Getting  Along With Your Computer Column Archive

This and That

By Cate Eales
Appeared April 5, 2007 on castanet.net

We have news about an important security patch for Windows, and some suggestions for programs you might like. Control what starts with Windows, spell check your email without Microsoft Office, and learn about SeaMonkey.


Important Windows Patch
Microsoft issued a patch this week to correct a serious security flaw in Windows. If you have your computer set up to collect and install Windows Updates automatically, you'll find it in this week's updates. If you update your computer manually, you can grab the update here.


See What's Starting...and Stop It!
Many people don't have any idea how many programs start up along with Windows. Even if you use MSConfig to see what's starting, it can be difficult to know exactly what those programs are, and whether they should be allowed to start themselves or not.

Some programs have to load when Windows starts in order for your computer to work. Other programs like anti-virus software and firewalls should be permitted to load on thier own. But do you really need Messenger to load every time you turn on your computer? Or QuickTime? Or the thing that reminds you to buy more ink for your HP printer because you might be running low? Some programs are just annoying. Some are dangerous. When you have a big whack of programs starting up with Windows, everything slows down.

Programs like Autoruns and What's Running are good ways to see what programs are starting, and stop the unwanted/unnecessary ones. Recently I found Startup Inspector and Startup Monitor. These programs work together to help you understand what programs are starting and manage them, and to alert you every time a program tries to sneak into your startup routine. Both are available here.


Spell Check your Email Without Microsoft Office
Outlook Express does not contain a spell checker unless you are using a Microsoft Office product like Word...or unless you install another spell checker. Here are two free ones: Spell Checker for OE is just that. FreeSpell  says it will spell check in any Windows program, not just OE.


Another Reader Recommendation
Thank you to everyone who writes with recommendations for cool and/or useful programs. I'll keep passing them along. Gloria in Peachland likes SeaMonkey, an integrated browser and email program. SeaMonkey is available here.

Please email your comments/suggestions/questions to cate@rlis.com. If you'd like to have a look at past columns, they are all archived here. If you'd like to subscribe to this column by email, please visit this link.  It's free and easy. If you'd prefer the RSS Feed, click here.

Have a safe holiday!


Links
Current Patch http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS07-017.mspx
Autoruns http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/utilities/autoruns.mspx
What's Running http://www.whatsrunning.net/whatsrunning/main.aspx
StartUp Inspector and StartUp Monitor http://www.windowsstartup.com/index.php
Spell Checker for OE http://www.snapfiles.com/get/spelloe.html
FreeSpell http://hcidesign.com/freespell/
SeaMonkey http://www.mozilla.org/projects/seamonkey/
Getting Along With Your Computer Column Archives http://rlis.com/column.htm
Get Cate's column by email http://www.feedblitz.com/f/?Sub=20618
RSS Feed: http://rlis.com/rlis.xml
Cate's list of good, free software http://rlis.com/columns/column75list.htm


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Cate Eales has been helping people make online computing safe, accessible and fun for over 20 years. She lives in Kelowna with her husband, Eric, and her dog, Sandy. Cate is a partner in Real Life Internet Solutions, helping individuals and small businesses with virus, spyware and malware eradication; personal computer training and management; digital image management; music transfer; and website design, hosting and management. Email Cate at cate@rlis.com with your comments, suggestions, or questions. To browse the column archives, visit the Real Life Internet Solutions website at www.rlis.com.