Sunday, June 4, 2006
Tech News
11a-Noon
QDean in Yorba Linda - CD-RW/DVD not burning CD
Drive is fine, but it just won’t burn. Try installing the Nero ASPI driver. This article explains why a working ASPI layer is necessary and how to get yours working.
QRon in Orlando - I’ve been phished!
He fell for a fake email purporting to be from a buyer at Ebay - he “logged in” and gave the crook his Ebay login and password. Once that happens you need to quickly change all your passwords, notify related banks and credit cards, and then keep an eye on things for the next few years. Read about “phishing” at www.antiphishing.org. I recommend checking out their archive of phishing emails to get an idea of how good these phishers are.
For more on fighting identity theft visit www.fightidentitytheft.com and to put a fraud alert on your credit report call the three big reporting agencies. I’ve done it and it’s very effective in protecting yourself against identity theft, although it can make applying for credit a little more difficult.
Noon-1p
QLisa in San Bernardino - I deleted MS Serif!
She followed instructions from a newspaper article on reducing her fonts, and seems to have deleted parts of MS Serif. Uh oh, that’s a required Windows system font. Follow these instructions from Microsoft.
QJoe in Fountain Valley - taking high speed pictures
His wife shoots pictures of dancers, but just turning up the ISO setting isn’t freezing the action. It’s all about shutter speed. If your camera has a shutter priority or manual setting use that and get your shutter speed up above 1/500th of a second.
QMorris in Manhattan - downloading PC software to a Mac
He downloaded SRS 7 on his OS 9 Mac and wants to put it on his PC. If it’s a ZIP or EXE file, no problem.
QGary in Laguna Beach - don’t use the scene modes
He shoots pictures of wildlife (and is VERY good). He tells new digital photographers to stay away from those scene modes and other preprogrammed modes. They don’t work well. And I generally agree. You can usually do a better job with the program mode alone.
QKaren in New York - accessing her Wi-Fi router with Mac
It should be automatic. If you are using WPA or WEP you’ll have to enter the password, of course. If there are many access points in your neighborhood you may have to choose the one you’d like to join. The Mac will default to the strongest unprotected signal.
1–2p
QTerry in Glendale - HP Media Center can’t run programs
Only Firefox and IE will run, everything else crashes. Sounds like a key system file is missing or damaged. Try these steps:
1. Use System Restore to go back to a time when everything was working
2. Open a command window by clicking Start→Run and typing cmd, then type sfc /scannow at the C: prompt. You’ll need your Windows Install disc for this
3. Use the Windows Installer’s Recovery mode to try to recover the key system files
4. Reinstall Windows
QDottie in Huntington Beach - XP slow to boot
I recommended a router and a lightweight anti-virus like NOD32.
Chat Logs and Show Audio
Listener Comments
03 June 2006
Another good screen image capture program is LView. The old version is freeware for non-commercial use. You can find a screenshot and download link at http://www.palmia.org/html/lview.htm
04 June 2006
waldo i got a new name.. Even tho my name is waldo too.
MICROSOFT SAYS NO USB DRIVE FOR YOU!
They say there is no free lunch, evidently the same goes for USB drives. … [continues] <http://www.everythingusb.com/microsoft_giveaway.html>
“Microsoft isn’t evil, they just make really crappy operating systems.”
—Linus Torvalds
Hi Leo,
I am just listening to your podcast of last weeks show and I have a recommendation for an online backup solution:
Mozy Remote Backup, PCMAG seemed to like it:
“a free service that will securely store up to two gigabytes of files for Windows XP users and automatically back up changes”
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1951151,00.asp
Damn!!! People are snapping up those Sansa e260′s because they can use a coupon and get a rebate. Somebody stop them!!! I’ll just die if Apple loses market share. Yesterday, somebody trashed the Toshiba. Today, somebody make a fake call and bash the Sansa’s. You don’t want Steve upset do you?
Love ya guys, and see you next week at the Pride Festival.
Mr. Leo,
Called you yesterday regarding my Macbook/iMac ram issue. My name is “Mark in Diamond Bar” not “Rick in Diamond Bar.” Mike_B changed it yesterday…but I guess you changed it back.
Here is a link to my call…You called me “Mark in Diamond Bar,” the first time….then you switched to Rick for some reason.
Its all cool…just wanted to clear that up…
http://www.net-clan.org/~techvision/NEW2006.m4a
Thanks,
Mark in Diamond Bar (KuNgFuAzN)
I think Half Life 2 was one of the best games ever.
Enough of the RIAA and MPAA and all greedy corporate villians….
