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The LangaList
Standard Edition

2005-02-28

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) The Dirtiest PC I Could Find

In our last InformationWeek article, we showed you, step-by-step, how to make your laptop run cooler--- and quite possibly last longer!--- by thoroughly cleaning the dust and dirt from its cooling system. (More info? See "Curing Laptop Overheating" http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=60300177 )

But it's not just a laptop thing: All PCs can benefit from a little regular physical housekeeping. You see, a PC's constantly whirring fans draw in a huge volume of air over time. Even in a seemingly-clean environment, the amount of dust and dirt that can build up inside a PC's case is nothing short of astonishing. This layer of dust literally acts like a sweater on your PC's delicate electronics, preventing them from getting rid of their heat, and heat is the enemy of all electronics.

At best, excess heat will shorten the life of a PC; if allowed to worsen, it may cause erratic behavior, data errors, spontaneous reboots, and other intermittent problems; and in the worst cases, a PC can literally cook itself to death.

So it's not overly fastidious to clean out a PC from time to time: There are real, tangible benefits in terms of increased longevity and reliability.

Still, few users bother to clean their PCs--- apparently thinking it's some arduous, complex task, requiring exotic gear and specialized knowledge. But it's not hard at all!

In fact, I wrote a new, step-by-step photo-essay to show you just how easy it can be to clean even a seriously dirty desktop/deskside (ie non-laptop) system. Yours probably won't be as bad as the one I'll show you, but after seeing how easy it is to handle even this seriously grungy system, it'll be a snap for you to clean your PC, and accrue all the benefits of having a cleaner, cooler-running, longer-lasting machine.

Right now, the PC you're using to read this article probably has some major dust buildup going on, even if the room you're in is clean, and even if the PC looks OK from the outside. Come see my example system--- the dirtiest PC I could find--- and you'll know what I mean!

The article is posted now (free!) at:
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=60403472

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2) Tools To Keep Hard Drives Healthy? (Pt. 1)

Fred, Dittos.

I am not having any HD trouble at the moment, but one never knows.

Does Norton/Symantec still offer a package that, as long as the HD will turn, will recover most data? I believe that I would buy it just to keep around.

I have been running Steve Gibson's SpinRite (now up to v6) about once a month to keep an eye on my HDs. A weekend should be reserved for a complete SR HD checkup. I wish, tho', he would offer a better explanation of SR's results. Thank You, James Boatwright

Symantec's Norton SystemWorks comes in two versions, and I'll let Symantec spell out the details:
http://www.symantec.com/sabu/sysworks/basic/features.html
http://www.symantec.com/sabu/sysworks/pro/features.html

Here's my take: Over time, Symantec has increasingly emphasized "soft" PC problems more and more, and steadily downplayed "hard" problems. For example their disk tools now mainly focus on various forms of more or less routine software rollbacks and file-recovery techniques; and not so much on resurrecting a system or hard drive that's suffered a catastrophic problem (such as a head crash, or accidental formatting or repartitioning).

In fairness to Symantec, the overwhelming majority of drive problems *are* of the softer, simpler sort: In these instances, a "GoBack" or "Unerase" or "Disk Doctor" tool can be a huge help. But these tools aren't fundamentally different from what's already included in Windows. With the Symantec tools, you're getting somewhat extended functionality, a slicker interface, and more automated operation--- all good things. But you're not getting an entirely new set of functions that you didn't already have, at least in simpler form, built into Windows. For example, GoBack and Unerase extend the functions you already have in System Restore and Recycle Bin. And if you already have a good, full-blown backup procedure in use, a tool like GoBack is nearly pointless.

Likewise, consider Norton Disk Doctor: If your hard drive is munged, you can run NDD from the installation Symantec/Norton CD; but the current versions of NDD don't do anything fundamentally different from what Chkdsk (or Scandisk, in older versions) can do; those tools are already built into Windows. In fact, the User's Guide for Norton SystemWorks 2005 only has maybe 1000 words, total, on the entire subject of "If your disk is damaged..." Most of those 1000 words is devoted to using Windows' own, or Norton's, emergency disks so you can access GoBack or the other "soft" recovery tools.

