Here's the collation of notes from the meeting and comments e-mailed
to me.
1. Blacklisted IP address - RodB
1. Like most ISPs Ozemail dynamically assigns IP addresses. I was
surprised to discover that on two separate occasions TIP bounced mail
from me addressed to PCUG members, stating that my IP address was
blacklisted. The same mail was received without complaint after
redialling and presumably gaining a different IP address.
2. My machine is most reluctant to boot a newly installed XP system.
Lengthy conversations with Microsoft recommended flashing the BIOS
with the latest update and ultimately to get my money back. Since the
meeting I have followed suggestions and tried more ideas of my own
without success. I now have my money back.
3. ZA - Greg. See comments below item 11 from GeoffK.
4. Newdefrag, wilders.org/defrag - TerryB
From DerekJ: Since the meeting I have downloaded newdefrag. Terry had
commented on the reference in the readme file to Windows Me defrag. I
think newdfrag IS windows Me defrag. The file sizes are identical to
the byte and the appearance on the screen is also identical. Derek.
5.a.Stefens printing calculator - free.
From JeffC: Re item 5a for TedM I am alway interested in calculators,
big or small, and I am impressed with Steffan's Calculator described
by Ted. It is easily located by a Google search, downloaded and
installed by extract from a zip file using WinZip 8.1. I now have it
installed with the key stroke shortcut Ctrl+Alt+C to replace my
previous favourite ShowCalc for simple calculations. In particular it
allows the use of brackets in calculations such as ((20-16)/2)*3 = 6.
It also provides many options such as a unit conversion facility for
simple conversions like 10 lb = 4.53592 kg and constants like
Soundspeed in Water = 1485 m/s. Jeff C.
From TedM: 5a. 'Steffens Printing calculator' This free software
(version 1.5.1) is available at:
www.freewarehome.com/business-and-productivity/calculators.html
another site thanks to Emil, is the author's web site at:
http://www.steffen-tschirch.de/
The program is less than a megabyte in size. It is a scientific
calculator with a scrolling tape display. The tape can be printed. It
has several memory buttons and a conversion facility. I find the
program useful.
If you like it, the author would appreciate an e-mail sent to:
steffen@steffen-t.de
he lives in Laatzen Germany.
5b Question what is PCL ?
Answers given were that PCL is a Hewlett Packard printer command
language. It is not commonly used. The language consists of a series
of 'esc' commands followed by numbers. Microsoft true type fonts and
current faster CPU's are used more commonly to render text suitable
for printing.
6. DirectCD - Kryn
7.a. New! M$ virii
7.b. Eudora Light - JohnS
8.Topbar, error...The requested URL could not be retrieved (Outlook
Express) - ElizabethW
9. Format C: - no option - Geoff
From GeoffW: "Format C" - no option. Geoff W had a story about how
he lost content of his "C" and "D" drive files, result of a
particularly lethal worm known as "Win32.My Life.C", evidently a
cousin of "My Life D" and "xx F". It copies itself to Win Sys
directory as "List490. TXT.s". arriving as a suspicious Email
(immediately deleted but too late) with some nonsense text, and adding
the "nice touch", as John S observed : "No Viruses Found . . .
MCAFEE.COM".
Source was not noted. Geoff's point was that it came through Outlook X
the same day as Ez-antivirus sigs. was updated, but the vital update
was missed and the rest history. CA's Virus Info. Centre comments: "If
the worm is run when the number of minutes is greater or equal to 50
and the 'List480.TXT.scr' already exists in the System directory, the
payload will trigger". But Terry B's comment "no sympathy" was well
taken.
10. Screen dump of Windows Media full screen - MikeD
The screen Mike was trying to "dump" is at
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/nasatv/index.html
I can get an OK dump at "Normal" zoom but when I change the image to
full screen via right click and "full screen" all I get is a brief
image then black.
11. Firewalls again - JohnK: As I raised subject of Firewalls will put
together some of my knowledge but will not for one minute guarantee it
is correct but if not hopefully somebody will correct.
Major points raised:
Subject is complex and there is no one right answer.
Will depend on ones own needs - permanently/semi-permanently on -
broadband cable, ADSL or analogue dial-up - networked or stand alone
computers.
Consensus view was if using other than short term dial-up connections
it is essential to use as a minimum a software firewall.
