C C C C N E W S L E T T E R
CENTRAL COAST COMPUTER CLUB
Santa Maria, California
VOLUME XVIII: NUMBER 9 SEPTEMBER, 2003
NEXT MEETING: August 19, 2003 6:00PM KNOLLWOOD VILLAGE 4012 S. BRADLEY
PRESENTATION: Rich Blumenthal of Dragon Naturally Speaking will speak on
"Computer Voice Recognition Technology".
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| CONTENTS |
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(1) Officers, Helplines, S.I.G.s
(2) President's Corner Charles Barney
(3) Hardware S.I.G. Ray Isenson
(4) Novice S.I.G. Amy Malicki
(5) Systems S.I.G. Dick Trissel
(6) Editor's Comments Dick Trissel
(7) Web Wanderings Gil Smith
(8) Windows Cleaners Dick Trissel
(9) Introduction to JUNO Dick Trissel
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OFFICERS HELPLINES
President Juno
Charles Barney 937-1240 Gilbert Smith 925-3743
cbarney@lightspeed.net colgil1@aol.com
Vice President Windows 95/98/ME/XP & VoiceControl
Richard Holmes 938-0622 Amy Malicki 925-5780
holmesr1@juno.com amymal@juno.com
Secretary and Book Librarian Hardware & Windows XP
Barbara Godwin 934-9885 Ray Isenson 937-6938
yung.bag@verizon.net risenson@juno.com
Treasurer AOL
Gerry Miller 934-1396 Frank Maciel 922-2318
2741 Banyan Way frm8198@aol.com
Santa Maria CA 93455
Gmiller@pronet.net
Disk Librarian Visual Basic
Sharon Allen 928-2209 Gerald Miller 934-1396
sallen4060@aol.com Gmiller@pronet.net
Publicity Help With Any Problem
Bill Corning 934-0775 Fred Adams 934-1128
foster95@juno.com wd64acj@netzero.net
Newsletter Editor
Dick Trissel 937-7572
rtrissel@juno.com
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS (S.I.G.s)
Novice (6:00pm) Hardware (6:00pm) Systems (5:45pm)
Amy Malicki Ray Isenson Dick Trissel
amymal@juno.com risenson@juno.com rtrissel@juno.com
CCCC Membership is $15 for twelve months ($20 family). For this you
receive:
Monthly newsletter
EXTRA4C E-mail Messages
Access to the clubs software library
Disk of the month (usually for $1)
Helpline support
Monthly presentation
Valuable door prizes
Question and answer sessions
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CCCC Page 2 September 2003
PRESIDENT'S CORNER
by Charles Barney
The actual count at the August 19th meeting varied depending on who you asked, but the average
estimated attendance was about 60 persons. I know that at least one member couldn't find a
parking space around the clubhouse and was directed to use one of the guest parking areas in
Knollwood. Are you car-pooling whenever possible?
If you have not been attending the meetings recently, we have three different SIGs going right
now. Dick Trissel's Systems, Amy Malikcki's Novice, and Ray Isenson has started a new Hardware
SIG. We try to have something of interest to everyone. If you have some thoughts on a topic for
a future SIG or any interest in conducting one yourself, please let me, or another officer,
know about it.
Our guest speaker was Steve Burgess, owner and operator of Burgess Consulting, a local business
specializing in computer forensics and data recovery. Steve said that his vocation started from
the humble beginning of taking on the challenge to retrieve data from a friend's damaged hard
drive. He was able to figure out how to do it and developed an interest in pursuing this area.
Today, Mr. Burgess is a world-recognized expert in his field. He claims to have performed over
ten thousand recoveries, and is often called on to testify in court as an expert witness.
Having been involved in some high-profile legal cases, and served a wide variety of clients
(including some well-known celebrities), Steve has a lot of interesting stories to tell!
To find out more about the business, you can visit his web site at:
http://www.burgessforensics.com.
No less than six lucky door prize winners took home the loot at the drawing near evening's end.
