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Don Trauger – Kennett

When one spouse passes on, the lack of computer training for the surviving spouse may become an important issue.
It’s sad when I hear about a resident’s passing. There’s so much to handle regarding settling affairs as well as
dealing with one’s personal grief. One of the concerns that arise is that one of the couple is often the computer
user in the household and the other is not or rarely uses the computer. This situation has proven to be troublesome
in many instances and has added to the burden of the survivor. Certainly I have not been exposed to every scenario
in this unfortunate situation but I have heard and seen enough to put my thoughts into an article.

I have seen situations where the survivor doesn’t even know how to turn on the computer. Yes, the family can intervene
and help but they aren’t always going to be around when you need them. My advice is to spend some training time with
your spouse and make sure he/she understands what to do when you are not there.

Assuming the trainee knows little about computers; start with the basics of turning the computer on and off. Other
than the telephone and regular mail, Email is almost as important. Make sure the person knows how to log onto and use
the Email account. Is online banking part of the daily routine? Again make sure the person involved knows how to
log in and access the necessary records. I’m sure there are other computer programs that can be discussed but at least
concern yourself with the essentials. If the training goes well explain computer maintenance and your security programs.
Our Hershey’s Mill website, www.hersheysmill.org Tech Tips section can be of help.

This is very important. Maintain a separate list of all log-in, user name, and password information in an accessible
location. Don’t store it on the computer. This includes the computer log-on itself, email, banking, any program that
requires a password, and a router (if you have one). In case of a password failure, knowing the answer to the fallback
or secret question can be of help. An example would be “your Mother’s maiden name”. Banks in particular have a timeout
feature. Knowing your password is not enough. Make sure you provide answers for your secret questions.

I’ve only touched on some of the more important things to remember. I’m sure you can think of other things that should
be discussed. The point is don’t ignore this training as it will only add to the grief of the survivor. After the
training session, put it down in writing. You can incorporate your password information from your separate list but
keep both in case one gets lost. Later, have your spouse follow through on their own with your written directions to
see if they can be understood and followed.

I hope this article will spur you to put something together that will help your spouse or family use the information
when you are no longer around.

Help with computer problems and questions can be found when you attend our PC Club meetings. We meet the 2nd Tuesday
of every month at 7:00 PM in the Ardmore room of the Community Center.

Don Trauger – Kennett

As we age, the vision that we may have had in our younger years, is not what it used to be. Even with glasses visual acuity is often
compromised. On the newer LCD computer screens with high resolution, the font size is often tiny. Although the content is sharp it
can be hard to read. Now I’ll tell you the procedure to improve this problem with different Microsoft operating systems.

First, make sure your monitor is adjusted properly using its contrast and brightness settings. If you have a high resolution picture
from a digital camera, this can be used to set the contrast and brightness for a life-like setting. If a picture is not available go
to www.google.com and search for “nature wallpaper” or “landscape wallpaper”. Click a life-like picture then click on full-size image
to the right. Do several to get an idea of a life-like image. To see more pictures click on “Images for Nature Wallpaper or “Images for
Landscape Wallpaper”. With a life-like picture on the screen you can now adjust your monitor’s contrast and brightness for the best
quality. Check your monitor’s manual for instructions on the location for the contrast and brightness controls.

With Windows XP right click a blank area on the Desktop screen. Click Properties and then click the Appearance tab. Next click the
Effects button. In that window put a check next to “Use the following method to smooth edges of screen fonts”. Click the little down arrow
and click “ClearType”. OK the window. Next, click the Settings tab. Under “Color quality” choose “Highest (32bit)”. Click the Advanced
button. Under “DPI setting”, click the down arrow and choose “Large size (120DPI)”. OK the window. The following adjustment can be used
but it will distort the screen image so that circles may not be round any longer and it can also cause other side effects in all operating
systems. This adjustment is the Screen resolution slider setting under the Settings tab. If you move the slider to the left everything on
the screen will appear larger but possibly distorted and fuzzier. Set it to where you are satisfied with the results.

Windows Vista is similar. Right click the Desktop, click Personalize. On the left side click “Adjust font size (DPI)”. Choose “Larger
scale (120 DPI)” and OK the window. Next, Click Display Settings. Here you can adjust the Resolution, and Colors (Highest 32 bit is recommended)
if necessary.

