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The LangaList
Standard Edition

2001-05-24

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!

Contents:

1) MS Word Security Problem
2) How'd I Miss This One?
3) Download Forcer Dead?
4) No LangaList Monday (National Holiday)
5) Another Overzealous Mail Filter
6) Karen Kenworthy's Software Archives Now Live
7) Last Week To Enter May's FREE Book Drawing
8) Free: Remove "System Restore" From WinME
9) They Loaded The Code
10) More "Must Have" Tools
11) Just For Grins
12) Clone A Hard Drive For Free; Easy Links To Win98 Resource Kit, Reprogrammed BIOSes (Cheap!)

For even more content, downloads and special services,
check out the LangaList Plus! Edition: http://www.langa.com/plus.htm

 

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1) MS Word Security Problem

Microsoft Word for Windows and the Mac (Word 97, Word 2000, Word 98 (J), Word 98 for the Mac, Word 2001 for the Mac) *all* share the same problem:

A malicious person can link an innocuous-looking RTF (rich-text format) document to a template containing a hostile macro that (in turn) could do almost anything on your system. (Sigh.)

This is a disturbing problem because exchanging files in RTF normally avoids all kinds of security and compatibility problems. (I, for one, never use the native DOC format, and always save and share my files in RTF.)

Although this problem isn't likely to be common--- most RTF documents are exchanged without any templates--- it has the potential to cause trouble, especially in networked environments where it would be relatively easy to embed a live link to a local template.

In any case, if you use any of the affected versions of Word, or if you want more info, see: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS01-028.asp

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2) How'd I Miss This One?

Somehow, a great web site slipped through the cracks. I know I *used* to have this site bookmarked, and even downloaded some of the freeware there, but along the way, I lost track of it. Duh!

Fortunately,  several readers reminded me of "ToniArts:" The site has a ton of free and excellent software, but the specific tool readers wrote in about was "EasyCleaner," a Registry- and disk-maintenance tool that's cool and powerful.

So, along with the other Registry tools mentioned in "How Much Reg Cleaning Is Enough?" ( http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2001/2001-05-21.htm#1 ) be sure to check out EasyCleaner ( http://www.toniarts.com/ecleane.htm ) and the other freeware at ( http://www.toniarts.com/ )

Thanks to all who wrote in!

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3) Download Forcer Dead?

Sometimes, the good guys win one.

In "New Threat #2" ( http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2001/2001-05-21.htm#4 ) I told you about "The Download Forcer," a malevolent tool that web site owner can use to try to force software to download and install on your PC against your wishes.

The Download Forcer's site was live when I wrote the issue (I check all links when each newsletter is created), but a few hours after the issue came out, the site was blocked with a "You are not authorized to view this page" message. Either the site owners scampered back under the rock from which they came, or their web host/ISP shut them down.

It's probably only a temporary victory because stuff like this always has a way of coming back. But at least for now, we're safe from this malicious software.

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4) No LangaList Monday (National Holiday)

Due to the US national "Memorial Day" holiday Monday May 28th, there'll be no LangaList issue that day. Regular publication will resume on May 31st.

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5) Another Overzealous Mail Filter

Email filters are mostly a good thing, but man, when they're implemented wrong--- or written wrong!--- they're such a hassle.

For example, "Scanmail," the "Trend SMEX Content Filter," routinely reports that its "Content filter has detected a sensitive e-mail" when there's absolutely nothing wrong with the message. Still, it quarantines the email, and the recipient never gets to see what it blocked.

But Scanmail is only one. For example, with all our recent discussions of file renaming, I've gotten a bunch of bounce-backs in the form of:

From Administrator@[some domain]
Subject Rejected Message

The attached mail message has been rejected for the following reason:
Body contains word(s)/phrase(s) 'rename'

Additional Information
none

How stupid is that? Even the mere, innocuous use of the word "rename" in plain text, within the body of a message--- not as part of an attachment or anything--- is enough to send this unnamed mail filter into a blind panic.

I wonder how many emails are improperly blocked each day by overzealous filters like that. Of course, the irony is that the people whose mail is being blocked will never see this, or similar items. They'll have no clue that some piece of software has decided, a priori, what they can and cannot see. Sheesh.

If you or your business use an email filter, you might want to check the settings from time to time, just to avoid this kind of silliness.

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6) Karen Kenworthy's Software Archives Now Live

One by one, your favorite former WinMag writers are restarting their newsletters and re-offering their software and services.

Karen Kenworthy--- author of the "PowerTools" series--- has just started her new newsletter, and has re-stocked and revamped her website with all her popular freeware tools.

Her current newsletter is at http://www.karenware.com/newsletters/2001/2001-05-22.asp

Her WinMag-related page is at http://www.karenware.com/winmag.asp ; that page lists all where you can find all your favorite WinMag writers.

And all her Power Tools are available (hooray!) as follows:

Window Watcher - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptwinwatch.asp
Autorun.inf Editor - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptautorun.asp
Computer Profiler - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptprofile.asp
Power Toy - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/pttoy.asp
Cookie Viewer - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptcookie.asp
'Net Monitor - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptnetmon.asp
Version Browser - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptbrowse.asp
Disk Slack Checker - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptslack.asp
Directory Printer - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptdirprn.asp
Countdown Timer II - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptcount2.asp
Registry Pruner - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptpruner.asp
URL Discombobulator - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptlookup.asp
Registry Ripper - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptripper.asp
Font Explorer - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptfonts.asp
Snooper - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/pwsnoop.asp
Countdown Timer - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptcount.asp
Alarm Clock - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptalarm.asp
Print Logger - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptprnlog.asp
Mailer - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptmailer.asp
Drive Info - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptdinfo.asp
Clipboard Viewer - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptclpvue.asp

If you have questions about her newsletter, site, or tools, please go to Karen's site for more info.

