a publication of the san luis obispo pcug vol. 17 • no. 4 • april 2001

What’s New Kiplinger Taxcut by William Avery 2000 Deluxe CLUB A Software Review CALENDAR Our March SLOBYTES Meeting [in the by Herb Goldstein dark!] featured Alan Raul’s Quickly Member of the Sarasota Personal April 1st Answered Questions, and a visit by Computer Users Group, Inc. Ben Brady from Brady & Associates, 1 pm LLC, author of ClearICE, ClearZone and Early SIG’s. It’s that most unhappy time of the year. ClearRoute Firewall Log Analyzers. For the majority of us, tax time is Jim Kiraly, General [http://www.y2kbrady.com/ just that. To make things a little less Windows SIG (in Kitchen) firewallreporting/]. Even without any unhappy and a lot more productive, PG&E power, we dished some light on Alan Raul, General Q&A Block Financial (a subsidiary of the firewalls and their reporting logs, (main hall) popular tax experts, H&R Block in which Ben’s programs analyze. conjunction with the venerated and renown financial advisor Kiplinger) 2:30 pm Alan and Ray started our early meet- offers a dynamite tax preparation ing discussion with a review of Debbi program, Kiplinger TaxCut Deluxe. In Schmidt’s Defrag problem, which Dave Kastner will be fact, if it were not for the end result of turned out to be a virus infection speaking on "Digital Cameras - parting with your hard-earned bucks to [W95.MTX] that lasted 4 months ! .... Uncle Sam, TaxCut actually makes Revisited". He gave an excel- Cliff Buttschardt also noted that Dara dreaded tax preparation fun. TaxCut lent presentation about a year Hadley [SLONET Customer Service] will also prepare your state return actually detected an infected message, ago on digital cameras. and notified him of that problem. Nancy CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 Vrooman asked about a new installa- tion of Netscape, which was not notify- ing her about cookies, and we sug- gested reviewing her settings to find in this issue… the check-mark which controls that WHAT’S NEW MY CD ROM option, under Edit/Preferences. The wm. avery ...... 1 john clark ...... 7 latest version of Netscape, version 6.1 is now out, and Alan noted that 80% of KIPLINGER TAX CUT REMARKABLE SCANNER the browsers in use are currently herb goldstein...... 1 judy lindley ...... 8 Internet Explorer. SURFBOARD TIP A member asked about web-bugs, or dorothy kirk ...... 3 michael vincent ...... 8 snoop-ware and Ray Miklas recom- mended Steve Gibson’s web site BUGS & VIRUSES CLUB INFORMATION [http://www.grc.com] for a small scott spanbauer ...... 3 ...... 9 program Opt-Out which warns users of such programs and removes them.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 what’s new considering a Linksys hardware router, Neal had a 386 desktop system with continued from page 1 whose pricing has been coming down math co-processor + 8 MB RAM, recently. Ray also noted that a static IP available for donation [free!] to anyone Alan noted that there are freeware, address is not always provided with who could take all the pieces, without a shareware, trialware, and spyware, every form of high speed connection. hard drive. It went to the lowest bidder. which includes Netscape, Real Player, Some machines are stealth and some The other item available is a 150 MMX and Gozilla. They all report patterns of are not, which means they may not Laptop, offered by Alan Raul, at the use to their host sites, without notify- have static addresses assigned unless end of its warranty period, in a few ing the users. For Netscape users, the provider wants to do that. The months. He will be upgrading to a Alan notes that there is a web site, connection of the future will not be better machine, so see him for details. [http://www.netfaq.com] to explain modem based, according to Alan, but the differences in versions of that rather the new wireless style WAP A Tea Break provided by Nancy, our browser. connection will be common, as por- Intermission Hostess, was held in the table computing improvements con- naturally lit Chat Room, with goodies Another comment, by Alan, was on tinue. such as sweet rolls, cookies, and small Windows XP, previously code named talk, until our brave guest, Ben Brady, Whistler [the latest combination of The opening of the SLONET Community called us back into the darkness of our Win2000 and NT]. He indicated that it Resource SMART Center, which pro- Main Hall, for exploration of the March will be out in Beta by next month and vides free Internet classes on Tuesday main topic, Personal Firewalls, and his will be copy-protected by a limited-use nights, was noted. SLONET is a local product report on Firewall Data Log method so copies will not work beyond non-profit Internet Service Provider Analyzers. a fixed limit without registration. [www.slonet.org], serving the Central Coast from Paso Robles to Santa Ben’s experience in computing began A question was posed from the audi- Maria. in 1971, when he was only 14. ence, about making a listing of directo- Through a private school scholarship, ries , from Windows Explorer and no The last question concerned the he learned about