In contrast, the old versions of the Norton Utilities included a powerful "sector editor" that let you examine and manipulate a hard drive literally byte by byte. Tools like that weren't fun to use, but in those rare instances when you needed 'em, you *really* needed them, and they could be a lifesaver. But the newer versions have nothing like that at all.

So: Is something like SystemWorks 2005 useful? Yes, but only in a limited way: The more skillful and knowledgeable you are; and the more well-setup your PC is; the less useful it is to have these tools. (Oddly, this is totally the opposite of the old Norton Utilities, whose value increased as you gained knowledge and experience). On my PCs the Antivirus is the only Symantec/Norton tool I still routinely use (I consider it one of the top three, along with NOD32 http://www.nod32.com/ and AVG http://www.grisoft.com ).

Spinrite, from http://grc.com , works from the totally other end of the spectrum: It's not about software rollbacks or lost-file recovery, but is instead focused on preventing fatal hard disk data errors in the first place; and possibly recovering from them after they occur. SpinRite uses some diagnostics and data-recovery methods that are second only to the kind of industrial-grade tools used by drive makers and data-recovery specialists; but it's not so much a mass-market tool. Instead, it's aimed at more skilful and knowledgeable users who want an extra measure or prevention or recoverability for their hard drives.

So where does that leave us? Let's try to sort it out, and offer specific suggestions, in the next item.

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3) Tools To Keep Hard Drives Healthy? (Pt. 2)

(continued from above)

We've now defined a spectrum from general, mass-market PC- and disk-maintenance tools (like the current Symantec tools) whose main strength is ease of use and "don't have to think about it" operation--- which is a great thing for many millions of users. At the other end of the spectrum, we have tools like Spinrite that may be harder to use, but that can fix some problems that the simpler tools can't even touch.

If we turn that spectrum into a list, then a full-blown belt-and suspenders, complete package of disk-maintenance tools, listed from low- to high-level, might include:

1. a disk sector editor, like these http://www.google.com/search?q=disk+sector+editor+free (for low-level reconstruction or recovery of data from disks scrambled too badly for the more automated recovery methods to work)
2. an unpartitioner or unfdisk tool like these http://www.google.com/search?q=recover+deleted+partition+free (to reverse accidental/erroneous FDisk or partitioning operations)
3. an unformat tool, like these http://www.google.com/search?q=unformat+free (to reverse accidental/erroneous reformatting of a hard drive)
4. a low-level maintenance tool like Spinrite (run maybe once a month, as James suggests, to guard against fatal data errors)
5. a partitioning/format tool such as the simple "DISKPART" included in XP/2K or FDisk included in Win9x and DOS; plus Windows' own Format; or (better still) a more powerful tool like BootIt http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/ that works for almost all operating systems and can partition and format in one operation.
6. a high-level disk maintenance tool like Windows' own Scandisk or Chkdsk, or third-party tools like "Disk Doctor" and the rest of the Symantec/Norton suite (to check for and correct the simpler forms of disk errors)
7. a file-recovery or "unerase" tool like these http://www.google.com/search?q=recover+deleted+file+unerase+free , or something like Norton Unerase, that you can use when the "Restore" function of the Recycle Bin isn't enough (to reverse simple cases of accidental file deletion).
8. a good backup/imaging software and regimen, with at least the system's most essential files backed up daily ( http://langa.com/backups/backups.htm ). Symantec's GoBack isn't a substitute for a true backup or imaging tool, but it's better than nothing, and can be OK for lightweight, limited kinds of backups. ( http://langa.com/newsletters/2001/2001-12-03.htm#1 )

Note that this is a *very* hard-core list, and far more comprehensive than most users will need or want. But with it, you can either prevent or recover from just about any problem that can befall a hard drive.

