Maintaining One's Computer

  • Thread starter Thread starter Elle
  • Start date Start date
What ZoneAlarm does that's different (from the Windows firewall) is watch
for OUTgoing activity. There have been viruses which want to live in your
computer and then make contact with the outside world. ZA "notices"
everything going outbound, alerts you to the activity, and gives you the
option of allowing or disallowing it. Once it "learns" which outbound
programs are OK (like your browser), the nagging stops. The learning process
is quick.
 
Elle said:
John,

I've seen enough of you say get on top of the AV and spyware software
that I am now convinced. Also, one of my relatives said similar. Will
do.
I do defrag and scandisk a few times a month.

I do back up files (not that there are many of them; less than 5
gigabyte easily) like crazy these days. As I think I mentioned
recently, this of course has been greatly facilitated by the
discovery (doh!), abetted by discussions here, that backing up from
one hard drive to another is super-fast. Love it.
Click to expand...

Elle, this is a bit off-topic for this newsgroup but have you tried SyncToy
(Google, sorry) from MS (a free download for XP users) for backing up files?
I use it and am *very* pleased. LOL, probably the best software MS have
written in ages. After setting it up with which files you want to backup and
where to it's only a couple mouse clicks each time you want to back up /
mirror / echo all your selected files after that.

A breeze to use.
 
Elle said:
I will look into this. I can get my earthlink email via the web (if
that makes sense) instead of OE. Both methods have some protection
settings that I can use.

I'll look into using something other than IE.
Click to expand...

Firefox ver1.5 is great to use. After using IE for ever (until six months
ago) and then Firefox I'd never go back. I tried Opera for a while but it
doesn't do anyting that Firefox doesn't and Firefox is faster and better
written. I especially like the search window on the far right, being able to
add my own search engines is great. I use Isohunt, Mirriam-Webster on-line
dictionary and IMDB regularly. It's great. Not to mention adblock. That
feature alone is worth switching over for.

Cheers,
 
~misfit~ said:
Firefox ver1.5 is great to use. After using IE for ever (until six months
ago) and then Firefox I'd never go back. I tried Opera for a while but it
doesn't do anyting that Firefox doesn't and Firefox is faster and better
written. I especially like the search window on the far right, being able
to add my own search engines is great. I use Isohunt, Mirriam-Webster
on-line dictionary and IMDB regularly. It's great. Not to mention adblock.
That feature alone is worth switching over for.
Click to expand...

Misfit, thanks for the suggestion, and I will throw it in my notes. I am a
little overwhelmed at the moment with all that I have to do to have a
reliable system (even if it's brand new :-( ). I have started a list of
downloads, per all the suggestions people kindly posted, and I reckon I'm
going to spend an hour or two a day for the next two weeks trying to get
organizes and have a grip on all this. One item on my list of things to do
is to figure out what browser to use in lieu of Internet Explorer.

Also, per your other post, I haven't tried synchtoy. The best method for
backing up files is not high on my list of priorities now, because for one
thing, I am juggling two hard drives pretty easily; for another, I'm
purposely keeping my personal files low (and so printing out important
emails or financial statements or word processed drafts, etc.); for a third,
I do not have a read/write CD rom drive. I really don't want to purchase one
right now, either (knock on wood), especially with the second hard drive
working fine.

Regardless, your comment is in the archive, and maybe in a few months, when
the dust has settled more, I'll revisit the synchtoy. I appreciate your
taking the time to post.
 
~misfit~ said:
Firefox ver1.5 is great to use. After using IE for ever (until six months
ago) and then Firefox I'd never go back.
Click to expand...

Disgusted with how long it was taking not only just to switch Internet
Explorer windows but also how long loading a new IE window was taking, and
taking a cue from the many folks who said abandon IE, I searched for a
Firefox browser site a little while ago, found one (or it, at
http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/ ), downloaded it (~ 20 mins.), and installed
it (coupla minutes). The difference in speed is immediately noticeable. It
is much faster and seems sleeker. I am able to switch windows very quickly
now. (That's so darn weird that I couldn't do this with IE, clicking and
waiting repeatedly, in great contrast to my old Windows ME's Internet
Explorer.) Earthlink's web site builder (by Trellix) appears a little
different than with IE (the preferred browser for it, so says Trellix) but
making changes to my web site is also quicker.