programming on a way was suggested. lowest cost hard drive, currently DEC PDP-8. Those were the days of available. Alan reported his purchase Teletype printers and paper tape Debbi Schmidt was curious about why of two Western Digital 40 GB, ATA punch readers, using FOCAL8 and an the external modem lights are active 100, 7200 RPM drives for $149.95. early version of BASIC. Ben noted the when the dialup connection is not The newest Staples opened in San Luis advent of the MITS Altair Kit Computer established. Cliff and Bill suggested Obispo, with a Maxtor 20 GB, 5400 from Percom Computer, in 1975, in that this is related to the serial link RPM special, after rebate, $59.95. Albuquerque, N.M., where he was living between the modem and the local Ray also mentioned a good web site for at the time. Popular Electronics computer. hardware, www.googlegear.com. Fry’s magazine announced the kit in a front offered a complete computer system page article, and the Apple and the Guy reported that his cable modem after rebates and ISP contracts for TRS-80 computers appeared rapidly, in connection was being interrupted by a $50! A trivia question posed by Alan, a rush of events that changed the setting on his firewall, Zone Alarm due in closing, asked about which Operat- world. to periodic changes in his IP address ing System Gateway Computers chose by his service provider which the for their Corporate computers ? Ben worked days, selling at Radio firewall could not accept. He reduced Answer: !! So don’t feel Shack, and late nights programming on his security level setting to medium to bad, if you still see the same old clouds, those same day-customer’s comput- fix the problem. Alan suggested when you turn on your machine. CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

*** people helping people ***

NAME PROGRAM(S) PHONE NO. HOURS TO CALL Bill Roch Ami Pro 466-8440 anytime Dan Logan Internet, MS Publisher 927-0515 M-Sat 8-6, Sun 12-6 Jim Kiraly Win 98, Office 97, Quicken, Map Programs 556-0301(pismo) anytime Bob Ward Win 98, DOS, Internet, Eudora 528-0121 evenings Ray Miklas Any PC hardware or software questions 541-5633 anytime We could use more volunteers here. If interested, contact Bob Ward! page 2 HARDCOPY april 2001 The Surf board BUGS AND by Dorothy Kirk VIRUSES: ibm/pcug, redding, ca. [email protected] Which files are safe to open?

The sites this month are drawing and painting programs for kids from 2 years old and up. by Scott Spanbauer, contributing editor, PC World. Just because these are programs aimed at kids doesn’t mean that they’re not as ©2000 Scott Spanbauer. Reprinted good as a “grown up” program. In fact, the opposite is true — Child’s Play has with permission. more tools and special effects than most programs aimed at adults! The secret to these programs is that they make even the hard stuff fun and easy. Several of If you were stung by the I Love You the programs also teach you how to draw and paint. Strictly speaking, a paint virus, you experienced one of the worst program is a bit-mapped (pixels) program and a drawing program is a vector effects a virus can have: inconvenience (lines) program for easy scaling. Most of the sites below use the terms inter- Whether the virus is pernicious or changeably. The programs for the very little ones are fun and easy to use. Some benign, cleaning it off your system of the included programs are freeware, but most are shareware, which means you takes time. Many viruses are capable can try them for awhile, but then you need to pay for it. of destroying data on your computer or stealing it from your PC, but most do CHILD’S PLAY http://www.zdnet.com/downloads/stories/info/ neither and are written merely to 0,,000UXU,.html A shareware program for children that is truly a great program. prove the existence of flaws in the It has many options including support for 24 bit color and sound. You can use any or e-mail software texture for polygon fills, take advantage of transparent pasting from any other they infect. program, and enjoy new background images. Actually , it You can use any texture for polygon fills, take advantage of transparent pasting from any other program, Of course, much of the flawed software and enjoy new background images. comes from Microsoft, which has DISCOVER PAINTING FOR KIDS http://www.crescentvision.com/dpaint.html triggered more than one Gates basher Not just for kids! Young children will find the coloring pages easy to use and the to call for a boycott of Windows, “Toy” tools loads of fun, while older children (and adults) will marvel over the cool Internet Explorer, and Outlook as a way special effects that can be created with the 3D “Bump” and “Magic” tools. to ensure security. Whatever the DRAWING FOR CHILDREN http://www.cs.ruu.nl/~markov/kids/draw/ - kids merits of this approach, the issue is will love being creative with Drawing For Children. It features stamp collections, not that simple, and just switching to clipart, backgrounds & special effects, the ability to choose fonts, rotate text, Linux, Eudora, or Opera won’t protect insert symbols, and more! Freeware. you from every Internet security threat PAINTER http://www.bol.ucla.edu/~permadi/java/spaint/ - A little fun pro- that’s lurking out there. gram in which you can drag the cursor around the screen and make kaleidoscope- like images. Viruses can use various means to PEPPER BABIES COLORING BOOK ftp://ftp.gamesdoman.com/pub/kidstuff/ insinuate themselves into your com- pc/pepbabcl.zip - For ages 2 - 7. Spend a while flipping through a 25-page puter through a floppy disk, a program coloring book. This is a book for beginners, because a click of the mouse will copied from a different PC, or software completely fill each space with a burst of color. Kids just click on the 10-color downloaded from AOL or the Internet. palette and then a space. Alternatively, they may be introduced BAXTER SKETCH ftp://ftp.gamesdomain.com/pub/kidstuff/pc/ via a macro or other script file that baxtersketch.zip - This is a computer version of the old stand by Etch-a-sketch. It runs within a standard application even looks like an Etch-a-sketch, but you have more options than the original toy. such as Microsoft Word, Outlook, There are various speeds and colors for the pen and two separate screen colours Netscape Navigator, or Eudora. to choose from. You have the choice of using the mouse and/or keyboard to Ordinarily, you have to take some control the pens. Freeware. action to start a program, macro, or COLOR WIZARD ftp://ftp.gamesdomain.com/pub/kidstuff/pc/colwiz10.zip - script running on your computer, Color Wizard is not just your typical coloring program. It is a storybook, a coloring but many viruses trigger the applica- book with over 700 colors to choose from and also teaches art techniques such tion automatically. Recently e-mail as shadows, texture and lighting. With the Art lessons section you can watch the viruses have turned up that launch as demos of how to apply the different techniques before attempting them on your soon as you view the message they own. Limited access, but it is very inexpensive to buy. are embedded in—no other action is DOODLEWORKS ftp://ftp.gen.com/pub/users/m/mr-matt/software/ required on your part. dw32100.exe - Another kaleidoscope program. Easy and fun to use. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 april 2001 HARDCOPY page 3 what’s new Tower Records Web Site, and noted Address Translation] for private net- continued from page 2 that the bug reads the entire Outlook works. They are fast, but not easy to Express Address Book, and sends it use. The IP addresses that you nor- ers! This was followed by the introduc- back over the web, without any notifica- mally use are non-routable addresses, tion of the IBM PC, Model 5150, with tion. Also, in Internet Explorer, there is which means they can not go out past assembly language, which lead him to a Information Back Channel, which can the first router en-countered on the dBase programming, serial networks, be used to send data back to the Internet, because those addresses do and programming in Clairion, for server, without any warning to the not exist in their router tables. This project development and management. user. gives a very good advantage if you want to stay invisible to the outside world. The aspects of network security which As Ben continued his product develop- Ben recommended not to implement a are important today were barely ment, other companies became hardware router firewall with the considered in those early days. Now, interested in promoting his analyzers, default rule sets, because often the Internet is the Wild, Wild West and now he has a good set of report- upgrades are required to flash the [WWW], and our systems are open to ing tools for Black Ice, Zone Alarm, and router BIOS, and new rule sets are attack from open ports on our comput- Tiny Personal Firewall. The Internet created periodically to protect a ers. Firewalls are the common method Service Providers receiving attack system from certain types of attacks. of defense against these intrusions, reports, from Ben’s users, are gener- You can not just turn on a router, plug and Ben mentioned Black Ice De- ally happy with them. Some tests run in your link to a network card, and fender, Zone Alarm, Tiny Personal by security test sites generate reports ignore the rest of the setup. People Firewall, Concealed Personal in excess of the amount required, and that use hardware firewalls must Firewall, CyberGen’s Secure Desk- these tests have caused Ben some always update their setups, for maxi- top, McAfee’s Personal Firewall, and distress. Hopefully, the problems which mum security. Symantec’s Internet Security as he mentioned will be resolved soon. popular products. Ray inquired about the Gibson Shields- For his own systems, Ben uses two Up test, and Ben informed us that it Intrusion detection is the main function products: Black Ice Defender, and Tiny only tests 10 out of 65,535 ports of the first program, similar to a home Personal Firewall in tandem. He available on a PC’s machine. He noted burglar alarm, whereas the others are recommended setting the Black Ice that most Trojan virus use ports above only gates, like a