A message from the President:
At our November meeting, we had eighteen members and one guest.
During the question and answer period, Richard Coop moved that we acknowledge the passing of any of our members with a $35 memorial. We could expect to determine who the recipient should be from either the Obituary or the family. Seconded by several people. Passed.
In the same spirit that you can talk about talking, sing about singing or write about writing, Rodney Malkoff did a Power Point Demonstration on doing a Power Point Presentation. It was very informative, well done and well received. Thank you Rodney. That makes three times that I know of that Rodney has been our speaker.
Marcy Young will be the Newsletter Distributor for the Year 2000, but we still need someone to fill the office of Vice-President to find speakers for next year.
If we don’t find an individual willing to do this, the job will fall on the other Officers
because this is the foundation of our group and our main reason for existing.
I hope we have someone by December 9, so that we can vote them in, officially.
Leo McDermott retired from Delco-EDS after 25 years. He will be our December speaker on the subject of the Bible On-Line. It should be a very interesting presentation and I’m hoping to see most of you then. I’m pretty sure we’ll be in the Lab 104, but check the lobby for signs pointing to the meeting room.
By the time you read the next newsletter, we should all know just how big the Y2K bug was and what we should have done about it. (Everybody has 20-20 hindsight.)
User Group President
Larry L. Thompson
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Removing Unwanted Screen Savers
Not every screen saver will float your boat, so you'll need to know how to get rid of the unwanted files.
The first place you should look is the Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs dialog box. If you see the item in the list of installed programs, select it, click Add/Remove, and click Yes to confirm the
deletion. Done deal.
If the screen saver does not appear in the Install/Uninstall list (and most won't), look in the Windows/System folder for the corresponding *.scr file and delete it. (Tip-in-a-tip: Switch to Details mode and
click the Type column heading, so that all *.scr files appear together.) You can use this same technique to delete any screen saver
from your system.
CREATING A NEW FOLDER FOR YOUR MICROSOFT OFFICE DOCUMENTS
"Many users may not be aware of the fact that you can create a new folder inside the current folder for one of your Office 97 documents without leaving the program. For example, if you decide to save a Word
document, but would prefer to place it in a new folder, you can choose File, Save As. When the Save As dialog box opens, click the Create New Folder button in the Save As toolbar (it is the fifth button from the
right).
"Name your new folder and click OK. Now you can name your file and click Save to save it in the new folder."
Ed Danley
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SYSTEM SETTINGS PRINT
Particularly when you're dealing with the
technical service folks, they ask you about a particular configuration, and you go "Duh!" don't you wish you had a complete printout? Now you can impress them with what you have under the hood (OK, in your tower)
by simply holding the ALT key and double clicking on the My Computer icon. Click the Device Manager tab in the Systems Properties box, then the print button and select either a report on the system summary or a longer report on all devices and the system summary, then OK to print. Next time, the tech support guy will be dazzled.
Jerry Henry
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BUDDYHELP
NetMeeting has the ability, among other features, to allow you to see what's on the screen of the individual you are chatting with. Along comes a similar product, called "buddyhelp" and it may be even easier.
You simply go to http://www.buddyhelp.com , enter a nickname, and start a very small download, taking just seconds, and you're given a code
number. Using ICQ or some other means, relay the number to your friend, who accesses the same site, enters the code, and within seconds you are able to chat with your friend and view his or her desktop as well.
There's also a whiteboard for your doodles. There are a couple of downsides: there's no support for Mac or Linux yet and, it's rather
one-sided, in that you, as the caller (the Buddy) can see your friend's desktop and all the action that ensues but your friend (the Helper) can't see yours. To switch roles, you have to establish another session. Anyway, you might find this an interesting diversion.
Jerry Henry
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Microsoft Word that is. One of the neater
features is the ability, using MS Word's autocorrect feature, to insert some saved image into your correspondence wherever you wish. Let's take, for example a scanned image of your letterhead. Having saved the
image to the folder of your choice, start up MS Word and open a blank document, then click on Insert|Picture, browse to that image you saved and Insert|OK. Select the picture with a single click, size it as you wish, then click on Tools|Autocorrect and, in the Replace box, type in "heading" or whatever word you desire, without the quotes. Click
Add|OK and close the document without saving it. Henceforth, anytime you wish to insert that image, say, at the top of your page (I guess that's usually where the letterhead goes) just type "heading" without
the quotes (or whatever word you selected) and touch the spacebar. Autocorrect's nifty feature replaces that word with your selected image.
Jerry Henry
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MORE KEYBOARD TIPS
Maybe you knew this, maybe you didn't: Shift + Tab moves backwards in fields. CTRL + Enter sends email when you're
ready, without returning to the mouse to click "send." At least, this works with Outlook Express, Netscape, and possibly other email programs as well.
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TRASH MAIL BYPASS
As you know, typically deleting email sends it off to the Trash folder and requires still another deletion from there. This works on the same principle as the Recycle Bin and is good if you think you may need to retrieve the mail before it's forever gone. If you don't need this safeguard, in Windows 98, holding the Shift key while tapping DEL will bypass the Trash folder.
I do this routinely in Windows 95 and find
it works well here also.
Jerry Henry
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THE BIG FREEZE
If your screen freezes up frequently, causing you to reboot, the problem can be very perplexing. Here's a few suggestions, going from the easiest to the most complex. They are just suggestions and certainly not intended to be all-inclusive.
