The AI Help Desk Archives

=== Computers 101 ===

Q: What are internet "cookies"?

A: I seem to get questions on cookies all the time. I hate talking about the little buggers to tell you the truth. I've never seen a subject cause more arguments than whether or not to allow / accept cookies while browsing. Well, here I go, throwing caution to the wind...

When you hear the term cookies applied to the internet, it's generally not in reference to the gooey chocolate chip variety. A cookie used on the internet is basically a small text file that is placed on your hard drive by a web server. They are used to keep track of various aspects of your travels through the site in question. They can be used to keep track of passwords, shopping patterns, what type of pages you like, your preferences for that particular site, and more.

For example, if you've ever "joined" any kind of site that requires a login and password, you've probably noticed a "click here to remember your login information" checkbox (not all sites have it, but most do). The site remembers this info by using cookies.

Another example would be a site that you can customize to your liking. If you have a site that "remembers" what type of news, sports ,weather or other preferences you like, they are probably using cookies to do this. The disadvantage of course is that these sites get a little bit of information about you, especially how you are moving through the site. A cookie by itself can't read (or damage) your hard drive. They only way a site gets personal information about you is if YOU provide it.

OK, I may take a little heat for this (what else is new), but my personal recommendation is not to worry too much about cookies. In general they are more helpful than harmful. If you're worried about your privacy, don't give out any personal information. If you would like to delete the cookies on your hard drive, you certainly can do so. Keep in mind they really don't take up that much room. For example, I have around 1100 cookies on my hard drive and they take up less than 5 meg of disk space. I know, that's a bunch of those little cookies, but I still think they do more good than harm. In addition, if you delete out all of your cookies (toss your cookies?) you may find that sites you use all the time no longer recognize you or remember your password. So, you may want to follow the steps below, but only delete the cookies that are not important (you can see where the cookie came from if you have the Internet Address column stretched wide enough). Here's how to delete ALL the cookies from your hard drive:

To get rid of them, do the following: 1. Open Windows Explorer by right-clicking the Start button, Explore.
2. Next, open your Temporary Internet Files folder. It should be just a few folders down.
3. Now, look at the top of the right pane where all your temporary internet files are. At the top there should be a column labeled Type (along with Name, Internet Address, etc). Click the word "Type". This sorts your files so that all your cookies are lumped together.
4. Almost there. Now, scroll down until you come to your cookie files. They're easy to spot since they have the word "cookie" in their titles. They should have a little text icon next to them as well.
5. Finally, click the top cookie file so it's highlighted (or just move your mouse over it if you have your computer set for single-clicking). Now, scroll down to the last cookie. Hold down your SHIFT key and click it (or just hover over it if you're set for single clicking). That should highlight all of them.

Hit your Delete key, say yes to the confirmation, and your cookies are gone.

Q: What is a Zip file?

=== Computers 101 ===

Q: I have a message that was sent to me and the top is filled with e-mail addresses and lots of other "junk." I want to pass the message along to my friends, but I don't want all the gibberish at the top, what can I do?

A: Your best bet is to copy the info you want to send and paste it into a new e-mail message. Then send it along to your buddies. If the text is formatted badly (as often happens when something gets forwarded around the net several hundred times) there's a free utility available from our web site called "The Cleaner" that will help. You just paste the info into the text area and hit the "Clean" button. It removes all the little carets (the ">>>" things) and re-formats the paragraphs as best it can. It's been extremely popular in the past, and hey, it's free!

=== Computers 101 ===

Q: I get the error message, "This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down". Why does this keep happening?

A: It can happen for a variety of reasons. In my experience, most of the time it's due to a software conflict of some sort, usually with a program that's running in the background.

If you find you have a bunch of stuff sitting in your system tray (it's the little box opposite the Start button on the taskbar), you may find that shutting down some of those programs will help tremendously (most have an option to shut down if you right-click their icon) . It's usually one of them that's the culprit (RealPlayer causes *lots* of problems), especially if the program with the problem seems to be the only thing running.

You can also use the CTRL-ALT-DEL key combination to shut programs down manually, but you also run the risk of accidentally shutting your computer down (Don't close Explorer or Systray). Only do this after you've shut down all your system try icons and are continuing to have problems.

Before we get too far, you may be wondering if you can just keep those system tray program from running in the first place. Here's a link that'll tell you how:

=== Computers 101 ===

Q: How do I remove unwanted programs?

A: So, you have unwanted programs leeching off your hard drive, huh?

You usually have two program expulsion options. The first, and usually best, is to click your Start button, Programs, and select the program folder (group) in question. Usually, in addition to the program shortcut, there's also an uninstall program you can run.

If there's not, try the Add & Remove Programs option. Hit Start, Settings, Control Panel and open the "Add / Remove Programs" icon.

