HELP DESK
Q: I have a Dell computer that has Windows XP. I have forgotten the password. What do I do?
Terrie McCall
A: There’s sort of a super account built into XP called the administrator account. In many cases users don’t even know it exists and never set a password for it. If this is the case, there’s a way to get into the computer. (If an administrator password has been set and you don’t know that password either you’re out of luck with this method). But let’s start there. Go to the website I link and read about it:
Read the whole thing before you start. Don’t worry if some of the terms don’t make sense to you. The real trick is easy and if you read the whole thing at least once before starting I think you’ll see how to do it. If this doesn’t work, things get more difficult (or perhaps impossible without having a really knowledgeable person sitting at the keyboard). By the way, please don’t download any of the password cracking programs you can find online. While some are legit, others are not and can compromise your computer.
It seems like a no-brainer. If someone on your gift list is into technology, then buy a tech-related present.
Truth is, the more someone is into technology the more difficult it is to buy them the right tech gift. Take me for instance. I’m very particular about what I want down right down to the model number. Rather than get the wrong tech item, I’d rather have a nice pair of wool stocks.
But there are tech items that would suit anyone. They won’t break the bank and they serve a useful purpose.
The key to happiness
I’m giving my wife an electronic key finder. Here’s how it works. You attach one part of the key finder system to your key chain. The other part of the system is a tiny remote. So next time the keys go into hiding you can press a button on the remote. That sends a radio signal that is received by the device on the key chain. The radio wave triggers a beeper that lets you track the keys by sound.
The system I ordered is called "Find my Keys" by a company aptly named Where's the Remote? You can find it on www.Amazon.com for $25. There are several competing models on Amazon, all at close to the same price.
Get the picture
The advent of digital photography has created renewed interest in amateur photography. But anyone who has taken a photo at a family gathering and everyone tries to squint at the small display screen to see the picture.
What would be neat is a having a way to hand out prints, right on the spot, of that photo.The Polaroid Z2300 Instant Digital Camera produces 2- by 3-inch prints. It also has a 10 megapixel digital sensor so it records a digital image. You'll pay $179.99 for the camera at B&H Photo (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/).
Marriage saver
The next item saved my marriage – OK that’s too dramatic – but it did save my sleep. My wife loves to watch TV in bed. I read instead. But if you’ve ever tried to read while there’s a gun battle going on a few feet away, you know that isn’t something that enhances concentration. So I got Mary a pair of wireless headphones. She can crank up the TV as loud as she wants and I don’t hear a thing.
I'm recommending the Wireless Radio Frequency Headphones from Sony. The claimed range is 150 feet – that's far enough for anyone. But the actual range is going to vary a bit. On the Sony website (www.store.sony.com) the headsets cost $109 and change.
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