Looking at more limited subsets: The mythical "average" user lives mostly in the 6, 7, 8 part of the list; and most commercial disk-health tools live there as well. Windows' own built-in tools cover those bases, too, although perhaps with lesser ease of use than with a suite like SystemWorks.

Of items 1-5 in the list, Windows really only provides #5, the other functions are best provided by add-on third-party tools. Note that the lower you go in the list, the less likely you are to need the listed tool. But conversely, without the lower-level, problems in the 1-4 range will be showstoppers for you: Those problems usually cannot be corrected by the higher-level tools.

So, as with so many things, it's a judgment call: Go as deep into the list as seems right for your needs and skill level.

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4) Cygwin and "Linux Inside Windows" Options

Our item on "Knoppix For Knewbies" ( http://langa.com/newsletters/2005/2005-02-24.htm#9 ) brought this alternate suggestion for an easy way to learn Linux:

Dear Fred, Thank you for your great news letter. I have been a plus subscriber a little under a year. I just love the advice and that I can help an underprivileged kid....

I read your recent article about Learning Linux by using the live CDs. When I tried learning Linux a few years ago I installed linux on one of my spare machines. I found Linux very difficult to learn. I found cygwin at http://www.cygwin.com/ . It installs and runs under windows. It is as secure as windows, so it is not a good permanent choice. But it really helps you to learn Linux. You have access to it via CLI [command line interface] or GUI [graphical user interface] and most of the Linux software runs under it. You can download and compile most of the Linux software so that it runs either in cygwin mode. You can use cygwin just like normal 'single user mode' Linux. What really helped me was the ability to examine the Linux directory tree, man pages, how-to's and text documents with my favorite Windows tools.
 
I know most of your readers have heard about cygwin since you have covered it in your news letter before. It continues to evolve and get better. There is one trick that I have learned. When you install cygwin it will go to a mirror site and download the packages you want to install. When I did this I selected all of the packages and installed. The setup crashed about half way through. So Do the setup with the default packages. Then run the setup again and select about half of the packages you didn't select the first time through. When that finishes run setup again and select the remaining packages. Then you will be able to have all of the cygwin/Linux software installed on your machine. The full install takes about 8 gigs. This includes the source files and all the applications that you can imagine.

Thank you for a great newsletter. ---Ken Parnell

Thanks, Ken!

From the site:

What Is Cygwin?
--Cygwin is a Linux-like environment for Windows. It consists of two parts:
--A DLL (cygwin1.dll) which acts as a Linux API emulation layer providing substantial Linux API functionality.
--A collection of tools, which provide Linux look and feel.

Lots more info:

A Way To Install Linux Inside Windows
http://langa.com/newsletters/2003/2003-04-10.htm#5

More "Linux Inside Windows" Options (Pt 1)
http://langa.com/newsletters/2003/2003-04-14.htm#1

More "Linux Inside Windows" Options (Pt 2)
http://langa.com/newsletters/2003/2003-04-14.htm#2

Preconfigured Searches:
http://www.google.com/search?q=cygwin
http://groups-beta.google.com/groups?q=cygwin

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

"Fred, I , like so many computer geeks get in the habit of trying out
different software (freeware and shareware) never planning to use it,
but just trying it out so we will have a glimmer of an idea of what
[someone] may be talking about. Computer, internet, service newsletters
are the same, I have so many sent to me at my junk mail e-mail site,
that I never more than browse them (if I don't automatically trash
them). Then comes the dawning: 'I really am reading and *using* this
particular newsletter or software.' I guess what I am really trying to
say is Thanks... At this time I must sign up for the plus subscription
(at my real e-mail acct). If we use it, we should pay for it....I and my
clients thank you. Bob Javoroski"

Thanks, Bob. The Plus! edition costs only around $1 a month,
but that small amount is what keeps Langa.Com and this newsletter afloat.