Most 32 bit programs should be listed there (older 16 bit dos & win 3.1 programs usually aren't). Just select the one you want taken off and click the Add/Remove button.

Q: This is kind of a stupid question, but what is the Recycle Bin for?

A: Remember, there are no stupid questions, just stupid answers :-)

The Recycle bin holds files that you delete, in case you need to resurrect them from the great digital beyond. It only holds a limited amount, so even if you never empty it, you won't end up with a hard drive full of old, deleted files.

By the way, if you would like to restore a deleted file, just double-click the recycle bin and right-click the file you would like to restore. A small menu will materialize and give you a restore option.

To completely empty the recycle bin, right-click and select "Empty Recycle Bin" from the resulting menu. All those little files will be gone forever.

Q: Help! My inkjet printer isn't working right. When I print a page it goes through the whole routine, but when the page comes out, it's blank. I have just replaced the ink cartridges, so I know I have plenty of ink. What would cause this kind of problem?

A: It could be any number of things, but my first thought is that you may have a clogged nozzle. This is especially common on printers that have permanent nozzles built in. (Just FYI - Canon is one manufacturer that does this. However, HP printers have the nozzle built into the cartridge and aren't as prone to this kind of problem.)

Before you try cleaning the nozzles, try this test. Take a document and "color" the text. Make it several different colors (the color really doesn't matter - as long as it's not black). Now try printing that page. If it prints, then you probably have a clogged nozzle on the black ink side.

On the other hand, if you have a printer that does good with the black ink but can't do colors anymore, you probably have a clogged color nozzle(s). Now, if you decide that you have a clogged nozzle, your best bet is probably to take the printer into a computer or office supply shop for cleaning. If you're more adventurous, you may try cleaning the nozzles yourself. Check with your local computer shop for recommendations on a cleaning fluid.

Here's a few other things to try:

1. If you haven't already, make sure the ink cartridge has ink. If its seen a lot of paper, a new cartridge may be the solution.

2. 2. Uninstall and re-install the printer from the Printer folder in My Computer. There's an outside chance that a problem like this could be caused from a driver malfunction.

3. 3. If possible, install the printer on another computer and see if that makes a difference. Maybe your computer has some kind of problem, program, or virus that's causing the printer not to print.

4. If all else fails, take it in for repair. There may be something wrong with the internal mechanism of the printer - and that's usually not a do-it-yourself type project.

Finally, keep an eye on the cost if a repair is required. If your printer is more than a year or two old, you may find that it's actually smarter to buy a new printer. (Before you install a new cartridge, make sure you've removed the little sticker seal thingy located on the bottom of the cartridge. :)

=== Tip of the Day ===

=== Computers 101 ===

Q: I can't get my desktop icons to move anywhere. My computer went down and the repair company sent it back this way. What can I do?

A: If you are having trouble moving your icons, it's probably because they have been set to "auto arrange". It's a handy feature, unless you like to have control of your icon placement.

To shut this off, right-click the desktop, Arrange Icons, Auto Arrange (incidentally, if you want to turn this feature on, the procedure is the same).

Oh, one last thing. When you hit the Arrange Icons menu item, note that there are a few other useful arrangement options on that sub menu. I like the "by type" arrangement myself.

Q: What should I look for when buying a new computer? How much computer is enough?

A: Buying a new computer is tough. It really is hard to know what to buy, especially if your needs vary quite a bit. I could write a whole book on the subject, but what I try to do is buy a computer that is about one, (maybe two) notches below the top of the line. Usually there isn't much difference in performance between the two, but there usually is a significant difference in price; you pay a premium for the latest technology. I've purchased a lot of computers over the years, and that seems to be the best guideline.

If you find the above advice leads you to a computer that's out of your budget, than we fall on the second rule - buy as much computer as you possibly can afford. Computers tend to change quickly, and the more powerful your computer is, the longer you'll be able to use it before it becomes obsolete.

As for specific hardware suggestions, that's even harder to come up with. If I had to give some hardware specs, I guess this is what I would suggest for the average (if there is such a thing) user:

1.2 GHz processor or better
30 + gig hard drive (preferably a 7200 RPM type)
128 Meg of RAM
16 meg (min) 3D video card
CD-RW drive
56K Modem and / or a good network card
32 bit sound card
17 inch or larger monitor

Before you send me any "That's not what I would buy e-mails", I want to say that the above is only a suggested system for the average user. If you can afford more or get by with less, that's great.

=== Tip of the Week ===
Internet Temp File Management

I get questions on an almost daily basis asking about internet temp files. Everything from, "What are they", to "How can I keep them from eating up so much disk space?"

Well, read on...

