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Resource Library
The Resource Library reflects the interests and experience of our members.  The Computer Group makes no endorsements and assumes no responsibility for any loss, damage, or liability you may incur in the use of the materials presented here.  Any use of the materials is at your own risk.

Some items could appear in several categories.  Use CTRL-F to "Find" your Subject.  Example: Search for the word FREE.

To save bandwidth cost, only use the "Display from Archive" link when the main web link doesn’t display.
If you use the Archive link because the web link doesn't work, please notify Jim Harris by eMail at jharris523@comcast.net for maintenance.
Go To Tips Page Go To the Bylaws section on the Docs page Go To Library Updates
 
Agenda for next COF Meeting
(Items may change until
day of meeting.)
COF - Glossary of Computer Terms
Read This If You Click On a
Document in the Resource
Library and Nothing Happens

- - - Table of Contents - - -
A. Computer Security
B. Computer Training
C. eMail
D. General Interest
E. Graphics
F. Hardware
G. Icons
H. Internet from Comcast
I. Oak Crest Village Documents
J. Privacy
K. Social Networking
L. Software Financial
M. Software Free
N. Software To Purchase
O. Troubleshooting and Neat Stuff
P. Windows XP
Q. Windows Vista
R. Windows 7
S. Windows 8


Topic Item # Link / Description
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Computer Security
Computer Security
Computer Security
Computer Security
Computer Security
 1 http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2351871,00.asp Display from Archive
The Best Security Suites for 2010:
PC Magazine article reviews well over a dozen 2010 security suites.  To find out which will keep you safe and which to avoid click on the link above.
2 http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2372364,00.asp Display from Archive
The Best Antivirus Software for 2011:
PC Mag © A review of 20 of the best (and worst) premium and free antivirus applications so that you can pick the right one for your needs-because, make no mistake: you need AV.
3 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/23/AR2009102301064.html Display from Archive
Microsoft’s Free Security Essentials:
Microsoft has released a free application to control malicious software.  It has been well rated in reviews.  Click on the link above and read for yourself.   Microsoft’s new anti-virus program offers an unassuming alternative.  The combination of "free" and "non-annoying" may be enough to attract users weary of being hectored by their anti-virus software. The same goes for Security Essentials' relatively generous license, which -- unlike most free anti-virus utilities--allows for use in home-based small businesses instead of requiring strictly noncommercial use.
4 http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2356509,00.asp Display from Archive
Free Anti-Virus Programs:
There are good free anti-virus programs available.  Click above on the link to a PC Magazine article to find out.  Free Antivirus and Antispyware. (12/02/09)
Every computer needs protection. But what if you've got no money for security software? Don't worry--there's power security software and services that can keep you safe, for free.
5 http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2704,2326426,00.asp Display from Archive
What to do with bad bots:
If your PC is infected with a bot, there's no telling what it might be up to. Catch that bot and kick it out with this handy checklist. What is a bot?  Read the article at the link above.
6 http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/sitelets/solutions/security/security_solutions Display from Archive
Security Tutorials from Dell:
Although more oriented toward business computers, some of the material on computer security is useful.
Spam, Viruses, Passwords, E-mail, Privacy, Cookies, Security Software and Spyware Protection are discussed.
Double click on the link, or copy and paste it into the address field of your browser.
7 http://sincerityboy.blogspot.com/2008/04/how-to-beat-spyware-and-viruses-2008.html Display from Archive
How to Beat Spyware:
The link above takes you to a Yahoo blog item that presents an orderly procedure for dealing with malware infected computers.
8 http://customer.comcast.com/Pages/FAQListViewer.aspx?topic=Internet Display from Archive
Wireless Network Security:
The link above is to a basic, but comprehensive discussion of wireless network security.
Click on the link above or copy and paste it into the address field of your browser.
9 http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2255854,00.asp Display from Archive
Nine Ways to Wipe Out Spyware:
Review of anti-spyware programs. An article from PC Magazine. Follow this link to view the article.
10 Paul Moxley: Virus Protection Presentation  
Paul Moxley: Virus Protection Presentation - 2007
Above is the handout that Paul distributed at the 4/16/07 meeting of the Computer Owners' Forum.  It is in pdf format.
11 Paul Moxley: Malware Viruses Spyware etc.  
Paul Moxley: Virus Protection Presentation - 2010: Malware, Viruses, Spyware, etc.
Above is the handout that Paul distributed at the Computer Owners' Forum. It covers the definition and types of malware, viruses, worms, adware, spyware, hijackers, toolbars and dialers.
12 Paul Moxley: Viruses  
Paul Moxley: Virus Presentation
What is the difference between a virus, worm and trojan horse?
13 Paul Moxley: Watch Out for Fake Protection Programs  
Paul Moxley: Watch Out for Fake Protection Programs
Recently, there has been an increase in "scare ware" rogue anti-virus alerts. They claim to remove bogus virus infections found on a computer running Microsoft Windows, if a user purchases the full version of the software. The infections they mention are false, and in fact the warning comes from the true infection itself (usually a Trojan horse).
14 http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2370108,00.asp Display from Archive
AVG Anti-Virus Free 2011:
AVG offers a free antivirus utility used by millions and a full line of commercial security products. The current free release, AVG Anti-Virus Free 2011, now includes all of the virus-fighting features found in the company's full suite. In fact, it includes features not commonly found in commercial standalone antivirus tools, let alone free ones.
An article from PC Magazine. Follow this link to view the article.
15 Download a free copy of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Software (Please enter Malwarebytes in the Search box)  
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware is a high performance anti-malware application that thoroughly removes even the most advanced malware and spyware. With one of the fastest, most effective quick scans and malware removal capabilities on the market, this program is the perfect addition to your PC's defenses. The paid version of the product includes a number of key features, including the ability to schedule updates and scans and most importantly, a real-time malware protection module that blocks malicious processes before they even start.
At the end of December, 2010, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware software was the most popular Spyware Remover download at "www.cnet.com".
16 http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2379663,00.asp Display from Archive
Viruses, Spyware, and Malware: What's the Difference?
Definitions and Behavior for the following: virus, worms, trojan horse, spyware, adware, rootkit, bot infestation, malware and malware dropper, ransomware and scareware.
17 http://www.av-test.org/en/home/  
German antivirus testing lab AV-Test.org performs regular antivirus certification testing under Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. In the past the lab has released new results once per quarter. The release of current results from August, 2011 reflects a switch to a bimonthly schedule.

The field of subjects for this latest test has expanded. AVG Anti-Virus Free, Emsisoft Anti-Malware, and Panda Cloud Anti-Virus have been added, among others. Products can receive up to 6 points each for protection against malware attack, repair of existing malware infestations, and overall usability, with a total of 11 points needed for certification.

Of the 25 products tested, seven failed to receive certification. With 10.5 points PC Tools barely missed the cut. Emsisoft and McAfee were close behind with 10 points. CA (now Total Defense) scored 9 points, as did Webroot. Note that Webroot's old engine was tested, not the completely new technology coming out next week. Finally, K7 scored 7.5 points and Norman got 7.

The tops score of 16.5 points went to Bitdefender, which routinely rates near the top in these tests. Kaspersky, Panda, and F-Secure tied for second with 15.5 points.

