Youngstown Computer Show notes for September 12, 2009

Segment 1

Talking about people and thieves - using twitter and facebook to find out when you are not home
Joe D realizes that there are not nice people out there. Check your security settings to make sure all of your information is not public.

The internet and social networks are now affecting professional sports. NFL says that players cannot be on the internet or social networks 90 minutes before and during a game.

Talking about "sexting", that is, sending dirty pictures and texts from cell phones. Parents should keep tabs on what their kids are doing. Kids have to realize that stuff they post on the internet cannot be undone and can affect their future.


Segment 2

Go to youngstowncomputer.com to see a list of rouge/fake anti-virus programs. Also there is a picture of a burned out hard disk controller. Also played recordings of failing hard drives so if you hear these kind of sounds, your hard drive is about to fail.

Caller 1
Q: when I turned it on, I got a message that your computer would start, and it was there for 40 minutes and it said "repairing" Is this normal? Then it started up ok.
A: Joe D recommends to back up your important files right now. Then bring it in to have it professionally installed. It sounded like Windows had to do some fixing, so it might be a failing hard drive.

Caller 2
Q: what are the signs that you need to defrag?
A: Joe D says to defrag if you see constant drive activity. If you uninstall/intstall stuff a lot, try to defrag once a month.

Joe D amazingly suggests defragging more than once on XP?!?!?


Segment 3

Mike brings in an article about a carrier pigeon against the internet in South Africa.

Caller 3
Q: got a wireless usb adapter. but we can't find the disk for the d-link router. can we reset the router and set it up again without the disk?
A: yes you can. You just have to log into the router at 192.168.0.1 and configure it through a web browser.
Q: actually we don't remember the wireless password.
A: well, since your laptop gets on, use that computer to go to the router setup and change the wireless password and WRITE IT DOWN!

Caller 4
Q: on a skype video call, my sister's video camera stops working after 15 seconds, audio is fine, and she can see our video fine
A: try to download the latest drivers for the web cam and maybe for the video card. perhaps there is also a problem with a firewall program that might be shutting off the video stream

Caller 5
Q: after returning from a trip, I turn on the powerstrip and the printer and screen are on, but the main system unit will not turn on.
A: try another outlet on the power strip, but it seems that the powersupply might have burned out.


Segment 4

Caller 6
Q: This is Dan Rivers. Got norton AV. Do I remove the old version before I install?
A: yes, that is usually better.
Q: can you install that on two machines?
A: you will have to check the license. some retail copies can be installed on up to 3 computers.

Caller 7
Q: when the computer starts, I hear the hard drive scratching, but then it smooth about about 10 minutes. things are slow until about 10 minutes in
A: some hard drives do make some noise. if the noise changes, then that's what you have to listen to. get the hard drive tested to make sure that it is ok.

Caller 8
Q: the physical power button has broken, I can't turn it on
A: we can look at the switch to see if it can get fixed