ASK MR. MODEM

Your Computer’s ‘Behind the Scenes’ Life, Renaming Files and Other

E-Mysteries Solved . . .

PLUS Mr. Modem’s Picks for

‘Don’t-Miss-‘Em Web Sites of the Month

By Richard A. Sherman

Q.  I'm the editor of my computer club's e-mail newsletter. From time to time, I come across articles on the Web that I'd like to publish in the newsletter, but I'm never sure if I can do that legally or not. What's okay and what's not okay to use as far as copyrights?

A. Consider everything you see on a Web site as protected material that can only be used with the permission of the copyright holder, unless there is specific language to the contrary. When in doubt, look for a "contact" link and ask permission. If there is an e-mail link to the author of an article, try contacting the author directly. Most sites won't object if you're using an article for non-commercial, non-profit purposes AND you provide the appropriate credit, including the author and the Web site address of the source document. But always ask first, because, as Wilfred Brimley would say, "It's the right thing to do."

Q.  My computer is frequently freezing up and sometimes I’ve been unable to start programs. I’ve been told I may have too many programs running “behind the scenes,” whatever that means. Can you help, Mr. Modem?

A.  Absolutely! For any version of Windows other than Windows 2000, click Start > Run and type in "msconfig" (without the quotes), then click OK.  When the System Configuration Utility launches, click the Startup tab. 

            The programs that have a check mark next to them are programs that are launched automatically when you start up your computer.  These programs are referred to as "running in the background."  They are consuming your computer's memory (RAM), so if you don't need a program launching at startup, it's best to disable it by removing the check mark. 

            The two programs that must always have a check mark are SYSTRAY or SYSTEM TRAY and EXPLORER, if you have them.  Some versions of Windows require these programs in order to function properly; so if you see them, don't remove the check marks.  To review a detailed discussion about the use of msconfig, visit www.netsquirrel.com/msconfig.

Q.  Your weekly newsletter is fabulous. I’m new to computers, and I’ve learned more from it than I’ve learned from any book, but one thing I’m not sure how to do is to rename a file. Can you explain that?

A.  I’m glad you’re enjoying your subscription. The most common way to rename a file or folder is to right-click the name and select Rename from the menu displayed. Speaking of right-clicking—whenever you’re not quite sure what to do anywhere in Windows, try right-clicking to view a number of options available to you at that point. You won’t hurt anything by right-clicking, and you’ll probably be amazed at the number of options that reside just a right-click away.

            A faster way to rename a file is to select (highlight) the file by clicking it once, then press the F2 key and type in the new file name.

Free After Rebate (www.freeafterrebate.info)

            The focus here is primarily computer hardware, software and consumer electronics. As with most rebates, you pay for the item first, then submit the rebate materials. All products listed have 100 percent rebate offers, so if you like to get things for free (less shipping and sales tax), be sure to pay this site a visit.

Novelty Musical Instruments (www.sawlady.com)

            Natalia Pruz plays a variety of novelty musical instruments, including the musical saw, Austrian and American cowbells (which begs the question, if you play one cowbell, can’t you play them all?), the toy piano, and the always-popular theremin. The site has sound samples, history, a composer’s manual, poetry, and a collectibles page. 

Puzzability (www.puzzability.com)

            During these lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer, when it's too hot to go outside and breathing is the most physical activity planned for the day, what better time to do some puzzles? Puzzability puzzles are not your typical, ho-hum word games or connect-the-dots. Puzzability creates puzzles for Web sites, advertisements, packaging and promotions, game shows, special events, contests, CDs, magazines and even restaurant placemats. 

Search Engines WorldWide (http://tinyurl.com/2jvg7)

            Here you’ll find more than 3,000 search engines, sorted by country. It's as easy to use as clicking the appropriate country's name on the left side of the screen. To the right will appear search engines associated with that country. Just the other day I needed to find something in Turkmenistan’s Altyn Asyr Zone, and faster than you can say, "halkara asgabat mekdebi," I found it!

Strange Stuff Explained  (http://tinyurl.com/2b23p)
            Based on the theories of theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, this site offers simple, straight-forward descriptions of seemingly cryptic things like anti-matter, quasars, quarks, singularity, pulsars, and McDonald’s secret sauce.

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Richard A. Sherman, a k a Mr. Modem, is a nationally syndicated columnist, whose “Ask Mr. Modem!” column appears in more than 60 publications throughout the U.S. and in Canada. As publisher of the popular “Ask Mr. Modem” weekly newsletter, he provides easy-to-understand, non-technical, computer- and Internet-related answers to questions received from subscribers worldwide. He is the author of eight books, including “Mr. Modem’s Internet Guide for Seniors” (Sybex) and “Ask Mr. Modem,” a collection of hundreds of frequently asked computer and Internet questions received from readers. Richard is a contributing editor to TechTV and host of the daily “Mr. Modem Minute” television segment produced by FOX-TV.

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