|
Please visit the LangaList Home Page Please note: Older issues may contain information that is now out of date. How To
Subscribe and Unsubscribe is at the end of this
note. Mailing List Trouble? See
http://www.langa.com/help.htm Please recommend the LangaList to a friend! (And maybe win $10,000 !) An easier-to read formatted
HTML version of this newsletter is available The
LangaList 2001-12-10 Please visit our sponsors and help keep the LangaList S.E. free!
--- ( Your Clicks On Ad Links Help Keep The LangaList Free! ) ---
--------------( the above is an advertisement )--------------
1) Mo' Betta TweaksAs usual, your fellow readers are a source of *great* information, and--- even though XP is brand-new--- some really good tips and tricks are showing up in the current InformationWeek Online "Ten Ways To Make Windows XP Run Better" article and the associated discussion:
There's lots more--- other reference sites, info on tuning XP's startup, resolving video problems, making the most of the "XP Transfer Wizard" that's supposed to lift your settings and software from one PC and install it on another--- tons of stuff. Whether you're using XP now or are just curious about some of the real-life problems it can cause and solutions it can offer, come check out the article at http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20011204S0009 and then join the free, ongoing discussion at http://www.informationweek.com/forum/Fred Langa . See you there! Click to email this item to a
friend 2) "Simple Boot Disk" Vs. Win98/ME "Startup Disk"In the last issue, I wrote about a pleasant discovery: Unlike WinME and Win2K, WinXP lets you easily make a simple, standard MS-DOS boot disk (see http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2001/2001-12-06.htm#2 ). A number of WinME users write to tell me I was wrong about that OS:
Well, not quite: Both WinME and Win98 let you make a "Startup Disk" via the Control Panel Add-Remove Software applet, but it's definitely not a "simple, standard MS-DOS boot disk." Instead, it comes pre-loaded with so much stuff that--- when you use it--- the Startup Disk has to create a RAM drive on which to store its files and tools. (A RAM drive is a pseudo-disk drive that exists solely in your computer's RAM.) Trouble is, the RAM drive occupies a drive letter, and in doing so, may re-shuffle your other drive letters, usually moving them down the alphabet one step. This can cause all kinds of confusion, and can break some automated DOS-level tools. For example, you or a utility may expect your CD to be at (say) "D:" but the Startup Disk may move it to E:, using D: for its own RAM drive. A plain-vanilla DOS boot disk doesn't mess things up. It just lets you start your system, period. It doesn't come pre-loaded with tools, but is instead a kind of blank slate on which you can put whatever tools *you* want, in just the way you want them. (Our series on "Save Your Butt With DOS" can help you
see why having a plain boot disk is so valuable, and also help you set one up.
See: Unlike WinME, Win98 also offers a simple alternative to the bloated, RAM-disk-equipped Startup Disk: Win98's standard Format command in Explorer gives you a simple way to create a basic, plain-vanilla boot disk (with just the system files). You also can use the command line FORMAT A: /SYS to format a floppy (in the A: drive, in this example) and to place the basic system files on it. Either way, you get a floppy that will start your PC; but that otherwise is empty, so you can add whatever DOS tools *you* wish. But that option went away in WinME. The only kind of boot disk WinME normally allows is that preloaded thing with the RAM drive. Yes, you can manually edit the disk (if you know what you're doing) to pare away the unnecessary stuff and to turn it into a simple boot disk: But that's a hassle. (This is what I meant in the last issue when I said "Neither Win2K nor WinME has the ability to create a simple, basic, DOS-based boot floppy unless you jump through hoops or do things in nonstandard ways.") XP restores the ability to make simple, plain-vanilla MS-DOS boot floppy--- one without a RAM disk, and that's not already loaded with stuff that Microsoft thinks you want. It once again gives you an easy way to gain control over your system at a low-level by building your own DOS-level toolkit, just the way you want it. But note: it is just plain old DOS--- like all other MS-DOS versions, it doesn't natively understand long file names, NTFS partitioning, and so on. For those options, see then next item. Click to email this item to a
friend --- ( Your Clicks On Ad Links Help Keep The LangaList Free! ) ---
--------------( the above is an advertisement )-------------- 3) More Elaborate Win2K, NT and XP Startup DisksXP, NT and Win2K all will let you create more complete startup floppy sets, but they're considerably more complex than the "simple DOS boot floppy" of the previous item. For example, this article, "Creating a Boot Disk for an NTFS or FAT Partition," works for XP itself: "Windows XP Setup Boot Disks" is geared specifically
towards booting a PC with the intent of installing XP from a CD: In Win2K, you can put your Win2K CD in the CD drive,
then go to Start/Run and type d:\bootdisk\makeboot a: (where d: is the drive
letter assigned to your CD-ROM drive), and then click OK: You'll need 4 floppies
in all to create the boot set.. "How to Create a Bootable Disk for an NTFS or FAT
Partition" may also help, if you have access to an NT-based system or have an NT