Impose a fair sharing tax on top of monthly ISP bill which can be distributed to all IP owners. Each Movie, Song or Software App could be assigned a value based on how much it’s shared and then be compensated it’s part of the sharing tax. Surely we have the ability to do this.
11:25 by sha?.
planning to get cable internet, what’s a good cable modem to get?
Halo is another brilliant game but when is Halo 2 coming to PC? It almost makes me want to buy an XBox just to try it.
11:32 by The?.
Why isn’t the webcam working?
MICROSOFT SAYS NO USB DRIVE FOR YOU!
They say there is no free lunch, evidently the same goes for USB drives. … [continues] http://www.everythingusb.com/microsoft_giveaway.html
“Microsoft isn’t evil, they just make really crappy operating systems.”
—Linus Torvalds
Reposted—URL in previous post was munged.
11:43 by anonymous.
how do you change from Administrator to ‘Limited User’ on XP (step by step, please…not a geek)
how to you open the terminal in mac os x 10.2.8?
start-→control panel-→accounts. then make a administrator account. after that go to edit your account and make it a limited user. then you are done
I inherited a Dell DJ that I can’t seem to be able to transfer music to??
11:59 by anonymous.
ty very much (now limited user)
the software that allows you to use it with windows media player or whatever it uses
your welcome and their isn’t a geek way to do that, that i know of at least
anyone have a very complete set of directions for installing synergy(the kvm software leo mention a week or two ago) on a mac and setting it all up for three computers each using a dif OS. (ubuntu, windows xp, and mac os x)
12:06 by anonymous.
one more question, how to I return to administrator if I want to dload programs or anything I can’t do as ‘Limited User’?
you log into the administrator account and either download it on that account or follow the same directions as before and change the type of account in the administrator’s account so that the limited user is an administrator till you switch it back in your account
Some pople dont have manners if i left may caps on by mistake and some folks told to turn them off they are know as TROLLS wain wain wain
Re: Lefty, fair use tax: I’ve always thought that since we already have taxes and surchrages and sales tax, just add a fee on blank media as well as on internet service where files can be downloaded, uploaded. Also since all gadgets have a serial number, why not implant that into the file burned by everything that can copy or create CD’s, DVD’s etc. With an embedded code if they find illegal copies on sale they can trace the source. I’ll bet it’s not going to be the “Little Old Lady From Pasadena”.
12:12 by anonymous.
ok, thx again, I wasn’t sure if a limited user could turn around & change back to administrator…practicing :) appreciate the help
if a limited user could change back to admin within the limited users account then that would kinda defeat the perpuss(i don’t know how to spell that)
12:18 by anonymous.
understand…it’s just confusing to an ‘old person’…you explain very well
Sha: Most DSL services include a free modem, some cable companies supply a modem, but there may be a monthly “rental’ charge like there used to be for set top boxes. Check with you company and find out, if there is no charge, use theirs, if there is then compare the total fees for a year or two to the cost of a modem from CompUSA, Best Buy or wherever. If you’re paying more to the company then buy any good name brand, but also check to see if your company supports the one you’re going to buy.
i think that is the one thing xp did right.
I have been given a PowerBook G3 400 mhz. It has a bad hard drive and no OS disk. Is it worth anything. I want a laptop for my girlfriend in Russia. I only need Email, ICQ, video chat, and ability to read a word document.
Jbilljames@yahoo.com
try getting a hard drive on ebay and putting ubuntu linux on it. it does all those things and it is a free os.
When they are giving the traffic in LA and say there is a Sig Alert, does anyone know what a Sig Alert is? And why do we care about the traffic in LA anyhow or even the news in LA for that matter?
About the ebay scam, there was a recent story where a buyer sent the seller a check that was $5000 more than the price of the product and asked the seller wire the difference back to him. Check looked genuine and even bank assured him everything was ok, as soon as he sent the money to the guy, bank asked for the $5000 as check was bad!
Guess you can take a smoke break whenever you hear a CIG(arette) alert.
Sha, I have used a Motorola Surfboard cable modem for a couple of years now and have had no problems with it.
Q. What are Sig-Alerts?
A. “‘Sig-Alerts’ are unique to Southern California. They came about in the 1940s when the L.A.P.D. got in the habit of alerting a local radio reporter, Loyd Sigmon, of bad car wrecks on city streets. These notifications became known as “Sig-Alerts.” Later Mr. Sigmon developed an electronic device that authorities could use to alert the media of disasters. Caltrans latched on to the term ‘Sig-Alert’ and it has come to be known as any traffic incident that will tie up two or more lanes of a freeway for two or more hours.”—Caltrans
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/paffairs/faq/faq18.htm
bel aire class where and when
Leo,
With all the backup discussions addressing Ghost, Drive Image, Aloha Bob, etc., I’ve never heard you say anything about the Windows XP File & Settings Transfer Wizard. Is there a reason you have been silent on ths tool? Are there shortcomings I”m not aware of?
