Bob Young 2 & John Sturges

This is one of the most difficult tasks to do in Windows, even for pros.  Check the manufacturer's website for both the monitor and printer to see if they have driver files or colour profiles (ending in .icc or .icf).  If found, look in the website's FAQ section for instructions for installing.

Also, many image editing programs like Photoshop have their own colour profiles.  Look in the Help files for more info.

Or try to google for “video test pattern” under the IMAGES tab.  Go to: www.lynxxx.nl/barco/patterns/.

Print the image, then adjust your monitor's colours to match.

Under the WEB tab, we found a few How-To sites:   

Normally, both parties need to be using the SAME instant messaging software.  AOL (Windows) is supposed to work with iChat (Mac).  There is also a Mac version of MSN instant messenger.  At your end, try turning Zone Alarm off while you video conference; it may be blocking some “ports” that MSN instant messenger needs.

Do a search on the Microsoft Knowledge base for KB324214 for Windows Messenger ports.  MSN IM is also 100% compatible with Windows Messenger.

See Zone Alarm's Help files to manually open ports (Pro only?).  If you have a hardware router, “Port Forwarding” may work well.  Go to www.portforward.com or www.firewalling.com for more info.

Tip: Try to VC with a close neighbour until you get it working properly.

The first step is to get a router with a “wireless access point” built-in (it has one or more antennas) that uses 802.11B (11Mb/sec.) or 802.11G (54Mb/sec.).  I use a D-Link and a U.S. Robotics and they are both excellent.

Get it from E-tailers like factorydirect.ca or wtigerdirect.ca.  Connect it between your cable modem and your PC. Then, get a matching (B or G) PCMCIA wifi card for your laptop, if not built-in.

Then, ask your favourite TechnoGeek to set it up for you.  Make sure the WiFi setup uses encryption, either WEP (802.11B & G) or WPA (only on 802.11G devices).

Tip: Most router manufacturers have good tutorials online if you want to try it yourself.  Also, www.howstuffworks.com has good info.

One $ version adds Global Positioning System data (longitude & latitude) to the free version.  The other $$ version is designed to allow many “workgroup” users, like surveyors, to view the progam at the same time.  So, the free version is as good at showing detail as the paid versions.

Note: Google searches the web for satellite images and assembles the images to look like a globe, like floor tiles. 

So, many of the “tiles” may be years old and some are even black and white only.  The older the tiled image, the lower the resolution.

I suspect that you have a virus or spyware that is doing this.  You  have to keep your “definition files” up to date and run all your security tests frequently.

Also, make sure that you have the latest version of each program: AVG = 7.0.338, Ad Aware = 1.06, Spybot = 1.4, Spyware Blaster = 3.4 and Zone Alarm = 7.0, but can change at any time.

Tip: Open each program and then click on Help for the version # and (usually) the link to their website.

This idea has been tried in the past and wasn't very successful, but newer technology may make this viable.  This company may have got it right.

Tip: WiFi may be a more reliable and less expensive solution.

If you use a surge suppressing power bar, it may help protect your PC from some high (200 volts +/-) voltage spikes.  Another common device is an Un-interruptable Power Supply (UPS) which protects your PC from blackouts or brownouts, which is low, not high, voltage. 

Lightning can be as high as a million volts!!!

The only sure way to avoid lightning damage is to unplug your PC from the  electrical outlets, disconnect your high speed modem from the PC and disconnect the phone line from your dialup modem card.  Reconnect after the storm has passed.