Windows 7 allows additional adjustments. Click Start then click Control Panel. Click Appearance and Personalization
(View by: Category at top right). Click Display. Choose “Medium – 125%”. On the left side, click “Adjust resolution”. Use the recommended
setting if at all possible. Next, click “Calibrate color”. Follow the instructions on the screen. It will be followed by a ClearType procedure
to improve text quality.

Windows 7 does the best job of tuning your computer display for your individual needs. However, XP and Vista also provide the ability to make
your screen easier to read. One thing to remember – don’t use Windows High Contrast setting should you encounter it. It may seem to be an easy
fix for readability problems but you will incur color distortions, and other visual side effects that conflict with normal Web surfing.

Help with the above information is available at the PC Club meetings. We meet the second Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM upstairs in
the Ardmore room of the Community Center.

Don Trauger – Kennett

You are probably wondering what I mean by the title of this article. Believe it or not your computer
may not be in the best environment in your home. If you have a desktop computer, the tower portion
should be elevated to the level of the monitor. When placed at floor level, the cooling fans suck in
dust and over time the dust can cover the sensitive electronic parts. This results in a layer of
insulation that can actually trap heat and if severe, can shorten the life of the computer. Heat is
an enemy to electronic devices. As a do it yourself task I recommend using a shop vac or a similar
device that can blow reasonably clean air with some force to thoroughly clean the inside of the
computer. To gain access to a desktop computer’s interior; remove either the left or right side panel.
Pay attention to cleaning the fans. A small brush can be handy for reaching the hard to reach spots on
the fans. DO NOT BRUSH ANY OTHER ELECTRONIC PARTS. Doing so creates static electricity and will
potentially damage the sensitive electronic parts. Let the shop vac do its job as best it can on the
rest of the interior. Try to clean everything. Also check the bottom front of the computer. If you see
a buildup of dust, use the shop vac in the vacuum mode. The computer should be inspected every 2-3 years
for excessive dust buildup and cleaned out as necessary. Laptops have no significant dust buildup problem;
however, check the vents on the bottom and/or rear to make sure there’s no dust blocking the air flow. Use
a brush to clean the vents if necessary. To clean a streaky screen, spray a small amount of window cleaner
(Windex or similar) on a soft cloth and rub gently. Do not spray directly on the screen! If it remains
streaky after using window cleaner try again using only a damp cloth.

While I’m discussing laptops, here’s a tip to extend the battery life. Once a month remove the charger
unit and run the battery down to 10-15%. Then reattach the charger and fully charge it (100%). When
shutting down after normal usage don’t leave it fully charged at 100% and plugged in. I would suggest
leaving it between 50-90%. For example, if you plan to use your laptop for several hours certainly plug
it in but think about unplugging it near the end of your session to stay within the 50-90% range. This
may seem strange but it’s all due to the chemical reaction taking place in the lithium-ion laptop battery.
Most batteries can take about 500 charges before capacity is reduced.

Although I’ve mention the following in years past it bears repeating. When there is thunderstorm
activity nearby or forecasted, disconnect your Comcast cable from your cable modem and unplug the power
cables to your computer equipment. Don’t depend on your surge protector to protect you. They are
virtually worthless when a major surge hits. Do not remove the Comcast cable if you have the Comcast
telephone service. Leave the cable in place otherwise you won’t have telephone service should an
emergency arise. If you have Verizon DSL Internet service, you can remove the telephone line at the
rear of the DSL modem. Be careful not to disturb any connections to your telephone. Remember, a nearby
lightning strike can induce unwanted voltages into the ground that “leak” into our underground utility
cables. This of course includes our electrical, TV (Comcast), and telephone cables. Sensitive electronic
equipment and lightning just don’t mix!

Please come to our PC club meeting for answers to your computer questions. It starts at 7:00 PM in the
Ardmore room upstairs in the Community Center on the second Tuesday of each month.

Don Trauger – Kennett

Printers are more or less taken for granted. Feed them paper and ink and you may think they should run for years. If you are lucky they do.
However things can and do go wrong. Here are some tips to help you sort things out should you experience problems.

