Computer Tips for Smooth Operation

There are many ideas that cross our minds to overcome disibilities and make life easier. These thoughts ultimately end up leading to new ways of barrier free living and bring solutions to difficult situations. Some of the ideas are very helpful; others are ones to ponder over, but lest our readers have not thought about these things, here is an opportunity opening a door and maybe more. "Computer Hints" bring ideas that may assist you and others that could save an individual a great deal of stress. Readers are encouraged to continue to contribute their discoveries by e-mail to Wheel Me On.
Julia Hollenbeck

Members Only Contains Information Regarding PC Maintenance

Google
 
Web www.wheelmeon.org


Note: Wheel Me On... does not warrant Google Sponsor ads will be in ADA compliance or support web page content.

APC
(American Power Conversion)

Technology You Can Count On & A Business That Stands Behind Their Product!

For the past decade this organization has been a strong believer in using battery back-up in the event of electric failure and has consistently used APC products as the resource for this crucial need. APC provides knowledge, support and stands behind their products. Power failure or electric surges can happen at any time. An electrical storm can wipe out your computer. APC provides a variety of products to serve your specific needs. Don't settle for second best - go with the best!

APC
American Power Conversion

Microsoft Does it Again

It is interesting to read Disability Rights News Views Discussion articles, submitted by members of this group on Yahoo, but one article submitted by a member regarding, "Push Disabled Software for All," was of particular interest to me. In recent months, Microsoft has not exactly been my best friend and has provided nothing short of an on-going nightmare from problems that stemmed from their Office 2003 version of Home Edition and did not cease even after up grading to Office 2003 Professional. Here are a few excerpts from "Tech Cos. Push Disabled Software for All," written by Brian Bergstein (AP Technology Writer), whom the member of Disability Rights News and Views Discussion recently posted:

BOSTON - Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating system offers several ways for people with disabilities to tweak the software. There's a screen magnifier for the vision impaired, for example, and ways for people with limited dexterity to use the keyboard instead of the mouse.

But a few years ago, when Microsoft researched how those technologies were being used, "most people didn't know about them," recalled Rob Sinclair, head of Microsoft's assistive technologies group.

That was particularly disappointing because the same research showed that accessibility-enhancing functions didn't just affect a small subset of users considered to be somehow "disabled." It turned out that 57 percent of computer users between 18 and 64 could benefit…

These realizations sparked an overhaul of how the world's largest software maker deals with disability access technologies, changes that will appear in the next generation of the company's flagship programs…

Microsoft says this principle will be apparent in Office 2007, the next incarnation of the company's widely used package of "productivity" programs such as Word and Excel.

Partly because of complaints from users with disabilities about how many steps it took to do common activities such as changing fonts or copying and pasting text, Office 2007 will scrap the traditional "menu" layout that has been in place since the 1980s.

I appreciate Mr. Bergstein's well-written article, but I still have a major problem and here's why: For years, I used Microsoft Office 2000 Professional, and never had any problems. Then, with the purchase of a new PC slightly over a year ago, my curiosity got the best of me, and I clicked on Microsoft Office 2003 Trial Offer. What a trial that turned out to be! Hundreds of addresses in the address book disappeared before my eyes as soon as I initiated Outlook, every folder turned up empty, and names were no longer in the folders, but rather placed helter-skelter throughout the list in no particular order. Hours were spent on the telephone with tech support in India and Canada, but the bottom line was that I would have to move the address names, one by one, (no drag and drop function), into the designated folders. Or I could pull them in through a Contact list, but that would be difficult at best, because the list in the address book would not provide anything but a name and e-mail address. (How would I determine which city, state, or country?) Hoping to correct the problem by installing Microsoft Office 2003 Professional did not help, and in fact, only proved to be an inferior program to Microsoft Office 2000 Professional. The only thing the PC ended up with was fancier colors and different icons.

Then, I went through all the voice lessons and followed all instructions for Accessibility. I was seeking Speech to Text and Text Reading, but not only did this Accessibility function not completely work, it would only read from Text Documents! Hours upon hours, spent again with Tech Support, both in India and Canada, and most every time, an E-mail would arrive barely stating the problem, did not resolve issues. The real hoot of all this was when receiving an E-mail from a Tech Supporter explaining two things: 1) Microsoft expects problems to be corrected with Microsoft Office 2007 Professional, and 2) You need third-party software to use Accessibility for Speech functions.

In other words, I am supposed to run out and purchase third-party software and then when Microsoft Office 2007 Professional comes on the market, I am supposed to buy that too? I have a real problem with this for numbers of reasons and mostly not for myself, but rather for persons with disabilities who are on limited incomes and cannot afford to purchase these items. Furthermore, how does anyone know the new software is really going to work?

Before clicking on the icon for a "free trial offer" of Microsoft Office 2003, I had all programs functioning properly. Now, I don't even have Paint or Adobe to create PDF files. What happened to those items that came with this brand new XP computer? Microsoft Tech Support closed all case files despite the fact all issues were not resolved and reported as "not resolved." The biggest nightmare is that once you "up-grade" to Microsoft Office 2003, you cannot revert to an earlier version, according to Tech Support. So, before you leap into anything, check it out real close and talk to a few people first.