13:07 by anonymous.
The best info. for doing anything on XP is simple.
Use Linux. No more of those problems.
Paul in Escondido California…………..><
nmoore: I don’t believe in selling/profiting off of IP. I do think we should be able to share files for personal use. But the Internet should be able to breathe without investigators chasing down embedded serial #s. Sure I’d happily pay a surcharge on blank media and a monthly sharing tax to end all the lawsuits and unfair greediness on the part of the xxAA’s (also revise the DMCA), there was no issue back in the day of stereo cassette decks and chromium dioxide tape (which sounded every bit as good as an mp3). Let’s vote on this and get it happening. If these industries would call off the dogs people might be inclined to buy more—GREED IS NOT GOOD-SHARING IS.
Leo I have given up with calling just get busy not like back in the old days.
Here is the question: Go2MyPC will crash both systems when doing a transfer. What gives ?
Oh Leo … “AVG … it’s alright … better than nothing..”
What BS. AVG is every bit as the AntiVirus that NOBODY EVER HEARD OF Nod32, the only difference is that Leo Pimps Nod32 and YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR IT!
If I’m going to PAY for a AV program, It AIN’T gonna be Nod32, it’ll be PC-Cillin or Norton!
Leo responds: Please check the reviews at PC Mag and the Virus Bulletin. AVG consistently rates very low. It’s good for the price but it’s far from the best AV.
Leo On the AVG Go into the Control Center and it is AVG Resident Shield the Properties button is below the window where you click it and it can be turned off.
Just a simple checkbox.
“If I’m going to PAY for a AV program, It AIN’T gonna be Nod32, it’ll be PC-Cillin or Norton!”
I’d never pay for Norton. I wouldn’t even use it if they paid me to use it. I got Norton once because they paid me to use it (It was $30 with a $40 mail in rebate). I installed it once, hated how bloated it was and uninstalled it the next day. At least I got $10 for it.
22:48 by ron?.
Ken-new York, is perpuss something like octopuss
22:53 by ron?.
Caltrans:
Persons who tie up two or more lanes of a freeway for two or more hours,while doing nothing
05 June 2006
Ichanged to ‘Limited User’ on XP now every time I log in I get Desktop - Notepad : [.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%system32shell32.dll,−21787
can I fix this or is this a normal thing? ty
06 June 2006
Just listened to the podcast of this show—I didn’t hear too much of the first half because Leo is so funny!! 5 years his junior I found it very pertinent when he talked about feeling as if the old brain was losing a little steam, harder to concentrate, etc. Then the Freudian slip!..or was it brain fade!? I come at ageing from the exact opposite—all physical, my tool is a mountain and road bike instead of a little “beep beep” game. So far my brain hasn’t slipped…and neither has my Freudian!!
Thanks LEO! I haven’t heard you sound that embarassed since a comment or two went down the wrong road on TSS involving a certain flaming redhead.
21:51 by anonymous.
Hey Leo,
what happend to Inside the Net?
07 June 2006
IT Guy from LA. Yes AVG is an “OK’ antivirus and I put it on the computers I service for private users. I also have the paid multistation version on a medium sized business system I service. I have it on one of my personal computers (paid, not free). On my other machine I have Nod32. It is lighter than any other I’ve tried in regard to system slowing. I’ve heard of but never tried PC-Cillin, but the reviews I’ve seen would lead me to try it the next time I need it. I WOULD NEVER USE NORTON AGAIN! Not because it is not good, but the insidious stranglehold it puts into the system registry makes it next to impossible to remove, and every time I had to update it, the old version had to be uninstalled (per their support personel) before it the updated version I had paid for could be installed. The last time I used it I destroyed two systems and had to rebuild windows and all of the programs to be reinstalled. This last time was when I got AVG free, because I had paid for Norton and didn’t want to pay for another. Later I bought AVG for one and Nod32 for the other (an older slower machine). I am satified with both. By the way AVG is a 2 year subscription at the usual rate for one.
08 June 2006
Has anyone had this problem? I have a trojan (Win 32). I found the files and folders it is in. I delete them and a few seconds later they appear again. I change the name and it appears again. Nothing works. I know a re-format will fix it, but I would like to get rid of this before I do that. Any help is appreciated. If you dont want to post, you can email me advise at SirRandy@gmail.com. Thanks in advance.
