Category: Archived

AT&T High-Speed Internet Customers: If you currently use the AT&T Yahoo! Browser, AT&T has a support article (below) that states there will no longer be updates for it, and it is recommended that you un-install it. Your bookmarks can be accessed from the bookmarks icon on the Yahoo Toolbar, or from http://bookmarks.yahoo.com

There will be no further technical updates for the AT&T Yahoo! Browser and we recommend you follow the steps below to un-install. Your system will still have an Internet Explorer browser installed, which you could continue to use or upgrade.

Follow these easy steps:

1. Uninstall AT&T Yahoo! Browser – Follow these steps to remove AT&T Yahoo! Browser from your computer:
   1. Click Start on the Windows Toolbar
   2. Click Settings and select Control Panel.
   3. Select Add/Remove Programs.
   4. Select AT&T Yahoo! Applications.
      Note: on some versions this could read “SBC Yahoo! Applications” or “SBC Yahoo! Browser”
   5. Select Change/Remove.
   6. Select AT&T Yahoo! Browser.
   7. Select Uninstall.
   8. Select Yes
      
      
2. Access the Internet via Internet Explorer
   • Click on this icon on your desktop
   • or find Internet Explorer under Start, Programs, Internet Explorer and select Open

   
   

3. Consider updating your browser – We recommend downloading the new Internet Explorer 8 optimized for AT&T powered by Yahoo! which is compatible with your AT&T Internet service and can provide improved Internet browsing and security. However, any of the below browsers are compatible with AT&T Internet service and will provide a similar experience, along with the latest bug fixes from the software vendor. (If you already have one of these browsers installed on your computer, you do not need to take this step.) Compatible browsers include:
   
   
   • Internet Explorer optimized for AT&T powered by Yahoo!:
     

     

   • Mozilla Firefox
   • Safari If you download a new browser, be sure to open the browser, go to att.net, and click the text link in the upper right corner to make att.net your homepage.

   
   

4. Use your Bookmarks – Did you have bookmarks with your AT&T Yahoo! Browser that you want to retrieve – don’t worry, they’re saved. To access your AT&T Yahoo! Browser saved bookmarks, please visit http://bookmarks.yahoo.com and login with each user ID that had bookmarks saved.

Article URL: http://helpme.att.net/article.php?item=12284

If you have multiple AT&T Sub Accounts/e-mail addresses, at the bottom of the Member Center > Manage Sub Accounts page there is an option to save all of your accounts in a drop-down menu on your computer’s web sign-in page.

Windows 7, Microsoft’s newest operating system will be released on October 22. If you purchase a new computer today, it will most likely come with Windows Vista installed. To keep PC sales strong until October, some stores and manufacturer’s are offering a free upgrade copy of Windows 7 after it’s released if you purchase a new PC before October.

A frequent question I am asked lately is if people should upgrade their current operating system (Windows XP or Windows Vista) to Windows 7. If your PC currently has Windows XP, then I do not recommend upgrading your current computer. However if you need a new computer, if you can wait for Windows 7 it would be a good choice rather than getting a new computer today with Windows Vista.

If you currently have a PC with Windows Vista, upgrading to Windows 7 may be a worthwhile upgrade. Once Windows 7 is available and we’ve had experience with the upgrade process, I will advise further.

If you’ve been thinking about purchasing a new computer this year, you may want to hold off until at least June 26 or late October, depending on your needs. According to this source, after June 26 if you purchase a new PC with Windows Vista, you will be eligible to receive a free Windows 7 upgrade DVD after it’s released later this year.

Windows 7 is Microsoft’s newest operating system which will be available October 22, pre-loaded on most new computers. I’ve been testing Windows 7 Beta and Release Candidate since the beginning of this year, and I’ve been very impressed with the improved speed, design and functionality of the new operating system. If you’re familiar with Windows Vista which was released in early 2007, Windows 7 looks and operates similar to Windows Vista but with many improvements.

There’s too much to tell here about Windows 7, so below are some links to find out more information directly from Microsoft’s websites:

See how Windows 7 features will make using a PC faster and easier

Windows 7 Release Candidate videos

When it comes time to purchasing a new PC, Computer Techs can help you decide which computer is best for you and configure and setup your new PC in your home. Read our advice about how to select a new PC and get the best deal.

Internet Explorer 8 was released as a manual Windows Update about a month ago, and some customers have experienced various issues after installing the update. If you have not already installed it, I recommend waiting until some of the issues get fixed. If you have already installed it and are experiencing issues, you can uninstall it via the Add/Remove Programs Control Panel (Windows XP) or Programs and Features Control Panel (Windows Vista), which will also revert Internet Explorer back to version 7. You can selectively choose not to install the manual update by following these directions.