For the first time AV-Test has also tested corporate solutions. All seven tested products received certification, though some barely made it. Kaspersky and F-Secure topped the list, with 16 and 15.5 points respectively. Corporate security products from McAfee, Microsoft, Sophos, and Trend Micro all received 11 or 11.5 points, while Symantec got 12.5. For full details on both the home and corporate certification tests, visit the AV-Test Web site above.
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Computer Training
Computer Training
Computer Training
Computer Training
 1 Jump to OCV Computer Group Training for:  Computer Basics and Email  
Covered Items:
Playing Solitaire; Keyboard Exercise; Desktop Exercise; Creating a New Microsoft Word Document; Create an Email Account; Read, Send, Print Emails; Email Address Book and Attachments; Search the Web for Information
Responsibilities, Guidelines, Library, Skills, Review, Home Use
2 Jump to OCV Computer Group Training for:  Advanced-Basics  
Covered Items:
Create Documents, Copy and Paste Text, Print Documents; Edit Documents, Save to Folders; Personal Folder, Copy, Move, Delete Documents; Run Applications, Search for Files;
Folders, Files, Their Names and Extensions - Full Text Format;
Folders, Files, Their Names and Extensions - Outline Format;
Send and Save Email Attachments (Google Mail); Final Review; Learn What Computers Do; PowerPoint Introduction
3 Jump to OCV Computer Group Training for:  Intermediate Topics  
Covered Items:
What Is a Computer?; My Computer; Remove/Add Programs; User Accounts, Profiles; Device Drivers; What's Running?; Install Windows; Configure & Secure Windows; Backup Computer
4 Jump to OCV Computer Group Training for:  Word Processing Class  
Covered Items:
Microsoft Word; Word Perfect 9
5 Jump to OCV Computer Group Training for:  Spread Sheet Class  
Covered Items:
Microsoft Excel
6 Jump to OCV Computer Group Training for:  Desktop Publishing Class  
Covered Items:
Photo Workshop; Desktop Publishing; Greeting Cards; Business Cards; Stationery; Signs and Posters; Return Labels
7 Jump to OCV Computer Group Training for:
           Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) Class		  
Covered Items:
Lessons; Exercises; Sample Code
8 Jump to OCV Computer Group Training for:  Miscellaneous  
Covered Items:
Photo Editing; Scanning Into Print Shop; PowerPoint; Using Scanners
Using the HPG4010 Scannjet on Computer A
Using the HP5470 Scanner on Computer G
Burning CDs
9 http://www.gcflearnfree.org  
Site: www.gcflearnfree.org Instruction
The Goodwill Community Foundation organization provides excellent training materials dealing with computers and other subjects.  You will need to sign up, create your own account with a password.  You will then be able to monitor your progress, see your improvement on repeat exercises and branch out to other topics.
The web site has undergone a big makeover with interactive capabilities and added video clips.

Some of the available material are:
  1. Computer Basics
  2. Internet Basics
  3. Windows 98
  4. Windows XP
  5. Windows 7
  6. Microsoft Office
  7. Microsoft Word
  8. Microsoft Excel
  9. Microsoft PowerPoint
  10. Microsoft Access
  11. Microsoft Publisher
  12. Microsoft Outlook
  13. OpenOffice.org
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eMail
eMail
eMail
 1 http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2344692,00.asp Display from Archive
25 Golden Rules of eMail
Electronic mail is older than tweets, blogs, SMS texts—older even than the entire Internet. Why is it so many people still don't get it right? Find out by clicking on the link above.  If that does not work, copy and paste it into the address bar of your browser.
2 Setting-Up-A-Single-Account-In-Outlook-Express.pdf  
Instructions for setting up a single account in Outlook Express:
Click on the link above to display step-by-step instructions.
3 Jump to OCV Computer Group Training for:  Exercise #5: How to create a Yahoo Email account  
Covered Items:
The above link will direct you to a document you can download. The document gives step-by-step instructions for creating your own Email Address using Yahoo.
4 http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2367337,00.asp Display from Archive
Cloudmark DesktopOne:
This spam filter is great at telling spam from valid mail. It works with any kind of e-mail account and any e-mail client. It's easy to install and use, and it's free!
PROS: Fast, accurate community-based spam filtering. Filters any kind of e-mail account. Works with any e-mail client. Can pre-quarantine spam even when you're not checking e-mail.
CONS: Free edition filters just one e-mail account per computer.
5 Switch to Yahoo Classic  
Yahoo Classic:
If you tried the new version of Yahoo Mail and don't like it this document will explain how to return to Yahoo Classic.

If you don't see the "What's New?" selection at the top right side of your screen try the Options drop down list on the right.
6 Fake eMail Scam Asking for Money  
An Example of a fake eMail asking for money:
When reading the document, note the sentence structure. Probably written by someone using English as a second language.

Examples:
  1. Missing spaces before and after commas and periods.
  2. Words not capitalized at the beginning of a sentence.
  3. Word "i" not capitalized.
  4. Missing periods at the end of a sentence.
  5. Phrase, "not helping issues at all" in the second paragraph doesn't flow correctly.
7 How to Export an Email Address Book to a CSV File
How to Edit a CSV File With Excel Prior to Importing to Your Email Address Book
How to Import a CSV File to a New Email Address Book
Sample CSV Data File: From_Comcast_net_52_rows.csv 		 
How to Export, Clean and Import a Comma Separated Value File (CSV) to Create an eMail Address Book:

The three articles above include a step-by-step process to perform the following:
  1. Export an existing eMail Address Book to a CSV file.
  2. Clean a CSV file with an Excel spreadsheet.
  3. Create a new eMail Address Book by Importing the clean CSV file.
  4. (A sample CSV file is provided to accompany the three articles.)
8 An Example of a fake eMail scam allegedly sent from the US Postal Service:  
This was reported by a member of COF:

I am forwarding an Email I received from the US Postal Service.  I received an Email from USPS stating that a package had to be returned to the postoffice because it could not be delivered due to an incorrect address.  It asked me to click on the invoice number and then go to the office to pick up that package.  Because I was expecting a package I did click on the invoice tab but a message appeared on my screen that the file was contaminated and therefore it would not download the invoice number.  To make sure, I sent an Email to the USPS asking if this was a SCAM and sure enough they confirmed it.  DO NOT DOWNLOAD ANY INVOICE NUMBERS OR OTHER REQUESTS EVEN THOUGH THE EMAIL APPEARS TO BE FROM A LEGITIMATE ORGANIZATION.

From: "eCustomerCare National" <ECCADUSER@usps.gov>
To: "COF Member"
Sent: Saturday, November 26, 2011 9:46:22 PM

Subject: Response to your recent inquiry
Thank you for contacting us. I understand you received an email that appears to be from the Postal Service regarding picking up a package. I apologize that you received that email, and I can assure you it is not from us. Many of our customers have received similar emails. Please simply delete the message without taking any further action, as many of these emails contain a virus. The Postal Inspection Service is aware of the problems and are working hard to resolve the issues and shut down the malicious programs. I sincerely regret any inconvenience this may have caused. For more information, please go to the link below:

https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/pressroom/schemealerts.aspx

