Original Sender : "DasaMan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------- From: Fred Langa <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > The LangaList > 27-Sep-99 > > A Free Email Newsletter from Fred Langa About BrowserTune, > HotSpots, Columns, Tips & Tricks, and Other Activities > > In This Issue: > What Do You Do With An Old PC? > Win98SE Shutdown Fix Fix > A Good Idea? > W(h)ither The Amiga? > More on Snoopware! > OK, OK, I'll Beg > Cleaning Up Temp Files > NetWare Bug > Just For Grins > More! > > >What Do You Do With An Old PC? >Sooner or later, the day inevitably comes when you start >looking at your computer as more of an obstacle than aid. >Perhaps you've grown tired of waiting for programs to load >and run, or for the screen to refresh. Perhaps you've run >out of space for your files. Maybe you visited a friend or >coworker and saw how fast and smooth their newer machine >was. Or maybe something's actually breaking down on your >system--- a mechanical part (keyboard, mouse, hard drive.) >is showing its age. > >Whatever the reason, sooner or later, we all face the >question of what to do with an old PC, and for this week's >WinMag column and discussion, I worked up a list with a full >dozen separate steps or approaches that just may give help >you eke more life from an older system. No, these aren't the >only 12 solutions, but they're a strong start and cover many >of the most important bases. In the discussion area >associated with this column, I'd love to hear your >suggestions, and I'll offer more and/or more detail, on >mine. > >Along the way, I'll also discuss two very interesting CPU >upgrade options from Evergreen Technologies >( http://www.evertech.com ). One is a drop-in replacement for >your existing CPU--- it takes all of 10 minutes to install, >max, costs under $200, and tripled the speed of my test >system! > >The other is a very promising, but still squirrelly, PCI >device that's almost an entire PC on a card! It comes with a >433MHz Celeron processor and its own private bank of 64MB of >RAM. With the card in place, your system boots with its >original CPU and RAM, but then the new CPU takes over almost >immediately, and runs everything from that point onward. > >It's impressive technology that still has some rough edges >you should know about, but that produced some speed gains of >300-600% on my test system! > >The full details on these upgrades, plus the full list of >all 12 upgrade options, plus a list of additional resources, >is way, way too much to stuff into this email. But it's all >waiting for you, for free, at the WinMag site. There in the >discussion area associated with the column, I'd love to hear >your suggestions on what to do with older PCs, and I'll >offer more suggestions and/or more details, on mine. > >The full column---and an ongoing discussion that will run >for a week or more--- will be available starting Monday >afternoon (27-Sept-99 EDT [GMT-5]) via the link at >http://www.winmag.com ! Join in! > > >Win98SE Shutdown Fix Fix > >No, that's not a typo. Win98SE was supposed to cure shutdown >problems that plagued some original Win98 installations. > >Microsoft then released a "Shutdown fix" that solved some--- >but not all--- of those problems. Now, Microsoft has >released fixes and wokarounds to help in those cases that >the fix left um, unfixed. > >The general information is in this Microsoft page: >http://www.microsoft.com/windows98/downloads/contents/WURecommended/S_WUFea tured/Win98SE/Default.asp > >For additional information on this and many other Win98- >related topics, see Scot Finnie's excellent "Win98 Insider" >at http://www.winmag.com/win98/newsletter/1999/0922.htm > > >A Good Idea? > >Reader Mark McDevitt sent this along: > > Fred, > > This is an interesting web site > concerning pending legislation in > Pennsylvania as consumer recourse > against uncooperative PC manufacturers. > http://www.computerlemonlaw.com/ > >It looks like a great idea! Perhaps more states will follow, >er, suit. <g> > > >W(h)ither The Amiga? > >Over the years, very few computer products have achieved >truly cult-like status. Only a handful has tapped users' >psyches in a way that fosters a loyalty that transcends the >products' actual objective merits. Today, Linux and the Mac >fall into that category. > >In some cases, the fanatical loyalty has clear and rational >roots: For example, many fans of Linux and the Mac share >vehemently strong anti-Microsoft feelings, and because Linux >and the Mac both are Microsoft alternatives, it's easy to >see where this kind of loyalty