Leo's Answers #108 - December 21, 2007 - Confident Computing

Leo's Answers
A Weekly Newsletter From
Ask Leo!
Leo Notenboom

Hello!

*** Contents

This Week's New Articles on Ask Leo!
A Word from our Sponsor
This Week's Most Popular Articles
Popular Articles from the Archives
Thoughts and Comments
Newsletter Administration

*** This Week's New Articles on Ask Leo!

Can I burn the I386 folder to a CD and use that as an install CD?

If I burn the I386 folder onto a CD will it be the same as having Windows XP on a CD? Will that just allow me to delete the folder, and if I choose to restart will the CD be fully applicable?

No.

An actual Windows Setup CD is different in some subtle ways and at least one not-to-subtle way: you can boot from it to perform an install. A CD copy of your I386 folder won't do that.

But there are some ways to use the I386 folder to reinstall your system.

Continue reading: "Can I burn the I386 folder to a CD and use that as an install CD?"
http://ask-leo.com/can_i_burn_the_i386_folder_to_a_cd_and_use_that_as_an_install_cd.html

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What's the difference between Windows Mail, Windows Live Mail, Windows Live Hotmail and MSN Hotmail?

What's the difference between Windows Mail, Windows Live Mail, Windows Live Hotmail and MSN Hotmail? I keep getting them confused. And aren't some of them the same thing?

You're confused? You and the rest of the world.

And no, with another case brilliant naming, all four of those things are all quite different.

I wish Microsoft would have learned from the mess that resulted from all the different names for something called messenger or the two unrelated email programs with the word Outlook in their name, but no. Here we are. Again.

Continue reading: "What's the difference between Windows Mail, Windows Live Mail, Windows Live Hotmail and MSN Hotmail?"
http://ask-leo.com/whats_the_difference_between_windows_mail_windows_live_mail_windows_live_hotmail_and_msn_hotmail.html

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What does it mean to "hover over" a link to check it's validity?

Could you please describe, or rather, take us through the process of "hovering over" a URL or link in such a way that supposedly 'reveals' its true source or identity. I have tried it but nothing happens ... the URLs' clothing invariably remains implacably and firmly in place, covering the naked body lurking beneath.

There are several ways to look at a link, both in email and on web pages, before you click on it to make sure it is what it claims to be.

There are several ways to hide where links go as well. But the good news is that the most common approaches are the simplest to detect.

So let's go about disrobing those cloaked links.

Continue reading: "What does it mean to "hover over" a link to check it's validity?"
http://ask-leo.com/what_does_it_mean_to_hover_over_a_link_to_check_its_validity.html

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Why does Firefox sometimes say it's already running when it's not?

I installed Firefox because IE7 just freezes up and runs really slow. So far I like it. It runs really fast, but every now and then I try to start it and get a message saying Firefox is already running and that I need to stop the program or restart my computer. I was wondering what you think I should or could do, plus I was just wondering what you think of Firefox.

I'm a big fan of Firefox, and I use it every day. I still occasionally run into websites that don't work properly in Firefox, but for the most part I rarely have to open Internet Explorer for my normal surfing.

But yes, I have run into the scenario that you've described. I'm always not sure what causes it, but I can show you what I do.

Continue reading: "Why does Firefox sometimes say it's already running when it's not?"
http://ask-leo.com/why_does_firefox_sometimes_say_its_already_running_when_its_not.html

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Why is my MSN Hotmail Inbox suddenly empty?

I logged into my MSN Hotmail account today and my inbox was empty! I had lots of important emails there and nowhere else. What happened, and how do I go about recovering the contents of my MSN Hotmail Inbox?

That's actually a synthesis of a question I get almost daily. People login to their MSN Hotmail or Windows Live Hotmail account one day only to find that all of their messages are gone. Poof.

I'll review what the possible causes are and also what (little) can be done.

Continue reading: "Why is my MSN Hotmail Inbox suddenly empty?"
http://ask-leo.com/why_is_my_msn_hotmail_inbox_suddenly_empty.html

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It's time to learn about network neutrality.

ISPs have the ability to stick their fingers into our internet experience and become something less than a neutral internet provider.

Continue reading: "It's time to learn about network neutrality." Article Includes Audio
http://ask-leo.com/its_time_to_learn_about_network_neutrality.html

*** A Word from our Sponsor

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*** This Week's Most Popular

The ten most popular articles in the last 7 days on Ask Leo!

*** Popular Articles from the Archives

This continues to be a common question today, though more often because situations in Outlook Express seem to sometimes break it. But to get started and for the basics, this still applies:

How do I view "PPS" files?

Since installing Windows XP SP2, I have been unable to open .pps files. Short of downloading Open Office which carries a .pps access is there any other way of regaining this access.

PPS files are created by Microsoft Office PowerPoint. PPS files are a common distribution form for PowerPoint presentations and slide shows.

Since you indicated that SP2 broke this, I'll assume that this was working at some point.

Continue reading...
How do I view "PPS" files?
http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_view_pps_files.html

*** Thoughts and Comments

Twitter much?

As I said to some friends the other day "all the cool kids are doing it", so you can now follow me on Twitter. I'm http://www.twitter.com/askleo.

Some have called it "micro blogging", others call it a waste of time. I'm not sure where I fall yet, but that's why I'm giving it a try. What's in it for you? Not quite sure, except that I'll almost certainly tweet (apparently the term for making an entry on Twitter) each time I post a new article, so you can stay even more up to date. I'll probably tweet about other random things going on as well. We'll see. I'm thinking I may throw random questions out there - perhaps things like "what should my podcast be on this week" - and see what the responses are.

•

A very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all my readers and your families, all over the world!

'till next time...

Leo

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*** Newsletter Administration

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