In this issue the following topics are addressed:
~~~ July 2004 General Meeting
~~~ In the News
~~~ Worm and Virus Update
~~~ The News From Pasadena
~~~ Selected Software
~~~ Closing Humor
And now for the details
~~~ June 2, 2004 General Meeting
The next General Meeting is now scheduled for Wednesday July 7, 2004 at
the
West Charleston Library. The meeting will follow the usual outline,
beginning with a round table discussion and Q's and A's with meeting
participants. The meeting will begin at 6:15 p.m. with a short break at
about 7:00 p.m. followed by our main Program. This month, a
representative
sample of the LVPCUG SIGS will do a show and tell about themselves.
Included
are the Microsoft Office, Mobile Computing, Linux and Digital Imaging
SIGS;
the session will demonstrate the breadth of activities beyond the
general
meetings that are available to members. www.lvpcug.org
~~~ In the News
>From LVPCUG
Suggestion from Donna
Donna stopped by www.dll-files.com - download all your missing
dll-files and
suggests that you visit the following URL:
http://www.dll-files.com
Just saved my brother a bunch of time.
>From Al Jackson
Troubleshooting Windows XP, Tweaks and Fixes for Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp.htm
PC Users Group Members Writing Opportunity
I am Joli Ballew, author of Degunking Windows and a dozen other books.
I am
currently working on a book with O'Reilly entitled Windows Media Hacks.
While surfing the Web in search of interesting material, I ran across
one of
your newsletters. You wrote about photos, and how you used to store them
online but now you don't. You go on to say that you now use software
and you
mentioned names and prices.
I am looking for contributors for hacks (entries) for the book, and I
thought you or your members might be interested. If anyone is
interested,
they can contact me at cosmo@waymark.net. Specifically, I'm looking for
hacks on how to create a photobook with various sources (comparing
them),
how to resize images with third party tools and get the best results and
quality, how to organize your pictures in Windows XP for ease in CD
burning,
backing up, and how to rename/resize files in a batch, how to get
professional prints (either online or from a regular inkjet printer),
how to
calibrate hardware such as monitors and printers, how to enhance
photos, and
similar photography issues.
Most hacks are 1,500 words. I can pay a little, give the author credit
in
the book, and their name and bio on the contributors page. They'll also
get
a free copy of the book.
A hack is defined as : Hacks explore the little known edges of a
subject and
not just its well known core. Each should have a novel twist, something
that
was thought impossible, detailing an easier way to do something, or
offering
a script or command line tool for performing a task.
>From W2K News
Watch Out! XP SP2 May Break All Kinds Of Stuff
This release will be a milestone for sure. Redmond is pulling out all
the
stops to improve security, which will inevitably cause many problems,
especially because SP2 takes a new approach called: "to heck with
backward
compatibility!" All in the name of higher security levels. You as an
admin
need to know in advance just what SP2 will mean for the XP boxes on your
networks... Once it comes out we will create a forum to discuss it, and
tabulate the problems that people encounter in their domains.
TechRepublic
has a good article to whet your appetite, and also see the video why
XP2 SP1
is so big (270MB) down in the fave links.
http://www.w2knews.com/rd/rd.cfm?id=0628TB-SP2
>From PC World
COMDEX MAY BE GONE FOR GOOD
Some industry analysts doubt plans to revive the trade show in 2004.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/135583/8331229/516096/0/
WILL XP'S SERVICE PACK CAUSE CHAOS?
Microsoft is expecting an increase in the number of Windows users
seeking
help.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/138067/8331229/516142/0/
BUSTING THE BIGGEST PC MYTHS
We expose the bad advice that wastes your time and money.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/138067/8331229/516146/0/
FLAW FOUND IN INTEL'S NEW CHIP SETS
Company will recall affected products, but says flaw is not widespread.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/135583/8331229/516100/0/
FREE AGENT: FREEDOM IS COMING TO A WINDOWS BOX NEAR YOU
Who said that Free Software is just for Linux users?
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/135583/8331229/516105/0/
VIRTUAL MUSEUM ENHANCES EXHIBITS
Holocaust museum enlivens memories, history with interactive, up-close
online displays.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/103291/8331229/364506/0/
WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER REVAMPED
Microsoft refines copyright-protection scheme to better support portable
devices.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/106568/8331229/364583/0/
INTEL ADDS POWER TO PERFORMANCE LAPTOPS
New Mobile Pentium 4s offer higher speeds, but less mobility.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/106568/8331229/364585/0/
LATEST PREVIEW OF NEXT WINDOWS
Searching improves, but disabled features hint at big plumbing changes.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/108314/8331229/364635/0/
GMAIL: GOOGLE'S E-MAIL WINNER
Privacy concerns aside, it works.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/108314/8331229/364646/0/
MISADVENTURES IN TECH SUPPORT
As companies move service offshore and online, are you still being
served?
