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The LangaList
Standard Edition

2004-05-03

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

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 "Mr. Langa, Your 'Plus' is the ONLY newsletter that I have found to be
worth more than the subscription fee... I have signed up a friend
as a gift to him, and he is, also, extremely impressed." ---Michael Ludlum

Thank you, Michael!

The LangaList Plus! Edition comes with a MONEY BACK guarantee
from Fred, and is ad-free, spam-proof,
and contains even more content--- tips, tricks, advice, downloads....---
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0) Update Re: Delivery

As it happened, one of the two "grand experiments" in delivery options for this newsletter fizzled on the launchpad: The Standard Edition list is simply too large for the mechanism I wanted to try. Thus, the Standard Edition is being sent out the normal way.

However, the Plus! "Notify" Edition test worked great, and this issue *is* going out to Notify subscribers by the new mechanism.

As planned, the Plus! HTML, Text, and Digest editions are not affected by any of this.

Please see http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2004/2004-04-26.htm#2 for more information.

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1) 19 Ways To Store Passwords--- Safely!

Every so often, a topic emerges that hits an unexpected "hot button" among your fellow readers and generates a flood of responses.

One such was the innocuous-seeming "Safe Storage For Passwords" discussed in http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2004/2004-04-19.htm#5 . A *huge* number of readers responded to that item--- apparently, we're all juggling so many passwords at work and at home that safe and secure password storage has become a real issue.

The note that started the discussion was from a reader who had to access numerous password-protected accounts from different PCs at home, at work, and on the road. He needed a snoop-proof way to carry the passwords with him; and that he could use without installing anything on the various PCs he was using.

I gave him several suggestions, including pointers to the software tools I use, and I thought that was that--- but I was dead wrong. Soon, a veritable flood of great suggestions poured in from other readers.

The most-recommended solutions ranged from the ultra-simple to the more complex; and from freeware to low-cost commercial wares. I collected all the best suggestions into a single, easy-to-browse document that's posted now over at http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=19202221 .

With 19 suggestions at hand--- two from me and 17 more from readers--- there's almost surely something there to meet whatever need you might have for safe, secure, and inexpensive password storage. Click on over to http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=19202221 and check it out!

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2) The Handy "Run As" Command

Fred, I have recently become aware that when Ad-Aware is installed on computers that have multiple user accounts, that Ad-Aware scans and works properly only on the Administrator account. Thought I'd pass on the instructions for using Ad-Aware on user accounts other than the Administrator account.
 
http://www.lavahelp.com/articles/v6/03/05/0201.html
 
This of course raises the possibility that other security software may not run properly on user accounts other than the administrator account. I suspect the "Run As" tool can be used for any other software that does not function properly on accounts other than the Administrator account. Checking out whether the software one has installed functions on all user accounts, seems to be a prudent exercise. ---Joe C.

That's generally true, Joe. In many ways, it makes good sense to have things like security tools and low-level system utilities run only from Administrator-level accounts: These are tools that can affect the behavior of all accounts on the entire machine; and their misuse or misapplication could spell trouble. The idea is that only the most-knowledgeable, most-experienced user--- the Administrator--- can access these potentially-dangerous tools.

That's fine in theory, but it can lead to awkwardness in real life, where you might have to log off a limited account and log back in as Admin; or have to use XP's "switch user" trick where you can leave one account open and then duck into a second account temporarily. ( http://www.google.com/search?q=%22switch+user%22+xp ) But both techniques can be clumsy.

Fortunately, as the Lavasoft article shows, there's also an easy shortcut: Use the "Run As" command in XP and Win2K to run any program with "borrowed" administrator credentials (assuming you have valid access to the admin account). That way, you don't have to leave the active account at all.

This command can be used to run an already-installed program as admin; or to install a program as an admin from an account that normally does not have admin privileges. It can be a real time saver!

In addition to the Lavasoft links, check these:
"Run As," XP: http://www.google.com/search?q=%22run+as%22+xp
"Run As," Win2K: http://www.google.com/search?q=%22run+as%22+2000

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3) "Free Software Forever"

Fred - I'm not sure where I found it but there is a nifty little freeware program called AlphaCuts that can be found at http://www.free-software-forever.com/alphacuts.htm . This program indexes all programs, favorites, and documents and then displays them in alphabetical sequence.
 
When you click on a program, it loads (faster than clicking on program icons).  Click on a favorite link and you're there before you can sneeze (OK, I have ADSL) and click on a document, you're there.
 
This little hummer really moves and brings back fond memories of Magellan except this seems to have more of a kick.
 
I also use a program named Q-Sort 2000 that was freeware but is now Q-Sort 2004 at $8 as shareware.  Q-Sort 2004 arranges the "Programs" section of your Start Menu and your Internet Explorer Favorites in alphabetical order with a single mouse click.
 
