'The Mardler' Articles
This page contains the articles written for 'The Mardler' the Brockdish and Thorpe Abbotts Magazine
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Issue 167 - February - March 2010
Memories are forever - aren't they?
Christmas is over and lots of photographs will have been taken to preserve those precious memories of all that went right, and all that went wrong!
These days almost everything seems to end up on the computer. Whether you then print the photographs or put them on an electronic frame, they are still safely on the computer, aren't they? Unfortunately, possibly not.
Computers are now so much of our lives, and they seem to just go on forever, so we assume they always will. Which can be a big mistake! Hard drives are very reliable, very stable and usually don’t go physically wrong, but it is a big mistake to think they can't. If they do, and you do not have a backup then you might lose ALL your files, let alone your precious memories. Some can be recovered but it can work out very expensive.
And what about software corruption? If that is bad enough you might have to totally wipe your hard drive and start again, leading to loss of most files.
So what can you do? Copy everything important to another separate medium, be it CD, DVD, Memory stick, another hard drive; and do it regularly. For really precious files it is recommended that you take two copies on separate media. After all even CD's or DVD's can become unusable. Memory sticks are better.
Backing up files seems like a chore, right up to the point where the original goes wrong, then you realised how wonderful it really is.
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Issue 166 - December 2009 - January 2010
First steps in using a computer.
Funnily enough the first step to getting started with computers is to actually buy a computer. But which computer?
There appears to be a never ending choice of makes, and models, so which one should you chose? To a large degree that depends on who you are and what you want to do with it.
If you are just starting and want to surf the Internet, send e-mails and perform basic office tasks such as letters, etc; you don’t really need a powerful expensive computer, a laptop may fit the bill. On the other hand, if you want to play some of the new games you will need a more powerful machine.
The best way of finding something suitable is to ask your friends! See what they use, and if possible get them to let you have a go on it. Actually trying it is often the best way to get the feel of it and how suitable it might be for you.
Take your time, ask around. You wouldn’t buy a car without looking at it properly before the purchase, so do the same with a computer. When you have made the decision, make the purchase, and not before.
Finally, did you know a lot of Libraries now give you the chance to use their computers, and the staff will help you if you don't know how to start? Now that really is a service. Don’t be shy, have a try.
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Issue 165 - October - November 2009
Can ANY average person learn to use a computer?
Contrary to some 'experts', the answer is a resounding 'Yes'.
However, I often hear people protest that they could not learn to use a computer as they are too old, not gifted enough, or just plain incapable. This is a myth given out by others who want to make computing seem the province of the really bright.
The reality is, practically everyone could learn to use a computer, if they wanted to do so.
Age is not a barrier, being gifted is a blessing only a few manage to achieve, and being incapable is a frame of mind. With the right teacher success is guaranteed. True, using a computer seems complicated, but so are other things people take for granted. If you don’t believe me, watch a baby trying to walk for the first time. It knows it can be done, wants to do it and keeps trying till it succeeds. And that is a complicated thing to learn!
Computers are superficially intimidating, but you don’t have to know how to do everything. You just need to learn the bits you want to be able to do. This drastically reduces the complexity of the learning. Much of 'computing' is habit the same as everything else, and recognising what appears in front of you on the screen becomes easier with practice. When you crack that, you’ve cracked computing!
We’ll carry this theme forwards in following articles, but for now, think positive, you can learn if that is what you want.
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Issue 164 - August - September 2009
When does 'OUT' really mean out?
The scene is - you are printing from your computer and suddenly the warning comes up on screen - 'Your cartridge is nearly empty, you should buy another.', or some such words; but the intent is clear - you are shortly going to run out of ink and should replace the cartridge as soon as possible!
But is this necessarily true? The answer is, probably not. Don’t get me wrong, a lot of printers will stop working when one of the cartridges is totally empty. It is the question of what constitutes 'empty' which is important. The warning is given early, to give you a chance to obtain a replacement.
However, ink cartridges are expensive so you don't want to waste any ink that remains, so when the warning appears you should certainly purchase a replacement. But don’t put it into the printer. If you do, then you could be wasting quite a lot of ink.
