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We now are working with an on-line support package, which gives us a way to remotely control your computer - with your permission, of course - and without having to set up a whole bunch of software, or customize firewalls, and so forth.  When you call us, if it turns out we will have to do something to your computer, we will have you come to this web site, and click on the "Live Support" link to the left.  Fill in your name and your company, and ask us for the code number, which we will read to you, and in a couple of minutes, we can see what you do, and can even run, or reboot your computer if it is necessary.

Don't forget to continue updating your copy of Windows!  Even though it might be annoying, and take an extra few minutes to do, the security is well worth the little effort.  If your computer isn't set up to automatically update, you can still go to windowsupdate.microsoft.com and let the web site check your system for possible updates.

Updates, as of June 14, 2006

Mozilla Firefox continues to be improved.  If you have updated to version 1.5-anything, then you will notice that you are being prompted once in a great while to either upgrade right then, or wait until the next time Firefox is starting up.  This is a much better process!

If you are using Mozilla Thunderbird as an email client, I have two items for you, one a general thing, and one a specific tip to keep it running in tip-top shape.

First, do upgrade to the latest version.  They have it up to 1.5.0.4 now, and several security and performance-type issues have been addressed in this upgrade.  Next, the tip.  Email programs don't play nice with hard drive space in general.  When you delete an email, the space for it still exists in the database, even though the email is gone.  So, most programs have a way to compress, or compact the file, removing those empty spaces.  And, in Thunderbird, you can make it a lot more automatic, although not fully so.  In one of the 1.5.0.x versions, go to the Tools menu at the top, then to Options.  Click on the "Offiline & Disk Space" tab.  At the bottom, check the "Compact folders..." box.  In the numbers place, enter the number of Kb difference it will make to compact as a trigger point for T-Bird to prompt you to compact.  I have used 1,000 Kb, which prompts me just enough that it's not annoying, but keeps everything trimmed up. 

Updates, as of April 24, 2006

Mozilla firefox has fixed lots of things since I last wrote.  The newest version is 1.5.0.2, and fixes several security issues, and (finally!) adds some automatic updates.  I strongly recommend this browser!  Once you have updated past version 1.03, you do not have to un-install the old before updating, either.  It's a little faster, more stable, and much more secure than IE (in my opinion!!!).  Click on the link to the right.

If you are using the Thunderbird e-mail client, Mozilla has issued an update for this as well (1.5.02 also).  I really like this software, and have switched away from Microsoft Outlook to this for all my work emails.  But, there is one setting that has made my life much easier, and kept T-Bird running smoothly.  Under Tools, click Options in the menu system, and then click on the Advanced tab.  From there, scroll to the bottom, and in the Disk Space section, put a check in the Compact Folders check box, and change the number to 1000 kb.  This will keep T-Bird happy and working, and will not annoy you very often with the option to compact.  If you have any more questions, drop me an email or give me a quick call.

This is my personal opinion, and is taken from my own experience.  Please call me or a computer professional before you do anything drastic!

Bob Edgar, the IT guy at Holmes & Turner