I’ve just finished updating the ebook “Speed Up Your PC”. 

I’ve added 8 new pages, so it now covers Registry Cleaners (similar to an article I wrote a while back, but with some pictures of the screen) and how to clear space on your hard drive if it gets full (and how to check if it’s full in the first place).

You can get it here: www.pcinnercircle.co.uk/index.php/downloads/ebook-downloads/

If you’ve already read the old version, the new pages are 33-37 and 50-52, though I also made some small changes to some of the other pages to keep them up to date. 

Hope you find it useful if your PC is running slowly!

Tim

This is only relevant if you use AVG but with some versions, as of today, it’ll pop up a window saying “AVG recommended product upgrade”.  If you didn’t know, you might thing it’s like the updates it does automatically – something you need.  But this one isn’t.

If you click on Next when it appears, you’ll get a screen like this:

(Click on the picture to see it a bit bigger – click the back button to get back here again).

If you click on Next it’ll install the “AVG toolbar” to your web browser – and if you leave the box on the left ticked it’ll also set your search provider to Yahoo, instead of Google, Microsoft or whoever you use.

Now it won’t harm your PC in any way, but in my opinion this “upgrade” is pretty much pointless.  It just clutters up your browser with another toolbar that you’ll probably never use.

If you’re wondering why they’re doing it I’m 99% sure they’ll be paid by Yahoo for getting more people to use Yahoo to search instead of Google.  It’s one more reason why I’m gradually moving from recommending AVG to recommending Microsoft Security Essentials as free anti-virus software, even though the AVG protection itself is very good.

Anyway, if you get this window pop up, I’d recommend choosing “Cancel”.

Tim

I’ve wanted to write about how to put videos (from VHS cassettes) onto DVDs using your PC for some time.  Now things have settled down a bit I’ve finally managed to get it done – you can read the article here:

http://www.pcinnercircle.co.uk/index.php/articles/videos-onto-dvds/

Or if you want the printable version, click on the “Articles” button at the top of the page, then scroll to the bottom.

More articles and videos from now on…

I’ve wanted to write more articles for a while (and record more videos) and now I’ve got Pete and Georgia helping me with the Clubroom I’ve finally got a bit more time.  I’m planning to keep them helping me so I can write more articles and record more videos.  So stand by to get more articles and more videos!  (Though of course, if there are any you aren’t interested in, you can ignore them!)

Tim

You just might have heard rumours about Internet Explorer 9 coming out next month.  Is it true?  Well, as they used to say in “Yes, Minister”, Yes and no.

What’s being released next month is something called a “beta” version of Internet Explorer 9.  It’s a kind of test version – Microsoft think it’s finished, so they release it for Techies and computer journalists to have a go with it and spot any problems.  Then Microsoft fix those problems before the offical launch.

It’s called a beta because there’s an earlier alpha version, when only people inside Microsoft get to try it out and th worst problems are spotted and fixed.  This time round the beta is also being called a “Test Drive” which makes a bit more sense – but it’s not really a test drive for your benefit, it’s so you can spot problems for Microsoft.

So what are they changing in IE9?  With Ie7 and IE8 they added new features like tabs and so on.  But with IE9 the biggest changes will be “Under the bonnet” – faster video, sound and better display of fancy graphics.  Good for webpages that have programs running in them – video or games.  It’ll make no real difference to webpages that are mainly text and the odd simple photo.

Oh, and it won’t work on Windows XP – you’ll need Vista or Windows 7 to use Internet Explorer 9 (either the beta version or the final version).  40% or more of people are still using XP but if you’re one of them, you’ll have to stick to an earlier version.

There’s no limitation on who can download the beta version.  So if you fancy seeing what it’s like, there’s nothing to stop you getting it next month (it’ll be available from www.microsoft.com).  But I wouldn’t generally recommend it unless you’re curious.  At this stage it will still have bugs and problems (which is why they’re doing this) so I’d generally suggest waiting for the proper release.  There’s no word on exactly when that’ll be but Microsoft will want it done as soon as possible after the Beta.

At least you know what all the fuss is about now!

Tim

Hello

You know how you wait for buses and then two come along at once?  (Well, assuming you’re not up here – on a Sunday for example, there are four through the village I live in – that’s  four in the day, not four in an hour)

But something similar often happens with computer questions.  It’s strange.  And this week it happened with suggestions.  Several people suggested I add a page to the Inner Circle webpage where you can see all the webpages I’ve recommended.  So I have: www.pcinnercircle.co.uk/index.php/downloads/webpages/

It doesn’t include the webpages of programs I recommend (for example AVG or CCleaner) – that’s still here: www.pcinnercircle.co.uk/index.php/downloads/program-downloads/

But it means if you want to see what webpages I’ve recommended (or you know I recommended one for something in particular but you can’t remember what it was) you can easily have a look.

Oh, and don’t forget you can use the search box (that says “Type here and press enter to search this site”) to look for any articles or clubroom answers I’ve written.  Say if you want to see if I’ve written about “Incredimail”, just type that into the box and press enter.

Tim

Phew – after a couple of weeks off with Julie and Alastair, I’m back in the office again today.  Pete and Georgia will still be helping with the Clubroom questions for a bit while I catch up!

A huge thank you to everyone who passed on congratulations and all the lovely messages.  Sorry for not responding to each one individually – I wanted to but there were so many of you!

In fact the last few weeks have given me a useful idea for an article – we’ve been sharing photos (and even some very short video clips) of Alastair using a website called Flickr – it’s great for when you want to share photos with more than one person. A handy alternative to emailing everyone.  Watch out for the article on how to use the site shortly.  (You can see the site and photos here: www.flickr.com/photos/julesandtim - click on a photo to get a full size version.)

Pete had a useful idea while I was off – often when I’m answering a question, I start by asking “What version of Windows do you have?” or “What version of Internet Explorer?”  But he’s set it up so that when you leave a question on the clubroom, the clubroom automatically checks with your PC what version it has – your PC knows without you needing to do anything.  Then when I’m answering questions, it tells me what version of Windows and what web browser you use.  Should make things easier for everyone… and make me look clever, as if I just know what version of Windows to talk about!

Right – better get stuck into my emails.  The others managed to answer most of them but there are 151 in a folder labelled “For Tim when he gets back”! 

Tim

It’s a boy!  Alastair Ethan Wakeling arrived at 8:02am on Tuesday morning.  He and Julie are both fine, though Julie looks shattered!  (I’m pretty tired too – I’m not used to staying up all night – good practice I suppose!)

He weighs 8 pound 11, so he was a big one for Julie to deliver.  So far he’s proved he has a very good pair of lungs (and likes to use them!) and seems to be calmed down by me singing George Gershwin songs (despite the out of tune bits) - unfortunately I only know two so it’s getting a bit repetative.  I’ll have to do some research!

I’ll be a bit quiet over the next week or so – I’m hoping to bring him and Julie home either today (Wednesday) or tomorrow.  But Pete and Georgia will still be here to answer your questions in the meantime and I’d already written some articles in advance for the newsletter on the 15th!

I’ve taken some photos but haven’t sorted through them yet – I’ll put one up here later!

Tim