This program can be found at http://www.hyperq.com/qsort.htm .  If you think it's worth it, please share this information with your other readers. Regards, Terry

Thanks, Terry. The Alphacut site also offers other free software, as you might expect from a domain with a name like "free-software-forever." And while Q-sort isn't free, at eight bucks, it's not exactly a budget breaker! <g>

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4) Upgrading/Replacing A Hard Drive

Fred: I've been a plus subscriber for a few years now and always look forward to finding something worthwhile in each issue. The hard drive in my wife's computer just died recently and it got me thinking about the age and use my own gets. Something I don't remember seeing - is there a simple way to copy all the contents of my XP pro "C" drive to a new drive and make it my new "C" drive. I know there was a method with 98 but whether that would work with XP or not I don't know.Thanks, Rick

There also are literally maybe half a dozen not-too-difficult manual ways to do the same thing, too. Here's the method I prefer:

Simply make a complete CD image of the old drive; either a single image with everything, or a series of separate partition-by-partition images. Remove the old drive. Install and plug in the new drive. Restore the images from CD to the new drive, and you're done. (Most imaging tools will let you create or adjust partitions more or less on the fly; and there's no need to format the drive for image restoration, because the formatting is part of the stored image.) Once the images are restored, your new drive is ready for immediate use, with all software already installed, set up and working just as it was when the image was made. You can then do whatever you want with the old drive including setting it up as a slave or secondary drive, if that's what you want.

In a more complex way, and without using an imaging tool, you could:

set up the old drive as the slave
set up the new drive as the master/C:/boot drive
boot from floppy or cd with appropriate maintenance/system tools on it
partition/format the new drive as desired; make it bootable for your OS
copy the complete slave drive contents to the master
   (keep the folder structure intact and use care re: long file names)
remove or unplug the slave
reboot; verify all is ok
do as you wish with the old drive/slave

The above is just a rough outline, of course; you can modify it as desired. But imaging really is the simplest way. A tool like BootIt has imaging and partitioning tools built in, and you can try it for free, so that might be the simplest, best way to do this, if BootIt's interface isn't too opaque for you. (See http://langa.com/u/4l.htm )

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5) "ASP.NET Machine A..."

Fred - Within the past two days, something has changed in my Windows XP Home setup with respect to my logon procedure at boot time. Previously, I was the only user account present, and when booting, the logon screens would be bypassed and I would be taken directly to my desktop. Since I am the only user on this PC, that's the way I like it.

A few days ago, this changed. Now, at bootup, I am stopped at a logon screen, and asked to click on an icon with my user id in it, and then I get taken to my desktop. If I go into the Control Panel and click on User Accounts, I see there's a third account (in addition to mine and the inactive guest account), called "ASP.NET Machine A...". If I go to the option to "Change the way users log on and off" and deselect the "Use the Welcome Screen" option and then reboot, I am taken to the "classic" logon screen, where I have to type in my user ID and password.

I am pretty sure this third account is causing this behavior. I don't know when the account was created, or by what, but it is not present (yet) on my other XP Home machine, and it logs on the way I want.

So:

1) What is "ASP.NET Machine A..."?
2) What would have prompted it's apparent recent spontaneous installation?
3) Can I safely remove it?

Thanks, Fred! ---Boyd Possin
 

The ASP.Net account is generated by Microsoft's porcine .Net package, which is offered as a "Recommended" (ha!) download on Windows Update; and which is required by some third-party software, such as PowerQuest's DI7. The .Net requirement is one of the reasons why I no longer recommend PowerQuest. (See http://langa.com/u/4m.htm ) When you install all or part of the .Net package, or when a third-party tool installs it, the extra account may pop up.

The ASP.Net account is set up so that a ".NET worker process" can operate in its own special account with limited privileges; i.e. not as an Admin. This is intended to make it safer--- and it probably does--- but it sure is clumsy. It's also usually overkill, as the account is really only essential for those doing ASP.Net development work. If you're not an ASP.Net developer--- and the overwhelming majority of users are not--- then you can delete the account.

This whole .Net thing is ugly, and is being handled with absolutely zero finesse or sensitivity for the typical end-user. Eventually, I suspect we'll all be force-fed .Net; probably as part of a Service Pack. It's too bad, as I really think the whole thing is massive overkill, with little real benefit to end users. Although Microsoft gets blamed unfairly for some things, their handling of .Net is genuinely awful. Sigh.

In any case, here's lots more on the subject, including info on deleting and re-creating the ASP.net account:

http://www.mvps.org/marksxp/WindowsXP/aspdot.php
http://www.google.com/search?q=ASP%2ENET+Machine+A

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6)  Is This Newsletter Interesting? 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 one of three FREE ONE YEAR SUBSCRIPTIONS to the LangaList Plus! edition given each month. (If your name is drawn and you're already a Plus! subscriber, your current subscription will be extended by a full year.)

Check out the details at http://www.langa.com/recommend.htm . Thanks for recommending the LangaList--- and good luck!

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7) Free CD Burner Software

Fred, Love your newsletter, and am a Charter subscriber to the Plus edition which is worth every penny!

I recently found this program that is great for burning CD's and DVD's and it is totally free!

You can find it at http://www.deepburner.com. I was totally blown away with how slick this program is - every bit as good as any commercial offering I have tried.

