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The LangaList
Standard Edition

2004-12-20

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!

1) Year-End PC Tune-Up

Chances are, your PC is different from the way it was at the start of this year. In fact, because you're the kind of PC user who reads computer newsletters <g>, I'll bet your PC is different from the way it was even a few days or weeks ago: Perhaps you added or removed some software. Maybe you installed a patch or update, or allowed one to be installed automatically. Perhaps you adjusted a system setting to make Windows look or act more the way you wanted, instead of the way Microsoft or whoever set up your PC thought it should be. Perhaps you tried out a performance tweak or other system change that you read about here or elsewhere.

No matter the reasons, we all change our PCs. And over time, the little and not-so-little changes add up. At least once a year, it's smart to perform some extra maintenance to help ensure that the changes aren't piling error on error, and that our PCs remain fundamentally sound.

I recently was working through my PCs, doing just that kind of housekeeping, when I realized that I've developed a kind of mental checklist for the process. I wondered if others--- perhaps you--- might benefit from my checklist. Conversely, perhaps you have a different or better maintenance checklist that I and other readers would benefit from.

To get the ball rolling, I tried boiling down my steps to a conveniently-sized list. Of course, the total number of steps is somewhat arbitrary: The important thing isn't how many steps there are in your preventive maintenance program, but rather simply that you give your systems whatever maintenance they need. Use my list, then, as a general guide to get you pointed in the right direction; a jumping-off point you can use to get your PCs ready for safe, trouble-free computing in the coming year.

The full list, with links to tons of additional information (so you can explore any topic of interest in as much detail as you wish) is posted now (free!) at http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=55800698 .  Come check it out!

Then, please tell us what tools and techniques *you* use to keep your PC running smoothly? Join in the discussion!

http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=55800698

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--- ( Your Clicks On Ad Links Help Keep The LangaList S.E. Free! ) ---

"Fred: Thank you for providing this service for a reasonable price. Your information saves me hours, days and probably years of my life having to do all of the research and trial and error myself!" ---Lorna McCafferty

Thanks, Lorna! I've actually kept the Plus! Edition price the same for the last four years, but I'm going to have to increase the price a bit next year to cover my rising expenses.

ORDER NOW to lock in the CURRENT PRICE:
Just $1/Month--- only 14 cents an issue!

http://langa.com/plus.htm

--------------( the above is an advertisement )--------------

2) CD/DVD Printers OK?

Fred, A while back you wrote of discovering the degradation to disk media caused by stick-on printed labels (see http://langa.com/newsletters/2004/2004-05-20.htm#5 ).  I wonder if you've seen/heard/tested for similar problems with printing directly on the discs?  Printers handling such a task are now affordable (I saw one today for $100), but while it would be much nicer than my handwriting it's not worth anything if it causes bits to drop a couple years down the line. Thanks for all your work! Mark Leahy

Indeed, the worst problem was stick-on, print-it-yourself labels, Mark--- they have a history of ruining the CDs or DVDs they're stuck on--- but they weren't the only problem: The real problem is solvents, and they can be in the glue on stick-on labels, or in the liquid "carrier" of inks.

But not all solvents are equally bad. Some, like the solvents used in felt-tip "Sharpie" permanent markers, seem to flash off almost instantly, leaving behind only mostly-inert dyes or pigments. I would guess that water-based inks, used in moderation, also wouldn't pose much of a problem.

Whatever harm a solvent may do is exaggerated if the solvent is trapped against the data-carrying top surface of the CD (as with stick-on labels) or slathered on in heavy application directly to the CD surface.

That leads me to use two rules of thumb: Use no stick-on labels, ever; and don't put a lot of ink on any CD or DVD.

If I want to label a backup, for example, I'll use a fine- or medium-point felt-tip Sharpie to write the machine name (in shorthand form) and the date on the CD. Thus, I'll label today's overnight backup for my Systemax 3.2GHZ PC as "S32-20041220." If I need to record more information about what's on a CD, I'll write it on a paper or Tyvek CD storage envelope (they only cost about a penny or two apiece, in bulk). While I have had problems with CDs being ruined by stick-on labels, I've never had *any* problems caused by this simple manual labeling method.

So, because the above works so easily and inexpensively, I see no reason to try a more elaborate, expensive, and potentially dangerous labeling method. Why take a chance with your data?

On the other hand, if you really want to print right on your CDs and DVDs, buy the more expensive brands of blank discs: These often have a protective plastic top coat to help preserve the data-carrying layers. In contrast, cheap CDs usually have naked foil as the top surface; these are OK for the simple labeling method described above, but I'd never trust them to any kind of label-printer.

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3) Holiday Card From Ranganath

Remember Ranganath, from India? In July 2003, he became one of the 11 children sponsored on an ongoing basis by LangaList Plus! subscribers (see
http://search.atomz.com/search/?sp-q=ranganath&sp-a=0008002a-sp00000000 )

He just sent us a new hand-drawn holiday card, signed on the back in his native tongue:

Plus! Subscribers:
http://langalist.com/Plus/kids/ranganathxmas2004b.asp

Standard Edition Subscribers:
http://www.freetune.com/kids/ranganathxmas2004b.htm

Here's what this is all about: Those of us with computers and Internet access are vastly better off than most of the world's population. Because of this, I decided that a portion of the LangaList Plus! subscription fees would be donated to registered/legitimate charities helping the underprivileged around the world. The contribution does not increase the cost of a Plus! subscription in any way; the donation is taken "off the top" of any profits. (This is described in the pages at http://langa.com/plus.htm )

Ranganath is one of the children sponsored on an ongoing basis--- week in, week out--- by the collective generosity of LangaList subscribers. LangaList Plus! subscribers also have collectively contributed to emergency earthquake relief efforts in India and to funds to help the victims of the Sept 11th attacks in the US. (To see all the donations so far, click to http://langa.com/plus2.htm#kids )

As time goes on, and as more readers sign up for Plus! subscriptions, I hope we'll be able to sponsor more children and assist other charities around the world.

