After installing Firefox 3.0 you may encounter this problem. Every time Firefox starts, the "Add-ons" box appears with the message "1 new add-on has been installed". This happens even if there are no Add-ons installed. This is caused by corrupt extension files. You can fix this is by deleting three files in the user profile.

• In Windows XP, Firefox user profiles are located in C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles.

• Find and delete these files: extensions.ini, extensions.cache, and extensions.rdf. Then restart Firefox.

Some GX280 computers have a defect that is known as the "racing fan" problem.  During normal operation, there will be a loud fan sound from the computer case.  This is not just the normal startup sound, but a heavy fan noise that continues after the computer has been on for awhile.

It appears that most of the affected GX280s were purchased in January through March of 2005.  If you have a GX280 that exhibits this problem, you should open the case to check for capacitors that are puffed up or swollen. If you find a puffed up capacitor, contact Dell immediately.  Dell will replace the power supply and motherboard after you describe the puffed up capacitor.  But if the problem is only heavy fan noise, you can still contact Dell.  Other symptoms may include random freeze-ups.

In any case, it is important to request service before the end of the warranty period, which will be in January/March 2009.  Contact me if you have any questions about this issue.

Rick

Adobe has issued a security bulletin that describes a critical vulnerability in Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat Professional version 8. Users are advised to patch their copies of the affected programs immediately. Download the 8.1.2 Security Update 1 patch, or use the "Check for Updates" feature on the Help menu in Adobe Reader.

Firefox 3.0 web browser is now available. This version of Firefox features big improvements in speed, security and reliability. For example, JavaScript performance is three times faster than in version 2.0. Upgrading to Firefox 3.0 is highly recommended.

Microsoft offers interactive online reference guides to the Office 2007 user interface. The guides compare commands in the 2003 and 2007 versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and Outlook. The guides are available on the Microsoft Office site. Download versions of the guides are also available.

Windows XP Service Pack 3 (XP SP3) is available for download from the OSL SupportFTP server.

This is the full 324 MB "Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and Developers" file. Using this file allows you to download SP3 once, and then install it on multiple computers. This local download minimizes Internet bandwidth usage, because the server is inside the OSL network. (E-mail Rick for the FTP login & password).

It takes about 15 to 30 minutes per machine to upgrade to SP3, using the full network installation package.

(The "web download" of SP3 is available from Microsoft Update, but takes longer to install on each computer - typically  40 to 60 minutes -  and you have to download it for each computer that is upgraded.)

SP3 is the first service pack for XP since 2004. It is also the last service pack that Microsoft will release for Windows XP.

I am available to do SP3 upgrades. Just send me an e-mail to set up an appointment.

Rick

There is still a need to be able to copy several CD-ROM programs to a hard drive, and then run the programs without needing the original CD in the optical drive. Most of these are educational discs for children. Now there are much better freeware tools for creating and mounting virtual CD-ROMs to a hard drive. Read more ...

OptiPlex 745 computers that shipped in December have a BIOS with new power management features. (The BIOS is version 2.3.1 or 2.4.1). One feature is "Low Power Mode" which, if it is turned on, has the effect of disabling Wake On Lan. Wake on Lan (WOL) is used by Deep Freeze Enterprise Console to turn on computers remotely. It is also used by Ghost Console and other utilities.

If you want WOL to work in a new 745, follow these steps:

1. Press F2 when the computer starts, to enter the BIOS Setup
2. Use the down arrow to scroll down to Power Management. Press Enter to open it.
3. Scroll down to "Lower Power Mode". Press Enter to open it. Set it to "Off" and press Enter.
4. Scroll down to "Remote Wake Up". Press Enter to open it. Set it to "On w/Boot to NIC" and press Enter
5. Hit ESC once, and select "Save/Exit"

The computers that we purchase beginning in January 2008 will have Microsoft Vista Business installed as the operating system. After you receive them, you can start using Vista, or you can install Windows XP Professional instead. This is a new policy from Microsoft. In the past, only "volume licenses" could downgrade to the previous version of the operating system. But now even so-called Royalty OEMs, such as Dell, can do this.

The Steering Committee approved this on July 26, 2007.

Policy for usage of Ocean State Library Message Boards:

The Message Boards (Public Folders) are for use with information directly related to work at Ocean State Libraries and its Member Libraries. There is quite a bit of information already available that members need to read.  Requests for additional crates or envelopes, or questions related to library materials or the ILS usage, offerings of library items available for the taking are all examples of acceptable uses of the list.  In order to respect the time and access of the members of Ocean State Libraries, we ask that the Message Boards are not to be used for:

Non-library related messages of any other kind, for example,

• Personal, non-work related announcements
• Solicitations related to non-profits or charities that are not related to OSL or its member libraries.

