PCIN, The PC Improvement News logo

Issue 334 - March 09, 2005

ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2005
==== 2032 Subscribers in 59 Countries ====

Welcome to the 334th issue of the PC Improvement News. PCIN consists mainly of news and tips. There is something for everyone, and if this is your first issue, I'm sure there will be something for you. If you give me two or three issues, I know that you will come back for more!

You can reach me at editor@pcin.net with any suggestions or comments.

Recommend PCIN at http://PCIN.net/recommend.php

Support PCIN at http://PCIN.net/donate.php

CONTENTS

Opening Thoughts

Chris and I are going to a Microsoft TechNet in Toronto tomorrow. We're hoping to learn about their latest proxy server software that we have purchased for work but haven't yet installed. Microsoft events are usually quite good. Hopefully this one will be, too.

I really wish that Chris wouldn't have sent out PCIN when I was on vacation. He included a link to the Chicago Sun Times daily crossword puzzle. Now I'm addicted! Their Java applet is very nice, and you can pull up crosswords from the last couple of weeks, as well as reveal individual letters, words, or the entire puzzle. Thanks a lot Chris :-) In case anyone is interested, the puzzle is actually hosted on another server. You can visit it directly and not get all the ads. You can check it out here.

Graham editor@pcin.net and Chris chris@pcin.net

The NEWS

Internet Becomes A Major Political News Source

"Last year was a breakout year for the Internet in American politics, surpassing radio, and in some cases newspapers, as an important source of campaign news, a research firm says.
Fully 75 million Americans, or 37 percent of the adult population, used the Internet in 2004 to get political news and information, discuss candidates and debate issues in emails, or participate directly in the political process by volunteering or giving contributions to candidates, the Pew Internet and American Life Project said in a recent report. When considering only online Americans, the percentage using the Internet in politics jumped to 61 percent."

For more info:
http://informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=159400122

'Robin Hoods of cyberspace' plead guilty

"Three men prosecutors dubbed the 'Robin Hoods of cyberspace' pleaded guilty Tuesday to putting millions of dollars worth of copyrighted computer games, movies and software on the Internet so that people around the world could make copies for free.
All three said they made no money on the scheme, and did it just for the sport of it."

For more info:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/internet/03/09/computer.piracy.ap/index.html

Mitnick: Security depends on workers' habits

"Famed ex-hacker Kevin Mitnick is warning against security strategies that focus on technology. Rather, teaching your staff to say no will help keep your network secure, he says.
Mitnick, a cyberspace legend known for having penetrated the networks of such companies as Motorola and Nokia, spoke Thursday at Toshiba's MobileXchange conference in Melbourne, Australia.
" What you can find in the trash is simply amazing. People throw out notes, drafts of letters, printouts of source code."
--Kevin Mitnick
Mitnick led the FBI on a 15-year manhunt that ended in 1995, and he ended up behind bars for nearly four years. Older and seemingly wiser, he now uses his skills for good as a Los Angeles-based security consultant."

For more info:
http://techrepublic.com.com/2100-10595_11-5600202.html

Microsoft Sues KSU Student

"Microsoft has sued a Kent State University student over his eBay resale of software purchased for $50 at a discounted student rate.
David Zamos, 21, purchased the software while attending the University of Akron last September. The chemistry major has countersued and plans to defend himself in court against Microsoft's four-member legal team."

For more info:
http://www.newsnet5.com/news/4258865/detail.html

Return to the top Recommend PCIN Poll of the Week

POLL of the WEEK

Last Week's Poll

Should Microsoft charge a fee for its security products?

Yes 2 % (2)
No 61 % (59)
They shouldn't have to have additional security 33 % (32)
I don't know 3 % (3)
Total votes: 96

This Week's Poll

Should Microsoft charge a fee for its security products?

Yes
No
They shouldn't have to have additional security
I don't know

You can also vote online at http://PCIN.net/polls/

Return to the top Recommend PCIN Poll of the Week

PCIN.net UPDATE

Check out these new or updated pages on the PCIN.net site:

VMware Inc. VMware Workstation 4.5 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/vmware45.php

PCIN.net Update Blog
http://PCIN.net/update/

Sunbelt Software iHateSpam 4.0 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/ihatespam4.php

Micro Solutions RoadStor Hardware Review
http://PCIN.net/help/hardware/roadstor.php

Album Creator by FirmTools Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/albumcreator.php

Return to the top Recommend PCIN Poll of the Week

THE TIPS and OTHER STUFF

I spent quite a bit of time trying to come up with some tips, and I drew a blank. I had one tip from another newsletter I receive, and a tip that was sent in by a subscriber. If you have tips, send them in!

