may be running is to either "CDROM" to show the drive right click on their icon in model – click on the CD the taskbar and click on drive to highlight it – click "close", or do a CTRL-ALTon properties – Settings – DELETE, followed by task and check both "Disconnect" manager on newer operatand "Auto Insert Notificaing systems, and "end task" (Continued from page 15) “...this error is the single most common problem encountered by users when creating CD-R discs….” all programs running except "systray" and "explorer", before burning the CD. After the CD has been successfully created, reboot the computer in order to load antivirus software, and other desired utilities. Another option, which may also improve general system performance, not just CD writing, is to stop unnecessary programs from loading at all during the boot "start up" sequence. Detailed instructions on how to do this for all Windows operating systems can be found by clicking on the first link on my radio show web page at http://www. mycomputershow.com. An alphabetical list of programs that may be in the startup, along with an indication of if they are necessary or unnecessary, is the second link on my website. Being connected to an "always on" broadband internet connection, such as DSL or cable can also consume resources. If the error occurs, disconnect from the net. Another possible cause of the error may be the CD burning software itself. Most (Continued on page 17) October 02 Page 17 Are You Having “Buffer Underrun” Errors With Your CD Burner?, cont. trial version of their product more productive. software included free with for download; this may be a CD-RW drives is the "lite" or useful exercise. Ira Wilsker is a member of "limited" version lacking The CD-R media itself can the APCUG Board of Advisome of the features of the be the culprit. Newer disc sors, hosts a radio show, full commercial versions. technologies, often using a writes a column for his local Check your software pubblue or green dye on the paper and is on the faculty lisher's website for updates writable side of the disc, can at the Lamar institute. Email to the version of software usually be written to faster him at: [email protected] . being used, as these may and more reliably than the resolve the buffer underrun There is no restriction older, and cheaper, silver problem. Newer versions of dye technology. The differ- against any non-profit group the software, sometimes using the article as long as ence in price between the downloadable either as free it is kept in context, with better quality blank CDs, upgrades, or available to and the no-name cheap ge- proper credit given to the registered users at a disnerics is often small, consid- author. This article is count, may also resolve the ering the savings in both ru- brought to you by the Editoproblem. Some CD burning rial Committee of the Assoined discs, and the time to software better manage reciation of Personal Comcreate them. sources and buffers than puter User Groups (APCUG), By properly configuring your an International organizaothers, and a software change may show improve- computer and software, the tion to which this user group ment. Many of the CD soft- CD burning experience can belongs. ware publishers offer a free be less frustrating, and



(Continued from page 16) Quick: Delete the jdbgmgr.exe file!!, cont. then vulnerable to receiving Anyone who wants to protect a virus or one of those hoax their privacy and safety will warnings from them ... or anyone to whom they forappreciate your doing this. ward that message. Few things about e-mail bother me more than when Please try to use blind recipisomething I sent gets forent lists. It will make us all warded to a large list of peo- safer from viruses, worms ple I don’t know, and beand hoaxes. cause my address is now in Copyright © 2002 by Gabe their message base, I am Kingsley. Reproduced with (Continued from page 14) permission. Article reproduction coordinated by Steve Bass, Pasadena IBM Users Group. Gabe Kingsley is a San Francisco Bay Area based consultant and can be reached by e-mail: [email protected] only if you promise to blind copy him.



October 02 Page 18 Questions and Answers — A Monthly Feature, cont. (Continued from page 9) months. Answer part 3): The programs are placed on your computer when you get software from the Internet that helps you swap music or other files, or find bargains online. The largest and most wide spread of these programs are installed when you install KaZaA, Morpheus or LimeWire. Choose Settings on the Start menu, then choose Control Panel. Double click on Add/Remove Programs. Click on Limeshop, then Add/Remove. available on the site, if I clicked on the linked logo? Answer: Microsoft offers hundreds of software programs, games, a great collection of mice, trackballs SAVENOW and keyboards. However, The software used by the top ten items in August KaZaA called Media Desk were all software programs: Top: 1. Office XP Pro 2. Visual Studio .NET Pro Choose Settings on the 3. Windows XP Pro Start menu, then choose 4. Windows XP Home EdiControl Panel, Double click As you install the software tion from these companies, you on Add/Remove Programs. 5. Project 2002 are asked if you would also Click on SaveNow. Click on 6. Office XP Standard like to support the software Add/Remove. 7. FrontPage 2002 maker by shopping through BUYERSPORT 8. MapPoint 2002 an online affiliate program. The shopping software with 9. Windows 2000 Server The program essentially Morpheus. The removal in- 10.Microsoft Plus! for Winuses my links to Amazon. dows XP com and replaces the affili- structions are different from ate site’s ID code with their the others as it is installed If you are buying, and differently than the others: affiliate ID code as you link would like to help your Club, to the main shopping site. Choose Find (or Search) on visit the web site and click Therefore, the software the Start menu, then choose through on the logo that maker gets the affiliate’s looks like the one you see Find files or Folders. commissions. below. Type in mbho.dll and Click Answer part 4): You may on Find Now. When the file If you have the three prowant to remove shopping grams discussed in the preappears in the directory software from your systems window, drag mbho.dll into vious answer, your Club will in just a few steps. Instruc- the trash. receive no beneft! tions for removing three of



Question: I noticed on the most common prothe Club’s board in the grams: front of the classroom LIMESHOP that there is a link to Microsoft’s web site where The software with the Club will receive 12% LimeWire: of purchases. What is October 02 Page 19 One-on-One In-Home Tutoring F or those of you that require personal educational assistance, the Club’s program of one-on-one tutoring has been made an ongoing offering to Club members. Our tutors will come to Club members homes for a two hour session. The member donates $10.00 to the Club. The following subjects have tutors available: Access — Cheryl Thode, 617-0907, e-mail: [email protected] AOL — Don Bell, 896-7177, e-mail: [email protected] Basic Internet Access — Carl Minnich, 270-9634, e-mail: [email protected] Excel — Cheryl Thode, 617-0907 e-mail: [email protected] Genealogy — Don Bell, 896-7177, e-mail: [email protected] Mouse & Keyboard — Chuck Davis, 614-3107 e-mail: [email protected] Outlook — Cheryl Thode, 617-0907 e-mail: [email protected] PowerPoint — Cheryl Thode, 617-0907, e-mail: [email protected] QuickBooks Pro: Cheryl Thode, 617-0907 e-mail: [email protected] Chuck Davis, 614-3107 e-mail: [email protected] Software Installation — Bob Brill, 897-9344 e-mail: [email protected] Spreadsheets — Bob Brill, 897-9344 e-mail: [email protected] Word: Cheryl Thode, 617-0907 e-mail: [email protected] Chuck Davis, 614-3107 e-mail: [email protected] WordPerfiect — Bob Brill, 897-9344 e-mail: [email protected] John Apple will help members set up their computers, 616-3938 — e-mail: [email protected] Please e-mail or call the instructors for appointments. As usual, the Club requires all payments in the form of checks. Payable to: SCACC. Publisher: Cheryl Thode, 617-0907 e-mail: [email protected] Chuck Davis, 614-3107 e-mail: [email protected] Take advantage of these unbelievable services for a minimal investment! Our volunteers wish to help others become more comfortable in their use of their computers. Looking for the Class Schedules? http://www.myscacc.org