Hello everyone

Welcome to another edition of Kenja's Newsletter.

This is a double issue of the newsletter, and the previous issue is stored in the archive on the website. I have started the summer schedule a little sooner than last year. The newsletter is now on a monthly schedule until the end of September 2001.

ATTENTION there is a new virus making its rounds called:

The only reason I found out that I had some kind of virus present on my computer (none of the Virus scan programs picked it up) was, that my Zone Alarm Pro program notified me that a file called SirC32.exe was trying to access the Internet out of the Recycle Bin (not a place usually scanned by programs anyway... but will from now on), and after rebooting I was unable to access any of my programs. The W32\SirCam@MM Virus is extremely vicious because, the name of the attachment and subject line are never the same, however the message body stays the same with only minor variations.

Site Related News:

The mailing list for the newsletter is no longer maintained at Listbot. All Listbot boxes have been removed from all pages within my domains and replaced with the email sign-up format as seen at the bottom of this page (should you happen to run across one of the old Listbot boxes, let me know of the location). When signing up, making changes or unsubscribing, you will get a message confirming that we received your message. Our Privacy Policy has also been adjusted accordingly.

The Internet is constantly changing, and not all changes will be for the better. I have decided to write an article about the changes that can be expected. Since the article turned out much longer than anticipated, I am keeping it separate from this newsletter issue. Please make sure to read this article as it contains information how these Internet changes are also effecting my domains kenja.net and kenja.com.

A Free 4 All Links Page has been added to my website. This service is provided by Bravener, but still has the look and feel of my domain. Here you can add links to your homepages for the following categories: Paintshop Pro, Graphics, Tutorials Online, Software (freeware/shareware), Desktop Enhancements, Free Services, Holidays Personal Homepages, Greeting Cards and Shopping. Please be aware that I do check the additions and if they are inappropriate, they will be removed.

Other new services added to the website include a Comparison Shop offering over 1.5 million various products (with search), and/or check your Daily Horoscopes (this is also a free service).

Check out the Adorable Teddies in Print. All are hand signed and numbered, vary in size from 15½x11¾ inches to 17½x12 inches and come on high-quality cardboard like art print paper. Preview pictures have been adjusted in size and the Teddy House and Teddy Dollhouse allow for a larger preview of the whole picture instead of just one room.

Past Lives Revealed website offers original Inspirational & Angel Stationery for Outlook and/or Outlook Express users, free original Inspirational Greeting Cards, Mystical Desktop Themes & Wallpaper, Various Readings (Palms, Clairvoyant, Dreams, Past Lives, Missing Items/People, Tarot, Herbalists, and many more) or visit the website's own Chatroom.

The Gifts:

The Stationery (offered in EML Format packaged into ZIP to decompresses to any directory you choose and regular EXE format that will decompress to your Outlook folder on your hard drive) includes an original scrolling bordered background, and a midi. The Wallpaper is a for 800x600 screen settings, also best viewed in high color of 16-bit or better. Graphics for Stationery, Wallpaper and/or Skin gift are original creations made with PSP 7 (used various tubes and filters for effects).

If you are new to EML format Stationery, read the EML Help section for further instructions.

* PLEASE NOTE: Gifts are only for actual subscribers (available for 5-7 days with each issue) and not for visitors to the newsletter archive at the website.

*** NOTE*   I use Zip Magic to compress Stationery and/or Desktop Theme files into EXE format. If you ever get a password prompt during installation... ignore it and proceed. They are not password protected! For more help with installation(s) visit the Help section at either Stationery, Theme Help, and the Hotbar Skin Tutorial sections.

*** PLEASE READ IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT LINKS ***

Virus and Virus Scan Programs:

With the latest virus scare I thought it was time yet again to dedicate a whole section to virus specific websites that can offer help and/or free software. I cannot stress enough the importance of scanning each and every file that you receive and/or download from the internet (and it shouldn't matter how well you think you know the person who shares the file or sends the email)!!:

• Get Virus Help is as the name already says, a virus information website where you can read all about current viruses and virus hoaxes. Links to other websites with detailed description (and/or removal instructions) about certain viruses are provided. They also offer programs (freeware) that will clean viruses off your computer like Happy99, Kak Worms, NewApt, PrettyPark, and many more.

• Mail Cleaner 2.6 is a Freeware program that you can use in addition to any other Virus Scan program you may have. It will not interfere and scans only incoming email and not your whole computer. The program also automatically updates itself daily and you may find additional help in their FAQ page or get free support by email.

• vCatch 3.0 is a Freeware Virus prevention program (you will need another program to clean a virus if you already have one on your computer). This program however makes a good substitute for people who haven't gotten a commercial Virus scanning program yet (though you really should invest in one... the free ones are rare these days). vCatch (also referred to as Virus Catcher) updates itself daily as well, and supports Microsoft Outlook 97 or above , Microsoft Outlook Express 4.x or higher, Netscape Messenger, Eudora, downloaded files and web mail. Read their FAQ page for System requirements and/or more information.

