Quick Tip: Get a USB-to-parallel printer adapter

Much like the floppy drive and the RS-232 serial port, parallel ports are quickly becoming a rarity on new computers. On the other hand, USB ports are becoming more and more popular.

Unfortunately, many of the older printers on your network probably only have parallel connectors. If the printers that you want to connect to your system only have parallel connectors on them, you may think that your only option is to purchase an LPT card and install it in the system you're connecting your printer to. However, that's not actually your only option.

You can connect your parallel printer to a USB port via a USB-to-parallel printer adapter, such as the one from Keyspan. This six-foot cable has a USB connector on one end and a Centronics connector on the other. Furthermore, it's IEEE-1284 1994 compatible, which means that it provides a bi-directional interface. You should be able to find the Keyspan USB-to-parallel printer adapter online or at local computer store for around $30. CNET Labs also offers a side-by-side comparison of various other USB-to-parallel adapters.

A final benefit for a USB-to-parallel printer adapter is this: Even when a system does have an old LPT port on the back, normally there's only one. So, if you want to connect multiple printers, you'll have to purchase and install multiple LPT expansion cards.

When a system has USB ports, there are usually at least two. Plus, with a USB hub, you have even more ports available. The USB-to-parallel adapter will allow you to connect multiple printers without ever having to crack the computer's case.
Source: Tech Republic

More CAPS LOCK Tips

Who says that you have to use the CAPS LOCK key to turn off CAPS LOCK? You can use the SHIFT key to do that (just like the old days on one of those whatchamacallit, um, typewriter thingies). Here's how:

Windows 2000:
Click the Start Button
Click Settings
Click Control Panel
Double-click on Keyboard
Click Input Locales tab
Click Change
Click Key Settings
Click Advanced Key Settings
Select either Press the CAPS LOCK key or Press the SHIFT key under the heading To turn off Caps Lock
Click OK, OK, OK

Windows XP:
Click the Start Button
Click Settings
Click Control Panel
Click Regional and Language Options
Click Languages
Click Details
If the Key Settings button is grayed, click Add and add another keyboard definition, e.g., United States–International.
Select the keyboard you normally use
Click Key Settings
Click Advanced Key Settings
Select either Press the CAPS LOCK key or Press the SHIFT key under the heading To turn off Caps Lock
Click OK, OK, OK

MS Word: Convert Text or Raw Data to a Table

Word's Text To Table feature lets users convert raw text or data to a table format. Most of the time, this feature is used to convert comma-delimited or tab-delimited text so that the resulting table has neatly organized columns and rows.

However, the text you convert to a table doesn't always have to be in a delimited or organized format. The Text To Table feature lets you wrap a table structure around just about any block of text. For instance, suppose you have a smattering of paragraphs and lines of both delimited and undelimited text and you want to put the whole lot into a table for formatting purposes. You don't have to do any copying and pasting. Just select all the text, go to Table | Convert | Text To Table, and click OK to accept the default settings for the number of columns and rows. Then go to Table | Draw Table and customize the table by adding or deleting cell borders with the table-drawing tools.

For instance, suppose you have a smattering of paragraphs and lines of both delimited and undelimited text and you want to put the whole lot into a table for formatting purposes. You don't have to do any copying and pasting.

Just select all the text, go to Table | Convert | Text To Table, and click OK to accept the default settings for the number of columns and rows.

Then go to Table | Draw Table and customize the table by adding or deleting cell borders with the table drawing tools.

Want to merge two cells? Click the Eraser button and mouse over the cell border. To split cells into new rows or columns, click the Draw Table tool and shape your table visually.

Warning Sounds for CAPS LOCK, NUM LOCK, and SCROLL LOCK Keys

Do you ever look up at the monitor and realize that you've typed a bunch of upper-case letters that should be lower case, or vice-versa? Or do you use the number pad and create a mess on the screen? If only you'd known that you accidently hit the CAPS LOCK or NUM LOCK keys.....

Windows can warn you that you've made that mistake.
Windows 2000 and Windows XP
Click the Start Button
Click Settings
Click Control Panel
Double-Click Accessibility Options
Click Keyboard
Check Box for Use ToggleKeys (click on the box)
Click OK
Close Control Panel

Now when you hit any of those keys (CAPS LOCK, NUM LOCK, SCROLL LOCK) the computer will sound a distinctive warning tone.

Ambidextrous Virus/Worm Attacks the Internet

Anti-virus vendor: One in 12 e-mails infected
By Jeordan Legon
CNN Tuesday, January 27, 2004

(CNN) -- A sneaky e-mail worm continued to clog Internet traffic Tuesday, spreading faster than previous Web bugs by appearing as an innocuous error message.

The worm -- dubbed "MyDoom," "Novarg" or "WORM_MIMAIL.R" -- was copying itself at a fierce pace, so fast that some companies were having to shut down their mail servers to stop it.

The bug, which targets computers running Microsoft Windows, launched a Denial of Service Attack on the web site of the Utah-based SCO Group.

Infected messages were intercepted in 142 countries and one in 12 e-mails being protected by Britain-based MessageLabs was carrying the worm, the anti-virus vendor reported. In comparison, the widespread SoBig virus that hit last August -- at its peak -- only attacked 1 out of 17 e-mails handled by the firm. Web-monitoring firm Keynote said MyDoom slowed Internet performance significantly Monday afternoon. And the worm appeared to cause an "uptick in terms of performance" Tuesday morning, said Keynote analyst Roopak Patel.

"We're essentially watching the virus follow the sun as the various time zones come online," MessageLabs Chief Technical Officer Mark Sunner said.

The worm is contained in e-mails with random senders' addresses and subject lines. While the body of the e-mail varies, it usually includes what appears to be an error message, such as: "The message cannot be represented in 7-bit ASCII encoding and has been sent as a binary attachment."

While many computer users are savvy about not opening executable files or other attachments that may contain viruses, the latest worm masks itself as an innocuous text document or a file that your computer appears unable to read.

"This one is almost begging you to click on the attachment," said Sharon Ruckman, the head of anti-virus firm Symantec's security response team.

When loaded, some versions of the worm launch Notepad and show random characters. At the same time it replicates itself, opens a backdoor that could allow hackers to break in and, in some instances, installs a "keystroke" program that records everything being typed, including passwords and credit card numbers.

The worm also was spreading via popular Internet file sharing networks such as Kazaa, where it appeared with names such as "Winamp5" "ICQ2004-final." Nullsoft's Winamp offers an MP3 music-playing tool and ICQ is a popular Web chat program.

Anti-virus experts said MyDoom, which surfaced Monday afternoon, was on track to hit even more machines than Nimda, a 2001 worm that spread widely with an attachment that read "Readme.exe."

This time, besides the "binary attachment" message, MyDoom comes with all different file extensions including .pif, .zip and .csr. It also uses an attachment icon similar to one used for Windows text messages. All of this, security experts warn, was succeeding in tricking people into thinking the e-mail was legitimate.

The best thing to do to stop the spread of the worm, experts said, was to ignore or delete it. And to update anti-virus software.

WHAT IS A WORM?

A program that makes copies of itself -- for example, from one disk drive to another, or by copying itself using e-mail or another transport mechanism.

WARD OFF WORMS
Aside from installing AND MAINTAINING anti-virus software, use these tips to guard against computer worms:
•Don't open e-mail from an unknown source.
•Only open expected e-mail attachments.
•Don't automatically open e-mail attachments.
•Don't download programs from Web sites, unless you know and trust the source.
•Update your anti-virus software at least every two weeks.