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LangaList 2002-07-01 Please visit our sponsors and help keep the LangaList S.E. free!
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1) Automatically Back Up Your Device Drivers
Thanks, Adrian. I also tried it on Win98 and XP, and was surprised to see it work so smoothly on both OSes. Nice interface, too! What it does is grab the as-installed INF files and associated device drivers from your current system, and backs them up to a designated location. Later, if--- or when--- you need to reinstall your OS, you won't have to dig out the original disks or CDs when Windows says "New Device Detected." Instead, just point Windows to the backup location, and all the necessary INF and drivers files will already be there, ready to go. Cool! Click to email this item to a
friend 2) Eudora BonanzaEudora--- a non-Microsoft email client--- has a devoted following--- including me! I use Eudora's excellent email filtering to help manage the flood of mail I get every day. I also like the fact that's it's far more resistant to worms, viruses, and such, than is Outlook or Outlook Express. Another Eudora fan, reader "Justin," found an independent site that specializes in plug-ins and add-ons for Eudora:
Thanks, Justin! Click to email this item to a
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--------------( the above is an advertisement )-------------- 3) Another "Forgotten Treasure""Forgotten Treasure" is how this reader described a long-lost command-line tool he recently rediscovered:
Thanks, Art. It's amazing how some of computing's early tools still are useful today. Some basic tasks just don't change all that much over time. <g> Click to email this item to a
friend 4) Easier Way To Toggle Images in IEReader Klaus Hartnegg writes:
Thanks, Klaus! Click to email this item to a
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--------------( the above is an advertisement )-------------- 5) Scrambled BIOS
It means your BIOS is scrambled. The BIOS is the "Basic Input/Output System" built into every PC: It's "firmware" (software semi-permanently burned into a special, programmable chip) that runs as soon as you turn on your PC. It controls the system's most basic functions, and actually does the initial "booting" before the operating system does anything. The BIOS also contains information about the current date and time, and any special information about custom hardware components or settings in your system. The memory chip used to hold the BIOS code and information is often based on the CMOS electronic material--- "complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor." Hence, some people refer to the BIOS chip simply--- but somewhat inaccurately--- as "CMOS." In reality, CMOS what it's made of, not what it is. When the BIOS starts, one of the first things it does is use a mathematical technique to make sure the code it contains is OK. This is the "checksum." If the code doesn't pass the checksum test, the BIOS knows something is wrong, and tries to re-start using generic, but known-good default values. The generic values often can get you going again, but the system date and time may be wrong. Worse, you may have lost any hardware customization information you or your system vendor put into the BIOS; and worse still, whatever caused the BIOS to become scrambled in the first place may still be lurking in the background. Sometimes, a very bad crash or electrical spike can scramble a BIOS, but this is fairly rare. The most common cause of trouble is--- believe it or not--- a dead or dying battery inside your PC. A CMOS-based BIOS is a low-power device, but still needs a trickle of power to retain its settings. (The battery powers the system clock, too, which is usually part of the BIOS chip assembly.) When the battery inside your PC wears out (which it usually will in something like one to three years), the BIOS can "forget" its information, or the code can become scrambled. So, when you get a BIOS error message, the first thing to look for is a dead battery: Most PCs use a standard, coin-type battery mounted on the motherboard. There's nothing special at all about the PC battery; it's exactly the same kind found in watches, cameras, and other electronic devices, and you can buy a replacement almost anywhere batteries are sold: Just match the model number of the replacement to that of the installed battery, and use the same common-sense precautions you would when working on any electronic device. If a new battery doesn't do the trick, you may need to reprogram or replace the BIOS. You can reprogram the BIOS with special software you download from your system vendor's site (usually for free); you download and install a "BIOS Update" that's specific to your exact system type and model. If that doesn't work, you can buy a replacement BIOS either from the system vendor, or from one of several third-party BIOS vendors; they typically charge around $50 for a replacement chip. See http://www.google.com/search?q=replacement+bios Click to email this item to a
friend 6) New Month, New ChancesIt's a new month, and right now your chances are the best they'll ever be! 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) MVP Reader's XP Site
Thanks, Kelly. The "MVP" is a kind of award--- "Most Valued Professional"--- that Microsoft gives to select members of the Microsoft's peer-help online communities and newsgroups. "Kelly's XP Korner" is in that tradition of peer help, and has a ton of info and links relating to solving problems with XP. Check it out! Click to email this item to a
friend 8) More Reader Sites!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 ) Manually Browse All Posted-to-Date Sites Starting At Computer Building, Repair & Upgrades, Screensavers Angela's Home find keiko Mo's Musings Financial Planning - New Brunswick Canada The DesertLight Journal THE LLEWELLYN FAMILY What's Up Tuition Agency Windy Place Fund Your Future Time Travel (!) Click to email this item to a
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--------------( the above is an advertisement )-------------- ---- 9) "Hyperscore"
Wow! It's partly for kids, yes, but also for any non-musician. The main site at http://web.media.mit.edu/~egon/projects/hyperscore/ explains further:
It's an intriguing concept, and some of the performances are quite interesting to hear. Thanks, Marla! Click to email this item to a
friend 10) Just For GrinsFor me, vacation time (see next item) is always a good opportunity to reflect on jobs, careers, and such. So reader John Quist's submission seemed particularly germane:
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--------------( the above is an advertisement )-------------- 11) Summer Vacation Notice (PLEASE READ!)I'll be taking a brief summer break. Combined with the US Independence Day holiday and normal weekends, that means the next issue of this newsletter will arrive in your mailbox on July 22nd. See you then! Click to email this item to a
friend 12) Plus! Edition Highlights:
Today's LangaList Plus! Edition contains all ten items above, plus about 30% more content including: Another great use for older hardware using a (new to me) special version of Linux that fits on just one floppy, and acts as a router; more info on an amazing (and free) visual tool for tracking down space-hogging files and folders; and reader-recommended links for lots more information on creating custom views in Explorer. The Plus! Edition is just pennies per issue! See: http://www.langa.com/plus.htm Click to email this item to a
friend See you next issue, on July 22!
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