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The LangaList
Standard Edition

2004-08-26

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 On XP's SP2
2) Reader Suggestions: Grabbing Files From ISO
3) More Pen Drive Options
4) RoboCopy Backups (And Other Free Tools)
5) Outlook Express/HotMail and ZoneAlarm
6) Is This Information Useful?
7) NTFS Access From Win98
8) Another Code-Lode Success Story
9) Reader Re: AOL, and Irresponsible Tech
10) Just For Grins
11) Plus! Edition Highlights:

Next Issue:
2004-09-02
(home/office reconstruction almost done!)

 

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1) More On XP's SP2

Microsoft delayed the wider release of XP SP2 just after the last issue of this newsletter went out, but they're scheduled to resume the phased roll-out (some are calling it a "trickle" release, with relatively small groups of users targeted at any one time) around the time you read this.

Some tech writers are recommending that you grab SP2 as soon as it appears, but most--- including me!--- are suggesting that you wait.

For example, the beta cycle of SP2 already turned up many, many tools, utilities and applications that SP2 breaks. See "Programs that are known to experience a loss of functionality when they run on a Windows XP Service Pack 2-based computer" at http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=884130 . Undoubtedly, many more will be added to the list as SP2 goes into wider release.

A PC World article also cites a small, anecdotal survey among highly experienced users who reported that SP2 hoses about 15% of PCs it's installed on--- a huge number. ( http://blogs.pcworld.com/staffblog/archives/000167.html )

That's not to say that "SP2 is bad" or any such thing: Rather, it's that it's brand-new and huge, and that means there will be bugs and incompatibilities. First releases of any huge, OS-level code package by any software maker, for any software platform, will have problems like this--- it's inevitable. And, eventually, most of the problems will get fixed; and those that don't get fixed will at least be identified, so you'll know what you're in for.

I'm collecting reader feedback on SP2 from the brave souls who have trodden the early path. (Have an experience to share? See  http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=46200911 .) But for now, my advice stands: WAIT! There's no need to rush into SP2. Let it cook a bit more, and try it when at least some of the rougher edges are off.

If you followed the advice here ( http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20011204S0009 ) and turned off automatic updating for your XP PC, SP2 won't end up on your PC without your conscious involvement--- you're OK.

But if your PC is set up to allow automatic updating, then the Windows Update service may load SP2 onto your PC on its own. You can prevent that by turning off automatic updating (see the link above). Ironically, Microsoft is working to make it harder to stay in control of updating because too many users turn off auto-updates and then never run the manual process, leaving their PCs vulnerable to all kinds of trouble. If you're already prevented from changing your auto-update settings, you can use this Microsoft tool ( http://langa.com/u/5t.htm ) to block SP2 for 120 days; or you can manually edit the Registry as shown on that same page.

Keep your backups current, and stay tuned for more info!

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2) Reader Suggestions: Grabbing Files From ISO

Fred,  In your latest newsletter you reference tools to retrieve individual files from ISO images. (See http://langa.com/newsletters/2004/2004-08-19.htm#5 ) As an avid user of Virtual PC ( http://langa.com/u/5v.htm ), I simply use that product's ability to mount ISO files as virtual CDs to access individual files in the VM. Then it's a simple matter of copying the file(s) from the virtual system to the main system. Of course, this is a pricey way to go for just this feature, but if you are using VPC already (and if you aren't, why not?) you don't need to acquire any other tools. ---Mark Stang

Thanks, Mark. Note also that you can get a free 45-day trial download of VPC via the above links.

