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Issue 196 - July 17, 2002
ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2002
==== 2405 Subscribers in 57 Countries ====
Welcome to the 196th 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.shtml
CONTENTS
OPENING THOUGHTS
We're finally getting some new reviews added to the site. I've finished a review
for the Microsoft Wireless IntelliMouse Explorer that is posted at http://pcin.net/help/hardware/mswie.php
with a small blurb below in the Tips and Other Stuff
section. Chris also has a review done of VMWare Workstation 3.1 at http://pcin.net/help/software/vmware31.php
which will be featured next week.
Lisa's due date is 2 days from now (this Friday, July 19, 2002). She's uncomfortable,
but has had nothing that would even resemble a real labour pain. We're beginning
to think that this baby doesn't want to come out. Body temperature is 98.6°
F and the weather here lately has been 100° F so maybe the baby figures
it is cooler in there!
Graham editor@pcin.net
and Chris chris@pcin.net
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The NEWS
Hackers challenge Internet monitoring
"Some of the world's best-known hackers unveiled a plan this weekend
to offer free software to promote anonymous Web surfing in countries where
the Internet is censored, especially China and Middle Eastern nations.
An international hacker group calling itself Hacktivismo released a program
on Saturday called Camera/Shy that allows Internet users to conceal messages
inside photos posted on the Web, bypassing most known police monitoring methods.
In addition, 'Mixter,' an internationally known German hacker, said Hacktivismo
was preparing in coming weeks to launch technology, which if adopted widely
could allow anyone to create grassroots, anonymous networks where Internet
users worldwide could access and share information without a trace."
For more info:
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1105-943797.html
Microsoft fails to use own security product
"Netscreen Technologies, a company that makes firewall and virtual private
network hardware and software, announced this week that it had gained a major
customer: Microsoft.
Microsoft's SQL Labs, the part of the company that works on Microsoft's SQL
Server, is using NetScreen's 500-series security appliance to defend its network
against Code Red, Nimda and other worm attacks, according to a statement released
by NetScreen. Apparently, the labs' choice was made despite the fact that
Microsoft already sells its own security product touted as a defense against
worms."
For more info:
http://www.infoworld.com/articles/hn/xml/02/07/12/020712hnnetscreen.xml
Gnutella Developer Gene Kan, 25, Commits Suicide
"Gene Kan, one of the key programmers behind the popular file-sharing
technology known as Gnutella, has died in an apparent suicide, officials said
on Tuesday. He was 25.
San Mateo County Coroner spokeswoman Sue Turner said Kan was found last week
at his northern California home.
'The cause of death was a perforating gunshot wound to the head,' Tuner said.
'It was a suicide.'"
For more info:
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/obituaries/tech-people-kan.html
MS sees the Linux challenge
"The emergence of Linux as a serious competitor to Windows has forced
Microsoft to change the way it approaches customers, according to Microsoft
chief executive Steve Ballmer.
At Monday's closing keynote speech to Fusion 2002, the company's annual symposium
for its partners, Ballmer said that because of Linux, Microsoft is 'going
through a whole new world of thinking.'
Where Microsoft has traditionally competed with companies such as IBM, Sun
Microsystems, Novell and Oracle on the basis of 'low price, high volume',
Linux and other open-source software have changed the game through its even
lower cost--it is free."
For more info:
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104-944342.html
POLL of the WEEK
Here are the responses from the last poll:
Does your ISP limit the bandwidth (speed or transfer) you can use?
Yes 35.29
% (18)
No 37.25
% (19)
They will be doing this soon 1.96 % (1)
I don't know 25.49
% (13)
Total votes: 51
Visit http://pcin.net/polls/ to participate
in the new poll this week:
Have you ever been to a PC industry trade show like Comdex?
FREEHELP FORUM
Visit the new and improved PCIN FreeHelp Forum at http://www.pcin.net/help/forum/index.php
to post your questions or answer others.
Question
I recently received a Gateway Select 1200 computer from my sister. It uses
WinME and IE6. It freezes constantly! Either the mouse freezes or the entire
computer freezes. It also freezes in IE6. Ctrl-Alt-Del does nothing, so I
have to turn off the computer at least twice a day, sometimes more. I know
that this isn't good for the computer, but I'm at a loss as what else to do.
I have defragged, again, to no avail.
Response
These problems are almost impossible to fix. Here are a couple of things
you could try.
Go into the Add/Remove Programs applet of the Control Panel and remove all
of the programs you don't need. The problem could be with some conflicts in
shared files
Go to WindowsUpdate and install any necessary patches
Reinstall IE6
Check for new drivers for your hardware
If you can't figure out what the problem is, then you may have no choice but
to reinstall the operating system on a clean system.
To post a response, visit the Software How-To forum at http://www.pcin.net/help/forum/index.php?board=6
and click on the "WinMe Freezes Constantly!" subject.
Visit http://www.pcin.net/help/forum/index.php
to post a question of your own.
PCIN.net UPDATE
Check out these new or updated pages on the PCIN.net site:
VMWare Workstation 3.1 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/vmware31.php
Microsoft Wireless IntelliMouse Explorer Hardware Review
http://PCIN.net/help/hardware/mswie.php
Updated PCIN.net FreeHelp Forums (I've created new categories)
http://PCIN.net/help/forum/
Updated Registry Tips (now 142)
http://PCIN.net/help/articles/registry_tips.shtml
New and Improved PCIN.net Links section
http://PCIN.net/links/
THE TIPS and OTHER STUFF
Microsoft Wireless IntelliMouse Explorer Hardware Review
"The mouse is a USB only device, so you must have an available USB port.
Many of the other products come with a USB to PS2 adapter, but the WIE does
not. Installation was simple. I plugged it in and it worked on my Windows
2000 computer. It shows up in the Device Manager as a Human Interface Device.
With the mouse working, I visited the Microsoft Hardware site at http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/
and downloaded the 4.0 version of the IntelliPoint drivers.
The mouse itself has 5 buttons that were very easy to setup. There are the
usual right and left button, along with the now commonplace scroll wheel that
acts as a button. There are also 2 buttons on the left side where the right-hand
thumb would be. The IntelliMouse software lets you program these for different
functions. The default actions are to act as the Back and Forward buttons
on your browser, but if you want them to do something different, there are
over 30 different options.
The mouse comes with 2 AA batteries that installed in the mouse easily. The
IntelliMouse software has a tab that lets you know whether the batteries are
in good shape or not."
Read the full review at http://PCIN.net/help/hardware/mswie.php
RUNDLL32 Commands
A lot of the screens that you open up that are part of Windows aren't separate
programs. They are things that are built-in to the operating system, and often
they are called using the RUNDLL32 file. This lets you call many of these
functions in shortcuts. If you are interested in these sorts of things are
aren't intimidated by scripting, then check out http://www.dx21.com/SCRIPTING/RUNDLL32/REFGUIDE.ASP?NTI=4&SI=6
and try some of the shortcuts. While you are there, also check out the scripting
help on other scripting languages as well.
DiscoverySchool.com
The Discovery channel has an excellent web site, and part of the web site
is a place for "Parents, teachers, students. Fresh ideas to enhance learning."
There is a lot of fun and interesting things for people of all ages to do.
Check it out at http://school.discovery.com/schoolhome.html
Be careful though... you may learn something!
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.
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Graham Wing can be reached at editor@pcin.net
Chris Empey can be reached at chris@pcin.net
Copyright 1998-2002, 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://www.pcin.net/donate.shtml
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