Genealogy Chat

Many thanks Judy. Nudging this to read and work through slowly!

Cheers for tips Judy!

Thanks Judy Regards Shirley

Thanks ever so much Judy. Very informative as usual. I certainly didn't know I could get upgrades for my printer etc. Jeanette x

Jeanette: Microsoft CRITICALl updates, which I am assuming you have chosen to have your PC download automatically (the pop-up that appears at the bottom right hand corner of your screen advising you of the fact on occasion) comes as Microsoft makes them available, so there is no way of telling when you'll get them....cometimes I've had several in a month, other times they appear months apart. The CUSTOM updates you have to manually go to the site and check for these. Although not critical (critical updates are fixes in vulnerability to your system, Windows errors, etc.....) I check once a month or so.....Things like upgrades to Intenrnet Explorer browser, DRIVERS - which are upgrades to your PCs hardware that keep your PC up to date with technology, and the like, are available and they are important. I go a step further, like tonight, my printer is was not responding to commands normally.....I visited the Hewlett Packard website and low and behold, there were available upgrades for my model - I downloaded the DRIVER upgrade and my printer is back to normal. Updates for other hardware can be checked too, like for your scanner, digital camera, monitor, mouse, etc.....things people don't think of know to do is often just a mouse click away. Heather, only to glad to help! Judy

Nudge

Thanks Judy, I seem to have four little boxes on top of one another on the pc screen and on one if I point at it, it says drag files to here to burn (or something like that) but Im not sure what it is. I have about 200hundred letters on my works program and also lots of emails to do with family history I want to save. Son could help but he hasnt been home for a while (he is 25 and doesnt live here!). Im going to copy what you have put and go through it a bit at a time. Thanks so much for all the trouble you take for all us non-techis!

Brilliant Judy! Thankyou A question if I may. I now have a new computer and I'm running xp and I have had some updates which I have downloaded. What I would like to know is, how often would I expect to get updates and should I download them all? Thanks Jeanette x

Hi Heather.... Please excuse the short note as I'm off to work so but will be back later.... Assuming you have Windows XP and a CD burner: 1. Place a CD in the CD drawer and close. 2. Find the item(s) you wish to burn - this works with either a single file or a yellow folder - Place your mouse over the item you wish to burn and RIGHT click on it. 3. A drop down box will appear - click on SEND TO. 4. Another drop down box appears - click CD DRIVE (take note of the letter next to the name of the CD DRIVE - for instructions purposes we'll call it CD DRIVE E.) 5. You'll now see a balloon appear at the bottom, right hand side of your screen telling you that you have files waiting write to CD.....you can ignore that balloon for now - just go back to each item you wish to save to CD and follow steps 2 through 4 until you have all the files you wish to burn sent to the CD DRIVE. 6. Once your done sending the files to the CD DRIVE click on START. 7. Click on MY COMPUTER. 8. Click on CD DRIVE E (or whatever letter appeared when you sent the files to the CD Drive.) You should now see all the files you are waiting to burn listed. 9. Look to the left of screen - where it says CD TASKS - click on WRITE THESE FILES. 10. A CD WIAZARD will appear - You can create a short CD name for the CD on this screen in the space provided. 11. Click NEXT and follow the prompts to burn the CD - you shouldn't have to do anything more than to click on NEXT unless you want to change something up. Judy

Judy, sorry to have to ask as Im sure I should know and some kind people did try to help BUT, I did have a virus wipe out my entire pc a couple of years back, all my accounts, letters, docs everything. Could you tell me please in words of one syllable, from actually turning on the puter, how do I save everything I have on it to a cd. Please treat me as the complete techno phobe that I am. I have Windows XP. Many thanks.

Thanks Judy. I see your favourite is Winamp too... brilliant.... I am pleased to see that here.... Thanks Steve

** Anti-Virus – OK, most PCs do come with this! Two “pay for” programs I like Norton Anti-Virus, also know as Symantec (my personal favorite) or McAfee. Grisoft’s (free) AVG anti-virus – there’s also a “pay for” version – would be my choice for “free.” I know there are those who will swear by AVG, the free version, and I agree, it’s an excellent program, but you get what you pay for – Norton and McAfee are superior, though. ** Anti-Spyware - For XP users, all you need is Microsoft’s (free) Anti-Spyware program which can be found here: http://www.microsoft(.)com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=321cd7a2-6a57-4c57-a8bd-dbf62eda9671&displaylang=en Download, install and run the program in SAFE MODE the first time you use it – after that you can run in normal mode. (Directions to start your PC in SAFE MODE can be found on the TIPS board, thread “1 STOP ROUTINE PC MAINTENECE” on the first page of the thread.) If you have another Windows version on your PC (Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows 98) I would suggest that you use the two following programs: Lavasoft's AD-AWARE which can be found here: http://www.lavasoftusa(.)com/software/adaware/ SPYWAREBLASTER which can be found here: http://www.javacoolsoftware(.)com/spywareblaster.html Download both programs and install. Run, for the first time in SAFE MODE.....after that you can just run the programs in normal mode. ** WINZIP – which is a program that will allow you to open e-mails that have multiple attachments (ie more than one photograph or document attached.) Your PC is capable, when you initially get it, to open mail with only 1 attachment….any more than 1 attachment your PC can’t open. It needs a program capable of UNZIPPING it as multiple attachments come to you compressed. (Your PC automatically ZIPS multiple attachments that you send so no special software is needed for that.) Although WINZIP states it’s a “pay for” program, download the EVALUATION version of this product and it DOES work indefinitely – even though after 30 days it says you must buy it – just click that notice away and the program will continue to work. WINZIP can be found here: http://www.winzip(.)com/downwzeval.htm?wzdm Again, remember to remove the ( ) from the address. ** JAVA: One of those things that enhance your PC and can be found here: http://www.java(.)com/en/download/windows_ie.jsp * MICROMEDIA FLASH: (Before downloading this program be sure to UNCHECK the offer to download the YAHOO toolbar – you don’t need it and it contains its own brand of spyware.) • Enjoy the most vivid content on the web • Watch video without extra downloads • Interact with applications on your favorite sites You can find FLASH here: http://www.macromedia(.)com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash ** MICROMEDIA SHOCKWAVE: Enhances animations http://sdc.shockwave(.)com/shockwave/download/triggerpages_mmcom/default.html ** WINMP PLAYER – My personal favorite for playing music and video files. http://www.winamp(.)com/player/ Also, A MUST have, all the CRITICAL and most of the CUSTOM downloads found at the Windows Update site. Under CUSTOM, always download any suggested DRIVERS the site offers for your PC as this updates certain hardware on your PC, keeping you up to date with technology. Also under CUSTOM, there is an update for your Internet Explorer – do be sure to download this one if you haven’t already. ***** Make sure you remove the ( ) from all of the above web addresses. ****

Below is list of programs that do not come with a new (or old!) PC but should be downloaded and installed so that you utilize all the things your PC has to offer….the following programs are what our shop puts on all our customers PCs: