Tips_2000 4-14-2009
Use Word or WordPad to view this file Tips_2000.txt
Use this collective Tips file to search for the subject of interest.
Menu/Edit/Find, or Cntrl+F
Add new tips to end of this file; menu/Insert/File SaveAS text
file, not doc.
This file was born out of my seeing neat, helpful things to remember
in experience, newsletters, and newsgroups and I figured that there
were so many of them that it would be best if I wrote them down.
Then I thought that it would be helpful to family and friends to also
share this with them.
FIND HELP FAST
I often look back at past individual Tips sheets and found that it
would be easier if i just collected them all in one place so i could
do a menu/Edit/Find search process on all of them to find specific
refs. I collected them from tips 15 on in this Word 2000 text
file. When each new tips sheet is complete and sent out i then add
it to the end of this file by menu/Insert/File and then browsing to
where i keep the individual tips sheets and clik OK. Word menu/File/Save.
The tips sheets are made up of experienced events, magazine articles,
News Group info, web info, Newsletters, etc. It was originally
compiled to keep track of interesting facts so that I didn't have to
trust my failing memory.
Tips 74 Win 2000 Start
WHY 2000?
"My IE 5.5 doesn't work ! My new h/w (s/w) doesn't work! 6-2007
No mfgr or site likes win 98 or the IE 5.5 that goes with it. It is
not a IE problem.
This is what i ran into and the reason i switched to win 2000 -
whether i liked it or not. There are other higher version utils you
will need for sites that also won't work with win 98 like the right
media player version, flash, JAVA, Shockwave, ActiveX, etc. .
Even my bank wouldn't let me view my acct unless i used IE 6+. I
complained to them and the atty gen that IE 5.5 had the same 128 bit
encryption that USB insisted on with IE 6 and told them that they
were discriminating against poor customers who couldn't afford
a new OS. To no avail.
Many times (decreasingly so) a site will let you just not view that
portion of the site that has these fancier ads or tricks and let you
view the rest of the site, but the handwriting is on the flat screen.
If you want to do anything new, win 98 won't let you do it - even
mboards don't like it.
You have a choice: suffer and not see all sites, & never get new
equipment or s/w OR, get a newer OS like win 2000, XP or Linux.
If you decide on 2000 (Win 2K) talk to me first and read the Tips2000
on my site. Try the Ubuntu version of Linux - this is an open OS,
free to copy and use always, including updates.
USERS
Win 98 SE had one user: you the user and also you the administrator
as well as anyone else that could log on. Win 2000 has 4 groups of
users:
Administrator and at least one user, you. Do not log on to the web
as an administrator; exposure. You can also have lesser users and
guests to make up the 4 groups of users.
This will seem, and is, an irritant as you as a user will try to
uninstall, install, defrag and you won't be allowed to. You will
have to log off as that user and log in as the administrator to do
these tasks. Easy enough, but takes some getting used to;
patience.
In 98 anyone able to log on can see all that you have on the
machine. In 2K, each user can only see what they have generated
and not the files of the other users.
It, 2K, is set up for multiple users that seem to have that machine
for their very own. The Administrator can see everything.
OS
Win 2000 is the first of the NT OSs. It can work with FAT32 (Win 98
SE) and NT files, even on the same HD. You will have a choice of
formatting your HDs to either format.
Make life easier on your self and get WD HDs and use their free Data
Lifeguard Tools s/w for FDISK and Formatting procedures. Once you
change the file type to NT, it will not be able to be used in Win
98 SE. NT is the better OS. It saves files in clusters of 4KB
instead of the 32KB clusters that Win 98 SE uses; more efficient.
Defrag and Erase is much faster in NT; chkdisk is practically a
thing of the past.
RECOVERY CONSOLE
Windows 2000, of course, doesn't allow Recovery Console users to
access a hard drive without a password, if one previously existed.
XP does.
ADJ POWER TIMEOUTS
Right clik on Desktop;
Select Properties
Clik on Scrn Savr tab
Clik on Energy Saving Power btn
Select choices for Defrag operation.
PERMISSIONS
To set, view, change, or remove file and folder permissions
Open Windows Explorer, and then locate the file or folder for which
you want to set permissions.
Right-click the file or folder, click Properties, and then click the
Security tab.
