Computer Users' Group
February 18, 2004
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Computer Users’ Group
February 18, 2004
Pastfinders Computer. We’ll start by using built
in tools to see what we can learn about the computer. We’ll
start with the control panel and see what each item can
tell us. We’ll use the printer set-upp to add the
Generic Text Only printer that can create a text file
from proprietary formatted text (ie FamilyTreeMaker). We’ll
note the processor type, amount of memory, hard disk
size, etc. We’ll cover installing hard drive, CD
Drives and Burners and DVD Drives. How do you set them up
and connect them?
The system icon leads us to the Device Manager which
will tell us if anything is acting up and we’ll be
able to see what each hardware item is. We’ll also
be able to see if our system is optimally configured or
if we are suffering a performance loss.
Note: Our system uses Windows 95 which has very
limited diagnostics; later versions of windows include
System Information which you get to through START,
PROGRAMS, ACCESSORIES, SYSTEM TOOLS. It will tell you
more than you ever wanted to know.
We’ll also talk about ways to learn more through
the Internet. We’ll use one program from the
internet to test the system memory but most system tests
require an Internet connection. (Our computer wouldn’t
boot on the disk I made and I couldn’t change the
setup because I don’t know the password. to the BIOS
setup).
Then we’ll take the cover off and see what’s
inside. We’ll wrestle with the flat ribbon IDE
cables but they will soon be obsoleted by smaller serial
cables. We’ll identify the two extra memory sockets
and install enough memory to double what’s in the
computer. Installation is simple but you need to know how
to snap the memory modules into place. And we’ll
touch on other types of sockets so you’ll know how
to do it in your system.
Keeping the inside clean can keep your system from
overheating. A gentle cleaning of dust buildup and
cleaning fan blades can help.
Unfortunately, my laptop computer froze before I got
to show these sites. I removed the battery but it didn’t
help. Here’s a tip–when your laptop freezes or
won’t shut off, unplug it from the power source and
then remove the battery and leave it out for several
seconds. I was too fast and the capacitors remained
charged enough not to clear the memory. Works fine now!!!
Web Sites. History Buffs will like www.historyplace.com. It has quite a
bit on the Civil and Revolutionary Wars and, why I went
there, the Irish potato famine.
To check out your computer, try www.pcpitstop.com. It will run tests
and compare you to the average for your computer type.
Here’s an easy way to move files. Instead of
dragging and dropping you can use "Send to? to send
the file to any directory on your computer or on your
network. You can get the file from
Trogladite Software at http://www.trogsoft.com/products/sendto/ .
You right click on the file you want to move and then
click on SEND TO and then on ANY FOLDER and from there
you just select the destination folder.
When you see traffic backed up on I 4 do you ever
wonder if the traffic on the Internet is as bad? Here’s
the way to find out. Go to http://www.internettrafficreport.com/namerica.htm
and you’ll see a chart of Internet traffic. High
numbers are best. Green is good, yellow is poor and red
is bad.
There seemed to be a consensus that we should go back
to the beginning and do some more basic computer stuff.
Let me know how you feel. More basic computing, more
basic computing genealogy, scanning and image processing
or what?
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