Texting From Your Computer

An email, from Jesse at Radford University, asks

"Hey-Andy, ...is it possible to send text messages from your computer?"

Yes, it is possible to send a text message from your computer. All you have to do, is know the correct email address to send the message to. Not as easy as it sounds if you don't know the email address of the cell provider. I have compiled a list of addresses to use in sending out an email to text messaging.

Unfortunately, It is not as easy to receive an SMS message on your computer. It can be difficult even for the most computer savvy. Here is a link to information to set up your computer and cell phone to receive your texts on your computer.

Using the information below will allow your to send SMS messages with email;

The major US cellular carriers use the 10_digit_number@cell.carrier_domain.com format for SMS to text capable cell phones, with a limit of 160 characters in the subject and message body (total).
Carrier Send Email to phonenumber@....

Alltel-........................... @message.alltel.com
AT&T -..........................@txt.att.net
SunCom -......................@tms.suncom.com
VoiceStream -.............. @voicestream.net
Verizon -.......................@vtext.com (text only)
Verizon pics & Video....@vzwpix.com (pictures and videos)
T-Mobile -.................... @tmomail.net
Virgin Mobile -..............@vmobl.com
Cingular-...................... @cingularme.com
Sprint -......................... @messaging.sprintpcs.com
Nextel -..........................@messaging.nextel.com


Verizon users can register an alias at vtext.com to give out instead of their phone number. Both alias@vtext.com and phone_number@vtext.com will be valid addresses for the phone.

Practical Printing Paper Preparedness... What?

This email question comes from an anonymous source.

"I am printing a tabloid size poster, but having problems with the quality of the prints. I was using an HP large format color laser printer, but not able to get the total resolution that I required. So, I switched to an Epson large format inkjet printer, and now, the printed pages all come out smudged and smeared. What should I do?"

In diagnosing this problem there are two things to consider. The first; Is the printer malfunctioning? The color laser printer was fine, except for the lower resolution of 600 dpi on matte paper. The inkjet printer’s print heads could be malfunctioning and causing the smudges if they are in need of cleaning or replacement. The second consideration; Is the proper paper being used? Different paper is used in these two types of printers.

Because the print from the laser printer seemed to be fine except for the quality ( I asked), my first instinct is to blame the paper. It turned out, that I was right. The paper that this person used, was standard matte quality laser printer paper. We also cleaned the print heads several times to insure that they were not contributing to the problem.

The paper used for printing on a laser printer is very different than paper used for printing on an inkjet printer. The reason for this is the printing process itself. A laser printer uses a heat transfer process to bond the special powdered ink to the paper using a fuser (heating element). An inkjet printer uses a chemical bond to adhere the liquid ink to the paper and does not use any heat at all.

Using inkjet paper in a laser printer is very bad, as it may melt and ruin the fuser of the printer. Fusers can cost as much as $250 each. Other types of paper that should not be used in a laser printer, are copier paper, recycled paper, vellum, overhead projector transparencies, inkjet transparencies, brown paper bags, construction paper, acetate,and others.

Using laser paper in an inkjet printer is not as bad for the printer, but will not provide the proper results. The ink will not adhere properly to the page and will most likely smudge. This can also decrease the life of the print heads of the printer. You should not use acetate, or laser printer transparencies on an inkjet printer, because the ink will not be absorbed, or dry on the page. The excess ink can clog the print heads. You should not use papers with very high rag content (see this site), such as brown bag paper, or construction paper, as they will cause the print heads to wear out prematurely due to the fibers of the paper coming in contact with them.

The bottom line; Always use the correct paper for the type of printer you are using. Not doing so, can damage the printer and a damaged printer will cost more than changing the paper.

Getting Name Brand Local Support for Your Brand Name Computer.

This email question comes from Theresa, a Virginia Tech student, but the answer may apply almost anywhere.

On Dec 9, 2008, at 10:39 AM,Theresa wrote:

"Hey Andy, ... I have a dell computer and I broke the screen. I was wondering if there was a dell service center or some place near or on campus i could take my computer to get that fixed without shipping it away. I have a full 3 year warranty, so the replacement should be covered. Thanks for your assistance."

Many people buy name brand computers over local because they want the security of knowing that the brand will be there if and when their computer has problems. This is especially true for college students. The drawback is that if the computer should need a major repair say, a laptop screen(?). It may have to be sent back to the company. Or so it would seem.

