GoDaddy Registration Process Expired

When trying to register, renew or transfer a domain name at GoDaddy, you can encounter a page that says "Registration Process Expired".





















Although it claims that there is something in your shopping cart, you find that there is nothing.





















What's more, the following did not work:

• Clear your browser's cache (temporary internet files)
• Clear all cookies
  
• Add http://*.godaddy.com and https://*.godaddy.com to your browser's list of "trusted sites"
• Set your browser security settings to "Low" or "Medium-Low."
• Make sure you are using the most updated version of your browser(s)
• Restart your browser
• Login to GoDaddy with your username/password before searching for or adding a domain to your cart

The solution is to look at the area on top of the browser for the web address.

Anytime it reads http://www.godaddy.com
Add an extra s so that it looks like https://www.godaddy.com
Then press enter.

You should be able to continue with your purchase after that.

Convert docx doc, open xlsx pptx

Microsoft Office 2007 and newer saves its files in a different format. In order to open them on Office 2003 and below, you will have to download a free special file converter from Microsoft. If you are using a Mac user, don't worry. You can get a free Mac file converter too.

Word 2007+	Extension
Document	.docx
Macro-enabled document	.docm
Template	.dotx
Macro-enabled template	.dotm

Excel 2007+	Extension
Workbook	.xlsx
Macro-enabled workbook	.xlsm
Template	.xltx
Macro-enabled template	.xltm
Non-XML binary workbook	.xlsb
Macro-enabled add-in	.xlam

PowerPoint 2007+	Extension
Presentation	.pptx
Macro-enabled presentation	.pptm
Template	.potx
Macro-enabled template	.potm
Macro-enabled add-in	.ppam
Show	.ppsx
Macro-enabled show	.ppsm
Slide	.sldx
Macro-enabled slide	.sldm
Office theme	.thmx

Microsoft word data for speech recognition was lost

Microsoft Word has an annoying bug that displays the following error message when you try to save a document:

“The document was saved, but data for speech recognition was lost because there was not enough space to store it. Be sure to turn off the microphone when not recording and check the available storage space on disk.”

“文書は保存されましたが、音声認識データを保存する十分な空き領域がないため、データは失われました。録音していないときは、必ずマイクをオフに し、ディスクで利用できる記憶域を確認してください。”

The solution is to turn off a setting named “Embed Linguistic Data” /”言語データを埋め込む(U)”.

To fix a specific document

1. Open the Word document that you want to fix.

2. Go to Tools > Options > Save

3. Untick the option: “Embed Linguistic Data”

4. Click OK

The error message will not show up for this document again.

To fix this permanently for new documents

1. Close Microsoft Word.

2. Open “My Computer”.

3. Go to Tools > “Folder Options” > View.

4. Ensure that you have selected “Show hidden files and folders”

5. Untick “Hide extensions for known file types”

6. Click OK

7. Hold down the Control (Ctrl) key. Keep holding it down as you double-click on the Microsoft Word icon. This will open Microsoft Word in Safe Mode.

8. You will get a confirmation message asking if you want to open Word in Safe Mode. Click OK.

9. Go to Start > Search > “For Files or Folders”

10. Click on “All files and folders”

11. Click on “More advanced options”

12. Ensure that “Search hidden files and folders” and “Search subfolders” are ticked

13. Under “All or part of file name”, type: normal.dot

14. Click on the Search button

15. When you see the file, doubleclick to open it.

16. In Microsoft Word, go to Tools > Options > Save

17. Untick the option: “Embed Linguistic Data”

18. Click OK

19. Save the document and close Microsoft Word

20. The problem should not affect any new documents again

Note: Old documents must be fixed one by one. There is no known way to fix them automatically.

Computer Shopping Tips

I have made my own set of mistakes when purchasing computers both for myself and for other people. In this post, I hope to educate most people about how to make a good purchase.


When you buy a computer, remember that you can only choose 2 of the 3 factors below:

• High Speed
• Good Mobility
• Cheap Price
  

You must make up your mind about which one of them you do not want. Otherwise, you may regret your choice. In addition, you should also factor in the cost of servicing a PC in the future.

For instance, one of my friends purchased a thin and sleek PC because it took up little space. She let her kids use it for games until it made a hissing sound and stopped working. When I tried to service it, I found the following issues:

• Slow performance: The parts were outdated for PCs of that era in order to bring the price down. The hardware performance was therefore, unimpressive.
  
