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Castellini on Computers
Free Weekly Email Newsletter
December 12, 2007
Hear (and
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In this week's issue. .
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*** Tip of the Week
*** Geek Speek of the Week - (Simple
definition of common computer terms)
*** Computer News...and
comment
*** Last week's Poll results
*** Adam's Comments - Stuff
from the digital world that is rolling around in Adam's head.
*** Email
of the week
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Christmas
is only a couple of weeks away and we will soon be taking two weeks off
from the show. If you have any computer questions that you'd like to
present to us, make sure you tune in to our program this week so you
can get it in before we take the extended break.
The Castellini on Computers show has become three shows in one. If you
don't tune in live, you miss out on two of the three shows.
1. Videocast - Every episode of our show is broadcast with live video
and audio at HelpMeRick.com. Only those who listen live will see the
video.
2. Live chat - This has become a show of its own. While we discuss
computer and technology, the chat room drifts in and out of all sorts
of topics.
We have some great geeks who join us each week in the chat room and
provide detailed answers to hardware and software questions for those
who are more experienced in computers. Chatters also discuss some
politics, weather, world events, and sports among other topics. It can
all be quite distracting for Rick.
3. The Podcast - this is a fancy word for audio of the show posted
after the show is over. The podcast is an hour long although our live
show is often closer to two hours when you count the pre-show and the
after party coverage.
Much of our newsletter problems have also been resolved. Make
sure you add the following address to your accepted or non-spam list (without
the spaces and use @ symbol instead of the word 'at') so that the email will get
through to you: response26262629 at zinester.com.
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Email your questions to us
and we will answer them live on the air or on our daily website
updates!
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Custom Computer Help from Rick and
Adam
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We have been posting a new how-to video every week since November and
the feedback has been tremendous. Now YOU have the opportunity to get your own
customized video tutorial about a topic that you are having trouble with or just
want to learn.
To learn more, visit: www.HelpMeRick.com/videohelp
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Tip of the Week
How to Download Files from the Internet - Video Tip
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View the Video Here
Once you find a file you would like to view or download, how do you get
it to your computer? Follow these steps to get the computer safely and
successfully to your computer:
1. Click once on the file’s name (some web sites will have a download button)
2. You will be asked to “Save” the file before
the download initiates. Pay special attention to the “Save
In” box at the top of the save screen so that you know where your
file is going. (TIP: I suggest that you download all files to the
desktop so that they are easy to find)
3. Click on the Save button and in a few seconds your
download will start and you will see a progress meter showing how much
of the download has completed
That’s all there is to downloading a file.
Remember that you can click back to the web and continue surfing,
writing email or doing other activities at the same time you are
downloading, but you do have to stay connected to your provider for the
download to continue.
Also, it is possible to download more than one more file at a time.
Click on the link above to see this tip in action.
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Geek Speek
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Terapeak.com is a website that allows you to watch the value of items on eBay similar to the way you'd watch the value of stocks.
Terapeak offers an amazing free service as well as a more customized
subscription service. For most, the free service will provide everything
they need to know.
Search for a product or and you will be able to see its average sale
price, the best time of day to sell, the best day of the week to sell
and other very cool statistics.
This tool can be useful for both buyers and sellers. Buyers can
research the best time to get the best price while buyers will watch
for the best time to sell. It also provides a very good idea of what
you can an item to sell for. |
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Terapeak
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Computer News...and
comment
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New Toshiba comes with XP and Vista disks
The dilemma of choosing between XP and vista is too much for some to
bear. That is why Toshiba has taken the Blu-Ray/HD-DVD/DVD+/-R/RW
approach to their latest laptop.
Rather than making you commit to an operating system, the T31 comes
equipped with Vista, but they also include recovery disks in the box
that allow users to downgrade to XP. We like this idea and hope it catches on with other manufacturers as well.
The Gizmodo page where we discovered this story had a great Mac ad at the top.
Developers working on heads-up GPS navigation
TechnoRide.com
ran a story this week about a new GPS navigator that is in the works.
