APRIL 23, 2008 -- Notes from the advanced class today, Phil Golding of Oregonfast.net again teaching: Demonstrated how to repair glitches in a computer. After putting in Windows XP disk, in Run put in SFC /scannow (Note space after the letter C); then run; this will return Windows to defaults. The Windows XP disk must be in the machine when rebooting. -- Phil went into Setup, then showed how to repair the XP operating system. -- To speed up a computer's operation, put MSCONFIG in Run then unselect programs you don’t want to run at startup. -- Browser add-ons can be managed in Internet Explorer 7, by going to Manage Add-ons, which is under the Tools menu.
To get rid of Windows Messenger, search in Google then follow directions; it's not always easy to get rid of the program. -- News groups are available at: http://freenews.maxbaud.net . Streaming videos sources can be seen at http://www.surfthechannel.com and www.alluc.org. -- Phil will answer questions via email: phil@oregonfast.net
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APRIL 16, 2008 -- Phil Golding from Oregonfast.net was on hand again today in the advanced class and led computer club members on a labyrinthine journey that ultimately arrived at the creation of a slide show that could be played on a television screen. -- He demonstrated how to create such a slide show using DVDPixplay. Music can be added, even narration if one has a microphone. -- Phil also took a brief look at Photo Story, a free program from Microsoft and DVD Shrink (http://www.dvdshrink.org/), which can be used to copy DVDs.
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APRIL 9, 2008 -- Notes from the advanced computer class today. Oregonfast.net's Phil Golding again answered questions. -- He prefers Spybot to AdAware--he also uses Defender-- to catch spyware but cautioned that these programs must be updated regularly with the latest definitions. -- You can protect five images for free with a program that you can find at: www.protectmyimage.com/ -- Got someone who keeps sending you email that you don't want to read? You can block the sender in Outlook Express.
Problems with Oregonfast.net? Just send email to admin@oregonfast.net. -- Thinking of getting a laptop computer and wondering if it will pick up signal across a room or in other rooms? Chances are you'll need a router ($79.99 at Oregonfast.net), said Phil. -- Heard someting that you think might be true--but then again, may not be? Check out urban legends at: www.snopes.com.
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APRIL 2, 2008 -- Phil Golding of Oregonfast.net answered questions from the computer club's advanced class today. Some of the topics covered were digitally watermarking photographs and opening multiple Gmail accounts. -- After opening a new email account for the computer club he went to Settings and showed how the account could be configured. He also discussed the Label feature in Gmail and how to use Autofill in the Google toolbar.
Phil showed the class how to use iGoogle to personalize the Google search page. He will be teaching the advanced class for the next three or four more Wednesdays.
MARCH 26, 2008. -- Computer Club meeting notes.
- Club president Collette Bailey went over the basics of using Picasa to catalog and edit photographs.
- She reminded members at the monthly Greentrees Computer Club meeting that Picasa is a free download from Google.
- The program, said Collette, has several features that those who use it can explore at their leisure. Some of the often-used editing features, she pointed out, were sharpening, straightening, and saturation.
- Picasa can also be used to make a CD.
- "You can even put music into a slide show," she said, pointing out the file must be an MP3 in order to work.
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