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

This week’s online newsletter includes:

*   Another Look at Optimize 2.0 - Five Months Later

I got Optimize 2.0 and was very impressed with the cleanup and speedup changes it made on my computer. Now, five months later, is it still a worthwhile tool?

*   What if Scotty Barks - Has WinPatrol Found Something?
I recommend that everyone use the free system-monitoring and system-control program WinPatrol. Scotty is its mascot — and watch dog…

*   My Security Software Recommendations

My recommendations for anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, and anti-spam software…

*   Making Word, Excel and Powerpoint Documents Open in Microsoft Office
How can you fix it, if the files open in the wrong program?

If you need to identify which program opens a particular file type, you can do that, and a lot more, using the Folder Options functions in Windows Explorer.

To find Folder Options, open Windows Explorer (right-click on Start, select Explore). Then, on its menu bar, select Tools and then Folder Options…

At this point, we need to select the File Types tab.

Continue reading HOWTO: Identifying and Changing Default File Type / Program Associations

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

This week’s online articles include:

*   A Look Inside PCPitstop Optimize 2.0
I put Optimize 2.0 through its paces, with screenshots and commentary…

*   Updates Last Week
I watch a few operating systems and programs for updates — mainly because these are the ones that I use or in which I am interested. What updates or versions were new last week?

*   My Computer Security Software Recommendations
Want to know which Antivirus program I recommend? Which firewall program? Which Antispyware program? Which Antispam? Or, which router for your home network?

The more you use your computer, the slower it will get. Run the all-new, free PC Pitstop PC Optimize 2.0 scan now and in just minutes receive a custom report showing you how to keep your PC running like new. Run the FREE scan now!

Reader Dee Smith wrote to ask about antivirus recommendations:

I have been using Norton antivirus programs for 10 years. In May I purchased Norton 360 which has been giving me fits. When I shut down Windows, everything goes off but the tower. I have done all their troubleshooting to see which program I have that might be conflicting with 360 to no avail. I have just uninstalled it and everything is working fine. But I have no virus protection.

Someone told me that you really don’t need an addtional virus program as Windows has it’s own built in anti virus. I have been searching this and have not found that information anywhere.
I’ve been reading your site’s information but haven’t been able to filter through all of the information.

what do you recommend?

First, Dee has received some bad information — Windows does not have its own built-in anti-virus. Neither Windows XP nor Windows Vista include an anti-virus program as part of Windows.

Windows XP and Vista include a Microsoft firewall. The XP version has gone through some changes, but still doesn’t control outbound communications. With Windows Vista, though, Microsoft finally realized that outbound communications are an issue, too.

Continue reading Microsoft Anti-virus?

Can’t wait? My choice is NOD32

I started having a bunch of problems this week with my notebook jumping to 100% CPU usage. It wasn’t just a temporary problem either — at one point, I walked away for 30 minutes. When I returned to my computer, the problem was still there — and my computer was virtually useless.

After a couple times, I realized that the problem occurred shortly after I started Adobe Reader 8. It happened every time that I opened Adobe Reader 8.

I think that Adobe made a very stupid choice in Adobe Reader 8. Prior to version 8, you, the user, had the choice of whether to allow Adobe Reader to contact Adobe’s web site to look for updates. They removed that choice in Adobe Reader 8. Now, when you start Adobe Reader 8, it automatically starts adobeupdater.exe, which presumably attempts to check for updates.

In my case, the program caused a major problem. It immediately grabbed about 98% of the CPU. Unfortunately, the way it hung (or they way it was programmed), it prevented shutting down, …

Continue reading Adobe Reader 8 Problems - And a Change to Foxit Reader

GoToMyPC is designed to allow a PC user to access his computer remotely. This user might be a salesman, a tech support person, a business man who left some files at the office (or at home), a traveler for business or pleasure. Access could be from across town or across the country.

Getting Started With GoToMyPC

On the remote PC, the PC that you’re actually using, you use a Java-capable web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, etc) to access your host computer (your office or home PC). Any web browsers that supports Sun Microsystems’ Java (free, www.java.com) will work, although not all features may be available on some browsers. You can even access and control your Windows PC from a Mac.

On the host, you set up GoToMyPC so that you’ll be able to securely access it remotely.

The first step is signing up for the 30-day trial of the GoToMyPC service. The unlimited-use free trial for 30 days should give you ample time to decide if this service is for you. GoToMyPC is priced at $19.95 monthly or $149.95 per year (25% discount off the monthly rate).

GoToMyPC uses your email address and a double-password system to contol access. During this initial signup, you assign your passwords and, of course, they’re only as secure as you make them and keep them. Good paswords are mixtures of letters, numbers, punctuation (if allowed) and both upper and lower case. GoToMyPC requires the passwords to be at least 8 characters and to include both letters and numbers.

The first password is stored on GoToMyPC’s servers and is used to log into their service. The second password is stored on your home/office host computer. It is used to gain access to your PC.

Continue Reading GoToMyPC Review - Remote Access to Your PC