These included Win Campbell - 25 pack Color CD Jewel Cases, Howard Williams - Activision Game
Show 3 Pack, Millie Smith - Printmaster Gold 15, Bill Reineke - Broderbund Calendar Creator 8,
Jack Sutherlin - Therapeutic Stress Ball.
Ray Isenson passed and Stan Voris won a 3.5" Diskette Wallet. Not present when called were
Barbara Lohman, Joseph Roberts, Robert Carmichael, Bob Davis, Dorothy Raupp, Don Feragen and
Charles High.
One of the most promising and potentially useful developments in computer technology is that of
Voice Recognition. For the September 16th meeting we have scheduled Rich Blumenthal
representing Dragon Naturally Speaking to give us a presentation on this very topic. I'm sure
that he will also be offering the software at very reasonable User Group prices for those
interested in trying out this fascinating way to control your computer. Try not to miss this
one! - Charles
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CCCC Page 3 September 2003
Hardware S.I.G.
by Ray Isenson
We'll meet at 6PM in the library if it is available. Otherwise, we'll meet at the pool, again.
This will be a question and answer session.
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CCCC Page 4 September 2003
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP (S.I.G.) FOR NOVICES
By Amy L. Malicki
This six o'clock session meets in the main clubroom with the overhead projector. This session
is intended to provide answers to new user questions and/or problems.
We discussed the search for LOST files in "Microsoft Explorer" - the "Windows File Manager",
from both the START Menu and My Computer.
An Agenda will be available, which can be used for making notes. However, since we try to solve
individual problems as well - we don't always complete the Agenda.
A Glossary of basic computer terms will be available for those who need one.
Future sessions will cover Editing a Document and adding Headers & Footers.
Bring your questions, and I will try to answer them -- even if you are not a novice, but want
to learn more about the computer, and what it can do for you.
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Amy's Book: "Computer SAVVY for Seniors" or
"What to do AFTER you turn the computer on" $7.50
Available at Comstar Computers - 2530 S. Broadway near the Mobile Station
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CCCC Page 5 September 2003
SYSTEMS S.I.G.
by Dick Trissel
I guess you club members are getting smarter about your computers 'cause the questions are
getting harder. Which brings up the reminder that the questions and problems presented in the
System S.I.G. need to be answered by the attendees. I am just a moderator and far from being
able to answer all the questions-especially those involving Windows XP and some of the Windows
ME.
Although this S.I.G. is intended to concentrate on system problems, many user problems are
problems with applications. This kind of problem really requires help from another user
familiar with that particular application. So, come prepared to answer questions as well as
present them.
Speaking of questions-several people asked about how to remove Windows XP and go back to
Windows 98. A couple of us agreed that this is not a good idea if the computer is nearly new
and came with XP installed. Windows 98 may not be able to recognize the motherboard built-in
hardware. And drivers for that hardware may be difficult to obtain. At best, it is a very
difficult arrangement.
A possible compromise is to install both systems in a multi-boot configuration. It was
mentioned, that if you install the old operating system on a partitioned hard drive first, and
then install XP (on a separate partition, of course), you will get the choice of which
operating system automatically at startup. This is supposed to be a feature of XP. However,
my limited understanding is that it isn't that easy. From what I read, you are probably going
to have to get a commercial multi-boot program such as Boot Magic that comes with Partition
Magic from PowerQuest.
The question of pop-ups popped up again. These can be controlled with programs like Ad-aware,
No-Ads, Zero-ads, etc. One person mentioned that the Google Toolbar add-on has pop-up control.
E-mail Spam blockers were discussed. I feel they are more trouble than they are worth. If you
block every address that isn't in your addressbook, you reject new friends; and old friends and
relatives when they change their addresses. If you block too much, with the idea of reviewing
the blocked messages to make sure you haven't missed anything, you haven't gained anything.
It was reported that the article in the CCCC August newsletter on System File Configuration is
not applicable to Windows ME or XP. The XP Recovery Control Console has the Expand function,
which is like the DOS Extract function. It may be the same in ME.
