VIsta is coming

So far reviews are mixed

scan and password protect your PC from the kids

SCAN YOUR SYSTEM
You may have other stuff on the hard drive based on the kid's Internet travels. I suggest you try Ad-aware and Spybot Search and Destroy. They're tough on spyware and any programs from these sites that could be on your system. You can download both free programs at:
http://www.komando.com/bestshareware.asp

PASSWORD PROTECT YOUR PC
If I were you, I would also protect the computer with a password.

In Windows XP, click Start>Control Panel. Double-click User Accounts. Click Change an Account. Click your account. Click Create a Password. Enter the password twice, along with a hint, if you wish, and click Create Password.

In Windows 2000, click Start>Settings>Control Panel. Double-click Users and Passwords. On the Users tab, check the box next to "Users must enter a username and password to use this computer." Click Administrator (assuming that is you) and click Set Password. Enter the password twice and click OK. Next, go to the Advanced tab. Check the box next to "Require users to press Ctrl-Alt-Delete before logging on." Click Apply>OK.

Earlier versions of Windows are difficult to protect with passwords. However, you can block access to the Internet if you use Internet Explorer. Click Tools>Internet Options. Select the Content tab. Click Enable. Enter your password and a hint, if you like. Click OK>OK.

People who try to surf will be asked for the password. You can disable the password requirement by clicking Tools>Internet Options and selecting the Content tab. Click Disable and enter your password.

using msconfig to control program starting in windows

MSConfig is a Windows utility. It tells Windows what programs to start along with Windows. Many programs install files in MSConfig so they start automatically with Windows. You can uncheck them so they don't start, but Windows won't let you delete those entries.

MSCONFIG TIPS
To find MSConfig, click Start>>Run. Type msconfig in the box and click OK. Select the Startup tab. You'll probably find several files there. Some you'll recognize; others, not. You can uncheck those that you recognize and are not interested in starting automatically. Some may be from Windows, which might need them to start properly. You can find a list of entries and explanations at: http://www.lafn.org/webconnect/mentor/startup/PENINDEX.HTM

To remove MSConfig entries, you can use a program such as Starter:
http://members.lycos.co.uk/codestuff/

Starter will list everything that is in the Startup area of MSConfig. Items in this area start automatically when Windows is booted up. Uncheck any item you want to remove from MSConfig; click Delete if you want to remove it from the list and Registry.

Orphaned entries can be left in MSConfig if programs are not removed correctly. To do that in Windows XP, click Start>Control Panel. Double-click Add or Remove Programs. Highlight the program and click Remove or Change/Remove.

In earlier Windows systems, Click Start>Settings>Control Panel. Double-click Add/Remove Programs. Highlight the program and click Change/Remove in 2000, or Add/Remove in Windows 98 and ME.

firefox updates

--> FIREFOX PATCHES 2 DANGEROUS HOLES
Firefox issued a new version (1.0.4) on Thursday. It patched two
vulnerabilities that outside researchers had discovered. The
vulnerabilities were rated "critical," meaning intruders could have
used them to seize control of victims' computers.

The flaw was disclosed inadvertently last weekend when e-mails sent by
two researchers went awry. If you're using Firefox, don't fail to
upgrade. It's quick and easy. The download is available at:
http://www.mozilla.org/

What is a host file and why do i need it?

A custom HOSTS file is another tool to protect your computer from malicious programs. When used correctly, it will keep you away from dangerous sites.

First, the HOSTS file contains IP (Internet Protocol) numbers associated with Web sites. Each Web site is identified by an IP number. For example, mine is 66.210.246.140. This number is the site's address.

IP numbers are difficult to remember. So Web sites use a name instead. Mine is www.komando.com. However, when the name is entered in a browser, it has to be converted to an IP number. The DNS (Domain Name System) associates the name with the site’s IP number.

When you enter a name in your browser, it first goes to your HOSTS file to find the IP number. That file is normally empty, or nearly so. Not finding the number there, it goes to a domain name server. It continues to query servers until the number is found, or it establishes that there is no number.