white picket fence in Defender to Paranoid and set Zone 1,024. Ben mentioned the website, front of a home. Ben noted there is no Alarm to Medium. If these values are www.doshelp.com, to see a list of other firewall product which is 100% not used, Zone Alarm will give an alarm sites that do port testing on the web. effective, because of human invention before Black Ice Defender, and Black and human error. Ice will never see the attack. Pete Lawn, asked about the activity he observed during his system boot-up. When he installed Black Ice Defender, An attack report from Zone Alarm Ben explained that Zone Alarm’s pro- Ben found the data logs to be comma gives 5 things: Date & Time, Source IP tection does not begin to work until the separated value, CSV files, which were Address, Source Port, Destination IP Zone Alarm engine has been initialized, difficult to use, so he wrote an analyzer Address, and Destination Port, but not after the Windows boot-up. Tiny tool. After posting an early version to enough information about the type of Personal Firewall protects from the the Web, he received 15,000 hits on attack to determine level of threat to a time before Windows starts, and his Mindspring site, in January, 2000. user’s machine. Black Ice Defender throughout the boot process. Soon afterward, he lost $600,000 provides this information and assigns a worth of copies to hackers, which severity level to an attack. The other For maximum protection, Ben recom- forced a review of the product’s programs think all attacks are the mends that you should do at least security. Now, a year later, the code same; either it is an attack or it is not. three things: has been safely sold at $20 - $25 a Intruder alarm programs know the copy. difference between an attack with PC 1. You need to be running a virus Anywhere products, a Netbus probe, a scanner, and update your virus defini- Although the firewall program, Zone Sub7 probe, or a lost connection to a tions at least every week. Alarm is free, Ben’s software tools are website’s dropped IP address, pinging 2. You should run a Personal Firewall, not. He explained that the firewall in error. Black Ice will report the such as Tiny Personal Firewall, pre- program has two actual costs, namely differences between these intrusions, ferably in tandem with Black Ice a registration data collection require- helping the user to determine the level Defender . ment, and a More Info button which or severity of the threat. Hardware 3. You should run The Cleaner, a Trojan allows a web bug to be activated. As an routers use complex rule sets, and one detection program, from example of web bugs, Ben mentioned such method is called NAT [Network CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 page 4 HARDCOPY april 2001 what’s new tax cut 2. PROGRESS BAR - Tracks your continued from page 4 continued from page 1 progress through the tax preparation process. Provides continuous readout www.moosoft.com. Cost is $30 for using figures that you can auto- of where you have been and where you registration. matically transfer over from your are going. federal. 3. SEAMLESS IMPORT- Imports data To purchase any of Ben’s programs, go seamlessly from all of the afore to his web-site: This year, H&R Block/Kiplinger has mentioned financial programs. www.firewallreporting.com. Licenses partnered with Microsoft Money to 4. ENHANCED TAX PLANNING are specific to an individual machine. make TaxCut even better. The tax Provides year-round financial and tax Laptop combo discounts are available. program now coordinates with the planning tools. It includes expert advice Multiple drives are also covered. The financial info gathering features of on tax savings and increased CPU serial number is not used to Money to provide seamless integration deductions. generate the program key codes. and transfer of data between the two. Continued new from last year is a Our raffle was for 5 Licenses, and the If you join the more than 20 million Click-and-Fix Auditor, enhanced help winners need to notify Ben to receive folks who use tax prep software each features, and lifestyle videos from the program keys. The lights came on just year to prepare their return, the first experts at Kiplinger. The program as we concluded our meeting! All’s well step in the process takes place before continues to offer two excellent that ends well. See you on April Fools you even turn your computer on. You services, the Electronic Refund day, no kidding. need to get all your paper work Advance (ERA) program which P.S. Don’t forget to set your clocks together and organized, 1099’s, W- electronic filers can use to receive an forward one hour Sunday or miss 2’s, everything and anything that you electronic refund advance in 48 hours the first part of the meeting. need to declare or deduct. Then, of up to $5,000, and a Refund Reward having easily installed TaxCut, the rest program which offers you the option of is almost effortless. TaxCut will take receiving your refund on pre-paid Bugs you through a logical series of steps by spending cards from Master Card continued from page 3 asking you simple