The system projects the path on the windshield as you drive. Rather
than displaying an arrow pointing the directions you should follow, the
system projects what appears to be a red cable that leads the driver to
the destination.
YouTube opens partner program to the public
InternetNews.com was one of several online blogs this reporting a new way that any Internet user can make money by using their services.
YouTube is owned by Google.com. Google makes money by bringing
people to their services then subtly showing them paid advertising.
Google then returns the favor by paying those who bring others to
Google's services.
Google introduced a partner program for YouTube in May. The
program allowed specially approved content creators to get paid for
bringing viewers to YouTube to watch videos and see ads.
This week YouTube's partner program was opened to the public.
Now anyone willing to put the time into posting their videos onto
YouTube can make a little money in the process.
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Poll
Results
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Do you use and maintain Internet Favorites or Bookmarks?
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Next week's poll:
How often do you learn something new by using the Internet?
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Yes 95%
No 2%
What are Internet Favorites? 2%
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Adam's
Comments
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Every
January, I spend several days per week setting up new computers. Some
people receive them as gifts for Kwanzaa or one of the other Winter
festivals, others just take advantage of the great prices this time of
year.
Setting up a new computer correctly can be one of the most important
factors in how your computer performs the rest of its life. Here are a
few tips to help you along the way.
1. Don't tear down your old computer all at once. Only take away the big pieces and leave the cables in place.
Many of the same cables can be reused and this will prevent having to
re-string wires. Power cords, modem cables, and USB cables haven't
changed so there is no need to use the new ones that came in the box.
2. Put the big pieces in place before hooking wires together. This will
prevent having to attach cables more than once. Make sure that all of
the devices will fit in their spaces and cords are long enough.
3. Hook up all other cables before plugging in power cords.
POWER EVERYTHING ON
4. When prompted, give as little information as possible. You don't
need to register with Windows, you don't need to tell it what kind of
Internet you are using, you don't need to type in a name for each
person who will be using the computer and, whatever you do, don't put
in any passwords before the system is completely up and running.
If you are asked to put in a password for your user account, just leave it blank.
5. Don't let any teenagers do anything besides hook up the pieces.
Getting the software in place is critical before you let a teenager
loose on the system.
6. Uninstall all of the crap software. Take off all Norton or McAfee
software as well as any other software that you don't want. Look
for the Trial version of Microsoft Office and make sure to take that
off as well.
7. Download and Install AVG free edition .
8. Run Windows update from the Tools menu in Internet Explorer or top of the Programs menu.
9. Download and install Mozilla Firefox and remove the icon for
Internet Explorer from the your desktop as well as any other icons that
you don't need.
10. If this is your first computer, setup a free email account at
gmail.com. This will likely be the last email address you will ever
need. If you have another email address, use it to give away to
solicitors and prize applications.
You will then have a computer that will surf the web safely, run
cleaner and have far fewer problems than if you had run it with all
included software and settings.
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Email of the
week
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Hello Rick,
I
purchased a new eMachine with XP Home about 2 weeks ago and all of a
sudden the DVD RAM drive won't read any media. If I Boot in Safe Mode
then it reads, but not in normal mode. I tried using msconfig to
disable everything in startup and that hasn't helped. It's obviously a
software issue. The only new software installed is "Windows Live
OneCare" and I have AOL installed.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Rob
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Hi Rob,
Hmmm...strange
problem indeed. However, if there is one item that will fail on any
computer, it is the CD or DVD drive. If it works in Safe Mode, though,
I would suggest uninstalling the Windows Live One Care and see if works
then. If so, leave that software off, which only provides marginal
protection, and instead use AVG Antivirus and the other security
software we suggest at HelpMeRick.com
If taking off
the Windows Live One Care doesn't solve the problem, try using the
System Restore found in the Accessories menu to get it working again. Good luck and have a good weekend. Rick
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Castellini on Computers &
HelpMeRick.com ©2007
Rick Castellini and Adam Cochran
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