Computer Info – November 29, 2000

This Week’s Program

        This week features miscellaneous items. We will look at downloading the latest version of IrFanView. Also we will locate and install from our Windows 98 CD, the small program mentioned in this handout – ClipTray. We will also visit the web page of a radio station in Tennessee.

Logon Screen for Networks

        If when you start up your computer, a Windows network logon screen appears, even though your computer is not on a local network -- how do you get rid of that screen?
        Select START, SETTINGS and CONTROL PANEL. Double-click on NETWORK. When the dialog box opens look at where it says Primary Network Login. Reset that to read Windows Logon instead of Client For Microsoft Networks. That should do it.

Multiple Items in Clipboard

        A member told us about a small program called ClipTray that is free and can be downloaded from this web address

                   http://www.bsoft.ic24.net/

        He has been using it for several months and finds it very useful. It allows you to copy many items to the program which then stores them for future use on the clipboard.
        This small program is also available on your Windows 98 CD (and maybe on Windows ME – I haven’t looked yet) as part of the Windows Resource Kit.

E-Mail Folders

        Saving too many messages in your INBOX? Maybe you should create additional folders to store the messages that you do not want to delete.

Netscape
        In Netscape mail, under the FILE menu, choose NEW FOLDER. This will allow you to give a special name to the folder – be sure that you watch what folder is listed in the box entitled CREATE AS SUBFOLDER OF. You will probably want it to be a subfolder of LOCAL MAIL. Once you have created that folder, you can create other folders as subfolders of the first folder that you created. For example, I created one called GENEALOGY and then created folders underneath it for the various branches of the family that I am receiving email messages about.
        To move the message from your INBOX to your newly created folders, just right-click on the message and choose MOVE MESSAGE. Off from this menu choice will be a listing of all of your folders – click on the one where you want the message to be moved to.

Outlook Express
        In Outlook Express, under the FILE menu, choose FOLDER – then NEW. This will allow you to give a special name to the folder – and then click on the folder that you want your new folder to be under. You will probably want it to be a subfolder of LOCAL FOLDERS. Once you have created that folder, you can create other folders as subfolders of the first folder that you created.
        To move the message from your INBOX to your newly created folders, just right-click on the message listing and choose MOVE TO FOLDER. This will open up a list of all of your folders. Click on the one where you want the message to be moved to.

New Modem --- v.92

        The v.92 protocol will give us faster connections, better uploading, and, best of all, data and voice support.
        The v.92 spec tries to emulate broadband communications in many ways. It provides a quicker connection to the ISP, making the Internet connection seem "always on." Current modems spend several seconds buzzing and beeping to their host modem, while the new spec promises to make modems buzz and beep a lot less, and connect a lot faster.
        Also, upload rates are improved. Using a special technology called Pulse Code Modulation (PCM), large file transfers and email attachments coming from the user to the ISP upload faster. While the current standard, V.90, offers a maximum upstream data rate of 33.6K bit/sec, V.92 will offer a maximum specified rate of 48K bit/sec.
        The last major feature of the new specification deals with how modems handle voice calls while someone is online. Current standards dictate that either the phone doesn't ring, the modem disconnects, or a computer program records a voice message. However, with v.92, when an incoming call arrives, the modem suspends itself while someone answers the phone. Once the phone call is over, the modem reactivates. Although this still doesn't allow browsing and talking at the same time, it does makes things less annoying; for instance, if you were downloading a file and the phone rings, today's modem would probably disconnect. But with v.92 enabled modems, the upload would simply suspend and resume as the call ends.
        Announced at the end of July, v.92 is picking up rapid support from makers such as Lucent Technologies, Motorola, 3Com, Cisco, and ESS Technologies. And as broadband continues to stumble and not make its way to the majority of households, v.92 may be the technology we need to keep us from going crazy waiting for cable.

Burning a CD

        Most of the time, recording data to CD-R or CD-RW media is a painless process. The one problem encountered most frequently by users is the dreaded buffer underrrun error. This happens when the stream of data going from the source, such as your computer’s hard drive or CD-ROM drive, to the CD-R or CD-RW media is interrupted, and the CD-RW drive’s buffer does not have enough information stored to keep the recording process going. This hiccup in data throws off the recording process and almost always results in a disc that is unusable except as a coaster.
        The most desirable option is to buy a CD-RW drive that uses BURN-Proof (Buffer Under RuN-Proof) technology. This technology from Sanyo prevents buffer underrruns by noting when the amount of data in the buffer is running low, which means a data interruption is likely to occur. The drive stops writing data, noting the last good block of data it recorded to the media. The drive waits for its buffer to refill, then picks up the recording process where it left off. If you have a drive with BURN-Proof technology, you should not ever have to worry about buffer underruns again.
        If you don’t have this technology – here are some things that you can do.
                (1) use higher quality media. Cheaper media is much more likely to have problems
                        recording data than media that costs just a little more.
                (2) If you have a faster CD-RW drive (one that records at 8X or above) and you find
                        that you often have buffer underrrun problems, slow down your recording speed.
                        Record at 4X rather than 8X will probably save more time and CD’s.
                (3) Do not multi-task while recording.
                (4) Check your CD-RW manufacturer’s web site frequently for updated drivers for
your drive.