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The LangaList
Standard Edition

2005-05-26

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!

1) Recover Gigs And Gigs Of OEM-Reserved Space!

I just bought and set up a new laptop for myself. But, like so many systems today (both laptops and desktops), the new PC came preloaded with tons of software I had no use for, and no interest in. The system was preconfigured to offer me special deals from the vendor's marketing partners--- canned ads, in effect--- trying to get me to sign up with this ISP or that photo service or this other antivirus site.... All that software (gigs of it!) was eating up hard drive space and would make my backups far larger than they needed to be. Plus, once I layered in my own software, I'd end up with a needlessly complicated, bogged-down system containing both the OEM software and mine; in some cases, I'd have two kinds of software on the laptop to perform the same task. That's just dumb. Plus, as we all know in computers, needless complexity brings needless trouble. I wanted a clean, simple setup where I could control what went where.

Plus, the vendor had two hidden partitions on the hard drive, which combined to eat almost a third of the disk space I'd paid for. This isn't unusual at all: Many vendors now ship PCs with a special hidden partition on it that contains the recovery data, diagnostic software, and perhaps a kind of disk image of the as-delivered, factory-fresh software setup. The idea is that when you get into trouble, you can restore this pristine image, and get things back exactly the way they were on day one, when the PC rolled off the assembly line.

Vendors love this because it reduces their support costs: They can undo any user- or software- caused problems simply by having you roll your system back to a controlled, known-good, factory-perfect state.

Trouble is, the hidden partition cannot be used for anything else; it can eat up a truly huge chunk of your total hard drive space, even if the recovery files are of no use or interest to you. And if you do use the recovery tools, they're still not a panacea: Restoring your PC to the state it was in before you bought it means (obviously) that everything you did to the PC after you got it--- all your data, user-installed software and customizations--- may be wiped out. (This is another reason why making frequent backups, and storing them outside your PC [not on the hard drive, with everything else] is so important. See http://langa.com/backups/backups.htm .)

So, if the hidden partition isn't all that great a solution to system restoration, why not just wipe it out and gain back the space? Well, in some PCs, the hidden partition may also control how the system boots: If you simply delete the partition, you may also make your PC unable to boot from the hard drive until or unless you alter the boot process, which may involve some deep-geek tweaking.

And here's another major gotcha: In systems that ship without an operating system setup CD, your only copy of the operating system setup files may also be in a hidden partition. If you remove the recovery partition(s), you may make it impossible to reinstall the original OS; or may make it very difficult to install new hardware, because the drivers that normally would be on the setup CD are instead found in a (now missing) recovery partition.

Recovery partitions clearly are a flawed solution, but--- because they give vendors a fast, cheap (albeit crude) way to fix many kinds of problems--- they nonetheless have become an essential part of many vendor's support process: In fact, some vendors set things up so that if you remove the factory-supplied recovery tools and data, you may void your warranty. Why? Because you've taken away the vendor's simplistic (but inexpensive, for them) way to "put things back the way they were at the factory."

Ideally, you want a more flexible way to retain any recovery data, software, or setup files that may have been put in hidden partitions, while also gaining control over your PC--- and gaining access to all the hard drive space you paid for: That is, a way to keep the contents of the Recovery Partitions, without having them actually on your laptop's hard drive.

And, if you're like me, you'll also want a way to get a streamlined, clutter-free, fresh install of the OS on your laptop system, without all the excess baggage, marketing tie-ins, and useless software that so often comes bundled on a new PC.

That's what the current InformationWeek column is about. There, I'll tell you how I set up my new system, and also show you two free and easy methods you can use to get your new laptop--- or desktop, for that matter--- set up just the way you want it, and with access to all the disk space you paid for!

Click to:
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=163105444

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2) Free Compatibility Toolkit From Microsoft

I got this note from a Microsoft PR person recently:

Hi Fred: I wanted to give you a heads up that last week Microsoft released the 4th version of the Microsoft Application Compatibility ToolKit (ACT). The kit provides guidance and tools to resolve the most commonly encountered application compatibility issues for Windows XP, including Service Pack 2, and Windows Server 2003.