• Expensive Proprietary parts: The compact and specially designed parts incompatible with replacement parts in the market. Hence, they must be sent to the service center which will charge half the price of the PC to replace them.
  

---

Expensive Things (circa 2009):

• Mac Computers: Not only is the hardware expensive, most of the software must be obtained from official sources for quite a lot of money. I do not believe the claim that Macs are better than PCs for artistic work. That may be true in the 1980s but nowadays you have even more software for PCs than for Macs.
  
• Challenger: If you want to pay extra for good service at computer superstores like Challenger, go ahead. However, every geek knows that their systems are at least 15% more expensive than market rates and their models 2 to 4 generations behind the latest. Dell is a better choice if you want something branded.
  
• SCSI Hard Disks: These are for high end servers and typical users have no use for them.
  

Cheap Things (circa 2009):

• Netbooks: Small mobile PCs like the EEE boast long battery life. Recommended if you are traveling and want a backup PC in case of theft or damage. However, their performance is poor unless a SSD hard drive is installed. In my view, the small hard disk space is worth the speed and durability that only SSD hard disks can provide.
  

Slow Things (circa 2009):

• IDE hard disks: These hard drives use outdated technology and will slow down your PC a lot when installed. However, they work fine as USB or Firewire external hard disks.
  
• 1.8" hard drives: Do not buy any notebook that uses such hard disks. [I once did.] You will regret their very slow performance.
  

Fast Things (circa 2009):

• Windows XP: Windows Vista crawls like a snail compared to its predecessor. Although almost all PCs ship with Vista nowadays, you can sometimes obtain a "downgrade" option. If speed matters a lot, shop around for different models to find one with such options.
  
• SATA RAID: In the right configuration, they can double your computer's speed. The trick is to get the PC to write to 2 or 4 hard disks at the same time, but it will also double or quadruple the chances of hard drive failure. This is absolutely essential for working with huge chunks of data such as video editing. Don't bother to ask for it on anything that is supposed to be mobile.
• 3.5" hard disk (10000+ rpm): Most desktop hard drives are 7200rpm. If you can get something faster, it may increase your computer's speed by 15% or so.
  
• 2.5" hard disk (7200 rpm): Most notebook hard drives are 5400rpm. Same principle for desktops.
  

---

When purchasing the computer, a few questions that could save you a lot of trouble:

1. How long is the warranty? (estimated product lifespan)
   
2. Where is the service center? (difficulty of sending the product for servicing)
   
3. Will I get a one to one exchange? (length of time it takes to get serviced)
   
4. Does the warranty cover the PC in my home country? (important for tourists & expats)
   

---

Visitors to Singapore can visit Sim Lim Square for computers and spare parts. Most shops open from 12pm to 7pm, and the best time to go is around 2-4pm on a weekday. Up to half the shops will close on weekends and public holidays.

Funan DigitaLife Mall is another alternative place to buy your computer. However, I personally believe that the products there are more expensive and of lesser variety.

If you would like to do your own market research, it is a good idea to download the latest Sim Lim Square price lists for comparison.

Likewise, you can also download all the Singapore computer fair brochures like those from Comex or SITEX. I won't bother to go to PC fairs though, since it is usually very crowded and the prices are around the same at Sim Lim Square anyway.

Slow Windows: Speed up PC

Have you ever purchased a computer which ran blazing fast, but which then slowed to a snail's pace 2 years later? In desperation, you upgraded the RAM and changed to a new hard disk, but the PC still remained very slow.

Based on my 12 years' experience with PCs, I have identified a few causes of chronically slow windows:

1. Parasitic Software (very common)
   
2. Startup Programs (very common)
   
3. Poor Maintenance (occasional)
   
4. Hardware Problems (rare)

----- Parasitic Software -----

Spyware, adware, worms, viruses and other parasitic software are the most common cause of PC slowness. While reformatting is the fastest way to get rid of them, they will come back within weeks if you do not take good care of your PC. Below is what I will do:


1) Uninstall unwanted software. Below is a partial list of software I will avoid:

