Q. (Email message) When I try to print something from the Internet, nearly an inch on the right side does not print.
A. (The questioner is using Internet Explorer 7.) This has been a very common complaint with Internet Explorer users. You can use the Landscape view to possibly correct the situation. However, this may result in the use of many more pages to print out. In IE 7 you can utilize an improved Print Preview default feature i.e. Shrink to Fit. By utilizing this feature the Web page shrinks to fit perfectly on your paper even in the Portrait view. There are many other improved features available in Print Preview (File menu> Print Preview). This shrink feature is available on the far right of the Toolbar (note the down arrow).
Q. (Email message) I have outlook express 6 for e-mail. I receive a ballot from certain clubs asking me to vote. They say click reply, put check to choice of candidate in the space provided. When complete hit send. When I hit reply, a blank page comes up and I lose the ballot. What can I do to correct this?
A. One thing you could do to improve this situation is to copy the message including the ballot (select entire message> depress Ctrl + C); click the reply button then paste the data into the body of the e-mail (Ctrl + V). Check off the candidate choice in the provided space then hit Send.
Q. (Email message) Can someone please explain Blue Ray Technology, i.e. what, why (advantages) , and where is it? I see movies as well as cell phone that advertise they use Blue Ray Technology.
A. To explain it very simply, Blue Ray Technology uses a blue laser beam to read data from discs, rather than the red lasers used for DVDs. This newer and improved optical disc format focuses the laser more tightly. This, in turn, allows more data to be packed on a disc the same size at a DVD i.e. up to 50 gigabytes vs. the DVD holding less than 10 gigabytes. It has been developed by the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA). This is a group of the world's leading consumer electronics, personal computer and media manufacturers.
Although you may see movies as well as cell phone that advertise they use Blue Ray Technology, it may be some time before we will see a widespread use of this advanced technology. Our present economic downturn has not helped.
Q. (Email message) How do you know what flash drive to buy: I have bought three, two of which turned out to be smart drives with data that was not advertised and that I did not want. I don't even know what to do with the data that is on the drives.
A. (The questioner uses Vista as her operating system) Flash drives are very popular. They are available in different sizes (now up to 64 GB +) and types. Your computer should readily accept them. The two smart drives that you purchased are the same as flash drives with added capabilities i.e. U3 - 'Official' Portable USB Apps Platform. They contain software (data that was not advertised and that I (you) did not want) to run active programs on computers without leaving any trace of data on the host computer. Smart drives can be purchased e.g. Sandisk Cruzer or can be “made” from regular flash drives. To view a video or see a demonstration of this technology go to http://www.u3.com/.
It is possible to remove the not wanted “data” on the two smart drives that you have by simply formatting them. You could then use them as “ordinary” flash or jump drives. However, I think that you should learn to use your smart drives and even add more portable applications to them. They are very handy. You can also install and add portable applications to a regular flash drives. For help, go to: http://portableapps.com/apps
Perhaps the following URLs may also help you:
· http://www.everythingusb.com/u3.html
· http://pcworld.about.com/magazine/2402p113id123793.htm
· http://www.u3.com/landing/generic_demo.aspx
Q. (Email message) What do you think of the Kaspersky anti-virus program? It’s not free, but my Computek agent thinks it’s much better than the free anti-virus AVG program—especially if you do any business from your home computer.
A. I do not use Kaspersky anti-virus program but feedback from fellow computer users who do use it, claim that it is an excellent program. They feel that it is worth the price. Some favorable features include Spyware and Adware protection, automatic hourly updates, quick response to new threats, scanning Internet activity, blocking fishing attempts, detecting unknown Malware, providing keylogger protection, free tech support, low memory usage, optimizing for gaming, restoring correct setting after an attack, etc. These features which are especially important for someone running a home business are done poorly or not at all by AVG. As you state, Kaspersky anti-virus is not free.
I have used AVG (home use) for years and have been happy with it until recently (AVG 8). I am currently trying out PC Tools AV which is another “freebie”. It is available at: http://www.pctools.com/free-antivirus/.
Q. (Email message) I use Windows Mail (Vista). I feel that I have a corrupted folder i.e. Outbox. How do I get to this folder to delete it?
A. Bring up Windows Mail; click on Tools; click on Options; click on the Advanced tab; click on Maintenance button; click on the Store Button. You should see the path to Local Folders on your computer (C:\Users\your name\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail\Local Folders). Select and copy the path (Ctrl + C) to the Clipboard; bring up Windows Explorer (Windows key + E); select Computer and paste the path in the Address Bar (Ctrl + V); click on Local Folders to open it up> right click on the Outbox folder; click Delete. A new Outbox folder will, hopefully, be created.
Q. (Email message) Is there any way to block all incoming e-mails that are not from addresses in my address book?
A. (The questioner uses Outlook Express.) The way to accomplish blocking all incoming e-mails that are not from addresses in my (your) address book is to create a “whitelist”. To me, creating such a list seems unnecessary and time consuming. However, to do so follow the instruction below (modified from WorldStart):
1.) Open Outlook Express and go to Tools, Message Rules, Mail. From there, click the New button.
2.) A New Mail Rule box will open up and in the first box, checkmark the option that says "Where the From line contains people." The people it's referring to are your friends, family, etc.
3.) In the second box, checkmark the option that says "Move it to the specified folder."
4.) Now, in the third box, just click on the blue link that says "contains people."
5.) A new window will open up and from there, click on the Address Book button. This will bring up all of the contacts you already have saved in your address book. Go through your list and find the addresses you want to accept for your whitelist. When you're ready, highlight an address and hit the From button. That will automatically move that address over to your "accepted" list on the right side. Do the same thing until you have all the addresses you want in that far right box. I found that it's easier to go through and add them one by one, because that way, you're sure not to miss anyone or add someone you don't want. When you're all finished with that, click OK twice. The addresses you chose will then show up in the new message rule box.
6.) Next, click on the blue link that says "specified."
7.) Once there, click on the New Folder button. Then give your new folder a name. I chose to name mine "Whitelist," but you can name it anything you want. For example, "Friends" or "Accepted." When you're done, click OK twice more.
8.) Now, in the fourth box, delete the text that reads "New Mail Rule" and type in the name of the new folder you just created. (Again, mine is called "Whitelist"). Click OK again to finish the process.
9.) You will then be taken back to the original Message Rules box and you'll be able to see your new whitelist included there. Make sure it's check marked as well. If it's not, it won't be applied to the e-mail messages you receive. When everything is set the way you want it to be, click OK one more time and you'll be all ready to use your new whitelist!
10.) Your new folder will also show up on the left side of your Outlook Express window, along with all your other folders (Inbox, Outbox, etc). So, when you check your e-mail again, the messages you receive from the addresses you added will be in that new folder. Just open that folder and you'll be able to see all the e-mails you actually want to read.
Now, making a whitelist will help filter out the good from the bad when it comes to your e-mails, but you may also want to create other message rules to keep your e-mail filtered out as much as possible. ~ Erin
Q. (Email message) While my wife was trying to update AVG 8.0 today she again received the error message: "Invalid Update Control CTF File". We uninstalled AVG then reinstalled it which seemed to help the situation for a couple of days then the problem re-occurred.
A. Try deleting or renaming these two .CTF files i.e. avginfoavi.ctf and avginfowin.ctf. (C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Avg8\update\download). You can get the details re this situation at http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/error-invalid-update-control-ctf-file-when-updating-avg-anti-virus-80/.
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