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Archive through February 14, 2004

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: 2005 Mar. ~ 2005 May: All Things Technical: The Help Desk (ARCHIVES): Free Files!! and computer help tips (ARCHIVES): Archive through February 14, 2004 users admin

Author Message
Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 5:15 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Bob or Jed, where is the download link on the AVG page? I had passed a tip about that one on to a penniless friend, after receiving advice of a year's free antivirus with free online updates. She reported back to me that it was only a firewall, and I was embarrassed at having sent her there. Oops, never mind, just found it about halfway down on left side.

Thanks, Jed and Bob! Sent the link along to my friend.

Bob2112
Member

06-12-2002

Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 5:27 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
AVG

Jed245
Member

11-01-2002

Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 6:37 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks bob... I'm glad to have some feed back heheh. :o) I haven't tried linux... My older brother loves redhat and is trying mandrake. So I thought I would post those operating systems on the board.

I hear they are much more stable then windows. Maybe I'll give it a try myself. I'll post more tips when something comes to mind. Or if anyone has a particular file type they would like for free... just tell me :o)

Juju I'm sorry about that I should have given a link directly to the download. But, when I posted it I thought everyone might wanna read the page first. :o)

Jed. :o)

Jed245
Member

11-01-2002

Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 7:39 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Tired of windows, but, don't wanna learn a whole new OS? (operating system). Well there is a FREE way to make windows look and work differently. Just a little.

All ya gotta do is change your windows shell. :o) Well ok this tip isn't for everyone. But, IT'S REALLY REALLY COOL!!!!!! with this you can change the way windows looks. And it'll change the way it works a little.

There are several different themes and people upload themes all the time so windows can be a different (looking anyway) operating system everytime ya use it.

Every geek and past newbie user that's tired of windows should check this page out.

Ok on to the tip. :o) Ok the page is here :o) I think you should go there and atleast give it a read over and a look. :o)

You will need to sign up for a username and password before you can download the software, but, it's all FREE!! :o)


If anyone tries this ya gotta let me know I'm using it and I like it alot so far.

Jed245
Member

11-01-2002

Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 7:44 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Uhh a note about my last tip... some of the themes can make your desktop look like a video game. Ever play mech assault? Well my desktop and windows looks like the windows in mech assault. :o)

Again... I'm kinda stoked about this tip myself being new to the software it's still pretty new and fun to me.

When you right click on something the lil window that pops up looks different, when you click the start button the window that pops up looks different.

When you do basically anything it looks a little different.

Keep in mind this is mostly a graphical interface difference. :o)

Luvmyjrt
Member

09-18-2003

Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 8:47 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Jed, I would be interested in a software program that makes it easy to change photos a la the Survivor game. I can scan, etc., and make crappy changes through paint, but would really like a free program that puts me at the top of Adven's Survivor Game. Thanks!

Jed245
Member

11-01-2002

Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 9:55 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
well luvmyjrt ya might want to check photoplus5. I posted it a little earlier. ... and ofcourse its free. :o)

Goddessatlaw
Member

07-19-2002

Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 10:43 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Is there any such thing as a truly free spyware removal program? I use adaware to swat the bugs, but it doesn't remove the spyware itself. Everything I've seen online so far costs average of $20-$30.00, and we don't purchase anything over the internet. Any suggestions?

Jed245
Member

11-01-2002

Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 5:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Well yes there are gal... how about this one click here :o)

Then again there is...SPYBOT search & destroy... click here Spybot is free, but, they do ask for a donation.

However, you can skip past the donation and download spybot. :o) You can also get cw shredder. (cool web shredder) that is only needed if your browser homepage is hijacked.

So if you suddenly find your home page is something like www.buy this . com then uhh ya got hijacked. :o)

Jed. :o)

Jed245
Member

11-01-2002

Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 7:13 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I'll be posting tips later today I think. Been really busy with a few things. And yes I'm still pluggin litesteps. :o)

Carrie92
Member

09-15-2003

Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 10:57 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Jed, on litestep: Are there any fun themes for kids?