The ACT enables our customers to adapt Windows products by reducing commonly encountered application compatibility issues. The tool assists IT administrators through three key functions, including;

-The ACT takes a complete inventory of all of the customers desktop apps and identifies which ones are compatible with SP2 and which ones are not--- delivered in an easy to reuse XML format.

-For those apps that it knows how to mitigate, it will make the appropriate changes so the customer only has to run one .exe to get the fixes implemented.

-The ACT deploys the .exe across customer's desktops or works with SMS to be the distribution mechanism.

The toolkit is now available for free download at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/appcompatibility/default.mspx .

As you can gather from the above, this isn't a tool for novices or for those with relatively simple setups. But more advanced users and those struggling with  compatibility issues might find the tool useful.

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3) Picasa 2 Out, Still Free

Hi Fred, I know you covered Picasa in http://langa.com/newsletters/2004/2004-10-18.htm#5 , but I thought it might be worthwhile to mention: Google has released Picasa 2, a digital image tool that has more features than the previous version. And, it's still FREE! You can edit, fix digital photos and even post them to a blog. Might be worth a look. ---Mike Harms

Thanks, Mike! See http://www.picasa.com/

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Costs Little, Gives Lots!

"I have learned so much from your newsletter, I felt like I was stealing your brains
without saying thanks. Please accept my apology--- I'm subscribing to your Plus!
newsletter. I have recommended your newsletter to several friends, and
will continue to do so, only I'll extol the virtues of the Plus! version.
Thanks again." ---Dave Rosenthal

Thanks, Dave!

The LangaList Plus! Edition is ad-free, spam-proof,
and contains even more content--- tips, tricks, advice, downloads....---
than the Standard Edition you're now reading.

Only around $1 a month!

http://langa.com/plus.htm

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

4) Possible Security Holes In XP?

Hi Fred, I am always amazed at the breadth and depth of subjects you cover.  While looking at the Free "Data Execution Prevention" item in the Langalist Plus (#12 in http://www.langalist.com/plus/newsletters/2005/2005-04-07plus.asp ), I noticed the Remote tab in the System Properties panel.  It says on my spanking new pc running Win-XP SP2, "Allow Remote Assistance Invitations to be sent from this computer".  Then in the Advanced settings it says "Allow this computer to be controlled remotely."  Neither of these options make me comfortable and I have turned off the  "Allow this computer to be controlled remotely." option.  I think if I needed this option, I can go turn it on at the time.  What say you on the subject? Thanks, Rob Morrison

It's smart to turn both services off unless you intend to use them in the immediate future. The "Remote Assistance" (in all versions of XP) lets you ask someone to help you via network; you and they can both see what's on your screen, and the remote helper can even change things on your system, unless you specifically disallow this option. For safety, no one is supposed to be able to connect unless you've sent them a specific invitation, which is automatically time-limited (the default is 30 days--- a very long time indeed--- but it can be shortened). If they don't respond within the allotted time, the invitation expires and they can't connect unless you send a fresh invite. But still, why leave the service available at all unless you're going to use it?

Remote Control is also available as a separate option in XP Pro, independent of the remote control portion of Remote Assistance. It's a more total form of control: When someone connects by remote control, the local screen goes blank (actually, it reverts to the login screen); the screen output, and control of the keyboard and mouse, are piped to the person making the remote connection. They can use your PC as if they were sitting at its keyboard. There are various safeguards--- the remote connector needs a valid account and a password on your system, and the connection is automatically encrypted. But even so, no "invitation" is needed (as it is in Remote Assistance) so why leave the service running and available when you're not using it?