Keep as few applications as necessary in your StartUp folder. These may be draining your resources. You can monitor your resources with Resource Meter (Start|Programs|Accessories|System Tools|Resource Meter). But be warned, if you're having resource problems, even that little utility uses some resources as well. Or, for a quick snapshot, just right click on My Computer, then go to Properties and the Performance tab. While you're there, click on the Graphics button and set the slider for "Hardware Accelerator," which typically defaults to Full, back to the left one notch. If this doesn't seem to help, you can always repeat the process later and move the slider back to Full.
Download and install updated drivers. If you're not sure how to do that you might check out CNet's "Beginners Guide to Drivers" at
http://www.download.com/pc/ed/review/0,357,0-578-1,00.html .
Consider whether the problem with the freezing system recently started after you installed new software. If so, uninstall the software and see if that clears up the problem.
Going to Start|Run, type in without the quotes "sysedit" and click on the C:\Windows\system.ini window, scroll to the section headed [386Enh] and, at a blank line in that section, enter without the quotes
"MinSPs=8" then Enter key, File|Save, close and reboot.
If none of these first-aid attempts have worked, it may be necessary to go into your tower. If this causes you squeamishness, it might be best to check with your technical support folks (particularly if your system
is still under warranty) or defer to someone with a bit more computer expertise.
Check your memory modules, one at a time, by removing one and seeing if the problem clears up. If so, replace the faulty module. If the problem persists, disconnect your sound card to see if you have a faulty
sound card or drivers. Remember, it's easier (and cheaper) to update your drivers than your sound card. Next, consider upgrading your video card. Finally, the problem may be in your hard drive, CPU, or
motherboard; or, you may have to back up your data and reinstall your operating system.
A good rule of thumb is, the least treatment to your system the better, so take one logical step at a time and hope for the best!
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EUDORA'S NEWEST
Chances are you're one of the 18 million who use Eudora for EMail, or you know someone who does. I won't bore you with
the details of this very efficient program, but rather what I consider
the significant improvements in the newest version, Eudora Pro Email 4.2. It completes addresses and spell-checks automatically, can speak (yes, speak!) the name and address of incoming messages, and nicely sets up personalities so that you can manage a number of mail accounts. Search and find techniques are improved. The user manual, a whopping 299 pages in Acrobat format, is conveniently on the CD along with the rest of Eudora. There are at least 15 significant
enhancements in this new version, but I've run out of space before I even got started! See for yourself at
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FILE EXTENSIONS
If you run across a file extension that you're
not familiar with, scoot over to http://kresch.com/exts/ext.htm and
enter the three-letter extension for information. Last time I looked, there were 1,420 file extensions in its database.
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BARE BONES BROWSING
If you don't care about graphics, yearn for
the days of DOS, want speed, and can forego bells and whistles, you owe
it to yourself to give Lynx a try. It's an easy download, just 670kb or so and there are several sites to get it (it's free). If you're using Win95, Win98, or WinNT, try http://www.fdisk.com/doslynx/lynxport.htm .
Click on the link "Win32 version." After you install it with a couple of clicks, make sure you're on-line, and when you execute the program, it appears to run inside a DOS box within Windows. The commands are a
little tricky at first, but you'll get the hang of it. It's doubtful you'll want to use Lynx for all your surfing but it's a pleasant variation if all you're looking for is fast-loading text.
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Twas the night before Y2k
'Twas the night before Y2K, and all through the nation,
We awaited The Bug, the millennium sensation.
The chips were replaced in computers with care,
In hopes that ol' Bugsy wouldn't stop there.
While some folks could think they were snug in their beds,
others had visions of dread in their heads.
And Ma with her PC and I with my Mac
had just logged on the Net and kicked back with a snack,
When over the server there arose such a clatter, I called Mister Gates to see what was the matter.
But he was away, so I flew like a flash, off to my bank to withdraw all my cash.
When what with my wandering eyes should I see? My good old Mac looked sick to me.
The hack of all hackers was looking so
smug, I knew that it must be
the Y2K Bug!!!
His image downloaded in no time at all,
he whistled and shouted, "Let all systems fall!!"
Go Intel! Go Gateway! Now HP! Big Blue! Everything Compaq, and Pentium, too!
All processors big, all processors small, Crash away! Crash away! Crash away all!!
All the controls that planes need for their flights, all microwaves,
trains, and all traffic lights.
As I drew in my breath and was turning around, out through the modem,
he came with a bound.
He was covered with fur, and slung on his back was a sackful of virus, set for attack.
His eyes - how they twinkled! His dimples how merry!
As midnight approached, though, things soon became scary.
He had a broad little face and a round little belly, and his sack
filled with virus quivered like jelly.
He was chubby and plump, perpetually grinning,
and I laughed when I saw him though my hard drive stopped spinning.
A wink of his eye, and a twist of his head, soon gave me to know a new feeling of dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, he changed all the
clocks, then turned with a jerk.
With a twitch of his nose, and a quick little wink, all things
electronic soon went on the blink.
He zoomed from my system, to the next folks on line, he caused such a
disruption, could this be a sign?
Then I heard him exclaim, with a loud, hearty cry, Happy Y2K to all,
Kiss your PC's goodbye!!!
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YOUR ASSIGNMENT
Your assignment should you choose to accept it is to design a logo for our group. I’m sure there are some very creative people in our club who can come up with a great design.
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Larry Thompson, 457-5622
Vice-President Ross Jordan 457-4894
Treasurer Richard Coop Sr., 459-8731
Member Services Rodney Malkoff, 453-1159
Director Paul Mays, 219-626-2689
Newsletter Editor Jerry Henry 453-4144
Newsletter Distribution Ed Danley, 453-7004
Group WWW site http://www.iquest.net/kokopc
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This Month’s User Bucks
Ed Danley $1
Jerry Henry $1
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