• AVG 6.0 Free Edition is currently the last full featured Virus Scan program available anywhere on the Internet for free (all others have converted to pay programs). This Free Edition is available for personal use in the US and UK only! Please make sure to read their FAQ page for System requirements and their online Tutorial. NOTE: Educational Institutes, and/or Non-Profit & Charitable Organizations may receive the AVG 6.0 Pro Edition free of charge until September 01, 2001.

• Handy Bits Software offers among other freeware (File Shredder, Easy Crypto, Zip & Go and Voice Mail) also a program called Virus Scan Integrator, which enables you to run several Virus Scan programs side by side so that, you can scan your files with several anti-viral programs without running them separately. This program also supports various languages (English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, German, Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish and Danish), and is very easy to configure by using an auto-scan for already installed Virus Scan programs.

Computer Help and Tutorials:

This section deals specifically with websites offering computers and different OS (Operating Systems) help, forums and/or tutorials. Please be aware that not all websites are intended for first time users of computers (see remarks within the reviews):

• Let's start with a website called the Virtual Dr. Here you will find discussion groups, help with various OS' (Operating Systems i.e. Windows 95/98/2000/NT/ME... just to name a few), Patches and Upgrades, and of course detailed step-by-step tutorials. This weeks featured tutorials include: Installing and Improving a Network, Clean Up Your Windows System, and Software Help (many more in their archive). Virtual Dr is designed for anyone from beginner to expert with tutorials offered in plain text or online video format.

• Computer Hope.Com is a website that offers free computer help for everyone (though I am more inclined to say that this site is more for people who already possess a working knowledge of computers... lots of technical terms here). In any case, you may find all sorts of useful stuff here to include but not limited to: Drivers for your hardware (including links to other related sites), Hardware and Software listings, Computer News, Computer Dictionary (this is great for beginners), Virus Information, Downloads, Internet and HTML help, and much more.

• Driver Headquarters for Win 95/98/2000/NT is a great and useful site for everyone. We all can use a one-stop website for hardware drivers (someone gave you a printer without the software etc.) or a missing DLL (Dynamic Link Library) file. This website lets you search for missing drivers or files, and download game patches. Or you may want to try their freeware program called Driver Detective 2.0. This program makes updating your drivers, dlls and vxds a snap. You can view all the current information from one screen and determine file, name, and version, etc., which are needed when updating or finding new and up to date information for your system.

• Win OS Central is a website offering public forums (you must become a member to post but this service is free), where computer users help each other with computer related problems. The website offers regular articles on various computer topics sorted by OS' (Operating Systems), tutorials and various downloads. This is a great website for any computer user.

The websites listed below are definitely for the experienced computer users, especially when it comes to making any kind of changes to your computers Registry, and/or other vital settings. Please proceed with caution:

• Start Disk offers a program called The Ultimate Boot Disk (freeware). It is said to be better than the Start disk that Microsoft Windows provides, and comes loaded with drivers for CD ROMs, Drive Partion options, Backup options, Label Creator, Clean Install, Tweaks and much more. This website and its software is intended for people who have a working knowledge of computers. Please make sure to read their Help section and follow instructions (also available in German).

• If you ever have to reformat your computer using Fdisk (this can happen after a bad virus attack or other reasons), then you should check out Fdisk and Format Instructions. The instructions given are in easy terms and in great detail. It might be in your best interest to print a copy and keep it in a safe place for a "rainy day". A Fdisk reformat is not a reinstall of Windows (sometimes you can get away with just installing Windows over your current installation) but will wipe out all information on your hard drive. Not every computer user should use this option and some computers do come with a special CD that will restore your computer back to factory settings!!!

• Windows Registry Guide offers everything you ever wanted to know about the Windows Registry. You will also find various programs to tweak, make changes or delete various Registry entries, and if you become a member (free service), you are also entitled to receive special offers, post messages to their Support Forum, and a free copy of the Windows Registry Guide for members, which is updated more frequently than the free version for non-members.

*** IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT URL's (LINKS), PRIVACY AND/OR MAINTENANCE ***
This Newsletter and/or its Author are not responsible for the Maintenance and/or the Privacy Policies of websites listed within the Newsletter Issue(s)! At the time of publication, all listed URL's (Links) for websites and/or programs are in working condition and are accessible. The sudden unaccessibility of a website and/or program may be due to sudden traffic increase and/or other temporary causes I have no control over. Try the URL (Link) for any given program and/or website again at a later time.    Thank you!

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The Finishing Touches:

Hope you enjoyed this edition of the newsletter, and found lots of useful information. You may share this newsletter with your friends and family or visit the website for the current & all previous Issues: Kenja's Newsletter & Updates

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Copyright © 2001 Kenja's Newsletter & Updates   ISSN: 1530-700X   All Rights Reserved!
Content written & edited by A. Way aka Kenja. The opinions expressed herein are my own.
The reproduction and/or unauthorized use of any part(s) of this Newsletter, it's content, layout and/or graphics is strictly forbidden!