Dell has posted a BIOS update for OptiPlex 745 computers that it describes as "Urgent." This patch will update the BIOS to version 2.3.1. The file is available for download on the Dell Support site.

This BIOS update is installed from within Windows. Login as Administrator, and copy the file O745-020301.exe to the desktop. Double-click on the file. Click 'Continue' and then click 'OK'. The system will reboot and perform the patch. Do not shut the computer off at any time during the BIOS update process.

Instructions for Printing Daily Notices.

1. Scroll down the left side bar to the notices icon (double click on this).
2. Click on LOCATION to sort list in alphabetical order.
3. There are six (6) notices that need to be printed:
   • Overdue
   • Hold pick-up only (these are your holds)
   • Item paging slip (these holds are on certain barcodes)
   • Title paging slip (these are holds that patron have requested)
   • Hold Cancellation
   • Bills
4. To print highlight line you want, then move the cursor to the PREPARE icon at the top of the right hand side of screen. A pop up box will come up on the screen click on PRINT.  A second pop up box will come up click on PRINT.
5. The next screen will show how many items you will have to print. At this point you will click on send notices. NOTE: If you want a list for example of your TNS or E-Mails BEFORE you send notices at the top of screen click on print and this will give you that list.
   
6. At next screen it will ask you to send entries. Click on OK and this will send items to the printer.
   
7. At final screen it will ask to Clear All Print Notices click on Yes. Then you will click on Close and then Close again.
   

Here are the URLs for accessing EBSCOhost Research Databases: EBSCO Links.

There is a unique link for every library building in OSL. You can use these logins from either inside of a library, or from home.

Logins for administering these accounts were sent via email to every Director.

Best practices for preventing busy records:

• Staff should click 'OK', 'done' or 'close' as appropriate when completing a procedure in Millennium, such as placing holds. Click 'close' when finished using records or functions.
• It is a good security practice for staff to clear initials before leaving a workstation. Doing so will also prevent records from being left open and thus busied.
• Order records may be 'busied' in special ways. Orders may temporarily reside in print files or payfiles. In this case, staff must carry out normal printing or posting procedures to free the records. For example, once you've made a payment on a status 'o' order record, you must post in order to edit or make another payment on the order. Trying to edit an order in a payfile will result in a message that the system is waiting for another update to the record.

1. The circ account has to have "Manager-Controlled Options" enabled. If that isn't the case, ask someone in DP to change it for you. Once Manager-Controlled Options are enabled, DP can then change printing options by going to the Printing tab and under Printing Defaults, selecting "Last used on workstation for login".
2. On your circ desk computer, go to the Printers folder. Add Generic/Text only. Make it the Default printer.
3. On your circ desk computer, close Millennium circ if it is running.
4. Go to the C:\Millennium directory. If you see a file named 'print.properties', delete it.
5. Start Millennium and login with your circ account. Click Yes at the "Print Date Due Slips" prompt.
6. In Millennium circulation, do:
   • File
   • Select Printer
   • Receipt Printer
   • Local Printer
   • Click OK
   • Name: Generic/Text Only
   • Select the Format tab
   • Select Text (narrow)
   • Set characters per line = 40
   • Set ines per page = 60
   • Optionally, set Lines to eject = 4
   • Select "Send auto-cut"
   • Click OK
7. Do a few checkouts to test receipt printing. Receipts should eject a few lines and then partially cut the paper.
8. Close Millennium.
9. Start Millenium again. Click Yes at the "Print Date Due Slips" prompt.
10. Do a few checkouts. Receipts should eject a few lines and then partially cut the paper.

    Updated: 5/5/06

• Office 2003 SP2. Download it from the new update site site (Internet Explorer required). If you want to download it once and install it on several computers, get it from Office downloads.
• Microsoft has changed Update Rollup 1 for Windows 2000 SP4. If you previously installed it, Microsoft recommends getting the revised file and installing it again.
• Symantec Anti Virus version 10.0 was updated to 10.0.1.1000 to fix a bug in the startup virus scan. The major effect of this bug was nearly 100% CPU usage on a small number of systems. If you need this update, contact OSL Support for download instructions.
• Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0.1 fixes several issues in the original release.

Contacting Dell for service is straight-forward. Phone numbers and what to do are listed on the OSL Support Dell Service and Troubleshooting page.

Before you call Dell, take a look at some of the troubleshooting tips available on the same page. If you need to remove a lost BIOS password, run hard drive diagnostics, reset the BIOS to default state, or locate the system documentation, this is the place to start.

Posted 5/31/05