Date: October 10th, 2008 1:40:14 a.m.

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CFS Weekly Newsletter Announcement

Web Site: http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com
E-mail 1: editor@completelyFREEsoftware.com
E-mail 2: cfs@people.net.au
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HOWDY

Welcome to this special CFS Weekly Newsletter announcement. I'd like to extend a warm welcome to our new subscribers.

Due to circumstances beyond our control, there will be no newsletter this week.

Regular newsletter subscribers know that even when we don't have a normal newsletter, we always send out something (otherwise we spend the next week answering the same question -- "what happened to last week's newsletter?"). This is that "something".

Just to make it all worthwhile, we have included our two regular columns -- Dr T's excellent Computer Tip of the Week, and our ever popular Smile of the Week. Both are much larger than normal and I hope you enjoy them.

To get access to the best downloads, why not take a minute and become a member of arguably the best freeware-only site in the world. More details from our members' page:

http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/join.html

What are you waiting for -- become a CFS "lifer" now, or try out the site with a 1-month, 1-year or 2-year membership. We are still half the price of most other members-only sites and I think we offer the best value for your hard earned dollar.

One small point. If you sign up for a Lifetime membership through 2CheckOut.com you might be surprised to see that, according to them, a "lifetime" is only 12 years. That is because the number 12 is the highest number option they have -- 12 weeks, 12 months, 12 years. Don't worry, at the end of 12 years you will NOT be cut off if you are a CFS 'lifer' -- your membership will continue indefinitely...

Is your CFS membership going to expire soon? If you wish to extend an existing membership (without creating a new account) read this FAQ:

http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/faqs5.html#15

I look forward to being with you next week. Until then...

Keep smilin'

Regards

Graham Pockett
editor
Completely FREE Software


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Make the appropriate payment ($25 or $15) using your credit card and tell us your username so we know which account to update. Click on this address to update your membership through PayPal:

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COMPUTER TIP OF THE WEEK
from Dr T -- RTemlak4dds@aol.com

=: Printer Problems :=
(Don't Get In A Jam)

Emergency : No Output

When a single cable connects your computer to the printer, you might expect that documents would find their way along the path to printing without getting lost. Yet along this path, documents can encounter any of a horde of obstacles that can prevent your data from appearing on paper. When your print job doesn't print, use these tips to get your document back on track to its paper destination.

Plugged in, turned on. First, check the basics. Make sure the printer is plugged in and turned on, and check that the cable between the printer and your computer is securely fastened on both ends. If the cable is loose on either end, shut down your computer, turn off the printer, insert the cable properly, and turn on your computer and printer.

If everything's plugged in and running, there could be a problem with Windows, especially if this is the first time you tried to print after connecting the printer. In many cases, Windows will return an error message when you send a document to print and there's a problem with the printer. However, sometimes Windows isn't quite so perceptive, and when that happens, you may wait for the document to print with no result. If everything appears fine physically, check your printer settings in Windows. Click Start, Settings, Control Panel, and double-click the System icon; in Windows XP, click Start, Control Panel, and then double-click the System icon. Click Properties and select the Device Manager tab (in WinXP, choose the Hardware tab and click Device Manager). Click the plus sign (+) next to Ports and then double-click the selection for your printer port to launch the hardware properties box for the device. In this window, make sure there are no error messages and that the devi
ce is enabled. If you see an error message, uninstall the printer driver by clicking the Driver tab, clicking the Uninstall button, and following the prompts. Reboot your PC and let Windows recognize and install your printer, or use your printer's installation software if Windows doesn't successfully install your printer. After you reinstall the printer, print a test page to make sure it's working correctly.

Paper jams. If the printer's configuration in Windows appears correct, or if you've previously printed successfully and now you are having problems, check that the paper tray's full. If it has paper, make sure a sheet (or sheets) isn't jammed. Also, inspect the paper tray to make sure the correct size paper is in the tray and that it's inserted in the right direction.

A long line. Another common reason for lack of output is an overly crowded print queue. Double-click the printer icon in the System Tray. If the print queue is backed up, you'll see several documents waiting. The first document is probably causing problems and preventing the others from printing. Right-click the first document (the one at the top) and click Cancel Printing. If the printer is on a network and another user sent that first document, you'll need to ask the other user or the network administrator to cancel the document. After the first document is cleared from the queue, the other documents in line should print in turn. If they don't, try clearing all documents from the queue. To do so, click Purge Print Documents on the Printer menu (in WinXP click Cancel All Documents), and resend the documents one at a time until they're printed.

Rogue application. Occasionally you'll discover that printer output problems are program specific. For example, if you're having problems trying to print a Word document, try printing a document from Excel or a page from Internet Explorer. If that document or page successfully prints, you'll need to check the print settings in the program that isn't printing. Make sure you've selected the correct printer, along with the correct paper size and similar settings.

