Viewer mail fills the box
Another episode of reader mail hits the books today. Let’s get right to it.
Q. I was surprised that my security software was automatically renewed on my credit card without my permission. I think this is something that you need to disclose in your column.
A. Yes, more and more security packages and anti-virus programs are using automatic renewal “for your convenience” in an effort to retain more of their customers. As the price of competitors reaches “free”, they are increasingly using devices like this to hook consumers into a renewal. So before you give your credit card to renew a product, read the fine print. Another option is to use one of those “one use” numbers you can get from your card’s Web site (that way the renewal will fail.) If you still plan to use one of these retail packages, I frankly would never renew and instead buy the latest version of the program every year. That way you’d get not only the latest virus definitions but the newer program.
Frankly I am happy with AVG Free Edition 7.5, which is free.
Q. How much RAM memory do I need for Windows Vista? I plan to install the upgrade in a couple of weeks.
A. It seems 1 gig is the sweet spot. I would have thought 2 gigs would be better but PC World did some testing and found it only increases performance another 10 percent on a typical computer.
Before you upgrade make sure you do a complete backup of your data files. Any major upgrade isn’t a slam dunk and you need to be cautious (but not scared) when you do it.
Q. I ordered a new computer and was surprised it did not come with Microsoft Office. (I guess I just assumed it would come with it.) When I went to the store to buy it I was surprised at the price. My PC did come with Microsoft Works… is it a direct replacement?
A. For basic word-processing and spreadsheet work you will find Works will do just fine. (The rumor is Microsoft plans to make Works free for download sometime soon.) If you need more features you can download OpenOffice from www.openoffice.org for free. This is an open source version of Office that many people find a suitable replacement. If you need the “real” Office and you or someone in your household is a student you can get the “Academic” version for significantly less money.
Q. My PC shuts down after about an hour. I have run all of the spyware and virus scans. Sometimes it beeps but that’s it.
A. Your PC is full of dust and the fans are probably stopped. Turn off your PC, unplug all of the wires and open the case. Get a can of compressed air. Touch your hand to the metal of the case to dispose of any static electricity and carefully blow out all of the accumulated junk. (A typical PC will take almost a can if it has been a while.)
WEEKLY WEB WONDER: Linked In, the business networking site, has launched an Answers feature where business people can ask each other professional questions. You can use Linked In for free (www.linkedin.com)
James Derk is owner of CyberDads, a computer repair firm, and computer columnist for Scripps Howard News Service. His e-mail is jim@cyberdads.com
Letters from readers
Letters are filling the box today; let’s go to the mailbag and see what’s on your mind.
Q. Your comment about $100 cables for the PS3 was off-base. If you shop around you can find the high-def cables for $20 or so, sometimes less if you go with an off-brand.
A. True, but my comment reflected my thought that Sony should have tossed in one of those cables and since it did not, I was forced to find one on Christmas Eve at one of the big-box rip-off stores. It is the same thing with USB cables for printers; if you buy one online or on Ebay they are a buck or two; if you have to buy one at local retail they are $20. Cables can be found cheaper but you often pay mightily for immediacy and convenience.
Q. I followed your advice on updating windows and did receive an update. Thanks. Surprisingly, my "automatically update" button was turned on. Must the computer be connected to the Internet at the time you request windows to update?
A. No but those with full-time connections will receive updates on the schedule you pick (the default is 3 AM once a week.). If you don’t have a full-time connection it takes Windows a bit to figure out you’re online and it won’t necessarily run the update sequence quickly. So periodic connectors should run Windows Update at least once a month. (The new patches come out from Microsoft on the second Tuesday of the month.).
Q. I followed your advice about going to www.filehippo.com but never can find the free cleanup that you write about. Everyone I try is only trying to get me to purchase their product. How do I do the free download that you write about?
A. There are some ads on that site that can be confusing but the applications I recommend (AVG, Spybot Search and Destroy, AdAware SE Personal and CCleaner) are indeed there and free. Click on the name of the application on the front page and the file download link is in green on the second page, upper right corner.
Q. Which software do you recommend for recovering deleted files?
A. It honestly depends on how badly they were deleted in terms of how long ago and by what process. One of the packages we use in our computer repair firm is from OnTrack (www.ontrack.com), which can recover files in some instances even after a complete reformat.
Q. I'd like a backup system for my personal PC (I have a Dell, Windows XP Home Edition). I'd prefer something that is very user friendly but I don't have an idea which software is good. Can you recommend one?
A. I use both Acronis True Image and Symantec’s Ghost. I find Acronis easier to use and more powerful but either of those would do well. Both will make a complete image of your hard drive so when it fails (not “if”) you can recover your entire system in a few hours. After the first full backup both will schedule “incremental” backups once a day or once per week to catch the changed files.
WEEKLY WEB WONDER: Like the excellent site “Snopes” (www.snopes.com) the Museum of Hoaxes seeks to limit the amount of forwarded “fact” on the Internet. See if before you forward at www.museumofhoaxes.com
James Derk is owner of CyberDads, a computer repair firm, and computer columnist for Scripps Howard News Service. His e-mail is jim@cyberdads.com