Microsoft itself has a virtual CD tool: Windows XP Virtual CD Control Panel (
http://langa.com/u/5u.htm ) And another great tool for extracting files from ISO images: ISOBuster http://www.smart-projects.net/isobuster/ ---Ross Presser

Fred, A few more tools that will read/extract from ISOs are: WinISO (www.winiso.com), and a not-so-publicized feature of Nero is Nero ImageDrive (which will allow you to mount two ISOs). Personally, I've used WinISO and have enjoyed its features of extracting and creating an ISO (in addition to allowing you to create a bootable CD as well--though you have to create the boot image yourself).  It also will convert BIN files over to ISO files, for people with programs that cannot read/write ISO's. One thing to keep in mind about programs that provide emulation (of drives) is that for people with copy-protected CD's (such as SecuROM http://www.securom.com/solution_disc.asp ), the security feature of the disc/program will stop the application you're trying to run--even if you aren't running the program via the emulator.  Daemon Tools is one of those "blacklisted" emulators (as is Alchohol 120%, BlindWrite, obviously GameJack, and now-defunct CloneCD). This, of course, has led to some privacy complaints and discussion.  Such as: is it a violation of your privacy for a program to scan your computer for other software and then hinder the usage of a product you paid for? And the debate goes on.... PS...A site worth noting is CDFreaks ( http://www.cdfreaks.com/ ) which is a news site that covers issues such as this.  In addition, they have forums for people to read reviews of burners and software.  Honestly, the site is borderline deviant, but they do a good job keeping the frontpage (with all the news articles) clean of questionable activity.  Just note that when you go into the forums, there will be discussion on how to copy CD's...legal and otherwise. ---Eric

Dear Fred, Long time reader of your newsletter and Plus! subscriber, thought to add a little on the item number 5 from your last letter. I myself work a lot with all kinds of images and there are several tools worth considering, some free and some for a small fee: Elby, maker of the known software Clone CD/DVD, gives away for free a remarkable virtual drive tool. Installing it adds another drive letter to the system and by right clicking it inside My Computer and the like you can mount the most popular image formats in order to extract files or simply use the program as if it were the original CD (some people like to use this to boost game performance for example). The link to the download page is http://www.elby.ch/fun/software/index.html . Again, this is free!... Another program is UltraISO, available at http://www.ezbsystems.com/ultraiso/ . This program is also for sale with a free trial available. It's geared mainly to various formats of image files, conversion from one type to another and file extraction or other "micro manipulations". As far as I know, these are leading programs in this field, in addition to those you mentioned in your letter. I am a long user of Elby's Virtual Drive and I am very satisfied. Having that all programs can be tried for free, making the choice shouldn't be too hard. I hope your readers can enjoy this piece of information. Sincerely, Adrian

Hi Fred, Thanks yet again for a great newsletter.  One thing for readers to be aware of is that the new generation of games and programs that rely on cd copy protection will not run if they detect Daemon Tools or any other virtual cd drive is running. I had trouble getting DOOM3 to run for this very reason as one of the programs that came with my new DVD burner was a virtual cd drive program and I hadn't even been aware it had been installed. Once I tracked down the program and removed it doom ran flawlessly :) John Hargreaves

Fred, just a warning: as useful as the Daemon tools are for dealing with and even booting from ISO CD and DVD images, they can interfere with OS upgrades. Just stopping won't work -- you have to uninstall Daemon Tools, do your upgrade, and then reinstall them the next time you need them.-- Martin Heller ( http://www.mheller.com/ )

Thanks to all who wrote in!

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3) More Pen Drive Options

Fred, I've been interested in the PC since the guys at Xerox' research center invented it and I can honestly say that there is no computer related newsletter as useful as yours, period.
 
I was very interested in the articles/discussions of thumb drives ( http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=22100588 ) and would very much like your opinion of the Archos 20 GB drive http://www.archos.com/products/prw_500455_specs.html.  Although not quite as small as the thumb drives you reviewed,  I am very impressed with a 3 inch square device weighing less than 3 ounces, packing 20 GB and selling for about $160 on the street. ---Sailfree

It's a very attractive price; if you don't need the ultra-compact form factor of a pen drive, then something like the Archos could be good.