We haven't had many questions lately about CD burning. Is this because everyone has it all
figured out, or they've given up on getting help from the S.I.G, or just given up, period.
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CCCC Page 6 September 2003
EDITOR'S COMMENTS
by Dick Trissel
Did you ever wonder where all the neat CCCC door prizes come from? A few years ago we would
get donations from Microsoft and software publishers. But those days are gone. Now we can
thank Charles Barney for almost all of the monthly array of prizes for the last three years.
He not only shops, and makes the hard decisions, he also has to do the rebate requests. And if
you have ever gone through that you can appreciate his efforts.
Another advantage he brings to the door prize purchasing is that he goes out of town where
there are better selections and prices.
Speaking of deals. Did you notice the August newsletter had some faint pages? The club's
printer ink cartridge finally went dry. I replaced it and took the empty cartridge to Office
Depot for the free exchange for a ream of recycled paper. We now have enough paper for four
years of newsletters.
If anyone has some old cartridges, and an abundance of paper, take the cartridges (one at a
time-any brand) to Office Depot and get a ream of paper that can be used as a door prize item.
You have undoubtedly noticed many of the EXTRA4C bulletin technical items are extractions from
e-mail newsletters. Here is a list of Web sites from which you can obtain your own free e-mail
subscriptions:
www.komando.com
Weekly newsletter
Tip of the day
Cool web site of the day
www.lockergnome.com
Windows Daily newsletter
Tech newsletter
Weekly digest
www.langa.com
LangaList
ct.com.com
Digital Dispatch
www.pcworld.com
News items
Downloads
www.worldstart.com/comptips.htm
Computer tips
www.windows-help.net
I know it may seem a little early in the year to talk about CCCC officer elections, but the
nominations are in October-just a month and a half away. With over one hundred members, there
shouldn't be any problem giving the current officers a break (some have been in office for many
years). And don't think that by not coming to the October meeting will preclude your being
nominated-just the opposite. If you aren't there to decline, you may get stuck-whoops, that's
tapped!
While we're on that subject-who would like the glorious job of newsletter editor? Along with
it comes the maintenance of the member roster and the Web site, and the updating of the door
prize name list. Gosh, it sounds like so much fun I may not want to give it up .
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CCCC Page 7 September 2003
WEB WANDERINGS
by Gil Smith
NativeWeb
NativeWeb is a site that is dedicated to bringing information from and about indigenous
nations, peoples, and organizations around the world. From Abenaki to Zuni, they are all here!
Their goal is not just to preserve information, but to foster communication between native and
non-native people, to conduct research, and to provide resources for indigenous peoples to use
technology.
Find information from all sorts of cultures; definitely a time consuming page, as there is so
much to see and read. But it's worth checking out.
http://www.nativeweb.org/
The Cyberhymnal
At Cyberhymnal you can hear Christian hymns in MIDI format while you read the words to the
song. The site contains 4,000 Christian hymns and Gospel songs, with the scores, music (in
midi format), pictures, lyrics, and background information about that particular song.
You can search for your hymn by name, author/composer, countries, and much, much more. So turn
your speakers up and start the sing-a-long.
http://www.cyberhymnal.org
Zoo Web
This is your worldwide link to zoos and aquariums. What's so special about it? Well, I think
the Atlanta Panda Cam is a big bonus right now. But the Satellite Tracking Wildlife is also
really neat. Or would you like to be a zookeeper or animal handler, at zoo web you can find
out now.
Check out their list of live web cams from different zoos around the country and the world. A
hometown mention for those of you who live in
Ohio, (since we're based in Toledo) go to the Toledo Zoo Hippo cam and see the new neighbor, a
baby hippo. And for those of you in Columbus take a look at your Manatee cam.
There are also games, links to zoos and aquariums around the world, an online poll, zoo groups,
and the Zooper Site of the Month.
http://www.zooweb.com/
Hyperhistory
A really great world history site, covering over 3,000 years of history from around the globe.