Get all the details:

http://langa.com/plus.htm

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

5) More On Tweaking For Old DOS Apps In XP/2K

One of the great things about you--- the readers of this newsletter--- is that you often know deeper, or better, answers to questions than I do; and you're generous about sharing that information. Truth be told, I learn a *lot* from you folks! <g>

For example, in "Controlling 'Command' or 'DOS-like' Screens In XP/2K" ( http://langa.com/newsletters/2005/2005-02-24.htm#5 ) I wrote what I knew about altering the size, fonts, appearance and such of DOS-like Command Windows in XP and 2K. But several of you had additional tricks to share, such as this:

Fred, I'm still supporting a DOS application I wrote many years ago, and here's what I found to solve the "Text doesn't fill up all the screen problem." It seems that setting up a shortcut pointing to a DOS app defaults to using CMD.EXE rather than COMMAND.COM. Here's the boiler plate I sent to clients with this problem:

To correct the screwy display, you'll have to modify the shortcut that starts the program. Right click on the shortcut icon and choose "Properties." Click on the "Program" tab. You'll see an entry on the "Cmd line" that reads something like:

        C:\FB30\FB.EXE

Change this so it reads:

        COMMAND /CC:\FB30\FB.EXE

Notice the slashes go in different directions, and the only space is after COMMAND. For the "Run" setting, choose "Maximized." Click "OK".

Double click the icon to start the program. If the display still looks wrong, click on the icon in the upper left corner of the DOS window. (This may look like a little MS-DOS, or a little C:\ prompt icon.) From the resulting menu, choose "Properties." Click the "Layout" tab. Change the "Screen buffer size" and "Window size" settings to width of 80 and height of 25. Click OK. If it asks if you want this to apply to all windows like this, answer "Yes."

Exit out of the program. Double click the icon to start it again, and the screen should look normal. --- Dennis C. Sykes ( http://www.DogwoodMicro.com )

Thanks, Dennis!

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6) Last Day To "Recommend And Win"

At the end of the day, I'll choose three more winners of FREE ONE YEAR SUBSCRIPTIONS to the LangaList Plus! I give away three such subscriptions each month. (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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7) What's Blocking His Website Access?

Dear Fred: I must be getting close to the end of my first year as a Plus subscriber - this is definitely a subscription that I will be renewing.

I have a problem and you are my last hope - if you can't solve it I'll be tempted to do some delicate adjustments with a hammer.

I have Windows XP Pro, with SP1 and SP2.  All updates installed, McAfee Virus 2005 has been run many times, as have Ad Aware, Spybot, Pest Patrol, Error Nuker, and Microsoft Antispyware.

I recently tried to load the web page of my local computer parts supplier, Rapidpcs.com, using IE6.  I got the page not found error message.  I rang the shop and confirmed the page was up and running.  I tried using Firefox and got the same result, i.e. this page contains no date (this is the same as Page Not Found in IE6) I tried dozens of other sites from my favourites and they all loaded.

I rang the BT help desk.  30 minutes later they said they couldn't help.  They put me onto a supervisor.  He couldn't solve the problem.  They then booked a call back from a specialist team member.  After more than 40 minutes, he couldn't solve it.  Not being a "techie" I can't remember much of what they tried, but I do remember them telling me to open the "hosts" file and to do a ping test.  That confirmed my computer was communicating with the site, but for some reason the page would not load in IE6 or Firefox.

In the end they said that there was obviously something wrong with my set up and I should re-install Windows.  I did so, and sure enough, I was able to access that particular web page [for a while. But then later] the same mysterious error has somehow got back into my system!

I am aware that you can stop a particular programme from accessing the internet, i.e. telling your firewall etc. but the BT (British Telecom) helpdesk agreed with me that they don't know of any software or setting that can prevent access to one, or now two and possibly more, web sites.

Do you have any idea what is going on? Kind regards, Geoff

After several rounds of email, it became clear that Geoff had two problems. One was a utility he was using: "Peer Guardian." Like so many hyper-aggressive security tools, this one ended up blocking access to valid sites, too. When he removed that utility, the problem mostly--- but not entirely--- went away.

