Always Searching . . .

For those of you who have seen Antivirus 2009 on your computers, please contact me.  If you have seen any warnings that you have this program and need to purchase it, you are infected by this insidious program that masquerades as a helpful tool.  This has been around for years under different names, but is resurfacing and particularly aimed at Windows XP users running Internet Explorer.  It installs on your computer and in Internet Explorer after you see a warning about a virus or spyware infection that you have never seen before and appears legitimate.  You click on the warning and the software installs itself onto your computer.  It is not easily removed.  So contact, me if you see Antivirus 2009 anywhere on your computer.

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Some of you may have noticed my new website.  If you peruse it, you may notice that it is not quite complete. . . .but give me some time and it will be!  Also I'd like to know what questions you may have about computers.

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I usually turn over my hardware every couple of years (sometimes sooner), which could be a benefit for you--I'm offering everything to you at a discount before I list it on Ebay. As many of you know I try to always buy the best and most functional. So you get only well-tested high quality. And, of course, I just have one of each, so when they are gone, they are gone. I prefer to sell them locally so no shipping is involved.

If you want Sprint wireless broadband for any laptop with a PC card slot, I am selling my Sprint Sierra Wireless Aircard 595 which fits in a tablet PC or laptop PC card slot (also called PCMCIA). You can go to Sprint's website to find out where it has broadband coverage. Sprint has the best and speediest coverage of any carrier and you get better speed than dial-up and close to true broadband speeds. If you take it with you traveling, it enables you to find what you need on the road--lodging, phone numbers, whatever the internet can provide. Here's a review of the card. If you already have Sprint wireless broadband and want the best PC card manufactured for it, this is it. Only $45 and it's yours. You will probably have to go to a Sprint store to change the activation.

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What do all of us want for a gift?  Something easy to obtain and useful?  A few people have asked me about gift certificates in the past and I now have them available for everyone.  For a limited time, purchase 5 hours of computer services and I'll throw in a free hour!  You can use these certificates yourself or give them to a friend or relative.  And not only can you save by purchasing them now, but if prices should rise in the future, you will have saved yourself by paying the lower price now. 

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Ever click on a program and it never starts or you can't get it to end?  Of course, it happens to all of us from time to time.  Here's how to get it started or stopped.  Hold down the CTRL and ALT keys and hit Delete.  This will open Task Manager, (or, in Vista, you will have to click on Task Manager to open it). Then, Click on the tab for Processes.  Look for the name of your program.  If Outlook, look for multiple running Outlook's.   Find the one using the most memory.  Click on it, click on End Process, Click End Process again and Outlook should work.  If only one instance of the program is running, follow the same procedure, ignoring all warnings, then you should be able to restart the program.  If all else fails reboot your computer!

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This is very important
For Windows XP and Vista users
Microsoft has issued a critical update. You can find it here: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS08-067.mspx You should download and install it, then reboot your computer.

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Drive-by and dangerous downloads--these install safe-appearing, but malicious software.  They may also run spyware or viruses or may even take control of your computer.

Keylogging records every time you press a key, such as when you enter a password for a banking website or even the Ebay website, and then allows another person access to this information.

Phishing happens when an email or pop-up tries to trick you into giving confidential information (password, bank, or credit card information) by directing you to a website that looks like your bank's or some other recognizable website.

Spyware collects personal information from your computer for people who will use it without your knowledge.

What can you do to protect yourself?

1. Keep your computer up to date.  Install updates for Windows and updates for your other programs as they become available.
2. Install a well-recommended internet security program.  I recommend Norton 360;
3. Use a good web browser.  I like Firefox 3, because it warns you if a site is fraudulent. 
4. Think, think, then think again.  A well-known and hated dictator was not wrong when he said: "The bigger the lie, the more the people will believe it."  An example of this is many of the forwarded emails we all get telling us that X will pay money for forwarded emails or that Y will destroy your computer.  If any email purports to be from a bank, ask yourself if your bank would ask for this type of information BY EMAIL.  (The answer is NO.) Then do not click on links in the email, but go to the bank's website and check it out.  Or if the email asks you to click on a link change your password for a website you recognize, do not click on the link, it will be a fraud.  
5. Report.  If it's an Ebay fraud or a Citibank fraud, try sending the email to spoof@ebay.com or spoof@citibank.com.  Or directly contact the fraud department of that institution.  This helps everyone because it costs everyone when someone falls prey to a malicious web user.

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Suzanne Hixon has been working in the field of technical training and consulting for the last 10 years and teaches on a variety of different topics. Her background is in education although entering a flooded job market made the transition to teach computer classes an easy one. After working in the world of executives and daily training classes for 5 years Suzanne left the industry and began teaching as a private consultant. Now after 6 years as a private consultant she is still happily self-employed and continues to teach a wide spectrum of courses from Microsoft Office to graphics programs.

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First some definitions.  The hard drive  is where programs and personal data is are stored.  The programs and data are there all the time:  when the computer is on and when it is off.  But if it fails, you may lose it all.  Hard drives do fail.  Some of the symptoms are odd noises, slow start up, and error messages at startup.  However, these symptoms may also be caused by other issues.

Memory is what is needed for the computer to use the information stored on the hard drive. Program files and your data files are placed in memory by your operating system as they are needed for various reasons, and some are removed from memory when no longer needed.  But the memory is completely emptied when the computer is turned off.  Sometimes so many programs are trying to run that there isn't enough memory left to spare for things YOU want to do.  What might have been enough memory in 2001 or 2005 or even yesterday, may not be enough today as programs (including your operating system) require more and more memory to run. Then your computer is slow and may freeze on occasion while it tries to shuffle things in and out of the existing memory to find enough memory to run the program. Too little memory can cause your computer to be slow to start, slow to run.  Does this sound like your computer?   But, as I've already noted, these symptoms may also be caused by other things.

How much do I recommend?  If you are talking about hard drive space, that depends a lot on you.  Are you storing lots of pictures and videos?  Do you have a lot of games loaded.  Then you need a lot.  How much is a lot?  If you are playing games or producing videos, I would start with 500 GB.  If you are just doing internet browsing, checking email or storing a few vacation photos, 250 GB.  If you are ordering a new computer, this should help you.  Just as a note, my last hard drive on my office computer was 80 GB and it's full.  My current one is 600GB and I'm using 170 GB.

If we are talking about memory, no less (preferably more) than 512 MB for Windows XP; 2 GB for Vista.  You can take Windows XP up to 3 GB if you want and if your computer can handle it, but more than 1 or 2 GB probably is overkill.  For Vista, 3-4 GB or sometimes even more.  What memory does your computer take?  The Crucial Memory Finder is what I use.  Why?  Crucial makes good memory at a reasonable price which works well in most computers (I use it in mine.)  I have had no problems with it except with a couple of "custom" built computers and a couple of HP's. 

I hope this answers your questions about memory and hard drives!  But it is only meant to be a general guide.  If you have more questions, please do not hesitate to contact me by email or phone 329-6671.

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