Theresa has a resource that most higher education students have, and this may also provide you an answer as well. This answer is the local college or university bookstore.

{Please note: The general public may also be able to take advantage of some of the services offered as well.}

Most college and university bookstores sell computers to their students. In order to make these computers more desirable, they typically offer full support for the brands that they sell. More of the big brand names are working with these outlets and this means that many times you can take that Dell, HP, IBM, Apple, etc. to them, even if you didn’t buy the computer from them.

Sounds great, eh? Even better is the fact that if the repair is expected to take more than a day or two, they many times have a loaner that you may use, until your computer is returned. This can be a true lifesaver, especially at the end of the semester. To truly be the lifesaver you want and need, make sure you ask for help in transferring the most important files you were working on, to another resource, before you let go of the computer. In this case, you can get these files for yourself by connecting the laptop to an external monitor for long enough to back it up.

Before you send your name brand computer back to the company for repairs, check with your local college or university bookstore. Even if they don’t service your brand name, they in all likelihood, can tell you where to find the closest authorized service center.

The hidden lesson above is that you should always back up your work. Enough said, but I know I have said ... and will say it a million times.

To Surge, but How to Surge? ; That is THE Question.

There is no question about it, every piece of electrical technology that you currently own and care about should have a surge protector between it and the electrical outlet on the wall. Everyone, most tech heads included, is guilty of having some electronic device plugged directly into the wall. It’s not a question of if, but when, a power surge will render it useless.

The electricity supplied by our power companies is not constant. No matter where you live, the electricity supplied to your home, office, or favorite place to work on your computer, has ebbs and flows. The flow of the current is constantly fluctuating due to downed power lines, lightning, or more frequently power hungry electrical devices such as air conditioners, heat pumps, and refrigerators which require a lot of energy to switch on and off.

Your computer and other electronics are designed to function with small electrical potential energy changes, but not sudden power surges. If there is a sudden decrease in the voltage, your equipment will just shut off. If there is a sudden increase in voltage your equipment may become overloaded. When the internal circuitry becomes overloaded it essentially melts. This happens so quickly there is no way for you to stop it. Unless.

The one way to prevent the overload of power to your equipment from burning it up... is to stop it before it ever happens. You must use surge protection. Please note; the only way to guarantee your equipment is safe is to unplug it from the wall - especially in a lightning storm. We are not talking about an extension cord. We are not talking about a power strip. We are talking about a surge protector.

Surge protectors come in so many different styles, colors, makes and models that it can be very difficult to know which to choose. There are two levels of surge suppression not counting a power strip which offers absolute minimal protection. There are surge stations (commonly known as surge protectors) and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). I’ll leave the discussion of a UPS for another time, as it is typically only needed by professionals on high-end equipment. You can purchase a true surge protector for about $30 and up. The higher the rating and not necessarily the cost, the better the quality. Ratings are typically based on Joules and the more equipment is plugged into a protector the higher the rating should be.

The Three Most Important Features to Look For;

The most important feature on a surge protector is an indicator light. One problem with surge protectors is that the MOVs (metal oxide varistors) can burn out with one good surge. This is why it's good to get one with an indicator light that tells you whether or not it's functioning properly.

The second feature to look for is a fuse or reset button. A reset option allows you to use the protector after it has stopped a surge so that it may be used again after a smaller surge. If your protector takes a hit due to a lightning strike, it will probably have been killed permanently, and this feature won’t do you any good. Lower end protectors may provide the reset button, but not the light. Higher end surge protectors typically have a light, but not the button. The indicator light is much more important.

Third, if you are connecting any piece of equipment to the surge protector that requires a phone line, you should buy a surge protector that includes phone line connections. This includes a modem, satellite receiver, digital video recorder, and even your telephone! There is no telling how many devices have fallen to an electrical surge on the telephone line. The phone line is just as susceptible to lightning strike as power lines.

I never connect anything other than a light bulb directly to electrical current. A light bulb can be replaced without hurting my pocketbook. Replacing a computer, television, sound system or even a cordless telephone hurts a lot more. The question is not “to surge, but how to surge”?

"My Computer Will Not Turn On!" - Does Not Mean "It's Dead!".

