*** Contents

*** This Week's New Articles on Ask Leo!

Why am I getting "Windows cannot find" messages on startup?

The message is both clear, and confusing.

Clear, because Windows is clearly trying to run a program on start up, and "Windows cannot find" means ... well, it means that it can't find the program.

Confusing, because you never told it to run that program, nor do you have any idea how it got there.

I do.

Continue reading: "Why am I getting "Windows cannot find" messages on startup?"
http://ask-leo.com/why_am_i_getting_windows_cannot_find_messages_on_startup.html

* * *

Why is my internet connection slowing down?

I blame the cable company.

But good luck trying to convince them of that.

I also blame your neighbors, but they probably don't know any better.

Continue reading: "Why is my internet connection slowing down?"
http://ask-leo.com/why_is_my_internet_connection_slowing_down.html

* * *

What's the difference between Closing and Killing a program?

There is a difference, and it's an important one.

I liken it to the difference between asking someone to leave, and physically kicking them out of the door.

Continue reading: "What's the difference between Closing and Killing a program?"
http://ask-leo.com/whats_the_difference_between_closing_and_killing_a_program.html

* * *

What is the .NET Framework, and do I need all these versions?

The fact that you don't develop software actually has nothing to do with anything here.

.NET is most likely used by other software you have installed on your machine.

.NET versioning, unfortunately, is apparently a mess.

Continue reading: "What is the .NET Framework, and do I need all these versions?"
http://ask-leo.com/what_is_the_net_framework_and_do_i_need_all_these_versions.html

* * *

How can I get the old Windows Live Hotmail back?

Windows Live Hotmail made some changes to their user interface last week, and since many people find my site in reference to Hotmail issues, I've been hearing a lot about it.

More specifically, I've been hearing a lot of complaints.

So, I'm going to go off on a bit of a rant here. And it's not aimed at Hotmail.

Continue reading: "How can I get the old Windows Live Hotmail back?"
http://ask-leo.com/how_can_i_get_the_old_windows_live_hotmail_back.html

*** A Word from our Sponsor

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*** Featured Comments

A sampling of some of the comments that have been posted recently on Ask Leo!

* * *

How can I get the old Windows Live Hotmail back?

This is exactly why I so often and so strongly recommend that people seriously reconsider using free email accounts for anything important. I have no other recourse for you.
-Leo

*

MSN Hotmail: how long will Hotmail keep my account open?

I have no answer on recovering anything lost in your Hotmail account. It happens with unfortunately regularity for various reasons. It's one of the reasons I so strongly recommend that you never use a free email account as the sole repository for anything important. Back it up, somehow, and/or use a commercial email account with support.
-Leo

*** This Week's Most Popular

The ten most popular articles in the last 7 days on Ask Leo!

1. How do I make a new MSN Hotmail account?
2. How do I delete history items from my Google tool bar?
3. My desktop Recycle Bin has disappeared - why, and how do I get it back?
4. How do I delete my Hotmail account?
5. I accidentally deleted my Recycle Bin in Vista - how do I get it back?
6. How do I change my MSN Hotmail password?
7. Can I send text messages between a computer and a cell phone?
8. What are MSN HotMail's POP3 and SMTP settings for Outlook Express?
9. How do I put a picture in a comment on myspace.com?
10. What are the POP3 and SMTP settings for Hotmail?

*** Leo Recommends

This Is True
Weekly Weird News, Humor and Insightful Commentary

This is True is a weekly syndicated newspaper column by Colorado humorist Randy Cassingham. Each week Randy reports on several bizarre, but absolutely true news stories from around the world, ending each with his own unique humorous comment. The stories are often odd, frequently head shaking, and occasionally very thought provoking.

But they're always funny.

Continue reading: This Is True - Weekly Weird News, Humor and Insightful Commentary
http://ask-leo.com/this_is_true_weekly_weird_news_humor_and_insightful_commentary.html

•

Each week I recommend a specific product or resource that I've found valuable and that I think you may as well. What does my recommendation mean?

*** Popular Articles from the Archives

It's very common to be looking around on your hard disk only to discover a folder that you never put there, and don't really understand the purpose of. Here's just one example.

What's "Msocache"?

Msocache is another of those "magical" directories (not a file) that somehow just appears one day. Since we're not looking for this kind of thing constantly it's easy to miss exactly when it showed up.

Here's one clue, though - MSO stands for MicroSoft Office.

Yep. Microsoft Office is trying to be helpful.

Continue reading...
What's "Msocache"?
http://ask-leo.com/whats_msocache.html

*** Thoughts and Comments

As I was putting this issue together I noted that an anniversary almost slipped by...

This newsletter is three years old, today.

Whoo hoo!

Since all issues are archived on the site, here it is: Leo's Answers #1 - November 18, 2005.

You can see that even then I was reminding people to ask themselves Are free email services worth it?

*

I'm proud of my three years of newsletters (and over five years of Ask Leo! on the web), but I'm still a newbie compared to This is True. Randy Cassingham's been publishing True since 1996, making it one of the oldest email newsletters still being published today. The secret to its longevity is very simple: it's just that good. I subscribed to the premium edition of True long ago (back when my email address was @microsoft.com), and in the years that followed Randy's become a good friend and mentor. I encourage you to check out This is True.

