Boulder Computer Maven Newsletter

Boulder Computer Maven Newsletter - February 2005

Dear Friends,

Thank you for letting me help you with your computer needs in the past. This is my customer newsletter, containing computer tips that I hope you'll find helpful and interesting. If you don't want to receive this newsletter, please let me know, and I'll remove your name from my mailing list.

This month's news is especially important for users of programs that I've installed for many of you to protect your computers: the AVG 6.0 Antivirus program, and the Ad-Aware 6 and Spybot Search and Destroy 1.2 spyware removers.

If your computer has these programs, you must update them to newer versions to maintain protection. Please call me at 303-444-8247 with any questions.

As always, please contact me at any time with your computer questions. I want to help you get the most from your computer.

Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, Boulder Computer Maven

Phone: 303-444-8247
Web Site: http://www.bcmaven.com

Helping People Use Computers in Boulder for Over 20 Years

Immediate Update Required for AVG 6.0 Antivirus, Ad-Aware 6, and Spybot Search and Destroy 1.2

As I described in my December 2004 newsletter:

Grisoft will end support for AVG Antivirus Version 6.0. The end date has been extended from December 31, 2004 to February 15, 2005 (click here for details). A new, improved version is now available.
Lavasoft has ended support version for Ad-Aware Version 6.0. A new, improved program, Ad-Aware SE Personal, is now available.
Safer-Networking.org has ended support for Spybot Search and Destroy Version 1.2. A new version is now available.

Please see my December 2004 newsletter for details, including how to download and install the new products. This is necessary to maintain protection on your computer if you use these programs!

Windows XP Fast User Switching

Windows XP lets you define separate accounts for each member of the family who uses the computer. That's a great feature, because it gives each person his or her own individual documents, desktop icons, Internet favorites and bookmarks, etc.

If you're using the computer and someone else wants to use it (for example, to do a quick E-mail check), you don't have to stop what you're doing or close your programs. With Fast User Switching, the other person can use the computer, and you can resume your work exactly where you left it. Here's how:

Click Start > Log Off > Switch User.
Log into the other person's account and use the computer.
Click Start > Log Off .
If the other person has finished using the computer, click Log Off. Otherwise click Switch User, which will let him or her resume at a later time.
Log into your account and resume your work.

Better Ways to Send and Receive AOL E-Mail

If you're familiar with E-mail programs like Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Outlook Express, or Eudora, you probably find that the E-mail program that's built into AOL is lacking in features and usability. Those other programs can't send and receive AOL E-mail, because AOL doesn't use the same E-mail standards as the rest of the Internet. Fortunately, AOL provides two full-featured programs that can send and receive AOL E-mail. These programs also let you send and receive E-mail with other accounts that use the Internet's POP3, IMAP, and SMTP standards:

Netscape Mail and Newsgroups is part of the Netscape 7.2 suite, which also includes a web browser (yes, Netscape's browser is still available!), Instant Messenger, Palm Sync tools, and HTML editor. Netscape 7.2 is available free from Netscape's Browser Central download site.

AOL Communicator, a stand-alone E-mail program, is available free from the AOL download site.

Computer Haven Web Site

My friend Patty MacDuffie has created a wonderful new web site, Computer Haven, where you can ask questions about anything to do with computers, get answers from friendly and knowledgeable people, and read articles that help you understand your computer better. I recommend it highly.