boot disk available to copy: You can find more with a search of the Microsoft KnowledgeBase; there are options for creating floppy sets for a wide range of conditions. But for simple, basic maintenance, I'll take a plain vanilla MS-DOS boot floppy any day. 8-) Click to email this item to a
friend 4) More On Removing Orphan DLLsA recent item ( http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2001/2001-11-26.htm#9 ) on ways to remove leftover scraps and orphaned files from your PC--- you know, the kind of digital dust-bunnies that seem to collect in the crevices of a Windows system--- prompted several good emails: Writing from Australia, Bert Blink says:
And Everette Jobe writes:
Thanks, Bert and Everette! Click to email this item to a
friend --- ( Your Clicks On Ad Links Help Keep The LangaList Free! ) ---
--------------( the above is an advertisement )-------------- 5) Make Yourself Immune to Email Changes*Any* ISP can go belly-up. This was demonstrated in a very forcible way with last week's demise and shutdown of the huge @Home system, which tossed something like 850,000 subscribers of @Home services out on their figurative ears. This huge number represents not only those who directly used various @Home-branded services, but also many who used third-party services (notably some portions of the AT&T Broadband Internet services, which ran over the @Home wires). Although most of these people got to a new ISP in relatively short order, almost all of them had to get new email addresses. It's a huge pain for all involved. The users have to tell all their correspondents of their new address--- and risk nondelivery of email in the meantime. And those who provide email-based services (like this newsletter!) have to contend with huge numbers of mail bounces and address-change requests. All of which prompted reader Tom Sherry to write:
It's a very good idea. With a domain of your own, your email address exists independently of any particular ISP or web host. For example, "Langa.Com" has moved to a number of different web hosts over the years; I've moved my family and business from one geographic region to another; and I've changed ISPs and services, using dial-up, ISDN and cable at various points: But my email has always stayed the same: Fred@Langa.Com If you depend on email, having a stable, unchanging address is a real plus, whether for personal or business use. And having your own domain doesn't have to be expensive. For a basic domain and web site, the cost can be literally just a few bucks a month. The free articles at http://content.techweb.com/winmag/library/1997/1101/analy025.htm and http://content.techweb.com/winmag/specreps/feats/2000/webhosting/default.htm can get you started towards making your own email address all but immune to the kinds of forced changes that 850,000 of your fellow online denizens just went through. Check 'em out! Click to email this item to a
friend 6) Is This Information Useful?If you think the LangaList is a worthwhile read, maybe a friend would find it useful too! Just use the following link to recommend the LangaList---your friend may find a new source of useful information and you just may win $10,000 for your trouble (full details also available via this link): http://www.recommend-it.com/l.z.e?s=143182 Or, win a no-strings $30 Gift Certificate for any item at Amazon.Com--- books, software, hardware, kitchenware, toys... and more. (Full details also available via this link): http://www.langa.com/recommend.htm Either way, thank you, and good luck! Click to email this item to a
friend 7) Access 1400 Search Engines, Worldwide
Wow, what a list! Almost 1400 search engines from 174 countries. There are engines listed in places where I didn't think they even had internet access. <g> Thanks, Rick! 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 1700+ 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 Manually Browse All Posted-to-Date Sites Starting At Bashrox - amateur geology and rockhounding Sugarz Presti's Place (turn down your speakers...) Australian Stock whips Taking it 2 the web (design) 212TH Sentry Dog Handlers Internet service to small businesses Tech Q&A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA VOYAGERS weiss barber supply Click to email this item to a
friend --- ( Your Clicks On Ad Links Help Keep The LangaList Free! ) ---
--------------( the above is an advertisement )-------------- 9) "Tweaker Maniac" Strikes Again <g>This note speaks entirely for itself:
George's note actually goes on with many more tips--- more than I can fit. To get it all, check out his amazing site at http://members.aol.com/axcel216/ Thanks, George! Click to email this item to a
friend 10) Just For GrinsFrom Canada, Jon Lutzen-Askew offers some additional, er, nonstandard words and definitions:
Click to email this item to a
friend --- ( Your Clicks On Ad Links Help Keep The LangaList Free! ) ---
--------------( the above is an advertisement )-------------- 11) Plus! Edition Highlights
Today's LangaList Plus! Edition contains all ten items above, plus about 30% more content including: a detailed example of you how can track down the name, address, phone number, and email of the responsible parties behind any site or ISP; a free encryption tool--- optimized for email--- that's purportedly much easier to use than PGP; and an unusual ISP that could be great as a backup, or when you're on the road, because you pay only for what you use, with no recurring charges. Plus! Edition info: http://www.langa.com/plus.htm Click to email this item to a
friend 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. UNSUBSCRIBE: From the same email account you
used to sign up with), send an email to |
|
|
Please visit the LangaList Home Page |