• ALL browser toolbars
• ALL search / indexing software
• 123 Messenger
• 180 Solution / ZANGO
• 888bar
• Adssite Toolbar
• Bearshare
• Bonzi Buddy
• BSplayer
• ClipGenie
• Comet Cursor
• Crazy Girls
• Cydoor
• Direct Revenue
• Dollar Revenue
• Ebates MoneyMaker
• ErrorSafe
• Evernote
• Enzula
• Hotbar
• FlashGet
• GameSpy
• Kazaa
• MP3 Rocket Toolbar
• Mirar Toolbar
• MyWay Searchbar
• Oemji Toolbar
• P*rnDigger!
• Smiley Central
• VirusProtectPro (Displays fake error messages)
• WeatherBug
• WeatherEye
• WhenU
• WhenUSave Toolbar
• WinFixer
• Winzix
• Zango / Zango Toolbar
• Zwinky

2) Install a good anti-virus software. Among the thousands of different anti-virus products available, I personally only trust those from these 3 companies: Symantec (a.k.a Norton Antivirus), McAfee and AVG. The obvious choice to me is the AVG Free Edition, which is not costs nothing but has beaten Symantec in the range of viruses that it can detect.

3) Install a good anti-spyware program. I believe that Spybot - Search & Destroy is a great freeware that can fulfill this role. Remember to use its "immunize" function.


----- Startup Programs -----

Download and run autoruns.exe. (If the link fails, search for it on Microsoft.com)

You should see a list of all the programs that load when the PC starts. This is a non-exhaustive list of programs that I will disable (by unticking the check box next to it):

• ALL Quick Launch entries
• Acrotray.exe
• backweb-8876480.exe
• CALMain.exe
• COCIManager.exe
• EM_EXEC.EXE
• hpsysdrv.exe
• hpwuschd2.exe
• iTunesHelper.exe
• jqs.exe
• kbd.exe
• MDM.exe
• PCMService.exe
• Quickcam.exe
• realsched.exe
• RTHDCPL.exe
• sl_reader.exe
  
• Skype.exe (unless you want to use it all the time)
• Updates from HP.exe

Note: Disabling the startup entry does not delete or uninstall the program in general. It merely stops the program from running when you switch on the PC. Many programs re-enable themselves again when they are run, so you will have to check occasionally.


----- Poor Maintenance -----

Install and run CCleaner: It will remove most of the junk on your PC. Do not install the toolbar bundled with it though.


Check the hard drive for errors: The errors can accumulate and wreck your PC suddendly.

1. Double-click My Computer, and then right-click the hard disk that you want to check.
2. Click Properties, and then click Tools.
3. Under Error-checking, click Check Now. A dialog box that shows the Check disk options is displayed.
4. For a regular check, select the Automatically fix file system errors check box, and then click Start.
5. For detailed check, tick both check boxes, and then click Start.
6. If one or more of the files on the hard disk are open, you will receive a message:
   The disk check could not be performed because the disk check utility needs exclusive access to some Windows files on the disk. These files can be accessed by restarting Windows. Do you want to schedule the disk check to occur the next time you restart the computer?
7. If you get the above message, click Yes to schedule the disk check.
8. Repeat the above steps for all other drives in your PC.
   
9. Restart your computer.

Defrag the hard drive: You can use the freeware Auslogic Disk Defrag or the commercial PerfectDisk. In my view, most users suffice with the freeware version. Power users like me will prefer the commercial version.

Note: Your portable hard disk, thumb-drive and even SD cards also require maintenance.


----- Hardware Problems -----

Rarely, slow windows is caused by hardware problems.


The most common culprit is a failing hard disk. Usually it is because the disk has problems reading your data from its bad sectors, so it keeps trying to read the data repeatedly, slowing down the PC. You must check your disk for errors (refer to instructions above). If the problems clear up, backup your data and change to a new hard disk as the existing one will fail eventually.

However, if you hear any clicking or ticking sound from your hard disk, this is a data emergency. You may be only minutes away from a total failure of your hard disk. Immediately backup all your files without switching off the PC. Your PC may not be able to boot into Windows again. If you check the disk for errors, the strain of the checks may cause a total failure.


The other possibility is faulty RAM, which you can use MemTest to check.

There are other exotic causes, such as the disabling of the L1, L2 or L3 caches of the PC. These are unlikely to trouble most people.


----- Best Practices -----

Other than the recommendations listed above, you should have separate PCs for work and play.

