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1) XPlosive!Wow! What a ton of email! It's always interesting to find a "hot button" topic, not only for the new information it turns up, but also for the feedback process itself. For example, in my initial review of XP ( http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2001/2001-10-29.htm ), I tried to stress that XP can indeed be better than Win9x--- more stable--- but that people are likely to run into more upgrade problems than Microsoft's half-billion-dollar ad campaign might lead you to think. Reader response was eye-opening: About 20% of reader mail was along the lines of "thanks for the balanced coverage." But about 40% was "why did you slam such a great OS?" and the other 40% was "why were you so gentle about this piece of crud OS?" It was an amazing split of reader reaction! In a way, the review seems to have been like a Rorschach test, where people infer intentions on my part that just weren't there: I wasn't trying to either be gentle *or* to slam the OS, but just to be accurate: XP can be good--- especially with new hardware and software--- but the older and more customized your setup, the more problems you're likely to encounter in an upgrade. Microsoft even tacitly acknowledges that a lot of would-be upgrades either won't work or won't work well: Just before XP was released at retail, the Microsoft KnowledgeBase gained this article: "How to Manually Remove Windows 2000 and Windows XP and Restore Windows 95/98" at http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q250/4/56.ASP . (Thanks to reader Gerry Vrbensky for digging out that item.) Clearly, a lot of upgraders are testing the XP waters, and wanting to go back. My own XPlorations continue: Once I replaced the network card on my ultra-simple testbed machine, XP ran fine there. But I still don't have it running right on my nearly-new, daily-use machine. After a full day of trying to get XP going properly, I'm convinced that this machine, as-is, simply isn't upgradable (even though that's what Microsoft recommends). A clean install will probably do better. I'll try that ASAP. Can XP work? Yes, absolutely. But it's not a magic bullet, and upgrading can be problematic. That's why--- especially given XP's high cost ($200 for the preferred "Pro" version)--- I suggest that if you're relatively happy with whatever OS you're now using, stay with it. Or, if you're unhappy with your current OS, try tuning/tweaking it, or even reinstalling it before you spring for a whole new OS. You'll find many tune/tweak/reinstall articles here: http://www.freetune.com/most_popular_pages.htm . If you do want to upgrade, that's fine: The newer and less customized your system is, the greater the chances your upgrade will go smoothly and that you'll like the results. Just be sure to use the pre-upgrade analysis tools listed in the last issue. And on new systems, of course, there's no issue with upgrading at all: XP should work fine. Once I get XP running on my main system here, I'll be able to present you some before-and-after performance test results, which should be very interesting. <g> Stay tuned! Click to email this item to a
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--------------( the above is an advertisement )-------------- 2) Broadband Follow-UpA few issues ago in an item called "Road Runner Cable Now Walking?" ( http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2001/2001-10-04.htm#2 ) I commented on how I'd seen a huge number of external probes showing up at my firewall of late. Many, many readers--- especially RoadRunner customers, but from many other cable modem customers, too--- reported seeing a similar increase in probes: I ended up getting almost 1,000 reader emails in all on the subject! A lot of the reader reports seem to be related to the late Summer/Early Fall spread of the Code Red and Nimda worms: The former tries to spread itself via port 80, and the latter--- although it spreads by email--- seeks out NETBIOS entry points. (See http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/codered.worm.html http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.nimda.a@mm.html and http://grc.com/codered/codered.htm ) But these weren't the source of the probes I was seeing, which were scattered across many ports. There was some clustering in and around the range of ports normally used by IRC clients, but I am NOT a user of any IRC or IRC-like software (IRC, ICQ, MSN Messenger, AIM...); I also disallow any attempts of such software to run/connect from my system. Several readers suggested it was the cable company doing a routine scan to see if I was violating the terms of service (such as by running a web server on my cable connection); or that the cable company was simply pinging me to see if it could release/recycle my IP address to some other customer if I was offline. Alas, the target ports and frequency of the probes suggests that neither of these explanations is correct. According to DShield.org ( http://www.dshield.org/topports.html ), which collects statistics on online attacks, the currently "most-probed" ports are 80 (http); 138 (netbios) 6346 (gnutella); 53 (domain); 21 (ftp), 111 sunrpc (U/Linux remote procedure call); 22 (ssh), 123 (ntp), 27374 (subseven trojan), 69 (tftp) and 25 (smtp [email]). However, all the above comprise only about 40% of attacks and probes; the other 60% of probes and attacks are distributed across all the remaining ports. Indeed, most of the weird probes I was getting fell into that "other" category. The number of probes I'm getting has fallen way off, so it may be moot. But it still was disturbing. Judging from the number of emails, many of you feel likewise! By the way, if you want to know more about what port goes with which type of Internet tool or application, these resources can help: Explanation of Ports 0 through 1023: Registered ports, 1024 through 4915: Dynamic and private ports, 49152 through 65535: Other Info Sources: Click to email this item to a
