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The LangaList
Standard Edition

SPECIAL EXPANDED HOLIDAY ISSUE

2004-12-23

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 Tweaks

During the last few days of each year and the first few days of the new, when the normal press of events usually slows down a bit, those of us who use our PCs every day have a wonderful opportunity: We can use the slack time to perform a little simple PC maintenance in order to avoid some preventable PC headaches later on.

For example, hard drives have gotten so reliable that we tend to take their health for granted. But that can be dangerous, because we may miss the early warning signs of trouble. Instead, take a few minutes to check on your drive:

Open "My Computer." Right click on the C: drive, and select Properties/Tools, and then click "Check Now" in the "Error-checking status" dialog area.

In 2K/XP, a "Check Disk" dialog will open. In that dialog box, select "Automatically fix file system errors." Also select "Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors" if you have or can make the time for this more lengthy test; otherwise leave that box unchecked. Click the dialog box's own Start button to launch the disk check tests: You usually will then get a warning dialog telling you that Windows can't complete the tests until you reboot; and asking if you want to postpone the test until that time. Select "Yes." Repeat this process for any other disks or partitions you have in your PC; and when all have been scheduled for a disk check at reboot, manually restart your PC. One by one, Windows will then check each disk or partition to whatever level of thoroughness you selected, and will repair any correctable errors it finds.

In Win98/ME, when offered a choice of the type of test to run, select the "Thorough" test if you have or can make the time; otherwise select the "Standard" test. In either case, check the "Automatically fix errors" box. Windows will usually be able to complete the tests without a reboot. Repeat this process for any other disks or partitions you have in your PC. If necessary, you also can run the same tests from DOS in Win98: Restart your PC, hit F8 after the system beep, and select "Command Prompt Only." When the command line is available, type "scandisk /all /autofix /surface" (without the quotes) to thoroughly check and repair all drives in the system. Omit the "/surface" for a faster but less thorough check.

Newer drives also are equipped with "Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology," a.k.a. SMART reporting. There are many tools, some free, that let you access your drive's SMART data and see exactly how the drives are faring. More info, and software download links: "S.M.A.R.T" http://langa.com/newsletters/2003/2003-08-18.htm#7 ; "Free Drive Tester" http://langa.com/newsletters/2004/2004-04-08.htm#7 ; "Another S.M.A.R.T. Monitor, And More" http://langa.com/newsletters/2003/2003-08-25.htm#7

There's also plenty of general info on Google. http://langa.com/u/6z.htm

The above is just for your hard drive, of course: There's lots more to your PC. To help guide you, I produced a list of the year-end maintenance steps I take on my PC, boiled it down, and presented it as a (free) InformationWeek.Com article. My list can serve 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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2) More Reader RAM Questions: #1

Fred, I've been a PLUS subscriber for a few months, and enjoy reading and learn a lot from your newsletter. I have a question I have not been able to find the answer to.

I'm in the process of putting together a PC, which, in addition to the usual home/home office stuff, will be used for some gaming and 3D graphics rendering. Thus, I've purchased a high-performance video card. The motherboard will use DDR-type RAM, which comes in a fairly wide range of prices (from moderately expensive to very expensive <g>). The more expensive RAM modules have CAS latencies that read something like "2-2-2-5"; the cheaper have something like "2.5-3-3-7" or "3-4-4", and can be half or even one-third the price of the high-performance ones. I've never thought the speed of memory to be that significant an issue, but it must be important, as seen in high-performance video cards.

If, for example, high-performance system RAM is twice as expensive as cheaper RAM, where is it best to put my money: 512 MB of super-duper RAM or 1 GB of cheaper RAM (and the same question for 1 GB vs 2 GB)? And is there a cut-off where extra RAM doesn't really speed up a system (Windows XP Pro)?

Thanks for your help! ---J Muller

Yes, buying RAM can be confusing.

PCs are usually designed with a specific RAM speed in mind; or perhaps a range of RAM speeds. Buying faster RAM than your system is designed for won't improve performance at all because your PC can't use the extra speed--- it's just a waste of money. Buying slower RAM than your system is designed for may save a few bucks, but can cause major problems: It may not work at all, or, if it does work, a slow bank of RAM may slow *all* the memory accesses in your system to the speed of the slowest RAM bank. In some cases, mixing RAM speeds may cause the PC to hang, or to work erratically.