We went undercover to put major vendors to the test. Not everyone gets a
passing grade.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/110157/8331229/364655/0/
INTEL PREPS NEW PENTIUM 4 PROCESSORS
First 64-bit chip for workstations will be among the upcoming Prescott
models.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/110157/8331229/364660/0/
DVD'S NEXT BIG LEAPS
DVD is picking up speed and storage capacity--but format wars and high
prices may mean a wait for the most advanced new technologies.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/110157/8331229/364662/0/
DVD-RAM HITS SURPRISING SPEEDS
Rewriteable DVD formats may soon equal the performance of their
write-once
relatives.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/114739/8331229/515588/0/
PDA PUNDIT: SO LONG, SONY; HELLO, ZIRE 72 AND AXIM X30
Sony gives Clie a rest; two hot new PDAs arrive.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/119715/8331229/515707/0/
Projectors Gain Power, Shed Prices
Benq, Toshiba, Mitsubishi, Sharp, and Epson show lower-cost models that
don't skimp on features.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/121839/8550347/515725/0/
FUJITSU RAMPS UP 100GB NOTEBOOK DRIVES
HP, Dell notebooks use high-capacity drives; Toshiba, Seagate also hit
100GB.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/122159/8331229/515745/0/
BROADBAND BECOMES A CAMPAIGN ISSUE
Presidential candidates (and contributors) weigh in on Internet
regulation,
taxes, and access issues.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/131649/8331229/515948/0/
SKYPE COMES TO LINUX
Test version of Internet telephony service supports most Linux
distributions.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/131649/8331229/515953/0/
~~~ Worm and Virus Update
>From PC World
HACKERS ATTACK THROUGH POPULAR WEB SITES
Sites may be downloading malicious code that steals passwords, sets up a
spam relay.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/135583/8331229/516107/0/
ANTI-SPYWARE BILL ENDORSED
Congress could vote this year on proposal to regulate downloading of
software.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/135583/8331229/516101/0/
MORE SCAM ARTISTS GO PHISHING
Increase in e-mail, Web site hoaxes prompts calls for change.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/103291/8331229/364508/0/
SPAM GETS DANGEROUS
What isn't getting blocked is turning vicious, warn security experts at
e-mail conference.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/108314/8331229/364645/0/
NEW WORM TARGETS OLD WINDOWS FLAWS
Plexus harvests e-mail addresses, uses Kazaa network to spread itself.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/110157/8331229/364661/0/
WIRELESS HACKER PLEADS GUILTY
Man admits using store's wireless network to steal credit card info.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/112807/8331229/364710/0/
OS SECURITY: IT'S IN THE CHIPS
Upcoming versions of Windows XP, Red Hat Linux will support CPU-based
security features.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/114739/8331229/515582/0/
CYBERSECURITY: A JOB FOR THE FEDS?
Cyberterror threats are too critical for the industry to handle on its
own
schedule, experts argue.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/114739/8331229/515584/0/
HACK ATTACKS DROP, CYBERCOPS SAY
Corporations fight costly denial of service attacks, but fewer break-ins
reported.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/119715/8331229/515705/0/
REAL PATCHES CRITICAL MEDIA PLAYER FLAWS
Security holes could allow attackers to run malicious code.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/119715/8331229/515706/0/
MICROSOFT SUES MORE ALLEGED SPAMMERS
Eight new defendants are accused of violating the CAN-SPAM law.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/119715/8331229/515708/0/
WEB ATTACK TARGETS FINANCIAL DATA
Russian virus writers linked to attack said to be spreading through
major
Web sites.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/135583/8331229/516097/0/
SENDER ID FOR E-MAIL MOVES FORWARD
Microsoft submits its spam fighting plan to an industry group for
approval.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/135583/8331229/516099/0/
HP LABS DEVELOPS SPAM ID SYSTEM
Researchers find way to sort junk and legitimate e-mail, without pricey
new
hardware.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/141316/8331229/516261/0/
PESTPATROL SHARES SPYWARE LESSONS
Company will offer database of known threats to any Web surfer for free.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/142918/8331229/516325/0/
WHO'S SEEDING THE NET WITH SPYWARE?