friend 3) Take Your PC Into The Shower?If you thought the "Dirty Mouse Ball" discussion was strange ( http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2001/2001-10-11.htm#1 ) you may find this even stranger: A company is applying a layer of insecticide to circuit boards to kill insects that get into PCs! http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,47361,00.html I personally think that simply keeping things clean in and around your PC is a simpler, better idea. But sometimes, accidents happen, especially with mice and keyboards: Coffee, sugar-laden soft drinks, food crumbs--- yuk! Here's something many people don't know: If you live in an area without a lot of minerals in your water, you can sometimes save keyboards, mice and other non-motorized electronica by thoroughly *washing* the device, as long as it's unpowered/unplugged before washing, and then and allowed to dry before re-use. (Writer Jerry Pournelle actually took a keyboard into the shower with him once... but that's another story.) You can use tap water that's not mineral-rich; or buy some distilled water and try that. Repeatedly submerge the unpowered/unplugged device: The water gets in (and out) via the same cracks and openings that the unwanted crud does. If you wash out the crud and then let the device totally and completely air-dry before plugging it back in, it probably will work fine, especially if the problem was caused by very fine particulates and soluble stuff. If you live in a humid area, you may wish to hasten drying (and forestall corrosion) by placing the device in an artificially warmed (not hot) or dehumidified area while it dries. And if, after thorough drying, things seem at all funky with the washed device, or if you have any doubts about the success of your cleaning, don't risk plugging it in: Just throw the device out. Common sense also applies: I wouldn't try to save a $2 mouse by washing it and then plugging it into a $2000 PC, for example. But I have washed old keyboards and successfully got them going again on old PCs. As with any repair, you need to make a rational judgment call about the risks and benefits. Washing keyboards, mice, or any electronics gear isn't a panacea--- in fact, it's a last resort. But if it's done carefully, it can sometimes work to resurrect hardware that's otherwise been ruined by spilled food, drink, or whatnot. Honest! 8-) Click to email this item to a
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--------------( the above is an advertisement )-------------- 4) Bookmarklets
Yes, Bookmarklets are cool, but no, most AV tools probably won't help a lot with them: Some might simply block execution of the script; others might help if a script contained a known virus, but would not be useful if a script wanted to (say) hijack your home page. But from what I saw, all the current Bookmarklets appear benign. Indeed, with simple scripts (and most Bookmarklets are very simple), the easiest way to verify their safety is actually to read the script. Even if you're not a programmer, you usually can figure out what the script does, at least roughly. And once you gain even a little familiarity with scripting, the scripts become quite simple to read. (As with normal human languages, programming language is often easier to read than to write. <g>) And if you want to dig further into scripting--- a very handy skill to have--- check out the myriad free scripting tutorials and references available online, such as these: http://www.google.com/search?q=javascript In any case, the Bookmarklets are clever, fun, and useful. Thanks for the pointer, Bryan! Click to email this item to a
friend 5) You Killed It! <g>In a recent issue, I mentioned a "list of lists" at http://www.gpick.net/gpick/default.asp . Alas, the site died--- apparently under the onslaught of so many LangaList readers stampeding there at the same time:
Content theft is a real issue: I find my stuff posted around the web, too; often with someone else's name/byline on it--- lifted wholesale from my site or newsletter, and repackaged as if it were their own. The people who do this sort of thing are truly lowlifes. But hopefully, the List of Lists will be back up soon--- and will remain theft-free. Thanks, for writing, David. Click to email this item to a
friend 6) It's a new month; new chances!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.recommend-it.com/l.z.e?s=143182 Either way, thank you, and good luck! Click to email this item to a
friend 7) Cool Linux Toy/ToolIf you're running Linux, you might be interested in what reader Cab Vinton calls a "very cool process-tracking app:"
Thanks, Cab. I wish they had a Windows version. 8-) Click to email this item to a
friend 8) They Loaded The CodeDo 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 ) Manually Browse All Posted-to-Date Sites
Starting At Free text messaging services Milam Studios Larson's Home Page Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10555 Colton Wayne Rogers LTA (Web) Designs Information for business and personal travel Pickl Chef Bill's Cajun Cooking Click to email this item to a
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Thanks, Stephen! Click to email this item to a
friend 10) Just For GrinsLarry Grannis writes:
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