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The LangaList
Standard Edition

2002-12-05

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

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1) Lindows Feedback

(Quick refresher: Lindows is a commercial version of Linux that looks and feels very much like Microsoft Windows. Although Lindows is based on Linux, it can run a lot of software that's written for Microsoft Windows!)

As I describe in full at http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20021127S0017 , Lindows 3.0 installed and ran fine for me; I could even set up and use the standard Windows version of Microsoft Office 2000 on Lindows.

Many readers had similar experiences. For example:

Fred, I have been a Beta tester from the start!  I too was skeptical, especially when the first version came out, (v0.90), it WOULD NOT install on my laptop. I email my input to the Lindows Tech Team, and I was pleasantly surprised that I go an immediate response and a FIX. The next day I was up and running! :) Except for my Linux Server, Lindows is running on ALL of my PC's, and I have not once had a BSOD (Blue Screen Of Death). I will NEVER return to Windows again! -Ted Mieske

Hi from Canberra, Australia. I have been using Lindows for three months. It installed with no hassle on a 350mhz Pentium II with 128 meg ram. It resides on HDD2, HDD1 has win98Se. At boot time I am offered which OS I want. Click& Run was flaky under Lindows 1 but os2 seems much better. The ability to run windows programs is not really there but the CNR warehouse has all the software I need. I connect via a WIN98 box with a 56k modem running ICS and have no hassles with downloading. The OS automatically updates generally within 5min. If I can find software to run my creative DXR 3 dvd card I will delete windows off the box as I only need windows now to view DVD's in the bedroom. Although the exchange rate meant I had to pay almost $250.00 Aus $ to get the Lindows subscription plus CS mailed tome I think that this is great value. I hope that M$oft does not buy it out <g> May more people try it --- Graham Upshall

But other readers had nothing but headaches:

Dear Fred: Bought and tried to install Lindows 2.0 with disastrous results. Following directions for installing along side Windows ME I found that the option to do that was grayed out. I contacted Lindows customer care for help and was informed I had a bad burn on my iso so I re-did it with the same results. I called again and they suggested an installation method using the customized installation option. Following their directions caused me to wipe out Windows so I could not use my common windows programs. The only way to uninstall it was to reformat and reinstall Windows ME. I did this and restarted my machine and lo and behold up came the Lindows opening screen locking up my machine. The format had not remove it from the boot record. I had to go to fdisk to remove it and reformat again and start all over. I then got a refund. --- Dave

Last week, I sent for Lindows version 2. I got a CD Disc from them so as
to ensure no downloading problems. I also selected to install Lindows side-by-side with Windows 98 on both machines. I got the same results on both computers. Lindows said the program has been installed. The "installation" took a total of about 15 seconds. Lindows was supposed to install a menu that would pop up every time I powered up and I could select either Windows or Lindows. No such menu was ever created. There was absolutely no way I could find to run Lindows. I examined all newly created sub directories due to Lindows "install". It created a total of 3 sub directories with 2 of them empty or almost empty. The one that had some data was just a dozen or so files with some of my system data in them. One file was just a listing of some of my internet stuff. I deleted and retried reinstalls for hours but always the same.  I have not tried to install it on a "clean" hard disk, but as for existing along with Windows, it don't work! If Lindows is "real" and not a myth, it damned sure is not ready for release, for installation on home PCs, by the masses! ---charlie

In all, the reader replies are fascinating reading. You'll find many more in the Listening Post discussion area: http://www.informationweek.com/forum/Fred Langa, letting you see how your fellow readers fared with the controversial OS, so you can get a feel for how it behaves not in a lab setting, but when installed and used on normal systems by normal users.

For context, you can get up to speed on Lindows 3.0--- what it is, what it does, and how compatible (or not!) it still is with Windows applications; and how and why it's changed from the previous versions--- in the article posted at http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20021127S0017 .

Please check out the article and then join in the discussion. If you've used Lindows or any other Linux distribution, please see what your fellow readers have to say, and then add your comments. Or, if you're just thinking about Linux or Lindows, or any alternative to Windows, come check out the additional information in those reader posts to get the broader picture provided by many contributing viewpoints. Join in!

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2) Update to DirectX & DirectPlay

Reader "CptSiskoX," a frequent source of great tips and early heads-up info, was first to sound the alert about a new version of DirectX and DirectPlay combined in a single download for Windows 98/ME/2000/XP.

If you've had trouble with the earlier versions of DirectX/DirectPlay, this new one may help. But if the earlier versions are working fine for you--- that is, if you've never really encountered "DirectX" or "DirectPlay" issues--- it'd be better to skip this version, as it cannot be uninstalled.

More info and download link:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/release.asp?ReleaseID=43347

Thanks, CptSiskoX!

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3) "New Ways To Do Familiar Tasks.."

A lot of readers soon will be getting new computers as holiday gifts, or will be assisting family members who get new computers. Most of those new PCs will have XP on them, so this is especially timely:

Hi Fred, Got a new computer.........I'm new with WinXP. Can you tell me where they hid ScanDisk or does it not exist in the new OS? Thanks, Judy

It's there, Judy. But let me broaden the question, and the answer:

For this and *all similar questions* under XP, go to Start/Help and search for whatever is it you need to know. In this case, for example, you'd use the keyword "scandisk" as your search term.