They have 460 biographical timelines for you to peruse and make use of.
I suggest you click on the HyperHistory link to get to the online viewing, otherwise you'd
think this was an advertisement. It's cleverly hidden but let's make it more simple - go here
and view 3,000 years of history.
http://www.hyperhistory.com/
Giant Lava Lamp
How can you get tourists to stop in your town rather than blink and miss it? Build a giant lave
lamp. Soap Lake, a once bustling spa town due to its unique mineral lake, is located in
Eastern Washington State and is no longer bustling, but in fact needs re-development. Two
enterprising citizens have proposed building a giant Lava Lamp in the very center of the town.
The giant lava lamp, which was approved by both the town and the county, will hold an estimated
60,000 gallons of water. Stop by this site often to check their progress.
http://www.giantlavalamp.com
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CCCC Page 8 September 2003
WINDOWS CLEANERS
by Dick Trissel
Here are some tips on how to keep some of your Windows computer areas cleared of unnecessary
files. They work for Windows 9X. I won't vouch for Windows ME or XP. But the ideas can be
used for those systems.
The first is a .bat (batch) type file. In a text editor such as Notepad, type the following
lines:
rem DOS program to allow the user to delete the files in the
rem Windows Recent and Temp folders.
rem It does NOT remove folders.
@echo off
cd \
cd C:windows\Recent
dir
del *.*
echo ____________
@echo off
cd \
cd C:Windows\Temp
dir
del *.*
echo ____________
echo ****
echo DONE
Save the file in C:\Aclean.bat (the A is so it is near the top of the C: folder). Then with
the right mouse button, drag the file to the desktop and make a shortcut there. When you
double click the shortcut icon, you will open a DOS window. Answer the prompts with a Y if you
want the listed files deleted, or N if you don't. Even if you don't choose to delete, at least
you see what's there to be deleted or not. Click the X to clear the window. Note: this will
not delete folders.
The next three are simply shortcut icons to be put on the desktop.
Clear the Temporary Internet Files and Cookies.
With Windows Explorer, go to C:\WINDOWS\Temporary Internet Files and right button drag it to
the desktop and create a shortcut there. When you double click the icon, you will open a
Windows Explorer window with the Temporary Internet files and Cookies listed. Do a CTRL/A for
select all and then SHIFT/DELETE to delete the files. In Windows 98 (not SE) you will have to
hold down the enter key to delete all the cookies.
Go Directly to the Defrag Utility.
With Windows Explorer, go to C:\WINDOWS\Defrag.exe, right button drag it to the desktop and
create a shortcut there. When you double click the icon, you will open the Defrag window.
JUNO Ads Removal (obviously, this is for JUNO subscribers).
With Windows Explorer, go to C:\Program Files\JUNO\ads, right button drag it to the desktop and
create a shortcut there. When you double click the icon, you will open a Windows Explorer
window with the JUNO advertisement folders and some other folders listed. Select the folders
that do NOT start with 0300 (and NOT the Logs folder or the addb.frm file) and then
SHIFT/DELETE to delete the folders. Removing these folders not only stops the JUNO ads during
JUNO startup and run, but also saves a lot of disk space. Each folder contains some large
files.
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CCCC Page 9 September 2003
INTRODUCTION TO JUNO
by Dick Trissel
I've had several inquiries lately for a recommendation for an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
It seems the AOL, Hotmail/MSN, Earthlink subscribers are losing satisfaction with the poor
service and high costs of these providers. Now, I don't have any extended experience with
these providers, so I can't comment on them. But I do have several years worth of experience
with most of the Juno and Netzero options. I will share them with you, and you can decide for
yourself.
The parent company is United Online. There are three major providers in United Online--Juno,
Netzero and Bluelight. Yep, it's the old KMART Bluelight ISP restructured for United Online.
