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The LangaList
Standard Edition

2001-03-01

A Free Email Newsletter from Fred Langa
That Helps You Get More From Your Hardware, 
Software, and Time Online

Please visit our sponsors and help keep the LangaList S.E. free!

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1) Vendors Want A Piece Of Your CPU

A lot of people are up in arms, outraged by the new business practices described in "Peer-To-Peer's Dark Side" at http://www.byte.com/column/BYT20010222S0004 .That article is about Juno (the giant ISP) inventing and implementing a new kind of business model whereby they can take over their customers' CPUs in an aggressive and stealthy manner (using a kind of "peer to peer," or "P2P" technology), and sell their users's aggregate computing power to third parties.

You might be tempted to blow this off with the thought "Hey, Juno's a free ISP, and people who use it deserve what they get."

Or you might say: "I don't use Juno. Why does this affect me?"

Here's why: Think about how many software updates you routinely install over the course of a year. Worse, think of the auto-updaters you probably use for your OS, your office suite, your anti-virus definitions. It would be incredibly simple for ANY software vendor to add a Juno-like P2P component into its next update download. The thinking might go like this:

"Let's see. If we slip a P2P component into our next software update, adjust our Terms of Service to make it--- like Juno's--- all retroactively mandatory, legal and risk-free for us, then we can build a distributed supercomputing network at our customers' risk and expense."

And you might not even know that P2P software had been installed on your system ... until your system maintenance no longer worked (because there were no idle times when it would kick in); or when your or your business' own P2P projects got derailed because something else was already sopping up all the spare CPU cycles. Then there's the extra wear and tear on the system, the electricity consumed by systems that never go into sleep mode. ... Well, you get the idea.

Your firewall won't help, because the P2P component will be part of some other trusted app that you normally allow to have internet access: You can't block one without the other.

People, this is a Bad Thing, with capital B and T. Today, it's Juno. Tomorrow it could be ANY software vendor.

I'm getting a ton of email on this; readers have started posting in the discussion area; and other web sites have started picking up on the thread, expanding the circle of information.  Stealth/forced P2P is a *spectacularly* bad idea: You need to know about it, and soon! Please click over to http://www.byte.com/column/BYT20010222S0004 for the full scoop.

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2) Feedback Re: The Ads

Thousands of you responded positively to last issue's discussion of the economics of "free" newsletters, and how your visits to, and patronage of, advertiser sites are what make it all possible. Thank you!

No, not everyone was happy: A vocal minority of readers opined that everything should be free, and that I should just eat the costs of publishing the newsletter and shut up. Several even went to far as to say (I'll paraphrase and expurgate) "All this commercial crud should go away so the net can go back to being free the way it used to be." That sentiment was eye-opening because, of course, the net was *never* free. Rather, when it was small and used mostly by academics, it was funded by governments (mostly the US Government, which is to say, US taxpayers) and by various colleges and universities. The idea that servers and routers and cables--- and the use thereof and content thereon--- was ever truly "free" shows an astonishingly naive view of the world. Someone else was paying all along, but this myopic minority never figured that out. (And they still haven't.) Amazing! 

It also was amazing to me--- and embarrassing--- that "advertising.com" (the ad-service responsible for processing many of the URLs in past newsletters) handled the influx of clicks very poorly and (IMHO) very unprofessionally. As a result, many of you got broken links when you tried to visit sponsor sites. (Sigh.) For whatever inconvenience this caused you, I apologize.

The ads in this issue (such as the one directly above this item) are from new advertisers and new sources. (A note to webmasters and site owners: I'll never use advertising.com again, and if you have a website of your own, I recommend you avoid 'em too and save yourself some ugly hassles.)

Nonetheless, the ad links in *this* issue should all work fine, and the advertisers--- and I--- appreciate your checking out what they have to offer. Many thanks for your attention!

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3) A Free "Go Back" or "System Restore" Tool

Last week I rebuilt my office LAN almost from the ground up, and was trying a number of iterations of various configurations to see what would work best for the mongrel mix of systems I have here.

