January 2004 - Windows Update XP Newsletter
Subscriber List: 8,701
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http://www.updatexp.com
Making Windows XP a little easier...
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PLEASE note that this is an "opt-in" newsletter. The ONLY
way to receive it is to complete the online form and reply to the
verification email I send out. Therefore you are receiving this email
because you have asked to... If you no longer wish to, then please use the
subscription management tools at the end of this newsletter.
If your email client has trouble reading this issue please
read the ONLINE version at:
http://www.updatexp.com/january2004.html
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This Newsletter's Contents:
Introduction...
1. Downloading Internet Explorer 6 SP1 (FULL)
2. The Windows File Protection Service 3. The SFC /Scannow
Tool
4. An Internet Security Primer
5. Windows Media Player 9 Codec's
6. Windows Media Player Support
7. Windows XP Logon Tips
8. Google Tips
9. Tuneup 2003 Utility
10. Digital Camera Buyers Guide
11. DVD In Windows Media Player
12. Remove The Home Page Hijacker - Xupiter
Related Sites...
January Competition...
Parting words...
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Introduction...
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First of all may I take this opportunity to wish you ALL a
Happy and Prosperous New Year!
Secondly I need to apologise for the absence of the December
2003 newsletter...
Unfortunately my wife was taken suddenly ill on December 1st
and was admitted to hospital. Whilst she was able to come home after a two
week admission, she required a lot of care from me for several weeks after
this and so I was unable to work on the site or newsletter.
She is now much better but, please accept my apologies...
The articles below are all based on requests for information
I have received via the contact page on my website.
I hope you find them both useful and informative!
Happy reading...
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1. Downloading Internet Explorer 6 SP1
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Many site visitors have been inquiring how (and if) it is
possible to download Internet Explorer 6 SP1 as a FULL download...
For those of you not familiar with this, to currently update
a PC with the latest version of Internet Explorer (IE6 SP1), users must
visit the Microsoft website and download a file called ie6setup.exe then
run this file on their PC.
This setup file will then examine your PC to assess which
files you require. It then connects to the update site to download just
these files.
But what if you have several PC's at home or work?
What if they are running different versions of Windows?
Well it is possible to download ALL the Internet Explorer 6
SP1 files and then burn them onto a CD. That way you do NOT have to keep
running the ie6setup.exe file on each PC.
If you are a dial-up user with several PC's then this can
save you hours of time!
More information in this article:
http://www.updatexp.com/download-ie6.html
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2. The Windows File Protection Service
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The Windows File Protection Service (WFP) service monitors
changes to your Windows XP system files.
The WFP is an important part of keeping Windows XP the
stable operating system it is. To improve your knowledge of what happens
behind the scenes in Windows XP cast your eyes over this new article on
the website:
http://www.updatexp.com/windows-file-protection.html
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3. The SFC /Scannow Tool
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The System File Checker (sfc.exe) is a command line tool
that examines protected system files on your computer and restores the
correct version when required.
The /scannow switch used with sfc.exe allows anyone to
manually check their system files as part of a troubleshooting process. In
fact this one utility can identify and fix many problems that occur in
Windows XP.
Check it out now:
http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html
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4. An Internet Security Primer
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This site gets many emails regarding security... So I have
put together an Internet Security "Primer" for visitors.
The article is NOT intended to be an "exhaustive" guide, BUT
it does make the reader aware of the many threats that can strike!
Get more confident in your understanding of how to be more
Secure on the Internet:
http://www.updatexp.com/internet-security.html
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5. Windows Media Player 9 Codec's
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Many readers will be using Windows Media Player 9 for
entertainment on their PC's, after all it IS a very good product.
BUT, Microsoft have not included support for video/audio
content that has not been created using their own codec's!
This article will benefit EVERY user of Windows Media Player
9..
Stuck playing AVI files with no video but the sound is OK..?
Does Windows Media Player say the codec is not found..?
The this article is for YOU:
http://www.updatexp.com/codec-for-windows-media-player-9.html
Here is the Microsoft Media Series 9 Codec Information Page
for more details on Microsoft's own technology:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/9series/codecs.aspx
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6. Windows Media Player Support
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Having problems with Windows Media Player..? Here are some
support resources for you to bookmark!
# The C00D11CD Error:
http://www.updatexp.com/c00d11cd-error.html
# The WMP.DLL Error:
http://www.updatexp.com/wmpdll.html
# The WMPDXM.DLL Error:
http://www.updatexp.com/wmpdxm-dll.html
# The SVCD Codec issue:
http://www.updatexp.com/codec-svcd.html
# The IV50 Codec issue:
http://www.updatexp.com/codec-iv50.html
# A GREAT resource for troubleshooting WMP:
http://www.nwlink.com/~zachd/pss/pss.html
# Windows Media Player FAQ's:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/9series/player/faq.aspx
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7. Windows XP Logon Tips
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The Windows XP logon is very versatile... This collection of
6 XP logon articles will show you just that:
http://www.updatexp.com/logon-xp.html
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8. Google Tips
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# Google Toolbar v2.0
With the NEW Google toolbar YOU can:
-Search the web with Google from any site... -Eliminate
pop-up ads... -Fill in forms with one click... -Link a weblog to the page
you're visiting... -Restrict your search to pages located in a specific
country... -Search just within the pages of a site... -Highlight search
terms on a page...