'till next time...

Leo A. Notenboom

* * *

A selection of Leo's articles are available for free re-use at http://articlesbyleo.com.

You can also subscribe to Ask Leo! on your Kindle.

Perhaps you'd like some Ask Leo! Stickers?

Some of Leo's other sites: The Ask Leo! Store, Leo's Online Business Card, Forwarded Funnies, Taming Email, MovableType Tips, Leo's Blog, Buy Leo a Latte (or a Beer), A Letter To Myself, Dolls and Friends, Corgwn.com

*** Newsletter Administration

Do you have a question? A comment, perhaps? Visit http://ask-leo.com/ask to submit your questions.

I'll be honest: I'll try to respond, but I get a lot of questions every day - I just can't answer everyone. Rest assured, though, that even if you don't hear from me directly, every email gets read.

Leo's Answers Newsletter is a weekly publication of Ask Leo! and Leo A. Notenboom. It's also available as an RSS feed at this URL: http://ask-leo.com/newsletter.xml. Archives of previous newsletter issues can be found on the Ask Leo! web site, http://ask-leo.com/newsletter.html.

Forward Me! You're quite welcome to forward this email in its entirety; it's a great way to help Ask Leo! grow. But you should probably delete your unsubscribe link below, so your friends don't unsubscribe you by accident.

You may forward individual articles from this newsletter only if you include all and only the text of that article as found in this newsletter, including any links therein. You may not copy full articles from the Ask Leo! website - more on that in my section on copyright: http://ask-leo.com/terms.html#copyright.

I'd sure appreciate it if regular readers got a subscription of their own. You can sign up at http://newsletter.ask-leo.com.

Interested in advertising on Ask Leo! or in this newsletter? Advertising details here.

Newsletter contents Copyright © 2008, Leo A. Notenboom & Puget Sound Software, LLC.

*** Contents

*** This Week's New Articles on Ask Leo!

Does sharing a router make me vulnerable to those I share with?

There are several possible scenarios that your question might be asking about. I'll try and cover the most common.

But the short answer is that, yes, you do need to understand whether the people that share your router can be trusted. If not, you need to take steps.

Continue reading: "Does sharing a router make me vulnerable to those I share with?"
http://ask-leo.com/does_sharing_a_router_make_me_vulnerable_to_those_i_share_with.html

* * *

Where did the Windows Live Hotmail Reply and Forward buttons go?

Reply and Forward are pretty fundamental, so they certainly didn't disappear.

As the message from Hotmail said, they're just slightly different.

And perhaps in a different place.

Continue reading: "Where did the Windows Live Hotmail Reply and Forward buttons go?"
http://ask-leo.com/where_did_the_windows_live_hotmail_reply_and_forward_buttons_go.html

* * *

Are there any issues listening to streaming music over the internet?

I'll put it this way:

As I write this, I'm listening to streaming music over the internet. In fact, it's been running continuously for days.

Let's look at the requirements, issues and ramifications of doing so.

Continue reading: "Are there any issues listening to streaming music over the internet?"
http://ask-leo.com/are_there_any_issues_listening_to_streaming_music_over_the_internet.html

* * *

How to find the IP address of my computer?

Sure there are commands.

But I have to ask you a question first:

Which IP address do you want?

Continue reading: "How to find the IP address of my computer?"
http://ask-leo.com/how_to_find_the_ip_address_of_my_computer.html

* * *

What's a port scan, and should I be worried about them?

Port scans happen all the time. And I do mean all the time. Steve Gibson of grc.com coined the term "internet background radiation" for all the random traffic that's continually happening on the internet due to unpatched and infected machines, and machines that are continually scanning the internet for other machines to infect.

And that's exactly why everyone needs a firewall.

However, there is one aspect of what you describe that is troubling.

Continue reading: "What's a port scan, and should I be worried about them?"
http://ask-leo.com/whats_a_port_scan_and_should_i_be_worried_about_them.html

*** A Word from our Sponsor

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Advertisement. Ask Leo about advertising here.

*** Featured Comments

A sampling of some of the comments that have been posted recently on Ask Leo!

* * *

Can a virus destroy my computer or hard drive?

I would guess that those who choose the more expensive option have data that hasn't been backed up that they can't afford to lose.
-Leo

*

Can a virus destroy my computer or hard drive?

*

Should I get the 64 bit version of Windows?

*

Can a virus be transmitted in a picture?

Good question. If the file is already on your machine you could, of course, run a virus scan to hopefully get rid of it. The problem is that these are most often used on malicious websites where you don't have a chance to "look before you leap". The best advice is simply to keep your machine up-to-date with Windows patches, since it's unpatched machines that these things take advantage of, and stay away from questionable web sites. This article may help on what to do when you're infected, regardless of the cause: My computer's infected with a virus, how do I clean it up?
-Leo

*** This Week's Most Popular

The ten most popular articles in the last 7 days on Ask Leo!

