Google cranks up the Consensus Engine

Google this week admitted that its staff will pick and choose what appears in its search results. It's a historic statement - and nobody has yet grasped its significance.

via Google cranks up the Consensus Engine • The Register.

Time to start using other search engines, I guess

Disable auto-sort in Windows 7 folders

How to disable strictly sorting and auto arrange in Windows 7 and allow free arrangement of files in folders.

http://www.unawave.de/windows-7-tipps/disable-sorting-auto-arrange.html?lang=EN

I had a customer ask for a fix for this today, and I found this, above.  Or you might prefer to do like I did (after reviewing the batch file's contents) and run the batch file (saved procedures) that he created, here.  It worked!

How to delete a Windows XP account

• Click Start, Run, type (without quotes) “control userpasswords”, hit Enter
• Click “Change an Account”
• Choose/click the account you want to delete
• Click “Delete the Account”
• You can usually choose “Delete Files” (but you don’t have to if you’re not comfortable with that)
• Click “Delete Account”

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If the above helped you in any way, please click the PayPal DONATE link here. It's safe. Or visit one of our sponsors' ads.  Thanks!

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For in-home/on-site computer repair service in and around Nashville (remove viruses, connect to the Internet, setup new systems, fix a myriad of problems), call Bill at (615) 479-4981.

Rejected messages from addresses I've never heard of

QUESTION:

I just started my computer this morning and I had 9 undeliverable/ spam/ rejected messages from addresses I never heard of. I have a feeling I am being hijacked to send spam. Please advise.

ANSWER:

It’s someone pretending to be you when they send out their spam messages. It never touches your computer. The recipient’s server sends the rejections to you because that’s where the spam message is pretending to be coming from.

The first thing you need to do is change your password to something stronger than what you've probably been using.  If it continues, there’s really nothing you can do short of getting a new email address.

Ransomware Is Expanding

Ransomware Is Expanding in the United States

Don't fall for it.  And always keep a good backup (we suggest Acronis) in case this happens to you.

 

My computer's really old and slow

QUESTION:
Should I buy a new one?

ANSWER:
The hardware might be fine, you just need to reformat the hard drive and reinstall Windows. Some brands have a key you hit upon startup that reverts it back to factory specs fairly automatically. Be SURE you back up all of your documents, music and pictures to an external hard drive (or online storage) first, though.

If you do decide to buy a new one, but are on a budget, you can buy an Acer netbook for just under $300 right now from jr.com.  Incredible deal!  Or maybe a refurbished Dell from txmicro.com for under $160!  Below is a "ASUS 3rd Gen Core i7 1TB Desktop PC" from Tiger Direct:

Hard drive "dock"

Cool!  I'm getting one of these.  It looks very useful for someone like me who ends up with old used drives.  Pop one of those into one of these, and you've got yourself a temporary "new" external/backup drive!

 

How to clean your screen

 

Click here:  How to keep your computer screen clean!

 

Google: Fake antivirus makes up 15 percent of all malware

 

Google: Fake antivirus makes up 15 percent of all malware | Tech News on ZDNet

Amazing software

That looks like a spam subject line, but it's true.  And for a small fee ... just kidding.  There's this free software called EaseUS.  I've been using their amazingly fast and easy disk partitioning software for at least a year.  But now I've just discovered their equally fast and easy disk backup/imaging software.  The great thing about it is that you run it right within Windows, you don't have to create a boot disk and all that.  Here's the link:

http://www.todo-backup.com/products/home/download.htm

Like so many great free software programs, you have to wonder why it's free.  They make their money from people falling in love with the software and upgrading to the paid version for extra features.

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Hard Drive Manufacturers Slash Warranty Periods

Hard Drive Manufacturers Slash Warranty Periods

That's on new drives.  So, from now on, more than ever, always have an external drive (or two) for backups.

Duplex printing

QUESTION:
Duplex printing isn’t working, but it worked before.
ANSWER:
Click Start, Control Panel, Printers and Faxes, right click and choose Properties on that printer. Click Device Settings tab, choose Duplex toward the bottom, change it from Unavailable to Available [or something similar on other printers].

How long will your hard drive last

http://ask-leo.com/how_long_should_a_hard_drive_last.html

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Comp-U-Plus big deals page or something

ComputerHelp!

a.k.a HepYa.com, ComputerSavior.com, NashvilleComputerHelp.com

(615) 479-4981

posting to hepya by email

this is a test

Downforeveryoneorjustme?

Downforeveryoneorjustme?.

I LOVE this service!