Of course, internal printer errors can also prevent output, and the resulting error messages can appear in Windows, on your printer's LCD (liquid-crystal display), or both. Although these messages are often cryptic, you can usually find explanations for them in the printer manual. If you're constantly receiving error messages that prevent your documents from printing, you might need to update your printer's drivers. Check the printer manufacturer's Web site for the most recent downloadable drivers and install them according to the accompanying instructions.

If you're still having problems, turn off the printer, reboot your computer, and turn on the printer. Like certain other computer-related problems, printing issues sometimes resolve themselves when given a clean start.

Emergency: Banding & Other Print-Quality Issues

Mangled text. Annoying lines. Smeared ink. Faded print. Printers of all shapes and sizes are notorious for spewing shoddy printouts when we can least afford the time and hassle to fix the problem. Luckily, it is easy to fix most print-quality problems, and we'll show you the steps for solving various print-quality problems.

Print banding. Print banding, or the presence of extraneous lines on a printed page, can occur on the best of printers, but banding isn't always the printer's fault. If you're using cheap, copy-quality paper, banding can appear when the page slips as the printer makes passes to complete the printing. In this case, you can avoid banding by using a heavier-stock paper; try switching paper types first before doing any more extensive troubleshooting.

If banding continues regardless of the paper, inspect the printer settings in the program from which you're printing. Make sure the paper size and type indicated in the print settings match the paper in the printer. Depending on the printer and the program, you might be able to change the resolution, or dpi (dots per inch), for your printer. If you can, select the highest resolution to try to eliminate the banding. If you don't see a setting for resolution or dpi, look for a setting such as High Quality and select it. Also, check the printable area setting and make sure it's not configured for maximum, as this can also cause banding.

Another cause of banding is physical or electrical interference from nearby appliances. For example, if you set your printer atop a speaker or subwoofer, the vibrations can cause lines to appear on your page. Similarly, electrical noise or vibrations from a nearby copier or fax machine can also cause problems. Keep your printer on a stable, nonvibrating surface and away from unshielded electrical devices.

One of the most common problems with print quality is light or fading text. If you use a laser printer, a low toner cartridge could be the culprit, but you can often squeeze some spare life from the cartridge by removing it from your printer and gently shaking it from side to side. This redistributes the remaining toner, and when you put the cartridge back in the printer, you should snare several more pages before you need to replace the toner cartridge altogether. Of course, this solution typically works only once, so after you shake it the first time, obtain a replacement and keep it handy. If all of the type on the printed page is light, rather than faded in certain areas, check that you're using the right type of paper for your printer or project. Some manufacturers recommend a certain type or weight of paper for their printers, so check the manual for your printer's specifications. Also, if you're printing to a special media type, such as labels, you should select the pr
oper paper type in your program before you print because these settings can affect the print quality, in addition to the print placement.

Printer cartridges can get dirty or clogged over time, leading to faded prints. Most printers today include configuration utilities, and some tools include an option for cleaning the print heads. If your printer utility includes this option, run it. If it doesn't work, or if the problem recurs, turn off your printer, remove the cartridge (or cartridges), and lightly brush the electrical contacts with a cotton swab until they appear clean. Next, gently dab a paper towel moistened with warm water and a small amount of isopropyl alcohol repeatedly to the print head until you see a strong flow of ink on the towel. This cleaning process might also be necessary if your printouts have blurry or smeared print. These conditions can also occur with certain printers when the paper curls toward the printable side, so if your paper is curled, grab the stack and try curling it in the opposite direction to straighten it.

In extreme cases, and particularly when your printer sees heavy use, you might need to replace one or more of your printer's parts. But because today's printers are built for wear and tear, you'll find that you can fix most print quality problems with a setting change or a cleaning.

Emergency : Paper Jams

There's little more disturbing than sending a document to the printer, hearing the printer chug into action, and then hearing the paper get devoured in a horrible cacophony of crinkling and crunching. The worst part about paper jams is once the first jam occurs, many more seem to follow, but the good news is a solution is usually easy to find.

When your printer is jammed with paper, clear the crumpled paper. If you see crumpled paper in the input tray, grab it evenly with both hands and pull it gently toward you. If you don't see any paper, open the printer case and check the feed rollers. If you find crumpled paper there, remove it by slowly pulling it outward but don't touch any of the internal parts-they might be hot, especially in laser printers. Work as slowly as possible to avoid tearing the paper or damaging the rollers. Check for and remove small paper shreds that might be inside the printer if someone previously yanked out a jammed piece of paper and ripped it.

