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The LangaList
Standard Edition

2003-05-29

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) More Mouse Gestures
2) "List of Lists" Redux
3) "Bad Flashers" And BIOS Updating
4) 10 Minute Guide To Linux Installs
5) Exploding CDs
6) Last Days To Enter May's FREE Drawing
7) Adding Optional System Files, After Install
8) They Loaded The Code
9) Zip-Files Finally Get Decent Encryption
10) Just For Grins
11) Plus! Edition Highlights:

 

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1) More Mouse Gestures

In the last issue ( http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2003/2003-05-26.htm#2 ), we discussed software for gestural "mouse motion macros." *Lots* of readers had additional info, such as:

Hi Fred, Just thought I'd let you know that the Mozilla Firebird browser (formerly Phoenix and soon to be just Mozilla) has a plug-in option for mouse gestures to browse with! I don't use them myself, as I don't have the time to learn them, but thought others might be interested. The Firebird browser itself (vers. 0.6) is nice, quite customizable (so you can minimize the number of toolbars, for example, without losing functionality). The plug-in and others can be found at http://texturizer.net/firebird/extensions.html . The browser can be found at mozilla.org or http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firebird/release-notes.html . Regards, Rick O'Gorman

Fred, Love the newsletter! Re: Mouse Gestures--- The browser for the rest of us, Opera http://www.opera.com/ , has had a whole series of mouse gestures for many moons including opening links in new pages, closing current pages, zooming, going forward and backward in the page history, etc. You can run the entire browser either from the mouse or the keyboard--- none of the awkward "where's the mouse" groping around your desk. That's why I prefer it to Explorer or Netscape!--- Bill Josephs

Thanks to all who wrote in!

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2) "List of Lists" Redux

Hi Fred, I was looking for Hex editors and found this site with many links to programs. http://lists.gpick.com/index.html

This site solved one of the problems I had. We purchased a new machine for the office and we installed an ASUS DVD R/RW drive and a SAMSUNG RW combo drive. The NERO software that came with the drives did not allow both drives to be used, instead they only operated with the drive they where supplied with. On the site mentioned above I found CD Burner XP Pro (Freeware). Looks similar to NERO and will work with both drives. (It does however not support DVD-RW on the ASUS drive, but for this I will use NERO) So it saves me the money to purchase the Full Nero package. Keep up the good work. ---Steve Smith

Thanks, Steve. We actually covered this "List of Lists" a couple years back ( http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2001/2001-10-25.htm#7 ). Then I said, "What a ton of info there! In some ways, it reminds me of the very, very early Yahoo, before it became the unwieldy behemoth it is today."

Well, the List Of Lists is even bigger now, but it's still easy to poke around in. I can almost guarantee that once you start clicking there, you'll find some interesting stuff in short order!

(BTW, a "hex editor" has nothing to do with casting spells. <g> The "hex" stands for "hexadecimal," the base-16 notation used in many computer codes. A hex editor lets you open and manipulate almost any file, at a very low level. You can even use hex editors to change program code--- but you better know what you're doing if you try that! Hex editors are also useful for exploring mystery files that you can't open by any other means: A hex editor will let you see what's in almost *any* the file, and sometimes can provide enough clues so you can see what the file is, or where it came from.)

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3) "Bad Flashers" And BIOS Updating

In the last issue, one item made it sound like we were talking about Mickey Mouse flipping the bird. Now, this item makes it sound like we're talking about evil guys in raincoats. But relax--- that's not it at all:

I wanted to thank you for including the information about our website http://www.badflash.com/ in http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2002/2002-07-25.htm#5

You might want to do something on the advantages and downside of bios updating. We deal with all sorts of bios related problems.... we've been at this since February of 2000 and have recovered 10's of thousands of dead computers. I personally have been computing since the mid '70s starting with my Comac Elf, then a Sinclair ZX-80 both from kits.

We don't write code, but are pretty familiar with the mistakes people make and what to do about them. What we do is program files available from the board makers into chips that work on those boards. There is now a bewildering variety of different kinds of chips and they are not interchangeable for a variety of hardware and software reasons. We also have a 18 GB library of old bios files and support most popular boards from the past that are no longer supported. Most people don't realize that bios chips, at least old ones, can just wear out. We fix that all the time with old motherboards.

