Brighton Computer Club

Moderated by Frank Myers

Frank discussed the proper handling of a USB stick

Answer:

Remember that when your are inserting the memory stick, please push it straight in and pull it straight out.
If you wiggle the stick it could break the solder on the female end in your computer and this is impossible to fix.
Using a USB cable is better if you can't resist wiggling it in or out.
Do not format your stick - just erase it.

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Can data on USB stick be erased?

Answer:

Yes, it is reusable.
That (and portability) are the main advantages of the USB stick.

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More USB Comments

Answer:

Some computers have USB receptacles on the front, back and sides, if one socket doesn't work, try another one.
For example, Frank has a USB external hard drive which works on the back of his Acer laptop, but not on the side.

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A Member wondered if XP and Vista use the same software applications.

Answer:

No! Application programs are separate for each operating system.
Operating Systems are in different partitions.
If the same application software is used in both systems, it has to be installed in each system separately
However; they can share the same data regardless of where it is on the hard drive.

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Member saw a report done between Windows 7, Vista and XP in Znet on how fast they do things in comparison to each other. Why get Vista? Why not wait for Windows 7?

Answer:

You will not be able to upgrade XP to Windows 7.
It will not take all your settings.
Also, you would have to re-install all your applications in Windows 7
XP upgrade to Vista then upgrade to Windows 7, would work.
It is a good practice to do the full install of a new operating system as you start clean.
Transferring all the old settings and problems to a new OS is in the end more trouble than re-installing your programs and data.

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Member installed Gmail. Wonders if once an attachment is opened it is saved on the hard drive?

Answer:

Yes it is in temporary internet cache file on the hard drive.

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When the member fires up his computer, the system does a disk verification, then windows XP comes on. Why does it do that?

Answer:

There may be a physical problem with your hard drive (or a partition).
When Windows starts up it automatically will check hard drive if it has been shut off incorrectly - such as a power failure.
You have 15 seconds to push any key to override the system check, or it goes ahead and carries out a check on the hard drive.
If you keep getting the message, it is suggested that you make a new partition.
Format it, then copy everything from (in your case) the "F" partition
After the copy, reformat "F" and then copy data from temporary partion back into "F".
You might ask - Why not just get rid of the old "F" partition and keep the new one you just created?
Reformatting the old one will flag any "bad" sectors in that partition area that kept generating the system check on your hard drive and avoid re-occurance in the future.
Secondly, by continuing to use "F" means that any data referenced in any of your application programs would not have to be changed to a new disk letter. - you may not catch them all and then you may be wondering why your data "disappeared".

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Member belongs to the Colborne Horticultural Society. They want to build a web site with links to the town and Horticultural Society. How to do this? Have some finances, is it enough?

Answer:

Suggest you contact the Horticultural Society to see if they have room for you on their website. You need their permission
You would also have to hire someone to build a "maintainable" web site.
this would probably cost between $1000 and $2000.

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When using a USB stick, sometimes cannot find the icon for the removal of a USB stick, so he removes the USB stick and turns off the computer. When he turns on the computer it shows the icon as if the USB stick were there.

Answer:

Removing a USB stick without first shutting the USB stick off, can do permanent damage to the USB stick.
If you cannot see the down-left-facing green arrow icon in the lower taskbar near your clock, then double-click on "My Computer"
Locate the USB stick icon in your "My Computer" window and click your right mouse button on it and select "Eject"
It is now safe to remove your USB stick
If you cannot find any icon representing your USB stick, suggest you shut down your computer first, then remove the stick
Windows will safely shut down the stick so you can removie it (before you turn your computer back on again).

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Where do I go to see what programs are running?

Answer:

There is a program available for download via our "Software" web page - What's Running
Or you can right click on the "Task bar" and click "Task Manager".
You can also give the three finger salute… "Control, Alt, Delete" buttons on the keyboard to display the Task Manager.
Within the Task Manager, click "Applications" to see what programs are running and click "Processes" to see which processes are running.

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When transferring pictures from camera to computer to CD/DVD, can I transfer more pictures?

Answer:

Yes, of course to your computer from your camera.
If you use Ashampoo burning Studio, it lets you add more pictures to a CD/DVD if you had already put some on the CD/DVD before and there is enough space.
Other "Burning" software such as Roxio or Nero would also do the same if you remember to "NOT" close the session.
If you used Windows, it closes after a session and you cannot add anymore pictures to the CD/DVD.

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Member has R-W CDs that won't play on DVD player. Can she put them back on the computer then put onto a DVD?

Answer:

Yes you can make a folder on your computer and read the R-W CD into it.
Burn them onto a DVD using AShampoo Burning Studio 6.75
Some TV's will show memory sticks with ".jpg" and ".gif" formats.
For AVI videos you may need a new DVD player.

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Member tried to access Canadian Revenue e-pass, and was told he has to upgrade Java virtual machine on XP. They gave him a site to use to upgrade. It didn't seem to work. He needs this upgrade to access his account. The member said he could either "upgrade on line", or "upgrade off line". What does this mean?

Answer:

On line is an upgrade that installs from the internet directly to your computer
Off line would be where the software is downloaded to your computer and you install it whenever you want to.
You can click on "Start", "Control Panel", then "Java", "Update" and "Update now" and ask for an upgrade.
NOTE: The member wanted everyone to know that there is a free program, approved for net filing of income taxes, if you have under "$25,000 taxable income - if over $25,000 it costs $15.00. Check out "Future Tax" on the CRA website under Revenue Canada.

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For security reasons, can someone access your hard drive stick?

Answer:

Yes, that's why Frank uses RoboForm. It doesn't leave secure information on the computer to access.
Frank, Charlie and Janice Zerafa are testing a new security system program suggested by Janice called SafeHouse Explorer.
It looks good but you cannot forget your password, or the data you stored is not accessible. More about this later.

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Frank wanted to know how many members had only the CD reader on their computer, and no DVD?

Answer:

Four answered that they had only the CD.
Frank then asked how many had a USB port on their computer.
All said they did.
Member asked why you would need USB ports on the front and four more on the back? Frank has one slot for RoboForm, one for an external hard drive, printers, mouse etc.

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After Frank mentioned that he had 6 USB ports, a member asked why he would need USB ports on the front and four more on the back?

Answer:

Frank has one front-slot for RoboForm - preset with a letter for fixed referencing
One rear-slot for an external hard drive
One rear-slot for a printer
One rear-slot for a mouse
One rear-slot available
One front-slot for variable USB sticks and his camera transfers
He would like to have 6 more slots