So, for the best results, and for the best bang-for-the-RAM-buck, the answer is to make sure you're shopping for the correct RAM speed for your system, so you're neither overbuying nor underbuying; and then buy as much RAM as you think you're likely to need for the life of that particular machine. (It's usually cheaper to upgrade once rather than to upgrade several separate times, piecemeal.)

But how do you know the "correct" RAM speed and type? Buying the "bargain" RAM you find in blister packs at discount stores and electronic chains can be a total shot in the dark. Even buying RAM from a detailed catalog may still involve guessing if you don't already know *exactly* what your system needs. But there's a simple answer--- it's the one I use:

Some of you may roll your eyes at this, because I'm about to discuss an advertiser. If you automatically disbelieve any discussions of advertisers, please skip the rest of this item.

Crucial.com has three separate tools that take all the guesswork out of RAM buying so you neither overbuy nor underbuy. They have a new automated "online advisor" tool, a manual lookup function, and you also can email or phone techs there to determine what to use for your systems. If you use the tools they provide, Crucial guarantees that the RAM will work correctly in your system. They also have competitive prices, and usually offer free two-day shipping. I have never had any trouble at all with RAM I've bought from Crucial--- but I have run into weirdness with some "bargain" RAM from other sources. After those bad experiences, I've always gone back to Crucial because I know the RAM will work, and will be reasonably priced. So: I use Crucial.com for *all*--- and I mean all--- of my RAM these days.

Once Crucial's tools identified what RAM module(s) I need, I then buy as much RAM as seems reasonable for the life of the PC in question. I'm pretty much using 512MB as a rock-bottom minimum these days, with most mainline getting 1GB, and am about to standardize on 2GB for heavy-use or performance-oriented systems.

You can navigate to Crucial.com yourself, or use this sponsor's link (which credits Langa.com for the clicks arriving via the link): http://langa.com/sponsors/crucial.htm

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3) More Reader RAM Questions: #2

Hi, Fred - thanks for a great newsletter! I am even more confused about RAM since the latest issue.  If Windows is designed to work best with most of its ram in use, then why does my machine get unstable when my "System Resources" gets below 50%?  Or am I confusing ram with system resources? If so, then what ARE system resources?  I run Win98 SE with 512 mb ram and generally don't have instability on my system unless I have programs running for a long time that I know are memory hogs (like Paint Shop Pro 8 or 9). Regards, Stephanie Staker

In Win98/ME, RAM and System Resources are totally unrelated. You could have an infinite amount of RAM but still run into System Resource issues. That's because the amount of available System Resources is hard-coded into the OS, and does not increase when you add RAM.

What are "System Resources?" In this context, it's some very specific memory areas inside Windows: User Resources and GDI (Graphics Device Interface ) Resources. You can think of these areas as scratchpads -- actually, internal tables and pointers -- that Windows uses to keep track of running applications.

The User area contains information about all the apps and windows currently running, including dialog boxes, the controls in dialog boxes, and so on. Every DLL, in fact, your apps use gets its own data area in the User section.

Loosely speaking, the more things you ask your computer to do at once, the more heavily used your User area becomes.

The GDI area keeps track of the things Windows uses to draw what you see on screen: there are things called pens, brushes, fonts, bitmaps, regions, and palettes, for example. Roughly speaking, the more graphical objects you have on-screen -- windows, icons, wallpapers, etc. -- the more heavily used your GDI area becomes.

In Win98/ME, both resource areas are of a fixed size regardless of how much RAM you have -- and that's the problem. If you run too many things at once or have too many graphical objects displayed at once, or if a program consumes some resources but then doesn't give them back when it's done, you can deplete the User or GDI area. When that happens, you get error messages, weird behavior or a crash. And again; this has nothing at all to do with how much RAM you have--- these are fixed-size areas coded right into the OS.

Win2K and XP handle System Resources differently; there, the total memory in your system--- RAM and virtual memory (the swapfile/pagefile)--- *does* affect the total available System Resources. In those OSes, it's much, much harder to run into Resource issues. In fact, it's normally something you don't have to worry about at all.