The PC for play:
- Can be reformatted any time without deleting any crucial data
- Can install games, shareware and other applications
- Should not contain any compromising information (e.g. credit card data)
- Suitable for your kids or teens to use, if they do not have their own PC

The PC for work:
- You must always backup the data on it
- Strictly only application needed for work
- All banking and other important transactions should be done on this PC only
- Password protect your PC: Never ever let your kids or teens handle it

For both PCs:
- Ensure that the antivirus and anti-spyware programs are always updated
- Do computer maintenance weekly
- Webcam and microphones should be attached only when needed

Vista UAC Disable

Tired of seeing constant nag screens like this when using Vista? One way is to use the freeware TweakUAC to disable such screens.


For those who prefer to do it themselves, simply follow the simple steps below:

• Go to Control Panel
• Type in UAC into the search box
• Click on the link for “Turn User Account Control (UAC) on or off”

• Uncheck the box for Use User Account Control (UAC)

• Click on the OK button
• Reboot the computer

System.Runtime.InteropServices.COMException: Class not registered

After installing the Classroom Performance System software on 32 bits Windows XP, I encountered the following error message:


CPS encountered an error attempting to initialize the main form.

Exception -- System.Runtime.InteropServices.COMException: Class not registered (Exception from HRESULT: 0x80040154 (REGDB_E_CLASSNOTREG))
Message -- Class not registered (Exception from HRESULT: 0x80040154 (REGDB_E_CLASSNOTREG))
Application Version -- 5.40.1264
Operating System -- Microsoft Windows NT 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2
Document --
Stacktrace --

at ADOX.CatalogClass.Create(String ConnectString)
at EI.DB.Util.UtilADODatabase.CreateDatabase(String sFileName, String sPassword)
at com.einstruction.cps.util.UtilCPSSchema.CreateCPSDatabase(String sFilePathName)
at com.einstruction.cps.middletier.control.DatabaseManager.CreateNewDatabase()
at com.einstruction.cps.middletier.control.DatabaseManager.ExecuteAction(DatabaseManagerAction action, Boolean checkCPSPassword)
at com.einstruction.cps.middletier.control.CPS.ObtainStartupConnection()
at com.einstruction.cps.middletier.control.CPS.startUp()
at com.einstruction.cps.middletier.control.CPS.runCPS()


This occurred because:

1) My computer was upgraded from SP1 to SP2
2) A version of MDAC lower than 2.8 was installed before the upgrade
3) As a result, some MDAC components were not upgraded to version 2.8 or above


The solution was:

1) Download MDAC_TYP_281.EXE
2) Extract MDAC into a temporary directory

2.1) Go to Start > Run
2.2) Type: cmd
2.3) Press Enter
2.4) type cd "whatever directory that you downloaded MDAC to"
2.5) type mdac_typ_281 /C /T:"C:\MDAC FILES"


3) Copy these files and overwrite files in C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386
4) Reinstall MDAC manually ( Method 2 at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/899861 )

4.1) use C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386 as source directory
4.2) Copy any missing files from your Windows CD's i386 directory to C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386

Troubleshoot mac crashes & errors

This may be a blog about Windows, but sometimes, I think it is OK to post a Mac tip or two.

Scenario: One day, you find that your Mac computer has mysteriously got stuck at startup screen, or is showing some odd error message.

You call in a technician, and he says that you need to reformat the hard drive and reinstall the entire Mac OS. And he suggests that you buy a new Mac from him to save yourself the trouble (preferably the latest model with all the bells and whistles).


Is there another option? Yes; this option is cryptically called fsck.

1. Switch on your Mac.
2. Immediately press and hold the Command (⌘) and "S" keys.

You'll see a bunch of text begin scrolling on your screen. In a few more seconds, you'll see the Unix command line prompt (#).

3. Type: "fsck -y" (without the quotes).
4. Press the Return key.

You will see some technical text. If your disk is damaged, you'll see this message:

***** FILE SYSTEM WAS MODIFIED *****

5. If so, repeat steps 3 and 4 again until that message no longer appears.
6. When the message no longer appears, type "exit".
7. Press the Return key.

Your Mac should proceed to start up normally. Hopefully that technician won't get your business.

Troubleshooting blue screen crashes (for non-geeks)

Here is a scenario I have seen many times: You have a computer that keeps giving you blue screens of death (i.e. error messages that show up as a blue screen).

You follow standard advice:
1) You have scanned for viruses and spyware
2) You have disconnected your computer from the Internet
3) You have reinstalled Windows

But the computer crashes keep coming. At this point, many computer technicians will say, "This computer cannot be repaired. Junk your old computer and just buy a new one from me. They are quite cheap anyway."

But for those of us who can't afford or prefer to keep our old system, there are actually simple ways to find out what it wrong and fix them.