Paper jams can also occur in the output area, so if you don't see crumpled paper in the input or internal roller areas, check the output. Again, remove any jammed paper slowly by pulling with two hands. If you can't dislodge the paper with gentle force, check your printer manual, which should explain how to manually turn the rollers. Now it's time to fix the problem so it won't happen again. Load the paper properly in the paper tray. Some printers, including inexpensive inkjets, require that you jump through several hoops to ensure the paper is loaded just right. Even if the paper looks like it's loaded correctly, it still might be slightly off, so remove all of the paper and reinsert it. Also, keep the paper tray full or nearly full as regularly as possible because near-empty trays tend to choke on those last few pieces of paper.

Check your manual to make sure you're using the correct paper type. Although many printers can handle various paper types, some models jam easily when you use the wrong paper. For example, copy paper tends to jam in certain laser printers, often because the printer grabs two or three sheets instead of one. If you don't have the manual and can't find documentation online, swap the paper with a different variety. Instead of slick paper, try grainier sheets so the printer rollers can clutch a single sheet. Avoid lightweight paper that has a high opacity and aim instead for at least 20-pound paper.

Sometimes even high-quality paper can jam, so check the condition of the paper. If it's wrinkled, curled, or earmarked, chances are it's not going to have a successful journey through the printer. Even paper that looks healthy could have problems, due to static electricity. Before you place a stack of paper in the printer's paper tray, quickly fan through the pages to eliminate the static and repeat this process with existing in-tray paper if you have paper jams.

If the paper still jams, grab a flashlight and take a closer look inside the printer. Foreign objects, such as paper clips and staples, can interfere with internal moving printer parts, so if you see anything wedged between rollers or otherwise loitering where it shouldn't, unplug your printer and carefully remove the object. Also, if you use your printer on a daily basis, internal parts, such as screws, can become loose over time and interfere with printer operation, so look for parts that appear out of place. Even screws that aren't out of place but are significantly loose can play a part in paper jams, so it doesn't hurt to tighten everything up, but remember to first unplug the printer.

If you're lucky, your paper jam is a one-time deal that you can fix by adjusting the paper or switching the paper type. Yet as you can see, even if the jams become chronic, there's often an obvious problem source that you can correct with a few steps.

[Source: The Angellmore Newsletter]


SMILE OF THE WEEK
(contributions for this section are most welcome)

=: All About Marriage :=

"Marriage is a lot like the army. Everyone complains but you'd be surprised at the number that re-enlist." -- James Garner

"Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards." -- Benjamin Franklin

Don't assume that every sad-eyed woman has loved and lost -- she may have got him.

"A man usually falls in love with a woman who asks the kinds of questions he can answer." -- Ronald Colman

Before marriage the three little words are 'I love you', after marriage they are, 'let's eat out'.

"By all means marry: If you get a good wife, you'll become happy; if you get a bad one, you'll become a philospher." -- Socrates

A diplomatic husband said to his wife, 'How do you expect me to remember your birthday when you never look any older?"

It takes a smart spouse to have the last word and not use it.

"The honeymoon is over when he phones to say he'll be late for supper and she's already left a note that it's in the refrigerator." -- Bill Lawrence

"The average woman would rather have beauty than brains because she knows that the average man can see much better than he can think." -- Ladies Home Journal

"A good marriage would be between a blind wife and a deaf husband." -- Michel de Montaingne

"Alimony is like buying oats for a dead horse." -- Arthur Baer

"Marriage is a great institution -- but I'm not ready for an institution yet." -- Mae West

"When a man steals your wife, there is no better revenge than to let him keep her." -- Sacha Guitry

You have only to mumble a few words in church to get married, and a few words in your sleep to get divorced.

"If there is any realistic deterrent to marriage, it's the fact that you can't afford divorce." -- Jack Nicholson

The person who marries for money usually earns every penny of it.

The most difficult years of marriage are those following the wedding.

"A woman has got to love a bad man once or twice in her life to be thankful for a good one." -- Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

Marriage is like twirling a baton, handsprings, or eating with chopsticks. It looks easy till you try it.

"If men acted after marriage as they do during courtship, there would be fewer divorces -- and more bankruptcies." -- Frances Rodman

Some husbands are living proof that a woman can take a joke.

Many husbands go broke on the money their wives save on sales.

There are two times when a man doesn't understand a woman -- before marriage and after marriage.

"In Hollywood all marriages are happy. It's trying to live together afterwards that causes the problems." -- Shelley Winters

"No woman ever falls in love with a man unless she has a higher opinion of him than he deserves." -- Edgar Watson Howe

"The only real argument for marriage is that it remains the best method for getting acquainted." -- Heywood Broun

[author unknown]


COMMENTS

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