MikesWhatsNews, 18, 05, 2006
in today's issue #789
Windows OneCare
Clipboard Safety While Web Surfing
Online games - maps, health, animals, history and more
RAM TEST ~ Microsoft Windows Memory Diagnostic
Turn off an add-on in IE
9 Perfect Password Pointers
Powerful New PCs Will Get 'Vista Capable' Stickers
CCC EssentialPIM
Why the Heck Did I Bookmark That Site?
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NOTE: Any time you see the " ++ ", it means there is more
of the article, or story, on the linked site. Mike
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There is a complete archive of past MikesWhatsNews newsletters
available to members on the Yahoo page, it is searchable by word or
issue #. Here is the address direct to the messages;
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MikesWhatsNews/messages
and; http://www.freelists.org/archives/mikeswhatsnews/
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This is a random post as I had some time availible. I hope you like it.
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Windows OneCare BETA
www.windowsonecare.com/

Are you tired of spending time trying to protect and maintain your computer?
Are you worried that you’re still not doing everything you should to keep it
safe and running at optimal performance? If your answer is "Yes," then
Windows Live OneCare is for you. Windows Live OneCare is a comprehensive
PC care service that goes beyond security to take an integrated approach to
help protect and care for your computer.

It is still free for the rest of April: From the Beta notice;
In appreciation of your support, we'd like to offer you a special one-year
subscription to the service for $19.95 - each one-year subscription covers
up to three computers. This offer expires April 30, 2006, so please act quickly.
Just click on the "Purchase Now" button in the OneCare main window.
Share it with friends and family.
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Clipboard Safety While Web Surfing

There is a recently discovered venerability in Internet Explorer which allow
some sites to capture data you have on your clipboard while visiting sites.

To avoid this open IE click on:
Tools> Internet Options->Security
Click on Custom Level

In the security settings, select Disable under
"Allow paste operations via script".
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Online games - maps, health, animals, history and more
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/web_games_menu.htm
Our learning games will give your brain a workout! Learn new things and
continually challenge yourself by advancing to higher levels. Your increased
knowledge will improve your understanding and amaze your friends!

Online games. Play map games, health games, health quizzes, animal
games, history games, history quizzes, learn SAT vocabulary words,
fitness games, chemistry games, and more.
++
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RAM TEST ~ Microsoft Windows Memory Diagnostic free
http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

The Windows Memory Diagnostic tests the Random Access Memory (RAM)
on your computer for errors. The diagnostic includes a comprehensive set of
memory tests. If you are experiencing problems while running Windows, you
can use the diagnostic to determine whether the problems are caused by
failing hardware, such as RAM or the memory system of your motherboard.
Windows Memory Diagnostic is designed to be easy and fast. On most
configurations, you can download the diagnostic, read the documentation,
run the test and complete the first test pass in less than 30 minutes.

To run Windows Memory Diagnostic, you must reboot your computer with
the disk or CD-ROM on which you installed Windows Memory Diagnostic
in the drive. After the reboot, Windows Memory Diagnostic will load and its
interface will appear. After loading, the first test pass will begin, using the
default standard test suite, and continue until complete, unless Windows
Memory Diagnostic is either paused or exited. Once the first test pass is
complete, Windows Memory Diagnostic will begin a second test pass using
the same settings as before. Windows Memory Diagnostic will continue to
run test passes until you exit.
++ There is more on the web site.
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Turn off an add-on in IE ~ Mike's Friday Tip

Do you have some extra features enabled in Internet Explorer?
Here is how to turn off an add-on in Internet Explorer

1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. Click the Tools menu, and then click Manage Add-ons.
3. Click the name of the add-on.
4. Click Disable.
5. Click OK
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9 Perfect Password Pointers
http://redmondmag.com/features/article.asp?editorialsid=577
Passwords are often the weakest part of a security infrastructure.
Here are nine ways to make them one of the strongest.
++
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Powerful New PCs Will Get 'Vista Capable' Stickers
http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=01100000A11Q
By Elizabeth Millard
April 3, 2006 7:51AM

Labeling PCs as "Vista Capable" will give users some assurance that
buying computers before the OS is launched will not put them behind
when Vista finally ships. But the new sticker might not be
descriptive enough to help, said Gartner analyst Michael Silver.

