  |
SP2 Automatically
Downloaded |
Hello
SpringNet1 Internet Subscribers!
To see what's inside this issue, take a look at the index to the left and thanks for reading! - The SpringNet1 Internet Team
|
SP2 Automatically Downloaded
- Important Info For Windows XP Users
Many Windows
XP users have noticed the recent inability to see graphics within incoming
e-mail messages. That's because Microsoft has now made its Windows XP
Service Pack 2 (SP2) a "required critical update" for all people using
Windows XP. One of the "features" of the SP2 software is that it blocks
images from being displayed within incoming e-mail messages. (See below for
information on changing your settings to allow images to reappear within
e-mail messages.)
More About Microsoft's Recent Automatic SP2 Update
As of April 12, 2005, anyone using the Windows XP operating system that had
not previously downloaded SP2 onto their computer was forced to do so. This
was accomplished through Windows XP's Automatic Update feature which is
"turned on" as a default setting on all Windows XP systems. Thus, it's
highly probable that if you use Windows XP, SP2 has been downloaded onto
your machine whether you've requested it or not. Once this download occurs,
however, users must then install the software to activate it. For
installation instructions, see:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/sp2aumng.mspx
Why SP2 For Windows XP Operating Systems?
Microsoft's Windows XP Service Pack 2 is a security software update for
Microsoft's popular Windows XP operating system. Costing almost one billion
dollars to develop, this free and huge (200 megabyte) software download
promises to make users of Windows XP much safer from cyberattacks. SP2 adds
protection by closing entries to viruses, increasing spyware barriers, and
improving the safeguards of users' personal data.
SP2 Does Not Replace The Need For Third-Party Virus Protection
Windows XP Service Pack 2 DOES NOT REPLACE the need for third-party a) Virus
Protection, b) E-mail Filtering, or c) Firewall Protection. If you use third
party anti-virus software programs from companies like Symantec and McAfee,
for instance, you'll still need to continue to regularly update your
software and scan e-mail attachments for viruses as you've done in the past.
SP2 does not include robust protection in these three areas.
So Why Am I Unable To See Graphics Within Incoming E-mail Messages?
One of the protective features added to Outlook Express for those Windows XP
users who have installed Service Pack 2 (SP2) is the blocking of images
being displayed within incoming e-mail messages. However, it's not nearly as
much fun to receive an e-mail message from a friend or source you trust
unless you can also view the message's graphics and images. Microsoft
provides an easy option to allow images to appear within messages, either on
a per e-mail basis or for all e-mail messages. To see the graphics within
messages on an e-mail-by-e-mail basis, with your Preview Pane open, do the
following:
- Click your cursor arrow on the gray bar located just below the
subject line of the message. It will say, "Some pictures have been
blocked to help prevent the sender from identifying your computer. Click
here to download pictures." If you click anywhere on that gray bar, the
pictures for that particular e-mail will appear for as long as you have
that e-mail open.
- If you go to a different e-mail and then come back to this message, you will need to click on that bar again to see the images within the message.
If you want to be able to see all pictures on all incoming e-mail messages that contain images, you can disable this blocking feature. Here’s how:
- Go to the Outlook Express "Tools" menu and drop down to "Options."
- When the "Options" window appears, click on the "Security" tab.
About half way down the window, you'll see an item titled "Download
images." You will see a checkbox next to the words "Block images and
other external content in HTML e-mail." If you uncheck this box, it will
allow images to be viewed again just like before your SP2 update.
- Click "Apply" and then "OK" to save your new settings and close the window.
Online Backup Special
- Sign Up
Before July 31 And Get Two Months Free
Protecting the
data on your computer is one of the most important things you can do. We all
store information on our computer that is not available in any other
location. Online backup is simple and affordable for both home and business
users. You can learn more about the service at
http://www.springnet1.com/onlinebackup/
Sign up before July 31, 2005 and we'll give you the first two months free.
There are no contracts for the service so the two months free gives you
plenty of time to test the service.
Ask The Help Desk - When
Was A Web Page Last Updated?
Question: Sometimes
it's important to know how current the information is on a web page. Is
there a way to find out when a web page was last updated?
Answer: Yes, this can be especially important if you are visiting
news-related web pages, stock market sites, or other time sensitive
websites.
A simple method of finding out when a page was last updated is to go to the
page in question and then type (or copy and paste) the phrase below into the
address bar replacing the site's web address:
| javascript:alert(document.lastModified) |
A box will appear telling you the date and time of the last update. This trick doesn't work on all websites and will only work if your browser is java-enabled (which it probably is). However, in most cases this technique will provide helpful results. Head to a couple of your favorite web pages and give it a try!
