Computer Info – September 12, 2001

This Week’s Meeting

        Let’s finish looking at IrfanView and then install Netscape 6.1 and discover what new features they might have added.

IrfanView

        This is an freeware program and you can download it from
                               http://www.irfanview.com
Open (FILE-OPEN)
        IrfanView has the ability to open a large range of graphic files (pictures and video) – including AVI, CPT (Corel PhotoPaint), FPX (Flash Pix), MP3 (audio file), MOV (Quicktime video), PSD (PhotoShop),. PSP (Paint Shop Pro), SFW (Seattle FilmWorks), and many, many more.
        IrfanView has an uncanny ability to recognize when a file has the wrong extension and will ask you if you want to rename it.
Thumbnails (FILE-THUMBNAILS)
        Choosing THUMBNAILS opens up a new window. Here you can view a small image of all of the pictures in a folder. If you double-click on a thumbnail, it will open it up in the IrfanView main window.
Slideshow (FILE-SLIDESHOW)
        Locate the pictures that you would like for your slideshow in the top right box. Highlight them and choose ADD. To start your slideshow, click on the START button in the left hand frame.
Batch conversion/Rename
        This is an easy way for people to resize numerous pictures at one time – for sending via email. Locate the pictures that you want (in the top right window) – highlight them and click on the ADD button in the left window. Determine what output format you want (JPG for email attachments) and what OUTPUT DIRECTORY that you want. Then click on ADVANCED OPTIONS – type in 640 for the new width and 480 for the new height under SET NEW SIZE. Be sure to put a CHECKMARK for PRESERVE ASPECT RATIO. Click OK. Now press the START button (in the left frame).
MRUD’s (FILE-MRUD’S)
        MRUD – means MOST RECENTLY USED DIRECTORY. When you click on one of the listing in here – it will open up the OPEN window for that folder. This saves you from having to locate the folder again.

Compress Mail Folders in Netscape

        We are running Netscape 4.72 and have discovered that the size of our mail folders (files) was getting quite large and couldn’t understand why since we are always emptying our trash folder and thought that this was also compressing the rest of our mail folders. (Emptying your trash folder is found under FILE in the top menu) Every once in awhile, we would Compact our folders (Compact folders is found under FILE in the top menu). But while looking at the size of our mail folders in Windows Explorer – we noticed that they were quite large and started to look for some method of making them smaller. This is what we found.
        While in Netscape – on the top menu, choose COMMUNICATOR – TOOLS – MESSAGE CENTER. This will open a window that shows all of your mail folders and the number of messages in each one. To compact or compress a folder, right click on it and choose COMPRESS FOLDER. Doing this does work.
        To view one of your mail folders, open WORDPAD. From the top menu, choose OPEN. Next, be sure to be viewing ALL FILES for the File Type. Next, change to your C:\ drive – then open the PROGRAM FILES folder – then open the NETSCAPE folder – then open the USERS folder – then open the next folder (it will probably be called User1 or your user-id) – then open the MAIL folder. In this folder, you will see files that represent your folders in your email – such as Inbox, Sent, Trash, etc. There will be two files for each one. You do not want the one with an extension of SNM – open the other one. Remember while you are looking at this file, you do not wish to make any changes to it – this is for viewing only.

Stop the Spread of Viruses

        I received information on this possible way to stop the spread of viruses from a couple of people. I don’t know if it works, but it is a simple procedure and definitely won’t hurt anything.
        "One of the reasons that viruses have become such a nuisance is that they use the "contacts" in your address book in order to propagate across the Net. It was suggested that you add a fake email address to your contact list - this way if you do happen to become infected, you won't pass the virus along to every- one else on your mailing list. What you'll need to do is to insert a fake contact that will be sorted to the top of your contact list – try something like !000@anywhere.com . The "!" causes the name to be sorted to the top of the list. Because !000@).anywhere.com isn't a valid email address, the program throws an error and halts before the virus can send itself to anyone else on your list. Plus, you'll know there is a virus active in your system because your computer will be trying to send and email without your authorization.
        This little trick may be the best way I know of to help stop the spread of viruses. But remember. ..it won't keep you from getting a virus, just from infecting others."

Internet Connection Broken

        If your computer is dropping your Internet connection after checking your email and you are using Outlook Express – click on TOOLS – OPTIONS - CONNECTIONS. Check to see if the "HANG UP AFTER SENDING AND RECEIVING" option is checked. If so, uncheck it. This option will terminate your Internet connection as soon as you send or receive email.

Search for Error Messages

        When you receive a fatal exception error message that states something like "A fatal exception OE has occurred at 015F:BFF8CC04. The current application will be terminated." – try searching for the error location on the internet at
                       http://www.google.com
In the search field, type 015F:BFF8CC04 and you might discover something about your problem.