Do one of the following:
To set up permissions for a new group or user, click Add. Type the
name of the group or user you want to set permissions for using the
format domainname\name, and then click OK to close the dialog box.
To change or remove permissions from an existing group or user,
click the name of the group or user.
In Permissions, click Allow or Deny for each permission you want to
allow or deny, if necessary. Or, to remove the group or user from the
permissions list, click Remove.
RUNAS
Use Run as to start a program as an administrator
In Windows Explorer, click the program, Microsoft Management Console
(MMC) tool, or Control Panel item you want to open.
Press SHIFT and right-click the program, and then click Run as.
Click Run the program as the following user.
Type the user name, password, and domain of the administrator
account you want to use.
FLASH DRIVE
When buying a new flash drive for portable computing, you'll want to
consider speed, capacity, and whether to buy a so-called U3 drive.
Windows 2000 and XP users can test a flash drive's speed using a
very simple utility, HD Tach, which is free for noncommercial use.
For a free drive-testing utility that supports Vista, try
CrystalDiskMark.
Some flash drives are labeled "U3" or "U3 smart drive." U3 is a
technology promoted by U3 LLC, a joint venture between SanDisk
which makes many U3-compliant drives) and its subsidiary M-Systems,
according to the U3-Info site. The idea is to let you store
applications and data on a single flash drive and run them from any
computer. U3 drives also provide an option for password protection.
To use U3 applications, you must buy a U3 flash drive (you can't
convert any old flash drive to U3) and install U3-compliant software.
U3.com provides a list of both hardware and software that's U3-compliant.
COOKIES
location for Del: C:\WINDOWS\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files
AV
http://service.mcafee.com/VirusRemovalHome.aspx?lc=1033&sg=VR
Stinger util v3.8.0 http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/
Updated September 10, 2007 to include PWS-JA and related threats
UPDATES
Go to the MSoft Update site and you will have to Install 6 or so
upgrade files before you can dwnld the 65 or so Critical update files;
then you can Install another 15 or so update files that are not so
Critical; don't forget SP4.
Media Player: Use ver 11 for XP; v 6.4 for 98 SE; v 9 for 2000
USERS
you can make your computer behave as if it is many computers by
setting up accounts for you, wife, kids, guests, etc. Each user will
not see the other's stuff. Set up the first acct for administrator.
Write down the passwords before you install them to make sure you
won't lock yourself out, esp Admin. Control Panel/Users/Passwords.
DOS
16bit DOS will work in Win 2000; at least my File Express dBase app
does. Might be best to save one old computer with win 98 SE on it for
these old programs that you like.
AUTORUN CD
There is no option to enable or disable automatically running CD-
ROMs in the user interface. To enable or disable automatically running
CD-ROMs, you must edit the registry:
1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box,
and then press ENTER.
2. Locate and click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\CDRom
3. To disable automatically running CD-ROMs, change the Autorun
value to 0 (zero).
To enable automatically running CD-ROMs, change the Autorun value to 1.
4. Restart your computer.
NOTE: This method disables automatically running CD-ROMs. If you
want to disable automatically running CD-ROMs depending on the CD-ROM
that you insert in the CD-ROM drive, you can press and hold down one
of the SHIFT key while you insert the CD-ROM.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/155217
DEV MGR
Right clik on MyComp desktop icon
Clik on Properties in drop down mnu
Clik on Hardware tab
clik on Device Manager btn in Dev Mgr section
NGs
NewsGroups to subscribe to are many:
microsoft.public.win2000
microsoft.public.win2000.new_user
microsoft.public.win2000.setup
RUN
%SystemRoot%\system32\compmgmt.msc /s
CntrlPnl/AdminTools/ComputerMgmt icon
Defrag among others is here
Cmd line use of defrag is not supported
To open a system tools item, click Start, point to Programs, point
to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click the appropriate
icon, like Defrag, or To start Disk Cleanup, click Start, click Run,
and then type cleanmgr %SystemRoot%\system32\shutdown.exe/r
SCANDISK
in Administrator,
Dble clik on MyComputer,
right clik on Drive of interest,
right clik on Properties,
clik on Tools tab
In Error Chking section, clik on Chk Now btn (Defrag avail here)
select both options to fix
clik on Start btn
MSCONFIG
Natively you can; Start\Settings\Control Panel\Administrative
Tools\Computer Management(Local)\System Information\Software
Environment\Startup Programs|View|Advanced, then in the "Location"
column, you'll find the path to the "Startup" location either in the
"Startup" directories or from the registry's "Run" keys. (note that
this window is read-only so you must manually navigate to the
location below to edit or otherwise delete)
%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
%USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
You can delete the shortcuts that you no longer want to run.