If you have additional questions or concerns, or if we can be of assistance to you in the future, please don't hesitate to contact us again at the link below:

http://www.usps.com/customerservice/redirects/email.htm?from=CustomerService&page=Center_EmailUs
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General Interest
 1 Baltimore Sun Technology Article  
Baltimore Sun Technology:
A review of various television/computer viewing options available from different vendors. An example of covered items: Rent TV shows and movies from the likes of iTunes, Netflix, Apple TV, Roku.com and Boxee Box from D-Link.
2 http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/jun/06/cloud-computing-apple  
What is the ' cloud ' ?
Once, you would do your work on your personal computer and save it onto your hard drive. And there it would sit, accessible only to you (and maybe a few other select users on a local network), and could only be manipulated (edited) if you had the right software on your device. The cloud overcomes this limitation - all you need is connectivity (pretty much universal, with the internet), and a cloud provider (a company that facilitates access to the cloud or their data servers). This means that any computer which is connected to the internet (including mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets) is connected to all the same applications and files. In terms of online storage, it creates better conditions for collaborative work; for example, a change made to a Word document would be available to users on different computers because the information is synchronised across all computers. The need for carrying around physical storage devices is eliminated. Hundreds of millions of us already use the cloud everyday, to share photographs, music and video clips. It is, like love, all around. The cloud signals, by and large, the end of "stuff".
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Graphics
 1 http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1524487,00.asp Display from Archive
Guide to Graphics Formats:
Above is a link to an article on this subject in PC Magazine. Click on the link, or if that does not work, copy and paste the link into the address field of you web browser.
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Hardware
Hardware
Hardware
Hardware
Hardware
Hardware
 1 http://reviews.cnet.com/best-wireless-routers
http://www.pcmag.com/search_redirect/?qry=best+2010+wireless+routers&searchSection=0&site=3
http://www.consumersearch.com/wireless-routers 		 
Wireless Routers:
Above are links to several articles on this subject. If you are in the market for a new router use these links as a resource before purchase.
2 Buying a new PC?  What do you need: View Excel spreadsheet?  
Purchase Options:
  1. What Type (PC or Mac)?
  2. Desktop or Laptop?
  3. What Operating System? (Windows 7, [32 or 64 bit])
  4. What chip set (Intel, AMD, other)
  5. What size hard drive?
  6. Do you need the faster speed of a solid state drive in "Raid 0" format?
  7. How much RAM? (Speed?)
  8. What video monitor display size?
  9. What size video card?
  10. What type mouse?
  11. What type keyboard?
  12. Do I need a media reader?
  13. Do I need a built in modem?
  14. What type DVD drive? Drive burner?
  15. What type speakers?
  16. Purchase extended warranty?
  17. What new software to buy?
3 http://www.freedomscientific.com  
Freedom Scientific - Blindness, Low Vision and Learning Systems Products
© Mission Statement: To develop, manufacture, and market technology-based products that provide equal access to information and computing for those with vision impairments or learning disabilities.
See information and demos on products and Webinars available for low vision individuals to use in conjunction with their computers.
4 http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2375207,00.asp  
How To Setup A Home Network Router In 5 Simple Steps:

      Header page: A general description of a home network.
      Steps:
  1. Connect Your Router
  2. Access the Router's Interface and Lock it Down
  3. Configure Security and IP Addressing
  4. Set Up Sharing and Control
  5. Set Up User Accounts
5 http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,2845,2365868,00.asp  
Supercharge Your PC with Solid State Drives:
You've optimized your computer for maximum performance, with a speedy multicore processor, fast RAM, and a graphics card with more processing power than NORAD had during the Cold War. Now it's time to add the pièce de résistance: a high-speed solid-state drive (SSD), so you can say goodbye to slow Windows boot-ups, lengthy application load times, and the retro feel of a motor-driven platter drive in a 21st-century computer.

But SSDs aren't like old-fashioned spinning hard drives, where a quick look at rotational speed, interface type, and cache memory can give you a pretty good idea of performance. The SSD market is relatively new, and even experienced PC builders and upgraders might be taken aback by the choices and feature sets available.
6 $129-Crucial-SSD-and-bracket.doc  
Frank Chen's proposed setup for new Solid State Drives:
This document is a must read for anyone considering the purchase of a new Solid State Drive setup.

Before you purchase a SSD, the Computer Group recommends the following:
  1. Talk to someone in the Computer Group or Paul Moxley prior to purchase to review your ideas.
  2. Make sure your operating system supports the "TRIM" feature. (Windows 7 does) (Unfortunately Vista doesn't support "TRIM".)
  3. Make sure you have an empty available drive bay.
  4. Make sure you have an available power supply connector.
  5. Make sure you have an available mother board drive bay connector.
  6. Consider buying 2 SSD's for a "RAID 0" configuration.
After purchase, the Computer Group recommends the following:
  1. Use a "RAID 0" configuration.
  2. Install the operating system on the SSD's.
  3. Move your "C:\pagefile.sys" file to a rotating hard drive.
  4. Turn on the "TRIM" feature.
  5. Install programs (.exe files) on the SSD's.
  6. Install data files on a rotating hard drive.
  7. Install OS temp files on a rotating hard drive.
7 http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2347540,00.asp  
How to Buy a Wireless Router:
Need to set up a wireless network in your home? Check out our complete guide to understanding and selecting the wireless router best suited for your needs. This guide will help you understand the questions you need to ask yourself before you go shopping.
8 Intel-Chip-Capabilities.doc  
Intel's "Sandy Bridge": New Chip, New Capabilities:
The new "Sandy Bridge" generation of Intel processors, which will be called the second generation Intel Core Processor, and continue to be sold under the Core i3, Core i5, Core i7 and Xeon names. As expected, these new 32nm, high-k metal gate chips, add integrated graphics into the CPU core, new vector commands, and improvements in turbo mode, with graphics being an obvious focus, as they will be marketed with a "visibly smart" tagline. Compared with the earlier generation of the Core architecture, Sandy Bridge allows changing power to among up to 4 cores and different parts of the graphics. These chips should show up in mainstream PC's between 2011 and 2012. Other changes in the chip include a new "ring interconnect," a higher bandwidth, low-latency system for connecting the various components within the processor, including the CPU cores, processor graphics, memory controller, and display. The chips also add Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX), a new 256-bit instruction set designed to accelerate floating point intensive applications such as photo editing.
9 New-PC-Selections-2011-09-18.ppt  
Frank Chen's 1st PowerPoint Presentation for Selecting a New PC:
Frank's presentation summarizes all aspects of purchasing a new PC. It covers computer Operating System types, PC vendors, PC hardware and stores where PC's can be purchased locally or on-line; plus much more.
10 COF-Sample-PC-Mac-New-Buys-2011-10-17.ppt  
Frank Chen's 2nd PowerPoint Presentation for Selecting a New PC:
Frank's presentation suggests 7 possible desktops and laptops for purchase, both PC and Mac. The list covers various vendors and stores where PC's can be purchased locally or on-line.
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Icons
 1 Right click on the following link: = = = > > >  Desktop Icon for www.oakcg.org web site  
Save and Install Desktop Icon:
Right click on the link above and save the icon file to a folder on your PC. Make sure you write down the file location so you can find the file later.
For a detailed description of how to use this icon please click on the following "Tips" link. Installation Instructions
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Internet from Comcast
 1 Computer Group Comcast Memo  
Effective March 1, 2012, you will no longer be billed by Oak Crest for your internet connection.  As a result, you will have to contact Comcast prior to that date and make your own arrangements for the level of Internet service that fits your needs.  That service will then be directly billed to you by Comcast.  Comcast will not have to visit your apartment to make this change.

IF YOU DO NOT MAKE A CALL BEFORE MARCH 1, IT IS LIKELY
THAT YOUR INTERNET SERVICE WILL BE INTERUPTED.
2 http://speedtest.comcast.net
http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest
http://www.testmy.net/results 		 
The above links provide a powerful broadband speed test that will test your internet, calculate your transfer rate and output accurate, reliable and easy to understand results. The second and third links belong to a third party and are not affiliated with your Internet service provider, so these speed test results are unbiased.  These links offer the ability to test upload speed and automatically test internet speed.

Why should I test my speed?  Make sure you're getting what you pay for.  Use these speed tests if you feel your connection slow down or are curious to see how your internet is performing.
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Oak Crest Village Documents
 1 Communication-With-Administration.doc  
Communication with Oak Crest Village Administration:
For some time we have been communicating with Oak Crest Village administration about establishing an electronic link between the administration office and residents. The thought behind this is that opening a more rapid means of reaching our residents to convey urgent and important information makes sense as more and more of our new residents move in with their own computers. This is something that has been done in other Erickson communities. Only those residents who want to receive electronic messages would provide their Email address, No one is required to do this.