comes from. > >But there's a darker side to this too. For example, some >Linux fanatics regard the OS as a kind of intelligence test: >If you have a problem with Linux, say the extremists, the >problem lies with you, not with the OS itself. If only you >were smarter---as smart as they are---you'd inevitably see >the unalloyed perfection of the software. (Riiiiight.) > >The MacMilitants are a bit more diverse: If you criticize a >Mac, it's probably because (1) you're a soulless, bland >nonentity who can't see the transcendent beauty of carnival- >colored thermoplastics; or (2) you're a lemming-like >conformist in whose breast no spark of creativity or >original thought has ever flickered; or (3) you've been >brainwashed by the insidious and all-powerful Wintel >alliance. (Riiiiight. Riiiiight. And riiiiight.) > >But, curiously, the Amigans explored these far fringes of >brand loyalty years ago. In 1985, the Amiga (designed by the >legendary team of Miner, Morse, and Mical) emerged with a >graphically-rich, multitasking OS that really was light >years ahead of the competition. More powerful than a PC, >more graphical than a Mac, the Amiga won a devoted band of >followers the likes of which the computing world had never >before seen. > >But the Amiga had the deck stacked against it almost from >the start. It went through a long series of ups and down--- >well, honestly, more downs than ups---and almost became >extinct. Then, in 1997, Gateway 2000 bought rights to the >Amiga. This summer, the Amiga was showing signs of rebirth. >New prototype Amiga hardware was shown at a European trade >show and---to great fanfare---Amiga selected Linux as the >kernel for a new "Amiga Operating Environment" that would be >released "later this year." > >But then, just about a week ago, the Amiga company announced >that: > > "Amiga was never about a box. It was never about > an operating system either. Sure those things were > part of what made the original Amiga great, but at > its heart, Amiga was simply about a better way.." > >It then went on to talk about how this vague "better way" >would somehow show up "on every type of device imaginable, >on top of every other OS out there..." Huh? > >It's confusing, but the bottom line is that I think it's >finally over for the Amiga. > >My column in Byte this month explores the history of the >Amiga in more detail than the brief item above. (For >example, did you know the original Amiga company was >financed by a group of dentists? <g>) And we'll take a >closer look at what made the Amiga great, and what turned >its fans into fanatics. > >I hope you'll read the column and then join the discussion. >Is it finally "lights out" for this fabled machine? If >you're a member of the Amiga community, what do you think >the new not-hardware/not-software Amigas will be; how will >it recapture the greatness of the original machines? What >does a "better way" actually mean, in real terms? If you're >not an Amigan, what would Amiga have to offer in hardware or >software to make you consider it? Read the full column and >join in the discussion starting Monday Sept 27th at >http://www.byte.com ! > > >Beware: Snoopware May Be Watching You! > >Last week, I told you how snoopware---software that monitors >your actions on a PC or LAN---is in use everywhere. In the >discussion area at InformationWeek, many readers voiced >their distaste for this kind of software--- but some >snoopware supporters also expressed their views. The two >camps couldn't be further apart! > >Other readers have suggested ways to see if there's >snoopware running on your PC, and whether employers need to >divulge their use of snoopware or not. >For lots more information, join in at >http://www.informationweek.com/langaletter ! > > >Cleaning Up Temp Files > >Reader Steve writes: > > Fred, > > I have been looking for some help on > what files I can safely delete from the > windows temp folder. Seems that this > folder is getting very large with many > sub directories. I am leery about > deleting items from this folder since I > am unsure which are still needed for > safe operation of installed software. > Any advice? > Thanks, Steve > >In theory, any TEMP or TMP folders (and the files they >contain) should be safe to delete. And the Win98 cleanup >wizard can and will remove many files from the temp >directory, but not all. > >It's easy, but dangerous, to write a little batch file that >will wipe out the TEMP and TMP directories each time your >systems starts. In my opinion, no essential files should >ever be stored in a "temp" directory, but for reasons