Sarnia Computer Users' Group, Windows Special Interest Group (SIG) meets to discuss various aspects of the windows operating system.

The meetings are held at Adult Learning Center, 660 Oakdale Avenue, Sarnia.

For information contact: Leader Windows SIG


Windows Special Interest Group

Meeting Information Index
September 2010 October 2009 November 18, 2009
January 21. 2010 February 18, 2010 March 18 2010
April 22, 2010 May 20 2010 June 17 2010

Thursday September 16, 2010
Program The September subject to be announced.
Meeting report Report after the meeting.
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June 17, 2010
Program The topics for Thursday's Windows meeting will be:
1) Opening attached PowerPoint docs.
2) Copying your Contact list to another email program.
Meeting report Opening an attached PowerPoint Presentation

1) http://www.pptfaq.com/FAQ00355.htm
2) Open Excel attachment from hunts in gmail account.
3) Open file attachment in gmail account.

Changing Email Accounts - Exporting and Importing Address Books or Contacts.
1) export contacts from Old Account as csv
2) manually input an email address and save in the new account
3) export contacts from New Account as csv
4) compare layout of columns
5) move the columns in the old account csv file to match the layout of the new account. Save
6) in the new program, import the csv file.

PowerPoint Viewer is available for download from CNET download.com
http://download.cnet.com/PowerPoint-Viewer-2007/3000-18483_4-10742145.html
Link to PowerPoint Viewer tutorial DOC PDF

Hotmail -> Options -> Import Contacts
Sample address list: XLS PDF

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May 20, 2010
Program Ian is to do a presentation on some tuning up and performance fixing of your PC.
Meeting report The May Windows meeting was attended by 18 members.

We discussed using software to determine what software is on your machine, how to create a recovery disk for Windows XP with Service Pack 3, how to speed up Windows using AutoRuns, a web speed test site, how to customize your Start Menu and how to tell how much bandwidth Skype uses.

What Software Do I have?
Use Belarc Advisor or SIW (System Information for Windows) (SCUG DOM June 2009) to determine what software is installed on your machine and the product license keys.

Recovery disk with Windows XP Service Pack 3 (PCAnswersMagazine)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MrnZMj_zh8

Speed up Windows using AutoRuns
http://pcanswers.techradar.com/tutorials/speed_up_xp_09_2008

Speed up your Windows Startup
http://pcanswers.techradar.com/tutorials/reduce_startup_times_09_2008

Web speed test site
http://www.speakeasy.net

Customize your Start menu
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/personalize/startmenu.mspx

When we tried the above customization method, we discovered that the club computer did not have the "Pin to Start menu" option on a right-click of a menu item as in Step 3. We got around that by dragging the menu item into the new folder instead.

Question: How do I tell how much bandwidth Skype uses?

Answer: In Skype, go to Tools--> Options--> Advanced--> Connection-->

Then tick "Display technical call info during calls" and "Display Skype bandwidth usage"

Now while in a call you can hover your mouse over the call window and it displays a massive popup with all the bandwidth details!

Easy as 3.14!
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April 22, 2010
Program Keep Windows Safe & Up-to-date" by Ian Hunt.
Meeting report Ian Hunt Presented a Powerpoint presentation on keeping you computer safe and up to date. 23 members attended. Discussion and Q&A was good.
Copy of Ian's slides in PDF
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March 18, 2010
Program Dick will present a session on "the web". Topics include:
  • Browsers
  • brief discussion of HTML
  • Software
  • Setting up your own web
Meeting report After Meeting
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February 18, 2010
Program Norm & Ian are putting together a talk about getting Podcasts and RSS feeds.
Meeting report What is a podcast?
In Google search field, type "podcast"

You will get the following suggestions:

- podcast directory - takes you to podcastdirectory.com

- podcast download - As It Happens

1. What is the difference between downloading a podcast and subscribing to a podcast?

When you download a single podcast episode, that one file gets saved onto your computer or MP3 player. It is then up to you to play it, delete it or download another.

When you subscribe to a podcast, the latest podcast episode is saved to your computer or MP3 player. Every time a new podcast episode of the program becomes available your podcasting software will automatically download it to your computer or MP3 player.

2. What is iTunes™ ?

iTunes™ is a program created by Apple that, among other things, is a pod- catcher or aggregator.

An aggregator or podcatcher is a program that will check for new Podcasts every time you are connected to the web and that program is open. Many people use iTunes™ to subscribe to and manage their Podcasts, but there are many other podcatchers out there.

Here are just a few of the many other choices in free podcatching software available:
Juice

You can also get an add-on for Firefox called Down Them All which will download Podcasts for you.
sage rss for Firefox
http://www.tristana.org/reader/
http://www.rssreader.com/ - harder to use
http://www.newsgator.com/Individuals/FeedDemon/Default.aspx
http://twit.tv/ - computer talk from Leo LaPorte and friends
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January 21, 2009
Program Jim La Point will show a quick preview of the Sony eReader and places to get eBooks.
We will also have an open Q&A if time permits.
Meeting report After the meeting
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November 18, 2009
Program The Windows meeting for November is this Thursday night. We will have Gloria Johnstone talking about Twitter. She can explain the "lingo" that we hear about. Hope to see you there. See you all Thursday night.
Meeting report After meeting.
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Thursday October 15, 2009
Program At the October meeting Gloria Johnstone will show us "NotOverTheHill" a web site for the 40+ Crowd.
Meeting report Gloria Johnstone showed us a web site for people over 40 years of age to talk to one another. The members are currently sharing over 17,000 photos, thousands of blogs, thousands of songs, and hundreds of videos.

You can create your own Web page - no special skills needed! Anyone can have their very own Web page in minutes! Invite your friends and family to view photos and blogs you've created. You can make new friends and meet people from all over the world. Upload photos to your own gallery and share them with friends or the entire planet.

It's all FREE… www.notoverthehill.com
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Last Update: July 30, 2010