The HOSTS file can be manipulated to block malicious sites or ad servers. To do this, you list the name of the Web site you want to block. With it is listed the IP number 127.0.0.1. That is the number of your computer. Doing this has the effect of short-circuiting the request. The request just dies.

This actually can make your computer faster. When you open a Web site, the files that you want to see are downloaded from that site. But other files, usually for advertising, have to be opened from other computers. When those requests die in your computer, the page opens, minus the ads.

The HOSTS file also protects you from spyware on your computer. These programs use the browser to report your surfing habits back to a computer on the Internet. Requests to go to the Internet computers will be blocked by a good HOSTS file.

So a custom HOSTS file has an important security role.

It is true that a large HOSTS file can slow Web surfing in Windows XP and 2000. Earlier versions of Windows are unaffected. This can be remedied by turning off your DNS Client.

The DNS Client stores a list of IP numbers for Web sites you’ve visited. The computer searches the stored list before contacting the DNS server. Your computer is slow because it’s searching through this cache AND the HOSTS file. The HOSTS file is necessary. The cache is not.

To change this, click Start>>Run. Enter “services.msc” (minus quotes) in the box. Right-click DNS Client and select Properties. Click the down arrow beside “Startup type” and select Manual. Click Apply. Click OK and restart the computer. This keeps the DNS Client from loading at startup.

If you don't have a custom HOSTS file, you can download a free one. I use one maintained by Mike Burgess:
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

A HOSTS file complements your anti-virus and anti-spyware software. It does not replace them. If you need anti-virus and anti-spyware programs, you'll find free ones and free firewalls on the same page. Protecting yourself requires a mix of programs.
http://www.komando.com/bestshareware.asp
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A custom HOSTS file is a crucial defense against spyware and hijacking.
When a malicious program on your computer, such as spyware, attempts to
contact a computer on the Internet, it makes its request through the
browser, like Internet Explorer or Firefox.

In attempting to fulfill that request, it goes first to the HOSTS file
to try to find the IP number--the actual Web address. If it doesn't
find it there, it checks domain name servers on the Internet.

So, the spyware can be thwarted in the HOSTS file.

The HOSTS file I use has thousands of entries. Some are really
malicious sites. Others are just advertising sites. And some may be
sites you want to open.

So, let's say the file is blocking access to www.somewebsite.com. In
the HOSTS file, you'll find a listing that looks like this:

127.0.0.1 www.somewebsite.com

That IP number is your machine's address. When you try to go to
www.somewebsite.com, you're actually being redirected to your own
computer. Your request dies. So you have to tell the HOSTS file to skip
this entry. To do that, "comment out" the www.somewebsite.com line:

#127.0.0.1 www.somewebsite.com

The pound mark tells the HOSTS file not to read that line. Stick it in
there, click File>>Save and close the file. Be sure you've gotten all
the somewebsite lines. There could be more than one.

You also could delete the somewebsite line. But I prefer to comment it
out. You never know; you might want to reinstate it in the future.
You'll have to comment it out (or delete it, if you prefer) each time
you update the HOSTS file.

outlook express stuck message in outbox

Question from a client
I have a message stuck in my Outlook Express Outbox that freezes my machine when I click or right-click it. What can I do?

A. Outlook Express stores the contents of each folder (e.g, Inbox, Outbox) in a separate file. To work around this problem, you need to delete the file that is associated with the Outlook Express Outbox. Perform the following steps:

Close Outlook Express.
Start Windows Explorer (Start, Run, Explorer or Win+E).
Go to your profile area (e.g., C:\Documents and Settings\savillj\).
Within your profile, go to the folder Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{[very long number]}\Microsoft\Outlook Express.
Find file Outbox.dbx and delete it.
Start Outlook Express (msimn.exe).
The system will create a new Outbox.dbx, and the Outbox will be empty.

