(*It's a short workweek in the US as the nation celebrates
its Thanksgiving Holiday. The next LangaList will
be published on 6-Dec-98. Look for breaking news
updates on www.langa.com and www.winmag.com.)

Last week's "Win98 Bugs and Fixes" column  at http://content.techweb.com/winmag//bbs/columns/archives/111598/monday/column.asp?frames=yes
is still generating a ton of good information!

It's fascinating to see the range of experiences with Win98: everything from total crash-and-burn scenarios to "it works perfectly."

Most users have more successes than failures, but few have a flawless experience. Come visit the discussion above and add your comments about the highs and lows, the best and worst of Microsoft's newest OS! Join in, as the column continues this week!

I predicted it: The MacZealots are out in force and after my hide for suggesting (in last week's column) that just perhaps Apple isn't quite the beacon of Purity, Goodness and Enlightenment they want it to be. And maybe---just maybe--- it's as bad or worse than Microsoft when it comes to removing user choice.

There's some fascinating psychology involved. It's as though Macs owners view their PCs as extensions of their psyches, and any critique of their PC is taken as a personal attack! In fact, most of the Macnoid comments don't deal with the issues I raised, but are personal attacks against me. The more charitable ones suggest I'm somehow in Microsoft's pocket and am working against Apple.

There's no rationality to it. Even a quick skim of just the titles of my columns show that I criticize Microsoft and its products far more than I do any other company. But that's not enough for the MacFanatics: They cannot tolerate *any* criticism of Apple or the Mac.

A rational person might hold that *all* companies and products are flawed in some way. But the Mac folks won't hear of it. Apple is Wondrous, and the Mac the most perfect machine on the face of the earth. Right? And if you disagree, you're "Bill Gate's prison b*tch" (which is what another MacFanatic called me---and no, I'm not making that up!).

It's a fascinating study in human psychology and high-tech marketing: For a decade, Apple has been telling its users they're superior to the rest of us---and these ugly, childish tirades are one result of that offensive approach to fostering customer loyalty. "The normal rules don't apply to you," says Apple. "You 'Think Different'. You're special, better, superior..."

Bah.

It's almost funny to see a group rabidly defending a company that gives them no choice in CPU brand, no choice in motherboard brand, no choice in system brand; that allows no hardware clones or competitors; that charges premium prices; that runs blatantly deceptive ads; etc. And the worse Apple treats them, the more they defend it!

There's been so much activity on CMPnet about last week's column, we're letting the column run for another week. Stop by---the torches are still burning brightly and my effigy is still hung high by the MacFanatics. Join in the discussion---or just bring another bag of marshmallows to roast by the fire! 8-)

As of today (22-Nov-98), Netscape is offering version 4.08 for Navigator and the older version of Communicator 4; the newer version of Communicator is still at 4.5 (we're waiting for 4.5.1 to appear).

Having two versions of Communicator out and being revved simultaneously is very strange. Two people can legitimately claim to have the very latest versions of "Communicator," but one can have 4.08 and the other 4.5. I don't get it.

A few LangaList issues ago, I told you about the "Untrusted Scripted Paste" security hole (also known as the "Cuartango" vulnerability) in IE4 and about the patch available for it. The patch was supposed to prevent malicious web sites from reading files on your system.

Well, turns out the hole was a little wider than Microsoft thought, and the initial patch didn't quite do the trick. So, even if you already downloaded the "Untrusted Scripted Paste" patch before, you really ought to do it again.

And if you never got the first patch, well, it's time. 8-)

The problem affects

• Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 and 4.01 SP1 on Windows NT (r) 4.0, Windows (r) 95
• Microsoft Windows 98, with integrated Internet Explorer
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 for Windows 3.1 and Windows NT 3.51

And, Microsoft says, "This vulnerability could also affect software that uses HTML functionality provided by Internet Explorer, even if Internet Explorer is not used as your default browser. All customers that have affected versions of Internet Explorer on their systems should install this patch, whether or not they use Internet Explorer for web browsing."

If you're running Windows 98, you can use "Windows Update" to grab this patch; it'll be in the "critical update" section.

Otherwise, go to http://www.microsoft.com/ie/security/paste.htm and get the patch there.

Some readers have had trouble getting "FileInfo" to run properly; this is a tool I've mentioned in past columns here and in my December WinMag editorial. It helps you identify what all those mystery DLLs are on your system, and also can be a great aid when you’re trying to sort out which versions of what DLLs to use.

If you install the ResKit, you can easily install and access FileInfo.

Or, just copy FileInfo and its "*.mfi" file to your hard drive. It should work fine then.

Java Out of IE and Win98?

You may have heard of a court order that forces Microsoft to stop shipping Windows with anything other than Sun's version of Java in it.

You see, Microsoft altered the original implemenation of Java. The anti-Microsoft folks say they did it for evil reasons. The pro-Microsoft folks say they did it because Java is a lowest-common-denominator approach, and the 90% of the world that runs Windows shouldn't be handicapped with a Java subsystem that's not well-tuned for Windows. The judge sided with the "evil Microsoft" argument.