Add a Safe Mode option to the Boot menu

This is from a TechRepublic Windows XP Tips newsletter:

When you're experiencing a problem with Windows XP, you may need to boot the system into Safe Mode more than once. However, doing so can be a tiresome process. When the Boot menu appears, you must press [F8], and then you must select Safe Mode from yet another menu.

Wouldn't it be nice if Safe Mode were available from the Boot menu? In fact, it's relatively easy to add a Safe Mode option to the Boot menu.

Follow these steps:

Press [Windows][Break] to open the System Properties dialog box.
On the Advanced tab, click the Settings button in the Startup And Recovery section.
In the System Startup section, click the Edit button.
When the Boot.ini file opens in Notepad, locate the line that ends with the /fastdetect switch.
Highlight and copy that line, and paste it in the line below.
Change the section on the line that reads WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" to WINDOWS="Safe Mode."
Add the following to the end of the line:

/safeboot:minimal /sos /bootlog

Change the order of icons on your desktop

Subscriber John Mood sent this in:

I have been frustrated for some time over how Windows XP arbitrarily sorts the desktop. It ALWAYS puts the "My Documents" folder first, when that order isn't even alphabetically ordered. A behaviour change from Windows 9X boxes. (I skipped Win2K).

I have found the solution to this strange change. Change it back!

You may want to skip this tip if you're inexperienced at manipulating the REGISTRY. This is specific to Windows XP and I have not had the chance to test it on Windows 2000. It's unneeded on Win9X.

Don't use this tip if you don't understand the registry. And ALWAYS make a back up copy of your registry BEFORE you do any registry changes.

This one involves finding a key and changing it's value, and sometimes creating the key and the value.It's a setting for "Who goes first" My Computer, or My Documents.

You have to find the system key as follows:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{450D8FBA-AD25-11D0-98A8-0800361B1103}

Look for: SortOrderIndex

Double click on it to change it's value. Two valid values are:

0X48 = My Documents, 0x54 = My Computer

You'll notice there a lot of suppressed '0''s (zeros) in the numeric field on the line above. This is normal, the leading zeros don't mean anything, if you see 0x00000048, it's the same as 0x48 as far as Windows cares.

I HIGHLY recommend that you ONLY these values (0x48 and 0x54). You could totally hose your system. If you're timid about entering the registry modification yourself, I have exported the keys for both values, so if you want to change the sort order for this, all you need do is ask and I will forward the two keys for merging into your registry. I recommend ALWAYS make a back up copy of your registry BEFORE you do any registry changes or merges.

You'll have to reboot to see the change, and as well, you'll only see the effect if you right click on your desktop and choose "Arrange icons By" and choosing your pick for sorting.

And a little REGISTRY trivia, many Microsoft engineers refer to the registry as the Hive. There are a lot of Star Trek fans working there, and the Hive was referenced as sort of a joking homage to The "Resistance is Futile" guys. Heck I remember one Comdex when Mr. Gates himself walked out to the podium wearing "Spock" Vulcan ears and a Star Fleet uniform. When you have that kind of money, right? I wonder when he's going to build a transporter? ;-)

Return to the top Recommend PCIN Poll of the Week

PCIN.net AFFILIATED SITES

Both of us have other sites other than PCIN.net. These are all sites that we are actively involved in (they aren't client sites). Don't forget to check them out from time to time for updates:

Return to the top Recommend PCIN Poll of the Week

DISCLAIMER and OTHER STUFF

PCIN is brought to you by Graham Wing. The opinions expressed are those of the Editor, Graham Wing and the Assistant Editor, Chris Empey. Graham Wing and Chris Empey accept no responsibility for the results obtained from trying the tips in this newsletter.

  1. If any of the links are too long to fit on one line, you may have to cut and paste.
  2. To subscribe another address or unsubscribe, please visit http://PCIN.net/ and follow the appropriate links.
  3. Recommend PCIN to others at http://PCIN.net/recommend.php and be entered in a monthly draw.
  4. The only way to become a subscriber is by asking. You have either filled out the subscription form or asked me directly.
  5. If you have a web site or run your own newsletter, please email me at editor@pcin.net and I will add it to the subscriber web pages that I have on my site.
  6. Support PCIN by visiting http://PCIN.net/donate.php or by clicking on the PayPal link below:

Return to the top

Graham Wing can be reached at editor@pcin.net
Chris Empey can be reached at chris@pcin.net

Copyright 1998-2005, Graham Wing. All rights reserved.

This publication may be reproduced in whole, or in part, as long as the author is notified and the newsletter is presented as is.

Support PCIN by visiting http://PCIN.net/donate.php

PC Improvement News Home Page

PC Improvement News Archive