Four Simple Ways to Avoid Viruses

Please make sure that your virus scanner has the most up to date virus definitions. Make sure your data is safe from viruses and that your backup is current. Avoiding a virus is simple but not always easy. Some rules to remember:

* Don't open an attachment from anyone unless you scan it for viruses first.

* Don't open any files off a removable disk (floppy, CD, DVD, USB drive, thumbnail drive, etc.) until you've scanned the disk.

* Do scan your files before you send them to friends, as an added precaution.

* Don't forward all the chain letters you receive to 300 of your closest friends.

Okay so this doesn't pertain to viruses really but NOT forwarding these messages is courteous and does help cut down on the time we all spend at the computer. If you have to forward something, at least delete the extra 200 or so email addresses that have accumulated in the message before you got it.

Bobs note: To remove email addresses in forward message high light them all and press the delete key.

Make a website shortcut on the desktop

I know some people who don't use the "Favorites" or "Bookmarks" feature of their web browser. For example, if they want to go to this blog page, they would actually click in the address bar at the top of the window, and type out http://scottjohnsonflorida.blogspot.com  What a waste of time!

A faster way is to store often-visited websites in your Favorites (if you use Internet Explorer), or Bookmarks (if you use Firefox). When you are at the website you want to remember, do a right-click in an open area. In the menu that pops up, choose "Add to Favorites" or "Bookmark this page". Then, whenever you want to get back to that page, just click on it in your list.

However, if you commonly want to visit one particular website, and you want to get their as quickly as possible when the only thing showing on your computer is your desktop, there is a faster way.

First, go to the website you want to visit frequently. Then, drag the web browser window down so that you can see part of your desktop also. Now, find the icon in the address bar (this will be the little icon just to the left of the "http". Drag that icon to the desktop and drop it there.

Now, whenever you are looking at your desktop, you can just double click that icon. Your default web browser (either IE or Firefox) will open immediately to that website.

Need A Zip Program?

For those who are unfamiliar with ZIP programs, they take extraneous data out of files. This compresses them so they can be stored easier or sent to others. When you extract a ZIP file, the extra data is put back in.

Windows XP has a built-in ZIP utility. You can select one or more files and right-click on them. Select Send to and choose Compressed (zipped) Folder. When you want to extract a ZIP file, simply double-click it. A wizard will walk you through the extraction process.

Share printer and files over a network

We purchased a laptop and wireless router to network with our desktop and DSL service. I would like to be able to access files on the desktop from my laptop, and to share the printer. There must be a simple way to set this up. Can you help me?

To many people, a home network is merely a means to share an Internet connection. However, a network allows you to share files, folders and printers, too.

So, let's start with files and folders. You can share the contents of most folders on your hard drive. You can even share your entire My Documents folder.

Right-click a folder that you want to share and select Properties. Select the Sharing tab. Under "Network sharing and security," select "Share this folder on the network." Under "Share name," enter a name that your laptop will use to identify the folder.

Under the name is a checkbox labeled "Allow network users to change my files." This option allows you to edit the desktop files on your laptop. Otherwise, you can only view the files. After you've made your choice, click OK.

All other computers on your network will enjoy the same privileges. So make sure your network is encrypted. Encryption keeps the neighbors out of your network and your shared files.

Now you can view and open the folder from your laptop. To find a shared folder, click Start>>My Network Places. The folder will appear with the share name that you created for it.

Set up the printer for sharing

To share your printer, start with the desktop PC. Click Start>>Control Panel. Double-click Printers and Faxes. Right-click your printer's icon and select Properties.

Select the Sharing tab. Click "Share this printer." Under "Share name," enter a name that your laptop will use to identify the printer.

Under Drivers, you have the option to install additional drivers for the printer. If both computers use the same Windows version, ignore this option and click OK. Otherwise, you must add the printer driver that matches your laptop's version of Windows.

You can find drivers on your printer's installation disc. If the disc is lost, check for drivers on the printer manufacturer's Web site. You may also find them elsewhere on the Web.

Finally, locate the shared printer with your laptop. On the laptop, click Start>>Control Panel. Double-click Printers and Faxes. Double-click Add Printer. The Add Printer Wizard will start.

Under Local or Network Printer, select "A network printer, or a printer attached to another computer." Click Next. Under "Specify a Printer," select "Browse for a printer." Click Next.

Under "Shared printers," you'll see a listing for your desktop PC. Double-click the listing to reveal the shared printer. Click the printer's icon, then click Next. You'll be prompted to set the printer as your default. Select Yes and click Next. Then click Finish on the next window.

With both computers printing, you'll want to read my simple tip for saving ink. I also have advice to ensure a strong wireless signal throughout your house.

Using System Restore by Kim Komando

. My son downloaded a game demo last week. The game would crash at random times and we would have to restart the computer. I finally uninstalled the thing, but the same thing is still happening. How can I just get my computer back to normal? I'm using Windows ME.