Normally, networking stuff is deep in the guts of a system, and once you've changed network settings, it's sometimes hard to reverse them completely One example: Once you've used the "Users" tool in Win98's Control Panel to create a private logon (necessary for some kinds of networking setups, and also useful when more than one person is using a shared PC), it's almost impossible to easily *UN*do the User setting: You can be left with a nagging, vestigial logon prompt at reboot, even if you whacked the user settings and changed the networking logon selections.

I needed a way to let me make networking changes, and then undo them reliably, completely and more rapidly than a system restore or rebuild.

There are many commercial and freeware tools--- things like Go Back or WinME's System Restore or Win98's own ScanReg--- but I was (1) in a hurry and (2) needed something I could dissect and modify and thus be 100% sure of *exactly* what system components I was and was not backing up (no all-in-a-lump . Cab files, for example).

I found the simple answer in the LangaList archives at http://www.langa.com/newsletters/1999/nov-1-99.htm#backup . It's a pair of batch files by reader Bill Korbet. I modified them as follows (note that if you're reading this in text email, some lines may have wrapped: If you're not sure, see the version on the web site to see correct formatting).

This file backs up the Registry and several other critical files to a directory called "C:\registry":

C:
cd \
if not exist registry md registry
c:\windows\command\attrib -R -H c:\WINDOWS\USER.DAT
c:\windows\command\attrib -R -H c:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.DAT
if exist c:\registry\user.dat c:\windows\command\attrib -r -h c:\registry\user.dat
if exist c:\registry\system.dat c:\windows\command\attrib -r -h c:\registry\system.dat
COPY c:\WINDOWS\USER.DAT c:\registry\user.dat
COPY c:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.DAT c:\registry\system.dat
COPY c:\WINDOWS\WIN.INI c:\registry\win.ini
COPY c:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.INI c:\registry\system.ini
COPY c:\WINDOWS\PROTOCOL.INI c:\registry\protocol.ini
c:\windows\command\attrib +R +H c:\WINDOWS\USER.DAT
c:\windows\command\attrib +R +H c:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.DAT
c:\windows\command\attrib +r +h c:\registry\user.dat
c:\windows\command\attrib +r +h c:\registry\system.dat
if exist c:\config.sys COPY C:\CONFIG.SYS c:\registry\config.sys
if exist c:\autoexec.bat COPY C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT c:\registry\autoexec.bat

This file restores everything saved by the first file:

CLS
@echo Run this in full DOS (clean boot or Safe Mode Command Prompt) ONLY!
@echo.
Pause
CLS
c:
cd\
if not exist c:\registry\*.* goto error
c:\windows\command\attrib -R -H c:\WINDOWS\USER.DAT
c:\windows\command\attrib -R -H c:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.DAT
c:\windows\command\attrib -r -h c:\registry\user.dat
c:\windows\command\attrib -r -h c:\registry\system.dat
copy c:\registry\user.dat c:\WINDOWS\USER.DAT
copy c:\registry\system.dat c:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.DAT
copy c:\registry\win.ini c:\WINDOWS\WIN.INI
copy c:\registry\system.ini c:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.INI
copy c:\registry\protocol.ini c:\WINDOWS\PROTOCOL.INI
copy c:\registry\config.sys C:\CONFIG.SYS
copy c:\registry\autoexec.bat C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT
c:\windows\command\attrib +R +H c:\WINDOWS\USER.DAT
c:\windows\command\attrib +R +H c:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.DAT
c:\windows\command\attrib +r +h c:\registry\user.dat
c:\windows\command\attrib +r +h c:\registry\system.dat
pause
CLS
@echo Done. Please reboot now.
goto end
:error
echo No restore files found.
:end

Bill's original version contained more warnings and safeguards, and would be better for novices--- although novices probably shouldn't be diddling with the Registry in the first place. <g> And as with all system changes, it's best to have a full backup before you do anything at all. 

