Dave Bytes

Dave "Bytes"

Please remember to use your thinker, before you tinker!
March 14, 2004

Burn Your Own CDs

If you are running Windows XP, you might not need to buy expensive CD-recording software. Windows XP comes with built in CD burning software that will meet your basic needs.

When you insert a blank CDR disk in your CDRW drive, Windows XP will ask you if you want to open a writable CD folder. Just click "OK".
This folder is a place for you to store files that you want to put on a CD. You can copy files to this folder by dragging and dropping in Windows Explorer.

When you are ready to write these files on your CD, look on the left side of the CD folder window and click on "Write these files to CD".

site where you can listen to the most recent broadcast and our Commercial too !!!

Why not give the gift that keeps on giving all year round? I'm referring to a subscription to either Smart Computing or CPU Magazines. If you are a current subscriber and order a gift subscription, the folks at Smart Computing will add 2 additional issues to your current subscription at no charge. And remember that even gift subscriptions will be credited to the SPCUG account so that we can accumulate free subscriptions to give away to our membership.

To order call 1-800-733-3809 and be sure to give the following Code Numbers so that SPCUG gets proper credit.
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If you do not have Acrobat Reader installed on your computer you can get it by clicking this button

Dear Dave,
Is there a difference between loading and downloading games?

Diane

Yes, there is a difference between loading and downloading.
When you download a game (or any other files) you are copying the file from a remote computer somewhere on the internet to your computer. Once you have downloaded the game or other program, it is not installed on your computer. That needs to be done in a separate step.

Once you have downloaded your game, you need to run the file you downloaded. Usually this is done by double clicking on the file. This will install the game on your computer, put a shortcut in your start menu and hopefully install a program that will un-install the game if you wish to.

Now, when you click on the shortcut to start the game, the first thing that will happen, is that the files needed to run the game will be loaded from your hard drive into RAM memory. Sometimes, the game will display a message that says "Loading" during this process.

I hope this clears things up for you.

I receive some emails with attachments that I cannot open; it states that "Outlook Express has removed access to this unsafe file"-- What is causing this? How can I change this?

My guess is that you recently downloaded what Microsoft categorized as a "Critical Update". It seems that "Uncle Bill", in his overzealous creativity decided Outlook Express should protect users from nasty attachments by changing a setting which would not permit them to be opened or saved.
To resolve this issue open Outlook Express ...
Click Tools + Options
Click the "Security" tab
Uncheck the box that reads "Do not allow attachments to be opened or saved that could potentially be a virus".
That should do it !!!!

I enjoy your web site very much and it is very helpful. I have a question. When I was using Windows ME, when I needed to enter my name and address, etc. all I had to do was to type the first letter. That was very convenient, but now I am running Windows XP and I am wondering how to do that. I have to type the whole name and address, etc. Can you help?
Thank you,
Mary

Mary,
When you were using Windows ME, you had a feature called "Auto Complete" turned on. It apparently is not turned on in your XP computer. Here is how you can turn it back on:

1. Open Internet Explorer, click on "Tools" in the menu bar and then click on "Options".

2. In the Internet Options window, click on the "Content" tab and on the content page, click on the button that says "AutoComplete..."

3. In the AutoComplete Settings window, click to put a check mark in front of the items you want to use AutoComplete for. You probably want to use it for forms, and click "OK" twice to save your settings.

Got something "computer related" to sell? Looking for that rare peripheral? If it's computer related you can submit a short classified ad for exposure in Dave "Bytes". Be sure to include your name and e-mail address in the ad. You can also include a picture of the item. Now some would suggest that there be a charge for this feature but alas, since my bookkeeping skills leave much to be desired I've determined that this will be a free service to all SPCUG members in good standing. "Bytes" is currently sent to almost 1000 homes in the area. Ad requests will be included as soon as possible. I assume absolutely no responsibility as to the accuracy or completeness of supplied info. All transactions are between consulting adults which leaves me entirely off the hook. Please let me know by clicking HERE when your merchandise is sold so that I can remove it from the listing. I will try to run each ad for a month.

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