The remaining part of his problem had nothing to do with Geoff at all:

Most sites are set up to work with or without the "www" in the URL. For example, http://langa.com and http://www.langa.com get you to the same place. So, Geoff (not unreasonably) assumed that rapidpcs.com and www.rapidpcs.com were the same.

But they're not. http://rapidpcs.com/ doesn't work, but http://www.rapidpcs.com/  is perfectly fine.

This can happen when, by design, accident or other reason, a web host or registrar sets things up so that you *must* use the "www" in the URL. Yes, it's a little silly, but a surprising number of sites are set up just that way.

So; If you have trouble connecting to a site that you think *should* be working, be sure to try both the long and the short form of the URL. If one doesn't work, the other just might.

If neither way works, and you're sure the site is there, and that you have the URL correct, then it may be something on your own PC that's blocking you.

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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

Zoxfire (fantasy adventure)
http://www.zoxfire.com

Short Circuit Sniffer
http://testecvw.com/

Freebie Authority
http://www.freebieauthority.com/links.php

Reading Materials
http://www.kgomez.com/read/

michael jackson news and pictures
http://www.mj-x.cjb.net/

weekly diatribe
http://www.bjha.net/

Cook Quarter Horses (Tn)
http://www.cookquarterhorses.com

findthisthing
http://www.findthisthing.com/

heidi howe
http://www.heidihowe.com/default.htm

Free photo enhancement software
http://www.tommesani.com/AltaLux.html

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9) Old Setups On New VPCs

Regarding installing operating systems and programs on Virtual PC ( http://search.atomz.com/search/?sp-q=vpc&sp-a=0008002a-sp00000000 )
 
1. Is it practical (possible) to use Drive Image to "restore" an image from an old computer running W98 to a virtual pc? This would allow me to eliminate the old machine which has programs I don't want to load on the new PC.
 
2. Can I use a boot (restore) disk to install a system to use in a window (the same one that came with the computer or another one from an old computer I no longer use)? If so, is it "legal" to use the "restore disk" that came with the computer to run in a virtual window?
 
Thanks, Bob Sobotik

1) This would result in a very messy setup, at best: The old disk image will contain tons of settings, drivers and such leftover from the original system. Windows may boot and run on the new (virtual) PC, but will need to install settings and drivers for the new hardware, probably resulting in a less than optimal setup that will carry with it lots of vestigial remnants of the original install. This approach is usually not recommended except in emergencies (eg to recover data from an old image that was originally created on a different system). You can certainly do it, and it may work, but it'd be better to install Win98 afresh in a VPC, and then install the old software there. Then, treat the VPC exactly the same as you would a real PC--- make backups, keep it virus-protected, defragged, etc. That setup will give you access to Win98 and your old software, and should run just fine for years to come.

2) I'm not a lawyer, but if the original PC is no longer in service, then I see no ethical problem with this: It's still 1 copy of the OS on 1 PC (albeit virtual). But if it's an OEM "Recovery Disk" and not a real Windows Setup disk, then you may be back in situation #1---  the Recovery Disk will contain tons of settings, drivers and such leftover from the original system. Again, you may be able to do this, but you're not likely to get a pristine setup.

But the nice thing about virtual PCs is: there's no harm in trying. Even if the whole VPC blows up, your main setup--- your real physical PC and all its software--- will be completely unaffected. You can just delete the mangled virtual PC files, and start over.

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10) Just For Grins

Hi Fred, I bet I'm not the first to send this one in!

http://www.bbspot.com/News/2005/01/microsoft_antispyware.html

<vbg> [<G>eorge]

Actually, you were first, George; thanks.

BTW, MS has updated the beta with new code, and that particular (and embarrassing) problem should now be gone. <g>

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11) Plus! Edition Highlights:

• AutoPlay Repair Wizard Redux
     (easily fixes many autoplay problems)
• Follow-Up: Snooping or Stalking?
     (more ideas on keeping mail private from disgruntled ex's)
• Two Truly Outstanding Free Tools
     (they're "must have" utilities, and they're free!)

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

See you next issue, 2005-03-03!

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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