That said, the above files are infinitely modifiable to save (or omit) whatever you want in whatever location you want, and by whatever names you want. Just copy and paste the above to your C:\ directory, edit each as desired, and name them whatever you want (with a .BAT file extension, such as rbackup.bat and rrestore.bat). 

Whenever you're about to make changes to system settings, boot to DOS and run the first batch file. Then run Windows normally and make your changes. If the changes don't work out and you can't fully undo them by normal means, boot to DOS and run the second batch file to put the system settings back the way they were. Simple! (And certain--- and free!)

Thanks again, Bill!

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4) More Free Tools You May Already Have

Reader John Collins did some digging after our discussion of "Cool Tools" ( http://content.techweb.com/winmag//columns/explorer/2001/05.htm ) and turned up this way to speed reinstalls of Windows. It's also not a novice-friendly tool, but if you find yourself setting up Windows the same way over and over, it can be a major time saver:

Hey Fred: All of this discussion on system restorations and the like sparked my memory on something I read about in  "Windows 98 Registry For Dummies" by Glenn E. Weadock & Mark B Wilkins [available via http://www.langa.com/books.htm ]. It's an interesting little program that comes on the standard Windows98 cd. It's called 'Batch98.' You can use it to create a customized Windows Installation for quicker installs. It even lets you predefine the Product Key! Here's how I do it

Stick in your Windows cd. Open Windows Explorer (Start->Run->type "Explorer" (omit quotes). Copy the contents of the Windows cd to a folder on your hard drive (I recommend creating a folder on C called 'customwin'.

Next, get Batch98 on your computer. There are two ways:

1. From the 'Start' menu, select "Run" and type in the following

D:\tools\reskit\batch\setup (note that if your cd-rom drive is a different letter other than "D:", you should substitute it)

2. Download the file from Microsoft at http://download.microsoft.com/download/win98/whitpapr/1/W9X/EN-US/batch98.exe , and then run the .exe that you just downloaded.

Now follow the on-screen instructions and you can create your very own installation script! When you're done, click "Save Settings To INF" button and save the INF file in the directory with the Windows files.

Now copy the folder onto a cd. If the cd is bootable, then when you install Windows again from the cd, it will run the INF file you created....and customize your entire Windows install! This can reduce Windows install time by as much as 22 minutes!!!

There's also another advanced utility called the INF installer that lets you automate the installation of INF files...so you could give Windows more drivers than it comes with standard...it's a bit more complex to use and is slightly advanced, so I'd recommend not using this unless you know what you're doing. But it's located at "\tools\reskit\infinst" on the Windows98 CD. Here is a list of links as well...that dig up the information from the MS Knowledgebases regarding the whole bit

A list parameters for custom Batch98 scripts: http://www.microsoft.com/TechNet/win98/Reskit/Part7/wrkappd.asp 

A list of all files on the Win98 cd http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q238/7/30.ASP (change the 30 to a 20-something for previous pages)

The Microsoft Technet site (lots of information) http://www.microsoft.com/technet/ 

Keep up the great work! I love the Plus! Version!

Awesome, John. Thanks! 

Most people don't know that there's an entire collection of Resource Kit tools hidden on on the CD of every full, retail copy of Windows 98. You can get the full scoop at: http://content.techweb.com/winmag//library/1998/1101/fea0068.htm and http://bbs.winmag.com/columns/archives/1998/072698/monday/body.asp 

And for even more goodies, see "The Coolest Windows Tools" at http://content.techweb.com/winmag//columns/explorer/2001/05.htm 

It's amazing how much good stuff there is right at your fingertips, once you know where to look!

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5) CacheMan 4 Arrives

We've talked about Cacheman many times before ( http://search.atomz.com/search/?sp-q=cacheman&sp-a=0008002a-sp00000000 ): It's a free tool that helps you experiment with various settings for Windows' disk cache: The idea is to help prevent excessive swapping of data from RAM to disk and back again, and thus improve performance.

