For those users currently using Spybot for Adware and
Spyware protection, please make sure that you are using version 1.5 or above.
Earlier versions are no longer supported which means that you will not be
protected from new bad software on the Internet. Any time you notice peculiar
warnings or increased popup ads, be sure to run Spybot and select the option to
“Scan for Problems” and then “Fix Problems”, if found.
Keep in mind that any warnings about viruses or problems
with your computer that pop-up while you are on the Internet are almost always
ads trying to sell you something. By clicking “OK” you are giving them
permission to install their trial software on your computer and it may actually
cause you a lot of trouble down the road. Most of the time it will just keep
reminding you to buy the official copy of the software to fix your imaginary
problems and many of these programs are very difficult to remove once installed.
INTERNET
EXPLORER 7.0
If you have recently upgraded Internet Explorer to
version 7.0 via Microsoft Windows Updates you may experience “Publisher Not
Verified” warning messages when running some older programs such as Libra,
Access 2000, etc. These messages are activated by the security functions within
the new version of Internet Explorer, which tries to determine whether certain
types of files are safe by virtue of a registered publisher.
You can eliminate these warnings in Windows XP by making
one of the following changes to your computer setup. In Windows XP Professional
Edition you can fix the problem as follows:
1) Select Start/Run and type GPEDIT.MSC and click OK
2) Go into User Configuration / Administrative
Templates / Windows Components / Attachment Manager / Inclusion
List For Low File Types
3) Select Enable and add the file extensions you want to
run without warnings. In the case of Libra these would be “.bat”. For Access
add “.mdb”. If you want to add multiple file types separate them with a
semi-colon.
Another option that works for Windows Home and
Professional Edition is to go into Internet Explorer Properties. Go to Security
/ Local Intranet / Sites / Advanced and add the drive
letter of your server that contains the program you want to run. In the case of
Libra this would typically be “L:” This will create an exemption for the shared
files on local drive L:
For
a large number of users Microsoft Office 2000 has been a staple product for a
number of years now. As the occasional user migrates to Windows Vista a small
number of incompatibilities have been noted. The most common of these occurs
when users try to configure Microsoft Outlook 2000 or 2002 to perform e-mail
functions. The program refuses to store e-mail names and passwords, which
requires you to key them in each time you go into Outlook. While this has a
certain nuisance value, e-mail continues to function. Microsoft has officially
dropped support for MS-Office prior to 2003, so don’t expect a fix anytime
soon.
When
we first encountered this problem we went over Microsoft’s support materials in
detail but no where did it say the older program was just incompatible. We had
to search third part reviews to confirm this fact.
For
users who want to resist Microsoft’s gentle nudge to upgrade to MS-Office 2007
there is a new free alternative to Microsoft Office available at
www.openoffice.org. This free office suite can read standard Microsoft file formats
and supplies the equivalent of Word, Excel & PowerPoint free of charge.
PERSONAL
FILE / E-MAIL BACKUPS
More
and more users are beginning to use USB Flash Drives to backup their personal
files. Most of these files can be found in the My Documents folder located
under Documents and Settings and your User Name.
In
most cases this does not however backup your e-mail files which are often
located in more obscure locations. I usually recommend migrating
these files to a sub-folder under My Documents called My E-Mail. The
method to accomplish this varies dependant upon the e-mail program you are
using. In either case, manually create the My E-Mail folder before
proceeding with the file relocation as follows:
In
Outlook Express, go into Tools / Options / Maintenance / Store Folder. Select
Browse and locate the My E-Mail folder and select it. When you exit and
re-enter Outlook Express it will relocate your files.
For
Microsoft Outlook you need to copy and paste the OUTLOOK.PST file into the My
E-Mail folder. Then use Tools / Options / Mail Setup / Data Files to browse
to the newly created mail folder.
Once
you relocate these files, a backup procedure can be created to backup personal
files to your USB drive.