For that matter, if size is no issue at all, you might consider buying (1) a usb hard drive enclosure and (2) a separate low cost, full-size (2.5" or 3.5" platter) drive. The enclosures cost as little as $10 and up; and these standard-size drives offer the cheapest cost-per-byte storage available. You could create a custom, external, USB drive that exactly meets your needs. Note that the larger size and greater weight means you lose portability compared to a pen drive; and standard drives are also much more fragile (you can't just toss a standard hard drive in a briefcase or pocket, while that's exactly what pen drives excel at); but you gain in available, low-cost storage space.

USB external drive enclosures:
http://langa.com/u/5w.htm

Drives:
http://froogle.google.com/froogle?scoring=p&q=+hard+drive

Because of the durability/fragility issues, my personal preference for portable drives is something solid-state, like a true pen drive; or a USB device built around a tiny hard drive specifically meant for portable use. But there are many, many options, and if your needs and preferences differ from mine, then something like the Archos, or a separate drive+enclosure setup, may be just the ticket for you.

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4) RoboCopy Backups (And Other Free Tools)

Fred, I am a long time reader of LangaPlus and learn something from almost every issue.  In the last edition, back up methods such as System Restore, Ghost, and Drive Image were discussed.  I have been making complete hard drive backups using ROBOCOPY.  ROBOCOPY runs from a cmd prompt, or if you boot into SAFE Mode, you run it from a C: Prompt without all the other stuff loaded.  This essentially makes a full backup of your hard drive, partitions, etc..  I am running XP Professional with 1 gb of RAM, and two internal hard drives.  I used ROBOCOPY to back up my C Drive to a 60gb partition on my second physical internal drive. I also back up the other partitions to that second physical drive.  I also made a back up to an external hard drive connected through a USB 2.0 connection.  Once you make a back up with ROBOCOPY, the next update will copy only the changed directories or files.  Seems like a pretty good way to keep your hard drives backed up.  I realize that ROBOCOPY does not have a Restore function, but at least I have a copy of every directory and file in my system that I keep up to date. Thanks for a great job, Jerry Kite

Thanks, Jerry. RoboCopy began life as a tool in Microsoft's NT Resource Kit, and MS has carried RoboCopy forward with each new NT-based OS, including Win2K, XP, and the "2003" variants. You can grab a copy for free, along with many other Resource Kit tools, at http://langa.com/u/5x.htm . Sites like this ( http://www.ss64.com/nt/robocopy.html ) provide an easy reference for the commands available; a Google search will turn up many other how-to pages.

For Win95/8/ME users, XXcopy serves much the same purpose and runs on virtiually all versions of Windows. See http://www.xxcopy.com/ and http://www.xxcopy.com/xxcopy30.htm .

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5) Outlook Express/HotMail and ZoneAlarm

Fred! Thanks for a dynamite newsletter with all the good info.

I use Eudora for most of my email, and most of my browsing is with Firefox. My wife uses Hotmail, with IE. I've used Hotmail for temporary stuff, but found other places easier.

How can I tell ZoneAlarm to let Hotmail in [on my wife's PC]? Under the Firewall on the left, there is a Expert tab on the top right. Is this the place? If so, what should I put in there to allow Hotmail?

I've googled "ZoneAlarm" "expert rules" allow hotmail, and other similar stuff but can't seem to get anywhere.

Thanks, Stan

There's more to Outlook Express than meets the eye: Reading mail in OE actually causes three of your PC's subsystems to seek online access: OE itself, the "generic host process," and Messenger. It may also put your antivirus/antispam tools online, depending on how they're set up.