But Win98/ME users do have to worry about Resource issues. Fortunately, those OSes have been around so long, they hold no further surprises: System Resource problems--- and solutions--- are all well known. These articles can help a lot:
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=17200587
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=17200581
http://langa.com/u/7a.htm

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4) Capturing DOS Screens In XP

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5) Want To Save Some Money?

I've held the line for four looooong years <g>, but the time has finally come: Next month, I'm going to have to bump up the price of a LangaList Plus! subscription by a modest amount, to cover my rising costs.

I didn't want any Standard edition readers to be taken by surprise; hence this notice: You can still subscribe to the Plus! edition NOW and lock in the classic, low-price of just $1 per month. That's only about 14 cents an issue!

For that, you get an expanded newsletter with extra content; no ads, access to a private Plus!-subscriber-only site with tons of extra content and free downloads; free copies of the LangaList Archives you can install on your hard drive for instant searchable access to all back issues; and lots more.

And it's all essentially risk-free too because we offer a money-back guarantee. You can't lose!

I'm proud that I've been able to hold prices steady for so long, and I'll do all I can to forestall future price increases. Even now, I'm looking at different delivery services and subscription models (for both the Plus and Standard edition) to help ensure that I can continue to bring you this newsletter at a rock-bottom price.

But again, you can beat the coming Plus! subscription price rise if you sign up NOW. It's your LAST CHANCE to lock in the current ultra-low subscription prices!

http://langa.com/plus.htm

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6) A Boot.Ini Editing Shortcut

Hello Fred, In http://langa.com/newsletters/2004/2004-12-16.htm#1 , Gordon Totty asked about eliminating the boot time options in Win2K [and XP]. Your suggestion of editing boot.ini was great, but there is an easier way:

- Right click 'My Computer' and select 'Properties.'
- Click the 'Advanced' tab and then the 'Startup and Recovery' button.
- Uncheck the 'Display list of operating systems for [30] seconds.'

 You can either disable the option completely (uncheck the box) or modify the startup delay to a much shorter amount of time. All in just a few mouse clicks and without having to modify a critical file by hand.

Thanks, Tony Dew

That's true Tony; it's a nice shortcut. But: the manual method I suggested also lets you make a backup of the INI file, so you easily can undo any changes that don't work out; and also lets you see exactly what and where the file is, which can help in problems like this:

Hi Fred.  I read you faithfully and have found much that I needed, but this time I haven't.  My XP system LOST its Boot.ini.  I hope this makes more sense to you than it has me.  I have been working on it for over a week and I give up.  Am I going to have to completely reformat?  Boy, I hope not! Thanks. Beverly DeForde

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7) More Re: Remote-Control Open/Close CD Trays

[In reference to http://langa.com/newsletters/2004/2004-12-06.htm#7 ] I recommend that Judy (and your other readers) try Hotkeycontrol XP at http://www.digital-miner.com/hkcontrol.html .  This free program allows you to set hotkeys for a number of useful functions, including opening/closing CD drives (I currently have mine configured to use Win+1 for the first CD drive and Win+2 for the second).

Other features include Shutdown/Reboot/Suspend computer, +/-/Mute Volume, Hide/Unhide/Close/Minimize/Maximize window, Play/Pause/Stop/Next track/Previous track Media hotkeys. Add to this five user definable macros, small (less than 7k) memory footprint and unobtrusive operation (program lives in notification tray) and you have one sweet utility for free! ---Steve Stover

Thanks, Steve!

Many readers also wrote in to point out that Windows lets you remote-open a CD (via the right click "eject" command); and that's true. But it has no built-in facility to remotely close an open tray; or to add the other functions such as those Steve describes. For that, the free utilities we've discussed are just the ticket. <g>

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8) Last Chance To "Recommend And Win" This Year!

On Dec 31, I'll choose three more monthly winners of a FREE ONE YEAR SUBSCRIPTION to the LangaList Plus! edition. (If your name is drawn and you're already a Plus! subscriber, your current subscription will be extended by a full year.)

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 FREE ONE YEAR SUBSCRIPTION! (Full details also available via this link): http://langa.com/recommend.htm

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9) Optimal Drive Partitioning

Dear Fred; Thank you for your fine newsletter and all the great information you provide. I will definitely renew my Plus subscription.
 
