Terry's Computer Tips - Newsletter
January 28, 2007

Terry's Computer Tips Newsletter
http://www.terryscomputertips.com
A computer tips newsletter for users of PC's.

Volume 2, Number 33 — Sunday, January 28, 2007

Part 1  | Part 2  | Part 3 | Part 4

IN THIS WEEK'S ON-LINE ISSUE:
   1.   Software Registration and Activation
   2.   Updates Last Week
   3.   Printing Problems with the Print Spooler Service
   4.   Finding the Outlook Express Address Book
   5.   ZoneAlarm Upgrade Problems
   6.   My Computer Security Software Recommendations
   7.   HOWTO: Searching using Windows Explorer's Search Functions
   8.   Recommend my Terry's Computer Tips Newsletter to Your Friends

Welcome to the on-line edition of my Terry's Computer Tips newsletter.

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1.  Software Registration and Activation

Subscriber Bill DePierri wrote recently to ask about the new Windows Live ID. He ran into it after installing Microsoft Office 2003 recently.

Terry:

I enjoy your newsletter! Keep it coming.

When I read your newsletter this afternoon, I thought of a topic that I would like to read about. Yesterday, I installed a copy of MS Office 2003 on a new computer that I recently purchased for Ellen. After the installation was complete, I did the "Product Activation" bit. Then, a pop-up asked whether I wanted to "Register" the product.

The "Registration" required that one have a "Windows Live ID". I have never acquired a Windows Live ID as I have always been concerned about the possible ramifications of having this ID. I read the Wikipedia item about Windows Live ID, but still have questions about whether or not it is a "Good Thing".

What is your take on the "Windows Live ID"? Are my concerns justified? What are the advantages of registering this copy of MS Office? And the drawbacks of not registering?

If you think this an appropriate item for discussion in your newsletter, I would like to read your opinions on the matter.

Bill DePierri

I had never heard of it before Bill's email, but I immediately guessed the answer.

The Live ID sounds like it's probably a new name for the Windows Passport, just as MSN is now renamed Microsoft Live. I never had a Windows Passport and never wanted one. I'm not interested — until it's mandatory for something I really want — and that certainly isn't getting one so I can register my software.

I never register Microsoft products. But, I always activate them if required, since it is necessary to work, e.g. Windows XP requires activation but not registration.

My practice with all software is that I do not &quto;register" it a piece of unless that is required to make the software work. All you're doing is handing them an email address for marketing.

Originally, the claimed purpose of software registration was so that companies could notify you of updates.

I guess you know how often that's ever happened...

 

2.  Updates Last Week

Microsoft (operating systems, email, web browser, office suites):
No updates last week. Microsoft releases almost all updates once per month, on the second Tuesday.

Firefox (web browser, http://www.mozilla.com, free):
Versions 2.0.0.1 and 1.5.0.9 were released on December 19th. These are security fixes.. Current version 2.0.0.1. Latest v1.5 version is 1.5.0.9 -- Mozilla.org urges all users to upgrade to Firefox 2.

Opera (web browser, http://www.opera.com, free):
New version! Version 9.10 was released December 18th. This release of Opera introduces "Fraud Protection" as well as user-interface and stability changes. Read the details.

Netscape (web browser, http://browser.netscape.com, free):
No update this week. Version 8.1.2 was released during the week ending September 30.

US-CERT issued a press-release on November 8th that recommended that Netscape users turn off JavaScript. (Mozilla Firefox, SeaMonkey and Thunderbird were subject to the same issues, but new versions were released on November 8th to solve the problem.) AOL has not updated Netscape to the new version of the underlying "Gecko" browser.

SeaMonkey (web browser, email, HTML editor, newsreader; http://www.mozilla.org/projects/seamonkey; free): Version 1.1 was released on January 18, 2007. What's new in SeaMonkey v1.1

Eudora (email, http://www.eudora.com, options: paid, sponsored or free/lite):
No update last week. Version 7.1.0.9 was released October 11, 2006. This was announced as to be the last commercial version before Eudora becomes open-source in the first half of 2007.

If you're running "Sponsored Mode" in a version before 7.1.0.9, you should update now to the current version. Sponsored mode in the earlier versions will expire on March 31st.

Mozilla Thunderbird (email, http://www.mozilla.com/thunderbird, free):
Thunderbird version 1.5.0.9 was released December 19th.

OpenOffice (office suite — spreadsheet, word processor, presentations, graphics, web design; http://www.openoffice.org; free):
Version 2.1 was released during the week ending December 24th.

Part 1  | Part 2  | Part 3 | Part 4

Volume 2, Number 33 — Sunday, January 28, 2007

Copyright © 2007 Terry A. Stockdale.  All rights reserved.