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The LangaList
Standard Edition

2005-09-29

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) Effortlessly Store/Share (Even Huge) Files, Free!

Have some photos, videos, even EXE or ZIP files you'd like to post in a central spot for family and friends to see or download? Want to do it for free?

Some of the new crop of file-sharing services let you do just that: post large files--- even 50MB files--- of any type, on their servers, for free access by yourself and others. And that "50MB" example is a *per file* limit; you can post as many 50MB files as you like!

Some of the new file-sharing services offer more or less storage; others are optimized for sharing a specific kind of file, such as photos, or MP3s, or whatnot. But perhaps the best way to sort out these differences is to look at some real-life example sites.

I've tested many, many of these file-sharing services in recent weeks, and have selected ten which I found to be the best of the bunch.

All of my top ten either have at least a free trial, and most have a "free forever" option, depending on the level of service you wish. All accept photo files, most also accept videos, and some accept any kind of file you want to post--- even Zip files or EXEs! File size limits range from 10MB to 50MB per file, with some higher limits available, too. I've posted mini-reviews of these top-ten, along with direct links to each site, at
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=171000882 .

If you want to share photos, videos, or almost any other kind of file, easily and inexpensively (maybe even free!), click on over to
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=171000882 to see this new breed of file sharing service!

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awesome material and is written so anyone can understand it. I want you to
know that your info has helped me out of a pickle more than once. Thanks
and keep up the great job!"---Ken Larson

Thanks, Ken! The LangaList Plus! Edition costs only around $1/month, and
is ad-free, spam-proof, and contains even more content---
tips, tricks, advice, downloads---
than the Standard Edition you're now reading.

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2) Six "Dumbest Ideas In Computer Security"

Hi, Fred. I thought you might like to see this article by security specialist Marcus J. Ranum. It ought to be required reading for IT folks. (Not the smart ones who read your list, of course. They already know this stuff.)

http://www.ranum.com/security/computer_security/editorials/dumb/

It's a list of the six "dumbest ideas in computer security," along with a lucid explanation of why they made the list. While I don't necessarily agree that the ideas in here are all dumb -- educating users, for instance, is always a good idea -- they are certainly weak bases upon which to build a security strategy. ---Phil Freed

With a title like "dumbest ideas in computer security," you gotta at least look, right? <g> But as Phil says, it actually turns out to be a pretty good list, with even wider applicability than the author states.

Look at #2 on his list, for example, and then think about how many times you hear or see some claim that "our software blocked 16 gazillion spam emails!" or some such--- without telling you how many good emails got thrown out as well.

Interesting reading!

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3) Many Setup CDs on One DVD?

Dear Fred: A friend of mine recommended your newsletter about a year ago. After benefiting repeatedly from the Standard edition, I finally bit the bullet and went for the Plus! Edition. I'm looking forward to the added content.

I've got a quick(?) question for you. I've got piles of CDs in my collection full of clip-art, hardware drivers, software installs, etc. These take up a lot of space, and most of them are using only a fraction of the space on the CD. I'd really like to reduce all the clutter by consolidating the CDs by storing their contents onto higher capacity DVDs. Is there a good way to do this while ensuring that all data files get copied over and also retaining the original CDs' functionality (e.g. ability to install the software)?

Keep the great content flowing! B. Stoops, Central Asia

In most cases, there's no special trick involved: You can simply copy the entire contents of the setup CD into its own folder on a DVD. Make sure you're getting *all* files, including subfolders, "hidden" files and folders, etc. If you're not sure how to see and grab hidden, system, protected and similar files, see tip #2 in http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20011204S0009 (it's for XP, but all versions of Windows have very similar settings).

If the software requires unlock codes, record that info (plus any other potentially useful info, such as receipt numbers, purchase dates, etc.) in a TXT file and include the text file in the software's folder.

Note that some (mostly older) setup CDs have a form of copy protection that makes the setup software look for itself in a CD drive. If you have this kind of CD, it'd be best to hang onto the original CD, just in case; or minimally, make an "ISO" copy of the original setup CD (a kind of "image" of the CD): Create the ISO copy on your hard drive initially, and then store the ISO on the DVD so you can recreate a standalone setup CD in the future, should you need to.

