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CYBERGURU NEWSLETTER - AUTUMN 2008 Welcome to
the CyberGuru newsletter!
This has been sent to clients, prospective clients, family and
friends who have used or shown an interest in CyberGuru's computer
solutions.
Information on how to unsubscribe appears at the bottom of this
email.
We hope you enjoy this email and look forward to serving your
computer solutions needs in the future.
In this issue:
A word from the Chief
Guru: Happy Easter!
Welcome to the first issue of the CyberGuru Newsletter
for 2008 and a belated Happy Easter to you all!
This issue has arrived later than planned, as we have
been waiting in anticipation for the release of some upgrades to the
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and Windows XP Service Pack 3. These releases
have been delayed for several reasons but we are pleased to announce that
both have now been was released. As detailed in this issue, these Service
Packs are not as feature-packed as other updates such as Windows XP
Service Pack 2 were however they will improve the reliability and security
of your computer.
This has been a busy year for CyberGuru for numerous
reasons. As some of you would be aware, I have been preparing for my
wedding in July and organising to move to a new home as well. I have
recently completed and successfully received an additional Microsoft
Certified IT Professional qualification as a Consumer Support Technician.
I am continuing to further my study in additional industry qualifications
further as time permits.
As such, we have decided to not to accept any new
clients in the near future. We appreciate your custom and will continue to
provide computer solutions to clients on Annual Contracts. We also
appreciate the many referrals we receive for our computer solutions, and
are doing our best to service those that we can and provide
recommendations to other like-minded computer solutions providers as well.
We appreciate your support and understanding during this time of
transition.
Chris Jeffery
Proprietor/Chief Guru
News: Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and Windows XP Service Pack 3 released
It's been over a year since Windows Vista hit the shop
shelves and Microsoft has been probably preparing its update since it came
available. Whilst some other major updates such as Windows Service Pack 2
which received considerable additions and upgrades to the features,
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and Windows XP Service Pack 3 are not as
feature-packed. As such, we have not reviewed these products but thought
we'd provide you with some information on why these updates to increase
the reliability, performance and compatibility of your computer.
Windows Vista Service Pack 1
Feedback from beta testers on this update is that it is
a little disappointing, as Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is only providing
bug fixes to the product with little other functionality added. However,
it is important to note that the primary goal of the update was to
increase additional for hardware devices. Windows Vista Service Pack 1
contains many additional drivers - which is believed to have increased
from 13,000 hardware devices at original release of Windows Vista to
54,000 in Windows Vista Service Pack 1).
If you have Windows Update set to automatically
download important updates, then you will receive soon. Otherwise, it can
be download from the Microsoft Download Centre at
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads.
For further information on Windows Vista Service
Pack 1 and using Windows Update to download it, please visit
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/sp1.mspx.
Windows XP Service Pack 3
The next Service Pack for Windows XP has been long
anticipated and expected, possibly due to consumers expecting additional
features to those provided in Windows Vista. It is understood that some of
the features of Windows Vista have been "backported" (released in a new
operating system then included in an earlier operating system) to Windows
XP Service Pack 3, including Network Access Protection and Windows Imaging
Component. In addition to some performance increases, it is believed that
1,000 fixes have been added into the product. Features such as Internet
Explorer 7 and Windows Media Player 10 are available as a separate
download.
On 29 April, Microsoft was expected to release Service
Pack 3, however due to some compatibility issues with Microsoft Dynamics
Retail Management System, the release of Windows XP Service Pack 3 was
delayed until 6 May. Windows XP Service Pack 3 is now available via
Windows Update, and like Windows XP Service Pack 1, it will be downloaded
if you Windows Update set to automatically update, then you will receive
soon. It can also be downloaded from the Microsoft Download Centre.
Information about Windows XP Service Pack 3 can be
found at
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936929.
Also, whilst on the topic of new updates, if you are
currently using Norton Internet Security 2007 or Norton 360, you are now
able to upgrade to the latest versions to Norton Internet Security 2008 or
Norton 360 2.0. These editions provide additional features and a
performance upgrade. We would recommend installing these versions as soon
as possible.
If you require any assistance in doing this or
downloading, installing or using either Windows Vista Service Pack 1 or
Windows XP Service Pack 3, please contact us for an appointment.
Hints, Tips and Tricks: Internet Connectivity Evaluation Tool
Microsoft has released an Internet Connectivity
Evaluation Tool, which will check your internet router to see if it
supports certain technologies.
