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LangaList 2005-08-15 Please visit our sponsors and help keep the LangaList S.E. free! --- ( Your Clicks On Ad Links Help Keep The LangaList Free! ) ---
--------------( the above is an advertisement )------------- 1) Faster Boots With Prefetch Tweak?Our recent debunking of the bogus "SuperFetch" tweak in XP ( http://langa.com/newsletters/2005/2005-08-08.htm#4 ) mentioned in passing the (very real) "Prefetch." That prompted this letter: Fred: I came across this article ( http://blog.taragana.com/index.php/archive/ms-windows-longhorns-most-useful-feature-now-available-in-windows-xp-for-free/ ) on the internet, and decided to try it myself. I tried it on two AMD machines, setting the prefetch to 1. Windows XP loaded in less than half the usual time, but some programs did not have time to load (different programs at each reboot), and did not function. I then tried it on an Intel machine, with the same results. I now have the prefetch set to 2 on all three machines, and they seem to operate normally. Would you care to comment on prefetch settings? ---Phil Abel I suppose it's the "fetch" part of both names that's causing confusion, Phil. But again: Superfetch is NOT part of XP. Prefetch IS part of XP, and always has been. It's not "windows-longhorns-most-useful-feature-now-available-in-windows-xp-for-free." In fact, Prefetch is not new at all, not hidden, and not a secret (see http://langa.com/u/0y.htm ). And it *is* adjustable, as you discovered. What's Prefetch? As we've described in past issues: The Prefetch folder contains information about what files your system runs at startup, and your other commonly-used files: Some of the various components of these files can be gathered in anticipation of future need--- pre-fetched--- to speed system operation....In XP Pro, Defrag also uses the Prefetch data to know which files you're accessing at boot, so they can be placed in the fastest-access part of your hard drive. Prefetch has four settings, adjustable via the Registry: You can turn Prefetch off completely (setting 0), enable it just for non-boot application files (setting 1; the setting that messed up Phil's boot process), enable it just for the files you need at boot-up (setting 2; the setting that successfully cut Phil's boot times), or enable it for *all* files (setting 3). The default is 3, or "all files" which tells Prefetch to try to speed access to all the files, boot and otherwise, that you use most often. But yes, if you tell the Prefetch system to concentrate only on your boot files (setting 2), you may see a reduction in boot time. However, after the system's finished booting, you'll gain no further benefits at all from Prefetch--- a questionable tradeoff, in my mind. It's easy and relatively safe to experiment with Prefetch, and this site has simple instructions: http://www.theeldergeek.com/prefetch_parameters_-_altering.htm Lots more info: Although you *can* play with the Prefetch, I think the default setting (3; all files) is fine for most users, most of the time. It's one of those parts of XP that just sits there, quietly doing its job, requiring little or no user attention. <g> Click to email this item to a
friend --- ( Your Clicks On Ad Links Help Keep The LangaList S.E. Free! ) --- "Dear Fred,
Some long time ago I had a problem with my computer. The LangaList Plus! Edition is
ad-free, spam-proof, --------------( the above is an advertisement )-------------- 2) Enable/Disable Internet Access On Demand
If we tackle this as just a tech issue: I suggest you use a firewall that lets you disable network access with a click or two. ZoneAlarm does this, for example (although the warning flags are still up regarding the newest version of ZA); you also can set a "supervisor" password for ZA, so that only you can alter its settings. This means you, and no one else, can turn internet access on or off for that PC.
If you need something more refined, there are myriad tools to limit, monitor, or
otherwise control internet access: BTW: It's a fairly simple thing to check the browser History logs to see where any user actually has been browsing. Checking the Cookies folder also can provide a pretty good record of what sites have been browsed. (See next item.) If the kids (or any users) *are* going to problem sites--- or if the log or Cookie folder is suspiciously empty--- that (IMHO) is a pretty good "teachable moment" to sit 'em down and have a discussion about why you think certain sites are inappropriate; and to talk about what's right, what's wrong, and *why*. With a little luck, you might be able to defuse the whole thing and eliminate the need for harsher measures, such as locking 'net access. I'm no parenting expert, and we all have to figure out how best to prepare our kids to handle the world's evils. Technology can help in some areas, but I really do think it's only a limited solution, at best. Click to email this item to a
friend 3) New, Free Cookie Viewer/ManagerApropos of the need to check Cookies from time to time: Karen Kenworthy has released a new version of her free (and excellent) Cookie Viewer: http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptcookie.asp A discussion of the new features is in these editions of her
newsletter: While you're there, check out all her "PowerTools," and consider getting 'em on CD to help support Karen's work. Click to email this item to a
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--------------( the above is an advertisement )------------- 4) New-PC Buyer's Jitters
Yes, you can use your old hard drive in a new PC, but it's not an ideal thing to do. Drives wear out, eventually, and you may be asking for trouble by keeping an older drive in service indefinitely. Assuming the new PC will come with XP: XP has a built-in "Files And Settings Transfer Wizard" that can help you move, er, files and settings from the old PC to the new. Fire up the new PC, get it going, and check out the XP-related info in the Archives and also here: http://www.informationweek.com/LP/columnists/fredlanga.jhtml . See especially "System Setup Secrets For Windows XP" http://langa.com/u/d.htm When the new PC is OK, click Start/All Programs/Accessories/System Tools, and then click Files and Settings Transfer Wizard. If you need more detailed help, click Start/Help And Support and type in "Files and Settings Transfer Wizard" as the Search query; follow the instructions that appear. You also can check out Microsoft's "Step-by-Step Guide to Migrating Files and Settings" at http://langa.com/u/0z.htm or Paul Thurrott's "Using the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard" at http://langa.com/u/a.htm Of course, Google also has a ton of info: http://langa.com/u/b.htm When you're done, you'll still have your old PC set up and available, so you can grab any additional files or settings you might need. And remember: Google can help you with any specific problems, such as having trouble transferring or migrating your Outlook Express accounts. Example: http://langa.com/u/c.htm See? No need for jitters. Plenty of help's available! Click to email this item to a