Internet temp files are not the digital villains people make them out to be. In fact, they're actually kind of useful. Here's what they are for:

Let's say you drop by your favorite website a couple times a day. Now, this web site may be loaded with graphics that take awhile to load. Once these images are downloaded, they are saved in your Temporary Internet Files folder (located under you Windows Folder). Now, the next time you visit that page, your browser should check in this temp file and, if the images haven't been changed, load them from your hard drive rather then the website. This makes browsing your favorite sites MUCH faster.

Unfortunately, these temp files also have a dark side (they're a lot like The Force in that respect). The biggest problem is that they tend to eat up disk space like it's a buffet.

However, by default, your browser only uses a certain amount of disk space for these temp files. So, If you're worried that they will eventually take over your hard drive, you're going to need to find something better to worry about.

In addition, you can actually exert some control over how large a space your computer gets for temp files! (This just gets better and better, doesn't it?) Here's how:

1. Open Internet Explorer and hit the Tools menu, Internet Options...

2. Click the Settings button. A screen will materialize that let's you adjust exactly how much space you're willing to donate to your temp files. Also, note that on this screen you can click a "View Files" button should you wish to peruse your temp files.

3. After you make your adjustments, click the OK button and you're all set.

One last thing. When you are on the settings screen, note that there are some radio buttons under a "Check for newer versions of stored pages" heading.

For most people, the default setting is OK. Each time you open Internet Explorer it checks when the page was last updated before it loads the info from the temp files. If you happen to go back to that page during the same session, you'll probably need to hit the Refresh button to see any updates.

If you tend to be on pages that change all the time, the first option ("Every visit to a page") may be better. Even if you were just on a page and go back, Internet Explorer will check for any updates to the page before it loads it. Kind of like refreshing your pages as you surf. It does tend to slow things down just a bit though.

=== Computers 101 ===

Q: What is "cache memory"?

A: Cache memory (pounced "cash") is supplemental memory that is used to help speed things up. It is generally faster than standard memory and is usually built into your motherboard and / or CPU. This cache memory is used to store frequently used bits of information. In many cases, programs will run the same snippet of code again and again. So, rather than getting that bit of code from the slower RAM memory, your CPU grabs it from this faster cache memory.

There are basically two types of cache memory that you'll need to know about, "L1" & "L2". L1 cache is actually integrated with your CPU, L2 is usually next to the CPU on the motherboard. The amount of memory varies from board to board and from chip to chip, but it's usually not all that much - less than a 2 meg in most instances (again, this depends on what you buy). In fact, most L1 cache is less than 256K (yes, that's KB not Meg)! Even as small amount as that seems, it significantly increases your computer's performance.

OK, I know what you're thinking, "Can I add more cache memory?" Usually not (forget adding L1 altogether). Some motherboards may allow you to add additional L2 cache, but I believe they are very few and far between.

Q: How much memory should my computer have?

A: Hard to say. Generally, the newer the operating system, the more memory it needs. For example, Win 95 runs good on only 16 or 32 meg of RAM, Win 98 & ME do well with 32 or 64 meg. For Win 2000, I wouldn't want any less than 64 meg, preferable, 128.

The above is all well and good, but the next question is how much stuff do you run at any given time? If you run lots of programs (like I do) all at once, or if you have programs that eat up a lot of memory (graphics / photo type programs) then you won't be very happy with the numbers above. So, how can you tell how much you really need? Unfortunately, there's not any real solid guidelines here. It really depends on how you use your computer.

That said, if your computer seems to be pecking away at your hard drive all the time, then you probably need more memory. Sure, it should access the hard drive when it's loading software and such, but if you notice it's always using the hard drive, then you probably need some extra RAM.

See, when your computer fills up its RAM, it starts putting information it would normally place into memory on your hard drive. As you can imagine, this makes things painfully slow and causes a ton of hard drive activity.

Anyhow, my suggestion would be at least 64 megs of ram or higher. It seems that most people are happy with 128 megs, I personally run a ton of programs simultaneously, so I like 256 meg. Depending on how your computer is set up, you may have enough open memory slots to put in 64 meg at a time, giving you a chance to test what you need.

Also, older computers sometimes can't take a ton of memory, so you may need to check your owners manual to be safe. I'd say most computers built in the last several years should be able to take at least 256 meg though.

If you're not sure what type of memory your computer takes, check your owners manual. Usually you can find that kind of information there. If you're really stuck, take it into your local computer shop and have them set you up.

=== This Week's Tips ===

Interpreting Versions Numbers 1.0.1

Have you ever wondered what a program's version numbers meant? Well, your questions will be addressed today :-)

OK, let's say we have program with a version number of 2.1.3 What does it mean? The first number (2) represents the "major" version number. Normally these are only updated if there has been lots of major changes to a program.

The next number (1) represents a minor update. Maybe a feature or two was added to the program, but the overall program remained the same. The third number (3) represents a bug fix. Our example shows that version 2.1 has had 3 bug fixes so far. That's the gist of it. Some programs use letters rather than numbers, especially for minor update and bug fixes.