As of Saturday, September 04, 2010, the following items are available by email:
Menus, Catering/Acorn Pub events, General Services Notices, Special Trips Calendar, Monthly Calendar of Activities, Coupons for on-campus stores, Notices from Administration, and Educational Opportunities.
2 Vial-of-Life-Form-As-Of-2010-06-29.doc  
Vial-of-Life-Form (The Butter Dish form.)
Click on the link above to download a copy of the "Vial-of-Life-Form".
The File Download option menu will open. You have a choice of opening or saving the file. If you open the file with Microsoft Word the document will probably open in "Read Only" format. I recommend saving the file to your hard drive before opening in Word.
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Privacy
 1 Telephone-Privacy.pdf  
Telephone Privacy:
The above link contains a comprehensive list of measures you can take to opt out of telephone merchandising and solicitations.
2 FTC-Proposes-Do-Not-Track-List.doc  
The FTC has proposed a 'Do Not Track' list for internet users.
It's no coincidence that you might see an ad for flights to Philadelphia on a music site after previously searching for just that flight on a travel website. It's called behavioral advertising, and the U.S. Government on Wednesday, 12/01/2010, took its biggest step yet toward regulating it.
The "Do Not Track" list would give consumers the option of keeping their Web surfing private. It has similar intent to the "Do Not Call" list that helped curb telemarketing phone calls.
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Social Networking
Social Networking
Social Networking
 1 Wikipedia: What is Facebook?
   - or -
Jump to http://www.facebook.com 		 
Facebook:
Giving people the power to share and make the world more open and connected.
2 http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2363178,00.asp Display from Archive
Facebook Privacy: 8 Ways to Protect Yourself
You want to use Facebook, but you also want to keep your private information from being spread all over the Internet. Most Facebook privacy settings default to Everyone, which means everyone on Facebook not just people you know. You can change this by going to Privacy Settings/Profile Information under the Account tab. You'll see options by each category, including Friends and Networks, Friends of Friends, and Only Friends.
To find out how, click on the link above or copy and paste it into the address bar of your browser.
3 Wikipedia: What is MySpace?
   - or -
Jump to http://www.myspace.com 		 
Myspace:
MySpace is a technology company connecting people through personal expression, content, and culture. MySpace empowers its global community to experience the Internet through a social lens by integrating personal profiles, photos, videos, mobile, messaging, games, and the world's largest music community.
4 Wikipedia: What is Twitter?
   - or -
Jump to http://www.twitter.com 		 
Twitter:
Twitter is a real-time information network powered by people all around the world that lets you share and discover what’s happening now.
5 http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2342599,00.asp Display from Archive
Closing or Deleting On-Line Accounts
Deleting accounts you've created on Facebook, MySpace, AOL, Classmates and elsewhere on the Web isn't always easy. Here are the details on leaving many services behind. Click on the link above, or copy and paste the link into the address bar of your browser to access this PC Magazine article.
6 Facebook_Manual.pdf  
Facebook Manual:
A Facebook setup and how to use manual from Erickson Living / Oak Crest Village.
7 http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-20121491-285/how-to-scan-facebook-for-suspicious-links-and-users/  
Free Norton add-on to Facebook That Checks for Bad Links:
Over the last year there have been many malware attacks on Facebook users. These suspicious links and apps will infect the user's timeline, messages, and even their friends' "walls." Norton offers a tool to help combat these threats, and it's very quick and easy to set up on your Facebook account.
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Software
 - 
Financial
Software
 - 
Financial
 1 CNN Web Site - Stock Quotes, (Example: General Electric Co)  
Displays daily high, low, closing prices, volume, dividends, latest headlines, earnings, etc.
2 http://www.dividendinvestor.com  
Find stock dividends (previous and current quarter), yield, company web site name, Declaration Date, Ex Date, Record Date, Payment Date, etc.
3 Calculate Cost Basis Changes  
Covered Items:
  1. Stock Spinoffs
  2. Mergers (for all stock, all cash, or with "cash to boot"?)
  3. Splits
  4. Split-offs
  5. Stock Rights
  6. Class Action Claims
  7. Did you reinvest dividends?
  8. "Return of Capital" Payments?
  9. "Return of Principal" Payments?
  10. "Wash Sale" Rules
  11. Receive Distributions from a Limited Partnership?
  12. Tax Consequences
  13. and many others
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Software
 - 
Free
Software
 - 
Free
Software
 - 
Free
Software
 - 
Free
Software
 - 
Free
Software
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Free
Software
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Free
Software
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Free
Software
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Free
 1 http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2381528,00.asp  
Best Free Software of 2011:
From PC Magazine: Got Windows? These 208 free products (divided into 35 groups) are yours to download and install to help you with just about any computing job you can imagine.
2 http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2367622,00.asp Display from Archive
Top 100 Web Sites of 2010:
Here are some of the hottest Web sites and Web trends of the year, plus some old favorites to enjoy.

Suggestions:
  1. http://www.filehippo.com
    There are a lot of great places where you can download freeware and shareware, but few focus like a laser on the good, useful stuff you need as well as FileHippo.com. Install its update checker to find out if your current software has a new version you missed.
    View dozens of software titles listing the most recent version number, some are free downloads.
  2. http://www.flickr.com
    Store and share photos
  3. http://docs.google.com/demo
    Google Docs: Use Cloud Computing to share on-line documents, spreadsheets and presentations.
  4. http://www.kayak.com
    Kayak is the travel mega search to end all travel mega searches, drawing flight, car, and hotel deals from company sites and fellow aggregators, such as Expedia, Orbitz, Priceline, and Travelocity. If there's a travel deal to be had, you'll find it here.
  5. http://www.mint.com
    If you need help managing your finances, give Mint.com a try. This Intuit-owned site lets you keep track of your bank accounts, credit cards, loans, investments, and more, all in the same place. And best of all, the site is free to use.
  6. http://www.snopes.com
    The best "Urban Legends" Reference Pages
  7. http://www.wikipedia.org
    You would be hard-pressed to find a more complete compendium of information, with 16 million articles. And, as a number of recent studies have found, the site is surprisingly accurate - - - still, those footnotes are there for a reason.
  8. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2367778,00.asp
    If you want to keep these sites around to check out later, there is good news: PCMag.com created a downloadable installer that will add all 100 sites to your IE Favorites. Download and follow the setup instructions and you're all set!
3 http://download.cnet.com/3001-2084_4-10911935.html?spi=f1bcc1af0544d219ab4866b99ef124f0   - or -   http://www.wizard-industries.com  
Free Hard Drive Scrubbing Programs:
Occasionally you want to delete all of the information on the hard drive.  Here are links to two free programs. To donate or recycle your hard drive, first remove all of your personal data. Simply deleting your files and formatting the hard drive is not enough, so consider using a (free) utility such as Disk Scrubber at the CNet link above or Sure Delete (www.wizard-industries.com) to scrub the hard drive.
4 http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=941b3470 Display from Archive
DOCX extensions in MS Office before 2007:
Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint File Formats. Click on the link above to download the Compatibility Pack or copy and paste it into the address bar of your browser.
Overview:
Users of the Microsoft Office XP and 2003 - install all High-Priority updates from Microsoft Update before downloading the Compatibility Pack. By installing the Compatibility Pack in addition to Microsoft Office 2000, Office XP, or Office 2003, you will be able to open, edit, and save files using the file formats in newer versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The Compatibility Pack can also be used in conjunction with the Microsoft Office Word Viewer 2003, Excel Viewer 2003, and PowerPoint Viewer 2003 to view files saved in these new formats.
5 ReadMe: Qualys BrowserCheck FAQ Article
      - and -
Download Browser Add-On: https://browsercheck.qualys.com      < < < = = =  (The "Install" command button will be available after a 20 second delay.)		  
About Qualys BrowserCheck ©
Qualys BrowserCheck is a tool that scans your browser looking for potential vulnerabilities and security holes in your browser and its plugins. This tool will also help you fix the security issues discovered by the scan. The threat of browser-based data breaches is growing. The number of vulnerabilities in browser plugins is on the rise. Now is the time to be proactive about the security of your web browser.