Creating an ISO image of a CD:
http://www.google.com/search?q=create+iso
http://www.google.com/search?q=create+iso+free

(See also item #4, below, for a related question.)

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4) DVD Access From DOS/Win98 Boot Floppy/CD

Fred.. I have finally determined that I MUST backup, and want to use your system of imaging to CD / DVD ( http://langa.com/backups/backups.htm ). I'm still plugging along with Win 98SE (don't want to change)
 
I don't understand how I can get a DVD reader to work (assuming I am trying to read it to a disk drive that has just been formatted), My 98SE start up disk says start computer with CD drive, nothing about DVD drive.
 
Can you tell me how I get the DVD drive to work? thanks a lot. ---Jack

Most DVD drives will work fine, as-is, as CD ROM drives: If you boot from a Win98/DOS CD or floppy and load the generic Win98 CD drivers (eg "Oak Technology Inc. OTI-011 CD-ROM device driver"), you should be able to read data files on either a CD or DVD drive. I suppose there may be cases with unusual DVD hardware where you might need a specialty driver, but I've never encountered that--- my DVD drives (several brands and vintages) operate just fine when accessed by Win98's generic CD drivers. Win98 or DOS doesn't know the DVDs are DVDs--- they're simply seen as (unusually large) CDs. <g>

It's simple to test your system: Just create or grab a CD-capable DOS floppy, boot from it, and see if you can access a data disk in your DVD drive:
http://www.google.com/search?q=win98+dos+boot+cd+floppy

Bottom line: For reading data files (programs, etc.), DVDs are really just a large kind of CD, as far as most older operating system are concerned. Just treat them that way--- as if they were a CD--- and things should work fine.

(See also item #3, above for a related question.)

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5) ZoneAlarm: Not Out Of The Woods Yet

As we've reported previously, the new version of ZoneAlarm released in July caused trouble for many users (see http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=169400298 and http://langa.com/u/w.htm ). Several point-releases later and many of the major problems are fixed. But others remain, as these sample letters show:

Hello Fred, I'm sorry to report that there is a problem with ZoneAlarm version 6.0.667.000 - the current version released on September 6th. I have installed it twice on two new Windows XP computers and both times experiences the same problems. It is fully documented at 
http://www.computergripes.com/ZoneAlarm.html  Hard to believe that the third go-round of version 6 could have so many errors. ---Michael Horowitz

Hi Fred, I know you keep up on these things, but have you seen the NOISE at ZA Forums about ZA6?  I relied on Brian Livingston's recommendation that appeared that all was well.... "Burned users howled when they ran into problems with the new, 6.0 version of ZoneAlarm Pro and ZoneAlarm Security Suite last month ? but the makers of the award-winning software have now released an update that they say corrects the errors." I had heard about the "problems" and turned off Updates to stick with 5.5 until the "word" came out, and thought Brian had the word. Not in my case. XP Pro SP1a, PrevX, Avast, MS Antispyware (that has NEVER caught anything) Linksys BEFSR41, ADSL. After installing, constant re-boots when ZA started to appear. Uninstalled, had to uninstall PrevX which was lunched, did the clean-up, NOT the clean Uninstall as recommended as I had already Uninstalled ZA. Now, with EVERYTHING turned off and as Admin, ZAP 5.5 Install starts, asks questions, I accept the License and hit Install, install screen disappears and nothing!, no HDD activity, absolutely nothing!  As if a gremlin says, don't let him install me again! The crying and gnashing of teeth at ZA Forums is deafening..... revolt in the air, ZA is hiding out and only answering $40 support calls..... Thanks for keeping us sane.....Al

My own copies of ZA6+ are mostly working OK, and I've mostly gotten past the long "teaching" period where you have to train ZA's "OS firewall" to allow even routine actions by utterly benign software. The increased boot times remain, but that's merely an annoyance as you normally don't have to reboot XP all that often. And the lingering paranoid popups--- "DANGEROUS ACTIVITY! Shall we let Software X perform action Y...?"---  are mainly a problem for me when I'm using XP's Remote Desktop (which I do every evening, to check in on my office PC from afar): Any ZA popup on the office PC does not get processed by and shown on the remote PC, so I can't answer the prompt's question. Instead, I have to go back to the office, answer the prompt locally, and then can resume normal operation.

