WyzGuys Tech Talk

I use a remote access software product called CoPilot, which was written by a software guru named Joel Spolsky, one of the founders of Fog Creek Software.  In addition to writing great, light weight, useful software programs, he also writes on technology issues, software design theory and practice, and business management topics in his own blog, and for some major business magazines.

Anyway, I just read his article Architecture astronauts take over, which can be found at

When setting up a wireless network, there will be 2 basic options, a wireless access point, or a wireless router. 

The wireless router usually comes with a built in 4 port wired Ethernet switch, and additional networking functionality such as a DHCP server with will assign network addresses to wired and wireless computers and devices connected to the network.  It also performs network address translation, or NAT, which converts the public IP address your ISP’s cable modem ...

I got a notice from Microsoft regarding the end of days for Windows XP.  Ordering new systems with Windows XP from Dell and the few other build to order companies will soon be impossible.  Microsoft said:

"After careful review, Microsoft will end sales of Windows XP products on June 30, 2008. For customers who want Windows XP after this date, original equipment manufacturers will have several options to provide Windows XP using downgrade rights. Mainstream support for Windows ...

Every time I get an email like the one below, I check it out on Snopes or Urban Legends, and usually they are not true, just a stupid form of chain letter spam.  This one I am sorry to say is real.

"Subject: virus warning, please tell your friends
This one checks out and is a bona fide real virus so hence the warning.
Any email with "Mail Server Report" in the subject line is a new virus and ...

One of my pet peeves is phony security warnings by e-mail, or masquerading as pop-up warnings on your computer.  By the way, if you are getting pop-ups, your machine is already compromised.

I am going to show you a couple of e-mails from my Junk Mail folder as an example of e-mails you definitely want to delete without opening.  They are images are jpegs, so the links are not functional.

Lets look at the first one.  Click on the image ...

If you were part of the Comcast / TimeWarner cable territory swap a year back, or even if you you weren’t, but have friends or customers with email addresses on the old ISP, this tip will save you some time.  A client of mine sent me the following e-mail:

Do you happen to know, or can you find out, what mn.rr.com email addresses changed to???  When I send out my monthly customer newsletter, I get a TON of those ...

So, I switched to Windows Vista back in November 2007.  I am running it on a Dell Inspiron 1501 with 2 GB of Ram and a 1.8 GHZ AMD Athlon 64 X2 TK-55 Dual Core Processor.  Aside from a video display problem when coming out of Sleep Mode, which was fixed with a driver upgrade from the video chip manufacturer, the conversion has been uneventful.

I officially declare Vista safe for most users.  If you are running older version ...

I use a remote access product called CoPilot, by FogCreek Software.  I was developed by Joel Spolsky, who is an exceptional software designer, and an accomplished writer on software design, and business and marketing strategy.  You can read him at http://www.joelonsoftware.com.

I have signed up for his newsletter, and this morning read 2 articles that I want to share with you.  They are not about software design, but more about business strategy, and definitely worth a read.  The ...

Another beauty from my barber, Milo David.

One day a florist goes to a barber for a haircut. After the cut he asked about his bill and the barber replies, ‘I cannot accept money from you. I’m doing community service this week.’ The florist was pleased and left the shop.

When the barber goes to open his shop the next morning there is a ‘thank you’ card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.

Later, a ...

I teach a computer course called "Intro to Windows Vista".  Recently one of the students sent me the following e-mail:

Hi Bob,
I attended you Exploring Vista class at Boutwell on Monday, January 28th. 
I am having trouble setting my screen saver.  I have followed the directive in "Help & Support", but it still will not turn on.  Any idea why this might be?
Thanks so much!

My reply follows, but basically what I beleive was the problem ...