I feel darn near totally re-empowered. Thanks, ~misfit~ and others saying to
abandon Internet Explorer.

I am looking over some of my computer settings (per all the helpful hints I
have received recently re checking memory, processes, connection speed,
etc.) now that Firefox is running, and studying what all is different. I
have no idea what's different. :-) It works way better.

To interested newbies thinking, 'What's all this about giving up Internet
Explorer?", all I can say is, 'Do it now.'
 
Disgusted with how long it was taking not only just to switch Internet
Explorer windows but also how long loading a new IE window was taking, and
taking a cue from the many folks who said abandon IE, I searched for a
Firefox browser site a little while ago, found one (or it, at
http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/ ), downloaded it (~ 20 mins.), and
installed it (coupla minutes). The difference in speed is immediately
noticeable. It is much faster and seems sleeker. I am able to switch
windows very quickly now. (That's so darn weird that I couldn't do this
with IE, clicking and waiting repeatedly, in great contrast to my old
Windows ME's Internet Explorer.) Earthlink's web site builder (by Trellix)
appears a little different than with IE (the preferred browser for it, so
says Trellix) but making changes to my web site is also quicker.

I feel darn near totally re-empowered. Thanks, ~misfit~ and others saying
to abandon Internet Explorer.

I am looking over some of my computer settings (per all the helpful hints
I have received recently re checking memory, processes, connection speed,
etc.) now that Firefox is running, and studying what all is different. I
have no idea what's different. :-) It works way better.

To interested newbies thinking, 'What's all this about giving up Internet
Explorer?", all I can say is, 'Do it now.'
Click to expand...


Misfit was right on the money. I love Firefox tabbed windows, ctrl-t or
see something in tomshardwaregroup highlight it, then middle mouse
button (or what ever you use for middle button) to get another page or
search page for the highlighted reference. Visit Firefox's extensions
site to get some niffy addons.
 
Paul, interesting. This is going in my notebook. I tried it a few times, and
the response came back in less than five seconds. But I understand that this
may change every time I sign on to the internet. The following is what came
up most recently. It looks in proper order, based on what you say.
Regardless, I will keep an eye on it, especially when things seem really
slow.
Click to expand...

Your saying IE was the cause of slow internet usage? Hmmmm.

Anyway I got a neighbor signed up for Netzero for their little kid
since its only 10 bucks a month. That thing is ridiculously slow. I
know dialup isnt that slow. Dial up depending on the site of course
can be very decent for just surfing the net and this thing is like in
slow motion all the time. Ive got to check that out and maybe move
them to something else if it doesnt improve.
 
Misfit was right on the money. I love Firefox tabbed windows, ctrl-t or
see something in tomshardwaregroup highlight it, then middle mouse
button (or what ever you use for middle button) to get another page or
search page for the highlighted reference. Visit Firefox's extensions
site to get some niffy addons.
Click to expand...

CTRL-PgUp and CTRL-PgDn will also take you across your open tabs. Although
the open sauce Firefox programming mob has made some embarrassing design
mistakes which they cannot bring themselves to admit to, they also got some
things right. Really right.
 
[email protected] said:
Your saying IE was the cause of slow internet usage? Hmmmm.

Anyway I got a neighbor signed up for Netzero for their little kid
since its only 10 bucks a month. That thing is ridiculously slow. I
know dialup isnt that slow. Dial up depending on the site of course
can be very decent for just surfing the net and this thing is like in
slow motion all the time. Ive got to check that out and maybe move
them to something else if it doesnt improve.
Click to expand...

A number of things can make it appear that web access is slow. One would be
the graphics rendering speed of the computer in question. Another is the
speed of the browser itself. I agree that IE can behave like a bottleneck -
it just seems to draw pages slower than Firefox.
 
Doug Kanter said:
snip
A number of things can make it appear that web access is slow. One would
be the graphics rendering speed of the computer in question. Another is
the speed of the browser itself. I agree that IE can behave like a
bottleneck - it just seems to draw pages slower than Firefox.
Click to expand...