known >only to vendors, some install apps store essential files >needed after a reboot (during an upgrade) in the Temp >directory. If you wipe out the TEMP/TMP areas during an >upgrade reboot, the upgrade may not be able to finish. > >So, once a week, when I know it's safe (no upgrades in >progress) I boot to DOS and run a batch file called >cleanup.bat. You can create the same file by copying these >lines into Notepad, and saving the file as c:\cleanup.bat : > > c:\windows\command\deltree /y c:\windows\temp > del c:\windows\tempor~1\*.zip > del c:\windows\tempor~1\*.exe > >When you run cleanup.bat (i.e. just type "cleanup" without >the quote marks at the DOS command prompt), it will >completely wipe out the Temp directory and any exe or zip >files that have made their way into the "Temporary Internet >Files" folder. Windows will then create a fresh, new and >*empty* Temp directory when it runs. > > >NetWare Bug > >Oops! Novell's Support Pack 3 contains a nasty bug that than >cause the total loss of entire volumes of data. Novell has >released Pack 3a to prevent such data losses. > >If you or your business is running Netware 5, visit BugNet >(where I first learned of this problem) at >http://www.bugnet.com/alerts/bugalert.html, or go straight >to Novell at http://support.novell.com/cgi-bin/search/tidfinder.cgi?2953402. > > >Just For Grins >Humanity, I weep for thee. And this note from reader R. Dan >Park shows why: > > Sighting #1: I was at the airport, checking in at > the gate, when the airport employee asked, "Has > anyone put anything in your baggage without your > knowledge?" I said, "If it was without my > knowledge, how would I know?" He smiled and nodded > knowingly, "That's why we ask." > > Sighting #2: The stoplight on the corner buzzes > when it is safe to cross the street. I was > crossing with an intellectually challenged co- > worker of mine, when she asked if I knew what the > buzzer was for. I explained that it signals to > blind people when the light is red. She responded, > appalled, "What on earth are blind people doing > driving?" > > Sighting #3: At a good-bye lunch for an old and > dear co-worker who is leaving the company due to > "rightsizing," our manager spoke up and said, > "This is fun. We should have lunch like this more > often." Not another word was spoken. We just > looked at each other like deer staring into the > headlights of an approaching truck. > > Sighting #4: I worked with an Individual who > plugged her power strip back into itself and for > the life of her could not understand why her > system would not turn on. > > Sighting #5 (a rare "double sighting"): A friend > had a brilliant idea for saving disk space. He > thought if he put all his Microsoft Word documents > into a tiny font they'd take up less room. When he > told me, I was with another friend. She thought it > was a good idea too. > > Sighting #6 (from Tech Support): Tech Support: > "How much free space do you have on your hard > drive?" Individual: "Well, my wife likes to get up > there on that Internet, and she downloaded ten > hours of free space. Is that enough?" > > Sighting #7 (from Tech Support): Individual: "Now > what do I do?" Tech Support: "What is the prompt > on the screen?" Individual: "It's asking for > 'Enter Your Last Name.'" Tech Support: "Okay, so > type in your last name." Individual: "How do you > spell that?" > > Sighting # 8: When my husband and I arrived at an > automobile dealership to pick up our car, we were > told that the keys had been accidentally locked in > it. We went to the service department and found a > mechanic working feverishly to unlock the driver's > side door. As I watched from the passenger's side, > I instinctively tried the door handle and > discovered it was open. "Hey," I announced to the > technician, "It's open!" "I know," answered the > young man. "I already got that side." > > >See you next issue! > >Best, > >Fred > >([EMAIL PROTECTED]) >This newsletter is a free service of Langa Consulting and is Copyright � 1999 Langa Consulting. All rights reserved. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Compu-Mania MailingList is provided by PT Centrin Utama Maintained by : [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Post a msg : Send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe : Mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] BODY : unsubscribe Compu-Mania For more information, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with "HELP" in the BODY of your mail (without quote). ----------------------------------------------------------------