XP will churn briefly and then, In the answer pane under "full-text," you'll see an item called "New ways to do familiar tasks...." That item is a gold mine for people switching to XP from other versions of Windows; it shows you the new nomenclature for all common tasks that differ in XP from previous versions, and also provides direct links to detailed information on each task or command.

It's ironic: Old versions of Windows had such anemic Help systems that many users routinely ignore system Help. But in XP, Microsoft finally produced a truly useful Help system that can answer most questions in short order. In fact, I think it's the best Help system Microsoft has ever produced--- one of the real bright spots in XP. I strongly recommend that *all* XP users explore the Help system in some depth, and also make it the first stop when you encounter a problem. There's an excellent chance that the Help system actually will be able to help. (What a concept! <g>)

Related info:
The 10 Best And Worst Things About Windows XP ( http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20011115S0014 )

Ten Ways To Make Windows XP Run Better ( http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20011204S0009 )

And, to come full circle and answer the original question: The Help system will tell you that XP uses "chkdsk" to perform the same kinds of scans and repairs that Win9X users are used to doing with "scandisk."

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4) More Free "Cookie Eaters" and Temp File Cleaners

Fred: In reference to Allan Birnbaum's problem with cookies ( http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2002/2002-11-21.htm#3 ) , I would recommend a free tool called Cookie Eater! It's free. It's small 8KB. It's free. It's easy to use. It's free. It requires no configuration. And, did I tell you it's free?  Install it. Then just click the icon and it opens. Click find cookies, and it lists all your cookies. Click Remove Cookies and they are all removed. It even gives you a message "Yum! Cookies Eaten." Check it out at http://www.dittotech.com/Products/CookieEater/  I liked your reminder to record passwords that might be cookie dependent before cleaning up the crumbs. Thanks, Michael H. Bell

Hi Fred, I am a subscriber to your Plus Newsletter and consider it an invaluable tool. I want to recommend a FREE Program that I use to control my Cookies and Temp Files "Empty Temp Folders" located at http://www.danish-shareware.dk/soft/emptemp/index.html  I'm sure your readers will find that it is a Program that they cannot do without... Thanks for a GREAT Newsletter!!--- Dave "TimberCarver" Allerding

Cookie Eater is interesting not only for its utility, but because it's so lean: It's hard to code anything in just 8K these days. 8-)

And although "Empty Temp Folders" doesn't do anything you couldn't do on your own, or with one of the free tools I've offered ( http://www.langa.com/cleanup_bat.htm ), the interface makes it really, really nice for interactive use.

Thanks, Michael and Dave. Excellent finds!

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5) Saving Mousework

Fred, The item in "Change My Document Default," ( http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2002/2002-11-07.htm#9 ) dealt with an issue that had bugged me for some time, but I'd never invested the time to find a solution. I followed the link in the newsletter, and found that, for some reason, the solution there didn't take on my version of Windows.

But it led me to realize that it's easy to have multiple Explorer shortcuts on the Windows desktop, each set up to open a window on a different location. For example, I now have a shortcut for each of the three partitions on my hard drive, and to a few folders that I use a lot. In addition, Win2k lets me assign a Ctrl-Alt hotkey to each shortcut, so now Ctrl-Alt-C brings up drive C, etc.

Each shortcut has a target of Explorer /e, /root, x:\* , where x is the drive letter, and * could be the path to any folder or file on the drive. Who knew there were Explorer command line options? Not me, but they're explained at http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;q152457& .

I'm using Win2k, but as far as I know the idea would work in other versions of Windows. With Explorer configured to remember each folder's settings, I can set up each Explorer window the way I want it (I like almost full-screen Explorer Windows with a "Details" view), and the next time I open it, that's how it comes up. Over time, this is gonna save me a lot of mousework. --- Lee Bolman

That link to a list of command-line options for Explorer is *very* helpful, because--- unlike most tools and application--- you can't use the "/?" software switch with Explorer.

A software "switch" is a modifier you append to a standard command to make it behave somewhat differently. Here's a trivial example: At DOS or in a Command window, if you type DIR you'll see a listing of the contents of whatever Folder ("DIRectory") you're in. But if you add a switch--- "/w"--- the DIR command generates its output in "wide" mode, displaying the results of the DIR command differently. To use the "wide" switch, you'd type the command: DIR /W .

To see a list and brief explanation of all the software switches that any given command understands, you normally can type the command followed by "/?" (eg:  DIR /? ). But Explorer is an exception: It interprets the slash as part of a Path command, and just gets confused. So that link---  http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;q152457& --- is very helpful to have.

Thanks, Lee!

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6) Want $10,000 To Spend For The Holidays?

The Recommend-It site gives away up to $10,000 as an incentive to use their service to recommend newsletters like this one!

If you think the LangaList is a worthwhile read, 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 $10,000 or other prizes from the folks at "Recommend-It:"
 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!

