Tech Heads . . . Your Help

“Okay, I finally got the dough for a PC, printer, and . . . scanner. I have a picture scanned in and saved in an image file. Can one of you guys tell me how to cut it and attach to e-mail? I don't know if that is the right jargon, but you know. I bet Phil is an expert at this. Phil, please help.”

“Also me e-mail is through hotmail, does that make a difference in how this is done.”

“or "my e-mail" I might need some English grammar instruction as well”

“I don't use Hotmail, and the specific answer to your question has to do with Hotmail, but I can tell you that what you want to do is "attach" the image file (do you know where you saved it?) to an email. In other words, open a new email just like you are going to type a message to someone. Somewhere on the screen will be an option to "attach file" or "edit attachments" or something like that. Click on that option and follow whatever instructions appear.

Hope that helps...or perhaps someone who uses Hotmail will give you a better answer.”

“Thanks, I'll try it”

“Also you'll probably need to save your pic in "jpeg" format. I don't have a photo scanner and am not used to the commands, but more than likely when you scan, there will be an option menu for the format. Click "jpeg" and save to your computer or portable disk.

Then attach the jpeg file to an email and send to Phil.”

“That should work.”

“I did the thing Fritz said, but hotmail only allows an attachment w/ 1024k, mine was like 1601k. Why is it so large, it's just one small pic. and how do I make it smaller? Also it didn't give me an option for jpeg format. The scanner is an HPscanjet3200c. Does that help? I have never used one until just now. Arrrgh, help!”

“You probably have to save it as JPEG when you scan it, then save it. Or you could open it and save it again, as JPEG”

“You can attach any file format, it might be .BMP, .GIF, there are a number of different graphics file formats. The only thing is, the person receiving it has to have the software necessary to view the format you send them. Since Hotmail is web-based email, I would guess that most browsers would display whatever image format your scanner defaulted to.

As far as file size goes, you can do at least three different things.

1) re-scan, and look for an option that says "resolution"--scan to a lower resolution. The file will be smaller and the quality of the image will be not quite as good (that's the trade-off)

2) open the file you already scanned, in a graphics program of some sort (don't know what you have, also don't know the format of your file.) Look for a way to reduce the resolution, then save the image, and the file will be smaller.

3) compress the file, like with PkZip or something, if you have it.

Good luck!”

“Just to be clear, you would do either (1) or (2) or (3), not all three. ;-)”

“option 1 should be easier.”

“You might also down save with 256 colors in the image pallete instead of 16 million and then save to a JPEG format.

Also try resampling your image to another size (smaller).”

“Ah, tekapo, now there's the expert at this stuff! (Me, I know just enough to frustrate myself.)

Down-saving the number of colors in the palette, I think that's what I had in mind with #2...”

“size matters also, newgirl.”

“what software are you using?

try using a higher compression in the jpeg.. on a scale of 1-10 try a 5.. and just scan the part of the pic that you want.. that'll save a lot of file size. .bmp and .tif are much bigger files.. but they are much more detailed.”

“Software is PrescisionScan LT from Hewlett Packard. Came w/ the scanner. I think I'll try #1 Fritz. I also looked at the HP site, they're e-mailing some how to crap. I'll let you boys know in the A.M. Thanks for the suggests.”

“Try saving the file again, but look for the command, "Save as" instead of "save". Often that gives you the chance to save as a jpeg (or jpg) file. That will most likely reduce the size so you can send it with Hotmail.

If it is a bmp file and you want to crop it just enought to get under the size limit, go ahead. I have DSL and can fix the file when I get it. As of 11:18 Pacific Standard Time I haven't received anything.

(I have lots of stuff to catch up on, too!!)”

“Phil, I quit trying last night. I am at work today. I will keep working on it tonight. I'll try your suggestion, it seems logical, I'm just new at using this particular piece of technology.”

“newgirl, can I ask a dumb question

Are you actually going to start backpacking? Cause why post a pic if you're not going to stick around?”

“newgirl - Over the last 3 years many people have been in the same situation. If you keep trying and asking around for help, you will be successful eventually.”

“I too am moving up in the tech world...just had RoadRunner installed this morning, and got a cell phone a few days ago.”

“Exciting isn't it Buddur!”

“I already did start backpacking. My first trip was in May, when I first started posting. Haven't been able to work it for another one yet, due to scheduling w/ bp buds, raising a child on my own, working and going to school. I'm asking for help here Temprat, not trying to get in a little nit-pick fight -K-!”