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
You can delete the string value for the program you no longer want
to run.
or copy msconfig from Windows XP to the "windows" directory
or AutoRuns from sysinternals
http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/Autoruns.html
end Tips 74
Tips75_2000
SLI
Scalable Link Interface (SLI) is a brand name for a multi-GPU
solution developed by NVIDIA for linking two or more video cards
together to produce a single output.
SLI is an application of parallel processing for computer graphics,
meant to increase the processing power available for graphics.
The name SLI was first used by 3dfx under the full name Scan-Line
Interleave, which was introduced to the consumer market in 1998
and used in the Voodoo2 line of video cards. After buying out 3dfx,
NVIDIA acquired the technology but did not use it. NVIDIA later
reintroduced the SLI name in 2004 and intends for it to be used in
modern computer systems based on the PCI Express (PCIe) bus.
However, the technology behind the name SLI has changed dramatically.
SFC
sfc [/scannow] RUN cmd line
AV
you can find a number of free tools online that will analyze your
system and produce a detailed report of your security strengths
and weaknesses. The best ones will even point you to a solution.
I tested each of the following products:
• Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (runs a chk on you)
• Belarc Advisor http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html
• Securable
• AOL Active Security Monitor
• xp-AntiSpy
IE MISSING
If the icon is missing from the TaskBar, use Explorer
\Win\ProgFiles\IntExplr drag IExplorer.exe to left side of TB
and clik on Create Shortcut.
FILE TYPES
In win 98SE it was at IE mnu/View/FolderOptions
In win 2K is is at IE mnu/Tools/FolderOptions
DRIVE LETTER
Disk Management
Cntrl Pnl/AdminTools/CompMgmt/Storage/DiskMgmt
Select drive, clik on Edit, choose letter; or right clik on drive
and sel Change Letter.
MSI FILES
If you get a msg that one is missing, put the 1st CD of Office in
the machine and it will find it. See also, http://office.
microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA011185721033.aspx
end Tips 75
Tips 76_2000
HELP
http://www.pchell.com/
LINUX
Ubuntu http://www.ubuntu.com/
Office http://www.openoffice.org/
all free
HOUSEKEEPING
Order of attack: Use Karen's Cookie Viewer to delete unwanted
cookies (yes, some are good).
Then use Ad Aware to get rid of other pests. Then use your favorite
AV util. Get rid of duplicate files by inspection in Explorer set to
View/Details and Arrange by Size.
Empty the Recent & Temp dir for each User. Defrag. Erase. I do
this at least once a week. See early versions of Spyware Doctor.
ERASER
Ver 5.86.1 is avail for free at:
https://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=37015
Eraser really deletes files and it also cleans up non-data areas on
your HD.
1. Eraser beats Delete. Delete just changes the first letter in a
file name so that it is no longer addressable, but the data is still
on your HD until it is overwritten.
Deleted files can be resurrected with Undelete if not written over,
and can be looked at, even if partially written over, with HexEditor.
Eraser erases all of the info/data in the file, not just the name
of the info saved on a HD. It erases by writing over the data many
times with random 1s and 0s. It can erase files, dirs, and HDs;
the real,saved data is untouched. Right clik on a file and select
Erase rather than Delete from the popup menu for sensitive files.
It can erase data left in a Move cmd by selecting 'Move with Erase'
cmd from the popup menu.
2. Eraser also cleans up your HD by erasing old data in non-Saved
data areas. It erases Cluster Tips as well as Unused space. Say
your OS saves files in 4KB groups; A 9 KB file would then be saved
as 4KB + 4KB + 1KB leaving 3KB in the last 4KB group unaffected; this
is a cluster tip. The Tip will contain all of the last data left in
it untouched which could be vital, private data that can easily be
looked at with a Hex Editor. While Eraser is running do not do
anything else on your computer.
After Installing, clik on Mnu/Edit/Pref/General and Erase. I use
an Edited 3 pass erase for Tips and Unused.