friend 5) "Horror Story With A Good Ending"
Spinrite is an outstanding tool, as you found, but it works so carefully and thoroughly, it can take a very long time to run to completion on a large drive. The constant activity of both the drive and the CPU will drive up temperatures and require that the PC's cooling system really do its job. If there's a weak fan or dust and dirt blockage, or if the cooling system wasn't sized properly by the vendor (it happens!), you can run into trouble--- not just with Spinrite, but with *any* process that demands extended full-bore operation of the PC. IOW: The problem's not Spinrite, but your PC's cooling system. So: Yes, it's possible that some other demanding process triggered a heat-related problem earlier; or it could have been the spike. There's no simple way to tell after the fact. But you *know* you have a heat problem now, so, if I were you, I'd replace the power supply, the case fan, and the CPU fan. The power supply (and its built-in fan) may have taken damage during the spike; and you can easily (and cheaply) increase the size and cooling capacity of the case and CPU fans. (See http://langa.com/u/e.htm ) When you're done, you should end up with a system that's electrically *and* thermally healthy and stable! Click to email this item to a
friend 6) Recommend This Newsletter And Win!If you think the LangaList is a worthwhile read, maybe a friend would
find it useful too! Just use the following link to recommend the
LangaList---your friend may find a new source of useful information and
you just may win one of three FREE ONE YEAR SUBSCRIPTIONS to the
LangaList Plus! edition given each month. (If your name is drawn and
you're already a Plus! subscriber, your current subscription will be
extended by a full year.) Click to email this item to a
friend 7) Hardware Disconnects
Yes indeed, Hugh: Many standalone cable and DSL "modems" have just such a feature: a "suspend" or "standby" button which keeps the modem powered-on but allows no traffic to pass through. It can be handy as a way to drop offline, such as when you see suspicious activity (unexplained heavy up/downloads, etc.): First, cut the connection, then troubleshoot to see what the heck was going on. <g> Other options include using a firewall to block *all* traffic (see #2 above); or--- as I've seen done by hardware hackers--- cutting one conductor in the network cable and mounting a small in-line switch to make or break the circuit. But you're right about the concept: If you block the connection, you're safe from network-borne problems. Click to email this item to a
friend 8) Code-Load Success StoryCode-loader Adrian State writes:
Do you have a home page or website? (It doesn't matter what size.) Please
click over to http://langa.com/code.htm , and maybe you can join the
thousands of LangaList readers who have "Loaded the Code!" (If you've
already "Loaded The Code" and are wondering if your site will appear here
or on the Langa.Com web site, please see http://langa.com/link.txt ) Manually Browse All Posted-to-Date Sites Starting At Computer Geek Cool Links & Pool Links Templates Brogden's Muse "Best Little Host" UK Congas VVA-272 Greenville, N.C. Finance and Business Institute Celtic Group Phil Baker (AZ) Click to email this item to a
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--------------( the above is an advertisement )------------- 9) Truth Or Fiction?Hi Fred. Long time 'Plus' subscriber. The following is a little off-subject. There's a "FWD" going around that sounded to me like one of those urban myths. And I quote: *Could* it be true? Yes--- it's technically possible for a hotel to encode everything on the key card. But why would a hotel do that? It'd just increase the complexity of the operation, to no good end. The whole idea of key cards is to provide a cheap, disposable key that works on one, and only one, hotel door. The electronic lock gets reprogrammed with every new guest, rendering the old card useless. Recall that the hotel doesn't need the card at checkout; in fact, I've never heard of a hotel requiring the key card be used for anything other than opening doors. It makes no sense that the hotel--- or key-card maker--- would go to the expense and bother of building in elaborate data-encoding capabilities and using it to store all kinds of data that will never be accessed again. I truly think that card keys are just keys, period. Snopes thinks so, too: Click to email this item to a
friend 10) Just For GrinsI have an annual tradition with my son: Each summer, we take off for a Father/Son adventure. The shared experiences are a nice memory-builder; and the trips usually involve a long ride in the car so we'll have time to talk and get past the superficialities of everyday life. He's heading off to college this year, so we wanted a
blow-out trip, and headed to Six Flags in New Jersey, home of the world's
tallest (456'/139m), fastest (128mph/205kph) roller coaster. It features a true
vertical (90 degrees--- straight up and down) climb and descent! In practice: Imagine taking a 1/4 mile (300m) run at 45-story building, accelerating fast enough to *coast* straight up one vertical face, arcing over the top at near zero speed, and then accelerating--- dropping--- straight down the other side. We rode in the first seat of the first car: the rush was incredible. After a second or two, you can hear nothing but wind noise. The wind is so strong it distorts your face; you can feel the wind working its way *under* your eyelids. You slow as the car climbs straight up for 45 stories, and you hang for a moment at the apex, with an incredible view. Then you're diving straight down at the ground, reaching speeds only a little less than at launch. Some roller coasters are amusing. Others are exciting. This one was *astonishing*. About: More: Click to email this item to a
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--------------( the above is an advertisement )------------- 11) Plus! Edition Highlights:Today's LangaList Plus! Edition contains all ten items above, plus about 40% more content including:
The Plus! edition is only pennies per issue, and
comes with a MONEY BACK Click to email this item to a
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