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the above is an advertisement )-------------- 1) Never Too Late For "System Setup Secrets!"Reader "Skwall" has a not-so-new system, so he wondered if it was too late to benefit from the current "System Setup Secret" article ( http://content.techweb.com/winmag//columns/explorer/2001/03.htm ):
The good news is that it's never too late, really. Get your system as cleaned-up, stable, and solid as you know how (there's a ton of how-to info here: http://content.techweb.com/winmag//columns/explorer/backissu.htm ) --- and then "freeze" that good-as-you-can-get-it setup with a full backup. That way, you can always get your system back to at least that point, even if it isn't absolutely perfect. In fact, there's almost no case, ever, when making a backup hurts you, except perhaps with reusable media where you might record over a good setup with a less-good one. That's one of the reasons why I recommend using cheap, keep-forever, non-reusable backups media such as CDRs. If you look for sales, you actually can buy blank CDRs for about a quarter---$0.25--- each! With CDRs, you never have to record over an old backup, and instead can keep *all* your backups for as long as you wish. That gives you the ability to go back to *any* point in the past for which you have a backup. Any backup is better than no backup, and it's NEVER too late to use the "system setup secrets" to make your system run right, stay right for as long as possible, and then be *made* right with minimum fuss when things inevitably go awry! Check it out at http://content.techweb.com/winmag//columns/explorer/2001/03.htm Click to
email this item to a friend 2) WinME? NotME!I spent the better part of this past month deep in the guts of WinME--- and I gotta tell you, it wasn't pretty. 8-) For example, I ran into numerous items along the lines of the one described by reader Barry Cook:
There are lost more debatable choices in ME, too, ranging from the minor things like leaving the Favorites folder off the Start menu by default to internal system settings that gobble excessive amounts of CPU power and hard disk space. In fact, the more I used WinME, the more I found myself modifying it, trying to get it to (1) do things that Microsoft didn't want it to, and (2) to stop doing some things that Microsoft programmed it to do automatically. When I was done, I had a WinME that not only ran more like what I wanted, but was about 10% faster than the factory configuration, too. If you're using WinME, I suggest you do some serious poking around to see just what options are available to you: Many of them may significantly improve your WinME experience. And if you'd like help with that, it's on the way: My own WinME spelunking was for a yet-to-be-published article that will soon show up on the WinMag site: "10 Ways To Make Windows ME Run Better." If you're using WinME or thinking of it, or will be buying a new PC whose only OS choice is WinME (grrr!) stay tuned: I'll let you know as soon as the article is posted. But note: WinME is basically a
modified version of Win98, so if you're using WinMe or Win98, the tips in the
article "Ten Ways To Make Click to
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the above is an advertisement )-------------- 3) Psst! Wanna Peek At Your Online Future?The "Next Generation Internet" project has been perking along for about 6 years now, and has generated some very interesting--- though largely unknown-to-the-public--- applications and spin offs. Some of the most splashy and spectacular examples of applied NGI technology are scattered around various U.S. government sites. For example, the US National Science Foundation has constricted a hugely complex online simulation of the Chesapeake Bay area; they call it the "Chesapeake Bay Virtual Environment (CBVE)," and it's used to model environmental changes in the Bay. ( http://www.ngi.gov/apps/nsf/cbve.html ) And then there's DARPA, with the slightly-ominous-sounding name of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency; it's the central R&D organization for the US Department Of Defense. But don't let the name fool you: Long-time Internet mavens will remember that the original Internet--- the one we all now use--- began as a US Defense project during the Cold War: DARPA's predecessor agency, ARPA, was tasked with constructing a communications network that was self-routing so that computer communications could continue even if part of the network was taken out by nuclear strike: The fundamental "packet switching" Internet architecture we use today--- with its name servers, address tables, routers, and such--- all grew out of D/ARPA's need for a nuke-proof network! Eventually, academic organizations involved in defense research used what was then called "ARPAnet" and then "DARPAnet." As more and more people used it, it became less and less militarized. When the government finally lifted the restrictions on commercial use of the 'Net in the early '90's, it grew into the Internet we know today. Clearly, when DARPA starts playing with networks, it behooves us all to watch because what they first build for themselves just may end up in public use some time later. And now, DARPA has built what they call "SUPERNET, DARPA's Next Generation, 100 percent Gigabit Internet Network." You can see it at http://www.ngi-supernet.org/ . And there's lots more going on with NGI too, as presented in this month's Byte "Monitor" column. Along with a discussion of NGI and some of its important spinoffs, you'll also see many other sites that demonstrate the power of NGI technologies--- sites from NASA, the medical world (tele-medicine!), meteorological sites, and much more. As such, the column gives you a glimpse at what's going on--- largely out of sight of the average surfing public--- to build what will probably become tomorrow's Internet! Check it out at http://www.byte.com/column/BYT20010119S0009 ! Click to
email this item to a friend 4) Free Registry Primer, and MoreTo many Windows users, the Registry is Terra Incognita, populated with DAT files and Hkeys and patches (oh my!). Indeed, the Registry is not generally well-explained.But I was poking around in the Knowledgebase a few days ago, I came across a decent little primer on the Registry--- defining terms, file names, locations, and such. It's at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/win98/reg.asp , and is a good way to begin to understand the Registry, or to refresh your memory quickly if you're a little rusty. I don't know when Microsoft posted this primer, but it still seems mostly current. Of course, if you need to go beyond the Registry basics, you might find any or all of these worthwhile. Unlike the Knowledgebase article, they're not free, but they go into much more depth:
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the above is an advertisement )-------------- 5) New Month--- New Drawing!It's a new month, and right now your chances are the best they'll ever be! To have a shot at winning a no-strings $30 Gift Certificate for any item at Amazon.Com--- books, software, hardware, kitchenware, toys, and more--- just use the following link to recommend the LangaList to a friend. Your friend just may find a new source of useful information; I just may gain a new subscriber; and you just may win a mini-shopping spree! (Full details also available via this link): http://www.langa.com/recommend.htm#2 The more times you make a recommendation, the greater your chances are of winning! Or, if you'd like to try to win $10,000(really!), try this link (full details also available here): http://www.langa.com/recommend.htm#1 Either way, thank you, and good luck! Click to
email this item to a friend 6) Another Way To Help Defrag (And More)Jerry Benton writes:
Indeed, it *is* useful; we covered EndItAll in a previous issue.( http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2000/2000-08-28.htm#7 ) We've also discussed "ShutDown Plus" ( http://www.langa.com/newsletters/1999/sept-30-99.htm#cool ) a commercial tool that can perform scheduled shutdowns for you--- even forced shutdowns that can bypass any apps that just don't want to close. Since those previous discussions, many other shutdown aids have been developed, including some interesting freeware apps. See for example, http://fileflash.com/index.aspx?action=search Any tool that reliably auto-closes running apps can be a nice addition to your late-night maintenance sweeps: Along with Task Scheduler, you can use these shutdown tools to make sure everything's closed before running defrag, scandisk, etc. Very useful! Click to
email this item to a friend 7) They Just Keep Coming And Coming and Coming...Well over a thousand of your fellow readers have "Loaded the code." Please click over to http://www.langa.com/code.htm and maybe you can join them! (If you've already "Loaded The Code" and are wondering if your site will appear here or on the Langa.Com web site, please see http://www.langa.com/link.txt ) Speaking of which: Here's another eclectic sample of reader sites--- some professional, some very personal:
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the above is an advertisement )-------------- 8) DIY "Restore CDs"Reader Mont Roberts wonders about creating the equivalent of OEM one-step "Restore CDs" on your own, with your own choice of files, setup, etc.:
Well, Autorun/autoplay works from inside Windows, and most disk-image restore apps have to work from DOS, so that's probably not a productive avenue to explore. Here's how I make 100% self-contained backups that have the restoration app AND the backup data all in one place: I use Drive Image (you could do something similar with Ghost) and create an image of the system on my hard drive, and then I burn a CD that contains that image PLUS the contents of the Drive Image DOS floppies. That way, the CD is a 100% self-contained backup that includes the restoration app and the backup data all in one place. Very convenient! It also ensures that my backup images always have the correct restore program and version right with them so that if I need to restore a file even years from now, I'll automatically have the correct tool at hand. Alternatively, DI4 can burn a CD directly (not saving the image to your hard drive first); and in this configuration, DI4 automatically makes the CD a bootable one, so you can get at the image files without even a boot floppy. But not all systems support booting from a CD, so I prefer the simple, straightforward approach of burning the CDs with both the image file and the contents of the DOS Restore floppies. That way works every time. Click to
email this item to a friend 9) Just For GrinsI don't usually include visual items in this space, but the item sent along by "George A" is too good to pass up. It's a truly wonderful re-working of three Microsoft OS products. You gotta see it to appreciate it. 8-) http://www.geocities.com/rcwoolley/ Click to
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the above is an advertisement )-------------- See you next issue! Best, Please recommend the LangaList to a friend! (And maybe win $10,000!I) An easier-to read formatted HTML version is available in the "Current Issue" section of http://www.langa.com. (The HTML version of each issue normally is available by 9AM EST [UT-5] of the issue date.) All past LangaList issues are also available at the Langa.Com site. Why are you getting this newsletter? This is a 100% OPT-IN newsletter: There are only three ways to get on the list--- signup via direct email request from you, or signup via the WinMag newsletter page or signup via BrowserTune's email-notification service. If you're getting this newsletter; your name came to me through one of those signup channels. At signup, you also received a confirmation email from my list software---no one is signed up secretly or against their will. SUBSCRIBE (it's free!): Create and send a new email address it to subscribe-langalist@lyris.dundee.net For even more content, downloads and special services, check out the LangaList Plus! Edition: http://www.langa.com/plus.htm UNSUBSCRIBE: From the same address you used to sign up with (it's shown on the first line in the body of each email issue you receive), create and send a new email address to unsubscribe-langalist@lyris.dundee.net . CHANGE ADDRESS? LIST TROUBLE? HAVE QUESTIONS? NEED HELP? See http://www.langa.com/help.htm About the advertisers: Langa Consulting LLC will never knowingly accept advertising for a fraudulent product, company or service. However, Langa Consulting LLC makes no implied or explicit warranty, recommendation or endorsement of or for the products, companies or services mentioned in the ads. Disclaimer: (Please see full disclaimer here: http://www.langa.com/legal.htm.) Abbreviated version: The tips and other information given in the newsletter are researched and are believed to be accurate, but we cannot and do not guarantee that all the information here will work on all systems, for all users, all the time. All information herein is offered as-is and without warranty of any kind. Neither Langa Consulting LLC, nor its employees nor contributors are responsible for any loss, injury, or damage, direct or consequential, resulting from application of any information presented here. This newsletter is a service of Langa Consulting LLC and is Copyright © 1997-2005Langa Consulting LLC. All rights reserved. LangaList: ISSN 1533-1156 |
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