questions. Abundant which provide for significant discounts and easy to understand help is from participating dealers. Although the situation may sound provided at every step along the way. hopeless, it is not. You can still use the When they are all answered, it will In every step along the way, TaxCut software of your choice, and you can audit and search for errors and provides a variety of reliable, up-to- still open e-mail attachments. Here are inconsistencies, then print out a date, context-sensitive help and advice. several basic rules that can help you completed accurate return that looks It offers the gospel straight from the protect yourself from viruses. exactly like it came from the office of a federal instructions, or you can use its professional tax preparer. In fact, the more easily comprehended nstructions Use antivirus software. I generally same type of software is exactly what from the tax experts at Kiplinger. The dislike installing utilities on my professionals use to produce your deluxe version also provides over 40 computer because they conflict with return, only in this case you have saved specialized IRS publications for some other programs and the operating their fee. It is a very practical example in-depth reference in various areas. system itself, and they make trouble- of what computers were meant to do! When your return is completed, TaxCut shooting much more difficult. Antivirus TaxCut has earned top rating from will scrupulously check each and every programs are among the worst Money Magazine, PC Magazine, PC item for any discrepancy that will offenders, but just the same, most World, MacWorld, the Wall Street attract the suspicious audit eye of the people should install one and keep that Journal and more. A number of user IRS. The Click and Fix auditor provides program updated. Doing so will protect friendly enhancements have been a split screen view of both the flagged you from the vast majority of viruses. added this year to make the product discrepancy and the exact area on Skip this step at your peril. (Look for a even better. They include: your return where you can make feature on viruses and antivirus corrections. Additionally, a FAQ programs in December 2000’s PC 1. MY TAXES - A new interview function provides answers to what World. ) feature which provides a customized perplex most people in any particular personal pathway through the area you are homed in on. TaxCut Update your software. In the last program based on user input. The provides complete electronic filing couple of years, software makers have program then organizes and simplifies capability. Using it will provide a become increasingly responsive to your tax forms and additionally points refund in 7-10 days, vs. 6-8 weeks if reports of security flaws in their out potential money-saving credits. you mail in your return. Also provided

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 april 2001 HARDCOPY page 5 tax cut videos may be accessed at any time or state program is normally $19.95, are offered during appropriate and the electronically filing, $12.95. continued from page 5 sections of the return. A Quick Tour That they are included free with the video will take you through the $19.95 TaxCut Deluxe is the 8th is a summary of advice and necessary steps in preparing your wonder of the world! suggestions you can use for both this return. www.taxcut.com. and next year’s return to save taxes. This includes a Awhat if@ table where You can select from any of several you can make hypothetical changes to different methods offered in the see what effect they may have on your preparation of your return: Bugs tax liability. continuted from page 3 * Interview Method- Answer the In case you are really impatient, specific questions all along the way. software. The whole issue has moved TaxCut’s Tax Summary Meter provides out of the realm of obscure discus- a running summary of your bottom line * Fast Lane Method- Tailor the inter- sions buried in Usenet newsgroups at every step along the way. Why view to include only those areas which and onto the pages of the New York worry later when you can worry right you know are applicable to you. Times, the Wall Street Journal, and of now? And in case you are concerned course, PC World’s Bugs and Fixes about your tax info not being up to the * Fast Forms Method- Answer a few column. These days, software vendors very minute, not to worry! TaxCut’s questions and TaxCut will present often post security fixes to their Web Auto-Update feature provides the very only those forms that apply to you. sites before a real-world threat has latest breaking tax news, IRS forms Then go directly to and fill in each even materialized. and program updates and auto- form. matically downloads them for you. A To update Netscape Navigator, select Fast Forms feature based on a short * All Forms Method- If you are experi- Help, Software Updates. To update and simple interview will create a enced and know exactly what forms Internet Explorer or , customized list of all the necessary you will need, you can select and go to 2000, or the new