The majority present use Zone-Alarm, some using the professional
version (professional is not free-ware) another one used was tiny
personal firewall.
It was noted that Windows XP comes with a firewall but still
recommended to use another as well. Windows XP operates slightly
differently to most firewalls in that it blocks ports rather than
addresses. Firewalls can be a little complex to set up if you are
among the majority who are technically challenged when it comes to the
finer subtleties of computer installation. Tiny personal firewall was
said to be simpler in this regard.
Some Firewalls (ZoneAlarm Pro for example) do have limited virus
protection but it is still essential to use anti-virus software as
well. Also considered essential to use software that will enable you
to review emails on your ISP's server before downloading them -
programs most commonly used are "Popcorn" and "Mailwasher".
With networked computers there is a strong body of opinion that you
should use a router that includes a firewall function. For those with
ADSL many routers now come pre-configured for ADSL with preinstalled
PPPOE functionality (at least for Telstra ADSL). Do not know about
Transact. Some people go so far as to install a router with a stand
alone computer, others argue this is a waste of time and money.
Other suggestions were to use one computer to connect to the internet
and another one for any personal information that you would not want
others to see. Maybe keep the non-connected one up to date by
transferring files between them when neither are connected to the
internet.
From my research it appears that many of the attempts to access
information on your computer are entirely legitimate, maybe your ISP
checking to see if you are still connected, often happens every five
minutes or so, maybe your bank or internet stock-broker checking,
particularly if you did not formally log off. With dynamically
allocated addresses by most ISP's it could be the previous person who
was connected to that address that did not formally log off. Or of
course it could well be the kids at a high school in China or Taiwan
which seem to be some of the more common sources of attack. If you
are very paranoid you may believe it is aliens that are avoiding the
SETI project trying to find out what makes us tick so they can raid
our bank accounts before they take over the earth.
Finally we were reminded to back up our key data, software can be
reinstalled, self generated data cannot be unless you have a back up.
A good information site is www.ozecableguy.com/security.html more
directed at networked computers but seems to be highly thought of and
he is able to write in terms most of us can understand. Then there
are the sites Chez referred us to a fortnight ago.
12. Data in cardfile on a W3.11 machine.
From RodF: Re item 12:
http://support.microsoft.com/directory/article.asp?ID=KB;EN-US;Q164994&
Has several methods of handling the CardFile data.
From Emil: I happen to have an old book "Using Windows 3.1" (1992)
from the Que imprint.
I gather that the answer to this is as follows:
1. install "Generic/Text only" printer in the Win 3.11 machine.
From Control Panel, select the Printers icon. Choose the "add" button.
Select 'Generic/Text only' from the list of printers. Install it. For
'port' select 'FILE' (that is, this is a virtual printer that prints
to a file)
2. Open Cardfile (and its data) in the Win 3.11 machine. Select a
printer: Choose File Print Setup command. Then choose 'specific
printer' and then select the Generic/Text only printer (which was
installed in step 1). Next choose File Print All. You will then be
asked to name a file name for the output. If all goes well, you end
with a file that contains the contents of all the cards.
3. The output file with its file extension prn is indeed a pure text
file. You can view it with Notepad (but you may have to rename the
file extension to .txt) or indeed you can print it to the default
printer in the Win 3.11 machine. Or otherwise, you can transfer it via
a floppy to a Win9x machine.
=============
Further to my contribution to item 12 (cardfile)
There is apparently a freeware called Addrfile which says it can
import/process/export cardfile data files.
===================================================
Addrfile
Company: FedSoft
Version: v1.17
Date Added: 08-02-01
Size: 244 KB
Requirements: Windows 95/98/NT/2000
License: Free
This program can be used for keeping personal address information
(such as addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and so on),
similar to the old Windows CARDFILE.EXE program; and it can read CRD
files. You can use this program to keep personal notes as a
replacement for Notepad. By using this program, you can organize your
data and access any information you need more easily. You can
optionally encrypt your data. Information is stored normally in CSV
format, so you can import files to other programs such as Microsoft
Excel. You can even save to and read from TXT files.
======================================================
It can be found in the Zdnet archive at:
http://www.zdnet.com/downloads/stories/info/0,10615,77977,00.html
========
Regards, Trevor
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