Cannot connect to Shaw FTP or E-Mail

As of a couple of years ago, Shaw Cable blocked FTP access to it’s webspace accounts from non-Shaw customers and IP Addresses.

Those who may have previously been Shaw Cable customers could no longer connect to Shaw’s webspace via FTP if they are trying to access those services from non-Shaw Cable internet connections, through programs such as Outlook or Thunderbird. Though, webmail can still be accessed by non-Shaw customers.

The solution? Hopefully a friend uses Shaw Cable, and you can download all of your content and upload it to a provider such as GoDaddy.com (their ftp instructions).

As for e-mail, if you still have mail coming to your previous Shaw e-mail accounts, log into the webmail service at http://webmail.shaw.ca, and forward all of your email to another account you can use for access through Outlook or Thunderbird. Another alternative is to use Yahoo Mail Canada, which still allows POP3 and SMTP access (go to your account settings, then ‘pop and mail forwarding’, as I recall). The USA version does not provide this service for free, it’s only available in the Plus version ($20 a year).

Learn how to setup your mail through Outlook 2007 (coming very soon)

Teamviewer Walkthrough

TeamViewer allows you to see another person’s desktop and control their computer through a secure, encrypted connection that is easy to setup and use. There is no risk associated with using it, as only those who you give the randomly generated user ID and password can connect. You must also “ok” the connection.

It’s very safe, and I have used it to connect to my parents’ computers back home and to a friend’s computer, who lives in Nova Scotia.

Important note: while it allows someone to see and control your computer, you see exactly what they are doing and can type and use the mouse the same as you’ve always done.

To install TeamViewer, go to www.teamviewer.com, click on the ‘download’

under ‘full version’, click the button next to the Windows icon.

Double click the file you downloaded, and this screen will show up. Click ‘personal/non-commercial use’, and click ‘next.’

Be sure to click box checkboxes to accept the license agreement and to confirm the fact you’ll Only use the program for personal use.

Click “normal installation”. There’s no need for TeamViewer to start when you log into Windows, so don’t Select that.

The program will quickly install, then click “finish” to complete the installation.

You will then see this screen every time the program starts. When someone (me) attempts to connect to your computer, simply provide the ID and Password under “Wait for session”. You should then be asked to confirm the connection. If not, that’s fine, it’s secure either way.

The ID and password and automatically generated each time the program starts, so noone can access your computer without that information or approval.

Change the size of desktop icons in Windows Vista

I’ve been asked a few times now by friends how to change the size of desktop icons in Windows Vista. There are two ways. These methods work in Windows 7 (RC1) as well.

1. left-click an empty area of the desktop once, and while pressing down the left CTRL key on your keyboard, use the wheel on your mouse to change the size of the icons.

2. right-click an empty area of the desktop, and choose ‘view’, and choose from ‘classic’, ‘medium’, or ‘large’.