In truth, both positions are probably correct---I believe that Microsoft probably did it not only to make Java run better under Windows (Microsoft's version is much, much faster than Sun's) but also to try to wrest control of some of Java from Sun.

Either way, this is a potentially far-reaching development, especially if MS has to redo Windows 98 and IE to take out the Java stuff.

This is a breaking story, so there's no final resolution yet. Microsoft is making reassuring noises that it's no big deal. (See http://www.microsoft.com/java/issues/sunsuit.htm.) But we'll have to see.

Stay tuned!

Fast AMD Chips Can't Boot Win95?

There's an odd timing loop inside Win95 that chokes when run on AMD K6-2 processors at 350MHz and higher: Your PC may hang at boot.

AMD says it's a software bug in Win95, and not a chip problem. That seems to be true, because Microsoft is distributing a patch.

The problem doesn't affect NT or Win98.

Alas, getting the patch involves jumping through numerous Microsoft tech-support hoops; I can't just give you a download link. If you think you're affected by this bug, visit the AMD site at http://www.amd.com/products/cpg/k623d/win95_update_k6.html for complete instructions.

There's a security bug in

• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0, Enterprise Edition
• Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition

It allows a hacker to attack an NT system in a way that can consume resources to the point where the system becomes unusable or hangs.

If you're running the X86 version of NT Workstation 4.0, NT Server 4.0, or NT Server 4.0/Enterprise Edition, visit ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/bussys/winnt/winnt-public/fixes/usa/NT40/hotfixes-postSP4/nprpc-fix/nprpcfxi.exe

The fix for NT Server 4.0/Terminal Server isn't out yet--- but this isn't the version most NT users have anyway.

I try to make updates to the BrowserTune pages either early or late in the day or on weekends to avoid affecting users who are running the tests, but this last change involved moving the entire site (BrowserTune98, BrowserTune97, BrowserTune Classic, the HotSpots site, and the HotSpot Hall of Fame); and also changed the way the larger site graphics and test files are delivered. It took a while, and some tests were disrupted, for which I apologize.

The dust has settled and the paint has dried, so drop by and check out BT's new digs at http://www.browsertune.com!

MS Office Update Conflicts with Outlook 8.01

This self-explanatory note went out from Redmond last week, and may help you if you've had trouble installing the new, free "SR2" update to Microsoft Office 97:

Error Installing Office 97 SR-2 If You Are Using Outlook 8.01

I get almost 400 emails a day. As much as I'd like to answer each one personally, I can't: At even the unrealistic pace of reading and replying to just one letter per minute, I'd basically be doing nothing but answering emails all day. Alas, I have to make a living and do something that pays the bills once in a while.  8-)

I answer what I can, and also try to address some common questions and problems here in the newsletter and in my columns, where many people can read the answers.

Last week, Grant Buchberger (AllCanadian@email.msn.com) wrote and asked

Fred,

Maybe you can help me. One of the people who works at my company or someone else has inadvertently put a password on his system. When he starts the computer, the logon to the network dialog pops up if you hit cancel, the log on finishes but no access to the network. If you hit OK the Windows logon pops up and if you hit cancel there everything seems to work. Is there any way that I can reset ALL of the passwords on the system? If you can help- Thanks.

Regards,

Grant Buchberger

That one's pretty easy: If you're running Win9x, do a file find: search for *.pwl (all files with a "pwl" extension). Make a note of their location.

If you need to wipe out all the passwords on a system, boot to DOS and delete the *.pwl files. That's all it takes. (And, incidentally, that's why Win9x is not regarded as a secure operating system: it's very, *very* easy to bypass passwords!)

Chris Pirillo is the "LockerGnome;" he publishes a very readable and free email newsletter that offers pointers to all kinds of interesting information about Windows and downloads for Windows users. There's nothing to lose---no cost or obligation---so why not give the newsletter a try? I'm a subscriber myself; I'll bet you'll find something interesting in each issue. check it out at: http://www.lockergnome.com; you'll find lots of info there, including all the sign-up details.

Nothing at all to do with high-tech or computers, but I got this email from reader "Richard" (stuff@skyinet.net):

See any good bumper stickers lately? Here is one I've seen:

"Who needs rhetorical questions?"

The same day, at a local restaurant, I saw a vanity license plate on a van full of kids:

PB4UGO

As a parent, I appreciated the thought. 8-)

See any good high tech bumper stickers? Let me know!

See you next issue! 

Best,

(fred@langa.com)

An easier-to read formatted HTML version is available in the "what's new" section of http://www.langa.com. All past LangaList issues are also available via the same link.

Why are you getting this newsletter? There are only two ways to get on the list (direct email request or via the WinMag list-serve signup page) so if you're getting this newsletter; your name came to me through one of those channels.

LIST TROUBLE? HAVE QUESTIONS? NEED HELP? See http://www.langa.com/help.txt

This newsletter is a free service of Langa Consulting LLC and is Copyright © 1998 Langa Consulting LLC.
All rights reserved.

(Anything below this line has been appended by eGroups, and is NOT from Fred or part of the LangaList.)