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The LangaList
Standard Edition

2005-01-24

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

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1) What To Avoid In MP3 CD Burning

Hi, Fred; thanks for the newsletter.
 
I spent all day Saturday looking for a Freeware CD Burner that would produce reliable Audio CDs from MP3 files. No luck.
 
I made a website to help novices such as I to burn audio CDs and wanted to provide links to freeware for the job. http://www.sticksite.com/tape2cd/
 
Nero Express (I have it) is WONDERFUL but VERY large and no longer available.
 
My findings today go like this in case you would like to bring up the issue and see "who salutes."
 
I tried "MP3 CD Doctor 2004" (only 1.01Mb) "mp3cddoctor2004.exe" from http://www.mp3surgeon.co.uk/products.php but it did a very bad job; stay away from this one!
 
I also tried "CD Burner XP Pro" from http://www.cdburnerxp.se/  version 3.0.116 on Jan. 15, 2005; an 11Mb ZIP file and ran it twice; both times it ran into some kind of error and did not make a working CD. A new version 3.5 is expected; on Jan. 15, 2005, no date was given. Very nice GUI.
 
I also tried DeepBurner Free version 1.3, a 2.54Mb from http://www.deepburner.com/?r=download  (Strange GUI) version 1.3.6.168. For some songs it does not show the title in the playlist. This one just hung up when I clicked "Burn Disk."
 
AND I also tried Fire Burner version 1.02: 727Kb from http://fireresearch.biz.ly/  With this one it is very difficult to see if you have added enough or too many songs to your playlist. It has a confusing GUI and when done it seemed to hang up and not eject the CD even though I had indicated that it should.
 
AND, I tried Burn4Free from http://www.burn4free.com/  (2.22Mb exe file). It would not burn the CD for me; indicated it needed a CD-R (etc) which was exactly what I had in the burner, brand new. No good either. 
 
AND also HT Fireman CD/DVD Burner 0.4 from http://downloads-zdnet.com.com/3001-2646_2-10315285.html?idl=n a 1.74Mb file. Froze up when it was seconds away from finished burning a CD. No good.
 
AND, if that is not enough searching, I tried BinArtisan CD Burner 1.06 from ZDNet where I read: "This download includes adware. Adware may record your surfing habits, deliver advertising, collect private information, or modify your system settings." SO FORGET THIS ONE!
 
Then I tried Sunburner, a 2.12Mb download from http://downloads-zdnet.com.com/3001-2646_2-10355431.html?idl=n In the installation process they are, at least, honest enough to tell you that your computer will be loaded with all sorts of advertising crap which you will NOT want. NO GOOD.
 
Next was CDR Tools Front End 1.4 from ZDNet, a 1.61Mb EXE file download.  This one could not even handle MP3 files so is USELESS.
 
Fred, I hope somebody else does better than I did.   ;-(  ---Ken Laninga

Thanks for all the info, Ken--- sometimes, knowing what *not* to try is incredibly helpful. I'm not an MP3 maven myself, although that may change this summer (I have a long trip planned, and would rather carry an MP3 player than an actual CD player). But I'll bet that some of our fellow readers have found tools that work well; while others have found additional candidates for the "bad software" list.

So, how about it gang? What are your experiences--- good or bad--- with tools for ripping and burning MP3s to CD?

Please use this SPECIAL ADDRESS to reply: MP3@Langa.Com

I'll collect the replies, and let you know what turns up!

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2) Acrobat Gripes--- And Workaround

Hello Fred, Take a look at the latest gripes here:
http://www.computergripes.com/AdobeAcrobatReader.html

Adobe has made upgrading to the latest version of their Reader program way too hard. The gripe still needs a bit of reporting though. I'm not sure if US users can or should use the European edition.---Michael Horowitz

I agree that Acrobat Reader has gotten really unwieldy. But it's not alone: Apple's QuickTime viewer has gotten porcine, and now comes with an iTunes component whether you want it or not. RealPlayer wants to own your entire audio/video system--- I swear it'd reach out and take over your TV, if it could. <g> And so on.

