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Disadvantages of a Notebook Computer

January 4, 2012 By

I’ve mentioned many times that my main computer is my notebook computer. Sure, I have a desktop computer, too, I just don’t use it very much. I also have my home theater PC and a Linux-based file server for backup. But, my Dell Inspiron 8600 is the real workhorse.

In this week’s online newsletter, my article Why Buy a Notebook Computer? I’ve written about making the decision on whether or not to buy a notebook computer — and when to go for the cheaper models.

But, first, let’s consider some of the limitations of a notebook computer, as compared to a typical desktop computer.

These include:

  • Price — for an equally capable computer, a notebook is more expensive

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Filed Under: Hardware, Notebook, Terry's Computer Tips Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

I Dumped Eudora OSE

October 19, 2011 By

I changed one of my everyday software programs this week. I wrote about a year ago concerning Eudora OSE (Open Source Edition), a new open-source version of Eudora that is based on the Thunderbird email program from the Mozilla Foundation.

After a few days of running my old Eudora program in parallel with Eudora OSE, I quickly changed to Eudora OSE for my everyday use.

It took some adjustments and took figuring out how to have multiple email accounts using multiple email servers. But, I was pretty happy with Eudora OSE.

Then, I ran into a problem with its email filters. The filters allow the user to take specific actions on an email, based on the content of the Subject, To or From lines. I’ve put up with that problem, which came from no known reason — and certainly not a buggy update (there haven’t been any updates) for a couple months, but it finally aggravated me too much.

I’d used filters for years to get control of my Inbox, and put related emails into their own folders, e.g. I set up a folder for emails from a mailing list, and set up a filter to have Eudora OSE put them in the folder automatically.

However, Eudora OSE developed a problem for some reason…

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Filed Under: Email, Eudora, Terry's Computer Tips, Thunderbird Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Uninstalling and Reinstalling Programs

July 3, 2011 By

Every once in a while, we decide to uninstall a program because we don’t need it any longer. We go to Start / Control Panel / Add or Remove Programs. After Windows shows the list of programs we can uninstall, we select the one and click on the Remove button. Sometimes, we have to go to the Start Menu section for that program in order to find the uninstall program.

The process is usually very easy. Some programs, unfortunately, do not always clean up after themselves properly when they uninstall themselves.

“When they uninstall themselves?” Yes; although you might believe that Windows is actually uninstalling a program when you use the Add/Remove Programs tool, all you are really doing is running the program’s own uninstall routine. The programmer has to create the uninstall program and register it with your copy of Windows for it to show up in that list.

There are some third-party programs that are designed to monitor program installations so that they know what to “put back” if you use the third-party program to do uninstalls. Norton CleanSweep is one that comes to mind. You can buy it separately or as part of the Norton Systemworks package.

Sometimes, though, the uninstall completes but leaves your computer disabled in some way. Norton Antivirus 2002 was such a program — on some computers, it would uninstall perfectly. On others, it would not remove one of its settings in the Windows Registry. I had NAV2002 uninstall perfectly on two computers and fail to remove a registry setting on two others.

Unfortunately, the setting told Windows not to …

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Filed Under: Operating System, Software, System, Terry's Computer Tips Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I Want a Real Backup Program

June 21, 2011 By

Subscriber Mike Gallagher wrote recently to ask about backing up his computer:


Hi Terry,

I am confused about "backup" your computer. I see all sorts of ads and articles about backing up a computer. Most all of what I see is not a REAL backup. What I mean as a "real backup" is that if a hard drive crashes — even one with the operating system on it, full recovery can be made. This is true even if the disk crashes with sound, smell, and visual effects included — a head crash resulting is lots of nasty noise, circuit board shorts with sparks and nasty smelling smoke. O.K. you get my point.

If I have a REAL backup, I replace the hard drive, load the backup CD or DVD, boot and start loading all the necessary files onto the new hard drive, remove the backup media, re-boot and am right where I was, running, just before the excitement.

Does such a procedure really exist, or is "backup" just a save application programs, but without all the install and run info? It seems that this is what most backup programs do.

I am looking for a backup program, or whatever term you want to use, that allows me to create a CD / DVD, or set of them that I can recover as described above, without having to go find my original install disks for the operating system and the applications as well.

I am running windows 7, 64 bit, home premium.

Thanks,

Mike G.

Mike’s asking for it — and I’m already using it, as a number of Terry’s Computer Tips readers. The solution is an image backup program called Acronis True Image Home 2011.

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Filed Under: Backups, Software, Terry's Computer Tips Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Accessing the Internet While Travelling – 2011 Style

May 31, 2011 By

Several years ago, I wrote an article about how to access the Internet while travelling. It focused on using a notebook computer with dialup access, using a hotel business center’s computer (or a friend’s whom you were visiting) to access your emails. Little more than that

So much has changed…

Now, we have smart phones, whether Blackberry, iPhone, Android, that we can use to check emails and can use to surf the web. The small screen isn’t great, but it works!

We’ve also got the ability to use 3G wireless network adapters for laptop computers (assuming we have a laptop computer), Apple iPad’s with 3G service from AT&T or iPad 2′s with our choice of AT&T or Verizon 3G service (assuming we can find one in stock somewhere, or are willing to order one and wait!).

Finally, the best (in my current opinion) approach — tethering our smart mobile phone that has 3G access to our laptop computer.

I used to do that long, long ago with a laptop and a Motorola flip-phone. But, then AT&T got wise and changed their terms of service to prohibit tethering.

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Filed Under: Communications, Networking, Terry's Computer Tips Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Problems Installing HP Photo Printer Software

May 30, 2011 By

Subscriber Wanda Armstrong wrote recently to ask for help in installing the driver software for her new photo printer:


I have a HP Photosmart 7760 printer. (NO disk) I found the program and driver file download at HP site. I am running XP Prof.

I have tried multiple times to install the file and it sticks or hangs at 31% every time. How do I get this problem solved?

Don’t know if this would have anything to do with the stall or not but I had HP 4400 printer connected for a while I didn’t uninstall that program or driver.

HP is
of NO HELP on this_ Can you please advise a fix for this problem?

Thanks a Bunch! Wanda

I wrote back to Wanda to suggest that she try shutting down all the other programs, except her firewall and antivirus, when she installs. She may have some particular program running in the background that’s interfering.

Also, I reminded her that HP’s software requires…

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Filed Under: Hardware, Printers, Terry's Computer Tips Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,