Then just continue printing as normal. And usually it will go on printing as normal for some time. You may get another or even several more warnings before it finally runs out completely. At which point you will have the cartridge ready to replace the empty one.
However, if you have had your warnings and you have something important to print and only one chance to print it, don’t take chances replace the cartridge, otherwise let the cartridge run out and then replace it. You will find that you save money virtually every time.
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Issue 163 - June - July 2009
Broadband - the question you must ask before buying!
A problem has surfaced recently to do with new installations of Broadband which directly affects many people with older computers.
It is to do with the connection between the computer and the Router. Older modems used what is called a USB (Universal Serial Bus) connection cable. It can be recognised by the plug at the end of the cable being a flat oblong in shape, and is often blue. The new Routers use what is called an Ethernet connection cable. It can be recognised by the plug at the end of the cable being much squarer than the USB plug, and is quite often yellow.
The significance is that many older computers simply do not have a socket into which an Ethernet cable can be connected, so an adaptor is necessary to enable the connection to be made. In some cases a USB extension cable is also needed. These are NOT supplied by the Broadband providers.
It is complicated, in that some Routers have a USB socket on the back, but in most cases this socket cannot be used to make the computer/router connection.
Also, and this is very important, although the help pages of the Broadband Provider say this socket cannot be used to connect to the computer, some of their 'experts' and 'salesmen' are fully convinced that it can be used to make just such a connection.
Finally, if you are having the Broadband installed, make sure the person installing it has the necessary extras before they attend. It will save both time and money.
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Issue 162 - April - May 2009
Who is where? - When?
We all worry about our young people and how vulnerable we feel they are. (They don’t agree, of course, but we do it anyway.) You may worry about where they go, or with whom, but what about their computing visits? It’s very easy to cause upset as soon as you say anything about wanting to know what your children are doing on their computer. They may feel that you do not trust them.
But it’s not about trust, rather about experience, and it does need to be recognised as a potential problem and discussed sensibly. That is the basis of trust.
A lot of Parents know far less about computers than their children, but that’s reasonable, the children grew up with them we didn't. This makes it unrealistic to spend much time explaining computer 'Parental Controls', under the principle that anything you can do, they can undo quicker than you did it in the first place.
It's far better to discuss with them the sensible use of the computers and why you are concerned. (They will claim to know it all anyway, but do persist) Chat rooms are far safer than they used to be, but what about these sites where you gather 'friends'. Sounds innocent enough, but what information are the youngsters putting online? Their Name, address, age, photos and much more? They may not realise the dangers, but we do, and must find some way of educating them, before they find out the hard way.
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Issue 161 - February - March 2009
New Computer - Time to be thinking 'Safety'
Well, you now have your new computer, and soon you will be spending many happy hours using it, especially on the Internet. But do you know that they are still selling computers with no antivirus software installed, and that is like giving someone else the keys to your new car. You just don't know what they are going to do with it, and can you trust them? Unfortunately the answer is often 'NO'.
There are people out there who love causing problems for others so you do need protection for your computer. These days you actually need quite a lot, but start with the antivirus software. Look for it on your new computer. It should say somewhere 'antivirus'. It may also say - 'Trial' or 'limited to 30 days'.
If you have one of these limited ones you need to think almost immediately of getting another antivirus sorted out. They have been installed originally to encourage you to buy that particular antivirus, but for home use there are perfectly good free ones. However, remember you should only have one antivirus on your computer, so you may have to take the first one off before you install the replacement.
You have a wonderful new way of interacting with the world. It is good fun and should last you for a long time without problems, but you do need to think about Security and keeping the bad guys from causing you expensive problems.
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Issue 160 - December 2008 - January 2009
Christmas is here, Bargains galore!
We all love a bargain, but at this time of year it is all too easy to get caught up in the gloss and promises of bargains and advertisements promising you everything you have ever wanted.
There are some bargains out there, but don't be seduced into parting with your money just because someone else tells you it is just what you want.
