Just took a survey for a group which used Survey Monkey - which I found to be pretty cool, which I might use some day - but I figured I would post about the place also.

The "Basic Subscription" to hold surveys are free - 10 questions, and 100 responses per survey. Very profesional looking, and no ads either.

Anyway, not sure if this would interest anyone, but I figured I would share it.

Spyware and such

Even though you got rid of that one file, I would take a look at this program: Spybot - Search & Destroy

It is updated often (And you can download the updates strait from the program) - But I use this program often to to searches on my PC.

Not only does it find spyware, and "highjacking" programs - it also searches for "bad" cookies, or cookies from sites which may use that information for "bad" things. It will also clean and remove files. So it is a good thing to download and use every once and awhile. (Only down side is it is not the most user friendly program, but it should not be too hard.)

Google to offer free e-mail - and to show that it is serious in a bid to challenge yahoo and such, e-mail accounts will have 1GB Storage! (1000 MB) - (I think Yahoo is up to 250MB free?)

It is still in beta mode, but will hopefully start soon. (And if you want that cool "name" before it is taken - sign up early.) BUT AGAIN, Still in beta mode so you can't sign up yet. They have been testing it for about a year now, and will be released to the public soon.

Google mail - gmail

Also no pop ups or banners - but what they are going to do is "dissect the topics being discussed in the e-mails and then deliver text-based ads related to the subjects".

Free Microsoft Security Update CD - HERE

I've had a friend say they just recieved theirs, so I just ordered mine. I know it is free in the US, but they also list other countries - so if you live outside of the US and use Windows - you might want to check it out also. :-)

Not sure how good the CD is, but I'll take anything free from Microsoft! :-)

If you are going to use a peer-to-peer, I use Kazaa Lite which includes no spyware. (I was looking for it recently and could not find it, so I'm not sure if it is still out there somewhere or not.) But it works with the Kazaa "network".

Tip - Don't share - so far they have only went after users who also share their downloaded music with others. (NOTE: Other users don't like this, and some will not share with you if you also don't share)

One thing I download are live concerts and other acoustical song - songs that usually CAN NOT be found on a CD at any local music store. (My own rules is if I can go to the store and buy it, I should not download it.) Many artist are OK with people trading "live" non-album music.

Have a windows computer? (95,98,me,2000,xp)

Every wanted to know EVERYTHING about it plus more?

Well check out THIS PROGRAM

It is called AIDA32, it is a freeware program (with no "extra" junk as far as I can tell). Bascily, once installed, you can run reports and it will give you 80+ pages of information about your computer... WAY more then you will every use (or probable understand), but some information may come in handy.

I've been using the Enterprise version (also free) with great success at where I work. (Which has a lot of older and donated comptuers - so it is nice to know more about each of those.)

Anyway, thought I would share this information.

Microsoft just sent me this link, and it might help others.

Ways to reduce Spam

I believe there should be a space between the command (deltree) and the option (/y)

But like someone else said - be carefully when using the deltree option (Delete Tree) - it will wipe out everything in there, and if you do it wrong (like hit enter after the /y, before you type in "temp"), you could easly wipe our your hard drive. :-)

... and here is how to do it in the registry - but AGAIN, use these instructions at your own risk - you shouldn't mess with the registry unless you feel you know what you are doing:

Start a registry editor (e.g., regedit.exe).

Navigate to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar registry subkey.

Double-click the LinksFolderName value.

Clear the value data, then click OK.

Start IE and delete the Links folder from the Favorites menu.

You could try this:

Start Windows Explorer.

Move to your user profile area (e.g., C:\documents and settings\john).

Open the Favorites folder.

Right-click the Links folder, then select Properties from the context menu.

Select the "Hidden" check box, then click OK.

Start IE, click favorites, right click the Links folder and choose "delete."

Re-start IE ... no links folder!

=======================

If that does not work, there is a way to remove it by going into the registry - but I usually don't recommend that.

I'm in the process of orginizing some of my links of webpages, and I figured I would share a useful one here:

1) PC performance can suffer by programs that run at system start-up (thing you might not even know are there) - MORE INFO

or go strait to the 3000+ list of programs that could be running on your computer (HERE)

Here you go - LINK

:-)

On a windows computer, if you hold down the CTRL key and move the scrool button, it will increase/decrease the text on the screen.

It happens to me every once and awhile - mostly when I'm cut-n-pasting a lot

What was shown at the seminar that I went to, it looks pretty good... but the spent a lot of the time showing the OneNotes & SharePoint (?) - which are newer "office" products they are bringing out.

I got certificates for the Office 2003 + a copy of OneNotes 2003 - which will ship to me in about a month.

I actually have 3 copies of Office 2003 that should be shipped to me in the next month or so - actually a gift from Microsoft! (who says Microsoft is not a nice company)

.... Actually they gave a free copy of Office 2003 along with OneNotes 2003 to all the administrators who went to one of their recent seminars... and somehow I ended up with 3 certificates! [Microsoft's goal is for the administrator to take the copy back to work, and hopefully upgrade many computers after seeing the new full version work].... but I also did not mention I worked for a non-profit and we purchase our Full office Pro for about $17.50 each! :-)

Has anyone used the new Microsoft Office 2003 yet?