Announcements

Your Questions

Thanks to everyone who used our new forms for submitting tips and questions. We received around 200 questions yesterday!

As you might suspect, we can't answer them all here in the newsletter. We do read 'em all though! Lots of good ideas for the Computers 101 section.

Remember, if you have a question, your best bet for an answer is our free message board at:

http://www.worldstart.com/ctmb.htm

When we do get a chance to answer questions outside of the newsletter, that's where we normally do it :-)

Running Out Of Time!

Our 15% off store special ends soon. Hundreds (and hundreds) of people are taking advantage of this, so I just want to pass along your coupon code one last time:

27256

This coupon is only good between now and Sunday (March 17th 2002), so get to the site ASAP.

We've noticed a ton of people are buying kids titles for Easter gifts with this offer. Beats all that candy! Here's the store link again:

http://www.worldstart.com/store/index.htm

QuickVerse

We were able to locate some more of the QuickVerse programs too. We had an hour or so yesterday of being sold out, so if you weren't able to order, here's a second chance.

Again, this 3 CD set is built for Bible study. It includes 11 different bibles and 54 Bible reference titles! In addition, it includes over 1000 full color pictures, maps, and illustrations.

It also lets you compare different translations, create your own Bible study schedule / lessons, do powerful cross referenced searches, look words up in a dictionary, enjoy a daily devotional, and view related expert commentary.

Here's the link:

http://www.worldstart.com/store/quickverse.htm

And remember to use your coupon code!

And finally -

Thanks to the thousands who signed up for our new MS Office Tips newsletter. It's already over 8,000 strong!

Again, it's 100% free and will feature tips for MS Office products like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, and more!

If you want to give it a try, head to our homepage, you'll see a signup form towards the bottom:

http://www.worldstart.com

It's gonna be great!

Computers 101

Q:
I'm running Win 98 and every time I shut down my computer, it hangs on the "Windows is shutting down" screen. Is there a way to fix this?

A:
This can happen for a variety of reasons with any version of Windows (well, I guess it doesn't really happen that much with XP).

Usually it's due to a program that's not shutting down the way it's supposed to (probably something hanging out in your system tray causing trouble). You may want to try shutting down different system tray programs each time you shut your computer down and see if that fixes it (usually a right-click to a system tray icon gives you an option to shut it off).

There's also another strong possibility; Windows may need to be updated.

For example, Windows 98 (first edition) had an issue with power management that would cause it to hang on shutdown. Of course, they have since fixed this problem.

If you suspect that it's a Windows problem and not a software problem, hit your Start button, Windows Update (XP users, go to your Start button, Help & Support for a link to update).

OK, now I'm going to step up on my little soap box (just warning ya).

I can't tell you the number of computer problems I see and hear about that could have been avoided by keeping Windows (and explorer) up to date.

I mean, let's face it. We all know Windows is a "work in progress" for the most part (don't even get me started about how we're all financing this :-). So, it only makes sense to run the little Windows Update feature from time to time (XP users have an auto-update feature that's normally on by default).

These updates do more than just helping you to shut down right. Many of them patch major security holes, add or enhance features, and allow improved software compatibility.

The way I see it, these updates are free, so why put up with a system that could be better with an easy to install update?

More on updates in today's tip.

Climbing down off that little soap box now, thanks for indulging me. Now, where'd I put my high horse??

Have a question for the newsletter? Submit it at the link below:
http://www.worldstart.com/submitquestion.htm

Tip of the Day

Updating Windows

Web link - http://www.worldstart.com/tips/winupdate.htm

If you're running a newer version of Windows, you've probably noticed the Windows Update item when you press your Start button. What is that all about?

Windows update is actually a really cool little feature. You know how Windows tends to have a few bugs? Well, these updates take care of bugs, security holes, and lots of other problematic stuff. Who knows, if you're having problems, this may actually cure them!

OK, if you're NOT running XP (see below for XP instructions), click the Windows Update item in your Start menu and it takes you to Microsoft's web site.

If you don't have the little Windows Update item on your Start menu, don't worry. You can still get up to date by following the link below:

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

Once you get to the site, you'll be asked if you want to install a plug-in.

Say yes.

From there, your computer will be analyzed and you'll get a list of updates you can install. Oh, for those who are worried, supposedly no information is sent to Microsoft during the analysis. It's just you between you and their software. So, if you are using a "borrowed" copy of Windows you should be OK doing this :-)

Anyhow, once your computer has been analyzed, you'll get a list of available updates. Just check the ones you want and then click the Download button. Keep a really good eye on the file sizes - not the download time. If you're connecting with a dial-up connection I would allow about 6 -8 minutes for each 1000K (MS tends to think in terms of high speed connections when they give you their estimated times - sometimes).

What updates should you get? Well, grab any critical updates for sure. Then scroll down the list and see if you spot anything else that looks useful. Don't just grab stuff cuz it's free - you may just be taking up hard drive space for no reason.

Anyhow, once you hit the download button, you'll get a screen that shows you the progress of both the download and the install. You'll probably have to re-start after all this is over with, but that's about it.

XP Users

For XP Users, the process is a bit more streamlined. In fact, it should ask you via a little bubble in the system tray if you want to check for updates. After you've done this, you should be able to set things up so updates are checked for automatically and you just say "yes" when you want to download.

Note that not all the updates are downloaded with the automatic option though. By default, it's only the critical updates. So, you may want to use the following method too:

To manually pick and choose your updates, just click the Start button, Help & Support. Click the link for "Keep your computer up-to-date with Windows Update" under the Pick A Task category.

From here, your computer will be analyzed, examined, poked, and prodded. Oh, for those who are worried, supposedly no information is sent to Microsoft during the analysis. It's just you between you and their software.

Once this analysis is over, you'll get a link that lets you review and install. Click that.

The updates come in 3 different flavors (Critical, Windows, and Driver categories) and these are listed on the left under the Windows Update column.

Click a category and choose the updates you want to add.

What updates should you get? Well, grab any critical updates for sure. Then scroll down the list and see if you spot anything else that looks useful. Don't just grab stuff cuz it's free - you may just be taking up hard drive space for no reason.

Once you're done picking updates, click the Review and Install link on the left.

Hit the Install Now button and the updates will be downloaded and installed.

Yeah, it seems longer and more involved than the win 9.x way, but it is more intuitive and it feels a bit easier.

Happy updating!

Have a tip for the newsletter? Submit it below:
http://www.worldstart.com/submitatip.htm

Amanda's Cool Site of the Day

Internet Anagram Server

Anagrams! Anagrams! Who cares about anagrams? Well I do, I think they’re neat, and so is this site.

You just type in a word, click the Get Anagrams button and it produces an entire list of all the possible anagrams for that word. I’m completely hopeless; I spent an entire hour playing with this anagram machine.

You will also find the Anagram Hall of Fame that has some really neat anagrams, for example:

Western Union = No Wire Unsent
Clothespins = So Let's Pinch
Mother-in-law = Woman Hitler
Snooze Alarms = Alas! No More Z's
Statue of Liberty = Built to Stay Free

These are only handful of the neat anagrams in the hall of fame. I say check it out.

http://wordsmith.org/anagram/index.html

Do you have a cool site that you want to share? Send it to Amanda! Here's her address:

amanda@worldstart.com

Oh, and we're looking for non-commercial sites. We generally don't run sites that are strictly for shopping.