Keep up the good work! ---Matthew Brock

Thanks, Matthew! XP has  built-in CDR burner software, but it can't yet burn DVDs on its own; and earlier versions of windows can't burn anything without extra software. The usual commercial choices--- Nero and Roxio--- not only require payment, but their software is rather large due to all the many add-ins and extras they include. Roxio, in particular, is an enormous suite of tools for everything from managing your vacation photos to assembling MP3 collections---- and oh, by the way, it's burner software, too. 8-)

In contrast, Deepburner doesn't try to do everything--- it tries to do a few things very well (see features list: http://www.deepburner.com/?r=features ). It's free, and it's just 2.6Mb to download. Nice!

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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

Barn Out back ("family forum")
http://barnoutback2.proboards24.com/index.cgi

Westover (GA) Patriots
http://www.eteamz.com/WHS_Baseball_Boosters/

Tracy's Boutique (necklaces)
http://www.tracysboutique.com/langa.htm

Ro's Page
http://home.bellsouth.net/p/pwp-roman

Die Applergalerie
http://www.aepplergalerie.de/eHome/index.htm

Gem Typing
http://hometown.aol.com/ealintah/myhomepage/business.html

Dialysis and Transplant
http://www.paulbirchall.com/paul/index.html

Lowell's Links
http://www.lowellsweb.com

WS Designs
http://www.visualrush.com/index.html

Desktop Starships (sci-fi/fantasy)
http://www.desktopstarships.com/index.html

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 Fred's Own Reference Shelf--- And Up To 20% Discounts!

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personally selected and recommended by Fred Langa
and available at Amazon.COM's deepest discounts!

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9) ID 3,400+ Startup Items

Fred, While trying to figure out what "DvzIncMsgr.exe" is, and why it chooses to shut down (popping up the "Apologies / Send Report to MS" window), I ran across this little Freeware utility.  To quote from the website:

"Windows Startup Inspector is a Windows platform software that helps Windows user to manage Windows startup applications. On www.windowsstartup.com, there are more than 3,400 known programs in the database. Windows Startup Inspector can thus provide a consultative information on the programs that are running at your Windows startup process. Whether a program is necessary to the system, or is the program a spyware."

http://www.windowsstartup.com/index.php

Other readers might find its friendly interface helpful. Glenn G.

Thanks, Glenn!

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10) Just For Grins

Here's a very different kind of grin, not of humor, but more of simple human warmth:

In "Pape Enters High School" ( http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2004/2004-04-22.htm#4 ) I described an odd drawing Pape sent us. (Pape Tanor is one of the kids we support week in, week out through Plus! subscriptions. http://www.langa.com/plus2.htm#kids )

I wrote of the drawing that it's "what appears to be a briefcase or valise surrounded by plants. I have no idea what it means."

But several readers did:

Hi Fred -- As someone who ran an independent Montessori school for 20 years and worked with children from two and a half to twelve years of age, here's what I think about that drawing Pape sent you. He's going to high school -- woo-hoo!, how exciting! -- and he has a brand-new bookbag or briefcase, a symbol of how far he's gotten with his education and how far he will continue to go.  He is incredibly proud of that bookbag, so proud that he does a very careful drawing for you and for your subscribers (his benefactors), and embellishes it with lovely vines growing out of pots.  That's his bookbag sitting under an arbor, and he sends it to you to show you how seriously he is taking his education.  This is the sign of an educated young man, you see.  I would bet money that's the story of the drawing  Just my two cents' worth,  Betsy Gordon

Fred, I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in South India many years ago, which may give me a slight edge on interpreting the satchel and flowers on Pape's drawing. I believe it is a sign of furthering his education with the drawing of the satchel meaning he now has to carry more paper and books for studying in the upper grades, and the flowers growing out of the pot are just his way of adding a border to his drawing. Personally I think it means "growth and happiness" associated with his ability to study in the more advanced grades in his country. Regards, Jim Petit

I bet you're right! The bookbag is a proud new possession, and clearly carries more than just books: To Pape, it holds his future.

I don't know about you, but that thought sure made *me* smile. 8-)

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11) Plus! Edition Highlights:

• Free, Automatic Icon Restorer
     (near-instant fix for corrupted/black icons)
• Spyware-Free Download Tools
     (pause, split, manage large downloads--- spy-free!)
• Test and Fix A Minor Archive Glitch
     (tiny file does the trick!)

DID YOU KNOW--- that Plus! subscribers have access to additional special features, extra content and links on a private web site? All that, plus 30% more content in every issue, for just $1 a month!

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

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(Give a gift subscription to the LangaList Plus edition!
Click <a href= " http://www.langa.com/plus_gift.htm ">here</a>)

See you next issue, 2004-05-06!

Best,

Fred
( Editor@Langa.Com )

Please recommend the LangaList to a friend! (And maybe win a prize!)

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This newsletter is a service of Langa Consulting LLC and is Copyright © 2004 Fred Langa / Langa Consulting LLC. All worldwide rights reserved. LangaList: ISSN 1533-1156

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