Find out more at:
http://toolbar.google.com/
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# Google's Microsoft Search
With this tool YOU can refine your searches to
Microsoft-related sites only:
http://images.google.com/microsoft.html
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# Site Searches
Did you know that you can limit your searching to just one
site from the Google homepage/toolbar...?
As an example if you wanted to search for information on
Windows Media Player at www.updatexp.com you would simply type:
windows media player site:www.updatexp.com
Remember this syntax, as it can save hours of your time!
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# File Types
Google does NOT just search for HTML pages. Did you know you
can also search for 12 file types too..?
The most common formats are PDF, PostScript, Microsoft
Office formats - Here are the 12:
Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) Adobe PostScript (ps)
Lotus 1-2-3 (wk1, wk2, wk3, wk4, wk5, wki, wks, wku) Lotus WordPro (lwp)
MacWrite (mw) Microsoft Excel (xls) Microsoft PowerPoint (ppt) Microsoft
Word (doc) Microsoft Works (wks, wps, wdb) Microsoft Write (wri) Rich Text
Format (rtf) Text (ans, txt)
So if you wanted to search for information as a PDF file you
would simply type filetype:[extension]
For example:
disable messenger service filetype:pdf
This search will return all PDF documents about disabling
the messenger service.
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# The Google calculator
Google has a very powerful calculator that many folks are
unaware of! It would take too long to explain all the options here in this
newsletter. For more information click here:
http://www.google.com/help/calculator.html
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9. Tuneup 2003 Utility
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So you have Windows XP, BUT want to customize it to how YOU
want it to look, feel and perform..?
Well you could delve into the registry and make a myriad of
changes to the settings, or use a robust utility that tells you in plain
English what you change and then it goes ahead and does it - safely!
TuneUp 2003 optimizes the performance of your computer,
corrects problems and helps you to customize your system to match your
needs.
It can also extend your operating system's capabilities by
making Windows faster, more secure and comfortable to use.
Find out more in this article:
http://www.updatexp.com/windows-xp-tweaks.html
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10. Digital Camera Buyers Guide
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So you have received all these vouchers for Christmas and
are looking to purchase a new digital camera?
Then you will need some expert advice on how to choose the
correct camera for your needs!
Canadian, Tom Karadza, has a fledgling website that is worth
a browse. This article will help any one starting out make a confident
purchase...
http://www.digital-camera-buyers-guide-and-tips.com/digital_camera_buyers_guide.html
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11. DVD In Windows Media Player
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By default, Windows Media Player can not play DVD's even
though there may be a DVD drive installed on your PC.
This is due to the fact that there is a small license fee
that has to be paid for every DVD player sold, and as you know Windows
Media Player is a FREE download.
So to get playing those DVD's you need to download and
install a 3rd party piece of software. This article will explain how:
http://www.updatexp.com/dvd-decoder-media-player-windows.html
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12. Remove The Home Page Hijacker - Xupiter
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Have YOU been "Hijacked"...?
It can happen to any of us... We visit a site and then our
home page suddenly changes to a site we have never seen before!
One of the main culprits is Xupiter. If this is causing you,
or someone you know, problems then visit this page for more information on
how you can gain control over Internet Explorer again. The remedy is also
FREE!
http://www.updatexp.com/uninstall_xupiter.html
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Related Sites...
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# The Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition - Home Page
Lots of links to articles on getting the most from: Windows
XP Home Edition:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/default.asp
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# The Microsoft Windows XP Professional - Home Page
Lots of links to articles on getting the most from: Windows
XP Professional:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/default.asp
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# EVERY Windows XP users will benefit from this FREE
resource!
Welcome to the homepage of the "Expert Zone"...
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/default.mspx
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# MSN Photos
Lots of FREE information on digital photography and printing
your pic's!
http://photos.msn.com
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In The News...
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The new look and feel MSN is on the way! (Mid January 2004)
- Including the new FREE - MSN VIDEO service.
Why not take a preview at:
http://new.msn.com/default.asp
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January Competition...
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The folks at Robin Hood Software are donating a copy of
their "Evidence Eliminator" software as the prize for this months
competition..
To win a copy please send in your funniest Internet Related
story to me by the 23rd January 2004.
All entries will be read and the FIVE funniest (in my
opinion) will be posted on the site. The top story/experience will receive
a FREE copy of Evidence Eliminator via an email link from the company.
More information about the software at:
http://www.updatexp.com/evidence-eliminator.html
Please send your story to:
Contact Page
NB - Only emails received from subscribers to this
newsletter are eligible to enter.
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Parting Words...
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Well that's it for this issue :-)
I hope YOU found the articles helpful...
As a subscriber this is YOUR newsletter!
PLEASE email me any requests for the February 2004 issue by
23rd January 2004. Whilst I can not reply to requests for help, I do use
ALL the emails sent to me as research for my next newsletter!
If you have a Windows XP problem, you can guarantee that
MANY others on this list are having the same issue too.
Until next time!
Kind Regards
