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Infopackets Gazette: October 26, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------ NOTE: This newsletter has been truncated to ensure timely delivery to Readers and to reduce web server bandwidth consumption. The original newsletter was produced in HTML format, contains graphics, and is available online the Infopackets web site. To view the newsletter in its entirety, click: http://www.infopackets.com/gazette/20041026.htm ... Or, scroll through this email to quickly browse the contents. ------------------------------------------------------------ > In this Issue ------------------------------------------------------------ --> Feature Article: XP Service Pack 2 Windows Firewall: does little to stop Spyware attacks --> Visitor Feedback: Monitor reports 'out of sync' error during boot? --> On this Day in History --> Bob's Freeware Picks of the Day --> Subscription management: subscribe, remove, etc. ------------------------------------------------------------ > Have you ever downloaded a movie file that was too big to copy onto a single CD? ------------------------------------------------------------ Gazette Reader Bill G. writes: " Dear Dennis, Similar to reader Samuel C., I own a video recorder and have transferred a number of VHS videos to the computer. The problem is, however, that a number of the files are too large to copy onto a single CD recordable disc. I read somewhere that I can compress my video files into another format, and therefore, make them fit onto a single CD. Can you explain how this works? And secondly, I have downloaded a number of movie files from others using various file sharing programs. The files are small enough to fit onto CD, but my DVD player won't recognize the disc. Any ideas? " My response: http://www.infopackets.com/gazette/20041012.htm#feature ------------------------------------------------------------ > Feature Article ------------------------------------------------------------ Title: XP Service Pack 2 Windows Firewall: does little to stop Spyware attacks Category: Windows by Dennis Faas, infopackets editor http://www.infopackets.com I'm making oodles of progress in my quest to finish a guide on installing XP Service Pack 2 (SP2). The majority of the eBook is completed; all that is left now is to finish off the "post installation" section, make a video tutorial, answer 300 emails related to SP2, and put together a mini FAQ (frequently asked questions). A lot of work? You bet -- but certainly not impossible. I really thought I'd have this guide complete last week, but ran into a bit of a delay when I realized that it would be best to streamline a major portion of the book in order to simplify and consolidate some steps. This created a domino- effect, resulting in even more restructuring. Would it be wrong to use the cliche': "Patience is a virtue", or "good things come to those who wait"? Fingers crossed, I am working very hard to complete this guide and promise to have it ready very shortly! Speaking of XP Service Pack 2, I received from Gazette Reader Guille S. last week regarding an incorrect statement I made about the new Windows Firewall. Guille writes: ... Click to read the rest of this article online: http://www.infopackets.com/gazette/20041026.htm ------------------------------------------------------------ > How many potentially disastrous errors are lurking inside your PC? ------------------------------------------------------------ --> Fact: Over time, programs are installed and uninstalled to a Windows PC, and the System Registry becomes bloated with incorrect and outdated information. --> Fact: Many of the attributes in the Registry point to critical system files, called .DLL files. --> Fact: All too often, poorly designed programs make erroneous changes to .DLL references in the Registry. This can cause Windows to behave erratically, produce strange error messages, slow down, or even crash spontaneously. --> Fact: Registry Mechanic is a free download and can resolve all of these issues in only a few simple mouse clicks. How does it work? Answer: http://www.infopackets.com/gazette/20040727.htm#feature ------------------------------------------------------------ > Visitor Feedback ------------------------------------------------------------ Title: Monitor reports 'out of sync' error during boot? Category: Windows by Dennis Faas, infopackets editor http://www.infopackets.com Gazette Reader Felix P. writes: " Dear Dennis, I have a brand new Dell 8400 computer. Whenever I boot the computer, I receive an error message which reads, "Digital Input: cannot display this video mode". I've made numerous calls to Dell, have checked my settings, video card drivers, etc, but to no avail. Dell even sent me a new flat panel monitor and a tech came to my house and replaced the video card, but the problem persists. The computer and monitor appear to operate properly. Any suggestions? " My response: ... Click to read the rest of this article online: http://www.infopackets.com/gazette/20041026.htm ------------------------------------------------------------ > Have you ever had a program that just won't uninstall? ------------------------------------------------------------ Nowadays most uninstallers do the absolute minimum required to remove an application completely from your system. Subsequently, files which should have been removed end up scattered throughout the system, along with hundreds of inactive entries in the System Registry. So, what can you do to prevent this? Answer: http://www.infopackets.com/gazette/20040302.htm#feature ------------------------------------------------------------ > On this Day in History ------------------------------------------------------------ On this Day in History -- October 26 Famous people born on this day: --> 1855, Charles Post, who had a way with breakfast cereals. --> 1947, Pat Sajack, "Give that wheel a final spin!" --> 1947, Hillary Rodham Clinton, wife of William J. Clinton. --> 1948, Jacklyn Smith, actress, angel. --> 1961, Dylan McKermott, actor. Events on this day in history: --> 1861, Telegraph service inaugurated in US (end of Pony Express.) --> 1881, Shootout at the OK corral, in Tombstone, Arizona. --> 1903, The Yerba Buena is first key system ferry to cross San Francisco. --> 1949, Minimum wage is raised from 40 cents to 74 cents an hour. --> 1956, International Atomic Energy Agency is established. --> 1970, The "Doonesbury" comic strip debuts in 28 newspapers. --> 1972, Guided tours of Alcatraz Prison (by Park Service) began. ------------------------------------------------------------ > Bob's Freeware Picks of the Day ------------------------------------------------------------ Category: Windows Software by Bob Helmer http://www.shellcity.net GMail Drive GMail Drive is a Shell Namespace Extension that creates a virtual filesystem around your Google GMail account, allowing you to use GMail as a storage medium. GMail Drive creates a virtual filesystem on top of your Google GMail account and enables you to save and retrieve files stored on your GMail account directly from inside Windows Explorer. GMail Drive literally adds a new drive to your computer under the My Computer folder, where you can create new folders, copy and drag'n'drop files etc. ... Click to read the rest of this article online: http://www.infopackets.com/gazette/20041026.htm ------------------------------------------------------------ > Subscription Management ------------------------------------------------------------ To subscribe to our newsletter, or to read past issues: http://www.infopackets.com/windows+newsletter.htm --- To remove or change your subscription information, visit: http://www.infopackets.com/remove+change+email.htm You are subscribed as: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
