Smart Computing Volume 18 Issue 1

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by  Sandhills Publishing

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News & Notes
6 Tech News & Notes
Volume 18 . January 2007 . Issue 1 11 News From The Help Desk:
Our Most Common Tech Calls
THISMONTH’SCOVERSTORY:
We tell you the most common
problems we’re hearing about
each month and provide
straightforward solutions for
each one.
Reviews
17 Tech Diaries
Our Smart Computingcolum-
nists spent some quality time
with computer and computer-
related hardware and software
to get beyond the benchmark
scores, statistics, and marketing
hype. Find out what they liked
and disliked about their choices.
22 Productivity Counts
Historically, Microsoft and
Corel have been the big dogs in
the productivity software
market. In our office suites
48 Help, My PC Won’t Start! roundup, we compare them to
low-dollar alternatives.
Get Your System
Going Again
25 Software Reviews
Multimedia: Roxio
50 No Power At All
Easy Media Creator 9 25
What To Do When
Consumer: Chat Checker
Your System Refuses
Family Edition 26
To Start
Utilities: PCmover 26
53 Errors, Errors
27 Staff Picks
Everywhere
Our writers and editors select
Resolve Error Messages
their favorite hardware. It’s your
That Prevent Windows one-stop shop for the latest and
From Loading greatest.
57 Beep, Blip, Blip, Beep
What To Do When Your PC Will Only Beep At You
60 Stumbling Out Of The Gate
Windows Starts, But Locks Up Or Displays Error Messages
62 Stop The Starting
Dell DJ717 USB
Troubleshoot A Computer That Continually Restarts
Enhanced Multimedia Keyboard
65 Troubleshoot A Running PC With A Blank Monitor
Copyright 2007 by Sandhills Publishing Company. Smart Computing is a
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TABLE OF CONTENTS JANUARY 2007
Windows Tips & Tricks
Tech Support
29 Windows XP:
Access Your System With Remote Desktop 79 What To Do When . . .
Let your fingers do the walking. Your ISP Or Email Application
Blocks A Sender
31 Windows: How To Use Disk Cleanup Sometimes, email programs or ISPs
block a known, legitimate sender.
Cut the clutter on your computer’s hard drive
using Windows’ built-in utility. Learn how to keep the spam out
and your friends in.
General Computing
81 Examining Errors
83 Fast Fixes
33 What’s New Is Old Again
What happens when technology meets 84 Q&A
retro styling? We share some inter-
You have questions. We have answers.
esting ways to bring out your inner
The Smart Computing staff responds to
retro-tech.
your queries.
36 Readers’ Tips
88 FAQs
Our readers share some great ways to
Answers to users’ most common
solve problems and accomplish lots of
questions about printing costs.
PC-related tasks.
89 Action Editor
37 PC Project: Set Up A File Server
Can’t seem to get a response from a
Don’t recycle that old PC just yet—put it
vendor or manufacturer? If you need
to good use. Follow our step-by-step in-
help, we’re here for you.
structions for how to set up a file server.
90 Tales From The Trenches:
40 Video Formats: Take One
Avoid Phishing Nets
Don’t let the proliferation of Windows video
Real-world tech support advice from
formats confuse you. We’ll help you keep it all
PC guru Gregory Anderson. This
straight.
month Greg tells a tale of how not to
get scammed.
42 Learning Linux: Give Linux A Permanent Home
A new series in which we unravel the mysteries of Linux,
step-by-step. Here’s step #3. Quick Studies
Plugged In 6699 IInnttuuiitt QQuuiicckkeenn 22000055 PPrreemmiieerr
Move A Data File Between
43 Web Tips Two Computers
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44 Find It Online Use The History Palette
7711 MMiiccrroossoofftt EExxcceell 22000022
46 Mr. Modem’s Desktop: Troubleshooting Forms
Mr. M’s Favorite Web 7722 CCoorreell WWoorrddPPeerrffeecctt 1111
Sites Of 2006 Do Overs In WordPerfect
In which Mr. Modem, author 7733 MMiiccrroossoofftt PPoowweerrPPooiinntt 22000022
of several books—none of
Downloads From Microsoft
which has won the Pulitzer
7744 QQuuiicckk TTiippss
Prize—and co-host of the
weekly “PC Chat” radio
show, points out some of
Tidbits
his favorite sites.
76 Is The Hard Drive Dead?
Large capacity flash drives have hit the
92 Editorial License
market, leaving many wondering if
Our editor gives his somewhat skewed perspective on a variety of technology- old-fashioned hard drives are a thing
related issues. This month, he’s starving for blogs. of the past.