My 6-yr old loves it when I surprise him with a Rescue Heroes desktop or Spongebob Screensaver.

He won't always be so easily amused, but I'm milking it as long as I can!

Jed245
Member

11-01-2002

Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 11:02 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Carrie.. I'm not sure, but will check in the am. LiteSteps also adds a few options to windows. :o)

Jed245
Member

11-01-2002

Friday, February 13, 2004 - 7:30 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Ok Carrie The fallout theme looks pretty cool. Just a big robots face with the icons. Not to sure I like the interface changes to it though.

Something ya might wanna do for him though... My latest greatest tip. :o) .........


Mod your pc tower. Ok this is kinda a dry tip, but, it's really fun.

Take something you like, or your kids like... hmm Lemme see for me... A model castle or something like that. All you do with a model mod is you put a model together (one big enough to put your hard drive and other circuitry/cd drive into). Before you put the model completely together. Secure your pc parts inside of the model.

You have to know what your doing to a certian extent. But, with time and some effort you can turn that boring pc tower into a magnificent castle with a draw bridge for a cd door. A mouse moded to look like a catapult and just a really cool looking workspace. :o)

Jed245
Member

11-01-2002

Friday, February 13, 2004 - 7:33 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Tip... Wanna get some free utilities for your computer? Free files and other stuff.... here's a cool page for ya.

Utility Geek Go check it out. :o)

Jed245
Member

11-01-2002

Friday, February 13, 2004 - 7:46 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Free font file. :o) Ok I talked a little about finding fonts easier. I know what your thinking... My hand writting is da bomb! I wish it were a font.

Well now it can be all you need is this> Fontifier, a scanner, and a printer.

What to do with it after ya get it?

1. Download and print a copy of the Fontifier handwriting template.

2. Use a thick felt pen to write letters, numbers, and punctuation in the boxes.

3. Scan your image and save it as a .gif file.

4. Submit your .gif to the Fontifier website. You may need to rotate your image if the site doesn't accept it the first time.

5. Drag your new font file into the Font folder in your control panel.

BOOM you can now make documents in your own handwriting online. Cool eh? :o)

Jed.

Jed245
Member

11-01-2002

Friday, February 13, 2004 - 1:14 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
On the tip menu this evening...

Are ya tired of windows title bar, but, don't wanna use litestep? Then lets change the color of it eh?

Here's how ya do it.

1. Right-click on an empty area of your desktop.

2. In the window that pops up...click properties.

3. In the new window that pops up There will be five tabs at the top... Themes, Desktop, Screen Saver, Appearance, and settings..... Click on the APPEARANCE tab. :o)

4. Now look at the bottom right there should be a button that says "Advanced" click it.

5. In the advanced window that pops up you'll notice a pull down window (little bar with a black arrow beside of it pointing down) Above that blank it will say ITEM:

6. Click the black arrow... Now you should see an option that says "active title bar" Select it.

7. Now to the right there are three more windows "size" color 1" and "color 2". For now click color 1 and select black for example.

8. Now click color 2 and select silver (for example ofcourse... I'm not assuming your a raiders fan or tying to convert ya)

9. Now click the pull down window we did earlier that's marked item. This time select inactive title bar. :o)

10. Again select color 1 from the other window and select red for example. Now select color 2 and select aqua for example. :o)

11. Click ok and apply.

Cool eh?

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Friday, February 13, 2004 - 1:38 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
jed, i went to litestep, i registered. then i took a look at themes. scared the living daylights outta me! will those work with XP? they are so techy there, i'm afraid i'll be lost. are those themes like the ones that plus! uses???

Jed245
Member

11-01-2002

Friday, February 13, 2004 - 3:17 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Landi... It's not so techy as ya might think. It's actually pretty simple once ya download it and get going. And changing back to windows xp shell is as simple as clicking an icon and rebooting. :o)

I've been using litesteps for a few days now and it works fine with xp. There isn't anything that you can do wrong.