Great Sites To Check Out This Month
Locate
Recreational Opportunities Before Next Vacation
http://recreation.gov/ - If you are
planning a vacation this summer and want to check out some of our nation's
great recreational opportunities, the federal government provides this
in-depth informational site to get you started. Recreation.gov allows you to
search for recreational areas by state, by recreational activity, by agency,
or even by map. Have a great trip!
Google Now Offers Map Images Taken Via Satellite
http://maps.google.com/ - You've
probably used MapQuest.com for map information or driving directions. Now
Google.com has gone one step further. It offers maps and driving directions
but also provides actual satellite images of addresses you input. Simply go
to maps.google.com, type in your Uncle Bob's home address in Toledo, click
on the "Satellite" link toward the top right corner of the page, use the
zoom feature on the left side of the page, and then check out his house!
Get Involved In A Kitten War
http://kittenwar.com/ - No, this is not
a site showing cat fights. It's a site filled with images of cute kittens
where you vote on your favorite feline. Hundreds of pictures of kittens have
been submitted. Check out the photo list of the top ten "winningest
kittens," the ten "losingest kittens," and the ten most recently submitted
entries. Upload your own favorite kitten photo and let the voting battle
begin!
Herbie: Fully Loaded Movie Released This Month
http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/herbie/ - This month Walt Disney
Pictures presents the fifth feature film in the Herbie series that started
with the popular movie, The Love Bug, back in 1969. This time the
adventurous Herbie takes on the world of NASCAR! The film stars Lindsay
Lohan, Matt Dillon, Michael Keaton, and Justin Long. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
even makes an appearance. Herbie: Fully Loaded is rated G for general
audiences.
LPGA's Open Hosted By Colorado
http://LPGA.com - This month marks the 60th
anniversary of the longest running event currently on the Ladies
Professional Golf Association Tour. The U.S. Women's Open will be held June
23-26 at Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado. In
last year's exciting event, eventual champion Meg Mallon held off Annika
Sorenstam by two strokes. Both will be competing this year for their share
of the event's $3.1 million purse. Check out this site for the latest news
and stats concerning the LPGA.
Short Tutorial - Locating
Hard-To-Find E-mail Messages
Have you ever
tried to find an e-mail message in your inbox folder that was sent to you
months ago but you can't recall the name or e-mail address of the sender?
Plus, your search for key words that were possibly included in the subject
line of the message hasn't given you successful results. Well, don't
despair. You can also search for key words within the actual message pane
windows of e-mail messages located in your inbox folder (and your other
folders as well). Depending on how many messages are stored in your inbox
and how specific your key word search is, there's a good chance of quickly
finding the exact message that you're looking for. See the step-by-step
tutorials below.
Outlook Express 6.0 and Windows XP
- With Outlook Express open, click your cursor arrow on your "Inbox."
- Click on the "File" menu, drop down to "Find," and then select
"Message" from the submenu. The "Find Message" dialog box will now
appear.
- Where it reads "Look In," the location should say "Inbox." Make sure
the box is checked beside "Include subfolders."
- Look for the field marked "Message" and type your keyword(s) into
it. Those words will be searched for in the body of your message.
Remember, the more words you put into that field, the narrower your
search will be.
- Click the "Find Now" button. The results will be shown in a frame at the bottom of the window.
- With Thunderbird open, click your cursor arrow on your "Inbox."
- Click on the "Edit" menu and drop down to "Find." Select "Search
Messages" from the resulting submenu. The "Search Messages" window will
appear.
- Make sure it says "Search for messages in: Inbox on Local Folders"
and that "Search Subfolders" is checked.
- Select "Match any of the following."
- Locate the pane that includes three fields. One will be called
"Subject," one will be called "contains," and the third field will be
blank. Click on the word "Subject" and a drop down menu will appear with
other options. Select "Body" from this list. Leave the field that says
"contains" as it is. In the blank field, type in your keyword(s).
Remember, the more words you put into the field, the narrower your
search will be.
- Click the "Search" button and the results will appear in the lower pane of the window.
- In the search field on your Mail.app tool bar, click on the letter Q
with the downward pointing triangle next to it.
- A drop-down menu will appear with a number of options listed for
either the mailbox you are currently in or for all mailboxes. Select
"Entire Message" and type in your keyword(s).
- A list of messages that include the keyword(s) you typed will appear in the message list.
We hope you
found this newsletter to be informative. It's our way of keeping you posted
on the happenings at our shop. If, however, you'd prefer not to receive
these bulletins on a monthly basis, click HERE.
Thanks for your business!
Best regards,
Neal E. Miller
Springnet1, Inc.
Springnet1, Inc.
717 S Grand Ave West
Springfield, IL 62704
800-261-6006
217-241-6000
(We have used our best efforts in collecting and preparing the information published herein. However, we do not assume, and hereby disclaim, any and all liability for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions resulted from negligence, accident, or other causes.)
©2005
Cornerstone Publishing Group Inc.
Trademarks: All brand names and product names used in this eNewsletter are
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