--- Poor Ventilation (overheating internal components) ---
After many years of use, computers tend to get clogged up with dust and grime.

1) Use a very strong vacuum cleaner to all the openings and areas that you can reach around the computer. Use a cotton wool stick to help dislodge the dust further inside.

2) Place the computer in a cool place (like near the window).

3) There are some holes around and under the computer. When you switch it on, you can use your palm to feel for wind currents from the computer. After you have located them, make sure that there are no obstacles around these holes.

4) If the computer warranty is void and you don't mind opening it up, you can give its insides a through cleaning with alcohol or an electronics-friendly cleaning fluid. The areas with a fan and protruding metal fins (i.e. heat sinks) should get most of the attention as they are most in need of cooling.

5) If you are using a desktop computer, you can open and expose one side of the computer to a fan as a last resort.


--- Bad Memory ---
1) Download Memtest and run a test until it has at least 100% coverage. The program is foolproof - you only need to press a button and wait for an hour or so.

2) If there is a problem, you can change the bad RAM chip. Bring your computer down to a place that sells computer spare parts and ask them to replace the chip for you.

3) Tip: Some brands of RAM have lifetime warranties (e.g. Corsair, Kingston). Depending on the terms of your warranty, you may be able to change it at their service centers for free.


--- Bad Hard Disk ---
1) If the hard disk makes a clicking sound or revs up and down, and the computer crashes shortly afterwards, that means that you must change the hard disk.

2) You can run Windows Check Disk to ensure that it is working. (Scroll down for the web page for the Graphical Version.)

3) After that, go to the website again and follow the Command Line version. Run the "chkdsk c:" instruction.

4) When it is finished, see if it says "0 KB in bad sectors". If there is a non-zero number in the "x KB in bad sector", it means that it is best to change the hard disk.

Repair distorted sound in Windows XP / Windows Vista

Recently, I observed this mysterious phenomena on a few computers, including my sister's laptop: One fine day, the computer begins to stutter, literally. When you play a piece of music or a movie, the sound will be chopped up and it will repeat itself.

Sometimes the problems will go away when you install an "important update" from Microsoft. Other times, you can only clear the problem with a fresh installation of Windows.

I have found a workaround to this: introducing the Tritton Sound Bite USB portable speakers. Not only does it give great sound, it also solves the problem completely.

Tip: If you are in Singapore, you can only buy this type of speaker at Harvey Norman stores. Sim Lim Square does not sell it - I have once searched the whole building in vain.

Yahoo Error 999

Unable to process request at this time -- error 999
Unfortunately, we are unable to process your request at this time. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please try again later.


Yahoo Error 999 is an enigma that often defies explanation. I believe that it is a bug caused by Yahoo. Some people speculate that this is Yahoo's attempt to block people accessing too much of their bandwidth to prevent abuse of their services.


This is what I advise people who just want to read their email:

1) Use the Firefox browser; you may still be able to read your mail despite the error

2) Access https://mail.yahoo.com (note the 's' in https)

3) Access http://m.yahoo.com (this is meant for mobile phones with limited bandwidth so it looks ugly)

4) Login to Yahoo Messenger, then click on its Yahoo Mail button to access your email

5) Disconnect your Internet connection and switch off your modem. After a few minutes switch them on again and try accessing Yahoo Mail.

6) Switch to Google Mail. Its free, good and has little spam.


A more detailed explanation of this problem with solutions can be found here.

How to make Internet website

Building a website used to take a lot of effort and technical skills. Now, even a computer newbie can set up a webpage easily. Below are some useful resources for getting started.


----- Explanations -----

- The Basics of a Website
- What is a domain vs. a subdomain


----- Useful Services -----

Disclaimer: I do not receive any commission or revenue by introducing these services.

- Domain Names: Dynadot

Most computer newbies make the mistake of buying a domain name through their web host. Not only will it cost much more, but the web host may also hold the domain name "hostage", making it difficult to transfer to another hosting company.

Wiser users use an independent domain name reseller. Dynadot provides domain names at only US$8.99 (SGD$13) per year. If you buy a .info domain name, you can pay even lesser. (But be aware that .info names are associated with spammers because they are so cheap that the crooks often buy them in bulk.)