If you're not yet a Plus! subscriber check it out: With a Plus! subscription, you can not only help yourself make the most of your hardware, software and time online--- but you also can help those less fortunate (like Ranganath) make the most of their very lives. Thanks for your help!

http://langa.com/plus.htm

or give a HOLIDAY GIFT SUBSCRIPTION to the Plus edition:
http://langa.com/plus_gift.htm

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4) Five New Security Patches

You probably already know about this, so I'll be brief: Last week, Microsoft released five new security updates and patches; they're all worthwhile.

If you haven't recently run Windows Update, this'd be a good time. <g> Or, visit: http://www.microsoft.com/security/default.mspx

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

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6) Sharing Folders

Fred: This is a small annoyance but wondered if you had a solution.

I have need to access the Program File Folder on my lap top which is running XP. This is done across a home network. I need data files that are stuck in various folders within the Program File Folder. I know I could set up the data folders outside the Program Folder or install the programs in their own separate folders but is there an easy way to get into my Program File Folder across the network? I have no trouble getting into my ME Program File Folder machine from the XP lap top. Thanks, Chip :)

XP resists letting you share some essential system folders (eg. C:\Program Files ) but you still can share subfolders below the protected folders (eg C:\Program Files\SomethingElse ) simply by right clicking the subfolder and selecting "Sharing and Security."

For more info on folder sharing:
http://www.google.com/search?q=share+folder+xp
http://langa.com/u/6x.htm

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7) Automatic Cleanups Of Multiple Accounts

Fred: I've been a Plus! member for a short time, and I wake up looking forward to reading it.
   
I'm running xp, and I have 5 accounts on it. My question is, is there a program that will find and delete all temp, and junk files on everyone's account? I've tried ALOT of programs, and none of them find all the temp files on everyone's accounts. It's a pain to delete the files manually. ---Michael Williams

Indeed, manual cleanup is a pain. And Windows' built-in tools aren't quite up to the job of easily spanning across multiple accounts. But you can do it yourself with this free tool: Set it up *once,* and you can run it forever: As Admin, you can then automatically clean out accumulated garbage, temp files, cookies, histories, etc--- whatever you want--- from any and all accounts on the PC: http://langa.com/newsletters/2002/2002-04-04.htm#2

And did I mention it's free? 8-)

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8) More Reader Sites!

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 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://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://langa.com/randomlink.htm

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

Frontsideback
http://www.mikefeldstein.net/

ModBlog
http://mrchris.modblog.com/

Jack and Boopers
http://jackandbooperschateau.ibforums.com/

Equine and exotic animal transport
http://www.worleyshauling.com/

Sonoff Consulting
http://sonoffconsulting.com/

W3Cwebhosting
http://www.w3chosting.com/

Blogaholics
http://82.69.12.18/blogaholix/blogaholix.htm

Radio Control Local News
http://www.durlins.com/

Lotsa A Capella
http://lotsa.us/

Parody News Site
http://weaklywhirlednews.blogspot.com/

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9) Change Default Browser

Fred: Thanks for the great newsletter. I tried Mozilla Firefox, seemed fine. But IE6 still pops up as default browser. Internet search did not tell me how to make Firefox the default browser. How do you set this in XP? Thanks, Paul DeLeeuw

XP instructions for MyIE2, SlimBrowser, CrazyBrowser, GreenBrowser, IE, Firefox: http://windowsxp.mvps.org/defaultbrowser.htm

Win2K:
http://www.google.com/search?q=Change+Default+Browser+2000

Win98:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=Change+%22Default+Browser%22+98

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10) Just For Grins

With all the sadness and trauma going on in the world today, it is worth reflecting on the death of a very important person, which almost went unnoticed last week. Larry La Prise, the man who wrote "The Hokey Pokey", died peacefully at age 93. The most traumatic part for his family was getting him into the coffin. They put his left leg in, and then the trouble started. --- Steve/Roger Lamm

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11) Plus! Edition Highlights:

• NetStat Version Weirdness
     (which version do you have?)
• Customize Your Windows "Places" (Free!)
     (free tools make it a snap!)
• Free Tool To Email Huge Files
     (bypass your ISP's file-size limits!)

Plus! edition subscribers not only get much more content in every issue (like the above), but also have access to a private web site with over 100,000 words of special content and features not found in *any* issue of the newsletter; along with dozens of private downloads and much more--- all for just $1 per month!

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

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

See you next issue, 2004-12-23!

Best,

Fred
( Editor@Langa.Com )

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

An easier-to read formatted HTML version is available in the "Current Issue" section of http://langa.com.  (The HTML version of each issue normally is available by 9AM EST [UT-5] of the issue date.) All past LangaList issues are also available at the Langa.Com site.

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