In the wake of concerns about PCs not being powerful enough to
handle the Windows Vista operating system when it hits the streets,
Microsoft has launched a program that will identify new computers
that are capable of running it when it ships.
A logo with the familiar Microsoft Windows icon will declare a
computer "Vista Capable" to indicate that the machine can be
upgraded to Vista.

The program currently only applies to PCs that can run the home
edition of the operating system, but it is possible that Microsoft
will extend the program to business editions of Vista as well.

System Requirements

PCs that can feature the logo must offer at least 512 MB of internal
memory and must be able to run Windows XP. The computers also must
have a strong graphics chipset that, at minimum, can handle
Microsoft's latest DirectX 9 technology.

The emphasis on graphics is likely due to Vista's new look, which
Microsoft says will be more graphics intensive than its
predecessors.

Microsoft has noted that these requirements will allow customers to
ascertain that the computers they buy will run Windows Vista Home
Basic, but not necessarily the higher-end versions of Vista.

When Vista's ship date slipped from November 2006 to early 2007,
there was speculation that the delay would impact PC sales,
especially around the holidays.

Some analysts predicted that consumers would wait to buy new
machines until Vista was available so they would not have to
purchase the new operating system separately.

Buyer Assurance

Labeling PCs as "Vista Capable" will give users some assurance that
buying computers before the OS is launched will not put them behind
when Vista finally ships, Microsoft and its partners are hoping. But
the new sticker might not be descriptive enough to help, said
Gartner analyst Michael Silver.

"Windows Vista's user experience will scale based on the power of
the hardware, and users that think they're buying a box that can run
Vista may be unpleasantly surprised when some PCs turn out to be
incapable of displaying the Flip and Flip 3D effects," he said.

Windows Flip was designed for easier transitioning between
applications. The technology will let users flip through open
windows using the Alt-Tab key combination to view a live thumbnail
of each window. Flip 3D moves the applications into a 3D space
through which users can sort windows using the arrow keys or the
scroll wheel on a mouse.

The higher-end versions of Vista will include a new user interface,
dubbed Aero, which Microsoft is calling a "glass" interface because
it can render open windows translucently, making it easier to see
what is happening on the desktop at all times.

Silver believes that Microsoft needs to rethink "Windows Capable" to
offer better guidance. "Buyers that really want a Windows Vista
capable PC need to ensure that what they're buying is capable of
Windows Aero," said Silver.
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Christies Computer Corner thanks to Christy;
<1stPicksoftware-request@...?Subject=subscribe>

EssentialPIM Freeware
http://www.essentialpim.com/

This is an absolutely free and versatile Personal Information
Manager. It can store, manage and encrypt data:
day/week/month/year schedules, notes (pictures, tables, any
formatted text) and contacts.
~~~~~~~

Why the Heck Did I Bookmark That Site?

Have you ever poured over your Favorites/Bookmark list and
wondered why you bookmarked a particular website? Sure, you might
have them organized into folders, but the purpose of the site is
a mystery. Good news, all of you Netscape/Mozilla and Opera users
have an excellent resource to help you keep track of bookmarks.
That's right, this is one of those few times that Internet
Explorer users are left out of a browser trick.

If you are using Netscape or Mozilla, right click the bookmark
you want to put a note in and choose "Properties". In the
"Description" box, add your comments.

With the Opera browser, right mouse click a favorite and choose
"Properties". A window pops up where you can change the name,
give the site a nickname, and best of all, describe the site.
Other options include check boxes to show the site on your
Personal Toolbar and/or in your Hotlist Panel.

When you mouse over a bookmark in Opera, it displays the
properties, including description, in a pop-up window. Something
Netscape/Mozilla doesn't even do!

This is one of the most useful tools I've ever found in web
browsers. I wonder when the brains in Redmond will "incorporate"
this feature in Internet Explorer?

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