Additionally, it's open to interpretation by the programmer as to whether the current update constitutes a major version change or just a minor enhancement.

Scrollbar Sizes

Are your scrollbars too small? Do you have a hard time grabbing them with your mouse pointer? Well, you'll be both thrilled and delighted to know you can adjust their size. Here's how:

1. Right-click your desktop and select Properties

2. You'll be presented with a settings screen, select the Appearance tab.

3. The second drop down box should be labeled "item" select "Scrollbar" from it.

4. You'll be able to increase or decrease the size of your scrollbars by using the little box to the right of the drop down box (it's labeled "size"). I have mine set to 18.

That's it. You should now be able to make your scrollbars as big as you like.

=== Computers 101 ===

Q: How do I move my taskbar?

A: That's another question I've been getting a lot lately, soooo...

To move your taskbar, "grab" it with your mouse and drag it to the location you want. In trying different taskbar placements, I've decided that the best place seems to be at the top of the screen. Once I got used to it up there, I never wanted it at the bottom of my digital world again. Of course, it's all personal preference, so stick your taskbar wherever it works the best for you.

=== Computers 101===

Q: I need to send a document I made in MS word to a friend who doesn't have MS Word. Is there a way to do this?

A: Your best bet is to save the file in Rich Text format (.rtf). Almost all word processing programs can open that type of file, and it preserves your formatting - to a point (you may be in trouble if you have some really fancy graphics or odd formatting going on). Also, Windows comes with a program called WordPad that can open these "rtf" files, so no matter who you send it to, opening it should not be a problem.

Anyhow, to save in an "rtf" format, hit the File menu, Save As. You'll see a little drop down box labeled "Save as type" or something similar. Choose "Rich Text Format", make sure you've named the file, and hit OK. That should do it. Now just about everyone can see your file.

Q: I was surfing the web the other day when I got an error message that said something like:

An error has occurred in the script on this page
Line: 35
char. 3725
Error: Expected identifier
Code: 0
URL: mhtml:ml//-----------
Do You Want to continue running scripts on this page?
Yes No

What's wrong with my browser?

A: Probably nothing. That error is a scripting mistake (usually Java Script) found within the web page you were accessing. The browser was expecting to find something that it didn't, so you got an error. Usually when I get an error like that, I just choose "no" and see what happens. Sometimes you can still use the page, other times you can't. You might try hitting the "Refresh" button on your browser too. Sometimes the page doesn't download correctly and that messes up the script(s). If you do stumble on a site that generates the error, you may want to try to tell the webmaster of that site about the problem.

=== This Week's Tips ===

******Do not open the "Yo Momma, Osama Game" It claims to be a benefit for Red Cross or other charitable groups. It corrupts your files and actually becomes a "spy" for your internet travels, causing pop up advertising on the screen.

******As always NEVER OPEN ATTACHMENTS unless they are from a trusted source.

~Start Menu Cleanup~

Do you have too much clutter in your Start menu? Lots of software likes to stick an icon there during setup, but sometimes your Start menu gets a little overrun. What to do??? Easy, just right-click the icons you no longer want and select Delete from the resulting menu. OR

Here's the second way to skin the cat - Right-click the Start button, Explore. Explorer will open with focus on your Start menu items. Just right-click any you would like to be rid of and select Delete. Remember, when you delete these icons, you aren't deleting the program, just the shortcut. If you want to remove the program, you'll need to do that from the Control Panel Add/ Remove programs section.

~Frolicking in the Recycle Bin ~

Here's a few things you can do to make your recycling experience more enjoyable:

No Confirmations
Ever notice how every time you delete something, Windows asks you if you would really like to do it? If you find yourself shouting "YES, I wouldn't have hit delete if I didn't want to delete the stupid thing," then you may want to disable the deletion confirmation. To do so, just right-click the Recycle bin, Properties and deselect the checkbox for "Display delete confirmation dialog box".

Recycle Size
By default, the Recycle Bin sucks up 10% of your hard drive. If you have a ten gig hard drive, Windows is setting aside 1 gig just for digital garbage. I have mine set at only 5% (500 meg on a 10 gig hard drive). If you have a hard drive larger than say, 5 gig, I would free up some space by right-clicking your Recycle Bin and moving the little slider to the left. I would set aside 300-500 meg for recycling.

You'll notice that you can also set the computer to bypass the recycle bin and just permanently delete files. I WOULD NOT do this. I've accidentally deleted more than my fair share of files, and I'm embarrassed to admit how often that the Recycle Bin has come to my rescue.

If you do come across a file that just needs to be permanently eliminated, press SHIFT and DELETE. It will be removed without making a stop at the recycle bin first.
Source: Computer Tips & Techniques