1. How do I make a new MSN Hotmail account?
2. How do I delete history items from my Google tool bar?
3. My desktop Recycle Bin has disappeared - why, and how do I get it back?
4. How do I delete my Hotmail account?
5. What are MSN HotMail's POP3 and SMTP settings for Outlook Express?
6. I accidentally deleted my Recycle Bin in Vista - how do I get it back?
7. How do I change my MSN Hotmail password?
8. How do I put a picture in a comment on myspace.com?
9. Can I send text messages between a computer and a cell phone?
10. What are the POP3 and SMTP settings for Hotmail?

*** Leo Recommends

AWeber
Email Service Provider for email newsletters and more

If you're a spammer, you can stop reading now. AWeber will not help you.

On the other hand, if you're considering setting up a CAN-SPAM compliant email mailing list, AWeber may be the solution for you.

AWeber is an Email Service Provider (ESP) that provides bulk and sequence emailing services. The most common example might be periodic newsletters: for example I use AWeber to send out my newsletter every week to over 25,000 45,000 subscribers.

Not to sound too "marketing-ish", but AWeber leads the industry in an incredibly important measurement: deliverability.

Continue reading: AWeber Email Service Provider for email newsletters and more
http://ask-leo.com/aweber_email_service_provider_for_email_newsletters_and_more.html

•

Each week I recommend a specific product or resource that I've found valuable and that I think you may as well. What does my recommendation mean?

*** Popular Articles from the Archives

Ever install or upgrade your video card or monitor, only to find you're back at 640x480, or 800x600 on a device that should get you much more?

Why is 640x480 my only resolution option?

640 by 480. There was a day when we were excited to have it - and with all of 16 colors. Now, 640x480 is so "small" as to be unusable in most cases. Even the most basic new computer supports at least 800x600, if not 1024x768 or much higher.

But what if it appears that 640x480 is your only option?

Continue reading...
Why is 640x480 my only resolution option?
http://ask-leo.com/why_is_640x480_my_only_resolution_option.html

*** Thoughts and Comments

Last week Microsoft rolled out another update to the Windows Live Hotmail interface, and as happens, I got flooded with questions and concerns from people who don't like it, are having problems with it, and who would like to go back to the old interface.

I found this blog posting from the Windows Live team: Update on the new Hotmail which answers many of the questions that people are having.

The bottom line is that it's changing and there's nothing you as a user can do about it.

As of this morning, that blog post has over 1400 comments on it - mostly negative.

When I see the flood of questions I get about it all, I continue to wonder myself: if people are so upset about Hotmail's changes, why do they continue to use it? There are so many alternatives that if you honestly don't like it, you can change to something else.

But I just shake my head and answer the questions that I can.

And continue to remind people how I feel about putting all their eggs into a free email basket.

But I do have to say this: handling and even embracing change is one of the most important things you can do to be successful and comfortable using technology. Whatever you're using today will change, sometime, somehow. Hopefully for the better, but not always in ways that you'll appreciate. It's inevitable.

'till next time...

Leo A. Notenboom

* * *

A selection of Leo's articles are available for free re-use at http://articlesbyleo.com.

You can also subscribe to Ask Leo! on your Kindle.

Perhaps you'd like some Ask Leo! Stickers?

Some of Leo's other sites: The Ask Leo! Store, Leo's Online Business Card, Forwarded Funnies, Taming Email, MovableType Tips, Leo's Blog, Buy Leo a Latte (or a Beer), A Letter To Myself, Dolls and Friends, Corgwn.com

*** Newsletter Administration

Do you have a question? A comment, perhaps? Visit http://ask-leo.com/ask to submit your questions.

I'll be honest: I'll try to respond, but I get a lot of questions every day - I just can't answer everyone. Rest assured, though, that even if you don't hear from me directly, every email gets read.

Leo's Answers Newsletter is a weekly publication of Ask Leo! and Leo A. Notenboom. It's also available as an RSS feed at this URL: http://ask-leo.com/newsletter.xml. Archives of previous newsletter issues can be found on the Ask Leo! web site, http://ask-leo.com/newsletter.html.

Forward Me! You're quite welcome to forward this email in its entirety; it's a great way to help Ask Leo! grow. But you should probably delete your unsubscribe link below, so your friends don't unsubscribe you by accident.

You may forward individual articles from this newsletter only if you include all and only the text of that article as found in this newsletter, including any links therein. You may not copy full articles from the Ask Leo! website - more on that in my section on copyright: http://ask-leo.com/terms.html#copyright.

I'd sure appreciate it if regular readers got a subscription of their own. You can sign up at http://newsletter.ask-leo.com.

Interested in advertising on Ask Leo! or in this newsletter? Advertising details here.

Newsletter contents Copyright © 2008, Leo A. Notenboom & Puget Sound Software, LLC.

*** Contents

*** This Week's New Articles on Ask Leo!

Can a virus be transmitted in a picture?

Short answer: probably not. In fact it's highly unlikely that viruses actually travel in pictures.

However, there are a few things to be aware of, and a few steps that will increase the security of your result.

Continue reading: "Can a virus be transmitted in a picture?"
http://ask-leo.com/can_a_virus_be_transmitted_in_a_picture.html

* * *

Can a virus destroy my computer or hard drive?

Your hard disk is not physically damaged. I'm hoping that the technical service company didn't really mean that. (If they did ... well, I'd use a different service next time.)

