Norton Antivirus

Due to overwhelming issues with Norton,I have decided to throw in the towel on this one. The final straw has been broken and I am just too tired to continue to fix "issues" each time a new bug hits the computer. Therefore I have made the switch. If your computer is one of these infected just let me know. If you can pass on your ip address things may be fixed remotely. If not, please be patient as I am making my rounds. Just let me know. I'll give more details on this issue once I have a little more time to breath.

Power Management and the laptop

It is always best to leave your computer 'on' when you do have a power outlet and highspeed internet.. That way your computer can always stay up to date and maintained.. As for your battery, as with any device that uses a battery and with any battery, no matter what type, it can and will get a memory over time, and for that reason I say to just use your computer.. Whether you are using the battery or not.. However, as you have been doing, I also suggest unplugging it and just using it until it runs right down and tells you that you are running out.. Then go ahead and plug it back in.. Letting it get charged again... But unplugging the system, sure, you are protecting the life of the computer, and it's power supply but then what about the computer's overall usage? Typically restarting the computer is the hardest thing on it.. As with the power management features, of hibernation and standby which can be used quite easily for a laptop, there are a number of choices.

These are the kinds of things that I can set up very easily by simply connecting to your computer, as you need the change done.. Therefore if you know you are going to be using in a 'laptop' mode, then you can change it in the power management settings, but normally just leaving it by closing the lid at night is all I suggest.

From the control panel you will have POWER management settings and with Toshiba as well as many others now, such as DELL, they are creating their own power management software and will have its own controls found in the control panel.

Yes, if you simply press the power button on your computer, as I believe, I have it set to go in to 'HIBERNATION' when you do that.. Which means, it will start faster when you turn it back on because it is not completely rebooting.. The only problem with this becomes when you are unplugging the usb devices and you had the system in hibernation, it will not be able to 'reconnect' to a device that no longer exists, therefore you may get an error, or in your case, the computer freezing or 'hanging'. I say no worries... If at worst case scenario, realize that if you press AND HOLD the power button, after a few seconds the system will power down. This goes with any desktop computer as well. There is the 'soft off' which gives about a 4 second delay before shutting down, whereas just pressing it briefly can also invoke the 'shut down' command if the power management is set to hibernate when power is pressed, which is typically how I would set up a laptop.

Try finding more tips by simply doing a search from this blog at the top of the page! As always, you can read more TIPS on my website and get the latest updates for your spyware software on the SOFTWARE/SUPPORT page.

IE7 is out, but beware it is still BETA

For those of you waiting for the latest web browser from Microsoft to hit the internet, well it has been released in beta form (version 2) which you can download here. Beware however, that since it is still BETA, you may end up having to uninstall this before installing any final versions and realize that because it is still in BETA form, that it may not function correctly. That is, after all, why they release it in BETA format, so that it can be truly tested by the masses. Since I was one of the privileged few to see it at Gnomedex 5 last year, which has almost been a full year, there doesn't seem to be too many features changed. However, to those that have never witnessed this new version 7, you will be pleasantly surprised by the simplicity I believe. But then I am only giving it a try as I still believe Avant Browser is my tried and true browser of choice.

New CCLeaner version available

For those of you that want to keep your system clean, one of the tools I suggest is CCleaner. This as well as many others are available from my SOFTWARE/SUPPORT page. With a new version available for CCleaner, if you haven't already installed it now would be a good time to go and get it.

Gnomedex is Booked

After just booking my trip to Gnomedex for another year and completing the small questionnaire in which I placed the third visit, I now realize this will be the fourth year since I did make it to the Gnomedex 3 in Des Moines. It's always nice to see where the lockergnome creator and guru Chris Pirillo started this little get together. Year 4 saw the move to a much larger venue in Lake Tahoe, however the little get together remained quite personable. Not to be outdone, once the move to Seattle was made for Chris, it only made sense to follow with number 5 in Seattle, what now appears to be the permanent home of Gnomedex.. That is, until it grows to the size that requires the Vegas Convention Centre. Then again, maybe it will remain personable by remaining small(er).. Although there was initial talk of having two meetings this year, that may be something that happens in the fall of this year (not that I know anything but can only speculate that this years show will continue to be a crowd pleaser for all that attend) and for those that listen in! I am truly looking forward to it!

