http://www.bootdisk.com/ 234 August 2005
The BootLIST
Welcome to the 234th Edition of The BootLIST
INDEX
1) XP Users Guide
2) Right Click Mouse Menu Utilities
3) A Geek's Story
4) Odd Activation Issue
5) HTML Email Or Not
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1) XP Users Guide
According to the Author:
"The TweakGuides Tweaking Companion is the mother of all Windows XP tweak guides and system optimization guides."
http://www.tweakguides.com/TGTC.html
I'd however, describe it as a general PC and XP user tutorial. It's certainly worth downloading and browsing through. If you already know about this OK, the new version of the document [170 pages] was just published a week or so ago.
Just keep in mind that the Author spends most of his time writing, and not actually fixing PCs or XP problems, so much of the advice in the document has just been drawn from other tutorials or websites without testing.
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2) Right Click Mouse Menu Utilities
A few issues ago I addressed registry settings for the right-click menu:
http://www.bootdisk.com/bootlist/231.htm#6
Today I found a few little Context Menu Editors that do it automagically:
Context Menu Editor:
http://www.bartdart.com/
MMM:
http://www.hace.us-inc.com/mmm.shtml
There is a huge difference in the way both programs work. Context Menu Editor is very simple while MMM is rather complex, a tad invasive but fun, and has a large amount of functions. It was a pleasure however testing out both of them.
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3) A Geek's Story
Friday PM a call comes in. "Hi, I need to print out a form for my son's college in PDF but I cant install Adobe Acrobat Reader." I figure easy appointment the caller probably has a nasty background app that is messing with the install so I head over.
Win98SE PC, no malware, nice fast box. Sure enough, the latest Acrobat for 98SE version 6 wont install. Says "You need IE 5 or greater". Hmm, 98SE comes with IE 5. So I figure it's a good time to put on IE 6 anyway but wait, it's an 11 to 73 meg download! On a 28.8 dialup I say no thanks. I also dont want to create another problem on a otherwise perfectly working system.
Good time to hit Google and find another reader. I found this:
Foxit Reader:
http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/rd_intro.php
Just unpack/install to a new folder [only 2 files] and click the .exe to run. 1.3 meg download.
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4) Odd Activation Issue
Ron asked - A friend gave me her computer to clean up and upgrade from windows home SP1 to SP2 and install all the latest security downloads etc., as I have broadband. I installed SP2 OK then connected to the Microsoft update site. And got the message that windows was not activated and it would not let me download any updates.
So how come her computer has been running Windows XP home for the past 18 months without being activated and allowing SP2 to be installed? I know a couple of people who had the pirate version of XP Pro and they have been unable to upgrade to SP2 so they don't bother.
Ron M. suggested trying:
Try repairing the registry entries for the .DLL files used by activation:
Use Start- Run and enter the following text in the dialog box:
regsvr32.exe regwizc.dll
Then do it again with the following text:
regsvr32.exe licdll.dll
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5) HTML Email Or Not
Father Sargonie Burnes wrote - G'day. In my office we retain a local firm to maintain our computers and network and they do pretty well. I am pretty well versed with computers myself and can argue quite well with the young technicians that do the work for us and we have a lot of fun. I am 67 years old and still going strong.
The company says that reading rich text emails are never a problem if you have a virus program running. I beg to differ with the technicians. I say that you should disable rich text in emails to prevent problems. They say that it does not matter. What is your opinion?
*** It depends on how you are reading your email. For example, if you use access your email via a
web-based system like Yahoo, reading your mail via your ISPs web-based client, or logging on to your company's site to read your email then it doesn't matter.
If you download mail locally to your PC via OE, Pegusus, Calypso, or other email program on YOUR PC then it really DOES matter. To be safe one should disable rich text aka html email in the configuration of your client. Different email programs handle this in different ways. Some will just display the html text making the email harder to read. Some will strip the html tags, and some wont display the message at all but rather list it as an attachment, etc. which of course you dont want to open.
Here's an example of a warning and the check box to tick if using Calypso:
http://www.bootdisk.com/art/richtext.jpg
While some people need to read/use/modify their mail in html for work that's fine, but do so using a web-based method. HTML mail however should not be enabled on your home pc. If you cant read the mail simply reply and ask the sender to resend in plain text. Yes, most often one can resend to the sender tho you may only get a blank body [no original message quotes] depending on your client.
If one argues that "Your anti-virus will take care of any problems" then they are barking up the wrong tree, as the FIRST line of defense against viruses and malware is common sense and prevention, ie not curing the disease after your acquire it or hoping that your anti-virus will ID a virus/trojan created only 6 hours ago.
As with any advice there are always exceptions. For example, there are very sharp people who subscribe to receive this newsletter in html. I would hope that they are reading it via a web based service. If not, then they must be very selective in the emails that they open and read.
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