But you do have some work ahead of you nonetheless.

Continue reading: "Can a virus destroy my computer or hard drive?"
http://ask-leo.com/can_a_virus_destroy_my_computer_or_hard_drive.html

* * *

How do I set up a system with more than one screen?

Windows XP actually does a very good job of handling multiple monitors and display devices. In fact, I'm writing this on a dual monitor system right now.

There are a couple of approaches to connecting more than one screen to your display.

And you don't even have to stop at two. Add three, four, or more screens if you like.

Continue reading: "How do I set up a system with more than one screen?"
http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_set_up_a_system_with_more_than_one_screen.html

* * *

Should I get the 64 bit version of Windows?

I suspect I'm going to get some disagreement on this one, but so far I've voted with my virtual feet: all my machines are running 32 bit operating systems, even though several of them could run 64 bit.

So you can guess what I'm going to recommend for the average user.

And, in fact, your very question highlights one of the reasons why.

Continue reading: "Should I get the 64 bit version of Windows?"
http://ask-leo.com/should_i_get_the_64_bit_version_of_windows.html

* * *

Why does my email program ask for a username or password when I try to download mail?

There are two levels to this question, and I'm going to address them both.

One: in addition to an email program you need an email account in order to send and receive email.

Two: your email program needs to know about that account.

Two-and-a-half: OK, sometimes your email program can get confused.

Continue reading: "Why does my email program ask for a username or password when I try to download mail?"
http://ask-leo.com/why_does_my_email_program_ask_for_a_username_or_password_when_i_try_to_download_mail.html

* * *

Should I password protect my BIOS?

In my opinion, it does. It's an additional barrier to entry.

However, we need to make sure we understand just what the limitations, and risks, of using a BIOS password really are.

Continue reading: "Should I password protect my BIOS?"
http://ask-leo.com/should_i_password_protect_my_bios.html

*** A Word from our Sponsor

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*** Featured Comments

A sampling of some of the comments that have been posted recently on Ask Leo!

* * *

What does "Pri Master HDD Error" mean on boot?

I hope you're backing up. Someday what you're doing won't work, and it's possible that all the data on that drive will be gone.
-Leo

*** This Week's Most Popular

The ten most popular articles in the last 7 days on Ask Leo!

1. How do I make a new MSN Hotmail account?
2. How do I delete history items from my Google tool bar?
3. My desktop Recycle Bin has disappeared - why, and how do I get it back?
4. How do I put a picture in a comment on myspace.com?
5. I accidentally deleted my Recycle Bin in Vista - how do I get it back?
6. How do I send someone a large file?
7. Why is my Task Manager disabled, and how do I fix it?
8. How do I delete my Hotmail account?
9. What are MSN HotMail's POP3 and SMTP settings for Outlook Express?
10. How do I change my MSN Hotmail password?

*** Leo Recommends

Fujitsu ScanSnap
A Fast, Sheet-fed Document Scanner

This might appeal to only a small portion of my audience, but I've fallen in love with this device, and wanted to share it with those who'd find it as useful as I do.

I'm all about computers; I think you get that. But that also means that I'm all about using them - particularly when it comes to documents and document management. I find digital documents easier to store, backup and search than their paper counterparts. In general, I'd much prefer someone send me an email or give me an electronic copy of whatever document they're wanting to share - no need to waste paper for me.

On the other hand, between home ownership, running a couple of businesses and more, people are sending me paper every day. Paper that, in all honesty, I should keep - at least for a while. And yet, I'd really rather not.

You might guess that my ideal would be to scan all those documents into digital form, and then discard or shred the physical paper in favor of storing and backing up the documents on my computer. The problem is that traditional flatbed scanners are slow and cumbersome for any volume of scanning. And slow. Did I mention slow? And cumbersome?

The Fujitsu ScanSnap solves those issues.

Continue reading: "Fujitsu ScanSnap - A Fast, Sheet-fed Document Scanner"
http://ask-leo.com/fujitsu_scansnap_a_fast_sheetfed_document_scanner.html

•

Each week I recommend a specific product or resource that I've found valuable and that I think you may as well. What does my recommendation mean?

*** Popular Articles from the Archives

This is another one of those questions that I get on a regular basis. Unfortunately, the answer's not what most people want to hear...

How do I remove myself from the search engines?

Search engines are amazing. They've collected and indexed billions of pages of information out on the internet. And while we think of Google, Yahoo, MSN and other "name brand" search engines, the reality is that there are hundred of search engines that could all be indexing pages on the web.

Getting into the search engines is not terribly difficult. Getting out? The news is not good.

Continue reading...
How do I remove myself from the search engines?
http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_remove_myself_from_the_search_engines.html

*** Thoughts and Comments

Last week I mentioned my wife's business, which we're closing, was selected for an audit. Lots of prep work on my part, since I'm also the bookkeeper. While it's not over, it's a "so far so good" situation.

I decided to formally recommend my ScanSnap this week, partly because of the workout it's been getting as part of the audit. I'm retrieving lots of paper documents, as you might imagine. My technique has been to quickly scan them and then make those PDFs available to the auditor. It turned out to be a pretty smooth operation. I also took my "too be filed" pile of paper that's been accumulating over the past six months (ok, I'm a little behind in my filing) and turned it into a "to be shredded" pile by scanning almost all of it.