- Email & Simple Web Hosting - Google Apps

If you wish to have 100 free email accounts with 7GB of storage each, superb spam protection, free webpages etc, check out Google Apps. [Unless you are very rich or running an organization with 10 or more staff, the free edition is good enough.] Likewise, there is no need to pay for ineffective spam protection or stingy email accounts from your ISP.


- Blogging Service: Blogger

If you do not want to go through the trouble of designing and maintaining a website just to post some simple text or pictures, you can use a blogging service.


- Discussion Groups (Google Groups)

You can also start your own discussion groups and newsletters without any computer programming knowledge.


- Hosting Videos - Google Videos

You can use Google Videos to host your video files. Unlike its popular cousin YouTube, you can post video files longer than 15 minutes and retain their copyrights.


- Hosting Large Files - MediaFire

MediaFire hosts files as large as 100MB for free. Registration is optional. You can embed the files on your website as if you are hosting it.


- Free Web Host

If you just want a no-frills free web host, try out 0fees.net. It is pretty good and totally ad-free! It is perfect for newbies to get a taste of what it is like to run a website.

If you are still designing your website, it is best to just register the domain name (to prevent it from being taken away) but not subscribe to any paid web hosting plans until it is almost completed. In this way, you will save much money. One of my friends subscribed to a year's web hosting plan without thinking and ended up never even touching it at all.


- Reliable Web Host

I was using PolurNet Communications as my web host. They were rather good until one of their servers was hacked. I have switched to Vriends Hosting (which has a 100% uptime guarantee) with 0fees.net as my backup server.

If you are just building a new, simple website, the cheapest plan is usually good enough. One of my established websites (which has over 12000 visitors a month) does very fine with that plan.


----- Internet Marketing -----

- What is Internet Marketing?

If you do not know how to do marketing on the Internet, read this first.


- Advertising

You can earn money from putting advertisements on your website, or start your own advertisement campaign.


- Google Zeitgeist

This is a good starting place to know what people are interested in, so that you can make advertisements, websites and blogs to take advantage of the market trend.


- Google Trends

If you want to know what to call your website, product or service, you can try this free service from Google. You can input a few possible names and pick the most popular terms.

Singapore Internet Tips

----- Free Internet Access -----

If you have a notebook computer with wireless networking, you can get free Internet access in Singapore:

- Wireless@SG
- Apply for free Internet


----- Phone Service -----

You can SMS Singapore Friends for free on the Internet:
- Singtel Users
- M1 Users [I am using this provider.]
- StarHub Users

When you switch on your phone in Singapore, select Starhub as your roaming partner. You can then use Local Direct Calls to save money calling your companions.


----- Travel Information -----

Foreigners can visit the Singapore Tourism Website for initial research on sightseeing.

To find out more about the place you are visiting, you can use:
- Maps: Singapore Land Authority
- Maps: Street Directory
- Phone: Yellow Pages

To know how to get there, use:
- Route Planning: gothere.sg
- SMRT & Bus Information (including Arrival Times)


If you plan to take Singapore's reliable public transport instead of taxis, buy an ez-link card at any MRT station (including Changi Airport).

In exchange for S$5, it will save you a lot of money due to distance based fares. If you travel to more than 5 places a day, get the Singapore Tourist Pass for S$8 per day to save even more money.

I also advise frequent bus travellers (both locals and foreigners) to get the TransitLink Guide for only S$2.50 at most MRT station.


----- Others -----

Computer parts are relatively cheap here, and if you like to buy some, you can check out the Sim Lim Square price lists. [subscription required]

Singapore is served by an extensive network of libraries. You can search the National Library online catalog.

Kids & teens can bypass child protection software

Earlier, I wrote about giving teens and children their own computer to use. A fellow blogger then suggested using child protection software.

While child protection software may help, we better not underestimate the ability of teens and children to disable such protection, and then hide the fact that they did so.

After all, the information on how to do these is often publicly available - http://www.zensur.freerk.com/#3.5


I know a teen who disabled the anti-spyware software I installed for his parents so that he can install some questionable Peer-to-Peer software. The computer became infected with spyware and slowed to a crawl soon after.

The poor parents only knew how to check email, surf the Internet and type Word documents. They called me to fix their computer when some persistent pornographic advertisements started appearing (due to one of the many spyware the computer was infected with).

When I made known the sabotage, the teen was unrepentant and seemed more frustrated that his favorite program could no longer run. He was last seen trying to disable the anti-spyware software just before I left.

Ban children & teens from your work computer

I find it common that people, including some who work in the Army, letting their children and teenagers use their work computers for fun and entertainment.