Young surfers pick up paychecks for posting misleading pitches armed
with
invasive programs.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/123546/8331229/515780/0/
IS OUR SOCIETY KILLING OFF SPAM?
All spammers will be out of business within two years, one man predicts.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/124851/8331229/515822/0/
COMPANIES TEAM TO REEL IN PHISHING SCAMS
New industry group will consider ways to combat online identity fraud.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/124851/8331229/515823/0/
YOUR PC MAY BE A HAVEN FOR SPIES
Malicious spyware appears more common than believed, says EarthLink
report.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/124851/8331229/515826/0/
~~~ The News From Pasadena
Steve Bass, editorial writer for PC World, sends along the following:
1. A nifty, free tool
2. I Love Audible
3. Free download of Harry Shearer (don't miss this!)
4. Hello, Captain?
5. Free Xandros
A nifty, free tool
===================================
A number of people at Broad_band, a Yahoogroup list I sorta moderate,
mentioned Total Copy. The tool lets you copy or move numerous files
faster
than Windows can, lets you pause the action, and doesn't stop cold if it
can't copy a locked file. Total Copy appears when you click your right
mouse
button while highlighting a bunch of files in Windows Explorer or
Explorer
Plus.
Here's a screen capture of Total Copy in action: http://snipurl.com/tcopy1
Total Copy zipped download: This link will immediately bring you to your
browser's download dialog.
http://snipurl.com/tcopy2
I Love Audible
=================================Audible provides digital versions of
books, radio shows, newspapers, and
magazines. I can download the content and listen to it on my PC or
notebook,
but I'm more inclined to listen on a player when I leave my home office.
I love listening to Terry Gross's Fresh Air radio show at the gym while
cranking on the stair climbing machine. Audible's got its own player,
which
is about the size of a pack of cigarettes and has 64MB of flash memory
(expandable to 128MB). The gizmo holds 20 hours of Audible Audio--that's
about three months of exercise--or 2 hours of music. The Audible Otis
(the
name's gotta be dreamed up by marketing folks) is about $50 plus a
year's
commitment to content at $12.95 per month.
http://snurl.com/audible
Free download of Harry Shearer
===================================If you're a Harry Shearer fan (he's
the host of Le Show, a biting satirical,
one hour show), you can grab a free, 1-month subscription from Audible.
Harry's been a favorite of mine for a decade -- he reminds me of Mort
Sahl -- and I'm tickled he's on Audible. Once on Audible's site (see
link
above), head for Radio and TV.
A funny...
=============================It's your call. Hello, Captain? [2.5MB WMV
video]
http://snipurl.com/hello_captain
(If you'd prefer saving this video, head for
http://snipurl.com/pibmug_files
, right mouse click the first file, and
Save as...]
Free Xandros
=========================You can get a free copy of this terrific Linux
operating system for personal
use. It's ideal if you're wanting to poke around because it's designed
for
new users and, according to some people, easily rivals Windows with both
programs and functionality.
"When I installed it, I put it on my PC alongside Win XP and had no
problems
whatsoever; I get the choice, at boot, which OS I want to work in," said
Tracy, a stevebass list subscriber.
"If you'd like to try this, install XP first. Make your XP partition and
leave the space for Xandros untouched -- don't do anything to the
leftover
space at all. Once you have XP up and running, drop the Xandros CD in
and it
will install and partition/format/itself in the remaining space.
"It correctly identified all of my hardware--and I have a truly
el-cheapo,
CPU embedded motherboard (complete w/the old-style CNR telephone modem).
Everything runs like a top. I haven't delved in any further than
to simply
use the provided programs as-is. I'd like to study Linux more
& learn its
file structure but I'm a bit busy at the moment -- LOL. So much to
learn &
so little time in a day...sigh..."
http://snipurl.com/free_xandros
~~~ Selected Software
>From PC World
Napster
Find and download MP3 files by using this Internet application. You can
narrow your searches for music files by specifying minimum ping
(response)
time, bit rate, and frequency. Included are a built-in FTP client, an
internal MP3 player, and a hot-list for your favorite MP3 sites. The New
Artist feature allows you to browse for new bands by genre. You also can
exclude terms in your song searches, and you can rename MP3 and WMA
files
from within Napster.
