Terry's Computer Tips - Newsletter
August 15, 2005

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

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Volume 1, Number 9 -- Monday, August 15, 2005
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

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3.  Google's "Web Search Features" If you click on Google's "more" page's Web Search Features link, you will find descriptions, along with examples, of the many functions that you do with Google's search bar -- either on a Google Toolbar or on Google's page.

I mentioned earlier the calculator function.  You can see more examples at http://www.google.com/help/features.html#calculator .  There is a similar function for currency conversion on the same page.  The definitions function is shown with example;  however, the description implies that the "define:word" or "define: word" gives the same answer -- it doesn't, in my experience.  The regular define function gives links to definitions.  The define: function gives a list of alternative definitions.

I'm learning even more about Google with this article.  I didn't know about the "movie" keyword for a search.  Their example searches for "movie red pill blue pill."  Well, looking back on it, this really should link to articles about The Matrix movie, so maybe that's just a cool example of searching, rather than a cool new function.

An example of a cool function is the "search by number."  You can get results from parts numbers, phone numbers, and patent numbers -- basically any kind of numbers that appear on a searched web page.  Google also looks at the format of the number that you input.  For example, if it looks like a FedEx number, Google will give you a link to check on a FedEx shipmnet with that number.  It will also show you any web search results for that number.  Google handles UPS and USPS shipment numbers similarly.

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4.  Update News -- Windows Updates were released on Tuesday, August 9th
and a new Internet worm is looking for you if you have not updated

There is a new wrinkle to doing your Windows Updates or Microsoft Updates this month.  Microsoft has now made the "Microsoft Genuine Advantage" validation step mandatory.

This step gives the Genuine Advantage to Microsoft, since it makes sure you don't have a pirated copy).  More importantly, it also means that you will have to run Windows Updates or Microsoft Updates twice, once to download, install and run the Windows validator and a second time to get your real updates.

Last Tuesday was Microsoft's "Updates" release day for August. If you haven't done them yet, it is past time. There are already "exploits" circulating automatically on the Internet.

Microsoft classified three updates as critical, one as important and two as moderate. One of the critical updates is actually a cumulative update to Internet Explorer, designed to apply several new patches and to get you up-to-date on the earlier fixes for I.E.

As usual, several of the patches are designed to fix problems that would allow remote control of your computer or would allow the downloading and execution of exploit code on your computer.

There is a already a worm circulating automatically on the Internet to take advantage of one of the holes. It came out so fast because it is a variation of an existing worm. In addition to its self-spreading nature, it turns your computer into a spam-sender.  It also includes a "downloader" -- it will download other malware onto your system.  And, your infected computer starts searching for more computers to infect(that "feature" makes it a "worm").

The Security Fix column at the Washington Post's website has some good information about this worm and links for more information.

Do your Windows updates now!  Better yet, switch over to the new Microsoft Updates, which handle more Microsoft programs than just the Windows operating system.

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5.  Help!  I downloaded this strange compressed file!

Across the years, downloading large files has always been a challenge because they take time, especially with a dial-up connection.  The biggest challenge, though, was that downloaders needed to download a set of related files, perhaps even a set of files in a specific directory structure.  (I remember trying to do that at 2400 bps with individual files!)

There have been a number of solutions developed over the years.  In today's world, though, the solutions are usually specific to an operating system -- PC/Windows versus MAC versus PC/Linux.  In the PC/Windows world, we often use the .zip files (not related to Zip Drives).

The zip files solved both the size and file structure problems at the same size.  Well, they really just reduced the size problem for dialup -- the real solution is a high-speed connection via cable or dsl for home users.

Zip files have become so common that, as of Windows XP, we no longer have to purchase a third-party zip/unzip program or find a freeware one.  Instead, Microsoft installs zip and unzip capabilities as part of the Windows XP Home and Windows XP Professional operating system packages.

With a zip file, you "extract" the files and directory structure to the destination of your choice.  If the zip file is an installion program, typically, then you click on Setup.exe (Setup, if you aren't showing the file extensions), to actually install the program.  Often, the zip file is used as protection for the executable file, as many firewalls will protect you (or your business) by preventing the download of .exe executables or .msi (Microsoft Installer-formatted) programs.

Sometimes, though, we need to receive some data files from someone who is using a different type of operating system.  The first challenge becomes how to receive the file(s) in a file-structure format.

Zip files again come to the rescue.  Linux systems can zip files and directories that Windows systems can read.  On the other hand, Linux systems more often use gzip, tar, and tgz (tarred, then gzipped, also called .tar.gz) files for storage and transfer.  Remember that we are talking about data files only - the documents and images - not the program files.  There are also a huge number of various compression and packaging formats that have been used over the years within the Windows world.

For everything except .zip files, I use FilZip -- my Shareware/Freeware Pick of the Week.

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Continued in Part 3

Volume 1, Number 9 -- Monday, August 15, 2005
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

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Copyright © 2005 Terry A. Stockdale.  All rights reserved.