I can access Hotmail on my system with Zone Alarm Pro set this way: I allow OE, the "generic host process," and my AV tool to access both the "trusted" and "internet" zones; all are forbidden from server activity. I have Messenger disallowed across the board--- no access, no server activity, period. The "no messenger" setting interferes with use of the Microsoft "Passport" feature, but that's a small loss as far as I'm concerned. <g>

If the above settings--- or something like them--- don't work for you, you might try opening ZA's "Program Control" tab, making the window large as possible, and then firing up OE: Zone Alarm puts a green dot next to any program that's actively online or trying to go online, so you can see what's currently active. If you run OE, and see green dots showing up next to blocked services (red X's) then you might try relaxing the blocks until the mail can get through. To selectively adjust blocks, just left click on a red X, and you'll get a mini-dialog offering "allow," "ask" or "block." ("Ask" is usually a safe choice.) Experimenting this way will let you find the exact mix of services your wife's PC needs online in order to access HotMail.

There could be other issues, such as script-blocking; but my guess is that it's probably a needed service that Zone Alarm is preventing from connecting.

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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 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://langa.com/recommend.htm . Thanks for recommending the LangaList--- and good luck!

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7) NTFS Access From Win98

Hello Fred, Just read about the probs encountered by Gene Engel (Win98's 2GB/4GB File Size Limit http://langa.com/newsletters/2004/2004-07-12.htm#9 )...I wonder, if perhaps the utility from SysInternals for putting NTFS on a 9x machine would be interesting to Gene (and any others with the same file-size limits).
 
http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/ntfswin98.shtml
 
Anyone interested in NTFS should also see: http://www.ntfs.com
 
Thanks (again!) for all the hard work and dedication, to so many Good Causes (including a few of us "hopeless" ones) <s> ---mazeracer

Thanks, Racer. The NTFS.Com site is a gem--- packed with just about anything you need to know about NTFS.

The Sysinternals NTFS driver for Win98 is a useful tool, especially for recovering data from NTFS systems, but note that it only allows you to read files on already-created NTFS volumes. You can't write new files or edit existing ones; and you can't create a new NTFS volume. It's a nice tool---and free!--- as far as it goes, but it really only lets Win98 users peek inside NTFS volumes rather than bringing full NTFS capabilities to Win98. Note that some versions of Linux can do the same thing--- peek inside NTFS with read-only access.

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8) Another Code-Lode Success Story

Code-loader George M. Campbell writes:

Fred, Just wanted to let you know that as a result of loading the code I have had a significant increase in web visits and click through.  On 7 July 04 had over 1,200 visits.  For a blog site ( http://raffinorgangrind.textamerica.com/ ) This is exceptional, [compared to only] 5,100 visits in  the previous 90 days.  Thanks. ---George

Do you have a home page or website? (It doesn't matter what size.) Please click over to http://langa.com/code.htm , and maybe you can join the thousands 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://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://langa.com/randomlink.htm

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

AskAvie
http://www.askavie.com/

Sandy Roberts' Personal Page
http://www.geocities.com/roberts44/

Todd's "Computer" Place
http://www.toddsplace.ca

French Quarter Candles
http://www.frenchquartercandles.com/

Web site design, tech support, forums, more
http://www.weblinks2u.com/

Best Practice Blog
http://www.sysmod.com/cgi-bin/blosxom.cgi?title=best-practice

 Leading Edge Dog Training
http://LeadingEdgeDogs.com

Unusual t-shirts and clothing
http://www.awesomeunusuals.com/

CyberSribbles
http://www.geocities.com/cyberscribbles101/index.html

Ron's Rants
http://www.madisontelco.com/~web_1/

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9) Reader Re: AOL, and Irresponsible Tech

Long-time readers know how I feel about AOL--- it's overpriced, underperforming, technologically backwards, and the cause of more connectivity and mail delivery trouble than any other ISP I know (worse than some third-world ISPS!). Because my feelings are (ahem) well-known, when I speak of AOL, some people tune out. So let me hand the virtual microphone to a reader who describes his own experiences:

I recently got a new cell phone and number, it is part of one of those family plans (this is important). The controlling number is not under my name but one of my sons. Things were good but then after a few days I notice that I am getting text messages. The messages are from AOL and seem to be ads or something. Next we notice that the text sometimes contain news items. A call to the phone provider Cingular says that the messages are not from them and yes there is a charge for them after a certain number per month. These messages are probably from either a previous user of the number or from someone who set up an account and put in the wrong number.

