Stan

My trial version of Registry mechanic is asking me to buy the program.  Is it worth the money?

Bob & Sturg

That's why it's a trial version; so you can decide. 

We suggest you use “regclean”, free from Microsoft instead, you can do a Google search to find it.  Then, use cCleaner or Easy Cleaner to remove other Windows temporary files.  “Save your money”.

Al

I'm getting tons of Spam using Outlook Express.  How can I reduce Spam?

Bob & Sturg

Don't use OE if you can avoid it, it's always been a major Windows security issue.  Try Thunderbird from mozilla.org instead, it's very secure. 

If you must use OE, try using Window Washer or Frontgate MX, both free, to filter most Spam.  You can do a Google search to find them.

The safest way to read your Email is to browse to your Hotmail, MSN, Yahoo or Gmail web site and read on line without using Outlook Express. 

If you use the Email account that came with your Internet connection, browse to your ISP's home page and look for a tab or other link to your Mail account.

I can't open Email attachments called “att.txt” and Att(2).txt a friend sent.  It opens in Notepad and only displays a bunch of garble.  What's wrong?

Att.txt  and Att(2).txt correctly open in Notepad, as all “txt” files do.  It sounds like the sender incorrectly attached the files.

Ask the sender “what program they used to create the files and  ask them to verify the extension” then, resend you the files.  If the files were on a web page, just send you the link.

Stan

Windows 98 and ME will no longer be supported by Microsoft after July 11th.  I'm thinking of buying a new computer with XP.  Are motherboards with Dual processors and Dual core CPUs worth buying?

Bob & Sturg

XP Pro can see motherboards equipped with two CPUs or one CPU with two processors built into the chip.  When Vista comes out some versions will be able to use two processors, too. 

XP Home can't see two processors.  Most programs can't either, but Photoshop CS, as an example, can recognize and use two processors. 

So, if you plan on doing lots of digital image editing with Photoshop CS, you will see a marked improvement over a single CPU system.  CAD, gaming and movie authoring may also benefit from Dual CPUs.

Otherwise, a newer computer with XP, a fast single CPU (>2Ghz) and 512MB+ RAM  is all most people should need until Vista appears sometime next year.  

Microsoft still hasn't said what hardware will be needed for Vista, but you'll likely need at least a 3Ghz CPU, 1GB RAM, a 256MB video card and a large (80GB+) hard drive.  Then, I would wait for the first “Service Pack” before buying a Vista machine.  XP won't die for a few more years.

So, for now “Save your money”, Dual processors and  dual CPU enabled programs are a long way from the mainstream. 

Peter K.

How do I copy old 78 Albums to my computer?  Has anyone heard of a program called “SpinItAgain” from http://www.acoustica.com/spinitagain/ ?

Bob & Sturg

No, I've never heard of it.  Google search “copy LP to CD software” to find lots of programs, many are free. Tip: Use “Search within Results” at the bottom of the google page and  add the word “tutorial” to look for helpful tutorials.

Another member suggested using:

 AudioGrabber from www.audiograbber.com. 

The trick is to connect a turntable to a stereo Amp and connect that to your sound card's “Audio In” port.  Then, the above software should be able to capture the LP as it plays, according to Rod Hipple.

My OE seems to have broken after the latest Windows Updates.  I had to roll back.  Then, Automatic Updates re-installs them again.

Bob

Go to the Control Panel > Windows Updates and change Auto Updates to “Notify me...” as shown:

When asked to install updates, just say no.

Note: According to Cnet.com, many people have had problems after downloading MS06-15 and  MS06-16 last Tuesday.  Watch for  fixes of the fixes.

Al Davis

Is there any advantage to using the “Block Sender” feature in Outlook Express?

Bob

Sometimes...  Try this:  In OE, go to Tools > Message Rules > Edit Sender.  Block only the domain name (the part to the right of the “@”) in the Email address that is spamming you.

How do I grab only a portion of the screen?

John B. uses the PrtSc key (to the right of the F12 key) to save a “Full Screen” image to the Windows clipboard.  Then, he uses IrfanView > Edit > Paste to import the screen capture from the clipboard, then Edit > Crop to grab a smaller portion of the screen image, then Save.

Bob said to grab the “Active Window” use the Alt+PrtSc keys  and then paste the image into Word, WordPad or MS-Paint.

Sturg uses MWSnap, a free screen capture program from www.mirekw.com/winfreeware/mwsnap.html to Select, Capture and annotate (add cursors, hand pointers, etc.) any part of the screen with one tool.

Tip: To hide Internet Explorer's task bars, hit “F11”.

Before:

After:

Take your screen shot, then, to un-hide Internet Explorer's task bars, hit “F11” again.

For more Screen Capture Tips:

www.seoconsultants.com/windows/print-screen/

Brian G.

Recently, XP warned me that I have to run Check Disk on Drive C: for some reason.  Any idea where to find it?

Bob & Sturg

Chkdisk is an old DOS command and we can't remember if it is supported in XP.  We'll check later and let him know.

Brian called later to say he found this:

Open My Computer and Right-click on Drive C:.  Choose Properties , then click on the Tools Tab and click on the “Check Now...” button as shown:

This does what Chkdisk used to do and fixed the problem.