Why is my browser insecure?
Your browser could be considered insecure for multiple reasons. Your browser installation could contain a software issue that makes it vulnerable to malicious activity. You could also be running an outdated version of the browser or its plugins.

What is the next step after a scan?
Scanning your browser with Qualys BrowserCheck is the first step towards securing your browser. The next step is to review the browser scan results and follow the recommended actions to get software updates and resolve security issues. When you're done making updates, click the Re-Scan button to scan your browser again and verify that your browser and its plugins are current and secure.

What items are detected by Qualys BrowserCheck?
The Qualys BrowserCheck tool checks your browser as well as browser plugins and add-ons to identify insecure and out-of-date versions that put you at risk. It also checks if your Windows operating system is supported by Microsoft. Microsoft security updates cannot be installed on unsupported operating system versions.

The following items are detected:
  1. Windows OS support expiration
  2. Browser version (IE 6.0+, Firefox 3.0+, Chrome 4.0+)
  3. Adobe Flash Player
  4. Adobe Reader 5.x and above (For Internet Explorer: Install Version 10 and ignore Version 9 errors or alerts)
  5. Adobe Shockwave Player
  6. Apple Quicktime
  7. Microsoft Silverlight
  8. Microsoft Windows Media Player
  9. Real Player
  10. Sun Java

For 64-bit Windows: only 32-bit version of Internet Explorer is supported, 64-bit version is not supported.
6 http://www.thefreecountry.com  
Site: thefreecountry
Free Programmers', Webmasters' and Security Resources
Plus free compilers, source code libraries, web scripts, tutorials on many programming languages and tons of free information.
7 http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2369160,00.asp  
Internet Explorer 9 (IE9)
© www.pcmag.com

Pros
Java software improvements mean greatly improved speed. Minimalist interface leaves more room for webpages. Download manager with malware protection. Improved tab function. Many security features. Tracking Protection. Improved standards support. Pinned tabs make sites like apps in Windows 7.

Cons
Only works in Windows 7 and Vista. Still some occasional site incompatibilities. Bottom Line Microsoft's new browser is faster, trimmer, more compliant with HTML5, a major improvement over its predecessor. It also brings some unique capabilities like tab-pinning and hardware acceleration, but only Windows 7 and Vista users need apply.
8 Skype_Instruction_Manual.pdf  
Skype Instruction Manual:
A Skype setup and in-depth tutorial from Erickson Living / Oak Crest Village.
9 http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2388385,00.asp  
The Best Free Web Apps of 2011:
Not only are they free, you can run these apps on any computer over the Web, no installation needed. Maybe it's time to do your work in the cloud.

There are 99 web apps covered in this article. Sample apps include:
  1. Antivirus
  2. Backup
  3. Blogging
  4. Calendars
  5. Chat
  6. Email
  7. File Conversion
  8. Finance
  9. Fun
  10. Graphics
  11. Home
  12. Instant Messaging (IM)
  13. Maps
  14. Music
  15. Netcasts
  16. Networking
  17. Notes
  18. Office
  19. Reading
  20. RSS Readers (for blogs)
  21. Small Business
  22. Social Networks
  23. Surveys
  24. Tasks
  25. Video
  26. Voice
  27. Web Desktop
10 http://www.windirstat.info  
WinDirStat is a disk usage statistics viewer and cleanup tool for Microsoft Windows.

On start up, the program reads the whole directory tree once and then presents it in three useful views:
  1. The directory list, which resembles the tree view of the Windows Explorer but is sorted by file/subtree size.
  2. The treemap, which shows the whole contents of the directory tree.
  3. The extension list, which serves as a legend and shows statistics about the file types.
Click this link to view an example of the WinDirStat Menu
Click this link to view an example of the WinDirStat Report
11 http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/features  
Thunderbird is free, open source, e-mail software developed by the Mozilla Foundation.
Mozilla Thunderbird is a fully featured, secure and very functional email system. It lets you handle mail efficiently and with style, and Thunderbird filters away junk mail too.
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Software
 - 
To Purchase
Software
 - 
To Purchase
Software
 - 
To Purchase
Software
 - 
To Purchase
Software
 - 
To Purchase
 1 http://www.jetico.com  
For Purchase: Hard Drive Scrubbing Program:
Occasionally you want to delete all of the information on the hard drive.  Here is a link to a program. To donate or recycle your hard drive, first remove all of your personal data. Simply deleting your files and formatting the hard drive is not enough, so consider using a utility such as BCWipe (www.jetico.com) to scrub the hard drive.
2 http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2371043,00.asp Display from Archive
System Mechanic 10:
If sluggish PC performance is giving you the blues, you'd do well to invest in System Mechanic 10, a utility suite designed to blow the virtual dust out of worn machines by repairing the registry, defragging the hard drive, and eliminating files that stymie snappy performance.
3 http://www.regcure.com  
RegCure:
Finding that perfect software to fix registry problems can be a chore, but according to 60 million computer users, RegCure is up to the task. Users experiencing slow pc speed and poor performance have been turning to RegCure since its launch three years ago. Consistently ranking among the top selling registry cleaners online, the name RegCure has become synonymous with its task. Knowing that the registry is often at the root of a computer that is freezing, crashing, and displaying Windows errors, ParetoLogic, the creators of RegCure, are pleased to have assisted 60 million users in fixing their PC.
4 http://www.avanquest.com  
PowerDesk Pro 8:
The Ultimate File Manager for Windows!

Features:
  1. Advanced File Finder
  2. Multi-Pane File Viewer
  3. Easy FTP Utility & Support
  4. Hard Drive Indexing
  5. Search Emails & Attachments
  6. Color Code Files & Folder
  7. For Windows XP, Vista & 7 computers
Cost: $39.95 (download) (add CD for $9.95)

Reviews:
  1. PC Upgrade Magazine: "25 Best Utilities for Maximum Performance"
  2. Columbia Daily Tribune Business Section: "Long ago, PowerDesk officially landed a permanent spot on my short list of must-have software. Avanquest seals the deal with PowerDesk Pro, the most fun you can have being productive on your computer. This one is excellent in every imaginable way."
  3. Lincoln Spector, PC World.com: "PowerDesk Pro, the file manager that Microsoft Windows Explorer ought to be."
PowerDesk Setup Suggestions:  PowerDesk-Setup-Tips.doc
5 http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2387017,00.asp  
5 Essential Microsoft Office 2010 Tips for Everyone:

Love it or hate it, Microsoft Office is here to stay. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and even now Outlook, have become de facto software across most industries, as well as in education, government, and non-profit organizations, too. The problem with software that becomes a standard is that many people learn only what they need to know to get by day to day. When it's time to expand their skill set and savvy, they find workarounds using tricks they already know.

