Editor’s notes
One would have hoped by now after so many versions of
Windows that there would be no more bugs, no more problems. Things are way better now, Restore should
sort out most problems. The main cause is
the enormous mass of hardware and software, so much that it is impossible to
test it all thoroughly in the presence of every other bit of kit. Apple Mac have gone the other way, there is
not very much partly because it all is tested extremely thoroughly and is
therefore expensive and mostly reliable.
The Windows/PC market is full of small suppliers of both software and
hardware who have carried out only rudimentary testing of equipment or thorough
testing on a limited range of hardware.
The instrument control software we supply allows connection through
serial port but no way will allow the use of a USB/Serial connector, there are
just too many potential problems.
Update
If Windows Update ceases to work the first method of attack
is to consult the help on the update site.
This is quite comprehensive and has solved my occasional problems. If this fails then an internet search on the
error code may turn up a reference such as a simple re-registration of a dll
file. Don’t forget Restore if you arte using XP. If all this fails then you may need to
re-install the operating system. This is
where all your backup come in handy although failure of update should mean your
PC is actually working at this moment and your data can be backed up before you
go any further.
Dual core, is it working?
Dual core processors are not obviously very much faster than
single core processors. If you bought a
dual core processor used it for a bit and one core stopped working, you would
probably notice. If you bought one will a
faulty core, how would you know? The
answer is that it probably wouldn’t boot but alternatively you can open Task
Manager (right click an empty space on the task bar and select Task Manager)
and click the Performance tab, a single core processor has a single CPU usage
bar and a dual core processor has two.
Google in your phone
Soon you will be able to point your phone at a building or a
billboard and get more information about it.
A GPS and a direction sensor in the phone will enable your phone to query
the servers for information, this will be supplied free by charging shop owners
and advertisers. Databases like this are being developed for Google Earth and
could be accessed by phone. The same technology would enable you to become a
member of a wide-scale real-life multiplayer strategy game. The phones are current technology available
now in
The GPS element is coming into use now, allowing parents to
keep track of where their children are (only when the phone is switched on).
Volkswagen and Google are developing a GPS navigation system
whereby 3D data is displayed to help you navigate.
Printing
To set your default setup for your printer go to Start,
Settings, Printers & Faxes. Select
your printer, right click it and select Properties, choose the Advanced tab and
then Printing Defaults. The setup you
enter here will be the default for the printer.
Then select the Device Settings tab and set these. When you choose Print in a program these
settings are the default, you can always change it for the job in hand but when
restarting the program or PC it will revert to the defaults.
ScreenPlay
Iomega are offering the ScreenPlay, a 60Gb 2.5” external
drive that takes power from a USB port and will play to a television using an
on-screen menu and remote control. It
will show slide shows, play movies or audio tracks.
Programmable keyboard
Art Lebedev are planning on launching a keyboard later this
year, where every key is a tiny OLED (organic light emitting diode) display
that can be programmed. Useful for
shortcut keys and to change the country layout of a keyboard at the click of a
button.
Desktop Search
Windows Search is not the best tool for finding files and
data on a modern large hard drive. In a
recent comparison by PCPro the two of the best were Yahoo Desktop Search and
Copernic Desktop Search being both free and a match for the best of the paid
for variety. Copernic will search
network drives which Yahoo is unable to do but has the better interface. Desktop search tools index your files
silently in the background so when you want to search for something the results
are already to hand much as Google works on the internet. Not all desktop search programs can search
all email clients and some have file format restrictions.
Bigger Icons
Particularly with higher definition screens the icons on the
task bar get very small. There is a way
of increasing their size but this involves increasing the size of the tack bar
itself. Right click a blank area of the
screen and choose Properties (or go to Control Panel, Display) and select the
Appearance tab and then the Advanced button.
Click the down arrow on the drop down list and select the Active Title
Bar item. The numerical value is the
size and as standard the font is Tahoma.
Increase the size by 50% and check the results, adjust as
necessary. The icons do not scale very
well if you go too large.
Blank screen
What appears to be a graphics card problem can often be due
to something else. Modern PCI-Express
graphics cards need and additional power cable direct from the power supply,
the supply from the motherboard is insufficient. Failure of a memory chip can also prevent a
picture. If you have 2 modules swap them
or check if the PC will run with one and try them each in turn. If you have just upgraded your memory it may
be that it is just not compatible with your motherboard. Often motherboards have limitations on the
largest module size they will take or sometimes limitations on the chips on the
modules.
Distractions
It is possible to turn off the Windows games to create a
system without distractions. To do this
you can use the Sysocmgr tool. First
create an ‘answer’ file using Notepad, it should be of the form below
[Components]
Minesweeper = off
Solitaire = off
And save it as ****.txt in the root folder C: Then go to Start | Run and type cmd in the
edit box and hit Enter. When the command
prompt box has opened type
Sysocmgr /c:\windows\inf\sysoc.inf /u:c:\****.txt assuming this is your Windows folder
PC Myths
Wi-Fi networks are dangerous to human health – False –
Mobile phones are normally considered harmless to health. Wi-Fi network signals are limited to 100mW
(milliWatts) one tenth of the maximum permitted for mobile phones. Since they are not held close to the head any
effect would be very much further reduced.
CDs are virtually indestructible – False - Early demonstrations of the CD showed one
being rubbed with a stone and still playing.
CDs are not indestructible and the above is likely to produce terminal
damage. The face with the data should
never be touched and they should be stored in their box when not in use.
You can safely wash your keyboard in the dishwasher – True –
Providing you dismantle it and take out the electronics and contact pad and
just wash the case and keys. This is
hardly worthwhile, use a keyboard cleaner or just buy a new one (£5 -
£20). It has been said that a dirty
keyboard is more of a hazard to health than a toilet bowl.
Calendar 2006
Club night Wednesday
May10th 2006
More Backup
June14th
2006 to be decided
MCC Committee 2005 - 2006
Contact/Chairman Robert Huggett 01628 623712
RobertVHuggett@aol.com
Treasurer
Dave Grant
Hints & Tips: Alan Everett aeverett@btinternet.com
Web-site Jim Borg-Cardona jimbcuk@aol.com
Editor All
contributions to this Newsletter should be sent to: Robert Huggett, 5 The
Points, Maidenhead. SL6 3AE
Tel: 01628 623712 Email: RobertVHuggett@aol.com
(All contributions to be received
2 weeks before the next meeting to ensure inclusion)
Contributions may be
sent on:3.5’ PC disk in almost any format, E-mail attachment, or hardcopy.
Please Note: Selected items from this Newsletter may also be
published in MCC’s pages on the Internet.
Internet Home Page: http://website.lineone.net/~mcchome
The club meets on the
second Wednesday of each month at the offices of Zinsser Analytic,
DISCLAIMER: This Newsletter represents the ideas and
expressions of the members of Maidenhead Computer Club, and is circulated
to members only by subscription. The views and opinions contained within
are not necessarily those of the Editor of the Newsletter and/or the
Maidenhead Computer Club Committee. The Editor and the Committee expressly
disclaim responsibility for the ideas and expressions contained in the
Maidenhead Computer Club Newsletter Please note that articles in the
Newsletter are copyright of the authors and the Editor, permission of both
being needed for reprinting or other reproduction. (Requests should be via
the Editor)