I turn my remote access tools off almost all the time. I've never used the "Assistance" option at all, except to test it (though I may try it as part of the "House Call" project  http://langa.com/newsletters/2005/2005-03-21.htm#5 ). But I use the Remote Control option almost every day: In the evenings, I'll have my laptop in the den, and remote control various PCs in my office or elsewhere around my house to perform routine maintenance and other tasks without having to sit at each system for long (boring!) periods. <g> But I always turn Remote Control off as the last step when I'm finishing with my work on my important systems (yes, you can turn off remote control via remote control!).

Lots more info:

XP Professional's Free "Remote Control" Option
http://langa.com/newsletters/2003/2003-02-24.htm#1

Using Remote Assistance to Get Help When You Need It
http://langa.com/u/9t.htm

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5) Delete Just the OS Files; Leave The Rest

Dear Fred, I am a long time standard subscriber and have recently upgraded to the Plus Edition.

I have  a problem that you may be able to help me with (I hope!). I have been running WIN2Kpro for about 2 years now and am very happy with it.  I installed it on my F partition as a clean install.  I have Win 98 on the C partition and would like to remove it without losing all of the other files on that partition.  As you know, even if programs are installed to another partition (i.e. D), most programs still write a few file to the windows folder mixed in with the operating system files.  My problem is how to identify which files belong to Win 98 so I can delete them and leave the rest.  BTW I have not  actually used W98 for nearly a year, although I do keep it updated.  I have searched the web looking for answers to this and all I can find for advice is ' Reformat the C drive". ---Clay C Collins

In Win98, the OS should be more or less completely contained in the C:\Program Files and C:\Windows folders, with a few boot files in the C:\ folder as well. In fact, a trick from long ago to perform a total reinstall of Windows98 without reformatting the hard drive was to boot to DOS and "deltree" the C:\Program Files and C:\Windows folders and subfolders. This would strip out the OS, but leave all the user files intact. (You can see this process spelled out in an ancient column from 1997, but you have to promise not to laugh at my picture there <g>: http://www.winmag.com/library/1997/0301/analy026.htm )

So, if all you want to do is kill the live OS files, the above will probably suffice. But you can go further, if you wish:

I'd suggest you boot into Win2K and use Win2K to explore the Win98 partition: Copy any files or folders (excluding C:\Program Files and C:\Windows) that you want to preserve; paste them into some safe and obvious location in your Win2K folder structure--- perhaps a new folder named something like "98Salvage" or some such.

Next, I'd suggest you make a complete backup of the Win98 partition and store it for safekeeping on CD (so you can get back any files you later find you missed, but still need). You then can delete the contents of the C: drive, freeing up the space.

Now use a boot manager/partitioner like BootIt to shrink C: to a minimum size; you can make it just a few megabytes, and assign the newly-freed space to the Win2K setup. This approach gets rid of Win98, preserves its files, and yet frees up space while also preserving a "C:" drive on your system, so none of the drive letter assignments currently used by your Win2K setup will be affected. You can even install the boot manager itself onto the newly-shrunken C: drive; from which it will give you smooth access to the Win2K setup!

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6) Last Week To "Recommend And Win"

Next week, I'll choose three more monthly winners who each will get 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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7) "Raw" Data Tool For Digital Cams

Hiya Fred, here's another tip that I hope you (and your LangaList readers) will find worthwhile. I try send you interesting things I run across, because I know it indirectly helps the children you sponsor.

I haven't seen much in the way of free tools that convert RAW files. From the email from Corel, "Corel Expands Camera Raw Support with [the Free] RawShooter Essentials 2005... You can alter white balance and exposure compensation, and use new innovative tools such as Detail Extraction, Appearance and Fill Light to enhance the photos during conversion." Visit http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=Corel3/Downloads/Trials (Note that although it appears on this free trials page, it is not a time-limited trial edition.)

Regards, Joseph Maddison

Thanks, Joseph. Unlike many similar computer terms, "raw" in this context isn't an acronym. It simply means plain old raw--- as in "unprocessed" or "unaltered." The raw data is what's captured by a digital camera's chip; some cameras let you store this data as-is, without any compression, smoothing, or other software manipulation. Raw files tend to be quite large, but give you the original data to play with in a PC-based imaging tool, rather than making you start with what's already been processed once by the camera's own built-in software (eg when the camera applies JPEG compression to a raw image, and then stores it as a *.jpg file).