DUAL OS
If you're using a dual-boot configuration (using both Windows 2000
and another operating
system on the same computer), you may not be able to gain access to
files on NTFS
partitions from the other operating system on your computer. For
this reason, you
should probably use FAT32 or FAT if you want a dual-boot
configuration.
For more information about dual booting, see Dual-Boot
Configuration, later in this chapter.
If you use a dual-boot configuration on your computer, you can
choose between operating
systems (or between versions of the same operating system) every
time you start your computer.
Windows 2000 supports dual booting with the following operating
systems:
Windows NT 3.51, Windows NT 4.0
Windows 95, Windows 98
Windows 3.1, Windows for Workgroups 3.11
MS-DOS
OS/2
You can also set up a multiboot configuration, with more than two
operating systems on one
computer.
To set up a dual-boot configuration, you must use a separate
partition for each operating
system. During Windows 2000 Setup, you can use the Advanced Setup
option to select a folder
on an unused partition.
For more detailed information about configuring your computer to
dual boot, see the Windows 2000 Professional Resource Kit.
JAVA
http://www.java.com/en/download/installed.jsp
UPDATES
add the Secunia Software Inspector to your Security Baseline page.
This free service scans your hard drive, quickly and easily
determining which software on your system needs updating.
You're alerted not only to updates for Windows itself, but also for
applications from many other vendors.
http://secunia.com/software_inspector/ WS
Wireless Routers
Linksys Dual-Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router WRT600N. With prices
between $242 and $280, this router is decidedly more expensive
than the magazine's previous Editor's Choice,
the NetGear RangeMax 240 WPNT834 (about $100), and may be more
advanced than many users need. WS
end tips 76
Tips 77_2000
VIDEO
MSoft does not have all the codecs needed to view all files.
http://www.videolan.org/ free player, VLC, to solve this and even
fixes some other
video problems.
DIGITAL CAMERAS
Understanding the Specifications of Digital Cameras
First of all, count your pixels! The most important number to be
considered when buying a digital camera is the number of pixels or
megapixels it captures. Pixels translate into resolution, and a
high resolution results in clear, crisp, detailed photographs. Most
publications, for instance, require an image with a minimum print
resolution of 300ppi
(pixels per inch) for publication. To get that kind of resolution
for four- by six-inch
prints, you're going to want at least a four-megapixel camera. For
enlargements up to
eight by ten inches, you're looking for at least 8 megapixels. If
you enter the rarified
ranges beyond that, you have a professional-grade camera. Cameras
come with up to 16
megapixels!
For the highest quality digital photographs, get a camera that has
at least 3X optical zoom. Some cameras boast of their digital zoom,
but digital zoom is restricted by the camera sensor's resolution.
Higher digital zoom images may appear blurry or pixilated. The most
sophisticated digital cameras have 12X optical zoom.
Focus is another major factor. Whether a macro focus in the 10cm
range, wide-angle or
telephoto, be sure you understand the camera's capabilities before
you buy. Does it
have only one lens? At what ranges will that give you clear shots?
Does it use changeable
lenses? If so, what size and how many? Does the combo deal come with
them? Think also
of the kind of pictures you take most often. Are you taking close up
shots of your
family, hobby or garden, or sweeping landscapes and large events?
You should also consider the type of memory card the camera uses,
the type of batteries
and how long they last, and whether or not you want the increasingly-
common digital
video recording option. Many of the newer cameras also support
automated shooting modes
which adjust the settings for you based on common circumstances.
Those plus other features
like automatic image stabilization, camera/computer connectivity and
A/V out can help you
get the most satisfaction for your dollar.
SPEED
http://www.dslreports.com/tools
Run: 2009-01-05
Download: 6252 (Kbps)
Upload: 718 (Kbps)
http://www.dslreports.com/speedtest
4-1-08: 2380Kb/s Dwnld, 358 Kb/s Upld
LINUX
tired of MSoft?
http://dictionary.zdnet.com/definition/Ubuntu.html
http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=1641&tag=nl.e589
http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=1570
dwnld:
http://btjunkie.org/torrent/Ubuntu-8-04-Beta-Desktop-I386-ISO-with-
HTTP-
webseeds/36507dba167ae4c464d8e0b27f0bf045e58a9f337537
you will need:
http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/BitTorrent
http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/BitTorrent+(client)
http://www.utorrent.com/download.php
it is free
DIRECTX
8.1 win 2000
9 for XP, Vista
also, make sure you have IE 6 installed
SCANNER
Start/Programs/Accessories/Imaging select scanner device, then
Acquire.