I've no experience with Bluelight, so will not comment on it other than to say it appears to be
very similar to Netzero.
Juno comes in many flavors. There are the free Juno versions up to version 6. I'll say right
off, Juno 4 is my favorite for its simplicity, but I'm still evaluating Juno 5. Juno 5 does
have improved graphics capability, both incoming and outgoing e-mail. Juno 5 has a few more
features, but is more cumbersome, in my opinion. Juno 6 is not as complete as Juno 4/5. More
on that in a minute.
Juno versions 4/5/6 are also available for $9.95 per month--what they call the Platinum
version. Both the free and the Platinum have unlimited Web access time, but the free licensing
reserves the right to limit the time in the future. The big difference is that the Platinum
has very little advertising--no ad banner that the free does have. They've got to pay the
bills some way.
All the Juno versions 4 and 5 have an e-mail service that connects directly to their e-mail
server--no Internet connection involved. You write your message in a text editor or with the
Juno editor offline, make any attachment assignments, and then send the mail. This is a simple
dialup, connect, transfer (both send and receive), and hang up. The incoming and outgoing e-
mail is in your computer's Juno folders. This makes for a very short connect time--excellent
for people like me who have only one phone line. Note: Juno 6 does not have the direct dial e-
mail feature--dumb!
Juno versions 4, 5 and 6 have Web mail capability. This is convenient if you are away from
home, have access to the Internet, and want to read your mail and respond. The e-mail stays at
Juno so you can retrieve it when you get home.
Netzero (Web only-no direct dial e-mail) is very much like the Juno 4 and 5 Web and version 6
(which is just the Web portion of Juno 4 and 5). Netzero also uses POP3 e-mail. I use Outlook
Express for my Netzero POP3 e-mail.
There's a free Web version of Netzero and a $9.95 per month Platinum version.
The free version has ads and an ad banner. Both have unlimited time, but the free version
reserves the possibility of limiting heavy users.
My recommendation is to try the free Juno and then you can upgrade to the Platinum when you
want. And, you can have both free and pay accounts. I have one pay and three free--one of the
free is the club's EXTRA4C bulletin account. Also, you can have your accounts on several
different computers. All of my accounts are on six different computers.
So, how do you get Juno? You can call Juno at 1-800-try-juno (1-800-879-5866) and get the four
options:
1 Member questions
2 Check for phone numbers in your area (there are 6 in the Santa Maria/Nipomo area)
3 Order billable services (Platinum)
4 Order free services with a $9.95 charge for the CD.
If you already have Web access, the Juno 6 and Netzero are downloadable as two minute downloads
(about 500Kb) at http://www.juno.com and http://www.netzero.net. Then, as you use the service,
they send you the rest (several megabytes). Juno 5 is a 30 minute download (over 7Mb), IF you
are already a subscriber--duh!
I make available CDs of either Juno 4 or Juno 5. United Online actually promotes this action.
In fact, if you refer someone to Juno or Netzero and they subscribe to the Platinum and stay
subscribed for 3 months, and they give your name as a referrer, you get $20 from United Online.
If you want to try Juno and/or Netzero and want a CD, just contact me. My contact information
is on the cover of this newsletter. Also, a current subscriber can go to JUNO and request a
free CD be sent to a prospective subscriber.
Oh yeh, you used to need Internet Explorer (IE) version 4 (it came with Windows 98) or later on
your computer in order to install Juno 4. I've not proved this is still true. The CDs have
IE5 on them if you need or want it. After Juno is installed you can use IE or Netscape as your
browser. Juno 5 also has it's own Web browser, but I don't like it as much as IE.
The computer system minimum requirements are:
486 PC (or faster) running Windows95 or later, 8Mb RAM, 20Mb hard disk space, VGA or SVGA
monitor, 9600bps or better modem, and a CD-ROM drive.
There are new Juno services for high speed dialup and for a broadband connection, but that's
another story.
If you already have Web access, you can learn more by going to http://www.juno.com or
http://www.netzero.net.
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