Can we stop or block them? Not from an individual provider. You can only turn the text message service on or off for the entire account (not just the one phone). OK, then lets try AOL the sender of the messages. Note, I do not have an AOL account nor ever had an Instant Messenger Account with them (big problem but that is why I never liked them to start with).

A call to AOL was at first like playing a bad game of lets send this customer to another line as I tried to explain my problem and got sent from one call center to another. The catch was without an account or a sign on it was almost impossible to get information or help, even the tech center was stumped. Finally after an hour or so I got someone who at least understood my problem and was willing to try a fix.

Now one would think that if they were sending auto messages to a specific phone number they could just search their database and turn it off. But that can not be done, AOL's database is all by account or log on name. There is no way to search for a phone number in any system of theirs (so they claim). It is a privacy thing. But with the number and my service provider and my phone model number there may be a way to with over rides they have. OK.......but now another problem the phone I have is a new model and there is no such model in their program to turn it off. So sorry we know we are sending you these messages (that are costing money and are a bother when they arrive) but we can not stop them, can we help you in any other way, have a good day and thank you for calling AOL customer service.

Now, it seems to me that there should be a law that if you set up a computer system to send something that costs the receiver money that you should also have to have a way to stop it. You just don't put out half baked programs that can affect more then the customers who purchased it. That is irresponsible!

Right now it looks like we will just kill text messaging for all the phones on the account. But I can't believe that I am the only one who this has or will happen to.

Another thought crossed my mind what if I set up an AOL Instant Messenger Account (remember there is no verification for these free accounts) with phony information, then collect the cell phone numbers of people I don't like. Now I'll set up auto text messages to these phones for every sports team, stock, news headline and weather report to go to them. That should keep their phones beeping half the day and it will be a bitch to stop. See where this could go without the proper safeguards and programming in place?

Technology must be used responsibly and must be thought out before releasing it to the public. Companies often wonder how they get a bad reputation when they think that they are providing a wanted service. But if that service is not thought through and controlled the results can kill any good will and more then they create.

Hope I haven't taken up to much of your time. I guess I'd better go and renew my Plus subscription. Jim Lewis

AOL grew through aggressive marketing for years, Jim, but they're finally starting to shrink: Almost any ISP can offer a better deal than AOL can, with almost all the same content, except for AOL's limited proprietary content. But even that general type of content is available elsewhere, for less.

People with AOL really would do themselves a favor by considering a switch to another ISP. And new users, considering giving AOL a try, really would do better with almost any other alternative ISP.

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10) Just For Grins

Leor Zolman and Gene Robidoux sent in this collection of groaners:

EVER WONDER?

1. Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, "I think I'll squeeze these dangly things here, and drink whatever comes out?"

2. Who was the first person to say, "See that chicken there? I'm gonna eat the next thing that comes outta its butt."

3. Why is there a light in the fridge and not in the freezer?

4. If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a song about him?

5. Can a hearse carrying a corpse drive in the car pool lane?

6. Why do people point to their wrist when asking for the time, but don't
point to their crotch when they ask where the bathroom is?

7. Why does your OB-GYN leave the room when you get undressed if they are going to look up there anyway?

8. Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours? They're
both dogs!

9. If Wile E. Coyote had enough money to buy all that Acme crap, why
didn't he just buy dinner?

10. If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests? (sound it out...)

11.  If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, then what is baby oil made from?

12. If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?

13. Why do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the
same tune?

14. Stop singing and read on..........

15. Do illiterate people get the full effect of Alphabet Soup?

16. Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad
at you, but when you take him on a car ride, he sticks his head out the
window? ...

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Access to over 100,000 additional words in special features, extra content and private links, all on a private web site--- plus 30% more content in every issue, for just a dollar a month!

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

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

See you next issue, 2004-09-02!

Best,

Fred
( Editor@Langa.Com )


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