See the entire list of Microsoft Office Tips:
  1.   5 Essential Microsoft Office 2010 Tips for Everyone
  2. 15 Essential Microsoft Word 2010 Tips for Beginners
  3. 10 Essential Microsoft Excel 2010 Tips for Beginners
  4. 14 Essential Microsoft Outlook 2010 Tips for Beginners
  5. 14 Essential Microsoft Excel 2010 Tips for Intermediate Users
  6. 10 Essential Microsoft Word 2010 Tips for Advanced Users
  7.   5 Essential Microsoft Excel 2010 Tips for Advanced Users
  8.   8 Essential Microsoft Outlook 2010 Tips for Intermediate and Advanced Users
  9.   9 Essential Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 Tips
  10. 10 Essential Microsoft Access 2010 Tips for Beginners
6 http://www.pcworld.com/article/236248/windows_installation_in_sad_shape_reimage_sets_things_straight.html  
Windows Installation in Sad Shape? Reimage Sets Things Straight:
It's rare that a piece of "miracle" software actually lives up to its developers' claims. The $70 per year program Reimage - which claims to provide hassle-free relief for damaged Windows installs - delivers on its promise. A single trip to the computer repair shop would cost you more. All in all, Reimage is a fantastic repair utility that can fix some of the ugliest Windows problems out there. It won't totally replace your local computer technician, but it definitely has the potential to save you money, time, and frustration.
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Troubleshooting
and
Neat Stuff
Troubleshooting
and
Neat Stuff
Troubleshooting
and
Neat Stuff
Troubleshooting
and
Neat Stuff
Troubleshooting
and
Neat Stuff
Troubleshooting
and
Neat Stuff
Troubleshooting
and
Neat Stuff
Troubleshooting
and
Neat Stuff
Troubleshooting
and
Neat Stuff
 1 General:

How to troubleshoot on your own:
Many of these links are from PC Magazine Today's Tip: Troubleshoot Like A Pro, of 11/24/08. The links access a very rich collection of tips that cover a wide range of subjects and serve as a very useful reference.  Simply click on the link of interest. Rarely does a call to tech support "teach a man to fish." Heck, often enough, you don't even get a fish out of it. Why not learn to be your own support tech?

Neat Stuff:
Many of the articles below include tips and tricks that will help you use your computer to its maximum potential while staying out of trouble.
Troubleshoot Like a Pro Display from Archive
Tips, Solutions & How To's from PCMag_com Display from Archive
2 Operating Systems:
32 Vs. 64-bit: What's the Bottom Line? Display from Archive
How to Downgrade from Vista to XP Display from Archive
It's Service Pack Time! Display from Archive
Sharing Files Between Windows and Linux Display from Archive
Controlling Defragmentation in Vista Display from Archive
OS Wars: The Battle for Your Desktop Display from Archive
Video Tech Tips: Add Extra Clocks in Vista Display from Archive
Tweaking SendTo in Vista Display from Archive
But It's a Genuine Microsoft Cd! Display from Archive
Video Tech Tips: Turn the Screensaver into Your Wallpaper Display from Archive
View all Operating Systems Display from Archive
Paul Moxley: Backing Up Before Setting Up A New System
Make a checklist of files and settings that must be backed up and then later restored on the new operating system.		  
Paul Moxley: Multi-Media used on Computers
The things to do and not do when purchasing a new Multi-Media computer.		  
Paul Moxley: Registry and Cleaners
What is the Windows Registry and what are Registry Cleaners?		  
Paul Moxley: Transferring files to a flash drive from a PC
How to save files on a USB flash drive.		  
3 Office Applications:
Word Macros: Beyond the Basics Display from Archive
Create Personalized Documents with Mail Merge Display from Archive
AutoCorrect and AutoText in Word 2007 Display from Archive
Use Office to Collaborate on Projects Display from Archive
Secure Your Word Docs Display from Archive
Give Your Charts a Makeover Display from Archive
How to Sort by Birthday in Excel Display from Archive
Sort on More Than Three Columns Display from Archive
Renaming Excel Rows and Columns Display from Archive
Making Choices in Excel Display from Archive
View All Office Applications Display from Archive
Paul Moxley: Word Processing
What is Word Processing?		  
4 Browsers:
Wheeling Through History Display from Archive
DL-TV: Firefox Extensions Display from Archive
Print and Transfer Bookmarks Display from Archive
Firefox Hack: Control Tab Scrolling Display from Archive
Tune Up Firefox for Research Display from Archive
Firefox Tip: Smart Keywords Display from Archive
Make Your Own Browser Display from Archive
Google Tip: Go Experimental Display from Archive
Browser Boosters Display from Archive
Firefox Extension: FEBE Display from Archive
View All Browsers Display from Archive
Blog Article: IPv4 Exhaustion Around Feb 11th, 2011"  
5 Hardware:
Updating an Old PC Display from Archive
Upgrade Your Phone's Battery Display from Archive
Are Your Scans Taking Too Long? Display from Archive
Gaming Burn-In? Display from Archive
Partitioning Bad? Display from Archive
Avoid Confirmation at Start-Up in Vista Display from Archive
Extend Your Laptop's Life With These Tweaks Display from Archive
Double Up on Graphics Cards? Display from Archive
Graphics Memory Not Registering? Display from Archive
RAM Modules Preventing Boot? Display from Archive
Rescue a crashed PC
Not all crashed PCs are the same. Typically, there's no one pat reason or cause. In other words, it can be many things. Here is a rundown of the solutions for these issues, from basic fixes to tackling the dire straits of a totally dead hard drive. No matter what your PC's crashed condition, be it a soft or hard crash, we hope to get you back to a working state. 		Display from Archive
6 http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow/story/262550/how-to-fix-your-wireless-internet-connection-problems  
How to fix your wireless internet connection problems:
Without question, your router is one of the most useful and convenient tech devices you own. But many of you probably view it as one of the biggest sources of frustration, anxiety, and downright anger. The fact is, setting up a home router-and keeping it running-is still more complicated and demanding of tech knowledge than the average user would like it to be. This article covers a step-by-step process to repair your router connection.
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Windows XP
Windows XP
 1 Windows XP was released for retail sale on October 25, 2001
Windows XP, Service Pack 3, All Editions, Extended Support Ends: April 8, 2014

Read ZD-Net Article:  How-long-will-Microsoft-support-XP-Vista-and-Windows-7.doc
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx Display from Archive
PowerToys for XP:
PowerToys add fun and functionality to the Windows experience. What are they? PowerToys are additional programs that developers work on after a product has been released. Note: We take great care to ensure that PowerToys work as they should, but they are not part of Windows and are not supported by Microsoft. For this reason, Microsoft Technical Support is unable to answer questions about PowerToys. PowerToys are for Windows XP only and will not work with Windows Vista.
Important: If you installed PowerToys prior to April 23, 2002, you must uninstall your old PowerToys before installing the versions available here.
2 http://support.microsoft.com:80/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q302894
and
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308422		 Display from Archive
Backup Utility for Windows XP Home Edition:
Above is an excerpt from the Microsoft Help and Support site of 5/3/09. It describes how to install Backup from the Windows XP Home Edition CD-ROM. The Backup utility helps you protect your data if your hard disk stops working or your files are accidentally erased. With Backup, you can create a copy of all the data on your hard disk, and then archive it on another storage device, such as a removable hard disk or a tape. The Backup utility is not included in the default installation of Windows XP Home Edition. Therefore, to use Backup, you have to install it manually.