As noted in the Internet Connectivity Evaluation Tool
itself:
The Internet Connectivity Evaluation Tool checks your
Internet router to see if it supports certain technologies. You can use
this tool on a PC running either the Windows Vista or Windows XP operating
system. If you're planning to run Windows Vista, this tool can verify
whether your existing Internet router supports advanced features, such as
improved download speeds and face-to-face collaboration using Windows
Meeting Space.
The tool is intended to be run from a home network
behind a home Internet (NAT) router. Running this tool from behind a
corporate firewall or on operating systems other than those specified
above won't produce accurate results. This tool requires administrator
privileges to run.
The tests can require up to 10 minutes to complete and
do not make any permanent changes to your router. For the most accurate
results, your computer should be connected directly to your Internet
router, using a wired connection.
To use the Internet Connectivity Evaluation Tool Read
you are required to read and accept the terms of a Licence Agreement.
Also, as noted in the tool, that although it is unlikely, testing might
interrupt your Internet connectivity or cause your router to stop
responding. If you require uninterrupted Internet access at this time (for
example, if you are in the middle of downloading a large file, bidding on
a time-sensitive Internet auction, or playing an online game), you should
wait and do this testing at another time.
The Internet Connectivity Evaluation Tool can be
found at
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/using/tools/igd/default.mspx.
This article is available from our Hints, Tips and
Tricks page at
http://www.cyberguru.com.au/helpdesk_hintstipstricks.htm.
How-to Guide: Using Microsoft System Configuration to disable applications
from automatically starting up
When you set up a new application on your computer, the
setup program include may also install an item that automatically loads
when the computer starts. This is often done without the users' knowledge.
Whilst it is essential for many programs such as
internet security suites to load at startup for the running of the
product, if too many applications do then the computer may take a long
time to start. Running Microsoft System Configuration will enable you to
increase the performance of your computer by disabling applications you do
not need or require from starting up.
This how-to guide is available from our How-to
Guides page at
http://www.cyberguru.com.au/helpdesk_howtoguides.htm.
How-to Guide: Optimising your computer's performance with CCleaner
CCleaner is a free system optimization application,
enabling users to achieve optimal performance on their computer by
cleaning a range of Windows components and removing unused and temporary
files. According to its website, CCleaner allows Windows to run faster,
more efficiently and gives you more hard disk space.
This how-to guide is available from our How-to
Guides page at
http://www.cyberguru.com.au/helpdesk_howtoguides.htm.
Joke: Error
Message Haiku
Tired of those annoying error messages on your PC? In
Japan, they have replaced the impersonal and unhelpful Microsoft error
messages with their own Japanese haiku* poetry to add an oriental serenity
to normal everyday aggravation.
A file that big?
It might be very useful.
But now
it is gone.
The Web site you seek
Can not be located but
Countless more exist.
Chaos reigns within.
Reflect, repent, and reboot.
Order shall return.
ABORTED effort:
Close all that you have worked on.
You ask far too much.
Windows NT crashed.
I am the Blue Screen of Death.
No one hears your screams.
Yesterday it worked.
Today it is not working.
Windows is like that.
First snow, then silence.
This thousand dollar screen
dies
So beautifully.
With searching comes loss
And the presence of
absence:
"My Novel" not found.
The Tao that is seen
Is not the true Tao-until
You
bring fresh toner.
Stay the patient course.
Of little worth is your ire.
The network is down.
A crash reduces
Your expensive computer
To a
simple stone.
Three things are certain:
Death, taxes, and lost
data.
Guess which has occurred.
You step in the stream,
But the water has moved on.
This page is not here.
Out of memory.
We wish to hold the whole sky,
But
we never will.
Having been erased,
The document you're seeking
Must now be retyped.
Serious error.
All shortcuts have disappeared.
Screen. Mind. Both are blank.
* a "haiku" must have five syllables in the first and
third lines, and seven syllables in the second line:
Yes-ter-day it worked. (5)
To-day it is not work-ing.
(7)
Win-dows is like that. (5)
Thanks!
Thanks again for your
interest and custom in our solutions. You are receiving this newsletter
because you contacted have CyberGuru, use or have used our solutions in
the past or signed up for the mailing list.
You are welcome to send this newsletter to your friends, family,
colleagues and associates. However, please send the entire message
including this message.
Archives of the newsletter are available
at
http://www.cyberguru.com.au/helpdesk_newsletter_archives.htm.
If you wish to stop receiving these newsletters, please email
cyberguruDONOTSPAM@cyberguru.com.au
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If we can assist you in any way through our solutions, please
contact us.
Christopher Jeffery trading as CyberGuru
Web:
http://www.cyberguru.com.au
Email:
cyberguruDONOTSPAM@cyberguru.com.au
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