SERVICES
SysInfo/(S/W Envir)/Services
To fix spoolsv.exe application error, you will have to remove these
files from the system.
To do this, perform the following steps on your Windows XP computer:
Open Control Panel, select Performance and Maintenance, select
Administrative Tools and
then select the Services option.
In the Services management console, locate the Spooler services,
right-click on it and
select Stop.
Next, open the C:\Windows\System32\Spool\Printers folder. (Here, we
are assuming that
your Windows is installed in the default C:\Windows folder)
Delete all the .SHD and SPL files from this folder.
Next, open the TMP folder and delete all old and unused files from
this folder.
Finally, restart the Spooler service from the Services management
console.
RUN RIGHT
In order for your machine to run right, you have to have the right
stuff loaded in. A
clean reload is number one. Then get all the updates from your OS.
Then load in a
firewall, cookie spotter, AdAware, AV util and clean your vital
locations often,
i.e. many times a day if active. To get Apps and web pages to run
right, you have
to have the correct version of a Media Player, Java, ActiveX,
DirectX, and Flash
Player at a minimum to work at their best.
AV
McAfee http://us.mcafee.com/root/runapplication.asp?appid=73 free
MEDIA PLAYER
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/versions.aspx
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/previousversions
.aspx
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/AllDownloads.a
spx
http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1
need: dwnld MoveMediaPlayer_07076007.exe 3-08
_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash Flash Player
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/browse.aspx?displaylang=en
&productID=9C954C37-1ED1-4846-8A7D-85FC422D1388 DirectX 8.1
JAVA
Correct ver? Ver 6 update 3 for Win 2000 3-08
http://java.com/en/download/installed.jsp
ADDR BOOK
Location of the .wab file containing your AB info:
C:\Documents and Settings\x\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book
where x is the user name
Copy these 2 files to another HD:\Vault dir for safe keeping. Later
when things go
wrong, you can Import an AB from here back where it will be needed.
TASK MANAGER
When a task locks up, do not keep cliking on it or worse yet shut
the computer down.
Cntrl-Alt-Del then clik on Task Manager tab or Shutdown. Shutdown
will give you the
option of Restart. TM gives you 3 choices, tabs. Applications that
are Running and
their status, Processes that are running with details, and
Performance that give you
the Resource Meter. Select the Apps that is non-responsive and clik
on End Task btn
if all else fails.
C DRIVE
I'm putting my smallest HD in the C: position as the C drive is the
one that will be
most likely screwed up and need defragging or reloading. This way
the smaller drive
will be faster to work on. I'll put all the Saved material on the
other drives that
will least likely be screwed up. I'll also move apps and esp data
files to the
other-than-C drives. My C drive now is 80 GB and i'm going to
replace it with a
30 GB HD. I used WD (Western Digital) HDs and their Data Lifeguard
s/w available
online at their site to switch C: drives; a big help. Also, WD has
a boot disk
that is a lifesaver.
Another plan is to get 3 or so small HDs and put a diff OS on each
and load the C: drive
with the OS and all Apps and utils to be self sufficient.
end tips 77
Tips 78_2000
WHAT'S RUNNING
Autoruns from MSoft
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx
http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php
http://www.winpatrol.com/download.html
CD/DVD
Use CDR for mp3
Use DVD/R /RW for video
CODECs
http://www.divx.com/divx/windows/download/index.php
http://www.divx.com/
BLOCK
Sites maintain files listing dangerous addresses with this very
purpose in mind,
and they make updates available on a regular basis. The most popular
of these
sites is WinHelp 2002, which originally focused on blocking ads and
banners but
has since expanded to guard against many Internet threats.
http://windowssecrets.com/links/dkwgsplqv3g7d/2aaabeh/?url=
www.mvps.or%2Fwinhelp2002%2Fhosts.htm
Other useful sources for prefab Hosts files are Mike's Ad Blocking
Hosts
file, Dan Pollock's Hosts file, and a Hosts file from Bluetack
Internet Security Solutions.