A. Games, especially free games, can be of dubious quality. Some are created by programmers as practice or a hobby. And low-quality games can come with low-quality uninstallers. So there are probably a few traces of that game left on your computer.

Fortunately, Windows has just the thing for these circumstances. It's a built-in tool called System Restore. System Restore debuted in Windows Me. It is also part of Windows XP. It takes snapshots of your system. The snapshots are called restore points.

System Restore is useful if you run into sudden problems in Windows. You can return your system to the way it was before problems started. By default, System Restore may keep restore points for the last 90 days. Choose a date and Windows will become its former self.

Restore points are made automatically every 24 hours. That's assuming the computer is turned on. Otherwise, the restore point is created when you boot up. Restore points also are created when you install a program or download an unsigned driver. Drivers tell Windows how to use devices like printers. Unsigned drivers are those not certified by Microsoft.

To find System Restore, click Start>>All Programs>> Accessories>>System Tools>>System Restore. To choose a restore point, select "Restore my computer to an earlier time." Then click the Next button.

System Restore will display a miniature calendar. Select any day emphasized in bold. Look for the day that you installed the game. That day's restore points will be listed beside the calendar. Each restore point also bears a short description to help you choose. They typically look something like "Windows Update" or "Installed iTunes."

Select a restore point and click the Next button. System Restore will prompt you to confirm your choice. Click the Next button. Your computer will automatically shut down and restart using the restore point.

System Restore does not disturb your e-mail or other documents. In fact, it leaves the entire My Documents folder untouched. And a new restore point is made when you use System Restore. It ensures that you can undo the restore if you're not satisfied.

System Restore is handy, but it involves a trade-off: It uses a lot of space. It can use up to 12 percent of your hard drive. But you can adjust the amount of space allowed for System Restore.

In Windows Me, click Start>>Settings>>Control Panel. Double-click System. Select the Performance tab. Click the File System button. Select the Hard Disk tab. Under Settings, you'll find a slider to adjust System Restore's allowed space. But don't be too stingy. System Restore requires at least 200 megabytes to continue making restore points. And the allowed space determines how far back you can restore your computer.

In Windows XP, click Start>>Control Panel. Double-click System. Select the System Restore tab. You'll see the slider to adjust the space reserved for System Restore.

Do not rely on System Restore as a general backup. It won' recover old versions of your documents. Neither will it recover documents that you've deleted. It simply restores Windows to an earlier state.

Windows Task Scheduler

The Windows Task Scheduler is a small Windows utility that allows you to schedule programs to run at certain times no, not Oprah or Letterman, but important things such as backup routines, virus checking, log rotation, or running batch files though if your batch files start running, I say let them go.

To access the Task Scheduler: From the Control Panel, click Scheduled Tasks, then Add Scheduled Task to launch the Scheduled Task Wizard. The Wiz will then escort you through the process of scheduling just about anything except dental appointments.

Windows Vista Bottom Line

All in all, Windows Vista is a great leap forward for the operating system, with a much-improved, far more useful (and pleasurable) interface; faster, better search; beefed-up security that's a big improvement over Windows XP with SP2; and far, far better networking. There are some clunkers in there, though, such as the annoying UAC (User Account Control) feature.

But the pluses make you forget the minuses. I've been using Windows Vista alongside Windows XP for months, and every time I have to switch back to a Windows XP-based PC, I feel like I've moved from a modern automobile back to a Model T. Sure, the old model will eventually get you where you're going--but the ride won't be as much fun.

Pluses and Minuses, Versions and Costs

Here's a summary of the pros and cons, and a table of the versions and their costs.

Five Things We Love

1. AERO: Transparent windows, tasteful animation, elegant design: Sure, it looks like a Mac, but why not steal from the best?

2. SEARCH: Fast, smart, and you can create virtual search folders to revisit your searches with a single click.

3. NETWORK MAP: Finally, Microsoft gets networking right; it's a great way to get an overview of your network and its devices.

4. WIRELESS NETWORKING: Connecting to multiple wireless networks and hotspots is a simple affair.

5. SECURITY: You get a firewall with outbound filtering, a better browser, and a lot under the hood offering better protection.

Five Things We Hate

1. USER ACCOUNT CONTROL: Who needs a virtual nagging nanny?

2. BACKUP: How could Microsoft have built such a brain-dead application?

3. WINDOWS MEETING SPACE: With worthless chat and no telephony, this isn't a virtual meeting I'd want to attend.

4. HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS: Be prepared to spend a bundle for hardware upgrades--or a new computer.

5. PRICE: $399 new, or $299 for the upgrade to Windows Ultimate? No operating system should cost that much. And the cheapest version, Basic ($199 full, $100 upgrade), isn't worth the trouble.