Hi Folks,

Vista Compatible: Yes or No?

Are you one of the many who have made the switch over to the new operating system of Windows Vista? If so, are you having some trouble finding programs and other applications that will work on your new computer? I know a lot of computer companies (including us here at WorldStart) are working very hard to test their products for Vista compatibility, but with there being so many, it's a little difficult to keep up. So, what can we all do in the meantime?

Well, lucky for all of us, Microsoft has compiled a list of all the applications that have earned either the "Certified for Windows Vista" or "Works with Windows Vista" logo. So, if you have bought a piece of software recently and you see either of those logos printed on it, that means it will work successfully with Vista. But if you are questioning the software you had before you upgraded to Vista, Microsoft's list may help you out tremendously.

The list is laid out into three columns: Company, Product Name and Version. The number of programs on the list have gone up from approximately 104 in February 2007 to over 250 now in May 2007. If you want to check the list out for yourself, just click here. If you scroll past the introduction, you'll see the list toward the bottom of the page. You can just take your time and browse through the program names and who knows, maybe you'll find exactly what you've been waiting for. Check it out today!

Q:
The other day, my grandson accidentally spilled some water on my laptop. I know he didn't mean to and I cleaned it up the best I could, but I'm extremely worried about what will happen to my computer. Is there any way of saving it or what do I need to do next? Please help me!

A:
I know you already feel this way, but ouch, that hurts! (I'm sorry, I had to say it!) I'm sure this sort of thing has happened to all of us at one time or another. I mean, we all know that liquids and electronics do not mix well, but sometimes you can't keep spills from happening. And unfortunately, we can't blame Microsoft for this one either! But don't fret, because there is still some hope for all of us. It just depends on how much water was involved and what you did right after it happened. Let's check it all out!

Now, this type of thing can happen to any kind of gadget, including cameras, cell phones, keyboards and of course, computers. So, this tip can work for whatever device you're having trouble with, but I'm going to focus on the laptop for the person who asked this question. Alright, now, I'm going to be honest and tell you that your gadget may not make a full recovery, but with a little tender care, you might be able to save more than you think. Just follow these steps to see what you can do.

First, if your laptop is still turned on, turn it off immediately. You'll also want to remove any batteries, CDs, memory cards, etc. Basically, remove anything you may use to save your data and especially for laptops, remove any modular components and removable drives. Once you've got everything out, wipe off any excess water you may see on those items. Then if you're comfortable with it, it's best to disassemble the device as much as possible to get as much liquid out as you can. This is even more crucial if you can hear water moving around inside your computer. If you're not comfortable with this, you may want to find someone who can help you right away!

You need to get your laptop as dry as possible, both inside and out. If you're still worried about how dry you've really gotten it, you can try a couple things, but they're all a matter of luck, so just try them at your own discretion. For one, you can try putting your laptop in a heated area. For example, maybe place it on the dashboard of your car for an afternoon. As long as it doesn't get hotter than 150 degrees, the heat will evaporate the water. Just make sure the battery is removed from your device before you try this. You can also try just tipping your laptop upside down for as long as needed to give the water a chance to drain out.

I found a Web site that gave some other options, but they just didn't sound very safe to me, so I would try the two above first, for sure! Now, if you're not comfortable with any of this, you'll want to get your laptop to a professional as soon as possible. Don't wait a day or two to "get around to it," do it immediately! You don't have time to waste in these situations. That is, unless you don't mind paying for a brand new computer or damage control.

So, the next question is, "How can you prevent this kind of thing from happening again"? The best answer is to tell you to not keep any kind of liquid near your computer. Don't keep drinks or anything else by your computer. If you do that, you're just asking for a spill to happen. And you know how it goes, the liquid always goes right for the computer instead of the paper and pens you have sitting there.

For other devices (cameras, cell phones, etc.), you can keep them in plastic bags if you're going to be near water. If you're at the beach, keep your cell phone concealed, so there's no chance of water getting on it. Or use a waterproof camera. Just taking some simple precautions will keep you from many, many headaches down the road. If you just use some common sense and are very careful when it comes to your electronics, you'll be just fine!

~ Erin

Run With Vista

Have you made the switch to the new operating system of Windows Vista yet? If you have, are you getting a little frustrated with being away from everything you knew in XP? I mean, going from XP to Vista is an extreme change and it can be very difficult getting used to all the new features. I know I felt that way when I first started working with Vista. I was so used to XP and I just felt like the two operating systems were like day and night.

But, if you look past all that confusion, you'll find that there are a few things you can do with Vista to bring back the comfort of XP. (I'm not even kidding!) And as a matter of fact, I'm going to tell you how to do one of those right now. In Windows XP, a function I always use a lot is the Run command. It's just an easy feature to work with and it gets me where I need to go. Now, as I'm sure you've noticed, Vista doesn't offer the Run command. Or does it?!

To get the Run option back for yourself, right click on the Start button in Vista and choose Properties. Make sure you're under the Start Menu tab and then click the Customize button. Scroll down near the bottom of that list and checkmark the box that says "Run command." Once you've done that, click OK. In the next window, click Apply, then OK again. Now, go and click your Start button. What do you see? Yep, the Run command is back and ready for some action. Yes!

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