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HelpNet News, April 2003

APRIL HELPNET DISCUSSION

Macromedia is now offering software that some might be interested in to 501(c)3’s via Tech Soup’s DiscounTech donation program.  Some of the items available are:

Contribute - $20 (list price $100)
Dreamweaver MX - $35 (list price $350)
Studio MX Plus for Windows - $90 (list price $900)

Jon warned us that Microsoft has already discontinued tech support for Windows 95, and will discontinue support for Windows 98 this June.  Therefore, Windows 98 users should make sure they have downloaded  and installed any Windows Critical Updates because it’s not clear how long they will be available after June.  Jon also recommended making an image of a good Windows installation, in case restoration is necessary later.  He also suggested looking toward a move to Windows 2000 or XP.

One user indicated that she’d installed Windows XP, but was being bombarded by instant messages.  This happens because Windows XP is set up to have Messenger open at startup by default.  You can change this default by doing the following: (courtesy of Jon Falk)

1. Click on Start > Run, then type "msconfig" (without the quotes) into the box, and click OK.  This will start the Microsoft Configuration Utility.
2. In the Configuration Utility, click on the Startup tab.  You'll see a list of programs that start when XP starts -- you'll probably be surprised at how many there are.  Find the line on the list that starts with "msmsgs," and uncheck the box at the left of the line.  Now Messenger will not automatically start up.(There may be more than one msmsgs line -- if so, uncheck them all.)
3. Close the Configuration Utility, and restart the computer.  When it restarts, a System Configuration Utility window will open, saying something like "You have used System Configuration Utility to make changes to the way Windows starts..."  Put a check mark in the box at the bottom of this Window ("Don't show this message...), and close the Configuration Utility window.  You should be all set - no more unwanted junk messages.  You can still run Windows Messenger whenever you want by opening it from the Start Menu.

There was some discussion of the social injustices practices in the manufacture of computers, similar to those present in the apparel and garment industry.

It seems that there are clumps of emails circulating that contain the Klez virus.  It appears to generate emails from one person that indicate they are from other people in that individual’s address book.  This is resulting in frequent virus alerts from Norton Antivirus for many users.  Also, for some users, Norton Antivirus is automatically running live updates very frequently.  It was suggested to try a manual live update to get a clearer idea of whether the updates successfully installed. 

There will be another HelpNet In-Person Get-Together at Bangor Public Library on Wednesday, May 28th from 5-7.   Refreshments will be served.  Jon will be demo-ing Organizer’s Database (ODB), a very powerful and easy to use program for tracking contact and contribution information, and for managing all kinds of communications.

-Phoenicia Kraemer 

HelpNet is a project of Pine Tree Folk School, and is co-sponsored by Bairnet (the Bangor Area Information Resources Network) and by the Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine.

Pine Tree Folk School
RR 2, Box 7162
Carmel, ME 04419
207/848-2433
E-mail: info@ptfolkschool.org