I'm still betting that Zonelabs will eventually get things sorted out. But as we discussed in http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=169400298 , I think this may be a case of an excellent piece of software finally being encrusted with so many bells, whistles, doodads and add-ons that it actually becomes *less* useful rather than more.

(See item #9, below, for some firewall alternatives.)

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6) Last Days To Enter September's FREE Drawing

At the end of the month, I'll randomly choose three more winners of the FREE ONE YEAR SUBSCRIPTIONS 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) More On Bearshare and Limewire

With regard to "P2P Problems," especially with Bearshare ( http://langa.com/newsletters/2005/2005-09-26.htm#7 ):

Hi Fred. Excellent newsletter. Have been a long time subscriber to the plus edition which is a mine of information.

I've used both Bearshare and Limewire and of the two, I prefer the limewire format. Both versions are loaded with viruses! The problem is  trying to scan any downloads for viruses before opening the file. The main program doesn't allow for this. My solution is to create a desktop shortcut to the "Shared" folder.

Having downloaded a file (never with an .exe extension!) I then open the shortcut and am able to scan the downloaded file with AVG. This has saved my a great deal of heart ache as I reckon that 20% of downloads have a virus!  Regards Fred Haines

Thanks, Fred. I avoid P2P stuff for exactly that reason--- too many problems for too little return. But I know many, many readers love file-sharing via P2P software, so your tips may help them steer clear of some of the abundant dangers.

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8) Code Load Success Story

After their site was listed in the "Load The Code" section, these folks wrote:

Hi Fred, Thanks very much for featuring www.completeseniors.com in your Load the Code section. We had the highest amount of visitors last month since we started the site, mostly from the Langa e-newsletter. Keep it up! ---The Complete Seniors Team

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

PC1Stop
http://pc1stop.com/

In Review: Movies, Music, and More
http://reviewsbymarat.blogspot.com/

Computer Responders (Huntsville area)
http://www.computerresponders.com/

komas wedding flowers
http://www.komasweddingflowers.com/

Darrell Manns
http://www.intergate.com/%7Edmanns/index.html

Marilyn Collins
http://www.geocities.com/marilyn777/M.html

"dogpile html code"
http://www.vlasishost.com/news/dogpile-html-code.html

I Would Rather Be Quilting
http://www.iwouldratherbequilting.com/

Nova Scotia Computer Audio Video Entertainment
http://www.nscave.com/

Reflective Insulation
http://www.knadistrib.com/index.htm
 

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9) Firewall Alternatives

In regards to "Simple Tools For Internet Control" ( http://langa.com/newsletters/2005/2005-09-15.htm#5 ) I found a free for home use firewall that has content filtering, parental controls and many other useful features. Check it out, it has the highest user rating on Cnet for a free firewall. http://www.netveda.com/consumer/safetynet.htm  -Mike

Thanks, Mike. "Safetynet" is just now starting to create a buzz; most of it cautiously positive. See these, for example:
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=netveda%20safetynet
http://www.google.com/search?q=netveda+safetynet

There's also a good list of many, many other "personal" or desktop firewalls--- both free and commercial--- here: https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/soft7.htm and, of course, here: http://www.google.com/search?q=firewall

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10) Just For Grins

Fred, I thought this link might be of interest to your readers:  http://www.lhup.Edu/~dsimanek/museum/unwork.htm   Regards, Derek

Given the regression in public attitudes towards scientific thinking in other areas, some of these ideas may soon make a comeback as sanctioned solutions to the oil shortage. <g>

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11) Plus! Edition Highlights:

Today's LangaList Plus! Edition contains all ten items above, plus about 40% more content including:

• Attack From Within?
     (woes with net addresses starting with 192 and 127...)
• Laptop Cooking Itself To Death
     (fan controls run amok)
• Eat, Drink & Be Messy
     (totally spill-proof keyboards)
• More Expert Advice On Batteries
     (get the most from your expensive rechargeables!)

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 around 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>)

The LangaList is published about 72 times a year, or about 6 times a month. October's issues are scheduled to run on Oct 6, 10, 13, 20, 24 and 27. See you next issue, 2005-10-06!

Best,

Fred
( Editor@Langa.Com )

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