So the bottom line is that I've been having fun with it. (And yes, if having fun with a scanner doesn't make me an uber-geek, I'm not sure what does. )

'till next time...

Leo A. Notenboom

* * *

A selection of Leo's articles are available for free re-use at http://articlesbyleo.com.

You can also subscribe to Ask Leo! on your Kindle.

Perhaps you'd like some Ask Leo! Stickers?

Some of Leo's other sites: The Ask Leo! Store, Leo's Online Business Card, Forwarded Funnies, Taming Email, MovableType Tips, Leo's Blog, Buy Leo a Latte (or a Beer), A Letter To Myself, Dolls and Friends, Corgwn.com

*** Newsletter Administration

Do you have a question? A comment, perhaps? Visit http://ask-leo.com/ask to submit your questions.

I'll be honest: I'll try to respond, but I get a lot of questions every day - I just can't answer everyone. Rest assured, though, that even if you don't hear from me directly, every email gets read.

Leo's Answers Newsletter is a weekly publication of Ask Leo! and Leo A. Notenboom. It's also available as an RSS feed at this URL: http://ask-leo.com/newsletter.xml. Archives of previous newsletter issues can be found on the Ask Leo! web site, http://ask-leo.com/newsletter.html.

Forward Me! You're quite welcome to forward this email in its entirety; it's a great way to help Ask Leo! grow. But you should probably delete your unsubscribe link below, so your friends don't unsubscribe you by accident.

You may forward individual articles from this newsletter only if you include all and only the text of that article as found in this newsletter, including any links therein. You may not copy full articles from the Ask Leo! website - more on that in my section on copyright: http://ask-leo.com/terms.html#copyright.

I'd sure appreciate it if regular readers got a subscription of their own. You can sign up at http://newsletter.ask-leo.com.

Interested in advertising on Ask Leo! or in this newsletter? Advertising details here.

Newsletter contents Copyright © 2008, Leo A. Notenboom & Puget Sound Software, LLC.

*** Contents

*** This Week's New Articles on Ask Leo!

How do I send someone a large file?

A fair question.

Email certainly has the convenience factor nailed: add an attachment, press send, and off it goes. The problem is that it might not get wherever you want it to go.

When it comes to large files in particular, we need to look at things just a little differently.

Continue reading: "How do I send someone a large file?"
http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_send_someone_a_large_file.html

* * *

Why are emails I send with attachments not being delivered?

There are many, many, many reasons that emails with attachments often fail to get delivered. There are a lot of potential problems in the scenario you outline, and I'll try and touch on a few of them.

We can start by blaming viruses.

Continue reading: "Why are emails I send with attachments not being delivered?"
http://ask-leo.com/why_are_emails_i_send_with_attachments_not_being_delivered.html

* * *

Just what is PDF format, how do I view it, and why do people use it?

Oh, the English (assuming that manual was written in English, that is) is in there. You just have to look at the PDF the right way, and with the right tools.

As for why, the clue is in what PDF stands for: "Portable Document Format".

Continue reading: "Just what is PDF format, how do I view it, and why do people use it?"
http://ask-leo.com/just_what_is_pdf_format_how_do_i_view_it_and_why_do_people_use_it.html

* * *

What is the prefetch folder, and why are there copies of system files there?

Ignore the prefetch folder.

Seriously, there's nothing you need to do with it, and unlike some tips sites might suggest, there's nothing you should do with it.

You can delete files in it if you like, but it'll just slow down your system a little, and they'll probably reappear quickly anyway.

Now, as to why? It's Windows, trying to be fast.

Continue reading: "What is the prefetch folder, and why are there copies of system files there?"
http://ask-leo.com/what_is_the_prefetch_folder_and_why_are_there_copies_of_system_files_there.html

* * *

What does "Pri Master HDD Error" mean on boot?

It means that your friend's computer has a problem.

The fact that it's supposed to be running Windows XP is actually beside the point ... the computer hasn't even gotten that far yet.

Continue reading: "What does "Pri Master HDD Error" mean on boot?"
http://ask-leo.com/what_does_pri_master_hdd_error_mean_on_boot.html

* * *

How do I backup my computer?

Your question's not ridiculous at all, and in fact I'm certain that one reason so many people don't back up is exactly that: they don't know how.

Let's first look at what it means to back up a computer, what your options are, and then what I typically recommend for average users.

Continue reading: "How do I backup my computer?"
http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_backup_my_computer.html

* * *

Why does answering cordless phones cause some wireless connections to drop?

This is a problem that many people are unaware of, but happens quite often: household wireless phones and computer wireless (WiFi) connections can come into conflict.

There are a couple of solutions.

Continue reading: "Why does answering cordless phones cause some wireless connections to drop?"
http://ask-leo.com/why_does_answering_cordless_phones_cause_some_wireless_connections_to_drop.html

*** A Word from our Sponsor

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Protecting your entire system has never been easier.
Backup and recovery is a breeze.

"It's what I use." - Leo Notenboom

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*** Featured Comments

A sampling of some of the comments that have been posted recently on Ask Leo!