One common problem is a paper jam. Often multiple sheets of paper get pulled into the feed mechanism and jam the printer. To unjam the printer
turn it off and try pulling the sheets that are in the middle of the jam out towards the front of the printer. Next, try to pull out the top and
bottom sheets. If that doesn’t work start the printer again and push the paper feed button if it has one. If not just start a print operation
and print any document. This should force the remaining 2 pages out. If the jam has allowed the paper to be grasped near the outlet tray, again
pull it towards the front of the printer. Many printers also have a rear access door that can be removed to assist in clearing a paper jam. To
avoid multiple paper jams try fanning the paper before inserting into the printer. Another problem that can arise is that the printer doesn’t
feed the paper properly. This may be due to glazed paper feed rollers. They are made of rubber and over time they can get slippery and misfeed
the paper. This can be remedied by spraying Windex on a cloth to clean the rollers until they resume a slightly tacky feel. To perform this routine,
remove the paper from the printer, start a print operation, and then clean each roller. Remove the rear access door if possible to make the job
easier. Be careful to observe that the print cartridge holder and feed rollers will be in operation. Don’t get your fingers in the wrong place at
the wrong time!

I’m sure you are all familiar when you start to run out of ink. Color photos show banding and may be missing a primary color. Black text printing
quality is erratic and lacks contrast. Replacing an ink cartridge usually solves the problem. Now supposing you haven’t used the printer in weeks.
You start it up and there’s only a trace of print on the paper. Chances are the ink has dried up on the outlet portion of the ink cartridge. Ink
cartridges have many tiny jets that spray ink to form the letters or photos you are printing. The ink also contains driers in the formula. Over a
period of time these driers cause the ink to plug the jets making the printer unusable. Inks are water soluble so the solution here is to remove
the faulty cartridge and using a paper towel that has been moistened well under hot water, wipe the outlet area of the cartridge. This will remove
the old dried ink and in many cases restore operation. If that doesn’t work replace the ink cartridge. Try to avoid software nozzle cleaning
procedures. They waste ink and can overflow the waste receptacle.

Laser printers don’t have ink problems because they don’t use ink. They use a carbon powder (toner) to fuse the print characters on the paper.
Sometimes a laser toner cartridge will also exhibit printing problems. The toner can stick to the inside of the cartridge. Try removing the toner
cartridge and shake it vigorously from side to side and up and down for a few seconds. If that fails to work replace the toner cartridge.

One last tip – notice any blinking lights on the printer? They often can diagnose the exact problem including jams and faulty cartridges. Consult
your manual noting the number of blinks or visit the Internet support area for the manufacturer of your printer. You can also try unplugging the
power cord where it’s connected to the wall receptacle or power strip. Wait about 30 seconds, plug it back in, and try it again.

Answers to your computer or printer questions can be found by attending our PC Club meetings. We meet the second Tuesday of every month at
7:00 PM upstairs in the Ardmore room of the Community Center (Winfield Hall).

Don Trauger – Kennett

I’ve been writing this column for over 10 years and two areas I’ve stressed over and over are anti-virus/anti-spyware protection and system maintenance.
It seems some folk still disregard the aforementioned and blithely operate their computers as if all is well in the world. I hear all kinds of excuses
regarding maintenance like “Oh, that’s too complicated for me”, or “I’m a computer illiterate”, or “I just don’t understand what you write”.

They are probably honest answers but they don’t solve the problems building in your computer and only add to it. Everyday you use your computer, once
used and now discarded files build up on your hard drive. On a daily basis they can number in the thousands especially if you access the Internet. Over
time they can slow, freeze, or eventually crash a computer. I often wonder how many people have simply swept the problem under the rug and then went out
to purchase a new computer only to start the cycle all over again. Of course this wastes hundreds of dollars plus the loss of personal data such as
emails, programs, pictures, etc. when all that was needed was routine maintenance.

We all have our cars serviced including an oil change on a regular basis. At least I hope so. Computers also need routine maintenance. With cars, most of
us understand little of what goes on “under the hood”. Computers may be in the same category but with a little knowledge and hands on experience you can
become an expert – at least in providing the necessary routine maintenance. All of my articles provide click by click instructions, meaning you don’t have
to understand everything you are reading but simply follow along and perform the needed maintenance. Of course at our PC Club meetings you can ask questions
to gain more knowledge or attend a special session that deals with computer maintenance. This special session will be advertised on the Ch. 20 Bulletin
Board shortly. Our sessions are for everyone not just those that have experience.