In outlook you can use the outlook repair tool scanpst.exe do a search for the file
or find it under accessories - system tools

tip bigger view F11

Expand your view with the Full Screen feature (Windows XP)
If you've ever had to wade through a file-packed My Documents or Windows Explorer window, you know how annoying it is to have to scroll down until you've found the item you're searching for. By taking advantage of XP's Full Screen feature, you can enlarge your view of these two windows without having to scroll. All you need to do is open Windows Explorer or My Documents and press the [F11] key. When you do, you activate the Full Screen feature, and the window's title bar, taskbar, and system bar all disappear. To return the screen to normal size, simply press the [F11] key again. You'll be pleased to know that Full Screen feature is also available in Microsoft Internet Explorer.

how to setup cable connection [rcn]

Click on the Start button, then click on Settings, then click on Control Panel.
2. When the Control Panel opens, double-click on the Network icon.
3. A new window will open containing a list of the installed network components for your system. In the list, there should be an Ethernet Card (NIC) listed by name. If it's not listed, then it's probably not installed properly. The network card will need to be set up, or you will need to contact your computer or NIC manufacturer to have them set it up.
4. There may also be an instance of TCP/IP already setup for the NIC (example: "TCP/IP -> 3com Etherfast" or the name of NIC card that is installed).

This indicates TCP/IP is bound to that network adapter. If the TCP/IP does not have the -> pointing to the NIC:
Double click the network adapter Click the Bindings tab Check TCP/IP
5. If the TCP/IP listing is not there, use these instructions to add it:
a. Highlight the NIC card. (example: 3com Etherfast or Linksys Ethernet)
b. Click on Add, then click to highlight Protocol, then click on Add.
c. Under the list of manufactures select Microsoft. Under the list of protocols select TCP/IP. Now click OK.
d. You should now be back to the list of installed components and there should be a TCP/IP with an arrow to the NIC (example: "TCP/IP -> 3com Etherfast").
6. Double-click on the TCP/IP with the arrow to the NIC card.
7. The Properties screen will come up. There will be tabs at the top of this window.
8. Make sure the following items are selected:
a. On the IP Address tab, select Obtain an IP automatically.
b. On the DNS Configuration tab, select Disable DNS.
c. On the WINS Configuration tab, select Use DHCP for WINS Resolution.
d. On the Advanced tab, make sure that Set this protocol as the default protocol is checked.
9. Click OK to return to the Network screen. Click OK again to save the changes to Network and then click Exit to quit the application.
10. The computer will then ask you if you wish to restart. Restart the computer. The network configuration should now be set up correctly.

how to get rid of the nasty newdot net or new.net

here's how to uninstall the damn thing:

1. Do a file search on newdot*.dll in your Windows and Program Files directories, including subfolders. If you have New.Net, you should find one (or even more) files that look like newdotnet2_29.dll. Each file you find is a version of New.Net. (No, it doesn't delete the old versions when new ones are installed.) Do not delete the files you find yet! (If you already did, skip ahead)
2. For each file, type in the Run dialog (i.e. click Start, Run and type the following): rundll32 c:\[path to newdotnet_dll],NewDotNetUninstall (substitute each file you found for [path to newdotnet_dll]).
Issuing the command NewDotNetUninstall to the DLL makes it remove it's hook from the Winsock stack and stop itself from loading at system startup.
3. Delete the newdot*.dll files you found.


Check regularly for presence of New.Net (after installing new software for instance), either by checking the Add/Remove Software list or searching for newdot*.dll. As I said, Ad-Aware won't detect it unless you use a really old signature file. (And no, I don't have one that old.)

thanks to http://www.geocities.com/merijn_bellekom/new/nonewdotnet.html
More info Cexx.org

motivation and typos

What can I say when I see my expressions altered by typos....it motivated me to change them or just change

I DONT KNOW WHAT TO CALL THIS

IT IS LATE I MUST BE BRIEF HERE I GO TO BLOGGER LAND

i am inspired by Averils pictures she took which describes what she loves, hates, what makes her angry, what she wants to remember.