Office 2007 Patch

Here is the link to the patch I told you about. It lets all previous versions of Microsoft Office open the 2007 format files. Just click on the Download button on the page and open the file when it is done downloading. Follow the on-screen instructions. The download will take care of the rest...

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=941b3470-3ae9-4aee-8f43-c6bb74cd1466

Call me if you have any trouble installing it.

Ed Smit
Questions@JustAskEd.net

When is it time to buy a new computer?

Question from Karen on Monday, May 19, 2008 at 06:55:38
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Question: When is it time to buy a new computer? What are the signs?

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Answer: Great Question! The computer industry would like everyone to buy a new computer every two years or so. This would keep them rich and happy.

For the consumer my advice is to look at your current system and see if you have enough RAM and Hard Drive space to do what you need to do. Also, is it painful for you to wait for your computer (is it slow as molasses).

Most computers have a maximum amount of RAM that they can handle. You can usually find out your systems max at a site like pny.com which has a memory search feature based on manufacturer and model. They list what comes standard with the system and how much you can add.

To find out how much RAM you have you have in Windows XP/2000/Vista/7 click on the start Button choose Control Panel and then click on System. On the General Tab the Version of Windows is listed and at the bottom of the window it shows your processor and memory. In the Apple world you click on the Apple in the top left and choose the about this Mac choice from the menu.

For hard drive space I usually find out how much space the hard drive has and how much is free and ask myself what can I store on an external drive or DVD. If I don't have at least 20 Gigabytes available after this soul searching then it's time for an upgrade. Now if your system has a hard drive that can't have 20 GB available, it's probably time to buy.

To find your hard drive space on a Windows Computer: Open the My Computer Window Right click on your C: drive and choose properties from the list that pops up. For Mac click once on your hard drive on the desktop and choose File from the top menu and click on Get Info.

To speed up your system: Uninstall any old software that you don't use. In Windows click on Start, choose Control Panel double click on Add/Remove Programs. This gives you a list of all of your software. Go through the list and ask yourself 'Do I use all three versions of AOL Instant Messenger?' then get rid of the ones you don't use. Common memory hogs are IM Programs and anything that leaves an icon down next to the clock. WeatherBug or Google Desktop use memory and if you're not using them dump them and speed up your computer. Also, check your system for Spyware. This is usually the number one culprit for slowing down computers. I usually recommend Ad-Aware or Spybot - Search and Destroy. They usually improve performance.

Well, that was probably more than you bargained for with your quick question but I hope that gives you a sufficient answer.

Ed Smit
Questions@JustAskEd.net

Hacked Website?

I recently had a client have their website hacked. What does this mean? It means someone idiot living in their parents basement thought it was a good idea to embed some malicious code in all of the web pages of this website. This causes the website to get flagged as a malicious website and makes it very hard to view.

What do you do when this happens?

Well, if you know how to edit HTML code you can pick thru the code and remove all instances of the malicious code. This however can be very labor intensive and annoying (this is unfortunately what I had to do in this case). Then you have to ask the powers that be at Google and any other monitoring sites to review your site for malicious code. This clears your pages so they can be displayed normally. This seems to take forever since they are quick to condemn but slow to forgive.

- The main key is keeping the web folders clean and orderly (don't leave old pages on the site unless you plan on using them later).
- Change your password for FTP access to something over 12 characters with multiple caps and lower case letters and numbers and punctuation (if allowed). This makes it much harder to hack.
- Don't ever email your password to anyone. Call them up or snail mail but don't send it electronically (this leaves you open).