* * *

Outsourcing Tech Support Good, or Evil?

I know that there are a lot of folks who are prejudiced against any tech support that doesn't "sound" native. But that's not the issue here, I don't think.

What people care about is getting their problem solved, and being able to communicate - both ways - is critical to that process. It's about much more than an accent; if the tech support person doesn't understand me, or if I can't understand them, then the problem will not get solved.

What people want is tech support that is competent, nothing more, nothing less. That means not just technical competence in the areas that they're supporting, but competence in one-on-one communication as well.

Personally, as long as the support is competent and effective, I don't care where on the planet they are.

-Leo

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How do I backup my computer?

I agree proprietary formats can be a little off-putting. I'm comfortable because I've had good experience with what I use. However there are backup utilities that store in a more standard "zip" format that can be read by any zip-capable tool which would get you compression without a proprietary format.
-Leo

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Why won't some files defrag?

Fragmentation is not related to free space. In your case I would absolutely investigate where your hard disk space is going, but focusing on fragmentation is not going to get you there. I would have you start with this article: Where's my disk space going?
-Leo

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How should I save files before reformatting my computer?

There are a couple of approaches, but none of them what I would call "simple". You could temporarily put your hard disk as the second drive in another machine. You could try booting from a Linux live CD and if it recognizes both your hard drive and your external drive you could use it to copy the files. Most everything else would a variation on either of those themes: take the drive elsewhere, or boot from something that will read it.

All this assumes that the drive is actually working, by the way. If not then it's probably time for a technician's advice on the specific failure.

Finally, I have to point out that regular backups would prevent this crisis, so once you're set up again be sure to start backing up.

-Leo

*** This Week's Most Popular

The ten most popular articles in the last 7 days on Ask Leo!

1. How do I make a new MSN Hotmail account?
2. How do I delete history items from my Google tool bar?
3. My desktop Recycle Bin has disappeared - why, and how do I get it back?
4. Why is my Task Manager disabled, and how do I fix it?
5. How do I put a picture in a comment on myspace.com?
6. Can I send text messages between a computer and a cell phone?
7. I accidentally deleted my Recycle Bin in Vista - how do I get it back?
8. How do I delete my Hotmail account?
9. What are MSN HotMail's POP3 and SMTP settings for Outlook Express?
10. How do I change my MSN Hotmail password?

*** Leo Recommends

Process Explorer
A Free Powerful Replacement for Windows Task Manager

OK, I admit it, I'm a geek. And part of the reason I say that is because I actually have Process Explorer as an auto-start entry on my two primary machines. It runs automatically whenever I boot up. Not only do I find that I refer to it that often, but I'm just the kind of person who likes to know what's going on inside his computer. You know, a geek.

Now, you may not need or even want to know what's going on under the hood. Let's face it, for most computer users you shouldn't have to. Computers are supposed to "just work", and you should never need to be bothered with things like processes or resource utilization or what not.

And we all know how well that's working.

This is where process explorer comes in. Process Explorer - or frequently just "procexp" - provides a window into the world of all the programs running on your computer, and offers up a level of detailed information that Task Manager could never hope to approach.

Continue reading: Process Explorer - A Free Powerful Replacement for Windows Task Manager
http://ask-leo.com/process_explorer_a_free_powerful_replacement_for_windows_task_manager.html

I recommend it.

•

Each week I recommend a specific product or resource that I've found valuable and that I think you may as well. What does my recommendation mean?

*** Popular Articles from the Archives

Here's a podcast from three years ago (with transcript) discussing the spyware crisis. Yes, it really is that bad.

Spyware - is the crisis really that bad?

In recent months and weeks we've seen a number of reports that claim that some frighteningly high percentage of computers examined at random are infested with spyware of some sort. Depending on the report, numbers quoted reach as high as 90 percent.

In my opinion reports that go that high aren't taking into account the severity of the threat, and typically include tracking cookies of some sort as "spyware". Technically, yes, I suppose they're spyware - but in my mind they're an acceptable cost of doing business on the internet. Certainly they're not in the same league as key loggers, browser hijackers, and other forms of true malware.

Continue reading...
Spyware - is the crisis really that bad?
http://ask-leo.com/spyware_is_the_crisis_really_that_bad.html

*** Thoughts and Comments

Not a lot to add here this week, as time is kinda short. My wife's business - you know, the one we're closing - was selected at random for an audit by our state. As the bookkeeper (I wear way too many hats), I now have a lot of prep work ahead of me.

Life just keeps getting more and more interesting.

'till next time...

Leo A. Notenboom

* * *

A selection of Leo's articles are available for free re-use at http://articlesbyleo.com.

You can also subscribe to Ask Leo! on your Kindle.

Perhaps you'd like some Ask Leo! Stickers?

Some of Leo's other sites: The Ask Leo! Store, Leo's Online Business Card, Forwarded Funnies, Taming Email, MovableType Tips, Leo's Blog, Buy Leo a Latte (or a Beer), A Letter To Myself, Dolls and Friends, Corgwn.com

*** Newsletter Administration

Do you have a question? A comment, perhaps? Visit http://ask-leo.com/ask to submit your questions.