It's not a panacea, and Windows' default settings are fine for many people. But Cacheman makes it incredibly easy to try different settings--- a couple clicks and a reboot, and you're done. If you're an inveterate tweaker (as am I!) you'll probably love Cacheman.

In the new version 4, "...the GUI has been redesigned and offers customizable monitoring functions and history graphs for memory, disk cache, swap file and GDI resources. The help file has been greatly improved so even novice users can learn more about the Disk Cache subject.... Cacheman is a utility which tweaks the Disk Cache settings of Windows 95/98/ME. It helps prevent frequent swapping of the data to hard drive resulting in an improved performance, system reaction time and even stability. Besides this Cacheman corrects also generic problems on systems with more than 512MB of RAM."

Want to check it out? See: http://www.outertech.com/news.php?news=1&PHPSESSID=dee7a6b3107beef0670c1dbfcd80426a  

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6) New Month--- New Winner!

Yesterday, I selected a random winner from all those who used the "recommend" form at Langa.Com. (Once I get a confirmation back from that person, I'll tell you their name.)

But now it's a new month, and 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!

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7) A CD That Holds 1,000 Gigabytes?

In "CD vs DVD For Backups" (see http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2001/2001-02-26.htm#5), we discussed the likely long shelf- and production life of today's CD format, making CD-R a reasonable choice for backups--- especially if you include the tool you need to restore the CD contents on the CD along with the backed-up data!

Reader John Lefebvre found a very interesting site that's taking an old idea--- 3-Dimensional data storage, instead of the usual 2D storage--- and pushing it to amazing extremes:

Fred, Check out this web site. They're working on a new CD format that has capacity to hold up to 1.4 TB per CD. [A terabyte is 1,000 Gigabytes!] So much for DVD format...

The new drives will be backward-compatible. The technology is very similar to current. They're starting up production later this year through 3rd party means.

Other results of this technology 'Smart cards' for digital cameras holding 10GB. Imagine your PalmPilot having this much.

http://www.c-3d.net/  

There's a White Paper to download at the following page. 

http://www.c-3d.net/tech_frameset.html 

Thanks, John. The idea of using multiple optical layers or "platters" inside a  CD isn't new, but these guys are talking about having as many as 100 separate layers within a single CD. Amazing!

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8) 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:

View A Randomly-Chosen Reader Site
http://www.langa.com/cgi-local/rand_link.pl  

Manually Browse All Posted-to-Date Sites Starting At
http://www.langa.com/readersites.htm  

A Guide To High Speed Internet Access
http://www.browsebest.com/ 

Psychopharmacology Consulting
http://www.jerrycott.com/ 

Emerald Hill Rat Terriers
http://www.cstone.net/~emeraldhill/

This N That
http://members.tripod.com/dedsie/

Boomer's (as in Baby-Boomer's) Digest
http://www.boomersdigest.com/index.html

"A Place of No Importance" (Canadian personal homepage)
http://members.home.net/rbonnell/

Jigs and Flies
http://www.bigdaddye.com/

Bob Leigh's Home Page (Massachusetts)
http://www.theworld.com/~bobleigh/index.shtml

SnortWorld (tech discussions and info)
http://snortworld.bla-bla.com/cgi-dir/Ultimate.cgi

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9) Just For Grins

Ray Terry sends along this list:

Truisms to Live By...

If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried.
A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.
Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
For every action, there is an equal and opposite criticism.
He who hesitates is probably right.
Never do card tricks for the group you play poker with.
Success always occurs in private, and failure in full view.
The colder the X-ray table, the more of your body is required on it.
The hardness of the butter is proportional to the softness of the bread.
The severity of the itch is proportional to the reach.
Don't sweat petty things...or pet sweaty things.
Hell hath no fury like the lawyer of a woman scorned.
Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of checks.

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See you next issue!

Best,

Fred

(fred@langa.com)

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.

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Administrivia:

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.

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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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