Terry’s Computer Tips newsletters January 4th
This week’s online newsletter includes:
* Clearing the Address Bar History in Firefox 3
Firefox 3 has a new predictive system to save you from having to type most of a web address in its address bar, as long as you’ve typed it in, been there, or have a bookmark. But, how can we get rid of some of those addresses?
* Feedback and Tips on Using Multiple Monitors at the Same Time
It looks like more and more people are doing this — and willing to provide tips for those who haven’t tried it…
* The Lighter Side of Technology
A new feature for Terry’s Computer Tips — a weekly computer/technology cartoon…
and a question "Should I continue including technology cartoons?"
* New Year’s Resolutions for Computer Users
It’s that time of year again — and we need to improve our computer habits, too…
* Moving Programs to Other Drives
A reader wanted to move some programs and data to an external drive, hoping to speed up his system…
* Followup: Clearing the Address Bar History in Firefox 3
Clif gives some more tips on the Firefox 3 "Awesome Bar"…
* My Security Software Recommendations
My recommendations for anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, and anti-spam software…
This week’s email and on-line newsletters are now available:
* free weekly Terry’s Computer Tips email newsletter
* weekly on-line Terry’s Computer Tips newsletter
Please make the technology cartoon a regular part of the newsletter. We all need a laugh once in awhile. Thanks, Jack
I don’t like the ‘awesome bar’ either, and I’m surprised nobody came up with this solution, which I first read on Lifehacker.
Type about:config into the address bar and press enter. Click on “I’ll be careful, I promise!” Scroll down to browser.urlbar.maxRichResults and double-click on that line. An Enter Integer Value box will open. Type 0 into that line, click OK, and close the about:config tab. You won’t see any more ’suggestions’ from that ‘awesome bar’ again.
I say yes, include a techtoon in the newsletters.
Absobluddylutely
Go for it!!!keep ‘em coming
Irv
Yes, yes, a thousand times, yes
Hey Terry:
on #4, Moving programs I can’t really argue with the point that it is pretty pointless to move programs to a different drive than OS. But I still believe that moving data files. Changes to the OS and programs are basically limited monthly windoze patches, new program installs, and trivial changes like cookies and favorites. Data on the other hand changes frequently and is personally/corporately more important and harder to replace than the OS and programs. So I still subscribe to putting data on a separate Drive, best physical, but even logical partition will do.
Separating data and programs makes backup and restore easier. The OS/DATA partition is image backed up monthly, after Windoze patches are installed, or new program is installed. The data partition drive is backed up more frequently, ie image backup monthly with weekly or daily incremental backups. Incremental frequency depends on your paranoia level, and valaue (to you) of the data changes. With data in a separate partition/drive it is no problem to do a full image restore of the OS/Programs if there is a malware infestation. That way there is no impact on the data.
I can’t disagree with your Anti-malware suggestions in general. But FYI, I’ve learnt that there is more to the Vista Firewall than meets the eye. In it’s efforts to idiot proof Win, M$ has hidden the advanced features of the firewall in a separate User Interface. These articles:
http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10878_11-6131599.html
http://downloads.techrepublic.com.com/abstract.aspx?docid=241759
go into the advanced features. Actually, Tech Republic and it’s many associated sites are absolutely great sources of computing information, including LOTS of freeware and demonstrator software downloads.
Defrag is always a good idea. I’ve been a fan and user of Diskkeeper for more than 10 years. They have a freeware version that is adequate. They also have published white papers explaining that the Windows file system is designed to fragment files (leftover from the $1000 for 10 megabyte HD 1980’s). And, that even immediately after the install, windows is usually already fragmented.
From what I’ve read, installing more RAM in a PC with less than 2gb is faster, easier, cheaper and more effective than installing a new HD. On the other hand there is this 2 year old article (and comments) that goes into the pro’s and cons of going to 10,000 (or even 15,000) RPM drives.
Absolutely fine, Terry. Carry on! We need something to lighten the day sometimes! Can I also recommend the newsletter from MakeUseOf.com?
http://www.makeuseof.com
There is an off-shoot of that site called Geeky Fun
http://www.makeuseof.com/tech-fun/
which also offers some light relief from the toils of the day and current troubles!
oops, here’s the link to the blog on 10,000 RPM drives:
http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000800.html
Re: Moving Programs to Other Drives.
We’re going back to the days of Win95, upgrading to Win98, and my original drive was originally very small (just a few gigs!)and I installed a larger one plus a slave. I had to resort to partitioning to fool the beast into recognising the (slightly!)larger capacity drives and I did install additional programs on the second drive with no problems. I assume that any required registry entries would still be on the “C” drive but provided I specified the “Program Files 2″ folder I had created on the slave, the installs went off without a hitch.
However, I can’t really see any need for doing that these days!
I’m slightly confused about the many differing opinions on the page/swap file mentioned in one comment. It seems generally agreed that putting the page file on a second drive is A GOOD THING but nobody seems to totally agree on how large or even if there should be one as well on the “C” drive. (Windows managed or fixed size?)I read somewhere that either Windows or some programs expect to see a page file of some sort on the “C” drive and the writer recommended having a small one there and the “main” one on the second drive, as they said that Windows constantly uses the page file, no matter how much RAM is available. Any thoughts on that? Also, I have had a look at the idea of a RAM drive to put the page file on (if Windows DOES use it all the time), as it’s supposed to run a lot faster but presumably it needs more RAM to run, which seems something of a vicious circle. It would appear that it would be best just to load up the RAM with the max. that Windows will recognise, anyway and leave it at that.
I love the cartoon! Please keep it.
In my case it’s always the user….ME!
keep the cartoon.
Definitely, a very nice addition and you had a great one this Sunday. Thank you for all your time and knowledge.
Sometimes I wish I could do just that.
Please keep it going, & many thanks.
Wonder what they’re talking about?
See the cartoon in this week’s online newsletter at http://www.terryscomputertips.com/archives/news_20090104.php
Terry
I like having the cartoon. I agree with others, we need a daily chuckle in current times.
My computer crashed just before Christmas and coincidentally my tech who has built, upgraded, and repaired, all of my computers for at least the last fifteen years, was on vacation for two weeks. It was more than I could figure out and since the computer was seven months old and still under warranty, I had to wait for his return. We tried a few things via his cell phone but nothing worked.
I have been back in service for a week and am now just getting caught up after a hard drive
reformat and fresh installation of the operating system and reinstalling all my programs. Yes! I am definitely, positively, going to purchase an external hard drive very soon both for me and my wife.
All of that is to say that I just saw the comment in today’s newsletter so I went back to see last week’s cartoon. Keep them coming. I chuckled when I saw it. I could see myself doing the same thing except I am now retired and have a whole lot more patience since things are a lot calmer.