Brighton Computer Club

Moderated by Frank Myers

Preamble:

Frank to check out ‘Threatfire’ for Shirley Smith.

Threatfire is an AntiVirus - Behavioral Virus and Spyware Protection type of software.
It appears that the "FREE" version of ThreatFire does not have automatic updates unless you belong to the Threatfire Community. This rquires you to allow the Threatfire program to report your Threatfire activities to them. I am not in favour of this type of a restriction. The software does have high reviews but I believe that is related to the Professional (Paid) version.

Member gave a big “Thank you” to BCC and Tom Rosebush for fixing an irritating internet problem – caused by SP3.

Frank has updated the web site. When looking for answers to questions on the info page Frank has listed after the date the main theme of the questions asked so that members can more easily find the answers to their problems. He has also added a club calendar and the Wanted/For Sale items. On the Links page he has added an article from Microsoft on “Strong” passwords. Password checker and generator. We don’t want to have simple passwords – be sophisticated. He suggested we put a sticky note on the corner of the computer with four characters – one capital, one small, one number and one special – the four to be added to four from the site you are visiting. This would give you a “strong” security. Mostly “strong” security is fine. Fourteen characters in a password would give you “best” security.

Questions and Answers

Can you reuse club CDs?

Answer:

No, it's not worthwhile. The CD is left open but there is not much room for more data.

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Are the headings that are listed under the Question and Answer section searchable?

Answer:

No, it would make the Members Only sections available in the Searches.

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Concern about people accessing their computer and reading their password information

Answer:

That won't happen. The password is not stored anywhere inside the computer
The first four unique characters only are on a label attached to the outside of the monitor.

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A Member was getting a black screen when starting up - How does one avoid that?

Answer:

The member added that the computer went to 'Safe Mode' start up and the system gave the option to use the last good start up.
This situation usually occurs when the computer has an abnormal shutdown such as a Power Failure.
Another abnormal shutdown is when you don't wait until the computer has closed everything and you push the "Off" button yourself because you think the computer is just sitting there.
Another abnormal shutdown is sometimes caused by the Windows Operating System itself and you don't have any idea what caused it. - This, unfortunately, is one of the quirks of Microsoft Windows.
Another member has had a similar problem when there has been a hydro 'blip'.
Member had shut down the computer normally.
Sometimes he removed his DVD drive and then reinsstalled it and that had fixed the problem.

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E-mails with a video attachment. When he opened it he got sound but no picture, tried it again and then was able to get both. Why? Member used Windows Media Player.

Answer:

Maybe the sender's video was created by software that requires a higher version of your Media Player.
Check with Microsoft to see if there is a later version than the one you are using - For example, I am using Version 9 and I know Version 11 is available.
One member suggested that some video formats open right away and some don't. Just keep clicking.

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Member getting junk e-mails. She uses Windows mail. How can she avoid Junk EMail

Answer:

Charlie Le Ber suggested she use Windows Live Mail to get to her G-mail.
Check out Charlie Le Ber's presentation on "Outlook Express and Live Mail"
Windows Live Mail converts your contacts from Windows Mail and gives you better spam control if your main email address is G-mail.

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Member has Vista and couldn't access "My Account" in Canada Revenue to get information.

Answer:

Another member said the site has had a notice that a certain upgrade was needed to access the information and told him what he needed to do to upgrade. (Possibly Sun Systems' Java Engine)
The problem is not Vista but the setting in IE7.
Suggested he drop the security in IE7 to medium.

Inside Internet Exporer 7, Click on "Tools" on the top menu bar
Click on "Internet Options"
Click on "Security" tab
Click on "Internet" logo
The slide button must be set on "Medium" - just put your mouse pointer on the slide bar, click the left mouse button, hold it down and pull the slide button down to "Medium" and let go.
Click "Apply"
Click "OK"

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Member got an update from Java. Do you take all the updates?

Answer:

It is very important to keep up-to-date with upgrades, especially with Windows. Be careful! Some upgrades try to sneak a second program in with your free program.
You don't want Teatimer in Spybot.
Spybot is no longer recommended by the Club Executive.
Try SUPERAntiSpyware.

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Saving passwords...

Answer:

Set options to NOT save your passwords in your browser and 'tick' the box to "Don't ask again".

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If you tick to the box to 'don't ask again' can you change that later on?

Answer:

You can just remove the tick mark from "Don't ask again".
You may try an earlier Restore Point in System Restore. if you have trouble making that window pop up again.

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If you backspace in a password is it part of the password?

Answer:

No! It should not be part of the password. The backspace is used for editting and all editting keys do not get included in the password or how else could you edit a password?

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Member asked if others found the meetings too long?

Answer:

There were a couple of Yes answers but the majority did not find the meetings too long.

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A Member has Vista and has many windows updates to install but it won't update. Gets Update Error Code 80040016. Tried to do only a few at a time, but it still wouldn't update.

Answer:

Charlie Le Ber to get back to him.

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