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Tech Tips
Bill 'Smokey'
Stover
Launched 10/08/06
Tips will be dated and run in numerical order
from Tip # 1 to Tip # #####.
August 25, 2006
Tip # 1. If you use the
Internet and/or Email Services, you need ‘High Speed’ Service such as Tel Co
‘DSL’ or Cable ‘Modem’. Dial-Up is ‘Slow’, ‘Cumbersome’, ‘Cantankerous’,
‘Obsolete’ and just downright untrustworthy, unreliable, and almost
unusable.
Bill ‘Smokey’ Stover
August 25, 2006
Tip # 2. If you don’t use
the Internet and/or Email Services, you are missing out on a whole world of
information that is available to the whole world.
Bill ‘Smokey’ Stover
August 25, 2006
Tip # 3. If you are
intimidated by the Technologies associated with Internet Access, find a
‘Computer Buddy’ who can help you until you gain the ‘Confidence’ required
to ‘Beat the Odds’ while becoming an Internet Guru.
Bill ‘Smokey’ Stover
August 25, 2006
Tip # 4. If Email ‘Spam’
containing ‘Viruses’, ‘Spyware’, ‘Adware’, ‘Harmware’, ‘Junk Mail’, and all
sorts of ‘Malicious Software’ has defeated you in your ‘Quest’ to share in
the great things offered by and through the ‘Facilities’ afforded by the
Internet and/or Email Services, acquire the tools to fight back. Protection
Packages are very affordable today. Ask your ‘Computer Buddy’ to advise you
as to what you need, and then procure the required ‘Tools’.
Bill ‘Smokey’ Stover
August 25, 2006
Tip # 5. All Questions can
be answered. Most answers involve CASH. All Problems can be resolved.
Again, most resolutions require $$$$.
Bill ‘Smokey’ Stover
August 25, 2006
Tip # 6. All problems are
either Hardware or Software. All ‘Hardware’ will eventually fail. Most
‘Off the Shelf’ Software never fails, unless and until your ‘System’ is
attacked by any one of the myriad of entities we call ‘Malicious Software’.
If a problem can be proven to be ‘Mechanical’ or ‘Electrical’ in nature, it
is a ‘Hardware’ problem. If you want something to happen and it doesn’t,
the problem could be either ‘Hardware’ or ‘Software’. ‘Software Problems’
often give ‘Symptoms’ that make you think you have ‘Hardware Problems’. If
you can’t prove that you have a ‘Hardware Problem’, then suspect an attack
by ‘Malicious Software’. You get the picture. Your ‘Computer (Hardware)’
very seldom fails but when it does, don’t waste your time and money on
repairs. Buy a new, more powerful computer for less than you paid for the
one you have now. Buy the tools for fighting ‘Malicious Software’ before
you need the tools, and in the future, you may never even know when your
system used the tools to defeat the attacks of ‘Malicious Software’.
Bill ‘Smokey’ Stover
August 25, 2006
Tip # 7. If your printer
does not print when your system requests a printout, your printer has one of
a number of problems. Newer Software may verbalize the problem in a dialog
block on the screen. If it does, then follow the instructions as given. If
the Print Head never moves, your printer either has no power, is out of
paper, or has a mechanical or software problem. If paper feeds into the
printer and the print head moves but it does not print, either your print
cartridge is out of ink or the print head is mechanically ‘dead’. If the
cartridge is empty, replace it. If the printer still fails to print,
replace the printer. The head alone will cost the price of a new printer to
replace. You can buy a color printer for $50 .00. A ‘Combo Pack’ of
cartridges alone usually costs in the vicinity of $60.00. If you have to
buy a printer then buy a good one like a ‘Scanner/Printer’ combo unit for
around $100.00. Later, when you want to Scan or Print some ‘Memorabilia’ for
a friend or for the Web Site, you will feel good when you can do a ‘Pro’ job
for pennies, and right at home.
Bill ‘Smokey’ Stover
August 25, 2006
Tip # 8. Email your
Question/Problem to Bill ‘Smokey’ Stover at Smokey Stover’s Place. I have
built and will maintain a number of pages designed to support you in your
‘Quest’ to use your computer and the Internet as a ‘Conduit’ and
‘Interchange’ to ‘Transfer’, ‘Exchange’, and/or otherwise ‘Share’
‘Information’ in all forms and formats. I will ‘Post’ Answers/Resolutions
on a timely basis. I will attempt to Answer all Questions and give you
reliable Resolutions. After 38 years as a Computer Field Engineer and
Information Systems Analyst (Hardware and Software), I have encountered
1000s of Problems and Symptoms. I have ‘Burned the Midnight Oil’ to resolve
problems on the world’s largest computers as well as the world’s smallest
computers. I have seen as many ‘Computer Problems’ as any group of a
thousand people and I have resolved many of the same problems as most people
encounter every day. If I can’t answer your question and help you in a
resolution I will tell you that I can’t help. If you read this and you have
had a problem that you, your computer buddy, or a computer professional
resolved, share it with us. I will ‘Post’ your input. If you see a
question/problem for which you have an answer or resolution, share it with
us and I will ‘Post’ your answer/resolution.
Email Questions/Problems
and Answers/Resolutions to :
wstover@bellsouth.net
or
wstover@trabzonairstation.com
if you know me from
http://www.trabzonairstation.com
or
wstover@ussbrinkleybassdd887.com
if you know me from
http://www.ussbrinkleybassdd887.com
.
Bill ‘Smokey’ Stover
August 25, 2006
Tip # 9. Always remember
the following statement. There are no ignorant, stupid, silly, bad, or
wrong questions when it comes to computer problems. The only stupid
question is the one unasked. If you never ask, there is no way to get an
answer. Another statement that holds true when it comes to computer
problems is this. In order to realize a solution, you must verbalize the
problem or symptom. We have the Internet at our disposal. As a group of
very intelligent people, we can help each other to get the maximum
production from our computers and the Internet.
Bill 'Smokey' Stover
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