Strike in 2006

Unless you have an entourage of computer experts available, it is our opinion not to network computers because if one computer gets hit with a virus, it can or will infect ALL computers! However there is another very good reason not to network computers. If one computer is hit with a virus, you can obtain removal information from a computer that is not networked from the Internet, providing you know the name of the virus.

After making it through five years with no strikes, the main computer was hit while doing research on the Internet. Yes! With Mirar - a very dangerous virus that suddenly wipes out all access to the Internet and ultimately must be removed from the registry. While we have just enough knowledge to be "dangerous" and strike back, we also have enough smarts to know when not to attempt removal or repair without an expert leading the way! Fortunately, Aaron Shackelford (PC Glitches) was available to assist and downtime was kept at a minimum with the main computer.

While his expertise was precise and accurate for safe removal of the virus, he also provided additional information for "Members Only" to keep all computers in a healthier environment. If you are struck by a vius that you cannot successfully remove, (or by attempting to remove it without assistance), before you end up losing a computer - shut it down and call an expert!

PC Glitches
Aaron Shackelford
Call 931-431-9091
Fort Campbell, KY & Clarksville, TN

Spyware or Anti-Spyware?

How certain are you that you have an Anti-Spyware software program and not a software program on your computer that is actually adding spyware? Please look before you leap because there are actually spyware programs being marketed that do not remove spyware and spyware is exactly what you do not want, unless you want to be "spied on" and actually have information on your computer available for view.

If confidentiality is important to you, be certain to use a trustworthy source if your computer is not worked on in your presense and requires repairs or upgrades in a computer shop.

Have a Warning that You Sent a Virus?

Actually, it could have been a virus like the Klez, or Magistr, or the Sircam, which has it's own built in e-mailer. Here is the scenario:

Someone you know that has your email address in their address book gets a virus and is infected. The trojan horse /worm/virus tags every one in the address book for a mass e-mailing. The attacking virus chooses a name at random out of the address book to make it difficult to pin point the actual location where the email originated. (It could have chosen your name or someone else you know.) Just be sure YOU do not have a virus! Check your computer by running your virus program and/or use one of the programs on the Internet such as http://housecall.antivirus.com. As long as you don't have a virus, you can delete the message and quit worrying. The warning came to you because someone on your mailing list has a worm or virus and unfortunately, the Trojan used your name and email address. Remember, update your virus program frequently to have the latest updates and keep your system virus free.
Beau Champion
Computer Guru

Worms?

Q: What Is Worse Than Physically Challenged?
A: A Computer With a Virus!

Q: What Should Everyone Have On Their Computer?
A: A Good Anti-Virus Program.

Q: When Is An Anti-Virus Program Worthless?
A: When It Is Not Up-dated Regularly!

2001 Strike!

Regarding the virus that infected a computer in our office (W32.Magistr.24876@mm), the fact is a person can have a virus and not even know it, and a computer can send infected email to everyone on a mail list, unbeknown to the sender. In the case of this particular virus, after approximately two months, the virus will completely destroy the contents on the hard disk, and do other numerous weird things to the machine, eventually making it totally inoperable. This virus will also replicate itself and infect other computers. Another virus (W32.Sircam.Worm@mm) recently stopped on the same machine can do similar things as the above mentioned virus, only quicker, again sending messages unbeknown by the sender to everyone on the email list.

These are only two viruses out of over 56,000 known viruses that can wreak havoc on your computer. Don't panic! There are usually relatively easy prescriptions if you detect them early or during onset of the disease and the real remedy is first to have a good up-dated anti-virus program. (Sort of like practicing preventive medicine.) The key to this preventive medicine is up-dating! As an example, at 4 AM the main computer infected was immediately taken off line and surgery to erase the virus began; The virus was detected immediately and removed. The anti-virus system was then up-dated to include an additional 19 recognized viruses off the Internet. On the same day, at approximately noon, a second infection was stopped by the anti-virus program and again measures were taken to immediately remove it. In running a system check on the Internet, it was discovered another five new viruses were reported and the anti-virus program was immediately updated to include the latest downloads.

It is important to note that these last few viruses developed in a period of only eight hours and consequently, up-dating your anti-virus software on a frequent basis or schedule is the best prevention. On most anti-virus programs, up-dating may be accomplished automatically, (at no additional charge), simply by setting the functions on the program options of the software. While viruses appear to be running rampant, "Don't be frightened!" (Favorite quote from David Killough, Board Director, ad hoc, Environmental Hazards & Safety) because there is usually a cure for these slimy worms with good disaster recovery.

In most cases, viruses infect computers by opening attachments, however, it is theoretically possible to embed a virus in a text document that is not an attachment. You just never know, so be careful and safe with a trustful anti-virus program that has the most recent updates, and keep pecking on those keys!
Bill Dillow, Board Director

More Information can be located in Members Only on this site.

Sign Our Guestbook
 View Our Guestbook