Terry's Computer Tips - Newsletter
May 17, 2009

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

Volume 4, Number 49 — Sunday, May 17, 2009

IN THIS ON-LINE ISSUE:

   1.   Problems with Google Screensaver
   2.   The Lighter Side of Technology
   3.   Problem Installing Internet Explorer 8
   4.   Synchronizing Two Hard Drives
   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.  Problems with Google Screensaver

Google provides a free screensaver program that anyone can download and use. The Google Photos SCreensaver is available as part of the free Google Pack of software. Some of the Google Pack is totally free. However, Google also uses it as an opportunity to let you select other trial and free software to install. With Google Photos Screensaver, you can create slideshows of your photos, of photos available from Google's photo feeds, and from other photo feeds — you can even set up your own photo feed to share with friends and family members. Subscriber John wrote to ask about a probem he was having with the Google Photo Screensaver:

I am using the google screen saver I have over 100 picture files and have checked all to be included in my screensaver slide show; but the screensaver pulls predominantly from just a few folders. Any idea how to fix this?

Unfortunately, my answer to John was a very simple one...Google gives us very few ways to control the screensaver.

Therefore, the best way to control which photos Google selects and uses for the screensaver is to: (1) create a folder for pictures for the screensaver photos, and (2) copy everything you want to show into that folder, and then (3) set Google Screensaver to use only that folder.

Acronis True Image Home 2009 Make Your Own Restore DVD's and Restore Image files to another hard drive, to an external hard drive, to another computer across your home network, or directly to DVD's. Restore entire drives or specific files and folders. SPECIAL 15% Off Discount Code "GDH-6C7-BB9" Don't wait - these discount codes expire June 2 Or, get a 15% Discount on Acronis Disk Director Suite 10.0 "1ZK-C4M-XK2" Or, a 15% Discount on Acronis Migrate Easy 7.0 "BNZ-FPS-Q3P"

With a little work, you can get an even better deal on multiple copies of Acronis True Image Home 2009 — Once you're at the ATIH2009 web page, look down the right side of the page, and
click on "Special Offers - Save Up to $70 Off!"
Buy two copies for $69.99 (save $30) or
three copies for $79.99 (save $70!)

2.  The Lighter Side of Technology

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

3.  Problem Installing Internet Explorer 8

Reader Gary Karasic had a different kind of problem. He wanted to install Internet Explorer 8, but was running into an error message that a "procedure entry point" could not be located in one of the DLL files. Gary wrote:

When I try to install IE8 I get the following error message.

   The procedure entry point SHRegGetValueW could not be located    in the dynamic link library SHLWAPI.dll.

How do I install IE8 on a windows computer that does not have SP1, SP2, or SP3?

Do you know how I can download and install these files without waiting for Microsoft Automatic updates to send them?

Gary Karasick

Gary's basic problem is that he is attempting to install IE8 on a non-supported version of Windows. Microsoft no longer supports Windows XP if it does not have at least XP2 (well, actually, ALL of Windows XP is in the Extended Support period where MS only provides security fixes).

He's trying to use features that are not in the original Windows XP and were added as part of one of the Service Packs.

I advised him to go to www.microsoft.com, download WIndows XP SP3 and install it on the computer. You don't need to insntall SP1 and SP2 as prerequisites — XP SP3 has everything needed from SP1 and SP2.

He may be able to download SP2, if he wants, but he does not need it if he installs SP3. I doubt that Microsoft still has Service Pack 1 available for download, as they issued two subsequent versions and discontinued support for XP with SP1 some time before XP went into Extended Support status.

According to the Microsoft web site, IE 8 for Windows XP 32-bit requires at least Service Pack 2.

VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware Tired of old antivirus software that makes your PC slow down to a crawl? Try High-Performance VIPRE security software free for 15 days Multi-computer and Multi-year Discounts Unlimited Home Site License Available for ALL Your Home PCs For Windows 7, Vista, XP, 2000, 2008 Server & 2003 Server VIPRE is my choice for my computers and my family's computers

Good News! Sunbelt has a special discount Coupon Code for Terry's Computer Tips readers. Use coupon code VIPRESAP for $5 off of VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware...

4.  Synchronizing Two Hard Drives

Subscriber JJ had an interesting plan, and wrote to ask:

Hello Terry,

Thanks for allowing us to ask questions. My question is this:

I have a PC at my office and one at home. I use the one at home to work from on "sick" days and "bad weather" days. I try to keep the same data files on both PC's. Sometimes I add files to the home PC that is not on the office PC and visa versa.

What is the best way to synchronize these two hard drives so that no data is lost from either, but yet they both continually have the same data on them. I have an external hard drive that I usually copy my office data files to (almost 8 Gigs!) and then copy the whole thing to the home PC, but I find this to be very bothersome and time consuming. Do you have a better method? I would love to hear it.

Thanks,
JJ

Unfortunately for JJ, he's probably got the best approach, but it's not foolproof. There really is no way to do it and do it totally safely.

I realize that he's talking about 8 GB of files, but that couple be a very large number of relatively small files, rather than some huge ones. If so, some remote access solutions, such as GoToMyPC, will let you log into the office PC from home and then transfer files from the office PC to the home PC. Of course, they also will let you actually use the remote (office) PC from home to perform the tasks you want. GoToMyPC will even let you use the OFFICE PC for the work, while using your local (e.g., home) PC for sound and printing — giving you the best of worlds.

However, other than this type of hybrid solution, JJ has a challenge. Synchronizing is virtually impossible unless the individual application is (1) a database and (2) allows record locking. That's true even if you're using the SAME COPY of the data file!

The basic problem is that you may change a file, say a spreadsheet, on one computer and also may have changed the same spreadsheet on the other computer. At that point, simply replacing the older file with the newest file will overwrite the file and lose the unique changes that were in the older file.

I can't suggest a safe method to do this — it's not possible for the system keeping you straight. YOU will have to be careful — and keep backups of the files, too. All too often, you won't realize that you have a problem with a file until the missing (or wrong) portion bites you.

I'm back to the idea that remote access to the original file is the best solution.

 

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

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

6.  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.