Millennium Edition forms to complete your return. each. (Me), choose Start, Windows Update, Experienced preparers can use this to or cruise directly to go directly to the forms, rather than TaxCut’s Navigator, Interview and windowsupdate.microsoft.com. This through the lengthier interview Forms Buttons are always available in Microsoft site will determine what process. the bottom right hand corner of each software versions you are currently screen. You can use these to skip or running and will assist you in download- TaxCut can also accurately import data return to any area of the interview. A ing and installing required updates. into your return from a variety of Rapid Find search button will bring you sources which include your last year’s information on the topic of your choice. Understand and use security settings. TaxCut or TurboTax return, MS Money, Most applications that host macro Quicken, or Managing Your Money. If A test of the product using figures code or scripting languages have you are using or thinking about a Roth gleaned from my last return proceeded security settings that let you control IRA, TaxCut includes a specific Roth flawlessly. TaxCut has our highest and when and how the scripts run. Know IRA Assistant that will advise you on most enthusiastic recommendation. what those settings are and make using or switching. The program keeps The only word of caution involves some sure they meet your security needs. In you accurately advised of your potential taxpayers, and not the software. Some Internet Explorer, choose Tools, areas of deduction. It will determine people have tax pictures and problems Internet Options, click the Security tab, whether you are eligible for the Child that require individualized and and then select the Internet zone. Click Tax Credit and automatically calculate specialized attention of an accountant. the Custom Level button to browse it for you. It will also see if you are However, for the vast majority of us, security options, or click the Default eligible for a Student Loan Interest TaxCut is more than up to the task. Level button to make sure security is deduction and make the necessary Considering all that it does so easily, set to Medium. To find Netscape calculations. accurately and efficiently, perhaps the Navigator’s security settings, choose most amazing thing about it is that you Edit, Preferences, and then select Splendid videos are abundant in TaxCut can purchase it most anywhere at a Advanced in the Category window. Deluxe. They cover of a variety of price of only $19.95. This incredibly Don’t forget your application’s macro topics and offer tax advice in areas low price, which is $10 less than that security settings. In Word, Excel, or such as first time investors, newly of last year, includes one free Outlook 2000, choose Tools, Macro, married, recently divorced, death in electronically filed return and one free Security, and make sure your setting is the family, new business, new or selling TaxCut state program after you mail in at least Medium. If your Word files a home, and newly retired. These your rebate form. The stand-alone CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 page 6 HARDCOPY april 2001 Bugs sharing systems as Napster and registered copy of CD-R-Diagnositcs. Continued from page 6 Gnutella must also be considered virus You may obtain one from the site listed hazards. above using e-commerce rules. The don’t rely much on macros, choose system is only 837260 and will be High. Product Information downloaded to you. If on the other Quick View Plus 6 hand you do not trust e-commerce Another important security setting in $49 for download and/or your credit card is not on their Windows Explorer relates to file ex- $59 for boxed version list, you may call NorthStar Solutions tensions that have been hidden on Jasc Software at 1-800-699-6395 and they will such file types as .vbs (Visual Basic 800/622-2793 www.jasc.com/ accept most any credit card and act script). Several Outlook e-mail attacks product as a middle man for you — same price. have tricked users into launching .vbs I went the NorthStar route and within attachments by giving them names (This article is brought to you by the an hour I had a system. such as filename.jpg.vbs. Since the .vbs Editorial Committee of the Association extension disappears, the file looks like of Personal Computer Users Groups There are a couple of items to watch a nonexecutable, nonscriptable .jpg (APCUG), an international organization to out for when you run the program image file that is safe to open. To which your user group belongs.) protect yourself from this trick, open 1. It takes a long time to scan the CD an Explorer window, choose Tools, and if you interrupt the scanning mode Folder Options or View, Folder Options you get to start over. When you start (depending on your version of Win- the scan, you may as well plan to do dows), select the View tab, remove the something else for at least a couple of check from “Hide file extensions for hours. There are a lot of sectors on a known file types,” and then click OK. My CDROM is CD. Don’t launch