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Saturday, August 27, 2005

Show #173

Tomorrow I’ll be doing a few extra hours from 2–4p. I’m pre-taping my Sunday show for Labor Day weekend. Call 1–800–520–1KFI and keep calling after 2p!

Call for Help returns to G4 on Monday. Tune in weekdays at 8a Pacific/11a Eastern.

Today’s news items

Has Google peaked? Read Cringely’s column then let me know what you think!

The FBI says that two men it believes were responsible for the Zotob worm were arrested overseas on Thursday.

According to the New York Times, two of the four major record companies are pushing Apple to raise prices on the iTunes Music Store.

Intel’s Strive to VIIV - it’s Centrino for desktop PCs. I’ll take a look beyond the marketing hype.

There’s a new IM client in town. Google Talk beta ships. The voice conferening sounds better than Skype, but overall, it’s not enough to convince people to switch. Yet.

11a-Noon

Jackie in Malibu - Upgrading from ME to XP

It works pretty well, but of course it’s always a good idea to backup first then upgrade.

Lee in San Diego - alternatives to eBay

There are lots including Yahoo Auctions. Plus there are lots of specialty auction sites online. Visit the directory.

She sells rubber stamps for scrapbooking. Any suggestions?

Another alternative for eBay is ubid. Not as expensive and has large user base.

There is a company called Beyond Solutions that offers auction software for those wanting to start their own auction site. They have a client list that includes quite a few specialty auction sites.

Eric in Brentwood - copying old apps over to a new computer

I recommend Aloha Bob’s PC Relocator

Kevin in Malibu - networking powerbook to thinkpad

Couldn’t be easier. Share a folder on the PC. Open the Network folder on your Mac. Look for the PC’s workgroup. Open it. Click connect. Enter the PC’s login and password, choose the folder and you’re done. OK there are lots of little details in there, so visit this site for specifics. Jeff from San Francisco has had excellent results from Leo’s prior-reccomended site, http://www.mac-connect.com/

Rick in Upland - blocking porn sites

Check your ISP. More and more ISPs are offering web blockers. You can add one to your computer, too. I recommend Cyberpatrol.

Noon-1p

Jim in Wisconsin - getting video from the DVR

He has a Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8000 HD PVR. The analog ports are disabled - it’s just DVI out. How can he get the video off??

Steve from San Marcos, CA says:
I also have the Scientific Atlanta 8000HD and routinely record/transfer content to my Sony DVD recorder using the “copy to VCR” option under the “Recorded Program Options” after selecting from your “Recorded List”. I haven’t tried recording HD content yet, but as I understand it, the 8000HD will down-convert the HD format to regular NTSC required for your VCR/DVD-R. If you don’t see this option, it’s possible you have the first generation SC8000HD unit which might not have this function.

()

(http://www.scientificatlanta.com/ExplorerClubGuides/getting_started/4003870.pdf)

Here’s a link to Scientific Atlanta’s user manual section of their “Explorer Club” web site for the SA8000HD. If the link doesn’t work, you’ll have to establish yourself as a member so you can have access to their user manuals. Here you can find step by step instruction for copying content over.

Hope this works.

Rick from Elbert County, CO says:
Analog Outputs Blocked - I have a DirecTv Tivo HD box. When the box is set to display HD stuff, and that includes 480P and up then all the analog inputs are shut down. However, if I select 480i then they become active. Try checking and perhaps changing the display mode in the box to 480i.

Ken from Hagerstown, Maryland writes:
If your TV has video output jacks, it may be as simple as connecting your VCR or DVD Recorder to those ports. I do it all the time as I record over the air HD digital broadcasts on my DVD Recorder through my TV. I have the Samsung 26” HD TV with built in digital tuner and several inputs. Anyhow, it avoids the hacking of your box if all you want is to capture one program.

