Minutes of the Meeting held 18 September 2001
Hi All,
With limited care and no responsibility:
My words are in { }, rest are contributions from the person responsible
Alan V
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Topic 1a 'Dragon Direct saver account'. Ted Macarthur
This is a new banking service at St George Bank. It has a minimum of one
dollar deposit, no charges, no fixed term, no cheques and no service at
the bank! Currently they pay 5% interest (subject to change) Direct salary
deposit is available.
It appears to be a pure Internet or phone account. You must have another
nominated account from which you can deposit and withdraw in the normal
way depending on the account. If you already have an account at St George
then fill in the online form or send it in. Two simple pages to complete
and choose a password. The other nominated account can be with the another
bank but a delay of two days is needed for processing. Please see their
FAQ at this site for any questions.
Call 1300 30 10 20 or on the web at www.dragondirect.com.au
{ We also diverted [how unusual!] onto a discussion regarding what
combination of TransACT and Netspeed were down that morning}
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{Topic 2, Jaycar Catalogs Also Ted?
We started with a discussion on their & other catalogs, including Dick
Smith's, whether they were free or charged for (nominally charged, but
easily got for free if a regular or pretend to be, or look big and
threatening); then moved to discussion of various items in catalog and
suitability of Jaycar etc as source. The items includes isopropyl alcohol
(much cheaper in bulk from chemists); plastic 'buds' (lint free) - better
to look at stuff available from car painters(?); Electronic & mechanical
toys; mobile phone batteries (vary greatly in price - look around). Some
suggested add fertilizer and diesel fuel to complete the picture.}
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Topic 3- Windows 98SE locking up - Margarete D
{Main symptom reported was initial logo breaking up on start up,
frequently but not every time}
Much discussion took place about my problem with Windows 98. Quite a few
suggestions were made. One was to keep a record of any future problems and
the other was it could be hardware problem. {monitor/hdd most favoured}
The other one was to re-install Windows 98 cd. This I did but received the
following answer from my machine -
"This CD ROM is from an older version of Windows than the one you are
presently using.
Set up functionality from this disk will be disabled."
Another answer from my machine was "the problem could be caused by your
network or hardware setttings".
I recently uninstalled Norton Anti-virus and now the computer is unhappy
that it cannot run Norton Protect I have installed AVG anti-virus in
place.
Any further suggestions of what else to try please contact Margaret
Diaouris diamarg@tpg.com.au..
Many thanks, Margarete
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{Topic 4 - M$ Frontpage 2000 & Web Page overhaul - John Saxon
The product looks good for a new project, but more difficult to update old
stuff.
It includes auto uploading of updates, *if* the server allows this.
Ie. If the server administrator does not mind having security holes in
their system, and introduction of non-standard M$ proprietry stuff,
presumably only fully functional for users of M$ software.
This does *not* include the PCUG system - if and when it does there will be
a large dead body to climb over to get to it.
My scrawl suggests diversions included complimentary words about a colour
printing class *and* notification of a BBQ at Edison Park Phillip on a date
}
---------------------------------
{Topic 5 - Virus warning W32.Magul????? - Rod B
A meaningless message with secret.bat attached.
This as usual became a general virus discussion:
1. Never never excecute an email attachment even from a trusted source
[Save it, scan it, then execute, preferably on a sacrificable machine]
2. Make sure your emailer has file extension display turned on (Outhouse
Express does this by default, unlike general W95/W98 etc for some reason)
3. Do not trust any file with a double extension such as xxx.jpg.vbs
4. Do not send anyone a file with a .EXE, .VBS, .BAT, .COM, (etc)
extension as the more paranoid of us will simply delete the message, while
the sensible rest will do 1 above. [If you must send such a file, ZIP it
first - safer and usually smaller.]
5. Ditto excel (.xls) and Word (.doc) files, as they can contain malicious
macros. If you must read such files, in excel disable macros, dunno about
word, but another way is to open in Wordpad which can read simple Word
documents but not handle macros.
6. If sending word processing documents, better to send as .rtf (rich text
format) which can handle most things OK. Use Save As and look...
I no doubt made my usual grizzle about Outlook & Outlook Express which are
responsible for approximately 100% of email virus distributions. [I do not
use them for that reason]
It was also pointed out the popular InnoculateIT virus checker is no longer
free. The favoured free one now seems to be AVG }
------------------------------------------
{Topic 6 - Lawnmowing - Greg
Apparently in Germany(?) there is now on the market a computer controlled
lawnmower which cuts to a precision of <1mm of what set to; finds its way
around lawn; applies fertiliser on spots it decides need it; mulches
clippings mixes with aforesaid fertiliser; fries eggs to order; rocks the
baby...
Price not stated, but assumed to be a bit more than a basic Victa
Discussion also moved to GPS controlled mower possibilities, as discussed
in a newsgroup recently. (One on GPSs. I never raised topic, but saw
discussion, but I've since unsubscribed) general feeling is simpler to pay
for a pusher.
Also diverted to problems of access to a steep block...}
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{Topic 7 - Memory problems - Charles K
Windows grizzling out of memory when has stacks, despite lots of tasks
open.
It is a wrong message, problem being a generic lack of resources, which
resource not specified by M$.
Could be memory or file handles or system stack space or or or or .......
Generic KISS (keep it simple ...) the more you load a system, any system,
the more its likely to break - and W9x systems evolved from single user
single tasking stuff with current stuff added on, so less robust under load
than systems designed for multi user from start (unix in its various
flavours incl linux, arguably Win2000) }
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{Topic 8 - Modern Tale - Rod S
An amusing fill in regarding multiple around the world mobile phone calls
to sort out a house alarm which had triggered.
Diverted/added fill ins were about alarm systems, problems posting CDs
(Aust Post bag sold for purpose marginal at fitting through the gauge and
some staff wanting charge higher rate as result) ; other post problems -
Aust post no longer accept computers/computer bits for postage}
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{Topic 9 - Pc Magazines recommended? - Bob Stewart
Most concensus seemed to be "browse in newsagent and buy if that magazine,
that issue, look worth it. Non-concensus favourable mention was made of PC
User, PC World, APC, PC Authority (latter more techo than others?) }
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