Terry's Computer Tips - Newsletter
April 12, 2009

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

Volume 4, Number 44 — Sunday, April 12, 2009

IN THIS ON-LINE ISSUE:

   1.   Setting the Power Options on a Notebook
   2.   The Lighter Side of Technology
   3.   Even Though I Reinstalled Windows — Acronis True Image Came to the Rescue
   4.   Unable to Access Specific Web Sites
   5.   My Computer Security Software Recommendations
   6.   Recommend my Terry's Computer Tips Newsletter to Your Friends

My emailed newsletter is sent weekly to individuals who have subscribed to it. While mainly an announcement of the latest online nenwsletter, it also has different, additional content — not the articles in the online issue. Click here to subscribe. It's free!

Welcome to the on-line edition of my Terry's Computer Tips newsletter. Its articles are not in the email issue — and the email articles aren't in the online issue — subscribe to my email newsletter so you can read both.

1.  Setting the Power Options on a Notebook

 

Sunbelt Personal Firewall for Windows 2000, XP and Vista Two-way firewall to control inbound and outbound communications. For Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Vista 32-bit. Free 30-day Full-function Trial. Discounts for multiple computers & multiple years! Unlimited Home Site License Available for ALL Your Home PCs SPF is my choice for my computers and my family's Windows XP computers

After reinstalling Windows XP last weekend, I've still been finding all the little things that I hadn't fixed yet. One of those was to change the Power Options on my notebook.

By default, Windows XP sets the default Power Options to very, very short power-down options.

As shown below, the settings for running on battery power, which I seldomly do, turn off the monitor after 5 minutes of inactivity. They also turn off the hard drive at the same time and put the notebook to sleep.

If the notebook is plugged into the electrical socket, the default settings turn off the monitor after 15 minutes, the hard drives after 30 minutes and put the system to sleep after an hour.

(click on the image for a larger version)

My choices are more user-friendly, although if I'm running on batteries, I'll run out of battery power more quickly.

(click on the image for a larger version)

When I'm running with the power adapter, I don't like the monitor and hard drives to shut off too quickly, and since I have my system set to do scans during the night and my Acronis True Image incremental backups during the night, I don't want my notebook to shut down unless I've selected the time.

One of the more significant options, the ability for the notebook to hibernate, is turned off by default.

(click on the image for a larger version)

The final step I needed to check after reinstalling Windows was to check the "Advanced" tab of the Power Options. I wanted to make sure that I didn't get prompted for a password when resuming from Standby, although some people will want this feature if they travel with their laptops. I also needed to check the settings for what happens when I close the lid and when I press the Power button.

(click on the image for a larger version)

(click on the image for a larger version)

2.  The Lighter Side of Technology

Advertisement How long will a new PC run at top speed? The more you use your new 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!

This week's technology cartoon at Terry's Computer Tips!

And, they say "Image is Everything..."

3.  Even Though I Reinstalled Windows — Acronis True Image Came to the Rescue

Even Though I Reinstalled Windows, Acronis True Image Home 2009 and my image backups of C: and D: came to my rescue.

When I planned my backup and reinstall, I used ATIH 2009 to back up my C: and D: drives (my two partitions on my one physical hard drive in my computer) onto my external hard drive. I also routinely and daily copy any changed files from my hard drive across my network to another computer. That way, I know I've got the latest available for backup from a system problem or a user error.

I also have ATIH 2009 set to make an incremental image (an image of just those files that have changed since the last full or incremental image) every three (3) days.

I've found that for a large amount of data, it is far faster to restore a bunch of folders to the hard drive by using one of the features of Acronis True Image. I'm able to "mount" an image as if it were another hard drive. Well, not just that, if the image has multiple partitions (e.g., C: and D: in the same image), each of them is mounted as a drive.

At that point, I'm able to access the drive using Windows Explorer, so I can copy anything I want to copy to the hard drive.

That's a neat feature. But, what makes it so much better is that it copies everything. I was surprised at all the little utilities that stored their configuration data in their folders within C:\Program Files or in C:\Documents and Settings\[myUserID]\Application Data\ or in C:\Documents and Settings\[myUserID]\Local Settings\Application Data\.