Ides of March Update

My hourly rate (for home users) is $60, plus 33 cents per round-trip mile.  So a 30 mile round-trip would be $10 for gas.  We have some flat rates as well, here:

• Remove all known viruses = $65 (plus mileage)


• Data recovery (save data from an unbootable hard drive over to another customer-provided drive) = $80 (plus mileage)


• User migration (from one machine to another (usually "old" to "new")) = $80 (plus mileage)


• If it's all of the above, or we're just not sure going in what will be required, it's $60/hour for home users; $75/hour for businesses (plus mileage).


• You can also earn a $10 credit for every new customer you send us! (customer must spend $50+)

I also happen to have a couple of used (but good condition) Dell Latitude laptops right now, in case you or anyone you know is interested:  One D520 and one D530.  They both have 150gb hard drives, not the 120 mentioned.  And the D520 has 2gb RAM instead of 1gb, as well as a 2GHz CPU instead of the 1.66GHz mentioned.

I had to use Amazon's image and description.  Don't ask.  :)

Call me at (615) 479-4981 or email help@hepya.com

Memory issue

QUESTION:  Did you have a major update from Microsoft in the last 24 hours?  Mine ran 4 updates when shutting down last night and [the wife’s] ran 4 updates when I started it up last night.  The 4 updates took a long time to download and install.  Just curious and cautious.

[The wife’s] computer is working fine and I run Ninite weekly.  My computer is much better, but still freezes up when I first start and gives the error message about unable to read instruction at 0x00000, etc.  I re-ran CCleaner, but haven't tried to troubleshoot yet

ANSWER:  Yes, every Tuesday is Microsoft's "update Tuesday."  As to your "read instruction error," that sounds like a memory issue.  I had put the higher capacity memory stick back in there (after you said you'd taken it out).  It never caused a problem for me, but I didn't test it repeatedly as a typical user would.

You might need new memory.  I like these guys here:  4AllMemory.  I've been using them for years and have never had a problem with them.

Laptops and network devices

I just listed these Dell Latitudes (one D520 and two D530's), on Craigslist:

http://nashville.craigslist.org/sys/3680681005.html

And these two rack-mountable devices

Barracuda spam/virus firewall:

http://nashville.craigslist.org/sys/3580934548.html

Dell PowerVault tape drive:

http://nashville.craigslist.org/sys/3580928552.html

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Or, here's a Toshiba Satellite L875D-S7332 Notebook from Office Max ...

New items

Amazon Shop

Google "Call Me" button --->>

Listed (for your review) on Angie's List

Kaspersky Free Virus Scan

FAST & FREE security scan for your PC

via Kaspersky Security Scan | Free Virus Scanner | Kaspersky Lab US.

Is there a way to network between computers that are not at the same location?

Q:    Is there a way to network between computers that are not at the same location?  Like if I am on my laptop at home, and someone else is on theirs at their house, am I able to view her files and edit things?

A:    Yes, you can both use TeamViewer.

• It's free for home use here: http://www.teamviewer.com/download/TeamViewer_Setup_en.exe.


• Install it on both systems, with her as the host.


• Once hers starts it will tell her her ID and password.


• You then connect to that ID on your end and enter the password when it asks.

If this helped you and you would like to show your appreciation, feel free to PayPal me a few bucks to help@hepya.com.  Thanks!

How to restore contacts in Windows Live Mail

Q:  I had some problems with this program.  I fixed the POP and SMTP server designations, and it works now.  However, I’ve lost my contacts – the folder is blank.  The funny thing is, when I type some letters in the “to” box, names come up.  Do you have any idea how I can restore my contacts list?

A:  From this web page, http://www.woanware.co.uk/?page_id=89, try this free tool, http://www.woanware.co.uk/downloads/EseDbViewer.v.1.0.5.zip.  After installing it, open it and point it to the following directory:

    "%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Windows Live Contacts"

You might have multiple randomly-named folders in there. 

• Drill down into each one and open the "contacts.edb" file.
• In there, find one that has items in the Email Address table
• Highlight and export that table to a "CSV Current Table" file
• Open up your Windows Live Mail program and go to the Contacts tab
• Click File, Import, CSV
• Assign the Address field to Live Contact's Email Address field.  The interface looks weird/clunky, but it works.
• Click OK, Finish, etc. when ready.

That should do it.

Why This Tiny Cube Might Be Your Next Office PC

Cool!

Why This Tiny Cube Might Be Your Next Office PC

But for now, a used laptop (here) might do the trick.

For new computers, OfficeMax is always good:

Yes, that PC cleanup app you saw on TV at 3am is a waste

their next play is to make it seem like everything is wrong with your PC

via Yes, that PC cleanup app you saw on TV at 3am is a waste | Ars Technica.