More on ADD

As I mentioned in an earlier blog and now reading this blog and from anyone who knows me, it can sound like this is truly something I have, and yes, just at it mentions, it is always best to look at the positive side of these sort of things.
I believe in fact, that the entire generation of people growing up to the internet and such lightening fast Google Searching tends to see us reading more and taking in more information all the time. When you find something boring, you move on to something more exciting or find ways to change what is boring you. It is human nature.

Sun issues patches for critical Java flaws

This is beginning to become very old... Constant news that there is a 'patch' available for something due to the fact that someone may be able to gain remote access.

As reported here by ZDNet with regards to Java. The problem I have with this is typically I like to turn off or disable the "automatic updates" of such things as java since it can be quite obtrusive to most and it typically something that you can live without. Meaning you can't live without java but it has always been one of those things I would direct someone to update only if something wasn't working. This is because the download of the new update does take typically less then about 3 minutes of your time and is virtually automatic once you agree to allow it to auto install. This being said, if you are not sure what your status is of your java and if you are an existing client of mine that may (or may not) have the java auto update feature turned off, by installing this latest patch should change things back to the automatic mode. If you have received a pop up on your system tray stating that there is an update available, go ahead and do it. You should see the java applet appear (small coffee cup icon) on your system tray once things are complete. This will go away when you restart your computer (which I suggest after completing all updates).

As always, from this blog and from my SOFTWARE/SUPPORT page, you should be able to be kept up to date with the critical items required.

Blog Test

Due to new spam protection blogger.com offers for the blog pages, using third party blogging software, such as bloggar requires permission for the program to function correctly. This is the test.

News about the latest virus out there--should you be worried?

As Leo of Lockergnome's magazine entries points out, there should be no need or cause for alarm, that is, if you have managed to keep your antivirus up to date, as I myself point out on numerous occasions through the form of this blog and other TIPS.

Now that Vancouver has won the chance to host the 2010 Winter Olympics

Believe it or not, these questions about Canada were posted on an International Tourism Website (frightening, isn't it!) Obviously the answers are a joke; but the questions were really asked!

Q: I have never seen it warm on Canadian TV, so how do the plants grow?(UK)
A. We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around and watch them die.

Q: Will I be able to see Polar Bears in the street? (USA)
A: Depends on how much you've been drinking.

Q: I want to walk from Vancouver to Toronto-can I follow the Railroad tracks? (Sweden)
A: Sure, it's only Four thousand miles, take lots of water.

Q: Is it safe to run around in the bushes in Canada? (Sweden)
A: So it's true what they say about Swedes.

Q: It is imperative that I find the names and addresses of places to contact for a stuffed Beaver. (Italy)
A: Let's not touch this one.

Q: Are there any ATM's (cash machines) in Canada? Can you send me a list of them in Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton and Halifax? (UK)
A: What did your last slave die of?

Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Canada?(USA)
A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe.Ca-na-da is that big country to your North...Oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Calgary. Come naked.

Q: Which direction is North in Canada? (USA)
A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees. Contact us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the directions.

Q: Can I bring cutlery into Canada? (UK)
A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.

Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? (USA)
A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is...Oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Vancouver and in Calgary, straight after the hippo races. Come naked.

Q: Do you have perfume in Canada? (France)
A: No, WE don't stink.

Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Can you sell it in Canada? (USA)
A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.

Q: Can you tell me the regions in British Columbia where the female population is smaller than the male population? (Italy)
A: Yes, gay nightclubs.%0