In my planning for the backup, as I wrote in my emai newsletter last week, I had copied a lot of data to a third partition on my notebook computer. Unfortunately, Windows XP's installation routine messed up all those plans. If there's an existing partition on the hard drive, even at the end of the drive (as this one was), Windows XP will name it C: and will proceed to install Windows on a new partition that it will call D:.

Unfortunately, some of the Windows files will still get installed on C:, which, in my case, became unbootable. Arghhh.... The only solution was to delete the partition so that XP could install itself on a new partition that was the only partition (at that time) on the hard drive and lose the data I had backed up onto that partition.

After I reinstalled Windows XP and reinstalled some of my more commonly used programs, I began to find that programs like Replicator stored crucial data in the Applications Data or Local Settings folders.

When I need the absolute latest files, I hook up my external hard drive (remember, I mainly use a notebook, so the external drive isn't usually set up or plugged i), start up Acronis True Image Home 2009 and mount the backup image as a drive. If earlier backups will do, I just start up ATIH 2009 and then browseacross the network to my earlier backup image. I mount it as a drive and then I can copy files and folders across the network.

As a practical matter, I install the program I'm missing from CD or I download the latest version from the vendor. Then, I install. That's when I use rename the newly installed configuration file (that came with the program) and start up ATIH 2009 to copy the configuration file with my data from the image flle.

4.  Unable to Access Specific Web Sites

Advertisement Getting ready for a trip? Taking your laptop? You've got the best opportunity to test GoToMyPC using its free 30-day trial. Just sign up, install the host module on your home PC or office PC, set up your passwords, and you're ready to access your PC from your notebook — long distance! Try the 30-day free trial of GoToMyPC today and get 10% off ...

Subscriber V.R. Beeson wrote me recently about a strange problem he was having:

Terry, I'm stumped and need your advise. I have Win XP w/SP 3. I have been trying to access "sourceforge.net". I get to the site but all I get is a blank page. This has been going on for at least a week. I've checked Firefox and IE to see if something was blocking it. Nothing I could find. Checked my firewall and virus checker just to be sure. Nothing. I've tried it on my desktop and my laptop. Still can't get sourceforge to show. I've also gone to several search engines to see if there was a problem. Nothing. I've used two friends computers and they work. Sourceforge comes up. I don't know where to go from here. Any advise would be most appreciated. Thanks

V.R. and I wrote back and forth a number of times, as I would suggest things to try and he would tell me what else he had done.

Initially, he and I had the same thoughts — something was blocking the connection from his computer. First, I thought his firewall or antivirus program for some reason (sourceforge.net is a respected open-source software developmet site, so that really should not be blocked by firewall or antivirus software).

He didn't have any content-blocking software — and it wasn't THAT kind of site, anyway.

I also suspected that he had installed some Windows "Host" file definitions from the Internet. The purpose off these lists is to disable the ability to connect to web sites. While they were originally designed to block malware, they quickly became methods to block advertising from working (you still saw the ad, but if you clicked on it, nothing happened).

Sure enough, he had installed some of these lists, but sourceforge.net was not in there.

We then tried pinging sourceforge.net, but the pings timed out.

There was one option that should have been so obvious. What's the first trouble-shooting technique to use with Windows? Reboot!

Well, it wasn't rebooting Windows — he had done that numerous times.

Let's see it in V.R.'s own words:

Terry, just thought I would let you know the problem is fixed. After everything you suggested and everything I tried it all came down to rebooting my modem and router. The only reason I did that was a google I did using different word combinations, and found someone with a similar problem. Some one suggested to either reboot modem or call ISP to see they were blocking that site for some reason. If the reboot did't work I was going to call my ISP. This morning I rebooted, and all is well. I guess one thing to keep in mind, if all else fails reboot! Thanks so much for you time and help.

VIPRE Antivirus Premium— the New Release! Tired of old antivirus software that makes your PC slow down to a crawl? Try High-Performance VIPRE security software free for 30 days Now with Firewall, too! Multi-computer and Multi-year Discounts Unlimited Home Site License Available for ALL Your Home PC's For Windows 7, Vista, XP, 2000, 2008 Server & 2003 Server, now including 64-bit versions, too! VIPRE is my choice for my computers and my family's computers

5.  My Computer Security Software Recommendations

I review my security software recommendations and update them for each weekly newsletter issue, if I think they need to change.