To manually install the Backup utility, follow these steps:
1. Put the Windows XP Home Edition CD in the CD Drive.
2. Double-click the Ntbackup.msi file in the following location to start a wizard that installs Backup: CD drive:\VALUEADD\MSFT\NTBACKUP
3. When the installation wizard is finished, click Finish. If the wizard completed the installation, the program was successfully installed and you can now use the Backup utility.
3 http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2361485,00.asp Display from Archive
Microsoft: IE9 Won't Support Windows XP
Windows XP users will not be able to run Internet Explorer 9. Users trying to run IE9 will receive the following dialogue box: "Windows Internet Explorer 9 isn't supported by any operating system earlier than Windows Vista SP2."
4 http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2369575,00.asp Display from Archive
Stop Using Windows XP Please: (Article dated 09/23/2010)
Microsoft wants you to upgrade to Windows 7. Should you?
Why do 74% of businesses still use Windows XP?
5 http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2355703,00.asp Display from Archive
Windows 7 and Vista vs XP - Performance Shoot-Out: (Article dated 11/10/2009)
Will upgrading your older Windows XP computer to Windows 7 make it perform better? Yes and no.
© PC Magazine ran a slew of tests and were surprised to find that XP aced as many as Windows 7.
Read the article to find out how XP blows away Vista in performance tests.
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Windows Vista
 1 Windows Vista was released for retail sale on January 30, 2007
Windows Vista, Service Pack 2, Consumer Editions, Mainstream Support Ends: April 10, 2012
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Windows-Sidebar-and-gadgets-overview Display from Archive
Windows Vista - Sidebar and gadgets:
Gadgets are mini programs that give you information at a glance and provide access to frequently used tools. Windows Sidebar helps you to organize your gadgets.
See how they work in Windows Vista.
Click on the link above or paste it into the address bar of your browser.
2 http://www.technipages.com/windows-7vista-clear-print-queue.html Display from Archive
Vista Clear Print Queue Instructions:
If you have a long list of hung print jobs in Vista, you can clear the print queue easily by using these steps.
3 Vista-Take-Ownership-of-C-Drive.doc  
Vista: Take Ownership of your "C" Drive.
Have you ever tried and failed to get access to a folder in Vista; a folder you're sure you should be able to access? Setting ownership to your Administration logon account will "turn on" access to all your folders.
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Windows 7
Windows 7
Windows 7
Windows 7
Windows 7
Windows 7
Windows 7
Windows 7
 1 Windows 7 was released for retail sale on October 22, 2009
Windows 7, Consumer Editions, Mainstream Support Ends: January 13, 2015
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2357663,00.asp  
Your Guide to Windows 7:
Whether you got a new PC loaded up with Windows 7 or you got Windows 7 DVDs to upgrade an existing PC, you should read this roundup of key stories to help you get started with the new operating system.  Click on the link above to read the full report.
2 http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2367223,00.asp Display from Archive
50 Ways to Make the Most of Windows 7:
Microsoft’s latest OS is rich in features and performance, but there's always room for improvement. Try these tips to optimize your system. If you have a Windows 7 system, you know that there's a lot to like about Microsoft's newest OS, but no OS is perfect; there are nips and tucks that can improve it. This collection of tips and tricks can help boost the speed of your Win 7 system, make it more secure, improve its look, customize it, and much more.
Click on the link above or paste it into the address bar of your browser.
3 http://www.technipages.com/windows-7vista-clear-print-queue.html Display from Archive
Windows 7 Clear Print Queue Instructions:
If you have a long list of hung print jobs in Windows 7, you can clear the print queue easily by using these steps.
4 Windows-7-Take-Ownership-of-C-Drive.doc  
Windows 7: Take Ownership of your "C" Drive.
Have you ever tried and failed to get access to a folder in Windows 7; a folder you're sure you should be able to access? Setting ownership to your Administration logon account will "turn on" access to all your folders.
5 http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2369971,00.asp Display from Archive
Windows 7: The Top 10 Hidden Features
  1. God Mode (270 configurable options) (also works with "Vista 32 bit", not "Vista 64 bit")
    ⊗ New foldler name ===>>>     GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}
  2. Enhanced Calculator
  3. WordPad's File Support (Save AS function for OpenDocument Text files plus .docx)
  4. Reliability Monitor
  5. Problem Steps Recorder (Send a Zip file of problem screenshots through email)
  6. Power Efficiency Report
  7. Pin Folders to the Taskbar
  8. Wipe Free Disk Space
  9. "Virtual" Wi-Fi
  10. Hotkey a Window between Monitors
6 Turn-On-Off-Windows-Live-Messenger.doc  
Windows 7: Windows Live Messenger (Turn On or Off)
7 Windows-7-for-COF.ppt  
Zed Hrubec's Windows 7 Power Point Presentation
8 http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/features/windows-xp-mode  
How to Install and use Windows XP Mode in Windows 7
9 http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/help/getting-started  
Getting Started with Windows 7:
This site contains videos and articles covering the following:
  1. Get to know Windows 7
    1. What is Windows 7?
    2. What's new in Windows 7?
    3. How to get Windows 7
    4. Take a tour
    5. What's new with the Start menu?
    6. What's new with the taskbar?
    7. What's new with the Windows desktop?

  2. Install, upgrade, activate
    1. Installing and reinstalling Windows
    2. Upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 7
    3. Upgrading from Windows Vista to Windows 7
    4. Activate Windows on this computer
    5. Register Windows 7

  3. First-week checklist
    1. Connect to the Internet
    2. Transfer files and settings from another computer
    3. Protect your computer from security threats
    4. Create user accounts
    5. Set up a home network
    6. Set up a wireless network
    7. Set up Parental Controls
    8. Schedule automatic backups

  4. Install programs
    1. Install a program
    2. Get help with program compatibility problems
    3. Make older programs run in Windows 7
    4. Looking for Windows Mail?
    5. Trying to download Outlook Express?
    6. Get e-mail, calendar, photo, and video programs for Windows 7
    7. Uninstall or change a program

  5. Set up hardware
    1. Install a USB device
    2. Install a printer
    3. Get help with hardware compatibility problems
    4. What to do when a device isn't installed properly
    5. Install, view, and manage your devices
    6. Automatically get recommended drivers and updates for your devices
    7. How can I decide which drivers are safe to install?

  6. Personalization
    1. Overview: Personalizing your computer
    2. Change your desktop background (wallpaper)
    3. Use or change a screen saver
    4. Change computer sounds
    5. Make the text on your screen larger or smaller
    6. Choose a picture for your user account and Start menu
    7. Customize desktop gadgets
10 http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/compare?T1=tab20  
Compare Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7
11 http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/281-desktop-background-change.html  
How To Change Desktop Background Wallpaper:
This will show you how to change your desktop background to a wallpaper picture (image), solid color, or slideshow of your choice in Windows 7.
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Windows 8
Windows 8
Windows 8
 1 Estimated Windows 8 release date for retail sale is currently 4th Quarter 2012.
http://www.windows8news.com/2011/06/16/microsoft-vp-hints-windows-8-release-fall-2012/  
Windows 8 Coming Soon:
If Windows 8 follows the path of previous new versions of Windows, we can expect Windows 8 to be launched between Christmas 2012 and 2nd quarter 2013.
2 http://video.ch9.ms/ch9/7a2d/99856b51-43a1-4fe7-92b5-9f5f013a7a2d/AntiMalware_low_ch9.mp4  
Windows 8 Security Video:
This Windows 8 Security Video covers the newest version of "Windows Defender".
3 http://www.extremetech.com/computing/96249-5-deal-breaking-flaws-in-windows-8  
5 Deal-Breaking Flaws in Windows 8:

Windows 8 presupposes that the desktop computer is going to become, although not completely replaced, at least marginalized.
Flaw #
  1. This does not seem to apply to desktops with keyboards.  So hopefully, we will be able to copy and paste between applications.
  2. Will running the Desktop be easier with desktop computers?  If so, we are in the clear here also.
  3. Yes, the learning curve will be steep and W 8 is a new ball game.  But we have been here before; it could not be any worse than the transition from DOS to Windows.
  4. Hitting the physical power button to hibernate the machine rather than shut down does not seem so bad.  I would guess that on a desktop, holding the power button down for a few seconds might actually force a software activated shut down.  And if not, I don't see that clicking once and moving the mouse across the screen to click again is such a great burden.
  5. Switching between categories of search objects should not be that much of a problem, but the implied loss of the ability to search for specific text in a file would be a serious limitation.
4 http://www.extremetech.com/computing/96431-demystifying-windows-8-changes-additions-and-features  
Demystifying Windows 8's Changes, Additions, and Features