I walked into my office and I pushed the button to turn on my computer and then I went for a cup of coffee. When I returned to my desk a few minutes later, sipping my warm brew, the screen was still dark. I reached out with a slightly shaking hand (not from lack of caffeine), heart in my throat, and pushed the power button again. Now, I’m upset! My computer will not turn on, and everything on my to-do list for the day is a distant memory.

We would all like to think that this is a “hypothetical” situation, but the sad truth is, that this happens thousands if not tens of thousands of times every day. It really has happened to me and it has really happened to many people that I know, including other IT professionals. This has to be one of the most dreaded things to happen to you, and worse yet, to have to tell your IT or tech support department.

You know that the first question you are always going to get is, “Are you sure your computer and monitor are plugged in?”. Of course, that is the first thing you checked. The power cord leads from the computer to the surge protector and the surge protector to wall. Yes, you checked it!

I can’t tell you how many times this has happened in front of my own eyes. Many times. And, I can’t tell you how many of those times the answer was so simple, it only took 30 seconds to remedy. There is no exact percentage, but more than half of the time that I have been presented with this problem, the answer was as easy as unplugging the computer and/or monitor and plugging it back in.

Yes, that is what I said. Unplug the power cord from the equipment that is not working and reseat it. Unplug the cord from the wall as well, but first pull it out of the computer connection and then put it back. Do this to all of the connections between the equipment and the wall itself. I usually just pull them all, and put them back, one at a time. Then, take a deep breath or sip of your caffeinated beverage of choice, push the power button.

Of course, this will not make a lick of difference if there is actually a mechanical problem with your equipment. But... It is uncanny how many times I have seen the connections look absolutely fine, but be in fact, not quite right. Yes, it seems very rude of me to crawl under a desk and begin unplugging and re-plugging, all the while hearing my patron tell me that they have already checked the power cables. When it works, it works. And it makes me look omnipotent.

Next time you encounter this problem yourself or on someone else’s computer. Do the dirty work. Crawl under, over, or behind and check each and every connection. Oh, and It doesn’t hurt to lay hands on your monitor and say a little prayer as well.

The One Thing Your Computer Repair Man Doesn’t Want You To Know.

Unexpected computer problems are certainly a nightmare but, not all problems require expensive repair costs! There is a tool that has been in my utility belt for many years. It has saved countless hours and money in computer repairs, and no, it is not a hammer.

Even though there are times, every day, when you want to use the hammer on your computer, we all know that tool will only make you feel better for a few minutes. There are many times in my professional career in which I was unsure which tool to pull out of my belt first. So, I have adopted the following mantra;

When in doubt, reboot.

When you are working in a program (Ex. AutoCAD, Photoshop, Microsoft Word) and are able to run the program for some amount of time ... and suddenly the program crashes! Yes, the first question is always, “when was the last time you saved your work?”. After the concern over any lost work;

The first tool out of your utility belt should be the motto; when in doubt, reboot. As with any kind of repair in our lives, the first tool doesn’t always take care of the problem, but this one does the job in a surprising number of situations.

Rebooting (restarting) your computer allows the system to run diagnostics that clean up problems. All computers run diagnostics when they start and when they shut down. Restarting your computer can solve some software glitches. Programs borrow memory from the system while they are being used and sometimes do not give it back when done. This causes memory buffer problems and can cause any program running, to crash unexpectedly. I always shut down, unplug the computer for a few minutes, plug it back in and turn the computer back on. Of course there can be other reasons for software problems, but I always use this tool first.

Another Example; You are trying to print and suddenly your computer cannot find the printer. You know it is plugged in, and turned on (hint), but now you can’t print. When in doubt, reboot. Communication problems can occur between the computer and the printer for no apparent reason. Turning your printer off and then back on, and then restarting your computer, in that order may solve the problem. Obviously, this will not solve printer driver issues or fix any mechanical problems with either the computer or the printer, but it can save a lot of time rummaging for a fix.

Mechanical issues will never be corrected using this tool. If the equipment is mechanically malfunctioning the first tool out of the belt is usually the screwdriver. Or the phone, if you don’t feel confident in doing the repairs yourself. This tool can save a lot of unneeded agony in fixing connections to external devices such as printers, scanners, cameras, external hard drives or flash drives. It can also help to alleviate an untold number of software and operating system problems. Before you take drastic measures. Before you reinstall software. Before you reformat your computer or hard drive. Before you take your computer to a professional, remember to pull the first tool out of your tool belt;

When in doubt, reboot!