The default setting will make your desktop grey with the word litestep in the background. You can download hundreds of themes so you need to find the one that's right for you. This is less for kids and more for teenagers/adults (not that it's adult themed)

It will add some extra options to your right click menu.

For example right now when your right click on desktop you get the following options.

Arrange icons by >
Refresh
paste (greyed out)
paste shortcut (greyed out)
New >
Properties.

After you install litesteps your right click on desktop will look like this.

Tasks
system folder
program files
my computer
control pannel
Lite Step.

the clock will likely be moved, And the task bar will be different (I actually like it much better then the windows one). My documents and other things will be easier to access.

Jed245
Member

11-01-2002

Friday, February 13, 2004 - 3:18 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Oh and they are not like the themes plus uses at all. It basically changes the way windows does a few things. and the background will change to match the theme, but, it's changeable. :o)

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Friday, February 13, 2004 - 3:46 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
will it only affect MY desktop? or will it affect the other people when they log in? with xp we all have our own computer programs (me having them all as i'm the admin)

Jed245
Member

11-01-2002

Saturday, February 14, 2004 - 5:21 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Well Landi it will affect your profile because it is a shell. WHen they load up each individual profile it will load the windows shell for them. And the litesteps shell for you.

Now as for it's affect.. Pretty much just desktop. The task bar at the bottom of the screen will look different and the shortcuts will change.

Some themes are not very good, but, some are awesome!! the default theme is pretty nice. I like some of the more weird looking ones myself.

Trust me Landi you won't hurt anything and the whole process is completely reversable.

And ya got your own personal tech guy right here in the help files thread. :o)

Jed.

Jed245
Member

11-01-2002

Saturday, February 14, 2004 - 5:35 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
QUICK VALENTINES FILE Hurry people your s/o is gonna wake up soon. heheh :o)

Go here Holiday lights download And download the holiday lights. Now that you've done that.... Go here And get some bulbs.

I personally recomend these > floral hearts And ofcourse These> Double Beat

They are holiday lights for your computers desktop.

Here's what you do after you download the first file(light console).... And the second file (bulbs).

1. Download the bulbs and extract from their Zip files.

2. they'll automatically be added to your Holiday Lights console.

3. Double-click the bulb icon in the system tray.

4. then drag any other lights such as Christmas or Hanukkah lights off the borders and drag your Valentine's Day lights into the borders.

BOOM instant atmosphere.... ohh la la :o)

Jed.

Jed245
Member

11-01-2002

Saturday, February 14, 2004 - 5:46 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
everyone get in here quick... ok enough lame cries for attention. In my haste to get that valentines file up there I forgot to go into detail.

It's not really a valentines day file. It's a desktop decoration file. The default lights are christmas lights. You can download several of the different lights. Then when you install the console and run it.

There will be a lil red chirstmas light looking thing on your task bar.

DOuble click it and it will open. You'll notice snowmen and christmas lights on it on four little white bars.

Well now ya just right click on the bulbs ya downloaded and choose open with in the window that pops up.

Then choose holiday lights application. It will open them right to your console.

You can mix and match several different lights in each white bar. They will appear all around your computers desktop. :o)

Great for other holidays, birthdays, kids (there are bulbs that look like ninjas), There are also mikey mouse bulbs and other disney stuff. :o)

Jed. :o)

Jed245
Member

11-01-2002

Saturday, February 14, 2004 - 5:59 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Ok one last file then Sleepy time for me. :o)

Do ya got kids and wanna help em learn while they are on the pc? Then you need>>> Clever Keys<<< That's right, with Clever keys you can highlight parts of words to get the definition to it.

After you download clever keys do this...

1. Install and enable CleverKeys.
2. Highlight a piece of text you want to know more about and hit the key combo (Ctrl + L).
3. The utility searches Dictionary.com (as well as a Web search through the site), Thesaurus.com, and Amazon.com for the information you want.

cool huh?


Wapland
Member

08-01-2000

Saturday, February 14, 2004 - 9:27 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
You are great JED...keep them coming. DH and I have a date tomorrow to check some of these out. Thanks so much