January Web-Only Articles
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Hardware
For all the latest product reviews, visit the Hardware Reviews area at
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Build A Database
TABLE OF CONTENTS JANUARY 2007
Editor’s Note
As one who enjoys working on and driving old Thus, the digital equivalent of that sinking
cars, I’m quite familiar with the sickening feeling feeling one gets when turning the ignition key to
one gets when one climbs into the driver’s seat, no effect. It’s happened to all of us: Press the
turns the key, and . . . nothing happens. Oh, per- button to boot your computer and nothing
haps there’s a feeble “click” from the starter so- happens—or nothing good, anyway. Perhaps the
lenoid or a slow grinding noise from the engine, system gets no power at all and just sits there—a
but basically you’re pretty sure that this old car $1,200 doorstop. Or perhaps it attempts to start,
EEddiittoorriiaall SSttaaffff::
isn’t going anywhere until you get out some hard drive whirring, lights blinking, but to no
Ronald D. Kobler / Rod Scher /
tools and start getting your hands dirty. avail. Maybe the PC appears to boot, but then
continuously reboots:Like Sisyphus forever Sally Curran / Linne Ourada /
Newer cars are different. These days, we can rolling the rock up the hill, the poor machine Corey Russman / Christopher
usually just climb in, turn the key, and roar off labors, fails, and then begins again. Trumble / Calvin Clinchard / Katie
down the street. Rarely do modern cars give us Sommer / Katie Dolan / Raejean
trouble. Why should they? After all, we’re The story of Sisyphus is a myth, of course; it’s Brooks / Michael Sweet / Nate
talking about mature technologies—we’ve unlikely that anyone was ever punished by Hoppe / Trista Kunce / Sheila Allen
been building and perfecting automobiles for being forced to roll a rock uphill forever. But
/ Joy Martin / Vince Cogley /
many, many years. Automobile breakdowns still there’s nothing mythical—or pleasant—about
Ashley Finter / Tara Simmons /
occur, but much less often than they did 30 or a computer failing to start. It happens all the
Leah Houchin / Marty Sems /
40 years ago because the technology is be- time and it is truly aggravating. Luckily, we’re
Blaine Flamig / Kylee Dickey / Josh
coming more foolproof all the time. here for you. This issue is all about the various
Gulick / Andrew Leibman /
ways in which a computer might fail to start
Not so with computers, of course. Here we’re and, much more importantly, what to do when Jennifer Johnson / Nathan Lake
dealing not only with an immature technology, it happens to you. / Holly Zach / Barbara Ball
but with a collectionof immature technologies, / Patrick Kean
most of them constantly changing and all of
them cobbled together in a Rube Goldberg
WWeebb SSttaaffff::
scheme almost guaranteed to cause problems. RODSCHER, PUBLICATIONEDITOR
Dorene Krausnick / Laura Curry /
Kristen Miller / Jessie Danekas
Now Available On Newsstands . . .
SSuubbssccrriippttiioonn RReenneewwaallss::
Computer Power User*December Connie Beatty / Charmaine
Most people think of them as hulking cabinets packed with enterprise- Vondra / Miden Ebert / Kathy
grade components, but servers come in all shapes and sizes. Get a line on DeCoito / Stephanie Contreras
the best configs for several server types in this issue.
AArrtt && DDeessiiggnn::
PC Today* Can You Ditch Your Notebook?
Lesa Call / Fred Schneider / Carrie
Handheld devices have come a long way since the early PalmPilot days. But
Benes / Ginger Falldorf / Sonja
when it comes to taking your files and programs on the road, can you rely
Warner / Aaron Weston / Aaron
solely on a smartphone instead of a notebook computer? This month’s PC
Todayhas the answers. D. Clark / Lori Garris / Jason Codr /
Andria Cogley / Erin Rodriguez /
First Glimpse*Digital Camera Buying Guide Lindsay Anker
Digital cameras are some of the greatest CE devices on today’s market.
They’re powerful, portable, and more affordable than ever. But with so SSaalleess && MMaarrkkeettiinngg::
many models on Best Buy’s shelves, how do you pick the perfect one for
Mark Peery / Grant Ossenkop /
you and your family? This month’s issue will tell you everything you need
Bob Chester / Marcy Kremer /
to know before you start snapping.