Once you have gained the knowledge necessary to keep your computer running properly you’ll benefit by extending its lifetime and reducing your frustration
with the computer’s performance.

If you have recently purchased a new computer get started right as this is an excellent time to learn how to care for it. Chances are your computer
manufacturer has supplied little if any information on proper system maintenance. Microsoft also has done little to provide easy step by step maintenance
instructions. One session at our PC Club will give you enough confidence to take care of your computer!

To view past articles on computer maintenance go to our web site www.hersheysmill.org and click on Tech Tips. Click on Computer Performance & Maintenance
Tips and then click on Maintenance – Basic, then followed by Maintenance – Recommended. To help answer your computer questions we meet the 2nd Tuesday
evening of each month at 7:00 PM upstairs in the Community Center.

Don Trauger – Kennett

Laptop owners rarely think about the battery in a laptop computer. It’s “out of sight – out of mind”. The battery is usually contained
within the rear of the computer. The battery gets its recharging voltage from the power pack or charger unit. One cord plugs into the
wall and the other cord from the unit plugs into the laptop. With both cords attached, the power pack unit delivers voltage to the
computer so that the computer operates without the need for the battery. However, the battery is also being charged or at least maintaining
its charge at the same time. Whether the computer is on or off, if both cords are plugged in, the battery is receiving charging voltage
and therein lies a potential problem.

The batteries are a lithium ion type battery. The nature of these batteries is such that they need to be cycled every once in awhile.
Cycling means to purposely discharge the battery to a low level, and then recharge it to a high level. This action helps keep the chemistry
within the battery active. Here’s how to accomplish this task.

Turn on the computer and wait for it to boot, then find the little charging icon that is displayed near the clock in the lower right hand
corner of the display. Hover the mouse over top of it. It will identify itself, as will all the icons on the Task bar near the clock. It
should say something like charge 100% or charging complete. Now if you remove the cord that connects to the computer from the charging unit,
you should see the total charge remaining. This measurement is made without the benefit of the charger. The battery is now the sole source
of power for the computer. The remaining charge should drop slowly if the battery is in good condition. The icon should display not only
the remaining charge in percentage, but also the amount of estimated time that it can power the computer.

If you find that there is a rapid drop off in remaining time, or in the percentage of the remaining charge, that indicates that the battery
either needs to be cycled or replaced. First allow it to discharge to between 10 and 20 percent. Next plug the cord back in to bring it back
to a 100 percent charge. Test it again by removing the cord and allowing it to discharge. If it discharges much slower then you have
accomplished a needed refreshing of the battery. If, however, that does not work the first time, try it again. If the second treatment also
fails, then it’s time to consider replacing the battery. Keep this thought in mind, the battery only needs to be replaced if you use the
computer where no house power is available.

Once a month you should follow this cycling procedure to extend the life of the battery. Never leave it plugged in for months and charging
continuously.

The battery is a user replaceable item. It’s held in place by one, sometimes 2 slider tabs that are located on the underside of the laptop
toward the rear. To replace the battery slide these tabs in the opposite direction they are in, and pull the battery out. Read any directions
that come with the new battery, slide the new one in place, then slide the tabs back into their locking position.

Battery prices vary from $15.00 to $80.00 or even $100.00. If you purchase directly from the manufacturer, expect to pay 2-3 times as much.
For example, a Dell laptop replacement battery from a reputable supplier listed an Internet price of $83.00. The same battery, if purchased
directly from Dell, had a list price of $179.00. Many batteries are less expensive than this example. Search Google for the best price using
the model name and number followed by the word battery. Here’s an example for a Dell: Inspiron 15R battery. Here’s an example for a
HP: pavilion G6T battery. Of course your laptop name and model may be different.

Most office supply stores, like Staples, will accept dead batteries for their recycling program. There’s no need to buy the new replacement
battery from them.

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To get answers to your questions about computers, please come to the PC Club meeting. The computer club
meets the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM in Hershey’s Mill Community Center.