The current problem in the industry is related to the Nvidia chipset boards like on the ASUS A7N8X, which is our #1 "Bad Flasher" at the moment. ---Jack Rowland

In general, with BIOS flashing, I lean towards the "if it ain't broke..." model. If new BIOS code will fix a bug I'm experiencing, or am likely to experience, then I'll go ahead and update the BIOS. But if the new BIOS code simply adds a feature I don't need, then I skip it.

To use a classic example, it makes perfect sense to upgrade the BIOS of an old machine that cannot recognize today's large hard drives. This is a clear and obvious benefit. But if new BIOS code adds (say) support for some new brand or model of CPU, and I have no intention of ever changing the CPU in the system, then why install the new code? In this latter case, I'd leave things alone.

Don't update a BIOS just because an update happens to be available. See what's in any given BIOS update, and then decide based on need and delivered benefit.

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4) "10 Minute Guide" To Linux Installs

Fred: Just a quick note. DevX has just published an article on installing Red Hat Linux. I thought you might be interested. It is at http://www.devx.com/opensource/article/15524/1954?pf=true  ---John M. Cerroni

Thanks, John! The brief piece is well done, and called "The Windows Administrator's 10-Minute Guide to Installing Red Hat Linux." It'll probably make a newbie's eyes glaze over, but it's a good shorthand reference for intermediate-or-higher users who are familiar with Windows, and who want to give Red Hat Linux a spin. The text can also help with other flavors of Linux--- it's not totally tied just to Red Hat's implementation.

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5) Exploding CDs

Fred, have you had any experience with this subject? ---Ronald Robeson

"We had a rude awakening the other day that you may or may not be aware of. We were testing a brand new computer with a 52X CD ROM. The CD literally exploded, blew out the front of the drive in large chunks barely missing our technician. He could have been seriously hurt. I had never noticed or was aware of the warning on 52X CD ROM drives that addresses voiding of warranty since 'deeply scratched or other poor quality discs, used in this drive may cause damage to the drive and data in the disc. Such discs may break at high speed rotation. If full care is not exercised in relation to this matter, you may void the warranty to this product.' Warranty...., to heck with warranty, this was plastic shrapnel that could seriously hurt a student. We are meeting with our seller and the manufacturer about this.....by the way, the disk he was using was not scratched, old, or poor quality.  Have any of you experienced this? Greg Veal"

Personally, no, although I've heard of it happening. The problem, of course, is imbalance, just like an out-of-balance tire on your car. The faster you drive on an imbalanced tire (or spin an imbalanced CD), the worse the vibration.

In CDs, the imbalance can be caused by off-center labels, stickers, excess glue, and such; or by poor manufacturing that places the CD's central hole just ever so slightly off center. Cracks, scratches, and the like can further introduce fault lines into the CD that accumulate strains as the disc spins up....

Three things can help: If possible, use only high-quality disks rated for the speed your drives can attain. Visually check CDs before use, and don't put a scratched or worn disc into a high-speed drive. Finally, if you hear excessive noise or feel unusual vibration from an in-use CD, stop the access to the CD and let it spin down ASAP.

Shrapnel "blowing out the front of the drive" seems extreme--- and possibly apocryphal--- but it could happen. I have one 52x CD drive here, and my most-used drive is a 44x unit, but I've never had any trouble with either. Still, as faster drives become common, a little vigilance could prevent trouble.

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6) Last Days To Enter May's FREE 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!

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7) Adding Optional System Files, After Install

Reader Roy Bird asked about a very specific item, but the answer actually can apply to any optional operating system files you wish to install--- or deinstall--- at any time, on any Windows version.

I have Windows 98 SE on my computer. I have the disk and I would like to reload "Games" from the disk. The file was inadvertently deleted by my daughter. How do I get only "Games" to be reinstalled?---Roy

Each version of Windows has a way to revisit all the setup installation options. You can add files you originally declined, reinstall files you deleted, or delete files you've decided you no longer want or need (this is a good way to save space).

In Win9x, you click to Control Panel, then "Add-remove programs," then "Windows Setup." In Roy's specific case, he'd further click to Accessories then Games.

Each version of Windows is similar. In XP, for example, it'd be Control Panel then Add-remove programs, then Add-remove windows components, then Accessories and then Utilities/Games.

