Internet Beat
by Donald Daugherty

Internet Stuff

A couple of days ago, I bought a CD rom game for my computer and it was an inexpensive one, but it did teach me a lesson. You get what you pay for! The disk installed itself and didn't ask me if I wanted it to make changes in my computer! It did and I did not like it, my computer got indigestion or something like it, anyway, several things didn't work right after that, including the game that caused the problem. It took me a couple of days to get that straightened out and now I am back, hopefully with no problems.

Today after I checked my mail, I downloaded (transferred a file from another computer to mine) a newer version of some shareware that I was trying out, and was also able to e­mail the shareware to a friend that I thought might benefit from it.

It is a program called "Winzip" and it is used to "unzip", or decompress files. Many times a program is too large to transmit quickly over the net, and so the files are compressed, making the total of the files smaller and quicker to send or receive. The Winzip program lets you decompress these files when you get them and make use of them.

There are several programs available for free to check out, all you have to do is find them. One place that is a good source of shareware, is at URL http://www.shareware.com; you can find many types of programs there. If you forget the address of shareware.com, you can go to my homepage and do the search from there. My address again is http://www.connecti.com/~daugh Please feel free to visit my page as often as you wish.

My home phone number is in the Seguin phone directory and it is 303­0802, if you can get through. Usually someone is home and can take a message if needed, if not, then the number will be on my caller ID box and I'll be happy to call you back (as long as it's not long distance, my bills are high enough as it is.) Anyway, if I can answer any questions for you or help in some way, I'll do my best. I'm by no means an expert, but will try to at least point you in the right direction.

I would also recommend that if you are going to get on the Internet, that you go ahead and find a good Virus Scanner to use, not because you will find so many viruses from the net, but because if you borrow disks from a friend or download files from a "bulletin board", you may run across one. I have found one, and I don't want to go through that again. It was attached to a file and when I ran the program it was on, the computer started acting weird, even after I got rid of the file, and finally my hard drive would not boot up anymore and I had to start from scratch.

To top it off, I had a virus scanner on my computer, but it was not a very good one, and it missed the virus. I lost several files that I can not replace easily and it is frustrating to set things up all over again. I recommend that you go to http://www.mcafee.com and download a virus program from there. I just got a newer version of it for Windows 95, which I am using now, and I really like it. I have already found a virus on one of my disks and have cleaned it using this program.

I am assuming that everyone knows what I mean when I refer to these terms, if not, then hopefully I or someone else will have the chance to write about the terms you will encounter.

Finally for now, I hope that if you are interested in the Internet, you will attend one of the meetings. If you are, or just need some help learning about your computer, attend one of the meetings, let us know what you need and I'm pretty sure that someone will be able to help you. I am usually available in the evenings if anyone needs someone to help get them started on the net or just would like some help with their computer. I have never used a "Mac" before but don't think it would be too much trouble to figure out. If you have a new computer and need some help learning how to use it, let me know, I'll try to help. Have fun on the Net.


Donald Daugherty
daugh@connecti.com
http://www.connecti.com/~daugh

Donald Daugherty is a member of the Seguin Internet Club, answers to questions addressed to him via e-mail or by phone, will be published through this column.


The Seguin Internet Club is open to anyone interested in the Internet, regardless of computer, Internet provider or Internet proficiency. No dues are involved. The second Internet information and demonstration meeting for beginners will take place at Century 21 D&D Real State, located in the intersection of Hwy. 90A and 123 Bypass North, Five Courts Mall, this Thursday July 25 at 6:30 pm. This would be an opportunity for you to join the Internet Club.

To offer ideas for the club or the column, contact Gloria Rivera, 303-4764, riverag@connecti.com; or Jerry Weers, 303-0818, weersjt@texas.net. Alton Hierholzer is out of town on vacation. Previous column articles can be found in the Internet web page of the club at: http://lonestar.texas.net/~weersjt/club/home.html

Next week: Mike Millegan.