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7) Last Week To Enter May's FREE Book Drawing

On May 31, I'll choose another monthly winner of a no-strings $30 Gift Certificate for any item at Amazon.Com--- books, software, hardware, kitchenware, toys... To have a shot at winning, 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 $30 shopping spree! (Full details also available via this link): http://www.langa.com/recommend.htm

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(!), try this link (full details also available here):
http://www.recommend-it.com/l.z.e?s=143182

Either way, thank you, and good luck!

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8) Free: Remove "System Restore" From WinME

Reader Harrie Kisters, a Windows ME user, writes:

Hi Fred, I found a side that has a free tool to uninstall System Restore from Windows ME, and it's easy to use! http://defsoft.iwarp.com/  is the link to the site; by the way the side is also very nicely made (flash). The filename to download is SRPsetup.exe about 300Kb.

Thanks, Harrie!

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9) They Loaded The Code

Do you have a home page or website? (It doesn't matter what size.) Please click over to http://www.langa.com/code.htm , and maybe you can join the hundreds and hundreds of LangaList readers who have "Loaded the Code!" (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/randomlink.htm

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

Willy's Wicks (Candles)
http://www.willyswicks.com/welcome.htm

CPA Firm (Biloxi, MS)
http://www.pwlcpa.com/

Holidays In the South of France
http://www.rivierafrance.co.uk/

Couchie.Com
http://www.couchie.com/

Gaming Goodness
http://www.geocities.com/aegean134/

Arnold's Home Page
http://www.geocities.com/aoboza/

Balanced Information Technologies
http://members.home.net/bi.tech/

Soddy-Daisy 10-U Undertakers
http://www.eteamz.com/sdundertakers/

The Feeble Voice of Sanity
http://omarserenity.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard/ikonboard.cgi

Professional web site design in Sydney Australia
http://www.kerbsidesignage.com

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10) More "Must Have" Tools

Charly (a.k.a. Mazeracer) writes:

I noticed the reference to WAssociate in the latest issue ("A "Must Have" Free Tool For Advanced Users" at http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2001/2001-05-03.htm#4 ) and thought to share a few more...

OpenExpert is now free at http://www.baxbex.com/ox2.html  and may be easier to use.

Another freebie worth a look is Resplendent's Registrar Lite http://www.resplendence.com/registry/reglite.htm and some users might want to upgrade.

Also see the demo for Resplendent's "Associator".

All of these require (imho) more knowledge of the Registry than most folks bother with. Power Users will have no problems, but my favorite method of dealing with file associations is a $10 solution from MediaComm Software called "Desktop Referee". It simply gives you the option of Keeping or Rejecting any new associations made by loading new software. That's far from a complete description...I highly recommend the demo at http://mc1soft.com/ .

Thanks!

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11) Just For Grins

Reader "Always" sends along these "Windows 2000 error messages:"

1. Enter any 11-digit prime number to continue.
2. Press any key to continue or any other key to quit.
3. Press any key except... no, No, NO, NOT THAT ONE!
4. Bad command or file name! Go stand in the corner.
5. This will end your Windows session. Do you want to play another game?
6. Windows message "Error saving file! Format drive now? (Y/Y)"
7. This is a message from God Gates "Rebooting the world. Please log off."
8. To "shut down" your system, type "WIN"
9. BREAKFAST.SYS halted... Cereal port not responding.
10. COFFEE.SYS missing... Insert cup in cup holder and press any key.
11. File not found. Should I fake it? (Y/N)
12. Bad or missing mouse. Spank the cat? (Y/N)
13. Runtime Error 6D at 417A32CF Incompetent User.
14. Error reading FAT record. Try the SKINNY one? (Y/N)
15. WinErr 16547 LPT1 not found. Use backup. (PENCIL & PAPER.SYS)
16. User Error. Replace user.
17. Windows VirusScan 1.0 - "Windows found. Remove it? (Y/N)"
18. Your hard drive has been scanned and all stolen software titles have been deleted. The police are on the way.

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Need Answers about
Windows 98, ME, NT, 2000?

Check out computer-related books personally recommended
by Fred Langa and available at Amazon.Com's deepest discounts!

http://www.langa.com/books.htm

<a href="http://www.langa.com/books.htm">AOL Users Click Here</a>

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12) Easy Links To Win98 Resource Kit,  Reprogrammed BIOSes (Cheap!), Clone A Hard Drive For Free

Today's LangaList Plus! Edition contains all 11 items above, plus about 30% more content including: two versions of an extensive list of links to a free online version of the Windows98 Resource Kit, including links for a web-viewable version and a printer-friendly version; a way to get a fried BIOS reprogrammed and working again, inexpensively; and a cool way to clone a hard drive (moving the total contents from one drive to another) for free! Plus! Edition info: http://www.langa.com/plus.htm 

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See you next issue (May 31st)!

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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