http://windowssecrets.com/links/dkwgsplqv3g7d/704efch/?url=www.everyt
hingisnt.com%2Fhosts.html
http://windowssecrets.com/links/dkwgsplqv3g7d/4cfee1h/?url=someonewho
cares.org%2Fhosts%2F
http://windowssecrets.com/links/dkwgsplqv3g7d/d26e9eh/?url=
www.bluetack.co.uk%2Fforums%2Findex.php%3Fact%3Ddscriptca%26CODE%3Dvi
ewcat%26cat_id%3D3
Many of the services provide an installer or batch file that can be
used to replace your
existing Hosts file with their own. If no such installer is
included, back up your
existing Hosts file and copy the new file in its place. Your Hosts
file is located here:
C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc
HostsMan is a freeware hosts file manager and editor.
http://www.abelhadigital.com/2007/12/hostsman-3155-released.html
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
AV
Avira's AntiVir
http://windowssecrets.com/links/dkwgsplqv3g7d/aa288eh/?url=
www.free-
av.com%2Fen%2Fproducts%2F1%2Favira_antivir_personal__free_antivirus.ht
ml
SHA-1 (Secure Hash Algorithm 1)Checksum
Piriform's Ccleaner
http://windowssecrets.com/links/dkwgsplqv3g7d/0e8e7bh/?url=www.cclean
er.com%2F
Comodo
http://windowssecrets.com/links/dkwgsplqv3g7d/760307h/?url=
www.personalfirewall.comodo.com%2Fdownload_firewall.html
TrueCrypt
http://windowssecrets.com/links/dkwgsplqv3g7d/ae8566h/?url=www.truecr
ypt.org%2F
Audacity is an open-source audio editor
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
Wavosaur
free sound editor
http://windowssecrets.com/links/dkwgsplqv3g7d/4b9463h/?url=
www.wavosaur.com%2F
FREE
http://www.ubuntu.com/
http://mirrors.cat.pdx.edu/ubuntu-releases/
Learn how to create a CD from your newly downloaded file:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BurningIsoHowto
Learn how to verify that your CD download ok:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HowToMD5SUM
Read the Ubuntu documentation: https://help.ubuntu.com/
Get help:
Visit the Ubuntu forums: http://www.ubuntuforums.org/
Ask questions via e-mail:
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-users
Instant help via online chat:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/XChatHowto
Commercial, paid support: http://www.ubuntu.com/support/paid
Join the Ubuntu community, there are many ways to get involved.
"25 Free Downloads You Need Now" from the May 2008 issue of Computer
Shopper.
http://windowssecrets.com/links/dkwgsplqv3g7d/abcdd1h/?url=
computershopper.com%2Ffeature%2F25-free-downloads-you-need-now-200803
"101 Fantastic Freebies" from the May 2008 issue of PC World.
http://windowssecrets.com/links/dkwgsplqv3g7d/cfa8d4h/?url=
www.pcworld.com%2Farticle%2Fid%2C143642%2Farticle.html
"The Best Free Software" from the March 2008 issue of PC Magazine.
http://windowssecrets.com/links/dkwgsplqv3g7d/7bf0c7h/?url=
www.pcmag.com%2Farticle2%2F0%2C2704%2C2260070%2C00.asp
"46 Best-ever Freeware Utilities," - 71 Additional Best-ever
Freebies"
updated in April and March, respectively, by Gizmo's Tech Support
Alert site.
http://windowssecrets.com/links/dkwgsplqv3g7d/cace38h/?url=
techsupportalert.com%2Fbest_46_free_utilities.htm
LIGHTSCRIBE
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/win/66691
free host s/w v 1.4.105.1 5-08
http://www.lightscribe.com/
http://www.lightscribe.com/products/index.aspx?id=89
See also LableFlash.
OPEN OFFICE
When you get the latest JAVA, you can get Open Office too.
http://java.com/en/download/windows_ie.jsp?locale=en&host=java.com
http://java.com/en/download/manual.jsp
STAIONERY
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Stationery
This is the code for the X.htm stationery page to be used in
outgoing msgs.
edit then SAVEAS a new htm page.