Some issues I’ve heard of or experienced include:

• Cannot install ActiveX controls that are required to use features on some websites

• When logged into financial institution web site, some time you may need to log-in again when clicking a link that opens a new window

• Conflicts with RoboForm form-filling software

• Incompatibilities with some toolbars

• Clicking an internet web page shortcut placed on the desktop will not open Internet Explorer

Update 4/30/09: Microsoft has made Internet Explorer 8 available through Windows automatic updates, but it must be manually installed. Updating to Internet Explorer 8 is optional.

The internet web browser is likely the most commonly used program on the computer, and Microsoft’s Internet Explorer is the most commonly used web browser. On March 19, 2009, a new version of the popular web browser was released. Internet Explorer 8 has many new privacy, security and navigational improvements.

As I’ve mentioned in a previous article, you should have more than one browser on your computer. As of this writing I have had very little time to evaluate Internet Explorer 8, and am not ready to say whether or not I like it better than my current favorite browser – Mozilla Firefox.

At this time I am providing a link to a full text review of Internet Explorer 8 by Wall Street Journal Personal Technology Columnist Walt Mossberg.

AVG recently released version 8.5 of their popular security products. We often recommend and install AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition on customer’s computers. Computers with AVG Anti-Virus 8.0 or earlier have started to receive an upgrade notice on the screen. This is also AVG’s opportunity to advertise and sell people their paid products with more features, however we still recommend the free version for most computers. “Internet Security” suites use more system resources which slows computer performance and adds unnecessary and redundant extra programs.

AVG places an icon on your desktop showing which version you have installed. If you have AVG Free 8.0 or earlier on your computer, please follow the update information below:

After you see an update notice on your screen, you may bypass the advertisements for the paid products that AVG offers and follow the instructions to download and install AVG Anti-Virus 8.5 Free Edition.

Alternatively you may download/save the installation file from the AVG website. After it’s finished downloading, run the installation file to install the program. During installation a screen will prompt you with 3 choices: Add/Remove features, Repair or Uninstall the program – choosing “Repair” will update AVG to the new version. On the following screen I suggest UNchecking the box to install the AVG Security Toolbar, then proceed with the rest of the installation.

Since a large number of people around the world are downloading the new version, it’s possible that the download may take a long time or fail. If so, try again at a later time.

In the near future earlier AVG versions will be completely phased out and no longer receive updates.

The free anti-virus software that we usually recommend for most people, AVG Anti-Virus, just released version 8.5 which adds additional protection for infected website protection. An AVG press release states “Active Safe-Surf checks the web page behind every link for hidden threats at the only time that matters – when users are about to click on that link.”  The update also changes the look of the small icon in the system tray (by the clock) when the program is not up-to-date or in an error state.

AVG places an icon on your desktop showing which version you have installed – for example “AVG Free 8.5” If you have AVG Anti-Virus on your computer, please see the following update information:

AVG 8.0: Users of AVG 8.0 will receive an automatic program update to the new version. No user action is required. See update instructions posted here.

AVG 7.5 or earlier: If you are using AVG Free 7.5 or earlier, you will need to download and install the latest installation file from the AVG website. During installation of the updated program you will be prompted with 3 choices: Add/Remove features, Repair or Uninstall the program – choosing “Repair” will install the new version. AVG 7.5 will soon be completely phased out and no longer receive updates.

The Keyboard for Blondes features a “I Need My Space” (Space) key, an “Oops” (Backspace) key, a “No!” (Esc) key and a “Yes! I want it!” (Enter) key. The F1-F12 function keys spell out U-S-E-L-E-S-S  K-E-Y-S. You can get yours at KeyboardForBlondes.com

Updated December 2008:

If you’ve been holding off on getting a new computer with Windows XP (instead of Windows Vista) time is running out soon. Microsoft stopped shipping retail copies of Windows XP as of June 30, however it is still available installed on new PC’s from manufacturers as a “downgrade” from Windows Vista for a while longer. Though exact dates are hard to find, the Windows Life-Cycle Policy website suggests that the Windows XP license availability (end date) is January 31, 2009.

In a letter from Microsoft earlier this year they gave the latest official word about the availability and support dates of Windows XP, promote Vista and mention the next version of Windows – “Windows 7” – which is expected to be released late next year.

If you need a new computer without Windows Vista, Computer Techs can get you a new state-of-the-art HP desktop computer with Windows XP Professional for as low as $550. If you’re ready to move to Vista, we can get you a computer with Vista as well. Just contact us for all the details.

If you haven’t yet upgraded to the new AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 8.0, you’ve likely seen the message pictured below come up on your computer. Despite earlier notices that updates will no longer be available as of May or June, AVG is now announcing that the end of updates for version 7.5 is the end of 2008 August 31, 2008.

We recommend upgrading to the new Free Edition 8.0 as mentioned in this earlier blog post as soon as possible. The new free version includes added anti-spyware protection as well as an anti-virus, a more user-friendly interface, less obtrusive updates and more comprehensive scanning without slowing down your computer.