Removing a Boot Menu

Question:
I had Windows 2000 on my computer. Because I began having problems with Windows, I loaded Windows XP. Now, when I start up my computer it asks me every time which I want to use, 2000 or XP. How can I remove Windows 2000 and continue to use XP?

Answer:
It sounds like you installed a second operating system on your computer instead of upgrading your previous installation. That is fine. I use this technique when I am testing a new operating system or simply want to keep the old installation for backup purposes. After a while, though, the menu becomes annoying, especially when you exceed the need for the dual booting. Continue reading “Removing a Boot Menu”

Remote Assistance

Have you ever wished that you had a personal assistant sitting right next to you when you are working on a project on your computer ? someone to help you bounce ideas off of; someone who was an expert in Microsoft Office Suite, formatting, web design, etc.; or someone to put out the fire when that error message just won’t go away. That’s the idea behind remote assistance.

The concept of remote assistance is not new. Many computer programs are embedded with a way to have someone at the other end of a network (such as the Internet) be able to view your computer desktop. This enables the “assistant” or your computer consultant to guide the “requestor” via remote control.

Have you heard of Net Meeting, PC Anywhere, GoToMyPC, MSN Messenger, AIM, etc? All of these applications have the ability to virtually connect to another computer and view the output screen as if the person using it were really right beside them. Most people who are familiar with these types of applications use them to connect to their home computer from the office. Or, better yet, their office computer from home. I, on the other hand, use these applications to “help” people with computer issues. I am truly assisting them remotely.

Microsoft included two neat programs with Windows XP. They are Remote Desktop and Remote Assistance. Both of these programs are included in Windows XP Professional. However, Windows XP Home Edition only includes Remote Assistance and not Remote Desktop. The difference between Remote Desktop and Remote Assistance is that for remote assistance to work, someone must request a connection versus having the connection available with Remote Desktop at any time.

Remote Desktop is an application that allows the user to work on their computer remotely. A more detailed article will be written in the future to explain this concept.

Let me give you an example of how Microsoft Remote Assistance might be helpful. If you are working on your computer and you receive an error message, or the computer is doing something you do not understand, you would be able to request help via an email notifying the “helper” that you need assistance. By sending the email there are computer codes which allow the “helper” (such as a computer consultant such as myself) to connect with your computer, thereby actually seeing what you are seeing on your computer screen.

There is no need to try to describe the problem you are having and the frustrating experience of describing icons, backslashes, those @^#\\& symbols that the average user has no idea of what they mean! (Other than bad words in a comic strip.)

When the “helper” is viewing your screen, they do NOT have access to your files, but are only seeing what is on your screen. The “helper” can then either walk you through the process to resolve your problem, or if you wish, you can allow them access to actually manipulate your cursor/mouse/keyboard and make changes to your document, project, etc.

The other programs are similar in that they allow you or a remote assistant to connect to your computer and ultimately provide you with the assistance necessary. These programs range in complexity as they range in price. But price and complexity do not have a correlation. The important point to remember is that if you need someone to dispel your error code, or help you format your newsletter you can count on me. Please feel free to call me.

Recycle, Reuse, Recover

Question:
I am told that when you delete stuff in the recycle bin that it remains somewhere on the computer. Is there a way to absolutely, totally delete and erase whatever you placed in the recycle bin? (Not that it applies but I’m told the investigative FBI and other agencies can reclaim what has been deleted) Thanks for sharing an answer.

Answer:
Yes — To all the parts of the question. Data that has been deleted can be retrieved under the right conditions. And, yes, data can be irrevocably wiped out. Here’s how it all works.

Hard drives are like sand
First, you need to understand the nature of data. Documents, pictures, programs, etc. recorded on any medium is considered data. Writing data to a hard drive is not like writing on a piece of paper with a pencil that can be erased by turning the pencil over and vigorously rubbing the image until it disappears.

I equate the writing on a hard drive as writing on a sandy beach. You can rearrange the sand anytime you please to create new images. Therefore, erasing something on a hard drive is as easy as rearranging all the sand so that it does not make any sense.

Unfortunately, the images that get created on a hard drive have so much volume of ones and zeros (binary) that it makes more sense to leave the cleanup to the next program, picture, or document to be written, than to change each one of those ones and zeros into digital garbage.

What really happens behind the scenes is this: When a document is to be deleted from a hard drive, only the first “one” is changed into a “zero.” This is considered a digital semaphore. That is, a flag that lets the next program know that this “area” is available to be rearranged with ones and zeros.

The good thing is that if you accidentally deleted an important document, there are programs that can go and find the “flag” and turn that “zero” back to a “one” and voila, your file is back intact.

That is why dumb criminals get caught with illicit material in their computers. Even though they have “deleted” the questionable files, the deletions are usually in haste and at the last minute. Leaving all the data in pristine condition for retrieval.

One way to permanently delete your files is to overwrite them with other stuff. The bad news is that if you have deleted a file accidentally, there is a good chance you will permanently destroy the document because the flag said it was ok to do so.

Read A Little Easier

Question:
I use MS Explorer and Outlook to access the Internet. I view web pages with long documents that are difficult to read, as the script is too small. How can I increase the font/script size?

Answer:
zoomYou are going to love this answer and great tip. In Internet Explore, Outlook, Outlook Express, Word, and YES – Firefox. Have the ability to increase or decrease the size of the font by holding the control key (CTRL) and moving your mouse wheel forward or backward.

I am sure it works in many other applications too. I challenge you to test it with all your apps and let me know for inclusion in the online version of this article.

Now, another plug for Firefox: The font size can be increased or decreased in the same way in Firefox. But, unlike Internet Explorer, Firefox keeps all the fonts in proportion with the surrounding fonts sizes. Internet Explorer does not treat all the fonts equally.

If the Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) rules have specific font sizes Internet Explorer cannot change the font to the user’s liking. Firefox understands that the human reading the web page is more important and therefore allows the style to be changed to ones liking.

Also, if you do not have a scroll wheel on your mouse, you can change your font sizes in Firefox by holding the Ctrl key and pressing the plus (+) sign to increase the size, Ctrl and the minus (-) sign to decrease it, and last Ctrl and the zero (0) to make it normal.

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Reader Comments

  • The tip regarding font sizes was just great—I sent it on to others in my family. It works in Excel also, but only in 15% jumps, and has helped me a lot. I haven’t tried it on any other applications yet, but will do so in Word. Firefox seems faster that Explorer, but for some reason when I look at archive pictures in Webshots, the titles don’t show whereas they do with Explorer???
  • THANK YOU! THANK YOU! for the tips in your articles. I have only been on the internet less than a year and I am still learning. Your articles are helping me immensely. This one helped me a lot.  Pat Barrett
  • Just tried this tip, great one can’t wait to tell everyone at work. Judith

Volume Control Mystery

Question: The volume control that has always been on my taskbar, no longer shows up when I turn on my computer. I have gone to sound device and it is checked to be it the task bar. I tried unchecking it, apply, the checking it again, the apply. It will show up then. But when I turn off my computer the turn it back on, it is gone. I am running Windows XP. Thank you for any help you can give me.

Answer: It’s amazing. This just happened to me. I was as perplexed about this problem as you were. So I tried it and I did exactly as you did. But in my case, it worked. I was able to anchor it to my taskbar again. The only thing I did extra was to restart my computer immediately after. I have dealt with similar problems throughout my career with mysterious reoccurrences. I also noticed that whenever I fixed the problem, and did not restart the computer immediately, the problem was prone to come back. Try restarting, and if the problem comes back, we’ll explore it further.