If you are thinking about buying a computer, think about what you need before you even go to the shops. A laptop is quite self-contained, but if you buy a desktop you might need a monitor, keyboard, and mouse: and both will need a printer. Does the offered package include these, and if not how much do you need to spend to get them?
And how do you know which computer, there are so many?
The answer to that is start with your family, then friends, and other people you can trust to give you an unbiased opinion. If they have got the computer they recommend, ask them to let you have a go and try it yourself. The main thing is that you are not under any pressure to buy it there and then. Think about your purchase, computers are getting cheaper, but they are not cheap.
Only when you have a pretty good idea of what you want should you go to the shops, etc; and if you are still unsure, try to take a knowledgeable friend with you.
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Issue 159 - October - November 2008
Backups - who needs them?
Backups are like filing, most people don't like doing them.
But, not making a Backup can be disastrous. If your system fails and you do not have a Backup then put simply you may have lost everything; and in some cases the files cannot be recovered.
The best Backup is one that is not on the same computer because if you backup to the same hard drive and it breaks, you cannot access anything on it be it Original or Backup.
So how about CDs or DVDs? They are good, but remember, if you transfer the files to a CD or DVD, and remove them from your computer; you do NOT have a Backup you have an Original. So if you transfer a lifetime of family photographs to CDs or DVDs, you should make a second copy as a Backup. Failure to do that means that if the CD or DVD corrupts you have lost everything!
How about the Memory Sticks you can buy? Well these come in various sizes, and are actually more robust than CDs or DVDs, so as Backups they are quite good. But do remember, if you work so the files are saved directly to the Memory stick, it is NOT a Backup, it is an Original.
The main thing is, get into the habit of creating Backups of all your important stuff. Stuff you would not want to lose under any circumstances. Backups are essential, think about it today, then start doing it.
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Issue 158 - August - September 2008
Surfing the Internet - Safely
The other major use of the Internet is 'surfing'. Don't you just love the expressions we get to use? Surfing is the use of the Internet to find information by visiting websites. Believe me, there is information out there that you never even thought you would ever want to know.
Surfing is easy. Surfing safely is too, but you must take steps to protect your computer, and some of them need to be in place before you even connect to the Internet for the first time.
Do you know that it is still possible to buy a computer that does not have any anti-virus software at all. So if you go on the net, your computer is virtually certain to be attacked. (For those of you who don't recognise the usage of the word 'virus', it means pretty well the same as the usual medical term. We'll cover it later, but it is something that will make your computer pretty sick, if it catches one.)
Usually, new computers have limited life anti-virus software installed, but do check. If you haven't got one, then you need one urgently. Fortunately there are some very good free ones out there, so don't be rushed into parting with your money.
There are lots of other software you can use to protect your computer, but start with the anti-virus software, it is the most critical. So 'surf safely' and enjoy the Internet, it can be a wonderful source of information.
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Issue 157 - June - July 2008
Keys and Settings
I have broken away from my planned editorials to speak of Keys and Settings. By this I mean anything that generates a number or other information to make software work.
If you set up an Internet connection, you will have some Settings to make it work. If anything goes wrong, and the connection needs to be reset, it is critical to know what those Settings were. Sometimes they are recoverable by someone who knows a fair bit about computers, but sometimes they are not. It they are not then you really have a problem.
If you install some software, it may ask you to input a Key which is on the packaging to make it work. If you later need to reinstall it, you will need the same Key.
My advice is to have a notebook. Write in it anything that looks like a Setting or a Key. It won't matter if it is not important and you write it down, but it will matter if it is important and you don't. One of the real problems for people who try to fix computers is that the person who owns the computer doesn't know the relevant Keys or Settings. If you have them all, and in one place, it takes far less time to fix an ailing computer.
So start today with the new stuff, and if you can, write down as much of the old stuff as you can remember. It could save you a lot of money.
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Issue 156 - April - May 2008
e-mail - Should you be getting all those adverts?
Welcome to the world of e-mails. The quickest way of receiving information from someone who is across the world; and one of the biggest ways of wasting time trying to find that information when you have received it.