The younger users often install their favorite games, chat messengers, file sharing, browser toolbars and other software without permission from their parents.

As a result, the computers become infected with spyware, trojan horses and other computer nasties, posing a major security threat. In addition, some of these software tend to mess up the computer, giving computer technicians like me extra business.

I believe that people who value their computer security should give younger members of the family another computer of their own to play with. With computers costing only a few hundred dollars nowadays, why not buy yourself some peace of mind?

Help save the world with your computer

Do you want to help find a cure for AIDS and stop malaria? Do you want to help scientists understand global warming? Do you want to help astronomers explore the stars and find new alien civilizations?

You can participate in these projects and more, just by downloading a special piece of software called BOINC (Berkeley Open Infrastructure for Network Computing).

http://boinc.berkeley.edu


BOINC will run on a reasonably fast computer, some hard disk space and excess computer time. [Note that some projects may require up to 1GB of RAM to run smoothly.]

While you are chatting with friends, typing emails or going for lunch, your computer will be contributing to many important scientific advances.

Let us all take action and install BOINC today.

Compress PowerPoint files (by up to 90%)

Huge PowerPoint files are often a nightmare to send by email. Fortunately, I know a few ways to reduce their size to manageable limits. [Mac users click here]


1) Use "Insert Picture"

Go to Insert > Picture > From File and select the picture you want to add. Never copy and paste the picture from elsewhere. This will cut as much as 90% off the file size.


2) Use JPEG format instead of BMP

If you encounter a BMP picture file that you need to insert into your presentation, go to Start > Programs > Accessories > Paint. Open the file in question, and select "save as". Click on the "save as type" and select JPEG. This should greatly reduce the file size and result in a smaller PowerPoint file.


3) Compress Pictures

Go to File > Save As > Tools > Compress Pictures, tick "compress pictures" and "delete cropped areas of pictures".

Unless you intend to make high resolution copies of the document, go to "Change Resolution" and select "Web / Screen".

Press OK and save the document. This has a huge effect on the file size if you are using very high resolution photos or illustrations.


4) Turn off "Fast Save"

Under Tools > Options > Save > Save Options, untick "Allow fast saves".


5) Use compressed folders (a.k.a ZIP files)

Right click on the PowerPoint file and select "Send To" > "Compressed (zipped) Folder".

I have seen a 1 megabyte Word document shrink by 70% of its size using this simple tip. This difference is very significant to the around 20% to 30% of the people still using dial-up access.


6) Remove preview picture

Under File > Properties > Summary, untick "Save Preview Picture". This saves a small amount of space.


6) Save in the latest PowerPoint format

If your PowerPoint file is made from an old computer, you can open it up and then save it as "Presentation (*.ppt)" format. This should help reduce the file size significantly when used in conjunction with the tips above.

Compress Word Files (by up to 70%)

If you are going to send many large Word files by email, I have some tips to share with you to cut down on their file size.


1) Use "Insert Picture"

Go to Insert > Picture > From File and select the picture you want to add. Never copy and paste the picture from elsewhere. This will cut as much as 90% off the file size.


2) Use JPEG format instead of BMP

If you encounter a BMP picture file that you need to insert into your presentation, go to Start > Programs > Accessories > Paint. Open the file in question, and select "save as". Click on the "save as type" and select JPEG. This should greatly reduce the file size and result in a smaller PowerPoint file.


3) Compress Pictures

Go to File > Save As > Tools > Compress Pictures, tick "compress pictures" and "delete cropped areas of pictures".

Unless you intend to make high resolution copies of the document, go to "Change Resolution" and select "Web / Screen".

Press OK and save the document. This has a huge effect on the file size if you are using very high resolution photos or illustrations.


4) Turn off "Fast Save"

Under Tools > Options > Save > Save Options, untick "Allow fast saves".


5) Use compressed folders (a.k.a ZIP files)

Right click on the Word file and select "Send To" > "Compressed (zipped) Folder".

I have seen a 1 megabyte Word document shrink by 70% of its size. This difference is very significant to the around 20% to 30% of the people still using dial-up access.


6) Remove preview picture

Under File > Properties > Summary, untick "Save Preview Picture". This saves a small amount of space.


7) Save in Microsoft Word 95 format

If you have only a plain English Word document without any pictures or advanced features, you can reduce the file size by half if you use this advice.

