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Page 4
As stated on the preceeding page, I just got through a teaching/learning experience by giving a course on computer basics to a group of students here on Manitoulin through Cambrian College.
I have to admit that it was my first time at the front of a classroom other than years and years ago when Christian Brothers called me up to the front of the class for a demonstration of corporal punishment. It was rather refreshing not having to bend over and have a goaltenders hockey stick applied to my bottomside.
So, .......to continue on...
Shoulda Put This On Page 1:
Taken from the Microsoft web page at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314865
These are the minimum requirements for basic functionality. Actual requirements vary, depending on the system configuration and the programs and features that you choose to install. If you are installing Windows XP over a network, you may need additional available hard-disk space.
The minimum hardware requirements for Windows XP Home Edition are:
- Pentium 233-megahertz (MHz) processor or faster (300 MHz is recommended)
- At least 64 megabytes (MB) of RAM (128 MB is recommended)
- At least 1.5 gigabytes (GB) of available space on the hard disk
- CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive
- Keyboard and a Microsoft Mouse or some other compatible pointing device
- Video adapter and monitor with Super VGA (800 x 600)or higher resolution
- Sound card
- Speakers or headphones
Actually, you can get along fine without the speakers/headset. There are audio events you'll miss, but if you have your computer set up where your spouse sits to read or watch television, you'll definitely get a tongue lashing for having all the beeps go off every now and then.
To see what available space you have on your hardrive, in Windows Explorer right-click on your drive and select Properties. The General Tab tells you what you have. If you have multiple harddrives, do the same with the other. The Windows operating system defaults to installation on your C drive. Install new applications there as well, but put your pictures of Uncle Walt on your other drive.
From your Start Button, go to Settings, Control Panel, System - the General Tab there tells you the speed of your 'puter and the amount of RAM installed.
Again go to Start Button, Settings, Display and the window that appears will describe your monitor in the Settings Tab. It also states your Screen Resolution and if you click on Advanced there is a wealth of information there as well.
So if you have an older machine laying about and wonder if you can load Windows XP on it, the above specs will come in handy. My advice - buy a new computer and put the old one away in the closet until such time as your computer skills improve. Then load a Linux distro on that old machine and familiarize yourself with that operating system - in years to come the Linux users will outnumber the Windows users.
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Time To Update Your Anti-Virus:
If you have any Norton Software on your machine, I feel for you. Norton used to be my choice for anti-virus. In fact, I went one better and installed Norton SystemsWorks - it bundled the anti-virus and some great utilities together.
Little did I realize back then that Norton is a devil of a program in that it infiltrates every nook and cranny of your computer and "takes over", if you will. You don't want a program that makes you work for it. It is supposed to work for you.
Long story short if you have Norton and it is time to renew your license - don't! I highly recommend you install Grisoft's free AVG anti-virus.
- Download AVG
- Download the Norton Removal Tool
- Get off the internet as you are about to remove your anti-virus app
- Uninstall Norton
- Run the Norton Removal Tool
- Reboot the computer
- Install AVG
- Go online again now that you have an anti-virus loaded
AVG now starts up and tells you to run an update. It then requires you to do a complete scan of your computer. Once you have done that it is time to go into preferences and set it up for optimum performance.
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AVG Preferences:
Now that you have it installed there will be a new icon in your systray. Double-click this icon to open your Control Center pictured below.
Seven categories are shown and a "check mark" beside them indicates they are okay and need no intervention. However, by highlighting each the information for that category is displayed below with buttons that allow you to modify the preferences:
- Ant-Virus
- Scheduler
If you are not on dialup you may wish to schedule scans late at night when you are in bed. Dialup users will have to scan when they go online.
- Resident Shield
- Virus Vault
- Update Manager
If you are not on dialup you may wish to schedule updates late at night when you are in bed. Dialup users will have to update when they go online.
- Shell Extension
- E-mail Scanner
Highlight this one and click on Properties. In the new window click on Properties and ensure these two are ticked:
- Show Notification Icon
- Show Information Window
Remember to OK, APPLY, OK if you make changes
Note that the pic shown says LAN under Network Connection - this is because my computer is networked to other computers in my house.
With the above in place, you will get a visual as your e-mail is being processed as it is being downloaded to your Inbox.
Grisoft has an online help for their product which can be seen
here and for another tutorial on the installation of AVG, go
here - a very long (slow loading) movie.
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Finding Resources:
The internet is full of web pages to help you with research covering all subjects. One such resource is "The Scout Report" which I highly recommend.
As November 11th has just past, you may be interested in some material on The Battle of the Somme. Click on
http://scout.wisc.edu/Reports/ScoutReport/Current/ and select General Interest - there is an excellent page there on WW1's infamous battle.
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Finding Resources 2:
The nice thing about the internet is that you can search it.
Not sure where to start?
Try here !
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The Grey Cup:
Stay on top of the news surrounding Canada's all important (to football lovers) Grey Cup game being held in Toronto. Go to CTV's
Toronto web page for all the news on that and everything else you see on the 11 o'clock news. And if you missed the news, watch it there. If you just hate Toronto too much to even think about going there, try
the CTV National page.
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What's On The Boob Tube Tonight ?:
According to
Vnunet.Com:
More than 16 million US households may be using their broadband service more than they use their TV sets within the next three years, experts predict.
A new In-Stat survey of US consumers about TV viewing, media and online habits forecasts that traditional TV broadcasters are going to have a fight on their hands from ISPs.
"As more high-quality content becomes available online, savvy consumers are considering ways to reduce their monthly bills by getting everything from the internet."
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If you don't believe me, check out
this Google search.
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" in my dreams "
I would've had this company do a web page, but Marie wasn't too keen on it.
Go ahead and call me henpecked. You weren't the guy who had to sleep with her.
We could have wiped out the Nazis in eight weeks if only we had this guy in our IT department.
I asked him but he had the idea that I was connected to a porn site.
Tony Curtis was hot, but I would never had sung to the President if this guy was born twenty years earlier.
I bet I'd still be alive too!
Yes, it's true
I sleep very soundly and when I do I am prone to talking with dead people and sponges. Don't let that scare you away - you can depend on a well-designed website and it is guaranteed not to be spooky.
I'm just a cartoon character from
Day by Day but I know a whiner winner when I see one. Visit us on our web page.
And Please...
If it's past your bedtime and you can't sleep, please think of your good friends around the world who just may or may not be in bed.
Being Indispensable
Sometime, when you are feeling important,
Sometime, when your ego's in full bloom,
Sometime, when you take it for granted,
You're the only qualified one in the room...
Sometime, when you feel that your going,
Would leave an unfillable hole,
Just follow these few simple instructions
And see how it humbles your soul.
Take a bucket and fill it with water,
Put your hand in it up tio your wrist,
Pull it out, and the hole that is remaining,
Is the measure of how you'll be missed!
You may splash all you please when you enter,
You can stir up the water galore ~
But stop and you'll find in a minute,
That it looks quite the same as before.
The moral of this quaint observation,
Is to do the very best that you can,
Be proud of yourself, but remember,
There is only one indispensable man.
This above Is Dedicatated To The Memory Of Correctional Sergeant Hal Burchfield
12/16/47 - 6/8/85
Killed In The Line Of Duty
San Quentin State Prison, California Department of Corrections
Dang,
Looks like I gotta find some content to fill this thing up more...
'You know Bert, that POKO
sure is opinionated !'
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