The Ask anything about computers thread

[yankswn23]

There are two places to look:

1. Hit the Start button, and then click "Run...". In the dialog box that appears, type "msconfig". That'll bring up the msconfig utility. Click on the "Startup" tab and just disable the startup items you don't want.
2. Also check the "Startup" folder in your start menu. Just delete anything from that folder that you don't want starting up when the computer boots up.

What I was going to say.. there are also some services that start up when your computer starts that may be hidden in msconfig or in the startup folder, also be careful what you remove some programs may not work correctly..

If you really want to get down in dirty you can right click My Computer/Manage/look under Services and applications/Click on the + sign next to services and then if you click on services..you can see what gets automagically started when you start windows

[yankeesAZ]

Will porn effect my hard drive?

Unfortunately, some good drugs come with side effects.

[Scottish Yankee]

I just got a Mac, and have been trying to download Windows Media Player so I can watch MLB.tv once the game coverage starts, but it won't work when I try downloading from the Microsoft or Apple sites.

Anyone know of any decent alternatives that will let me watch the games???

[yankeeschic12324]

What I was going to say.. there are also some services that start up when your computer starts that may be hidden in msconfig or in the startup folder, also be careful what you remove some programs may not work correctly..

If you really want to get down in dirty you can right click My Computer/Manage/look under Services and applications/Click on the + sign next to services and then if you click on services..you can see what gets automagically started when you start windows

I tried and the programs I disabled still start up with the computer...

[Casey at the Bat]

I just got a Mac, and have been trying to download Windows Media Player so I can watch MLB.tv once the game coverage starts, but it won't work when I try downloading from the Microsoft or Apple sites.

Anyone know of any decent alternatives that will let me watch the games???

The program you are looking for is called Flip4Mac. Its a free plugin that will convert all wmv files to quicktime files so you can watch them on your mac. It runs in the background, and you will never even know it is there.

Microsoft stopped developing WMP for the Mac at least a year ago, maybe more. Their official solution is to get Flip for Mac.


...btw, there seems to be a new player for mlb.tv this year. I tried it out a few days ago and it seems to work better on the mac than the old player. I don't know if it is using the flip4mac plugin though, cause as I said... the plugin runs in the background.

[Scottish Yankee]

Thanks - I'll try the new player on its own first to see if it works, and if not, will get it working through Flip4Mac.

Will let you know whether it works alone or not once I've tried it.

[YASS]

I tried and the programs I disabled still start up with the computer...

Hmmm ...

Are you using XP or Vista?

[yankeeschic12324]

Hmmm ...

Are you using XP or Vista?

XP....

[YASS]

XP....

The only thing I can suggest is that you try it one more time, and immediately reboot.


Are the startup programs that didn't go away part of applications you know and trust? The only reason I ask is that some viruses or trojans have the ability to restore themselves after they've been removed from the startup list.

[yankeeschic12324]

The only thing I can suggest is that you try it one more time, and immediately reboot.


Are the startup programs that didn't go away part of applications you know and trust? The only reason I ask is that some viruses or trojans have the ability to restore themselves after they've been removed from the startup list.

I think I'll try again. Its my music program that keeps starting up.

[YASS]

I think I'll try again. Its my music program that keeps starting up.

If that doesn't work, I've got one more thing you can try, but it involves editing the registry, and that's not something you should do without good reason.

Oh, one other thing: Make sure you disable all the occurrences in the startup list. Some programs insert themselves more than once, so make sure you scroll all the way down to the bottom of the list.

[yankeeschic12324]

If that doesn't work, I've got one more thing you can try, but it involves editing the registry, and that's not something you should do without good reason.

Oh, one other thing: Make sure you disable all the occurrences in the startup list. Some programs insert themselves more than once, so make sure you scroll all the way down to the bottom of the list.

I don't even know what half the programs listed are..

[YASS]

I don't even know what half the programs listed are..

Well, there are options there, too.

You can google them, or you can PM me a list and I'll try to help out.

[yankeeschic12324]

Well, there are options there, too.

You can google them, or you can PM me a list and I'll try to help out.

I'll PM you...

[yankswn23]

I tried and the programs I disabled still start up with the computer...

Which programs are they? Maybe I can help that way?

[yankswn23]

Most programs after they startup show in the task bar after they are opened during startup.. for instance yahoo messenger..

right click on "the program icon in the taskbar" this is next to the date and time, then you might see an option that is checked for startup when windows starts or something like that, if not there might be a settings option, click on that and look for an option that says startup automatically or something like that, this is usually a checkbox for most programs then it will stop starting when windows starts.

[yankeeschic12324]

Most programs after they startup show in the task bar after they are opened during startup.. for instance yahoo messenger..

right click on "the program icon in the taskbar" this is next to the date and time, then you might see an option that is checked for startup when windows starts or something like that, if not there might be a settings option, click on that and look for an option that says startup automatically or something like that, this is usually a checkbox for most programs then it will stop starting when windows starts.

YASS helped me out. Thank you though

[xenadanielle]

I am finally getting around to asking you something here! If you recall I am the noob MacBook owner from the LOT.

Anyhoo--I have tried to find this out by reading other Mac-related forums but I am sort of confused by what I've found: is there any way to get web pages in full screen mode in Safari?

[shotz]

great thread i have a question. when you defrag, should you hit analyze and then defrag or does it matter? and when your done doing all this, restart or shut down and start comp up again or what?

[yankswn23]

great thread i have a question. when you defrag, should you hit analyze and then defrag or does it matter? and when your done doing all this, restart or shut down and start comp up again or what?

U usually analyze because sometimes you don't need to defrag also it might come up with a hard drive error which could corrupt data by moving it to different area's of your hard drive..

I think it auto restarts when it is done but I restart is needed..

[yankswn23]

I am finally getting around to asking you something here! If you recall I am the noob MacBook owner from the LOT.

Anyhoo--I have tried to find this out by reading other Mac-related forums but I am sort of confused by what I've found: is there any way to get web pages in full screen mode in Safari?

Not sure in Safari, Ill check when I get home, I think the option is there in Mozilla Firefox which I use because some plugins I used with windows works better in firefox..

[Casey at the Bat]

I am finally getting around to asking you something here! If you recall I am the noob MacBook owner from the LOT.

Anyhoo--I have tried to find this out by reading other Mac-related forums but I am sort of confused by what I've found: is there any way to get web pages in full screen mode in Safari?

If by "full screen," you mean the web page taking up the whole screen (like it can do in a windows environment), with no browser or menu bar visible at all, I don't think so, at least not without using the Zoom function in the Universal Access control panel.

I could be wrong, but I have never found a way for it to work on a mac, regardless of browser, so I don't think it can be done.

[BronxBaumer]

http://haoli.dnsalias.com/index.php?...132&Itemid=132

Saft will allow full sceen.

[Casey at the Bat]

http://haoli.dnsalias.com/index.php?...132&Itemid=132

Saft will allow full sceen.

I just downloaded the Saft demo. It works pretty stinking well. Cool!

[fredgmuggs]

Another question for the computer gurus: If given a choice between a laptop that has a Intel 1.66GHz dual core processor and Windows XP Home and 1GB DDR2 RAM... or a laptop with the same processor and Windows Vista Home Premium and 2GB DDR2 RAM which way would you lean with everything else being the same including price?