There's *lots* (besides games) that can be added and removed this way. Check it out!

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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 From Among All Listed
 http://www.langa.com/randomlink.htm

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

Dave's Palm Pages
 http://www.golddave.com/palm/

Garth Brooks Bio
 http://home.earthlink.net/~21win/garth.html

Dave and Lori's place
 http://davebloom.tripod.com/

Semi Compos Mentis
 http://banneshee.diaryland.com/

Dick's Pawn
 http://www.dickspawn.com/

Hartford, MI
 http://www.hartfordba.com/Directory/HartfordHistory/index.htm

Guide to Patents (UK)
 http://www.patents.iofm.net/

Freedom
 http://www.rayturek.com/

Nashville Scholars of the Three Pipe Problem
 http://www.nashvillescholars.net/home.html

Hotel Bidding
 http://www.biddingfun.com/

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9) Zip-Files Finally Get Decent Encryption

WinZip, perhaps the world's most popular zip-compression tool, has long maintained compatibility with the ancient encryption standards used in the early original versions of Zip software. Trouble is, that encryption is very easily cracked on today's PCs. As a result, Zip files have been great at storing data compactly, and not great at all at storing it securely.

Now, a new version of WinZip is in late beta--- version 9--- and it finally adds serious security via 128- and 256-bit AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) encryption. It also retains backwards-compatibility with the older format, so you can still access files secured the old way.

If--- like I--- you've been using two tools to shrink and secure your important files, WinZip 9 might let you skip a step, performing both chores at once.

Well worth a look! http://www.winzip.com

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10) Just For Grins

Reader "Nick" sends along these "Exam answers." Who cares if they're true? <g>

Q: Explain one of the ways in which water can be made safe to drink.
A: Flirtation makes water safe to drink because it removes large pollutants like grit, sand, dead sheep and canoeists.

Q: How is dew formed?
A: The sun shines down on the leaves and makes them perspire.

Q: What is a planet?
A: A body of earth surrounded by sky.

Q: What causes the tides in the oceans?
A: The tides are a fight between the earth and the moon. All water tends to flow towards the moon, because there is no water on the moon, and nature abhors a vacuum. I forget where the sun joins in this fight.

Q: What guarantees may a mortgage company insist on?
A: If you are buying a house, they will insist you are well endowed.

Q: What are steroids?
A: Things for keeping carpets still on the stairs.

Q: What happens to your body as you age?
A: When you get old, so do your bowels and you get intercontinental.

Q: What happens to a boy when he reaches puberty?
A: He says goodbye to his boyhood and looks forward to his adultery.

Q: Name a disease associated with cigarettes.
A: Premature death.

Q: What is artificial insemination?
A: When the farmer does it to the bull instead of the cow.

Q: How can you delay milk turning sour?
A: Keep it in the cow.

Q: What is the fibula?
A: A small lie.

Q: What does "varicose" mean?
A: Nearby.

Q: What is the most common form of birth control?
A: Most people prevent contraception by wearing a condominium.

Q: Give the meaning of the term "Ceasarean section".
A: The ceasarean section is a district in Rome.

Q: What is a seizure?
A: A Roman emperor.

Q; Give an example of a fungus. What is a characteristic feature?
A: Mushrooms. They always grow in damp places and they look like umbrellas.

Q: What is a turbine?
A: Something an Arab or Sikh wears on his head.

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11) Plus! Edition Highlights:

  • Scott Specker's Auto-Proxy Tool
        (free; private download for Plus! subscribers only)

  • More Easy Network-Setting Switchers
        (simplify moving from net to net)

  • Hand-Selected Freeware
        (dozens or quality programs, free for the download)

DID YOU KNOW that Plus! subscribers have access to over 100,000 additional words in special features, extra content and private links, all on a private web site? All that, plus 30% more content in every issue, for just a dollar a month!

Full Plus! Edition info: http://www.langa.com/plus.htm 

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Click <a href= " http://www.langa.com/plus_gift.htm ">here</a>)

See you next issue!

Best,

Fred
( Editor@Langa.Com )

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This newsletter is a service of Langa Consulting LLC and is Copyright © 2003 Fred Langa / Langa Consulting LLC. All worldwide rights reserved. LangaList: ISSN 1533-1156

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