YVONNE'S LAPTOP

QUESTION:
On 3/24/08, Leslie wrote:
Dear Ed,
We are still having strange problems with the Toshiba laptop. We can not get an internet connection and I can not even pull up the option to connect to Your Neighbor (our lnysis). The following 2 advisories come up:
PORT MAGIC EXPERIENCED A FATAL ERROR AND MUST BE RESTARTED. CODE: AN EXCEPTION WAS GENERATED WITH THE FOLLOWING CODE: Oxe06d7363. PRESS [OK] TO RESTART PORT MAGIC, OR [CANCEL] TO EXIT.
(I press OK but same wArning comes back.)
APPLE MOBILE DEVICE SERVICE.EXE APPLICATION ERROR. THE INSTRUCTION AT "Ox0072806f" REFERENCED MEMORY AT "Ox00947230". THE MEMORY COULD NOT BE "WRITTEN". CLICK ON OK TO TERMINATE THE PROGRAM.
What do I do?
Regards,
Leslie

ANSWER:
Hi Leslie,

Yvonne must have loaded them or they were added automatically by AOL. They interfere with wireless networking and should be removed from the system. To remove them click on Add/Remove programs in the control panel and click on the program name and hit remove on the right. Try removing port magic first and see if the connection improves. If you're still having problems remove the apple mobile software. I wasn't aware that you had an iTouch or iPhone connected to that laptop. Do you? That is the only reason to have that Apple software installed.

Let me know what happens.

All the best,

Ed Smit
Questions@JustAskEd.net

spyware,hijack

On 3/19/08, Larry wrote:
Question: Reanimate is a spyware company who has entered or as I would put it hijacked my computer. I have tried to remove with Superantivirus software and Mcafee. This program will not allow me to use any of them. i downloaded hijackthis and the program is blocking it also. Help!

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Answer: Have you tried Spybot - Search and Destroy or Ad-Aware to remove it? You can download these from download.com.

My Mac is sick

Bev writes: My Mac has recently been shutting down randomly while in the middle of use. No particular programs.

Answer: There can be many reasons for a computer shutting down randomly. Most likely causes are a faulty connection to power (check all of your cords and surge suppressors) or the power supply inside the Mac is defective. Based on their advertisement you'd think they never have a problem but their iMac line has had some power supply issues and of course since the unit is all self-contained (screen, cpu, power supply) in one case you need to drag the whole thing into the shop. In the NYC area I always recommend a store called Tekserve. They are the kings in getting a misbehaving Mac working again. Since I don't know what area you're in Bev you will have to lookup Mac repair in your area.

Good luck!
For more answers to your questions check out JustAskEd.blogspot.com

Just For Fun

I don't know who wrote this originally but it cracked me up. I have always appreciated Abbott and Costello.

Subject: ABBOTT AND COSTELLO 2009

If Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were alive today, their infamous sketch, "Who's on First?" might have turned out something like this:

COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT

ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?

COSTELLO: Thanks. I'm setting up an office in my den and I'm thinking about buying a computer.

ABBOTT: Mac?

COSTELLO: No, the name's Lou.

ABBOTT: Your computer?

COSTELLO: I don't own a computer. I want to buy one.

ABBOTT: Mac?

COSTELLO: I told you, my name's Lou.

ABBOTT: What about Windows?

COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here?

ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows?

COSTELLO: I don't know. What will I see when I look at the windows?

ABBOTT: Wallpaper.

COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software.

ABBOTT: Software for Windows?

COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business. What do you have?

ABBOTT: Office.

COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?

ABBOTT: I just did.

COSTELLO: You just did what?

ABBOTT: Recommend something.

COSTELLO: You recommended something?

ABBOTT: Yes.

COSTELLO: For my office?

ABBOTT: Yes.

COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office?

ABBOTT: Office.

COSTELLO: Yes, for my office!

ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows.

COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, let's just say I'm sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need?

ABBOTT: Word.

COSTELLO: What word?

ABBOTT: Word in Office.

COSTELLO: The only word in office is office.

ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.

COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows?

ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue "W".

COSTELLO: I'm going to click your blue "w" if you don't start with some straight answers. What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track my money with?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: That's right. What do you have?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: I need money to track my money?

ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer.

COSTELLO: What's bundled with my computer?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer?

ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge.

COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much?

ABBOTT: One copy.

COSTELLO: Isn't it illegal to copy money?

ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.

COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money?

ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT!

(A few days later)

ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?

COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off?

ABBOTT: Click on "START".............?