“Newgirl, Hyper and I have the HP scanjet 3400C. It is possible to adjust the size, but you can't just scan part of the picture. It was frustrating for us when we first got it too. I wish I could offer some help but I can't just encouragment....Keep Trying! :o)”

“You're in school?? What's your major?”

“Others have said it before, I will say it again..

Unless you email Pamster, LH, Big Foot, Biz, or others (who are sane) and get some advice, no one is going to believe you're real

..except Steve hiker”

“"Temprat" is a troll. Ignore him (or her).”

“Thanks for the info. Joy. I'll keep trying. I haven't lost hope that I can do it just yet! HeHeHe!

Temprat, my major is Business Management and Communications. I'm not worried about whether or not you think I'm real. I'm trying to figure out how to use my scanner. Thanks for your enlightening comments though.”

“newgirl,

when you open your scan software, you should have 4 options listed on the left side of the window; start a new scan, where do you want the scan to go?, make optional adjustments, and send the scan now. First, scan the photo. Then in the where do you want the scan to go window select internet file. Now, under make optional adjustments choose "to output type" and select 256 colors. Again, under make optional adjustments choose "to the selection border". Now click and drag the box outline that appears on the image until it's around the portion of the photo you want to save. Then, click send the scan now and save it wherever you want to (desktop is a good choice--you can delete or move it later). This should give you a *.gif file small enough for a hotmail attachment. If at any time a dialog box pops up click ok and choose web palette and click ok again.

---OR---

You can chose paint in the where do you want the scan to go and cut it down to size in paint. This will give a *.bmp file, though.

Good luck. Email me if you have any questions and let me know how it works out. Oh, and thank you for calling hp customer care, you have a nice day:)”

“Thanks Sklukaz. You hp techs are really helpful. HeHeHe!”

“No prob, that's what we're here for. lol!”

“you have a double major?”

“No, it is consider one program at the school, although you take classes and need credits from the two distinct areas . . . Management and . . . Communications.”

“Well, since the tech heads are already hanging out in this thread, I have another one for you...my daughter claims there is a problem in the windows program on our PC. She says her friend said we should upgrade to NT or 2000 to fix it. My question is, can I just uninstall the version I have now and re-install it?

Will I lose all my files if I do?
What will happen to my hard drive?

Any help would really be appreciated..thanks

Tex”

“If you just re-install windows you will lose system file settings and have to reload all your software but you won't lose your data files. If you have an oem version (like hp or compac, for example) this is called a recovery. If you have to re-format the disk you lose everything and start out new. If you try just re-loading windows and something goes wrong, you may have to re-format to fix it. I would backup all data files and make sure I had all the software sources before trying it. Just remember that emails in outlook express are saved as system files. Good luck.”

“TX I don't have any advise regarding the tech problem, but do you still have the same email as on your profile (lapb24@yahoo.com)? I sent you an email yesterday.”

“Okay . . . I did it. Now I need Phil's address. Thanks guys.”

“Click on the Phil't photo page link, it's listed there. You're welcome.”

“Thanks again. You are an infinite source of tech wisdom and I am a tech weenie. HeHehe”

“whatever...lol!”

“Steve, yup, that's the email address and yes, I got your note and responded already.

Send me what information you can!

Thanks!

Tex”

“with scanning photos - look at the resolution - 150 or lower is just fine.”

“Actually 150 is best for printing images on a real printing press or a high end home printer. 72 is just fine for the web.”

“newgirl, if yer nekkid in the pitcher, Phil's email address is kleetn@backpacker.com”

“TX, you have a few options. First, reinstall windows over the top of itself. You shouldn't lose any data or configuration information (back you data up first, and make sure you have the information to re-configure things if necessary).

Second, you can re-format your computer and reinstall everything (you will need all software cds). you can do this with your older version of Windows. It is time consuming and tedious, but it works and you know it works with your existing software.

Third, you can reformat your computer's hard drive, install a new operating system (Windows 2000 or Windows ME--Windows NT is no longer being sold I believe). It also takes some time, you need to be sure your computer hardware works with it, there's no guarantee all you software will work with it.

Take your pick and good luck. And by the way, if the software/setup you have works, don't worry about changing.”

“That wasn't all that sly kleetn!”