This week’s online newsletter includes:
- Followup Comments on Reformatting a Laptop Computer
In my online newsletter last week, I answered reader Ken’s question about reformatting his 4-year-old HP laptop computer. Unfortunately, Ken’s computer had not come with a Windows CD. So, he didn’t know how to get started.
Briefly summarizing, I wrote that, if Ken wants to reinstall the Windows XP (I assumed it was XP, although it could have been Vista) that came on his computer originally, he needs to contact HP to get a recovery CD/DVD. If he wants to install a different version of Windows or a version of Linux, the CD/DVD of the new operating system will include the necessary tools.
That article prompted several readers to post comments via my Terry’s Computer Tips blog…
- Even More Suggestions on Saving Bookmarks and Favorites
In the July 25th issue of Terry’s Computer Tips, I had a question from subscriber Suzanne about saving bookmarks so she could use them on another computer.
Last week’s issue included reader suggestions for more things that Suzanne could do — and this week, there are even more…
- Email Security When Using Wireless Networking
When you use wireless networking at home, if you haven’t set your wireless router and wireless adapters to use the best encryption they will support (currently WPA2 for most personal wireless devices), you are broadcasting your data unencrypted. That means that anyone who "sniffs" the broadcast signals can read your data.
That data includes web site addresses, passwords (unless the web site provides encryption for that portion of the data), other web site data that you send and that the web site sends to you (unless the web connection is an https:// secure connection), your email server names, email address, email password, and more. So, most people make the appropriate step and set their home wireless router and adapters to encrypt the transmissions.
The snag comes when you use public wireless access points…
- My Security Software Recommendations
My recommendations for anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, anti-spam software, system control software and backup software. It also includes my recommendations for wired and wireless routers, as well as add-on USB Wireless-N adapters.
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
Remember — the email articles are not in the online newsletter — you have to sign up for the email newsletter to get those articles!
Hi Terry,
I recommend that Ken makes a drive image of his hard drive after he has his laptop up and running. This will help him should he have to reinstall at a future date as his machine will have all the drivers and software already installed.
There are many imaging packages such as Symantec’s Ghost that will do the trick.
John
Terry,
First, beware of folks like Yahoo that let you sign into your mail account securely, but then transfer all your email “in the clear”.
Second, I highly recommend the use of the free service from hotspotshield.com that sets up a secure connection between you and them so that EVERYTHING you do is encrypted.
Third, many people incorrectly assume that their “security software” (or that OS X) is going to protect them from internet issues. Just one example of this fallacy is social engineering attacks that can be used to dupe you into divulging private data, and other more elaborate attacks involving javascript that run on any platform.
-Bob
Security Consultant & a Mac Switcher
Terry -
Could get the Microsoft Video Screensaver to install. Endless loop. Appears to be an issue detailed here: http://social.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/genuinewindowsxp/thread/c82e1fba-9f25-41da-a2c4-04c2afe93389/
If you have a solution let me know – Tks!
Win7 Pro x64 AMD Phenom x4 9850 6GB (hp Pavillion 9350f)
Rich,
Go to the link you provided and scroll down to the end. Apparently Microsoft has never released a working version of it. However, someone suggested an alternative program. I don’t know if it’s free or a paid product, and haven’t tried it.
If you try it, let me know what you think of it.
Terry,
I have been a longtime subscriber, and have learned much. Thanks!
Question. I have used Firefox for years, and now have v3.6.8. My machine was hit by lightning via the cable modem, and I had to replace the motherboard. At that time I upgraded from Vista x64 (never had a lick of trouble) to Win 7 Home Prem x64. Because of that upgrade, I had to download and reload a number of programs, one of which was FF. Now there is a website that keeps opening up a tab every time I start FF. It is not a problem website, as it is http://xiles.net/programs/, where I downloaded a great file manager that I have used for a long time. I can not seem to find any list of sites to open on start-up other than my homepage. How do I stop that tab from always opening?
Thanks,
Ed P.
Ed P.,
Check the web pages you have set as the “Home Page” in Firefox.
Firefox allows you to set multiple pages as Home Pages at the same time, separated by the Pipe symbol “|” – these pages will open in separate tabs.
I suspect that you’ve got more than one Home Page set up.
Regarding that particular site, I’m unable to get there. VIPRE Antivirus Premium’s firewall blocks access to it and says “VIPRE has determined that the site you are trying to visit is malicious.” That is possibly a false-positive, but I’m going to stop at that point.
Terry