I'll be honest: I'll try to respond, but I get a lot of questions every day - I just can't answer everyone. Rest assured, though, that even if you don't hear from me directly, every email gets read.

Leo's Answers Newsletter is a weekly publication of Ask Leo! and Leo A. Notenboom. It's also available as an RSS feed at this URL: http://ask-leo.com/newsletter.xml. Archives of previous newsletter issues can be found on the Ask Leo! web site, http://ask-leo.com/newsletter.html.

Forward Me! You're quite welcome to forward this email in its entirety; it's a great way to help Ask Leo! grow. But you should probably delete your unsubscribe link below, so your friends don't unsubscribe you by accident.

You may forward individual articles from this newsletter only if you include all and only the text of that article as found in this newsletter, including any links therein. You may not copy full articles from the Ask Leo! website - more on that in my section on copyright: http://ask-leo.com/terms.html#copyright.

I'd sure appreciate it if regular readers got a subscription of their own. You can sign up at http://newsletter.ask-leo.com.

Interested in advertising on Ask Leo! or in this newsletter? Advertising details here.

Newsletter contents Copyright © 2008, Leo A. Notenboom & Puget Sound Software, LLC.

*** Contents

*** This Week's New Articles on Ask Leo!

What's my IP address?

As you probably already know your IP address is the "address" or logical (not physical) location of your computer or router connected to the internet.

There are plenty of sites that will tell you your IP address. In fact, any web site you visit can see it.

I'll do the same, but also try to explain, a little, exactly what it is you're seeing.

Continue reading: "What's my IP address?"
http://ask-leo.com/whats_my_ip_address.html

* * *

I have annoying malware, but my anti-malware tools don't remove it. What do I do?

I'm actually starting to hear this a lot more frequently in recent days.

As always, it's the never-ending race between the malware creators and the anti-malware tool creators.

If I found myself in your shoes, there are a few things I would look into.

Continue reading: "I have annoying malware, but my anti-malware tools don't remove it. What do I do?"
http://ask-leo.com/i_have_annoying_malware_but_my_antimalware_tools_dont_remove_it_what_do_i_do.html

* * *

I've installed anti-virus software, but Windows says I haven't. What do I do?

While I'm not familiar with the specific product you purchased, I'd say it's likely that you do have Anti-Virus protection.

Windows just doesn't know about it.

Let's look at how that can be.

Continue reading: "I've installed anti-virus software, but Windows says I haven't. What do I do?"
http://ask-leo.com/ive_installed_antivirus_software_but_windows_says_i_havent_what_do_i_do.html

* * *

How do I add a program to my Start Menu?

The "Programs" or "All Programs" list on your Start menu is a convenient place to find most of the software that takes the trouble to place itself there on installation. Fortunately, it's very easy to add (and remove) things from your start menu.

And it starts (so to speak) by realizing that the Start Menu is really just a folder on your hard disk.

OK, maybe two folders.

Continue reading: "How do I add a program to my Start Menu?"
http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_add_a_program_to_my_start_menu.html

* * *

How do I uninstall software that doesn't provide a way to uninstall?

And yet, carefully deleting things turns out to be the only real option.

Here's what I would suggest when dealing with this situation.

Continue reading: "How do I uninstall software that doesn't provide a way to uninstall?"
http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_uninstall_software_that_doesnt_provide_a_way_to_uninstall.html

* * *

My computer is crashing and having troubles, is it time to replace the power supply?

You've got a lot going on, and unfortunately that means that the answers aren't going to be clear. Yes, it all might be power supply related, but in all honesty that's not where I'd start.

I'd start with a concept called "software rot".

Continue reading: "My computer is crashing and having troubles, is it time to replace the power supply?"
http://ask-leo.com/my_computer_is_crashing_and_having_troubles_is_it_time_to_replace_the_power_supply.html

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*** Featured Comments

A sampling of some of the comments that have been posted recently on Ask Leo!

* * *

Why can't I have an Audio conversation using MSN Messenger?

This is why it's called Beta software. Problems are to be expected. In all honesty, if Beta software causes you problems, Beta software from anyone, then you really have no one to blame but yourself. Always backup prior to installing a beta, never plan on using a beta permanently or for any length of time, and plan on rolling back to that backup when done.
It's unfortunate that products in perpetual Beta, like many of Google's, have caused so many people to forget these important guidelines.
-Leo

*

Should I defragment my USB Flash drive?

In a case like that I would not defrag, and I would not reformat. I would simply copy all the files off, delete all files from the flash drive, and the copy them back. Reformatting isn't needed, and would likely perform more writes to the flash than is necessary.
-Leo

*

I have an emachines restore XP disk. How can I put XP on my old computer which runs 98se?

The short answer is that you probably cannot. That's what the recovery software means by "erase your hard disk" - it erases your hard disk. After recovery and installing whatever you've re-installed it's likely that all your old data has been wiped out. Typically this is another reason why regular backups are so incredibly important.
-Leo

*

A program is telling me to uninstall its competitor; should I?

I agree: having good backups is one of the best sleep-aids I know of. :-)
-Leo

*

*** This Week's Most Popular

The ten most popular articles in the last 7 days on Ask Leo!