executable or scriptable Unreadable 2. Make sure you have room on your files. Executable or scriptable file types by John R. Clark, HD to move the files or the system include those with .exe, .com, .bat, .xls, WebMaster locks up and you get to start over. .doc, and .vbs extensions. Your best bet NWA-PCUG, January, 2001 is to scan all downloaded files for 3. In my case there were several files viruses before running them. If an Those four little words may give one marked as ‘Unnamed_nnnn’ where arriving e-mail contains a Word (.doc) heart murmurs, if not that at least a nnnn is a number. I found most of document, assume the document will bad case of depression. At least it did these files to be intact and with a bit of infect your system. Don’t open it until for me because I had some one time work was able to identify and rename your antivirus software has scanned it copies of files on that disk. What the files correctly. and declared it virus-free. Just be- should I do, for the CDROM appeared cause the document comes from your to be suitable only for a beer coaster. I would recommend this product for boss or your mother doesn’t mean it’s anyone who is working with CD- safe. If you want to view the contents As usual to solve this type of problem I ROMS. It appears now that there are of a file without triggering any macros jumped one the big wire and sent out a four things you are guarenteed in life: it may include, open it in Notepad or request for help from people who have Death, Taxes, Hard Drive Failures and Quick View. Regrettably, the Quick View more experience that I have. Immedi- CD Failures. utility is not included in ately the word came back — check out or in Windows Me, but you can buy a www.CDROM-Prod.com. third-party copy of Quick View Plus 6 from Jasc Software for $49 down- They have a little 30 day test product loaded or $59 boxed. called CD-R-Diagnostics and believe me, It works. It is set up to run under The major shareware sites scan W/95, W/98, W/98SE, W/ME, W/ programs for viruses before posting NT4.0 and W/2000. Supposed to them for download, and of course work on a CD, CD-R & CD-RW type legitimate software vendors ensure platters. Will also run on a regular CD that the applications they post to their drive. It will identify files it has found Web sites are free of viruses. Soft- that appear to be retriveable. Now you ware posted to pirate (so-called have to make a decision to determine “warez”) sites or newsgroups may be if it is worth trying to save the files. infected, however, and the pirated applications floating through such file- To extract the files you will need a april 2001 HARDCOPY page 7 Remarkable Hand- defined letters on a gray background - Source/Cost: I found you could hmm, not so good. Exotic fonts, hand- purchase the pen on the Internet for Held Scanner written text, arty text on a dramatic $189.00 from the vendor at www. by Judy Lindley background that muddles the contrast wizcomtech.com The product is made Fallbrook PC User’s Group forget it. The QuickLink user interface in Israel. Coastal Computer News is, unavoid-ably, rather clunky; the lit tle February, 2001 screen can only display one major Summary: What is really outstanding menu item or two minor ones at a about this little pen is that it is a line The quickLink Pen is a hand held time, and you only get four arrow by line scanner. The hand held pen scanner; which can hold 1000 pages buttons plus, “ENT” and “ESC” to work scanner is ideal for someone doing of text. This is measured by 12-point with. So getting to the mode you want genealogy research (my hobby) font text of 8 1/2 x 11 page. It can be frustrating. But the scan because every thing that is scanned scanned very easily. However, it took process itself is painless enough. If into the pen can later be transferred me a few tries time to under-stand all you’re grabbing a block of text, you use into a laptop or a desktop computer via the commands and to use the pen the QuickLink in its standard Note a serial port connection. This is an efficiently. It’s got left-handed and right- mode, where scanned text is added, ideal way for researchers who ex-tract handed settings, so it’ll work either line by line, to a single file in the random bits of information from library way, great for the left handed person. scanner. The pen has 4Mb of flash books and journals if a copy machine memory. If a scanned line doesn’t or your digital camera is not available. Documentation: It came with an come out properly you hit the ENT It has some limita-tions, you need good operation manual of 104 pages, a button to erase it and try again. The contrast, so a dark blue back ground QuickLink Pen Quickstart Guide, and a pen feels cumbersome at first, but with with black letters will not scan, old Quick reference card. very little practice it’s easy to scan newspaper print was a problem. If a text in with the QuickLink at about the scanned line doesn’t come out properly Important: You must install batteries rate of skilled typist. you just hit the ENT button to erase it in the pen and connect the cable be- and try again. It