The Tech Guy 51

Talking tech since earlier this year.

Protect yourself against the latest Windows flaw by:

1. Stop using Internet Explorer! Use Mozilla, Firefox, or Opera instead.

2. Update your anti-virus and scan your system now. If you don’t have an anti-virus, download AVG free from Grisoft.

3. Run Windows Update regularly. Better yet, turn on automatic updates. There is no fix yet, but at least you’ll get the patch the minute it’s available.

has a small business and wants to start her first web site. You need three things for

wants to buy an iPod. Should he get a mini? I think the 15 GB iPod is a better deal - it’s just $50 more for three times the storage. But then it’s not quite as cute!

wants camcorder recommendations. I’d suggest a visit to Robin Liss’s CamcorderInfo.com. She reviews them all and is totally trustworthy. If price is no object, the Canon XL1 and GL2 are excellent 3-CCD camcorders designed for prosumers. The best sub-$1000 3-CCD camcorder is the Panasonic PVGS120.

works for Sprint PCS. He says the next version of the Treo 600 should be coming out by the end of the year, including bluetooth conectivity, an updated camera and screen, the latest Palm OS. Sprint is also moving to the new EDVO for data which will offer 300–500 kbps connections.

His question? He wants to convert his VHS movies into DVD. The trick is to get the analog VHS video onto his hard drive. I recommend Pinnacle’s MovieBox DV - an external box with Firewire into your computer. Firewire is far superior to USB 1 or 2 for importing video. It comes with the software you need to edit and burn the video.

running his own web server, Apache, on Windows and Linux. He wants to know how to keep the separate installations in synch. Use rsync, a program that comes with all Linux distros.

wants to convert his videos to VCD because he doesn’t have a DVD burner. For crying out loud, buy a DVD burner. They’re dirt cheap, come with the software you need, and the resulting discs will be much more compatible and higher quality. I’ve seen the NEC ND 2500A internal 16x burner for as low as $65.

has a problem with her dance pad for Dance Dance Revolution

is PIII 600 and wants to upgrade to XP, but at the end of the install it fails, saying his PC is incompatible.

get the error “SB PCI improperly routed” when he tries to install his sound card. Sounds like it’s conflicting with his PCI video card. Try using a different slot.

wants to sync his oddball phone, the Inno 90. Datapilot sells synch software that works with a LOT of phones, but not Joe’s. Anyone have a suggestion?

has a bunch of viruses and spyware on his system wants to reinstall XP. The XP install disk will reformat the hard drive if you tell it to. Sometimes that’s the best way to disinfect a PC. When you install Windows follow these steps to make sure you don’t get re-infected:

• Install Windows XP
• If you’re not using a router to connect to the ‘net, turn on the Windows firewall (Open Network Connections, right click your online connection, click Properties, click the Advanced Tab, then check the Internet Connection Firewall.)
• Get online and run Windows Update at windowsupdate.com, then install all Critical Updates. If you have to restart re-run Windows Update until there are no more critical updates to install.
• Install an anti-virus and update it immediately. (If you don’t have one download the Free AVG.)
• Install anti-spyware tools, AdAware and Spybot S&D. Update both, then turn on the immunization feature of Spybot.
• Install Spyware Blaster and protect your browsers. I strongly recommend against using IE. Use Mozilla or Firefox instead.

Make sure to run Windows Update regularly, or better yet, turn on Automatic Updates by opening the System Control Panel, click the Automatic Updates tab, then check either “Download the updates automatically” or the scheduled updates installer. You should also enable the automatic updates in your anti-virus and keep all the spyware programs up-to-date, as well.