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7) Insider's View On Credit Card Fraud

I was just reading your Nov 7th issue of the LangaList and found the part about credit card fraud interesting. [See "Online Security With Bank Cards/Credit Cards" http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2002/2002-11-07.htm#7 )  The part about breaking into a restaurant and stealing all the slips from the credit cards caught my attention. Imagine if you could steal the slips from hundreds of restaurants across the country and not even risk breaking into a business.

I work in a paper mill. We get scrap paper in from several converting plants around the country, which is usually envelope trimmings and any other non-post-consumer scrap paper. One of these companies is in Omaha, Nebraska, which is also the home of some credit card companies. While unloading the bales I noticed a pile of slips at the side of the trailer that had fallen out of a bale. There were literally thousands of original credit card slips from restaurants all over the South. If I had been one to do something illegal (and no doubt stupid) I could have used a different number a day for who knows how many years before I would have run out of slips. This kind of put a damper on all the hype about taking your carbons when they didn't even take the precaution to shred the originals.

Like you, I use my credit card online but don't use a debit card anywhere. I feel as safe online as I do at a normal retail outlet, but am as careful online as I would be anywhere else. You wouldn't give your credit card to someone selling watches in an alley, so the same common sense applies online.--- Alan Patterson

Thanks, Alan; scary stuff. One more reason why real-world credit card transactions can be more dangerous than online versions--- and one more reason why using a card that provides fraud protection is very smart, both online and in the physical world.

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8) 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

"Your Computer Questions Answered"
http://www.btvillarin.com/index.htm

TFEONLINE
http://tfebbs.7times.org/

Izzo di Calvi (genealogical)
http://www.izzo-di-calvi.com/

"Forum for on-line fun and relaxation..."
http://trancetunes.com/boards/portal.php

Chancellor family
http://www.chancellorfamily.org/cool_links.htm

FLINT RIDGE
http://www.flintridge.homestead.com/

Pekingese Dog raising
http://www.geocities.com/sunpekes/toolbox.html?1029672873880

Big E and Speedman
http://www.speedville.net/main.htm

Siesta Key Computing
http://www.siestakeycomputing.com/

The Whole Internet
http://thewholeinternet.com/

LastMile Networking
http://www.lastmilenetworking.com/services.html

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9) Long Emails Truncated?

I've noticed for some time now that some (but not all) incoming HTML (and only HTML) email on my machine seems to suffer the same problem when confronted with long paragraphs. At some fluid point in the paragraph (usually at about 970 characters or so [including spaces], + or - 20 characters) the paragraph will just abruptly end, often in mid-word. Anything in that paragraph that happens after the break is simply lost, but subsequent paragraphs appear normal (as long as they are shorter than the mystery threshold). ... I've been unable to determine whether it's a problem with my ISP (Comcast cable modem service), my Outlook 2000, or some problem on the sender's end (although I get the corrupted mail from a few people, including a Lotus Notes user). Interestingly, some mail makes it okay (such as the LangaList), which just makes it all the more frustrating. In my non-KB research I've discovered that there are some fleeting references to HTML paragraphs being truncated, but I haven't been able to find a fix, possibly because some of the references I've found have been just a bit beyond my technical knowledge of HTML. I was hoping you might have some insights for me (and Tim, and other readers I suspect are also affected), and hopefully you may know of a fix out there. Thanks for the time and effort! -Tim Cook

I'm more familiar with a variant of this problem where the email is truncated as a whole--- that mail just abruptly stops in mid-sentence, and doesn't resume with the next paragraph.

This problem is usually caused by a corrupted file in the HTML rendering system on your PC. It's actually a fairly common result of trying to update IE via WindowsUpdate: The result is that HTML emails and some web pages (especially longer ones) *appear* truncated. Interestingly, they're not really truncated--- the content is actually there; but your system can't show it to you!

We originally covered this more than a year ago, when many readers were first switching to IE6, but the info still applies: See http://www.langalist.com/plus/newsletters/2001/2001-09-24plus.asp or http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2001/2001-09-24.htm#3

I don't know if your problem is exactly the same, Tim, but the above would be a good place to start.

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10) Just For Grins

Reader "Ol' Matt" sends along these "Reindeer Facts:"

Did you know... While both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December. Female reindeer retain their antlers  until after they give birth in the spring. Therefore, according to every historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, every single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen - had to be a girl.

We should've known. Only women would be able to drag a fat ol' man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost....

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11)Plus! Edition Highlights:

• "What The Heck Is..."
• Free Tool Assists Directory Synch/Copy
• Small Networking Issues Still Bubbling

Today's LangaList Plus! Edition contains all ten items above, plus about 30% more content including: an outstanding free tool to help you identify and control those mysteriously-named items that show up in your startup lists and process viewers; a free tool that helps keep multiple directories (folders) in perfect synch, even if the clocks on different PCs are off; and another way to avoid another common peer networking pitfall.

It's just pennies per issue to get all the benefits of the Plus! Edition. Complete info: http://www.langa.com/plus.htm 

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PLEASE NOTE:
Due to scheduled monthly system maintenance,
the next issue will mail on: Dec 12

See you next issue!

Best,

Fred
( Editor@Langa.Com )

Please recommend the LangaList to a friend! (And maybe win $10,000!I)

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