EDIT THE CAPS BELOW, ALSO FONT COLOR/SIZE
USB FLASH Transcend http://www.transcendusa.com/Support/DLCenter/index.asp for win 98 driver SPOOLER To purge the print spooler, to do so at a command prompt issue the following commands, pressing enter after each line: NET STOP SPOOLER cd %systemroot%\SYSTEM32\spool\PRINTERS del *.spl del *.shd NET START SPOOLER That will delete ALL the print jobs. You can make a small batch file to do the above job, PRINTER If the spooler service stops for one reason or another. Try booting the machine or from the command line: net start spooler FLASH ADS http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/tflash2.html disable Flash ads AV Free Scan http://service.mcafee.com/VirusRemovalHome.aspx?lc=1033&sg=VR CHKDSK Chkdsk is always run after a bad shutdown or restart. Moreover, You can always disable CHKDSK on restart in Windows 2000 1. Run the Registry Editor (regedt32.exe) 2. Under the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE subtree, go to the following subkey: \SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager 3. Change the BootExecute entry to: autocheck autochk * Exit your registry, you may need to restart or log out of Windows for the change to take effect. end tips 78 Tips 79 OE Mnu/File/Export Addr Bk and Messages to another HD or flash mem before wiping out the C: drive. After a clean reload, then Import the msgs and AB. SHUTDOWN SystemRoot\System32 folder, locate and click the Shutdown.exe file AV as of 6-2008 all free AD-AWARE 2008 ver. 7.1.0.8 18 mb http://lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php Karen's Cookie Viewer, ver. 3.6 853KB http://www.karenware.com/powertools/powertools.asp http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptcookie.asp Be sure to install the Visual Basic Runtime v6.0 before installing your first Power Tool. 1 mb AVG ver. 8.0.1 46 mb http://www.download.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4- 10320142. html?cdlPid=10834624 McAfee's Stinger ver. 3.9.9 1.97 mb http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/ item 1. NEW STUFF When you buy a new monitor or dig TV, you have to pay attn to the input types allowed: VGA, DVI, HDMI DVD drives: LightScribe has to be there RAM: the type DDR, DDR2; and the speed PC3200, etc HDs: ATA or SATA, rotor speed 7200, 10,000 Mem Card Readers: at least 7 types Mboards: how many CPUs, RAM max & type allowed, trace width, power needed, video type-mult?-output-SLI, sound capability, bus speed, HDTV in/out, firewire, etc. 2000 http://download.microsoft.com/download/E/6/A/E6A04295-D2A8-40D0- A0C5-241BFECD095E/W2KSP4_EN.EXE http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-043.mspx http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-049.mspx SHOCKWAVE http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/welcome/ test for installation. http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/ latest ver dwnld see also, DirectX, ActiveX, Flash, Media Player latest ver, etc.. Shock wave is an ActiveX cntrl. end tips 79 Tips 80_2000 CODECS Adding All Default Codecs To add all the default codecs in Windows, follow these steps: 1. In Control Panel. 2. Dble-click 'Sounds and Multimedia', and then click Hardware tab. 3. Dble-Click the Video item, Properties tab should list 9 items. 4. Click Troubleshooter btn if necessary. DMA Video Editing is a very CPU intensive process, so producing files can be time consuming with VideoWave or other software. To help streamline the system, and improve performance you would want to consider enabling DMA on the hard drive, handling virtual memory instead of letting Windows handle it, closing out all programs running in the background, and defragging the system on a regular basis. You may have a DMA Capable hard drive that does not have the DMA feature enabled. To check the DMA setting in Windows 2000 or Windows XP, 1. Click on Start, (then settings if using Windows 2000), and then control panel. 2. Double-click the System icon. 3. Click the Hardware device tab and then the Device Manager button. 4. Click on the Plus sign beside the "ATA/ATAPI controller" entry and then double click on the "Primary IDE drive". 