Kelly Richardson / Matt Bolling /
Reference Series* Reinstall Your Operating System Eric Cobb / Jen Clausen / Scot
Sometimes the best—or only—way to revive a slow or quirky PC is to rein- Banks / Travis Brock / Lindsay
stall its operating system, but there are different types of installations for Albers / Lana Matic / Jeff Ashelford
different sets of circumstances. In this issue we provide installation tips and / Brynn Burtwistle / Toni Hinn
techniques for various versions of Windows, Linux, and Apple’s OS. You’ll
also find important maintenance and troubleshooting information that
may help circumvent the need for reinstalling in the first place.
T E C H N O L O G Y N E W S & N OT E S
Compiled by Christian Perry
Illustrated by Lori Garris
DESKTOPS & LAPTOPS
IBM/Lenovo, Apple Top Computer
Reliability Study
When the majority of today’s market share and the percentage of share would indicate.” The repair
computer manufacturers calls placed to RESCUECOM re- company also recommends sticking
constantly tout their own ma- garding computers built by those with “the names you know,” be-
chines as the most reliable in the particular vendors. cause the reliability score for less
industry, it’s tough to get a handle Leading the pack was IBM/ popular vendors (those in the
on which computers actually are Lenovo, with a score of 243, “Others” category) was much lower
reliable. Systems often vary widely trailed closely by Apple, with a than the scores for some of the
in their hardware and software score of 201. From there, the other major brands.
configurations, so even similar scores dropped drastically, with Although the study gives an
models from the same manufac- HP/Compaq earning a score of 12, indication of reliability from a
turer can easily differ when it Dell scoring 4, Gateway scoring third-party repair perspective, it
comes to reliability. -12, and other vendors scoring a doesn’t take into consideration
Yet, trends begin to appear when combined -16. the number of users who rely on
you hear from the trenches of com- “Whether it’s due to hardware the vendors’ warranty services or
puter repair. In fact, a recent study quality or vendor customer sup- other vendor-specific repair pro-
by RESCUECOM (www.rescuecom port, clearly IBM/Lenovo and grams for issues with their com-
.com), a national computer repair Apple are well ahead of their ri- puters. For example, if Apple
and support company, revealed vals when it comes to reliability,” customers are primarily con-
striking differences among some of said David A. Milman, founder tacting Apple to handle their
the biggest players in the industry. and CEO of RESCUECOM, in computer problems, it’s likely
The first annual RESCUECOM a release. those customers wouldn’t also
Computer Reliability Report used In the report, RESCUECOM contact a third-party service such
information based on more than notes that despite the scores, the as RESCUECOM. Further, users
20,000 service calls, compared reliability of HP/Compaq, Dell, of computers with a heavy enter-
it against the market share of and Gateway are nonetheless solid, prise presence—such as those
computer vendors, and developed and calls to the RESCUECOM manufactured by IBM/Lenovo—
rankings based on that data that call center about HP/Compaq and could be more likely to rely on in-
calculated the percentage differ- Dell “were less likely to have house support than a third-party
ence between vendors’ overall U.S. been placed than their market repair service. ❙
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IBM/Lenovo 4.38% 1.8% 243
Apple 4.02% 2% 201
HP/Compaq 17.9% 15.8% 12
Dell 30.7% 29.4% 4
Gateway 5.8% 6.5% -12
Others 37.02% 44.4% -16
* Source: Gartner- Average of Q2 U.S. Computer Vendor Market Share data from 2003 to 2006.
** Source: RESCUECOM- Data based on more than 20,000 calls into 1-800-RESCUE7 in Q2 2006.
*** Percentage difference between U.S. market share and RESCUECOM repair share.
6 January2007 /www.smartcomputing.com
TECH NEWS
STORAGE
Will Your Data Last A Lifetime?
Although many of us once expected CDs 100 years. This innovation comes thanks to
to last a lifetime, the bitter truth the use of Te-O-Pd, a tellurium sub-
about the media surfaced only a few oxide palladium-doped phase-change
years after its emergence, when recording film, which allows for
complaints started pouring in high transmittance and ulti-
about the fragility of the discs. mately multiple layers.
