Online Computer Tips Monthly Newsletter - April 2009
Latest Virus/Security Alerts:
ING Bank Alerts Customers about Phishing Scam
There is a phishing scam are targeting ING Bank by dispatching fake e-mails to former customers of Postbank that was merged in ING in January 2009. The e-mails ask recipients to access a website with their login credentials like username, password as well as bankcard details.
ING Bank has asked its accountholders to ignore the e-mails written in faulty Dutch language that possibly generated via automatic translation.
Moreover, for spreading awareness about e-mail scams among people, the Bank has posted several security points on its website that customers could refer to when they get electronic messages from ING.
The Bank further draws clients' attention to the fact that their customer number, account number, customer identification detail, memorable data and PIN are the access points to their account. Thus, these should never be disclosed to anyone or in any e-mail as they might land up in the hands of the phishers.
March's Poll Results:
How did you learn how to type?
- 50%
Taught myself
I can't type -
20%
Tip of the Month:
Automatically Restore the Show Desktop Icon to the Taskbar
Here is a handy way to get the ever so useful Show Desktop icon back on the taskbar if it got deleted for whatever reason. Microsoft provides a utility that will automatically recreate the Show Desktop icon for you rather than you having to figure out how to do it yourself.
Once you download the tool, double click it and choose Run. Then pick This Computer assuming you are running the tool for the computer that needs the icon restored.
Then click on Do it Automatically
Click the Yes, re-create the icon radio button and click Next.
Now you will have your Show Desktop icon restored and ready for use. You can download the tool for free here.
Hot Product of the Month: 11-Bay ATX Transparent Plastic Computer Case w/3 LED Fans
Details:
This transparent polycarbonate plastic case features 11 drive bays that provide ample capacity for future expansion. It also offers seven expansion slots and supports multiple motherboard configurations. Front-mounted USB ports, microphone and headphone jacks make it easy when connecting peripherals. This sleek case has three 80 mm case fans that keep your case cool, and glows a bright rainbow color when the system is in full operation.
11-Bay ATX Computer Case General Features: Transparent Plastic case Power switch Reset switch Power
Hard drive LED Three (3) case fans that light up a rainbow color Two (2) front mounted USB ports
Front mounted microphone and headphone jacks Speaker at bottom of case Drive Bay Features:
Four (4) 5.25-inch external drive bays Two (2) 3.5-inch external drive bays
Five (5) 3.5-inch internal drive bays
Advertisement:
Important Windows and Office patches:
Microsoft Office Update Website
If you like to keep your computer up to date and are not using Windows Update or Microsoft Update for your Office patches and updates then you may want to check out the Office Update website. When you go to this site it will download an ActiveX plugin required to check your computer to see what Office products you have installed so it can tell you what updates you need or may want. It will break down the updates into categories such as required, recommended and optional much like Windows Update does. Then you will be able to install the updates and make sure that your Office products are up to date. You can check out the Microsoft Office Update page here.
Have you ever wondered how the RAM in your computer works or what it is even used for? If so then check out Howstuffworks.com and see for yourself.
Readers Question of the Month:
Chkdsk error at bootup
Lisa writes in with a troubleshooting question
Q. My computer is stuck and this is what it says. I am wondering if my drive crashed after a power outage. Checking file system C The type of the file system is NTFS The volume is dirty CHKDSK is verifying files stage (1 of 3)... 3 percent complete It does not go any further than this.
A.To fix this error you will need to get to a command prompt so you can type in some commands. If you cant get into Windows then you will need to use the Recovery Console to access a command prompt from there. Check out this link on how to use the Windows Recovery Console.
Once you are in there type in the following commands.
1. type fsutil dirty query c: and press enter
2. If the return message indicates that the volume is dirty then type chkdsk c: /f /x
3. After that finishes repeat step 1.
4. If it is no longer dirty then reboot and you should be ok
The reason why Windows XP simply won’t die may not be so much that the operating system is especially great; it may simply be another sign of hardware makers refusing to accept Windows Vista for certain platforms. Microsoft has quietly granted HP the right to ship Windows XP with new PCs through April 2010. Officially, the system builder license availability end date was January 31, 2009. Delivery, however, can be taken until May 30, 2009, according to Microsoft.
By April 2010, Windows XP will have been available for 104 months (almost nine years). It is unlikely that HP will ship Windows XP on PCs other than netbooks, but the agreement shows the failure of Windows Vista (Basic) to appeal to netbook vendors. The new Windows XP availability extension will overlap with the introduction of Windows 7, which is, according to Microsoft, aimed at the netbook market as well and will perform much better than Vista on this platform.