Under the Save As option, select "Word 6.0/95 (*.doc)". You may get a security warning but it is generally safe to save the file.


Warning: This format will create gibberish with non-English documents, will cause any unsupported features to be lost and greatly increase the file size if you have pictures.

It is best to save another copy in Word 95 format, close Word, and then open the document again to see if it has any adverse effects.

Web Mail Tips

Type Long Web Mails in Word - I know someone who spent a few hours writing a long email, and when she tried to send it she received an error message. Apparently, her Internet connection had timed out. When she clicked on the "back" button, her message was nowhere to be found.

If you like to use web mail, open a new document on your hard drive and write your mail there first. After that, cut and paste your message into your web mail and send it. It will save you much potential frustration.


GMail Web Storage - Got a big Gmail account but not sure how to use it? There is a program that changes Gmail into a disk that allows you to store files as easily as accessing drive G.


Use Unicode (UTF-8) for non-English email - For instance, you can send Chinese characters using Unicode encoding instead of the Big5 or GB2312 encoding. If not, they will appear as gibberish in Yahoo Mail. Most email programs except Eudora support UTF-8.


Backup Yahoo Mail and Hotmail to hard disk - If you want to automatically backup Yahoo Mail or Hotmail onto your hard drive, don't fret. There are free utilities like YPOPs! and Hotmail Popper that will do the "dirty" job for you. No more deleting, forwarding or doing cut and paste on your mails!


Hotmail Offline Viewing from Outlook Express - View your Hotmail from your mail client.

* Go to the left panel in Outlook Express where they show Hotmail.
* Click with the right mouse button on "Inbox" under Hotmail.
* Select Synchronization Settings from the menu.
* Choose "All Messages"
* Do the same for "Sent Items".

7 steps to improve your computer security

I never failed to be amazed at how poor most people's computer security is. A computer should have a few layers of defenses:

1) Good passwords - Choose long, memorable and not easily guessed passwords. Even better, add numbers and punctuation to them. For example, 23WhatTheHeck!

Use at least 3 passwords, one for unsecured sites like mailing lists, one for medium security sites like web mail and the other one for high security sites like online banking. Keep them secret.


2) Install Antivirus Protection - A good antivirus software like Norton Antivirus or McAfee VirusScan is a must. If you do not have this protection and you frequently download or share files (like in P2P), then it is very likely that your computer will be infected within weeks.

Your antivirus protection is ineffective if you never update the antivirus definitions because hundreds of new viruses appear every day. If your software does not do so automatically, then you will have to remind yourself to do so, especially just before you download anything from the Internet.


3) Use a Good Firewall - Firewalls that are not annoying don't work very well because they are like dogs that don't bark. I recommend the free Sunbelt Personal Firewall, which has the option to ask you what to do whenever each software executes or establishes a connection to the Internet.

The Blackice Intrusion Detection System is more secure than most firewalls. It is easy and simple enough for most people to use.


4) Use a Router - You can also opt to improve your protection using a router instead of connecting their computer directly to the Internet.

However, this protection is not foolproof, especially if you enable DMZ to get your special chat or P2P program to work.

In addition, if you get a wireless router but never configure security for it, then it is like having your windows and doors wide open for everyone to tap into your network.

Even wireless encryption is not supposed to provide security, just privacy against accidental eavesdropping. The situation is improving though, but old WEP64 and WEP128 networks are still easily cracked with powerful computers and special software.


5) Install Anti-Spyware - This is fast becoming important because it seems like half of all websites have one of those annoying spyware programs that make your computer very slow and prone to crashes. Installing something like the free Spybot Search & Destroy and updating it often is a must.


6) Keep your work computer for your own use only - There are many businesspeople who work on their secret business proposals, and then happily let their kids play games on the computer.

It is useless to take all the security measures only to have a teenager ruin it because they wanted to download free cool games and cute chatting programs. Many of these are wolves in sheep's clothing, including spyware and Trojan horses. Once inside your computer, they may "call home" and let their master access your data effortlessly.

It is common for these youngsters to disable your security if it gets in the way of their fun. Watch out when your antivirus or anti-spyware raises alarms or refuses to let a dangerous application run.

The same warning goes for sharing your computer with other people.


7) Update your software - Use automated updating software or services like Windows Update. - Most people never bother to update. As a result they always get problems with worms and hackers.

Even though Windows XP has an auto update feature, Microsoft does not show you everything. You must select the custom option at the above website to see everything.