Very good summary of Windows 8 features.  Note that the increased security features will give us the same protection we now get with the WSS and the Reset and Refresh functions could replace Acronis.  Boot up will be much faster, but W 8 is intended not to be turned off but to hibernate.  It remains to be seen what version of W 8 will allow to use flash drives as bootable W 8 installations.  There may be a tremendous potential there for our instruction, if each student could carry their own bootable set of instruction materials on their flash drive.  That is the good part. 
5    
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Date / Time: Resource Library Last Updated - - - Reason for Resource Library Update - - -
Saturday, September 18, 2010 11:07:55 Resource Library Page installed for first 2010/2011 COF meeting, 09/20/2010
Saturday, January 08, 2011 12:24:50 Added to Computer Security Section "Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Software"
Saturday, January 08, 2011 13:06:51 Added to Troubleshooting Section "IPv4 Exhaustion Around Feb 11th, 2011"
Wednesday, January 12, 2011 11:53:15 Added to Hardware Section "Buying a new PC?  What do you need?"
Friday, January 14, 2011 13:23:05 Added to Software-to-Purchase Section: "PowerDesk"
Tuesday, January 25, 2011 12:31:41 <-  Added to Hardware Section: "Freedom Scientific - Low Vision Equipment"
Thursday, February 03, 2011 12:09:38 Added Windows (XP, Vista and 7) Article:
"How long will Microsoft support XP, Vista and Windows 7?"
Saturday, February 12, 2011 10:21:40 Added to Computer Security Section
"Viruses, Spyware, and Malware: What's the Difference?"
Saturday, February 12, 2011 10:48:21 Added to Hardware Section:
"How To Set Up A Home Network Router In 5 Simple Steps"
Monday, February 21, 2011 12:26:29 Added to Hardware Section:
"Supercharge Your PC with Solid State Drives"
Saturday, March 05, 2011 10:53:17 <-  Added to Header Link Section: "Glossary of Computer Terms"
Thursday, March 17, 2011 13:26:56 Added to Header: "Erickson Living Links"
Friday, March 18, 2011 09:57:05 Added to Free Software Section: "Internet Explorer 9 (IE9)"
Saturday, March 19, 2011 10:30:02 Added to eMail Section: "Switch to Yahoo Classic"
Monday, March 21, 2011 08:45:52 Added to eMail Section: "Example: Fake eMail scam asking for money."
Thursday, March 24, 2011 13:59:04 <-  Added "General Interest" Topic.
Friday, March 25, 2011 08:35:31 Added to General Interest Section: "Baltimore Sun Technology Article"
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 13:21:15 Updated the Computer Training Section: "The GCF Learning Free site was upgraded"
Tuesday, April 12, 2011 13:49:50 Added Free Software Article: "The Best Free Software of 2011"
Sunday, April 17, 2011 11:14:28 Added to Social Networking Section: "Manual: How to setup and use Facebook"
Sunday, April 17, 2011 11:36:09 Added to Free Software Section: "Manual: How to setup and use Skype"
Sunday, April 17, 2011 12:22:44 Added to Troubleshooting Section:
"Router: How to Fix Your Wireless Internet Connection Problems"
Monday, April 18, 2011 11:53:08 Added to Hardware Section "Excel Spreadsheet: Proposed PC Configurations"
Tuesday, June 14, 2011 12:55:23 <-  Added to Hardware Section
"Frank Chen's proposed setup for new Solid State Drives"
Monday, June 20, 2011 09:49:47 Added to Software-to-Purchase Section:
"5 Essential Microsoft Office 2010 Tips for Everyone"
Sunday, August 21, 2011 12:38:37 <-  Added to Hardware Section "How to Buy a Wireless Router"
Monday, August 22, 2011 09:58:30 Added to Software-to-Purchase Section: "More Microsoft Office 2010 Tips"
Monday, August 22, 2011 12:03:48 Added to Hardware Section "New Intel Chip Capabilities"
Monday, August 22, 2011 12:48:51 Added to Free Software Section: "The Best Free Web Apps of 2011"
Saturday, September 17, 2011 11:12:52 Added to eMail Section:
"Export, Clean and Import a '.csv' File to Create an eMail Address Book"
Sunday, September 18, 2011 11:53:40 Added to Hardware Section "PowerPoint Presentation - New PC Selections"
Monday, September 19, 2011 09:28:35 Added to Windows 7 Section: "Windows XP Mode"
Tuesday, September 20, 2011 10:22:47 <-  Added New Windows 8 Section: "Windows 8 Estimated Release Date"
Sunday, October 02, 2011 11:11:14 Added Windows 8 Video: "Video Covering Windows 8 Security Software"
Sunday, October 02, 2011 11:29:55 Added Windows 8 Article: "5 Deal-Breaking Flaws in Windows 8"
Sunday, October 02, 2011 11:56:01 Added Windows 8 Article:
"Demystifying Windows 8's Changes, Additions, and Features"
Saturday, October 08, 2011 10:56:27 Added to Header: "Document View Help"
Thursday, October 13, 2011 11:06:32 Added to Header: "Agenda for the next COF Meeting"
Friday, October 14, 2011 13:36:30 Added Computer Security Article: "AV-Test Anti-Virus Testing Results"
Sunday, October 16, 2011 12:24:22 Added to Hardware Section "PowerPoint Presentation - More PC & Mac Selections"
Tuesday, November 01, 2011 12:29:58 <-  Added to Software-to-Purchase Section:
"Windows Installation in Sad Shape? Reimage Sets Things Straight"
Thursday, November 03, 2011 11:42:38 Added to General Interest Section: "What is the 'Cloud'?  An explanation."
Thursday, November 03, 2011 12:30:31 Added to Social Networking Section:
"Free Norton add-on to Facebook That Checks for Bad Links"
Thursday, November 03, 2011 12:30:31 Added to Windows 7 Section: "Getting Started with Windows 7"
Monday, November 07, 2011 13:03:55 Added Free Software Article:
"WinDirStat is a disk usage statistics viewer and cleanup tool for Microsoft Windows."
Saturday, November 19, 2011 12:25:44 Added Free Software Article: "Thunderbird eMail Software"
Monday, January 02, 2012 14:04:24 <-  Added eMail Scam Article:
"An Example of a fake eMail scam allegedly sent from the US Postal Service"
Thursday, January 05, 2012 13:58:07 Added to Header: "Liability message"
Monday, January 16, 2012 09:17:40 Added to Windows 7 Section: "Compare Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7"
Monday, January 23, 2012 09:42:35 <-  Added to eMail Section: "How to Create a Yahoo Email Account"
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 11:16:03 Changed Power Point Frame #8 in Windows 7 Section:
"Zed Hrubec's Windows 7 Power Point Presentation"
Friday, February 03, 2012 20:18:17 Added "Internet from Comcast" Topic
Friday, February 03, 2012 20:25:01 Added to Internet Section "Change in Comcast Internet Service"
Saturday, February 04, 2012 19:18:53 Added to Internet Section "How to Test Your Internet Download Speed"
Sunday, February 05, 2012 20:23:35 Added to Windows 7 Section: "How To Change Desktop Background Wallpaper"
  <- Indicates the first addition after a COF meeting.


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