Now I have a question that I would like to see discussed.  I have read in one or two different publications that if you're formatting a new hard drive or reformatting an older one for some reason, that it is well to set the drive up in three [3] different partitions.  One for your O/S and Drivers, one for your Applications and one for your Data.
 
Now I can see the advantages of having a separate partition for the data, but how about the one for the applications? Do you do this? How does it help you? Do all the applications that would normally expect to be on C:\ drive run O.K. when they find themselves on D::\ or E;\ or wherever?
 
What do you recommend?  ---Jon W. Spead

Actually, I've found it best to work this question backwards: Start with the backup method you're going to use, and let that determine how you set up your hard drive. That way, your backups will "fit" whatever backup method you've chosen, and you won't be in the awkward position of having to back up a gigantic hard drive all at once, feeding in dozens of blank CDs one after the other. Full explanation: http://langa.com/backups/backups.htm

Best of all, the above article also works even if your PC is already set up! You'll see how to modify things, nondestructively and without having to reformat, so you can benefit from a better optimal hard drive partitioning, too!

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10) They Loaded The Code

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

websitedown
http://www.websitedown.com/

low country women bikers
http://www.lowcountrywomenbikers.com/index.html

kerr software (au)
http://www.kerrsoftware.com

ARC NZ
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~marikanmere/index.html

southern living secrets
http://www.southerncomfortliving.com/

RegmagiK
http://users.aol.com/bguzner/software/links.html

against the madness
http://long-time.blogspot.com/

powerball possee
http://www.powerballpossee.com/main/cgi-bin/home.cgi

diane's country home
http://www.geocities.com/misty200333/dianescountryhome.html

lanoitar
http://www.lanoitar.com/

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11)  PLEASE READ: Holiday Publishing Schedule

First, please let me wish you and yours Happy Holidays and a great New Year!

I'll be taking a short break to do three things: (1) The normal monthly maintenance of the six Langa.Com sites and servers; (2) an annual maintenance of some items; and (3) a little R&R <g>. All of this should be invisible to you--- it won't affect your subscriptions at all.

I'll be back writing the first week in January. It takes a few days to produce, format, process and post each newsletter, so the first issue of the new year will carry a publication date of January 13. See you then!

In the meantime, my very best wishes to you!

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12) Just For Grins

Hi there, Fred! First off: great work so far on the Langlist! very informative and fun to
read! I just thought I'd drop you a line as I've just read your "help desk song"
which had me in stitches! Here's one that I'm sure you've already seen but I
still find amusing. ---Tim Sutton

OUR UNSTABLE LAN
An original ditty by Patrick Kingsley
(To the tune of "Winter Wonderland")

Phone bells ring,
Are you listening?
In IT,
Neck hair's bristling,
A server just died,
We'll be working through the night,
Trying to keep up our unstable LAN.

Print server spazzed,
It's horrific,
A million pages,
of hieroglyphics,
A proposal's due at 8,
Looks like we'll be working late,
Trying to keep up our unstable LAN.

User downloads pornos on the internet,
Gets a virus, brings our servers down,
We'll ask if he's the culprit, he'll say, "No, man!,
So you guys must have broke it; fix it now!".

Error logs,
Looking dire,
Our mail server,
Just caught fire,
Got paged at 1 a.m.,
Time to head back in again,
Trying to keep up our unstable LAN.

User emails 10-meg file attachments,
Our network quickly slows down to a crawl,
Four thousand users working for our company,
And she sent "dancing babies" to them all,

When it snows,
We're all chilling,
All IT's,
Gone snowmobiling,
The backbone's gone away,
LET THEM USE PAPER AND PEN TODAY!,
"To Hell," we say, "with our unstable LAN!"

Repeat to fade:
"To Hell," we say, "with our unstable LAN!"
"To Hell," we say, "with our unstable LAN!"....

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13) Plus! Edition Highlights:

• Last Word On NetStat
     (Don't like NetStat? Try this free graphical alternative!)
• PhotoShop Messes Up Thumbnail Views
     (Here's an easy fix!)
• Freeware/Shareware Database Tool
     (Only for LangaList Plus! edition members!)

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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(Need A Last-Minute Gift?
It's not too late to give a gift subscription to the LangaList Plus edition!
Click <a href= " http://langa.com/plus_gift.htm ">here</a>)

Happy Holidays!
Next Issue: Thursday 2005-01-13!

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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