Your messages sometimes get buried underneath all the rubbish e-mails sent out by companies who want to sell you something, and that something can be very embarrassing indeed, not the sort of thing you want appearing on your computer.
But you should not be getting these e-mails most of the time. If you are then your e-mail system has not been set up correctly. Virtually all e-mail systems have 'filters' specifically to remove these e-mails, in often before you even see them.
Unfortunately how you set these filters is often Application specific. So the way you do it for 'Outlook Express' is not necessarily the same way you would do it for any of the e-mail systems provided by the Internet Service Providers. We may cover some of the common ones later, but for now, if you are getting lots of offensive e-mails you need to be looking on your system for 'filters' or 'blocking senders'.
You can try the 'Help' option on the Application, but these often seem to want you to know the answer before you ask the question. So if you have a problem you need to ask someone else how to deal with it, someone who has the same Application, which is set correctly.
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Issue No 155 - February - March 2008
Whats next when you have your new computer?
After you have bought your new computer and set it up what do you do?
One of the primary reasons for having a computer is to view the Internet, and to be able to send and receive e-mails. When we 've had a computer for a while we become very casual about the whole computer language thing, completely losing the beginner in the computer jargon.
So lets look at the Internet connections issue - there are basically two types. The first is termed 'dial-up'. It is fairly slow, and uses your telephone line so you cannot use your computer for the Internet, at the same time as using your telephone.
The second type is 'Broadband'. It is much quicker and you can use your computer for the Internet at the same time as you use your telephone. (Don't worry about exactly how your computer is connected so it can do this; you really don't need to know)
Which is best? That comes back to the old question about how much you want to spend, and what is going to be your usage of the Internet and e-mails. For small usage of e-mails 'dial-up' may be perfectly adequate, but remember it will not cope with sending large pictures - that is one of the biggest problems. Otherwise, 'Broadband' may be your requirement.
Only by asking the right questions will you know which is best for you. Ask your friends before taking on a contract for any service. Remember, Caution pays!
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Issue No 154 - December 2007 - January 2008
A New Computer is endless Fun
When a computer is working properly it really can be a source of endless amusement and useful endeavour, including communication between people at the ends of the earth with the speed of the electronic age.
So what can you do with a computer, and does the fun apply to all ages, or just those who want to play games on it (again, of all ages)? These days you can do so many things on a computer that listing them becomes silly. It really depends on what you want to do.
Are you the serious type, who wants to run a home office, with letters, spreadsheets, etc? You want an office suite of programs. Digital photography, video? A media suite of programs. Newsletters? Desktop publishing. Games? There are so many!
There really is something for everyone; you just need to know what gives you fun, and then tailor the computer to meet your needs.
That can be the problem, because how do you know which computer or program is right for what you want it to do? It is best to talk first to those who do not have any interest in selling you either the computer or the program. Try family and friends, then those you know you can trust, and finally listen to the vendors. Doing it that way round maximises the chances of you actually getting what you really want, not being sold something inappropriate to your requirements. Remember Caution before purchase will save anxiety afterwards.
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Issue No 153 - October - November 2007
Computers are wonderful - aren't they?
Computers are wonderful; at least that is what we are always being told. However, as someone who works with computers I can tell you, they are also the modern man's itch, that you can't reach to scratch.
When they work, they're wonderful, but you try talking sensibly to someone who has just spent two hours or more trying to do something simple that has worked every time but this one. If you can stand the language, can you talk sensibly? Probably not, and I have to say it is not only 'a man thing'. Women too get upset, though probably not as upset as most men, including me!
So what can you do when your computer is blowing raspberries when you want peaches and cream? That is where the Mardler could come in. We are going to have a 'computer corner', where we can cover some of the usual problems; and the answers, of course. Let the Editor know if you have topics you would like us to cover, and if you have problems you want solving. (If you don't ever have any problems with your computer, please tell me how you do it, because I still do) You can also find solutions to some common problems on my website www.barry-woods.co.uk, and also a link to my e-mail in case you have a specific question. Over to you Mardler computer users.
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