Why is Hewlett Packard installation software so awful?
On 2009/05/31
I frequently install HP printer and all-in-one software for myself and clients. It never works the way the instructions indicate. NEVER!!!!!!!!! And it takes forever to install.
Have the software engineers at HP ever tried to use this stuff? My experiences suggest the answer is no.
Setting up these devices on networks [...]
Spring cleaning for your computer (part 3)
On 2009/05/30
This post is part 3 of a 5 part series. It addresses deleting unneeded items and organizing your hard drive files, for Windows and Macs.
Part 1 covers physical cleaning.
Part 2 covers uninstalling applications or stopping unneeded ones from auto loading at boot time.
Computers collect temporary files [...]
Who names this stuff? What’s a Confiker?
On 2009/05/24
Biological infections have catchy names like the plague, measles, or swine flu. Hurricanes have peoples names, like Andrew or Katrina. But computer infections have epithets like W32.Simouk, W32.Gaobot.AJD and, of course, Confiker (AKA Downadup). At first glance you might mistake these for celebrity baby names. I am pretty certain they are not. [...]
Spring cleaning for your computer (part 2)
On 2009/05/21
I outlined a five-part computer cleaning process in my post Spring cleaning for your computer. I only covered cleaning the physical machine there. This post will cover part 2: Uninstall applications or stop unneeded ones from auto loading at boot time.
Uninstalling applications
If you are like me you install lots of applications. [...]
A client asked me, “Why her WordPerfect shortcut icon on her desktop had a small Windows security shield emblazoned on it and the other program shortcuts did not?” I did not know the answer.
The image to the right has four icons. The “Restore Computer” icon shows the Windows security shield. The [...]
Turn your netbook into an eBook reader
On 2009/05/17
EeeRotate is a tiny Windows program that can turn your netbook or any computer into an eBook reader. It rotates the screen 270 degrees, from the normal landscape to portrait mode, making your computer screen similar to the Amazon Kindle or Sony eBook readers.
Spring cleaning for your computer
On 2009/05/16
We perform routine maintenance on many of our machines, cars, furnaces, or air conditioners, and neglect our computers. What do I mean by a computer cleaning? It is a five-part process:
Clean the physical machine. Uninstall applications or stop unneeded ones from auto loading at boot time. Delete unneeded items and organize your hard drive(s) [...]
Connecticut (USA) gets a new area code
On 2009/05/16
Effective December 12, 2009 the “475” area code will be added to “203” and “860”.
Effective November 14, 2009 10-digit local call dialing will be required. (10-digit is area code + phone number.)
You might need to update:
Fax machines Speed dialing Alarm systems Personal phone books Call forwarding Pet identification tags [...]
The new extended battery Kindle 2.5
On 2009/05/12
RealPlayer much maligned, very useful
On 2009/05/11
RealPlayer has a reputation for selling itself too hard and for making changes to a computer system without informed user consent. Real has reformed but the reputation continues. Apple’s iTunes, which installs QuickTime, Apple Updater, Bonjour and lots of other crapware without explicit user consent, seems immune to [...]
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