Jason in Chatsworth - his EA video game detects CD Cloner and won’t run

How appalling. This game is looking for a perfectly legal program and won’t run because it assumes you were using the program to pirate the game. He’s uninstalled CD Cloner but the game still sees it. Use MSConfig to turn off the driver. Click Start→Run and enter “msconfig” then hit enter. Turn on selective startup then look for the CD Cloner driver in Services and Startup. Uncheck it and it will start running.

But… I really think it’s none of EA’s business what software I might be running. This is unacceptably intrusive copy protection.

This is what EA says (thanks to Wayne from Maine for the link). I say - I’m no longer buying EA games. Period. And I encourage you not to either.

Jeff in Santa Ana adds- This is on top of Electronic Arts’ labor practices, which treats their workers like serfs.
I agree: Do not subsidize this company’s business model.

Robert from Texas -
I’ve had this problem with Alcohol 120% and Doom 3 as well, the only way around it was to disable the virtual drives, and run from the disc, or to download a gamefixed file that defeats all cd look-up protection. A good google search will provide you help if you were to type “game crack” with the name of your game. If you own the game there is no reason you can not use this, and it will also help preserve your game disks from scratching. It’s really great if you have kids.

Chris from Northern MB, Canada -
If you look on the EA site, it says that their games check for Nero ImageDrive. That sub-program is automatically installed with the Ultra Edition of Nero, and if you enable it for any kind of ISO work, you won’t be able to run those EA games. What a joke. They offer convoluted solutions on their website to enable the game, but I have a better one: take the game right back where you bought it and don’t make the same mistake again.

Dale in Palmdale - can’t play World of Warcraft

That’s because your router is blocking port 3724. You’ll need to port forward TCP 3724 to your computer. Read Blizzard’s instructions for more information.

Nik From Australia-
There is a problem like Dale discribed with World of Warcraft on some Linksys Wireless routers, mainly the WRT54G and WRT54GS if anyone is having problems with WoW on these routers they need to update to one of the BETA firmware versions at this link I have been forced to use these drivers since they were first released.

Nzee Sheikh from Dubai-
Try this website PortForward.com and search for your particular router model number and brand, then you have to choose your program which you want to open port for in your case Warcraft, then it will guide you how to open that particular port.

Darin in San Bernardino - emulating a PC on a Mac

Microsoft’s Virtual PC is the only choice.

1–2p

Chip in Laguna Hill - scanning in forms for fill in

you can get form scanning software but it’s expensive. I just scan in the forms and use Microsoft Paint text tool to write on the scan.

Virginia in South Gate - Yahoo email isn’t working

She’s installed something called Stop Sign - turn it off.

can you access your email from the other computer? if not, your account may have been hijacked or corrupted. also, try reinstalling yahoo. that used to be the easiest way to fix yahoo problems in the past. - rocket from south bay

Darin in San Bernardino - Windows Me can’t get online

Recovery disc erased everything and now she can’t install the Verizon DSL software. It should work - you could call Verizon support. But I recommend eliminating the Verizon software entirely and buying a broadband router. If you set it up with your PPPoE login and passowrd you won’t need the Verizon software and the router acts like a firewall protecting you.

Steve in Malibu - Connecting an iBook to a Linksys

Use WPA - it’s much more secure than WEP and much easier to setup, especially on a Mac. If your router doesn’t support WPA look for a firmware upgrade.

Mike in Michigan - Service pack 2 won’t install

The closer your system is to the original install the more likely SP-2 will work. First make sure your system is totally free of spyware and viruses, then uninstall all system software: security programs, firewalls, anti-virus programs, etc. Then cross your fingers.

Rick in Escondido - long time photographer, first time computer buyer

Mac or PC? Since he’s not going online with it I’d say a PC would be just as good - and would certainly be cheaper.

Apple computers have very good video capabilities, so photography work on one would be a stunning experience. However, Apples “taste” even better when they’re connected to the net. Assuming Rick will use this just for photography, a Windows PC with a decent video card, a big, beefy HD and a crisp, clear display should do just fine for a photographer going digital.
—Hawkeye
Valley View, Texas

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