Dennis Faas

Recall -- Infopackets Reader Marie 'ChameleonsGirl' asked if it was possible to use the same copy of Windows XP that came with her new computer and install it onto her second computer. My response was that Microsoft has designed Windows XP so that ... it can only be activated on 1 computer (per copy). This is a form of copy protection and is aimed at stopping software piracy, and works something like this: You buy Windows XP on CD (or it comes with your computer) and includes a registration number. The Windows XP activation program looks at each hardware component inside your computer, gathers ... (view more)

Have you ever sent an email to someone and wondered if your message was opened by the recipient? Yesterday, Infopackets Reader Brian 'BigJohn2' asked if I knew of a program which could do just that. After some prodding and poking around Google, I ... came across a program called MsgTag [Message Tag]. In a nutshell, MsgTag works by injecting a traceable object into outgoing emails. When the message is opened by the recipient, MsgTag alerts the sender with an email receipt that the message has been read. As I discussed briefly in yesterday's article, there are 3 different flavors of Message Tag. I ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader Brian 'BigJohn2' writes: " A year ago (maybe longer), I downloaded a freeware program from the web that allowed me to know when my emails were received by the recipient. I have since run into some complications with my computer ... system, had to reformat my entire hard drive, and wasn't able to save any of my downloaded utility programs. The real bummer is that I've completely forgotten the name of this tracking program and am unable to reference it on the web. Are you aware of such a program? " My response: After fumbling through Google for an answer, I came across ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader Marie 'ChameleonsGirl' asks: " I have a new computer that came with Windows XP. I would like to know if it is possible to register the same copy of Windows XP on my other computer, or do I have to go buy another XP disc? " My ... response: Microsoft has designed Windows XP so that it works only on 1 computer. This is a form of copy protection and is aimed at stopping software piracy. As far as I understand, the Windows XP activation works something like this: You buy Windows XP on CD (or it comes with your computer) and includes a registration number. The Windows XP ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader 'Ppeltscott' writes: " Hello! I have an HP pavillion model number 743g and it has 512mb of DDR memory [RAM]. I was just on Hewlett Packard's web site to see how much RAM I could put in my machine, and it said that my particular ... model uses 3 different RAM types: 200mts, 266mts, and 333mts. Does this mean that I can use the 333mts [PC2700 DDR] instead of the 266mts [PC2100 DDR]? Thanks for any input. " My response: The short answer is that you need to match the existing type of RAM inside your machine. A very simple way to find out the speed rating of your current ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader Terry from PlanetSave.com writes: " Dear Dennis, I am running XP Professional. I have a large amount of background images listed in my Display Properties -> Desktop tab. Do you know how I can shorten this list? Happy Holidays. ... You have great newsletter! " My Response: I searched google.com for a utility that could modify / remove the list of entries found in Display Properties -> Desktop, but wasn't able to come up with anything. However, I do happen to know that a Windows will list .BMP picture files in the Backgrounds menu if there are .BMP picture files ... (view more)

All is not well in the land of infopackets.com. During the last newsletter announcement, the infopackets web server crashed. My laptop was connected to the infopackets server at the time that it happened and I was able to see that server's virtual ... memory (swap file) was almost completely depleted. In techy terms, this situation is referred to as a memory leak. How a Memory Leak causes an Operating System to crash An operating system is reserved a specific set of system memory (RAM) to perform critical system operations. By definition, it is the job of the operating system to ensure that a ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader Juanita S. writes: " Dear Dennis, How do I make my address bar smaller or shorter? My address bar goes completely across (and beyond) the top of my page ... there is no room on the right side of the screen [for me to input a new ... web address]. Can you please help? " My response: At first, I wasn't sure what Juanita was referring to, so I asked her to send me a screen capture. After viewing the picture, I noticed that the URL in her address bar continues beyond the frame of the screen -- and this is completely acceptable. There is a way to reposition / shorten the ... (view more)

I've got some good news and some bad news. First, the bad news: I've just received word that my favorite privacy protection / cleaning utility (Window Washer) will be increasing in price starting January 5th, 2004. The official word from David Dunn ... @ Webroot is: " ... We have raised the price of Window Washer to $39.95. This updated pricing actually rolled out on Webroot.com with the release of Window Washer v.5.0 ... The added functionality of this new release [has been] combined with the addition of a free copy of My Personal Favorites [an innovative tool for securing and organizing ... (view more)

Seasons greeting s! I don't normally send out the Gazette on the weekend, but I have a number of important issues to discuss which are time sensitive. Let me be brief. Issue #1: Changes to the Infopackets Web Server The infopackets fund raiser was a ... success and I will be putting an order in for the new web server as soon as the setup that I want becomes available (most likely after the new year). In the past few weeks I have been making modifications to the newsletter delivery program in preparation for the new web server. Once the new server is online, the newsletter delivery program will ... (view more)