This latest version includes fingerprinting technology that helps
Napster
block access to music files that cannot be legally copied. This feature
was
added to bring the program in compliance with the District Court order
of
March 5, 2001. Free
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/140558/8819205/516233/0/
Audiograbber
Audiograbber lets you copy digital audio from CDs to your PC. The audio
signal bypasses your sound card, so you can make perfect copies.
Audiograbber can also normalize the music, delete silence from tracks,
and
send sound to any type of MP3 encoder. You can even record vinyl LPs or
cassette tapes and turn them into .wav files and MP3s. Free
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/140558/8819205/516234/0/
MyIE2
The MyIE2 browser uses a tabbed interface so you can hop from page to
page
in the same window. Enable the Mouse Gesture feature to cut back on
clicking
and using the tab key. Super Drag&Drop opens pages by
dragging-and-dropping
a link, or runs searches when you drag-and-drop highlighted text into
the
built-in search engine. Keep useful items such as Web services,
Favorites,
the Google Toolbar, and even external programs handy by putting them in
the
MyIE2 toolbar. Privacy concerns become less worrisome with the
combined
browser/history/address/cookie-clearing function--especially if you
schedule
it to sweep up when you close out of the program. AD Hunter can be used
as
either an ironclad pop-up blocker, a filter list, or a white list.
MyIE2 is not a stand-alone program; you need to have Internet Explorer
installed. Free
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/139009/8819205/516159/0/
DVD Shrink
Put your DVD burner to good use with DVD Shrink, which lets you back up
the
data on your DVD. DVD Shrink burns your backup file to your hard drive.
If
you have the latest version of Nero's burning software, DVD Shrink will
work
with it to let you burn a backup DVD as well. Free
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/139009/8819205/1258/0/
Cryptainer LE Free Encryption Software
Cryptainer LE makes encryption as simple as dragging and dropping files
into
a password-protected vault. Any kind of file--from Word documents to
video
files--can be dropped in a 128-bit vault, where it is automatically
encrypted. You can also use Cryptainer LE to send secure e-mail
attachments.
Free
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/137306/8819205/516122/0/
Office 2003/XP Add-in: Remove Hidden Data
When you e-mail your boss a document, you don't want them to know you've
already gotten input from the entire office. Just accepting a
collaborator's
changes doesn't erase the trail. Office 2003/XP Add-in: Remove Hidden
Data
permanently deletes hidden information and collaboration data. Using
this
add-in will let you turn in a cleaner document. Free
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/134952/8819205/516067/0/
BxAutoZip
BxAutoZip compresses files for you automatically in Microsoft Outlook.
This
add-in integrates seamlessly with Outlook. Once it's up and running,
you can
forget about it--but your the recipients on the other end won't forget
your
thoughtfulness. Free
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/133635/8819205/516003/0/
123 Free Solitaire
Amuse yourself with these solitaire games, which feature attractive
layouts,
fast game play, rich sounds, extensive options, and quality help. Each
variation has more than 9 trillion possible games. You can play twelve
different games, including FreeCell, Grandfather's Clock and Klondike.
Free
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/133635/8819205/1754/0/
HDDErase
Who would do you trust to tell you how to delete files securely? How
about a
researcher at the Center for Magnetic Recording Research at the
University
of California, San Diego? Dr. Gordon Hughes of the CMRR wrote HDDErase
to
help us securely delete files. Free
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/129531/8819205/515902/0/
FastCache
Every time you go to a Web site that you haven't recently visited, your
computer needs to locate the server again using a domain-name server.
Each
DNS request can take anywhere from 50 milliseconds to a second or more.
AnalogX FastCache is a caching tool that runs on your local machine and
handles any DNS request that your computer makes, saving your browser a
trip
to the Internet. Free
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/104103/8819205/364525/0/
>From LockerGnome
CallerIP
http://go.lockergnome.com/364
CallerIP shows connections to your system in real-time, including the
connection time, remote and local IP address, country of origin, and
remote
and local ports being accessed. For Windows XP systems, the process ID
is
also identified, which helps you determine if the process is
legitimate. A
simple click on an IP address shows you where the connection originates
on a
global map along with domain and network registration information.
CallerIP
scans all the ports on your system and alerts you to any backdoors, HTTP
Web, FTP, or SMTP servers running, which could provide unauthorized
access.
