Linux Redux and More!

Join us Thursday, April 12th at 6:00 p.m., for the April 2012 Palmetto PC Club.

You will certainly want to join us for our April Palmetto PC Club meeting! We have a program packed with activities—including an opportunity to win a FREE computer and flat screen monitor.

First we’ll continue our demonstration of Linux operating systems with our program director, Harry Rodgers. Linux, as we learned last month, has been around for a long time and was developed and distributed as free and open-source software. Because of its open-source origins, there are many versions of Linux available to use. This also makes the Linux operating system an excellent choice for extending the life of older computers. This month he’ll demonstrate a PC with a dual-boot installation of the Windows XP and Linux Mint operating systems. We’ll also have some Linux installation discs available for free.

Second, we’ll be giving you a brief preview of Windows 8. This new operating system will be here before we know it! We’re planning a more detailed demonstration of Windows 8 for our May club meeting.

And finally—we’ll have a drawing for the demonstration PC along with a flat screen monitor. Everyone will get one chance to win. But if you bring a guest, your guest will get one ticket and you will get two tickets—to double your chances to win.

Please mark your calendar and join us for this special meeting! And don’t forget to invite a friend.

Our meeting location is at the Capital Senior Center, Maxcy Gregg Park, 1650 Park Circle, Columbia, SC. You can click here for a map and to get directions from your location. Visit the Palmetto PC Club website for more information about the club.

Many of us have had the misfortune of having a hard drive go bad. Well at this month's meeting, we're going to attempt to recover files from a damaged hard drive. In addition, we'll continue to look at features that make the Windows operating system easier and faster to use. And as usual, count on us to answer your questions and demonstrate useful tools and applications to help you get more out of your computer.

This SIG is for beginners and advanced users. Now that you've bought that new computer, what's next? How do I keep it operating in top condition? How do I use email? How do I protect my personal information? What kind of software or hardware should I purchase? We also like gadgets and can offer help and advice on e-readers, tablets, iPads and other new exciting devices.

Join us this Saturday, March 31, 2012 at:

St. Andrews Baptist Church, 230 Bush River Rd, Columbia SC 29210

Click above to visit the church's website & click on "DIRECTIONS & PARKING" for info about the church and directions.

You can click here for google maps directions.

You can't miss the church, it's the one with the unusual roof across the street from Boozer Shopping Center and Chick-fil-a! Please park in the large parking lot directly across the street from Chick-fil-a and look for the PPCC sign!

Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for more info. You can also email your questions in advance or suggest additional topics for the meeting.

I look forward to seeing you at the meeting!

Related Links: Palmetto PC Club

Refresh your old PC with Linux!

Join us Thursday, March 8th at 6:00 p.m., for the March 2012 Palmetto PC Club.

Linux is a popular operating system that’s been around for a long time and was developed and distributed as free and open-source software. Because of its open-source origins, there are many versions of Linux available to use. This also makes the Linux operating system an excellent choice for extending the life of older computers.

The club’s program director, Harry Rodgers, has been hard at work installing two popular versions of Linux on different desktop computers. One computer is setup for dual booting using Windows 7 and the Ubuntu version of Linux. The other computer will be running the MINT version of Linux. At this month’s meeting, Harry will give us a hands-on demonstration of both computers.

Which version of Linux is right for you? Mark your calendar and join us for what will be a fun and informative meeting. Don’t forget to invite a friend!

Our meeting location is at the Capital Senior Center, Maxcy Gregg Park, 1650 Park Circle, Columbia, SC. You can click here for a map and to get directions from your location. Visit the Palmetto PC Club website for more information about the club.

At our August meeting, club member Harry Rodgers introduced us to the recently released Microsoft System Sweeper. This new free virus removal tool will come in handy if you think your computer may have a virus or other malicious software. This program can remove malicious software that other programs might miss due to its ability to run before the startup of the Windows OS.

Because this program is still in beta, we recommend you choose the option to burn the program to a CDR, and then boot your computer from the CD.

Visit the link below to learn more and to download the necessary files for use.

Microsoft System Sweeper

Richland County Solid Waste Department is hosting special electronic recycling and document shredding events in various areas throughout Richland County. The events will be open to all Richland County residents and the following items will be accepted: tires, computers, televisions, household electronics, microwave ovens, scrap metal and paper documents for shredding. Click here for locations and more info.

The Keep The Midlands Beautiful website has excellent information on ways to recycle. Their calendar has a listing of many shredding and recycling events throughout the Midlands. 

Update: 4/17/2011

South Carolina eCycles Day ~ Saturday, April 30, 2011: Click here for recycle locations and more info.

The holidays are here and it looks as though technology will be the gift of choice this year. Tablets, smart phones, HD televisions and laptops will be on the top of most wish lists as we rapidly approach Black Friday, the official start of the holiday shopping season. So that our members can have more time to search for that hi-tech bargain, we will not have a meeting in December. We’ll resume our regular monthly meetings starting January 13, 2011. For the January meeting we’ll take a look at several tax preparation computer programs.

Also, our PC Boot Camp SIG will be taking a break for the holidays. We’ll start back on January 29, 2011 with a comprehensive and ongoing look at Windows Live Essential 2011. This free software suite includes web, PC and mobile applications and communication tools for email, blogging, chat, social interacting, data storage and more.

The Palmetto PC Club wants to wish everyone a happy holiday and we hope to see you in 2011!