Chess chaired the meeting, which was attended by 35 members (no new members
today).  Jenny volunteered to coordinate the notes.

1. News from the North:  Esther

2. 6x Fonter: Trevor
The application is called X-Fonter v3.5 Release
January 20,2002

Platform: Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000.

Copyright 2001 BlackSun Software, All rights reserved.
Internet: http://users.pandora.be/eclypse
Email: eclypse@pandora.be

The use of X-Fonter 3.5 is free for personal non-commercial use.
For a different license agreement please contact the author by email.

Features:
Browse through and preview any installed fonts; Browse through and
preview any not-installed fonts; Install or uninstall any TrueType
Fonts; Search for fonts on any drive/directory; Font Filtering by
Font Family, Codepages and Font Style; View Fonts in 3D mode and
output to a *.gif or *.jpg file for Logos or web page titles; Basic
Image editor built in (with cropping); JPG output supported for 3D
graphics; Most settings are saved and reused in next session.

Uninstall option; print font overview.

3. XP compatibility mode: Keith

4. PCUG elections: Chess
Chess has been nominated for President of PCUG.
Some of his ideas have been posted to TIP General.
Proxy votes would be appreciated from those unable to attend the AGM, which
may be adjourned due to failure to provide 30 days notice in Sixteen Bits
which was late (again).

5. Win XP support: Chess
WINDOWS XP allows a support person to take control of a machine over a modem
and fix problems. The PCUG should investigate how it can provide this
service to members and charge non-members for such a service. Windows 98x
and 95 users could be helped with the use of additional software like
Remotely Anywhere.

6. HDD problems; notes for newbies; lists:  John S
A. JohnS mentioned that his wife's computer (200 MHz AMD Win ME) had
started freezing after running for an hour or two, and the hard disk sounded
horrible. He decided to replace the HDD with a 20 GB unit. But could not get
either disk drive (old 2.1 GB or new 20) recognised by the BIOS. Updated
(flashed) the BIOS with the latest and then all O.K. But - after the machine
had been on for a while was unable to format the new drive without major
errors. Used another drive - same problem. Eventually fluked a 'format /s'
but Win ME install failed part way through. Then remembered that I'd seen
something similar on another machine where there was an intermittent fault
in high memory.
Ran BCM DOS diagnostics http://www.bcmcom.com/utilities/utilities.htm memory
stress test and was able to fairly consistently (once per hour or so) find a
bad address. Removed two 8MB 'sticks' (left the system with 32 MB) but no
problems since. So the moral is - an apparent HDD problem may be caused by
bad RAM {:-))
B. John also noted that the "final" addition of CnC 'Notes for Newcomers'
was now available for handout and had been posted by Owen at
http://www.pcug.org.au/pcug/candc/CnC_New_Members.htm
Members Web page and Mailing list copies were also passed around for update.

7. 13 = UFS: Rod S

8. Now you read it, now you don't: Rob B

9. A good luck story: example of printing from a free cartridge:  Ted T

10 a) Second-hand computers without software - Philip

I have had a number of people ask me for help with secondhand computers
sold to them with Windows pre-loaded. They have bought them without the
backup of software on cd rom or floppies.
With the inevitable misadventures of Windows operating systems, the
software eventually need reloading. These people are then stuck. The
Windows version they are using may no longer be available for purchase. A
later version purchased may be too resource intensive for their
computer. Grief!

10 b) how to run Outlook Express on a network without access to central
email - Philip
In a community centre where the public access computers are networked to
the main office computers, the office email could be tampered with if
outside users try to use Outlook Express.

Is there a way to isolate a copy of Outlook Express on the public access
computers to use for training purposes
and keep it separate from the copy of Outlook Express in the main office,
for office use?

11. Problem installing ZoneAlarm: Brock

12. Too many temporary internet files: Brock

13. Easy Antivirus E-2 Trust version 6: Charlie

14 a) Multiple email accounts: Peter

Peter asked how to download email messages from multiple ISPs using Eudora
5.1. He was told that this could be done simultaneously with multiple
'personalities'. This is explained at
http://www.eudora.com/techsupport/tutorials/win_personalities.html

14 b) networking with Transact: Peter
He also asked what additional hardware was required to network a PC and a
laptop with access to TransACT. The simplest solution is to install a
second network card on the PC.

14 c) reinstalling Office 95: Peter
Peter also asked if there was a shortcut method of reinstalling MS Office
where the original full version was Office 95 Professional which consisted
of 31 floppy disks. This version was not available on CD-ROM. He was told
there was no shortcut. Peter has subsequently found that Windows XP does
not recognise his Office 95 floppy disks as Office 95 was issued as a 16
bit application.

15. a) Light On
 b) PSP Best from "Computer Choice"
 c) UK Census 1901 Test:  Mike D

16. Turning scanned text into Word: Jenny
Jenny asked how the electronic copy of a novel, which had been lost after a
virus attack, might be recovered as Word.  The author had already scanned
the hard copy, but the resulting file would not convert to Word.  John said
the author would almost certainly have acquired OCR software with his
scanner.  This should be used to re-scan the hard copy, which could then be
converted to Word.  Chess kindly offered the use of his Epson document
feeder (a GT 8000 automatic) which would re-scan the hard copy in
double-quick time.  John noted that most scanned files contain 5 per cent
errors.  We also heard that scanners now work more slowly than they did a
few years ago, because over the years scanners have grown more complex -
hence the value of an older machine such as the one Chess has.

17. Problem with hyperterminal linked with Windows XP: Pearl

18. Serial mouse for old computers: a) mouses; b) monitors:  Al

19. Worm attack -- replacing files; implications for PCUG now we are getting
broadband:  Leigh.


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