Whether due to rough han- While this potential life span
dling, prolonged exposure to sounds impressive, the ques-
elements, or poor dye quality, tion remains whether Blu-ray
we now know that CDs pro- drives will actually exist long
vide no guarantee they’ll into the future. According to
keep your data safe even five the Blu-ray Disc Association
years from now. (www.blu-raydisc.com) itself,
But as we move toward the the format is expected to “stay
next generation of optical relevant” for 10 to 15 years,
media, we’re again hearing making a 100-year life span like-
promises that discs could last ly irrelevant. However, if Blu-ray
a lifetime. This time, it’s Blu-ray, Discs prove sturdy even over 10 or
with Panasonic (www.panasonic.com) 15 years, they would provide a much
recently announcing that it has devel- more reliable storage format than pre-
oped a four-layer Blu-ray Disc that can last vious optical formats. ❙
DISPLAYS
Consumers Not Likely To Gloss Over LCDs
Arelatively recent trend among note- According to Lenovo blogger David Hill,
book manufacturers is the inclusion glossy screens are “aimed at the con-
of glossy screens, which look fantastic sumer who seeks a degree of sharp-
in the right lighting conditions but ness in their display for viewing
can deliver annoying glare in not- movies, working with images, and
so-right conditions. Could the who is attracted to a sharp and
antiglare (or matte) screen be on shiny design experience.” On
its way out? Not if consumers the other hand, he explains, de-
have a say in the matter, ac- tractors note that glossy screens
cording to a recent online poll also have downsides, including
conducted by Lenovo (www light reflectivity and a propen-
.lenovo.com). sity for displaying fingerprints.
When asked whether they’d Although glossy screens do
prefer an antiglare or glossy exhibit more glare, particularly
screen, an overwhelming 86% of when overhead or side lighting is
respondents indicated they pre- present, proponents claim that the
ferred antiglare screens, while 8% pre- screens provide much higher contrast,
ferred glossy screens, and 5% were more accurate and vibrant colors, and
indifferent. better sharpness than antiglare screens. ❙
SmartComputing/January2007 7
TECH NEWS
PRINTERS & PERIPHERALS
New Keyboard Senses Your Presence
When it comes to wireless peripherals, mice keyboard. The company’s capacitive presence detec-
tend to receive the lion’s share of nifty tion senses when the user approaches the key-
new technologies. But the innovation board, senses when the user leaves, and
scale could soon tip in the keyboard’s adjusts standby and active settings
favor, beginning with Microsoft’s accordingly. Also included from
new Wireless Entertainment Desk- Synaptics is LightTouch, which
top 8000. delivers 17 illuminated buttons
Billed as the “first-ever recharge- that provide quick access to ap-
able mouse and backlit keyboard plications and function keys.
solution,” this Bluetooth combo Synaptics also contributed to the
features a charging hub that lets combo’s mouse with its Nav-
users connect both the mouse and Point technology, which lets
keyboard in one spot. And while users toggle between navigation
this mouse and keyboard feature a modes, including 2D cursor con-
bevy of features we’d expect in any trol and scroll mode.
respectable input combo, the key- “The Microsoft Wireless Enter-
board integrates some particularly inter- tainment Desktop keyboards exem-
esting tools. plify how the application of Synaptics’
Several technologies from Synaptics core capacitive technology can offer new and
(www.synaptics.com), a developer of interface compelling experiences in the digital home,” said
solutions for mobile computing, are included in the 8000 Synaptics General Manager Tom Tiernan. ❙
CPUs, CHIPS & CARDS
Samsung Shrinks DRAM Process To Boost Performance, Decrease Power
CPU manufacturers tend to garner most of the atten- The company’s 50nm DRAM process can work in tandem
tion in the chip world, but memory manufacturers are with Samsung’s proprietary RCAT (Recess Channel Array
diligently working to advance their own products. A par- Transistor) technology, a 3D technology that doubles the re-
ticularly notable innovation was recently announced by fresh term of DRAM and allows higher scalability, regardless
Samsung Electronics (www.samsung.com), which devel- of chip size. That technology could also prove valuable for
oped the first DDR2 DRAM (double-data-rate, second- circuitry when manufacturing processes extend below 50nm.
generation dynamic RAM) chips using a 50-nanometer Mass production for the chips, which could find homes
manufacturing process. in both graphics and mobile DRAM, is expected to begin
Samsung’s new 1GB DRAM chip features a 3D transistor in 2008. ❙
design and multilayered dielectric technology, which the
company says will greatly increase performance and data New DDR2 DRAM (double-data-rate, second-generation dynamic
storage capabilities. The 3D transistor helps to reduce RAM) chips from Samsung are the first to use a
power consumption and boost performance by optimizing 50-nanometer manufacturing
electron speed. process and
According to Samsung, as the memory circuit shrinks, it boast improved
becomes more difficult to “secure and sustain sufficient vol- performance and
umes of electrons.” However, the dielectric layer allows the reduced power
chip to sustain higher electron volumes, in turn allowing consumption.
for more storage capacity and better reliability.
8 January2007 /www.smartcomputing.com