Computer Quandaries — November 2006

by Dale Atchison


Screen Blanking — Wanted

Hi, Dale.

When I leave the computer on, what do I need to do so that after a few minutes the screen goes to sleep?

Monday, I am going to the hospital for hip replacement, and if my wife left the computer on all day, we might end up with a permanent screen image, if the monitor is lit all that time.

Ray

Ray,

There is a setting in Power Management to turn the monitor off, whether there's a screen saver running or not:

  1. Start  »  Control Panel  »  Power Options.  Regardless of which of the three power schemes you choose, there are dialog boxes that let you choose how long to wait before turning off the monitor, the hard drives, and going into Standby mode.

  2. Choose the time delay you want for the monitor, then twice that for Enable Standby.

  3. Click on the Hibernate tab, and put a check mark next to Enable Hibernation.

  4. Click OK to close the applet, then X out of Control Panel.
Now, if someone leaves the computer unattended for an extended period of time, first the monitor will shut off, then all data will be saved to a 'hibernation file' on the hard drive, the hard drive will shut down, and the computer will shut down.  When next the power switch is pressed, the computer won't have to boot — it will see a valid hibernation file and just (in a very few seconds) return the screen to the state it was in when last the keyboard or mouse was touched.

DaLe



Screen Blanking — UnWanted

Hey, DaLe...

I have a problem with my computer:  everything goes black when I am not using it for a few minutes.  This happens several times a day, and even though it only takes a few minutes to get the computer on and get back online, when it happens a dozen or more times a day, it is a waste of time for me.

What can I do — or undo — to get this thing to stay on?

Nancy

Nancy,

Go to Control Panel  »  Power Management.  The times to hibernate and standby should be plainly marked; change them to your heart's content.

DaLe

I just did this, and all but one were set for NEVER.  The one that didn't say NEVER, but was set for 30 minutes, is now set for NEVER.

...And the problem is gone.

Thanks.

Nancy



Firewalls

DaLe,

I just got broadband thru AOL & Verizon.  I am using Windows Firewall.  My question:  Is this ok, or do I still need an addition firewall like ZoneAlarm?  Should I only use one, or both?  What is your opinion on the best one out there to use?

Janet

Janet,

The Windows Firewall, included in Windows XP Service Pack 2, is every bit as good as ZoneAlarm for stopping incoming threats, meaning it blocks hackers and 'bots' from getting access to your computer from the Internet.

ZoneAlarm goes a step further by not allowing your computer to access the Internet EXCEPT for those programs you give permission to:  your Web browser, your email client, AOL, your anti-virus and anti-spyware programs, etc. — this stops spyware that gets loaded on your computer despite your best efforts from reporting on your browsing and online spending habits.  Some folks want this extra layer of protection, others don't feel the need.  I'm one of the latter — I've cleaned my computer, I'm running regular anti-spyware scans, and I have WinPatrol running to stop any programs that try to load without my knowledge — I'm reasonably sure my computer isn't talking about me behind my back.

You only need one software firewall.  If you're sure you have installed and updated good reliable anti-spyware software (LavaSoft Ad-Aware, Spybot Search & Destroy), so you know no unauthorized programs are going to the Internet and tattling on you, use Windows' built-in firewall and don't go thru the learning curve of using ZoneAlarm; there's enough new stuff to learn on computers nowadays — no need to go looking for more.

BTW, if you had a hardware firewall, you could get by with no software firewall at all, though I don't recommend it.  I have a hardware firewall in my wireless router, and I'm using Windows SP2 software firewall, as well.

DaLe



Power Protection

Dear DaLe,

Next January we leave the area until April 30.  There is no way we can bring my desktop computer.  (I plan to buy a laptop, however, to take along, as I can't be without my computer for long!)

So, what do I do with my computer that I leave here?  I have an APC Power Chute and when we've been gone for shorter periods, such as up to a month, I turn the computer itself off, and leave it plugged into the Power Chute.  Also I take my exterior hard drive that I use for back ups and put it into our safety deposit box (I did this for evacuation when Hurricane Charlie was on its way).

Are there any additional precautions I should take being away so long?

Barbara

Dear Barbara,

  1. Turn off everything.

  2. Turn off the APC PowerChute, then unplug it from the wall.

  3. If there are network or telephone wires running thru the APC, unplug them.  With the APC disconnected from the world, you can leave all the computer power cords plugged into the APC.