My Philosophy: Many people want to pick their most economical solution and prefer an all-in-one anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall solution. In concept, that's a great idea. In actual practice, I don' think that this type of package is likely to be the best in all the protection categories you need. Other people want to pick the best of each type program. I'm one of the these folks.

My choice of software that I am willing to recommend is driven by my search for software for me to use. I only recommend programs that I like and that I use. I will sometimes suggest alternatives to my recommendations, but I clearly note if I no longer use them.

Anti-Virus

I'm often asked about several other popular anti-virus or anti-virus combination packages. Yes, I realize that they are not in my recommendation list. "Enough said..."

From 2003 through mid-2008, my personal choice was ESET's small, fast NOD32 anti-virus program, which offers a FREE 30-day evaluation license. I consider NOD32 one of the best in anti-virus protection — and it continues to get recognition andn awards. Unlike some of its competitors, ESET offers multiple-year licenses also, and includes program updates in the multiple-year license.

However, I've changed from my long-time programs NOD32 (antivirus) and CounterSpy (antispyware) to Sunbelt's new VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware.

I've found that VIPRE puts even less load on my computer than the speedy combination of NOD32 and CounterSpy. I've also been impressed with the way its "deep scan" has found and eliminated risks that were stored in zip files, which is one of the latest malware email tricks.

Read more about anti-virus programs on my web site.

Related articles:

• Anti-Virus Programs and Online Scanners
• Free Online Antivirus Scan
• NOD32 Anti-Virus Review - A Look at NOD32
• VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware Review

Firewall Software

While the Windows XP firewall is much better than no firewall at all, don't count on the Windows XP firewall to meet your needs. You need a two-way firewall, which the Windows XP firewall is not!. Microsoft woke up and supplied a two-way firewall with Windows Vista.

The Windows XP firewall does not control outbound communications originating from your computer — and you should want to have control if adware/trojans/spyware or even commercial products want to talk to the Internet. Whether they are calling home or spewing spam, you want to be able to control your computer.

Do you want Windows Media Player to call home every time you play something? It does! Do you use the Search function in Windows Explorer to find things on your hard drive? Did you know that every time you search, Windows Explorer talks to Microsoft?

I didn't know that when I ran ZoneAlarm, but the Sunbelt Personal Firewall flags that to me, and I can stop it or allow it to happen. Many other programs try to call home when you run them, too.

I recommend my choice for a firewall program, which is Sunbelt Personal Firewall.

You can try the full-featured "paid version" of Sunbelt Personal Firewall free for 30 days — after that, you can register it or, if you're using it on a home non-business computer, you can let it revert to the free, lesser-function license.
Tip: Be sure to read my review of SPF for the settings I recommend.

Sunbelt Personal Firewall is regularly $19.95 (with discounts for multiple computers and/or multiple years!) for a non-expiring license for the program and includes one year of their updates subscription.

Related articles:

• The Internet Versus You
• Do I Need a Firewall Program?
• My Sunbelt Personal Firewall Review

Anti-Spyware / Anti-Adware Software

CounterSpy, from Sunbelt Software, has received many kudos from the computer press for its always-running and periodic full system scans. It has been my personal choice for my PC's and my family's PC's.

Sunbelt's CounterSpy v2.5, both improved CounterSpy's performance against malware and reduced its impact on system resources and responsiveness when its scanning.

Sunbelt continues to release updated program versions — the current version is v3.1 — and there's an even newer version about to be released. Nicely, Sunbelt do NOT install the updated programs automatically. You have to use the Update process in the program, which means that you'll know that something significant has changed.

Now, I've changed from my long-time programs NOD32 (antivirus) and CounterSpy (antispyware) to Sunbelt's new VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware.

I've found that VIPRE puts even less load on my computer than the speedy combination of NOD32 and CounterSpy. My computer seems to have much more pep and power than it had previously. I've also been impressed with the way its "deep scan" has found and eliminated risks that were stored in zip files, which is one of the latest malware email tricks.