1. How do I make a new MSN Hotmail account?
2. Why is my Task Manager disabled, and how do I fix it?
3. How do I delete history items from my Google tool bar?
4. My desktop Recycle Bin has disappeared - why, and how do I get it back?
5. I accidentally deleted my Recycle Bin in Vista - how do I get it back?
6. Can I send text messages between a computer and a cell phone?
7. How do I delete my Hotmail account?
8. How do I change my MSN Hotmail password?
9. How do I put a picture in a comment on myspace.com?
10. What are the POP3 and SMTP settings for Hotmail?

*** Leo Recommends

CA Anti-Virus - solid, reliable anti-virus protection.

One of my most common requests is what anti-virus software people should be using.

There are many good packages out there, but I've used CA Anti-Virus for many, many years. It's been rock solid, quietly updating its virus definitions and scanning my computers for threats every night since before I left Microsoft.

Yes, before I left Microsoft.

And that's one of the reasons I began recommending it: then called "eTrust", it was the corporate anti-virus solution within Microsoft for a few years prior to my departure. In fact, as part of Microsoft's security strategy, we were encouraged to take it home and use it on our computers there as well.

Which I did.

Continue reading: "CA Anti-Virus - solid, reliable anti-virus protection."
http://ask-leo.com/ca_antivirus_solid_reliable_antivirus_protection.html

I recommend it.

•

Each week I recommend a specific product or resource that I've found valuable and that I think you may as well. What does my recommendation mean?

*** Popular Articles from the Archives

A common problem with a few interesting approaches to a solution:

How can I find out what program keeps popping up in my taskbar and disappearing before I can click on it?

I've seen 'em too. You really start to wonder what the program is, and before you can even reach for your mouse, it's gone. Or even if you do manage to click on it, it disappears from view.

There are several techniques I use to track these guys down. Not all work in all cases, but between them all I can usually figure it out pretty quickly.

Continue reading...
How can I find out what program keeps popping up in my taskbar and disappearing before I can click on it?
http://ask-leo.com/how_can_i_find_out_what_program_keeps_popping_up_in_my_taskbar_and_disappearing_before_i_can_click_on_it.html

*** Thoughts and Comments

(Non-tech content follows. If you're just here for PC stuff, you can skip this.)

I shook Edward James Olmos' hand yesterday.

Olmos is currently best known for his role as Commander Adama in Battlestar Galactica, but will be known to others for his Oscar nominated role in Stand and Deliver, as well as his Emmy award winning role in the original TV series Miami Vice.

So what was he doing anywhere near the likes of me?

Olmos is also known for his passion for various causes including the homeless and children. He was the keynote speaker at a fundraising luncheon yesterday for a local social service agency, Hopelink; an agency I'm very proud to be associated with as a board member and volunteer.

I mention all this not to name-drop (well, ok, maybe just a little ), but to ask that those of you able to do so, consider supporting you local food bank, emergency shelter or similar social service agency. As we weather what look to be some tough economic times, these agencies are seeing the perfect storm of increased need and decreased donations. Be it a can of food or a small (or large!) cash donation, everything helps.

And yes, because of your support and the popularity of Ask Leo!, agencies like Hopelink have benefited. While I don't normally publicize it much, a portion of the revenue generated by the advertising on Ask Leo! is donated to help local folks in crisis.

With the expectation that things will get worse before they get better, and that this is a national and global issue, I encourage you to consider helping out as well.

OK, off the soapbox.

* * *

'till next time...

Leo A. Notenboom

* * *

A selection of Leo's articles are available for free re-use at http://articlesbyleo.com.

You can also subscribe to Ask Leo! on your Kindle.

Perhaps you'd like some Ask Leo! Stickers?

Some of Leo's other sites: The Ask Leo! Store, Leo's Online Business Card, Forwarded Funnies, Taming Email, MovableType Tips, Leo's Blog, Buy Leo a Latte (or a Beer), A Letter To Myself, Dolls and Friends, Corgwn.com

*** Newsletter Administration

Do you have a question? A comment, perhaps? Visit http://ask-leo.com/ask to submit your questions.

I'll be honest: I'll try to respond, but I get a lot of questions every day - I just can't answer everyone. Rest assured, though, that even if you don't hear from me directly, every email gets read.

Leo's Answers Newsletter is a weekly publication of Ask Leo! and Leo A. Notenboom. It's also available as an RSS feed at this URL: http://ask-leo.com/newsletter.xml. Archives of previous newsletter issues can be found on the Ask Leo! web site, http://ask-leo.com/newsletter.html.

Forward Me! You're quite welcome to forward this email in its entirety; it's a great way to help Ask Leo! grow. But you should probably delete your unsubscribe link below, so your friends don't unsubscribe you by accident.

You may forward individual articles from this newsletter only if you include all and only the text of that article as found in this newsletter, including any links therein. You may not copy full articles from the Ask Leo! website - more on that in my section on copyright: http://ask-leo.com/terms.html#copyright.

I'd sure appreciate it if regular readers got a subscription of their own. You can sign up at http://newsletter.ask-leo.com.

Interested in advertising on Ask Leo! or in this newsletter? Advertising details here.

Newsletter contents Copyright © 2008, Leo A. Notenboom & Puget Sound Software, LLC.