  4. While you're at it, unplug all major appliances from the power line, and remove the incoming cable TV connectors from the backs of all your TV sets and VCRs (it's OK to leave the connection between the VCR and the TV intact, as long as the incoming line — the one coming from the wall or the floor — is opened).
I would take these precautions any time I was gonna be gone for more than 48 hours.  Reasoning:  there is always the possibility that lightning can come into the house via the power line, the cable tv line, or the telephone line.  Even if the APC protects the computer, it could still be damaged itself — there could even be a fire!  If the outside world doesn't touch the APC or any part of the computer system, you're safe from everything except burglars.  (BTW, thanks for telling me when you'll be out of town — my computer is getting kinda old.)

DaLe

Dear DaLe,

Thanks so much!  I was worrying about the computer battery failing while we are away — that isn't a concern?

Barbara

Dear Barbara,

I tried to find verification online that the 'trickle current' (5vSB) in an ATX motherboard also supplies the CMOS — couldn't confirm or refute this, but I suspect not.  Regardless, the battery is supposed to be good for 2 to 5 years, so I wouldn't be concerned about running off it for three or four months.

DaLe



Internet Explorer 7

DaLe,

Microsoft's Update Center has Internet Explorer 7 listed as a critical update.  Should I download it now, or wait until they finish debugging it?  (...even though by that time, computers will be obsolete, as we will be able to use brain-waves to communicate with others throughout cyberspace)

Dave

Dave,

(You are a cynical person, and have not nearly enough faith in your fellow human beings.  IE7 will be bug-free, or nearly so, just minutes before IE8 is released and support for IE7 is discontinued.)

I can't understand why they'd call it a 'critical update', unless they intend to stop supporting IE6 in the near future.

That having been said, IE7 is a much better browser than IE6.  It has tabbed browsing, and an anti-phishing filter.  (Come to think of it, the anti-phishing filter might be the very reason why they call it 'critical' — it's a major security enhancement.)

You use Firefox anyway, as I recall, so it doesn't matter that much which Microsoft browser you load; it may be a better 'sub-layer' for your operating system to rest on, but you won't see any difference in your day-to-day browsing experience.

DaLe

Thanks for asking!

If you're using AVG Free version 7.1, by now you've probably gotten the on-screen warning that support for it will end by Jan 15 '07.  (Since this column was written, Grisoft has extended the deadline to Feb 7 '07.)  This is no biggie — the replacement version is available for download  here .  The new interface is actually easier to understand than the previous one, it's a 'prettier' program without a noticeable performance hit — AVG is still the only anti-virus program I recommend.

For step-by-step instructions on upgrading AVG, click here.

The option to create a Rescue Disk is now suppressed if you're using the NTFS file system — the disk wouldn't work anyway, so why let you think you have a level of protection you really don't?

The only possible 'gotcha' is a holdover from the previous version:  when you finish the install and check for updates, don't stop after downloading the first batch of updates — keep checking for updates until the program tells you there are no more to be had.

And please, if you're anything other than a home user, if you're using your computer to earn a living or primarily in support of a not-for-profit, please don't use AVG Free  They sell a slightly different version for businesses and not-for-profits; businesses cost $38.95 for two years, not-for-profits should contact Grisoft to see how big a discount they get.  This is the best anti-virus I know of; it's fast, small, thorough, and doesn't 'take over' your computer — the authors are entitled to be paid for their work, and they rely on your personal ethics to determine whether you're eligible for the free version.  'Nuff said.

Till next month, please email me with your computer questions, and I'll answer as quickly and thoroughly as I can.  I ask again:  If I respond to your question, please respond to my answer; it helps me immediately, and all my subsequent correspondents eventually, if I know for a fact whether my advice helped you.

"Computer Quandaries" was a column I wrote for Bits & Bytes, the online newsletter of the Tampa Bay Computer Society, from March 2006 thru April 2010.  When I became the BnB editor, I split it into two separate columns:  "Computer Quandaries" was the Q & A or Help Desk portion of the original column, while "Hints Tips & Rants" was the collection of random thoughts that had previously been tacked on as an afterthought.  When I gave up the editor job, I took both columns with me, to post on my website and/or blog.


      

See you next month.   Please email your questions to  DaLe@ComputerRepairShop.biz

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