But one simple answer is: http://www.oldversion.com/ It's a site that houses a free library of the older, simpler, smaller, less-aggressive versions of many popular programs, letting you grab and install the version of your choice.

Note that software vendors sometimes add features to new versions of their authoring software that are incompatible with older viewers. Sometimes, this is for a good reason. But sometimes, it's just to get you to *have* to install the new viewer with whatever extra baggage it carries.

Still, in many cases, the stuff on http://www.oldversion.com/ will work just fine--- or at least, well enough!

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3) Spyware Hype Vs real Threats

Fred, How come when I go to Informationweek.com, they set off my Spybot S&D for Avenue A and DoubleClick?  I would think that an honorable publication like Information Week would not use these spyware programs to monitor their users, but they do, and quite often! --- The Good Doctor and long time reader

Ironically, when overeager security tools block these counters, they lower the revenue to the web site owner, making it more likely that the free content will go away, or will be available by subscription only. So, blocking these simple counters can actually backfire, and cause you to lose access to free content.

Anyone who's read this newsletter for more than an issue or two knows that I'm slightly nuts about security--- there *are* real and imminent dangers out there, and you have to keep your guard up. But not all threats are equal, and in the grand scheme of online security, "tracking cookies" and "web bugs" are about the least important thing you need to worry about. Most times, they're utterly harmless; no more a threat to you than those hoses that highway engineers lay across highways to count how many cars drive past.

More info: http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20010621S0030

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4) Update On Suradon

Remember Suradon Janno, from Thailand? Back in 2001, he became one of the first kids assisted on an ongoing basis by LangaList Plus! subscribers:

His family is extremely poor (less than $290 per capita per year) , and ekes out a marginal living doing odd jobs and some farming. The local relief agency writes "Suradon badly needs food, clothing and medical care." (See  http://langa.com/newsletters/2001/2001-09-06.htm#9 )

A while later, we got a photo of him and his family: http://langa.com/images/suradon2.jpg

Ironically, we got a pile of new info on Suradon just before the tsunami ravaged that part of the world: You can see all the new materials (including a new photo, a report card, and a strange little hand-drawn holiday card) here:

Private Site (Plus! Subscribers only):
http://www.langalist.com/plus/kids/suradon05.asp

Public site:
http://www.freetune.com/kids/suradon05.htm

We have no word since the tsunami; but my guess--- because the aid agency we deal with is working in the Lampang region of Thailand, which is mostly upland--- is that Suradon was not personally affected by the disaster. The aid agency is good; I'm sure we'll eventually hear, one way or the other, although communication is very slow due to the primitive conditions.

And 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  )

Suradon 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 Suradon) make the most of their very lives. Thanks for your help!

http://langa.com/plus.htm

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

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5) High-Power, Free File Compare Tool

Hello Fred, On the item on File Comparison tools ("Intelligent File Comparisons" http://langa.com/newsletters/2004/2004-12-09.htm#3 ), I thought I would mention one of the best ones out there--- Delta.  On the "down side" (at least for a lot of the younger users) is that it still uses a DOS command line.  The good news is that Jean-Claude of Open Network has made Delta freeware! and there is a version for Linux.

I have been using it for well over a decade and love it.  Not only does it do a great job of "resynchronizing" when lines are inserted or deleted from *either* of the two files being compared, but it will also do intelligent comparisons of directories, even recursively through many levels.  It has a lot more going for it than that.  Anyone that does a lot of comparing should take a look at this and the other *great* tools that Open Network offers.  You can find them at http://www.openetwork.com/delta.html    Best regards, MikeD

Wow, that's a nice find, Mike! Fast, efficient--- and free! What's not to like? <g>

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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) Linux Help; and Rescuing Data on 5.25" Floppies

Hi Fred, I am a long time reader of Plus and find many useful tips and suggestions.  I am trying to learn Fedora3 and have it installed on a spare PC.  But, I am not familiar with UNIX type of commands and "googling" has not been very helpful with manuals and help files.  Growing up with DOS really hurts when the UNIX commands are needed ... really confusing.
 