Related articles:

• Fighting Against Spyware & Malware
• My CounterSpy Review
• My VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware Review

Anti-spam Software

In today's Internet world, the question is not "if" you will get spam, but "how much will you get?"

I use and recommend POPFile as my first choice for handling spam. POPFile sits on your computer, between your email program and your ISP mailbox, and handles emial as it downloads.

POPFile uses a different approach to handle spam than some other programs do — it does nothing to reduce spam. It is designed as an email classification tool — you train it to recognize spam and any other type of email that you want to classify. These classifications can help you sort your emails into appropriate folders in your email program.

Sunbelt Software, who makes the anti-spyware program CounterSpy (which I use and recommend) and the firewall that I use and recommend (Sunbelt Personal Firewall) also has a well-regarded, award-winning anti-spam program called iHateSpam for Outlook and Outlook Express. Since I don't use Outlook or Outlook Express for email, I haven't tried iHateSpam.

Mailwasher Pro would be my first choice to handle spam before it ever gets into your computer's Inbox. Mailwasher Pro uses on-line Realtime Black Lists mail servers sending spam recently, "training" by you of what you think is spam, and your own "friends" and "blacklist" lists. Note: I found that PopFile generally meets my needs and stopped using Mailwasher Pro, even though PopFile works AFTER the emails have been downloaded. If I used a dialup connection, I would be more interested in Mailwasher Pro.

Mailwasher Pro can even bounce spam messages, as if your email address was not valid, although the usefulness and appropriateness of this is questionable. There is a free version called "Mailwasher," but it omits the functions that I consider critical for this purpose -- such as safely previewing the emails safely before they ever get to your email inbox.

Related articles:

• Spam Filtering
• Keeping spam out of your Inbox
• Getting Control of Your Inbox
• How Can I Prevent spam?

Cable/DSL Router

If you have a cable modem or a DSL modem, you need to have another layer of inexpensive protection between you and the Internet. A cable/DSL router isolates your computer from direct connection to the Internet. Your computer can easily request your email, web pages, etc. through the router. The responses come back to the router and are smoothly routed to your computer. But, someone on the Internet side of the router can not initiate a connection to your computer — they can only respond to your request.

Even if you only have one computer to connect to your cable or DSL modem, I recommend that you purchase and use a cable/DSL router because of the protection it can give you against attempts to attack through some flaws in Windows itself.

A router isolates your local network, whether it is only one computer or several, from the Internet by actually making it a separate network. The router gets the "public" IP address and handles all your outbound communications and the responses to them. But, it blocks computers on the Internet side from being able to initiate communications with your computer! This will prevent you from falling prey to many worms that try to attack security holes in Windows itself.

For a wireless router, I recommend the Linksys WRT54G wireless router. I'm using the relatively new version 6 of this router.

If you don't want wireless, I recommend the Linksys BEFSR41 wired router, which I also use. Either way, based on my experience, I recommend Linksys routers for price, reliability and Linksys' habit of releasing updated firmware for their products..

See these related articles:

• Wireless Security
• Wi-Fi Hotspots and Computer Security
• Wireless Networking Problems & Wireless Networking Security

7.  Recommend my Terry's Computer Tips Newsletter to Your Friends

If you like my  Terry's Computer Tips email newsletter or the online edition, you can help me increase the number of subscribers to my free emailed newsletter.

Tell a Friend about Terry's Computer Tips!

With my email newsletter, not only do you get notices that the newsletters are available and content that is not in the online newsletter, but subscribing is the only way to get my Special Edition Newsletters which go only to subscribers.

Of course, if you do not get my free email newsletter, I invite you to subscribe now!!

If you are a subscriber to my free Terry's Computer Tips email newsletter, please feel free to forward your copy of the newsletter to a friend that you think would be interested. Be sure to forward the entire newsletter, including my copyright notices and any advertising.

However, you are not authorized to publish, post or otherwise distribute my articles or newsletters on web sites, blogs, forums, email newsletters, paper newsletters, magazines or in any other form.