Index.dat Suite v2.51 [2.2M] Win98/2k/XP FREE
http://go.lockergnome.com/388
Cleaning your computer is like cleaning your home - the more thoroughly
you
do it, the easier it is to find your missing cat! Hmmm... bad analogy, I
guess, but to keep your computer humming (or purring?) along, a good
cleaning regimen is vital. Now how much would you pay for a utility that
allows you to not only delete index.dat files, temporary Internet files,
temp files, cookies, and history, but also view the index.dat files on
your
system? $100? $50? Nope! Try 100% FREEware!
PhotoFiltre v5.6.1 [1.9 M] Win98/2k/XP FREE
http://www.photofiltre.com/
Oftentimes many of us best express ourselves digitally by doing a bit of
'pixel pushing' (image editing/creation), and though there are a
plethora of
great graphics editing apps available, it can be useful to discover free
alternatives for the frugal among us. Some may find applications that
are
either limited in their functionality, or interfaces that make them
inaccessible to the average user. Or, worst of all, that they are free
to
download but *gasp* not actually 'free' to keep and use! A friend
(thanks,
Kenny) recently told me about a program that really does suit the needs
of
both the veteran graphic artist and the novice: PhotoFiltre. Whether
creating an image from scratch or importing from a source (scanner,
camera,
etc.), PhotoFiltre can do it via many filters and tools. Very nice
interface
and usage is a breeze. Best of all, it is 100% freeware!
Registry First Aid v3.3 [1387K] Win98/2k/XP Shareware
http://go.lockergnome.com/412
The latest version of Registry First Aid is even easier to use and
safely
fixes more Registry errors than ever before. Helps eliminate system
crashes,
software lockups, and slow loading programs caused by incorrect Registry
entries left over from software installations and uninstallations that
went
awry. Registry First Aid fixes these problems by removing these
references
that are no longer needed. Hundreds of these files bog down the
registry,
slow down your computer, and cause software to lock up. RFA v3.3 offers
added features that check the registry for unused software entries and
"Run"
registry entry errors. Also supports adding multiple entries into an
excluded list and a new safe invalid path detection algorithm.
SaveIt! v2.1 [2593k] Win98/2k/XP FREE
http://go.lockergnome.com/398
SaveIt! allows you to password protect any program or document. You can
also
restrict access based on the Windows user account and disable password
protection temporarily. When a user attempts to open a password
protected
application or document, he is automatically prompted for the password
(protected files are marked with a special icon in Windows Explorer).
SaveIt! is also available from the Windows Explorer SendTo menu,
allowing
you to quickly protect a file with just a few clicks.
~~~ Closing Humor
Today’s humor in a jugular vein provides some tongue-in-cheek advice and
observations of life in general.
1. Never raise your hands to your kids. It leaves your groin
unprotected.
2. I'm not into working out. My philosophy is no pain, no pain.
3. I'm in shape. Round is a shape.
4. I'm desperately trying to figure out why Kamikaze pilots wore
helmets.
5. Do you think illiterate people get the full affect of alphabet soup?
6. I've always wanted to be somebody, but I should have been more
specific.
7. Ever notice when you blow in a dog's face he gets mad at you, but
when
you take him in a car he sticks his head out the window?
8. Ever notice that anyone going slower than you is an idiot, but anyone
going faster than you is a maniac?
9. You have to stay in shape. My mother started walking five miles a day
when she was 60. She's 97 now and we have no idea where she is.
10. I have six locks on my door, all in a row. When I go out, I lock
every
other one. I figure no matter how long somebody stands there picking the
locks, they are always locking three of them.
11. One out of every three Americans is suffering from some form of
mental
illness. Think of your two best friends. If they are OK, then it
must be
you.
12. They show you how detergent takes out bloodstains. I think if
you've got
a tee shirt with bloodstains all over it, maybe your laundry isn't your
biggest problem.
13. Ask people why they have deer heads on their walls and they tell you
it's because they're such beautiful animals. I think my wife is
beautiful,
but I only have photographs of her on the walls.
14. A lady came up to me on the street, pointed at my suede jacket and
said,
"Don't you know a cow was murdered for that jacket?" I said, "I didn't
know
there were any witnesses. Now I'll have to kill you too."
15. Future historians will be able to study at the Jimmy Carter
Library, the
Gerald Ford Library, the Ronald Reagan Library, and the Bill Clinton
Adult
Bookstore.
That’s it for now. See you soon.
The information in this bulletin is compiled from a variety of public
sources. Replies or comments should be sent to: newsbytes@lvpcug.org
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]