Howdy Leo, and all you Leovillians!
I am a photographer in WA state. I own my own studio and do weddings, nature, etc etc. I wanted to weigh in on shooting RAW vs JPEG.
For years I shot nothing but JPEG. I was afraid of RAW. Too complicated. Large file sizes. Yikes. Then one day I tried it. I will never, ever go back. I dont care what I am shooting, if its for a paid job or personal use, I will never shoot JPEG again. Why you ask? Two words: white balance. In JPEG you are stuck with the white balance the camera chooses. Or if you set it manual you are stuck with the one you chose. But what if you were indoors and set it for tungsten lighting then go outside and forget to change it back? The pictures will come out a FUNKY color. With JPEG you are sunk. Sure you can correct it a bit in Photoshop, but not really. However, if you are shooting RAW you are in luck. With RAW convertings software such as Adobe Camera RAW, you can set the white balance during the post processing. You can choose from one of the presets (cloudy, shade, sunny, tungsten, etc) or you can customize it.
This flexibility alone makes RAW worth the slight (very slight if you ask me) increase in work load. Not to mention the ability to push or pull exposure with little or no loss in quality. Say you over expose an area and its nearly pure white. RAW converters allow you to lower exposure and 99% of the time pull the details out of that over exposed area. Same with under exposed areas.
Well, sorry for the long winded comment. I just wanted to make sure people knew there are other reasons to shoot RAW than just pixel quality.
Oh and you can also shoot RAW + JPEG, getting one of each. Use JPEG for quick browsing of thumbnails on your computer but then actually process and work with the RAW copy.
Thanks!!
PS - For the gear heads, here’s my lineup:
Canon EOS 1D Mark II, and EOS-10D
Canon EF 70–200 f/2.8L IS
Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L
Canon EF 17–40 f/4L
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4
Sigma 24–70 f/2.8
Zillions of shades, CF cards, lighting gear, meters, etc etc etc. Its an addiction…. =)
Hahaha.. call me naïve but I absolutely lost it at the “you’re in control of this orgasm” part.
To all looking for a good anti-virus: I first received a copy of Pc-Cillin when I purchased a new computer some years ago. At the time, I was a Norton or McAfee AV guy. The sales rep / technician (one and the same person) told me he preferred Pc-Cillin as it was every bit as effective, cheaper, and didn’t interfere with installing software or running applications (a contant problem back in those days). I’ve used it since and love it. Just thought I’d offer a review as a new podcast listener and growing fan of the show.
Regarding Verizon DSL. As it turns out, the DSL modem verizon ships is a router and has the ppoe login information programmed into it during the install process although it can be done manually (Verzion will help). It can be changed to a bridge (I have the westell) so it works with a linksys router. I decided to use the verizon/yahoo software as the antivirus is CA eZ-Antivirus and the the yahoo spyware tool works fine as well. I fought this decision as I’m a network professional but it worked well for me. Did not load the pop-up blocker, parental controls or others.
09 June 2006
Minor rant…
Whenever Leo talks about converting from a copy protected AAC song in iTunes to CD to MP3. He always refers to it as “the analog hole”. How is this analog? AAC→CD is digital. CD→MP3 is digital. The analog hole is when you record the analog output of a CD player with the line-in on your computer. I have nothing against Leo. Just wanted to set the record straight. It’s been bothering me.
13:08 by .
Shooting RAW vs JPG
Here’s a little piece of info that would keep you from shooting JPG (and has to do with the technical jargon that somebody already mentioned when they said it can be pushed and pulled farther).
TIFFs and JPGs can only show 256 levels, and RAW shows 4096 levels (levels means levels of density). We don’t really need 4096 except when our detail is all crammed into 1/5th of the area, somewhere between black and white. If you shoot RAW, you can pull that information out and still have a representative 820 levels. If you had shot JPG you would only have 52 level, which is not enough for a good image (you’ll probably have posterization where you see stair-steps of shades in the image instead of smooth transitions).
If you know how to manipulate a digital image well, RAW is the format to use, even if you save to TIFF afterwards; because, even though the end result will be 256 levels, you will make each of those levels count and you’ll throw away “levels” that aren’t holding valuable data.
If you’re shooting snapshots and you have limited media and storage, shoot what you want. If you know what your doing in Photoshop, shoot RAW (if you know what you’re doing in Photoshop, you probably already know this).
10 June 2006
13 June 2006
Hey Leo don’t forget to tell Dottie to Defrag her hard drive.
And you may want to check out Microsoft’s BootViz, still available, just not from Bill direct.
15 June 2006
Page link?