Lots more info:
http://www.google.com/search?q=raw+image+format
http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/article_pages/why_use_raw.html

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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

Your Personal Geek
http://www.yourpersonalgeek.us/

Midwest Rock Lobster
http://www.midwestrocklobster.com/

Odd News And More (may offend some)
http://www.chainclubs.com/e107/news.php

Charleswood (Manitoba) Youth Soccer
http://www.mts.net/~pjrogers/cysa/

GregWoodward Blog
http://gregwoodard.blogspot.com/

Dorminy Family
http://www.thedorminys.com/

Site for Sore Eyes
http://www.intergate.com/~kdlarson/

Jan G.M. Meijer's Blog (political)
http://www.jrmstart.com/blogjan/index.html

Angelsong's Blog
http://angelsongsday.blogspot.com/

Windows Tip of the Day
http://windowstipoftheday.blogspot.com/

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9) Reader's Security Tips

Dear sir, I don't know if you have referred in your newsletter to the following locations which can be the source of much malware, spies,

1 - Another user might be logged on to windows (even surreptitiously) which might be locking applications or doing other workovers on the computer. Check to see if other software is not operating under another user as follows:

The Task Manager enables checking if other users are performing tasks.
 * Open the Task Manager (<CTRL> <ALT> <DEL>)
 * Click on the Processes tab
 * Check the checkbox "Show processes from other users"
 * Be wary of any other users besides yourself that are not the System User, Local Services, Network Services

   These can be SAFELY switched off while attempts are made to neutralize offensive files.
   No harm can be done because after rebooting the processes will return.

2 - Using the Microsoft Utility msconfig (usually in \WINDOWS\PCHEALTH\HELPCTR\Binaries) the last tab Startup shows software automatically activated at startup. These can be unchecked. The computer must be rebooted for these to take effect.
After rebooting dialog box pops up which should just be checked not to reappear.

No harm can be done by this and all actions are reversible after rebooting.

3 -  In the SERVICES (My Computer / RIGHT click /  Manage / Services and Applications / Services)
      there might be some meanies running in the background.
     * First the services should be sorted according to the STATUS column to see which have been started up
     * Secondly they should be checked to see whether they belong to Microsoft or not
     * Suspect services should be switched off and be put into manual mode

All these actions are reversible although it would be a good idea to print out (print screen) the initial state before switching off any services so as to be able to restore previous settings. ---Avron Polakow

Thank you, Avron. A good backup is also a smart idea, of course, before making any system changes.

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10) Just For Grins

THIS IS REALLY CREEPY!

Think of a letter between A and W.

Repeat it out loud as you scroll down.

Keep going, Don't stop . . .

Think of an animal that begins with that letter.

Repeat it out loud as you scroll down.

Think of either a man's/woman's name that begins with the last letter in the animal's name

Almost there.........

Now count out the letters in that name on the fingers of the hand you are not using to scroll down.

Take the hand you counted with and hold it out in front of you at face level

Look at your palm very closely and notice the lines in your hand.

Do the lines take the form of the first letter in the person's name?
 

 

Of course they don't.......

Now smack yourself in the head, get a life and quit playing stupid e-mail games!

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11) Plus! Edition Highlights:

Plus! readers get extra content in every issue. In addition, there's a separate Plus!-only web site with 100,000 words of extra content, special features, and private downloads not available in any Standard edition.

Sign up now, so you won't miss items like these, from today's Plus edition:
 

• Bellsouth's (And Other ISPs') Software
    (how their "setup cds" and anti-spam software can cause more harm than good)
• Web Connection Makes PC Crawl
    (simple tweak to TCP settings takes the brakes off)
• More Small Mail Server Options
    (powerful, free!)

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, 2005-05-30!

Best,

Fred
( Editor@Langa.Com )

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

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