Icons Missing From Vista Status Bar

June 8, 2010 By

Sometimes, I can read and understand the problem, but I’m not using the software that the subscriber uses, and can’t give a good answer. Even then, I try to steer them to an answer.

Such was the case with the first question from Chet Norris recently:

Hi Terry,

Weird problem..I’m running vista home premium (32 bit) on my HP LAPTOP and I just noticed the icon for my wireless program is missing from the task bar.

Usually it sits next to the HP power plan icon but now it’s gone. I’ve gone to “network and sharing” in control panel and played around for 30 minutes and can’t find a mention of the icon.

I was able to click on it and know the signal strength etc and if I was connected thru it or the dsl modem.

Any thoughts?

Continue reading Icons Missing From Vista Status Bar

Filed Under: Software, System Stability, Tips & Tricks, Vista

Compacting Folders in Email Programs

November 15, 2009 By

Longtime subscriber Peter wrote recently from the U.K. to ask about an Outlook Express problem he’s having:

Hi Terry, Many thanks for the latest issue of your newsletter, which always arrives here in the UK on a Sunday evening – a great time for reading it through.

My question is: Do you know a way of permanently stopping Outlook Express from compacting all its stored files? Every so often OE pops up a dialog asking if it can do this and if I let it go ahead it then makes a complete pigs mess of all my folders.

Very old deleted e-mails suddenly reappear in the Inbox folder bolded as unread, with dates months before the real latest message, although they drop in after it – so it has apparently also managed to mess up the date sort order, something I thought a computer couldn’t do.

Some other stored messages…

Continue reading Compacting Folders in Email Programs

Filed Under: Communications, Email, Software, System Stability, Tips & Tricks

Remote Access Software Question

February 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Reader Olle wrote to ask a remote access question:

Hi! I read your article about editing videos remotely with GoToMyPC. I\’ve tried doing that but it doesn\’ work. I cannot even play a vidoe and see the video remotely. But I can do everything else like trabsfereing files and more. Is it a setting issue? I would Like to ask you kindly to guide me on this issue. I appriciate an response.
Thank You Kind regards Olle

Remote access to your own PC, or to other PC’s you manage on your own home network, can be a great way to do many tasks.

On my home network, since I use firewall programs on each PC (all are using Sunbelt Personal Firewall) and the home network is segregated from the Internet by my cable/DSL router (a Linksys BEFSR41), I don’t hesitate to use non-encrypted remote control software within my network. I use the free versionn of RealVNC to do this.

On the other hand, for remote access across the Internet, I think you’d have to be crazy to do that with an unencrypted connection (which possibly could be monitored by someone else!). For remote access across the Internet, I’d choose GoToMyPC because of its speed and encryption. You can try a 30 day free trial of GoToMyPC (for one PC) or GoToMyPC Pro (for multiple PC’s). There are also paid versions of RealVNC that include encryption, so they’re another option.

Continue reading Remote Access Software Question

Filed Under: Broadband, Cable, Communications, DSL, Network Security, System Security, System Stability, Tips & Tricks, Vista, Windows Xp

Google’s Chrome Web Browser (beta)

December 14, 2008 By Leave a Comment

First, let’s be very clear. Google’s new web browser “Chrome,” which you can download via the link Google’s main search page at www.google.com — is a Beta version — an unfinished version that is being released to the public so they can help find the bugs before the official release.

Tech Tip
A beta version of software is an unfinished version of software that is released to a large group of testers (sometimes the public) for testing, in order to help identify any bugs that still exist.

Chrome is not finished. It is not bug free. It is not free from security problems. The whole purpose of a beta release is to get more people trying to use it in order to find the bugs. Use it at your own risk.

If you are considering trying Chrome, or even starting to regularly use Chrome, I strongly urge you to carefully read the Google Chrome Terms of Service, which you have to accept in order to download the Chrome Beta.

Continue reading Google’s Chrome Web Browser (beta)

Filed Under: EULA, Free Software, Storage, System Stability, Tips & Tricks, Web Browser

Adding a Computer to an Existing Home Network

August 6, 2008 By Leave a Comment

OK, you have a new computer and you’ve made the decision to keep your old computer, and you want your spouse and children to be able to do email and surf the web without demanding your computer.

Let’s assume you already have an existing home computer network — if you don’t, the first article in this week’s online newsletter is for you…

There are two basic ways that computers on home networks can get the IP addresses and other network data they need in order to communicate with each other: we can enter the data into the configuration screens, if we want to use static (unchanging) IP addresses, or we can set the router to assign IP addresses dynamically using DHCP.

Continue reading Adding a Computer to an Existing Home Network

Filed Under: Broadband, Communications, Network Security, Router, Storage, System Stability, Tips & Tricks

Speeding Up the Windows Boot Process

July 29, 2008 By Leave a Comment

I recently made some boot changes to a notebook computer that resulted in a remarkable increase in the boot speed.

It was a small, light Sony — one of the 12-inch monitor models.

Tech Humor
With notebooks, you can get small, light, fast and cheap.
Pick any two…

In this particular case, the notebook took 4.5 minutes to boot, and it’s owner wanted it to be much faster.

I referred to my favorite tool to get his boot process under control — Winpatrol Plus.

Continue reading Speeding Up the Windows Boot Process

Filed Under: Admin Control, Free Software, Software, System Security, System Stability, Tips & Tricks, Vista, Windows Xp

A Look Inside Secunia Software Inspector

June 22, 2008 By Leave a Comment

I’ve found a great tool that examines my computer to make sure that it has the latest updates of the most common software packages — not all the updates, but the security updates for the versions I’m runninng.

It’s called Secunia Software Inspector, from the Danish security firm Secunia (www.secunia.com).

Secunia offers three versions of its software inspectors:

* Secunia Software Inspector — scan on-line (free)
* Secunia PSI — download version for personal use (free)
* Secunia Network Software Inspector — the full-featured product.

Quoting Secunia’s FAQ:

# What’s the difference between the Secunia PSI and the Secunia Software Inspector (the online version)?

The Secunia Software Inspector identifies about 40 of the most common applications, while the Secunia PSI can identify over 4,200.

Contine reading A Look Inside Secunia Software Inspector

Filed Under: Admin Control, Data Security, Free Software, Resources, Reviews, System Security, System Stability, Vista, Windows Xp
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