If you have any links that are especially helpful with Fedora and Fedora setup, I would appreciate your comments and links.  For example, I have having lots of problems getting old 5.25 disk files moved over to CD's.  There is a suspicion that some of these 5.25 floppies are long gone with age but I am still trying to move some of the files on them.  I have mistakenly left some of my old tax files on these floppies ... maybe.  ---Cecil

Sounds like you have two separate issues going on, Cecil. First: We ran a list of "Help For Linux Novices" a while back. That might be a good place to start:
http://langa.com/newsletters/2004/2004-04-01.htm#7
http://langa.com/newsletters/2004/2004-04-05.htm#7

But your 5.25" floppy issue is something else, as most Linux distributions are aimed at the middle of the hardware bell curve. Most systems no longer ship with 5.25" floppies, so your copy of Linux may or may not be set up to auto-enable the old drives, leaving you either out of luck, or in for a possibly long haul of tweaking and manual editing of deep-geek Linux system settings.

You'd probably have better luck using Windows to try to recover data off the old disks: Windows hardware support is still unsurpassed, and all versions of Windows, including XP, can automatically recognize and read/write 5.25" floppies. What's more, XP also can burn CDs with no additional software needed. So, if you have a copy of XP, copying files from an old floppy to a CD can literally be a drag and drop operation that requires no OS tweaks, no additional software, and in fact, nothing else at all.

If you need to, you can buy a new 5.25" floppy drive for under $20, or a used one for literally a couple dollars: http://langa.com/u/7j.htm

Most PCs will recognize a 5.25" floppy drive when it's plugged in, although you may have to specify the drive capacity (usually 1.2MB). Once the hardware's connected, Windows almost always will see the drive, and know how to handle it. More info:
http://www.google.com/search?q=5%2E25+floppy+windows
http://www.google.com/search?q=5%2E25+floppy+xp

Good luck--- though you may not need much: I've pulled files off 5.25" floppies that were over a decade old, and which had sat--- dusty and unused--- for most of that time. You may be in for a pleasant surprise!

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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://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

Fabrication Artist
http://www.jamesepridham.com/

Ohio Valley Racing
http://ohiovalleyracing.com/index.html

"Unique Templates"
http://www.uniquetemplates.tk/

Hobby Kat
http://www.hobbykat.com/

Absolute Motor Works
http://www.absolutemotorworks.repair.bz/

Designated drivers for hire
http://www.ourchurch.com/member/d/designateddrive/

Free iPod Links
http://www.freeipod05.tk/

All Things Scott
http://www.scott-o-rama.com/

Monochrome Landscape Photography
http://www.monolandscapes.co.uk/

Touchstone Hosting
http://www.touchstonehosting.com/

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9) Where's the Uninstall Hidden?

Hi Fred, I am a Plus edition subscriber with a problem.

I have MS Office installed on my computer. In trying to uninstall it, a message pops up saying put in the original install office disk. When I do this it attempts to start a new installation instead of providing the information for continuing to uninstall. So the process is halted.

Do you have any suggestions on how to get the uninstall of office completed? Sincerely, Roy

The Office setup program comprises both the install and the uninstall routines: Feed in the CD, and once it gets going it should give you the option to install/reinstall, repair, *or remove* the current setup. It's that last option that you want.

Using a "setup" program to *UN*install software might seem strange, Roy, but it makes perfect sense when you remember that Office is from Microsoft, the company that makes you use the "Start" menu to stop your PC. <g>

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10) Just For Grins

I read with interest the material on your latest "Just for grins" section. In that same vein, I found a similar site, which while this isn't necessarily funny, just for purely "scientific" reasons, you may want to check out. It's sort of a primer on how to win a Darwin award with a microwave.

http://amasci.com/unew.html
http://amasci.com/weird/microexp.html#map

Darrel Schweitzer

Thanks Darrel! There's lots of ways to get yourself into trouble on those pages. <g>

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11) Plus! Edition Highlights:

• Dead "16 bit Windows Subsystem"
     (revive it, easily!)
• Cleaning Up the "Start" Menu
     (simpler than you might think!)
• Video Card Tweaking And Info Resources
     (from general info to brand-specific...)

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

Full 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, 2005-01-27!

Best,

Fred
( Editor@Langa.Com )

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

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