ItsGeekToMe.co

Q: When trying to use Google for a search, MSN search “hijacks” my request.  I type my search info in the Google search window, but often all or part of it moves to MSN search window.  How do I stop that?

– Pete C.
Fort Walton Beach, FL

A: One way would be to hide the search pane if you’re not using it.  It only takes up screen real estate that you could put to better use displaying part of the web page you’re viewing.  If you use Google, and neither use nor want the MSN search, I suggest you remove it from your search configuration, and make Google the default search provider.  You can do this in Internet Explorer by clicking Tools->Internet Options, and going to the “General” tab.  Just over halfway down the dialog, you’ll find a section that says “Change search defaults”.  Click on the “Settings” button.  Use the controls you find there to remove MSN, and install Google.  Make sure you select Google as the default, if that’s what you want.

Q: All my color prints have a red tint.  I use Photoshop CS2 for my photos.  I have attempted to use the CS2 color settings as well as the adjustments on my Epson Stylus Photo R200 to get a proper color.  I have even attempted to calibrate my monitor, but to no avail.  What do you suggest?

– Lawson F.
Fort Walton Beach, FL

A: It sounds like you’ve eliminated everything except the printer itself, Lawson.  Inkjet printers mix either three or six different ink colors (plus black) to make the millions of colors they are capable of printing.  For the sake of simplification, let’s deal with just Red (Magenta) Blue (Cyan) and Yellow.  If your pictures have a reddish tint to them, look for a problem with your green ink (either it’s empty, or the green ink ports are clogged).  You’ll get different results in the absence of other colors.  If the Magenta malfunctions, your prints will have a bluish tint.  If Cyan is malfunctioning, they’ll have a yellow tint.  Your printer has a maintenance utility built into the driver to help clear clogged jets.

READER TIP OF THE WEEK: Recently I’ve had a few people ask me about e-mail attachments with the extension .EML that they cannot open.  Apparently, on some computers, Windows fails to recognize the .EML extension as an e-mail file, and doesn’t know how to open it.  Well Judie Day, Secretary of the Center For Lifelong Learning Computer Club (and “Official Geek” as certified by yours truly) wrote-in with the following suggestion:  “I did a little research and found out that if you simply change the extension to “.mht” it should open in Internet Explorer.  I tried it and it worked for me.  Just “Save” the file to your desktop, Right-Click on it, Select “Rename” and change the extension to “.mht.”  Then, double-click the renamed file, and it opens in IE.”  Thanks Judie!