Hints Tips & Rants
by Dale Atchison
Tampa Bay Computer Society


Thunderbird in Windows Vista

Don't know if it's just me, or if this problem might affect others.  Also, don't know if it's because I'm using Windows Vista, or just because...

Whatever, I've had a slight problem since I got fed up with Windows Mail and added Thunderbird 2.0.0.23 to my laptop that's running Windows Vista Home Basic:  clicking on the "Get Mail" button didn't do anything — the button reacted like it had been clicked, but the program didn't react to the button.  I could click on the down arrow next to the button, then click "Get All New Messages", and here would come all my new mail from all my different accounts.  I checked the Internet, and found that my Options were set just as they were supposed to be.  ...which still didn't make my email download like it should!

Follow along with me here:  in T'bird, click on  Tools  »  Account Settings  »  Server Settings  »  click the "Advanced" button.  In the Advanced Account Settings window, there are three 'radio buttons' and a check-box; if you want this account included when you click on "Get Mail", put a check mark in the check-box.  The radio buttons select between storing each account's incoming messages in its own dedicated Inbox, storing all incoming messages in a Global Inbox under the "Local Folders" heading, or choosing to store one account's messages in another account's Inbox (who would do that, and why?).  My three POP3 accounts were all set to store their messages in the Global Inbox.  Interestingly enough, since I had never stored incoming messages anywhere else, there were no other Inboxes available, so selecting to store in a different account only offered me the same choice as the second button:  Local Folders.  As near as I could tell, the second and third buttons do the same thing; nonetheless, clicking the third radio button for each account made all mail download as expected, whenever I click the "Get Mail" button.  Go figure.


And Speaking of Email...

I haven't loaded my Windows 7 yet; I still haven't decided where to put it (one license, half a dozen computers).  But it's my understanding that there is no email client included with '7'.  You could download Windows Live Mail from Microsoft, but why would you?  Here's your chance to 'start off on the right foot', as Mom used to say:  use Mozilla Thunderbird instead.

Thunderbird is small, meaning it loads and runs fast.  Thunderbird is from Mozilla, which means it has far fewer, if any, security vulnerabilities than any Microsoft program ever hoped for.  And it is supported by the people who wrote it, programmers from around the world who are proud of their work and take it personal if the program doesn't behave as promised.  You're only an email or a bug report away from fixing anything that might go wrong with this or any Open Source program.

Download Thunderbird here:
www.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/thunderbird/download/?product=thunderbird-2.0.0.22&os=win&lang=en-US


Don't Know If You're Ready For Windows 7?

Find out quickly and easily:  just download and run the Microsoft Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor...

go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=161223

Like every previous version of Windows, '7' wants to be bought new, already installed on brand-new equipment; unlike previous versions, Microsoft has owned up to the possibility of problems if you install one version over another; e.g., '7' over XP.  The Upgrade Advisor will tell you which programs and hardware on your current system will need to be updated or replaced after loading Windows 7.

Windows XP had a similar Advisor for '98, ME, and Win 2000 users; if more people had run it prior to upgrading their older (marginal) systems to XP, the transition would've gone much more smoothly.  Don't add to your troubles; run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor BEFORE ordering your copy of Windows 7.


Temporary Fan Repair

Inevitably, you're gonna lose one of those little fans that keep your video card's CPU (they actually call that a GPU) or 'northbridge' chip cool.  And the computer will soon fail without proper cooling of these critical components.  This procedure will get you back up and running, making the fan (hopefully) run for another few months before you have to try and find a suitable replacement.

[I know I don't really need to say this, but make sure you note which way the fan is installed before you remove it; it needs to go back in the same way.]

Cleaning:
Very carefully, remove the fan assembly from the heat sink it's attached to.  Brush all the dust off both sides of the fan blade, and from the heat sink fins.  Turn the fan over, and gently pry the adhesive label most of the way off.  Saturate a Q-Tip in alcohol, then dab the Q-Tip around the spot where the motor shaft barely protrudes from the sleeve bearing, until there's no more alcohol to squeeze out of it.  You need to gently turn the fan blades the whole time you're doing this; you'll feel the blades start to move easier as you dispel the crud that had been built up between the motor shaft and the sleeve bearing.  Keep adding alcohol and turning the blades with your finger until the blades turn freely.

Lubrication:
Let the fan sit for a few minutes so the alocohol can evaporate.  We're gonna use Vitalis hair tonic, or whatever store-brand equivalent you have handy, as a super-thin, super-slick lubricating agent; essentially, it's just mineral oil dissolved in alcohol.  Shake the container well, then dip the tip of a wooden toothpick into the hair tonic; you only need one or two drops.  Seriously, maybe one drop, possibly two, but three would definitely be too much oil.  Touch the tip of the toothpick to the spot where the motor shaft enters the sleeve bearing, let one drop transfer from the toothpick to the motor shaft, and turn the fan blade several times with your finger.  Repeat — just once — if you feel like you need to.  Wait a minute or two for the alcohol to evaporate and for the oil to spread via 'capillary action' down between the shaft and bearing.

Press the adhesive label back down as smoothly as you can, reassemble the fan to the heat sink, and plug the power connector back into the motherboard.  Start the computer, and verify the fan is running fast as new.  If not, good luck trying to find an exact replacement; I've replaced several video cards whose only problem was frozen GPU fans, but I couldn't find suitable subs.


Sorry, Time For a Rant...

I've had a rash of folks not wanting to pay for services lately.  It's a sad fact, but there are a lot of computer techs over-charging for their work, padding the hours, charging even if they fail, etc.  I guess some people figure they may as well cheat the tech before he cheats them.  That doesn't make it right, nor keep the perpetrator from being a crook:  if you steal from a thief, you're just another thief, however you try and color it.

Here's a thought:  if you don't trust the guy who works on your computer, get another guy (or girl).  Call your nearest computer club and ask for a recommendation.  Ask your friends and family who they've used in the past, and make sure you push them for the bad comments as well as the good.  When you call the tech, get the hourly or per-job rate up front, and resign yourself to paying it; set a maximum charge if the tech will go for it.  Whatever deal you make, stick to it:  when the tech repairs your computer as agreed, hand him (or her) a check — and make sure it's a good check!

It's Not Always the Other Guy's Fault

I've also had a few instances recently where I got too friendly with clients, started exchanging emails with them, sharing meals out, etc., then got upset when they expected free advice or repairs.  They thought friends don't charge each other for helping out when there's a problem; I'm thinking this situation is my own fault for blurring the lines between clients and friends.

I try to be 'friendly' with all my clients, meaning cheerful, pleasant, helpful, positive, etc.  But I need to keep everything professional, spending no time with a client that isn't 'on the clock', and having almost no contact with them outside the context of working on their computers.  Sad, and I'll miss hanging out with some of them, but the misunderstandings can cost me friends AND clients.

Occasionally, I do a quick, simple job for a long-standing client without charging them; while this makes me feel good, and usually is taken in the right context by the client, SOMETIMES the idea is conveyed that ALL subsequent help will be done gratis — definitely NOT the idea I was trying to get across.  (I was going for a simple one-time "Thank You for the repeat business.")  So, gotta cut that out, too.

Human Nature Really Sux!

...end of rant...

...climbing down off my soapbox...

...but remaining on my high-horse.


Till next month...

DaLe aTchiSon



I send these guys a few dollars every month... sure wish you would join me.
And 100% of your labor charges go to this rescue, too.