feels cumbersome at fore you install the software. Address Book - allows you to scan first, but with a very little practice it’s business cards and syn- easy to scan text. Oh yes, you also Installation: Insertion of chronize your records need to learn a few new computer the CD-ROM will automati- words: delete is now called flush and cally start up the setup Tables and Charts — when I checked the index on how to window. Then follow their maintains integrity of transfer the files to my computer, I in-structions. It allows you individual cells with direct could not find how it was listed. I looked to use one of four lan- input into a spreadsheet. I at link, down load, up load nothing guages, English, French, did not try this option. worked, and then I found it listed as PC German and Spanish. Con-trolled Communications. There are 3 default Internet Links - collects programs on the CD. I in- Internet ad-dresses and transfers stalled them all taking up 2688K of them directly to your browser or space. A complementary copy of bookmark. Ligature Ltd’s Omnifont OCR desk-top Tip brought to you by Michael Vincent software is included. It took two tries System Requirements: Windows 95/ www.emazing.com to get my computer and the pen to talk 98 and Windows NT CD-ROM Drive to each other. It was a simple fix; I (for Desktop Application) changed the Baud rate. 16 MB of RAM Create A Toolbar 8MB available hard disk space Product Support: They provide a If you want an instant tool bar for a North American E-mail support team What’s in the Box? specific folder that you already have on at [email protected]. QuickLink Pen your desktop, simply grab the folder General information can be obtained User Manual and drag it to the edge of the screen, Toll Free 888-777-0552 or FAX 978- Quick Reference Card either left, right, top or to the current 929-9228. Tutorial Video on CD tool bar menu along the bottom. An Quick Reference Card instant tool bar will appear showing all Product Performance: Scanning crisp PC Data Cable (RS 232, 9 pin) the contents in that specific folder. You text on a plain back-ground was no Carrying Case (plastic) with Opticard. can also do this from Explorer by problem. Sharp, con-trast texts on any 2 “AAA” batteries dragging the folder to the edge where pale backgrounds, in fact with fuzzy, ill- you want the new tool bar to appear. page 8 HARDCOPY april 2001 club information meeting times treasurer’s

HARD COPY is a monthly publication of GENERAL MEETINGS are held the 1st report SLO BYTES PC User’s Group located in Sunday of each month. Our meeting San Luis Obispo, California. Information location is the San Luis Obispo I.O.O.F. in this Newsletter is derived from both Hall on Dana Street. our own membership and other PC User Group Newsletters. The purpose of this The general meeting starts promply at publication is to inform our members of 2:30 p.m. meetings and provide information related to the use of IBM PC’s and compatible Special Interest Groups (SIGS) meet at march 11, 2001 computers. 1:00 p.m.–2:15 p.m. Membership: Dues are $25 per year. OPERATING FUND Full membership entitles you to our slobytes website Beginning Balance $2,135.11 monthly newsletter, full use of the public Income domain software library software draw- WWW.THEGRID.NET/SLOBYTES/ Membership Dues 200.00 ing at the end of the meetings. Refreshments 16.00 Article Submission: Deadline for sub- slobytes officers mission of articles is the 15th of each month. Articles should be provided in Expenses R. Miklas (Pres) [email protected] ASCII format without any type of format- Room Rent 75.00 G. Kuncir (V.P.) [email protected] ting from your wordprocessor including NL Xerox 26.75 B. Ward (Sec.) [email protected] tabs, indents, extra spaces, or highlight- M. Baxendale (Tres) [email protected] Refreshments 21.46 ing. We prefer articles on disk but will B. Ward, editor accept hardcopies if necessary. Postage 3.81 Disclaimer: Neither SLO BYTES PC User’s Group, its officers, editors, or con- New Balance $2,224.09 tributors to this newsletter assume li- for sale ability for damages arising out of this pub- EQUIPMENT FUND lication of any article, including but not Do YOU have some Beginning Balance $64.16 limited to the listing of programming computer-related item you Miscl Donation 12.50 code, batch files and other helpful hints. would have like listed in this New Balance $76.66 Reprinting of this Newsletter: Articles space? Contact Bob Ward, from this newsletter may be reprinted Editor at 756-2164. by other user groups if credit is given to both the author and newsletter from which it was taken. Reproduction of ar- ticles with a specific c Copyright notice is prohibited without prior permission from the original author. Advertising: Commercial advertisers, request ad packet from Bob Ward. Mem- bers may advertise personal computer equipment or software for free. Submit your ad to Bob Ward. Direct all correspondence and newslet- ter submissions to: BOB WARD, SECRETARY 2100 Andre Ave., Los Osos, CA. 93402 (805) 756-2164

april 2001 HARDCOPY page 9

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