5. In the "Primary IDE Channel Properties" window, click on the "Advanced Settings" tab, and then in the "Devices" section (may be more than one) ensure that the "Transfer Mode" has "DMA if available" chosen. This solution should be approached with caution, as not all hard drives support this feature, and they are not compatible with every system. If you are unsure as to whether your system can handle DMA transfers, please contact your hardware manufacturer to verify. Please note that if your system has a custom device driver for your hard drive, it may not be possible to enable DMA. HD Management The HDs that take the most use/abuse are the C: and the drive that you use for downloading new material and often move or DEL/erase the files. I had some older HDs that were slower and smaller than the new HDs, often by a power of 10. Why not just put your OS on the smallest C: drive and your downloads on the next smallest HD. Small HDs Defrag faster than large ones, but 7200 rpm drives work much faster than 5400 drives. But, if there is going to be a HD failure it will be on these 2 drives and if that is all there is on them, then recovery will be faster than if you load everything on one 500 GB HD, or bigger. I often Defrag and Erase daily depending upon the activity. HD FORMAT For difficult HDs, problem HDs, use Western Digital (WD) LifeGuard s/w. http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?groupid=501&sid=53&lang=en there are 2 or 3 files needed: Win, DOS, & Diag. ERASER This is a must many times what you think you are downloading is not what you think it is also, many personal files that you delete should not be reclaimed by anyone. when you want to delete a file that is sensitive: finance, family, letters, personal msg, dbases, nudes of your mother, photos, video, etc the file really isn't deleted, it is still there and easily obtainable with a hexeditor, you have to erase it. details if you want it also, this util can not only be used for individual files with a right clik of the mouse, but can also wipe out old data in the supposedly clean free space on your HDs. this util is essential. i set the options for DOD 3 wipes on each of the 2 options. i never use DEL. PWR OFF The timer for the Monitor, HDs & SysStandBy is in ScrnSaver tab of Display Properties. Right clik on the Desktop and select Properties AV Quick quiz: out of the following, which of the files is the spyware (browser hijack), virus (Trojan) and the crucial system file? lsass.exe lsass.exe Win32.exe Hey, wait a minute, the first two files are the same! Well, they are not. The first starts with the letter capital i (I) and second starts with the letter lowercase l (L). The one starting with i (isass.exe) is a virus/Trojan but Windows users may easily mistake it for the very important security process, lsass.exe (starts with a lowercase L, as in lucky). And yes Win32.exe is a browser hijack program that will keep taking charge of your browser home page. Get into Explorer, clik on C:\, cntrl-F and search for isass.exe or *sass.exe if you find the wrong one, the right one is in \system32 sub-dir and is all CAPS after an update, Del it and chk to see if you have Lsass.exe or, Get into ZoneAlarm Program Control and see if it is listed under the L or i's, or reload using SFC or whatever to get Lsass.exe back in to \System32 dir. Also, chk Task Monitor/Processes running and look for both caps is 1.2Kb and lsass.exe is 6kb. Sin32.exe is added to the system as a result of the RATEGA virus. It is a Trojan horse give a remote user access to your computer. This process is a security risk and should be removed from your system. MSoft Updates changed this file name to all caps, LSASS any thing else is a Trojan. Also, Svchost.exe is a generic host process name for services that run from dynamic-link libraries (DLLs). Watch for misspelling of this that are bad. Expect mult instances of this file running. WS_FTP During the summer, DST, set the time to -7 hrs in Sessions Properties/Startup tab. -8 hrs otherwise. DIVX AVI http://www.divx.com/divx/windows/68update/?lang=en ADMIN Be sure to never have the modem ON when in this user mode to protect against being hacked ruinously. BIOS AMI BIOS Delete key during the POST (power on self test) Award BIOS Ctrl+Alt+Esc, or Delete key during the POST DTK BIOS Esc key during the POST IBM PS/2 BIOS Ctrl+Alt+Insert after Ctrl+Alt+Delete Phoenix BIOS Ctrl+Alt+Esc or Ctrl+Alt+S or F1 UBUNTU DwnLd www.ubuntu.com Install https://help.ubuntu.com/8.04/installation-guide/i386/index.html MEDIA PLAYER http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/9series/default. aspx FLASH http://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/about/ You have version 9,0,124,0 installed SHARE http://www.bearshare.com/ for music bearflix for video BearShare is for music and video, but video only up to 50 mb* i had trouble after installation when i tried to start it up, err msg told them about it and they gave me a URL site to dwnld an installation file that produced a good, workable app. i like this better than limey or bearflix for ease of use. *which is why they have BearFlix which is for only video, no restrictions MOVE OE MSGS Tired of losing your addr book and msgs when your C: drive crashes? OE mnu/Tools/Maint tab/StoreFolder btn. Clik on Change btn. Select the new folder you have previously created in Explorer. Clik on OK btn, clik OK again at msg to reopen OE. end tips 80