Hi Jaster and John,

I don't know if IE was, technically, the problem. From my googling, I did
see one post that said the user started with IE, had a slow response, then
switched to the Firefox browser. Then Firefox slowed way down about a month
later. He theorized the viruses ultimately were behind all his problems. As
some have suggested, the virus-writing villains target IE more but are
catching up to Firefox.

I still intend to get on top of the adware and virus protection. Just need a
breather (which of course may give all the bugs a chance to dig in deep to
my computer while I play with searches :-( ). But I know more today than
yesterday. :-)

Jaster, I will explore those Mozilla/Firefox add-ons at some point, thanks.
 
CTRL-PgUp and CTRL-PgDn will also take you across your open tabs. Although
the open sauce Firefox programming mob has made some embarrassing design
mistakes which they cannot bring themselves to admit to, they also got
some things right. Really right.
Click to expand...

Nothing is perfect but which design mistakes?
 
jaster said:
Nothing is perfect but which design mistakes?
Click to expand...

The bookmark search defect is a beauty. The search results appear in a list,
with absolutely no clue as to which folder they were found in. The open
sauce excuse is that "You should KNOW what folders your bookmarks are in".
Yeah. Sometimes.

In Netscape, it worked correctly. The cursor would move to the first
occurrence of the search result, showing you which folder it was found in. A
keystroke would take you to subsequent occurrences, if any. In other words,
it provided twice as much information, like the search function in a word
processor. Imagine if you searched for a phrase in Word, and the result (the
phrase itself) was shown all by itself in a new window. Now, play Jeopardy
for a moment. What question would that method have answered for you? Here:
"Does that phrase exist in this document?" Dumb idea. If you're searching
for it, you probably KNOW it exists, if you wrote the document. So, telling
you "Yes, it exists" is next to useless. You wanted to know WHERE.

In Moz or Firefox, you may only want to click on the result and open the web
page it points to, so the answer is sometimes fine. But, what if you DO need
to know what folder the results were found in? Too bad.
 
on 02/28/06 said:
I am looking over some of my computer settings (per all the helpful hints
I have received recently re checking memory, processes, connection
speed, etc.) now that Firefox is running, and studying what all is
different. I have no idea what's different. :-) It works way better.
Click to expand...

Take a look at extensions for Firefox, too.


Alan

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The bookmark search defect is a beauty. The search results appear in a
list, with absolutely no clue as to which folder they were found in. The
open sauce excuse is that "You should KNOW what folders your bookmarks are
in". Yeah. Sometimes.

In Netscape, it worked correctly. The cursor would move to the first
occurrence of the search result, showing you which folder it was found in.
A keystroke would take you to subsequent occurrences, if any. In other
words, it provided twice as much information, like the search function in
a word processor. Imagine if you searched for a phrase in Word, and the
result (the phrase itself) was shown all by itself in a new window. Now,
play Jeopardy for a moment. What question would that method have answered
for you? Here: "Does that phrase exist in this document?" Dumb idea. If
you're searching for it, you probably KNOW it exists, if you wrote the
document. So, telling you "Yes, it exists" is next to useless. You wanted
to know WHERE.

In Moz or Firefox, you may only want to click on the result and open the
web page it points to, so the answer is sometimes fine. But, what if you
DO need to know what folder the results were found in? Too bad.
Click to expand...


Ok thanks. My version doesn't have a bookmark search.
 
To interested newbies thinking, 'What's all this about giving up
Internet Explorer?", all I can say is, 'Do it now.'
Click to expand...

I'm really pleased that worked for you Elle. I know you said you don't think
you need it but I strongly urge you to hunt down SyncToy. In my opinion it's
the best software Microsoft have ever written. A very small download, simple
to use yet powerful. Doesn't sound like MS at all in fact. ;-)
 
On Wed, 01 Mar 2006 12:22:19 +0000, Doug Kanter thoughtfully wrote:

[snip]
Are you sure? What version of Firefox are you using?
Click to expand...

I'm using FF 1.5. When I looked up bookmark search it was an
extension. Do you mean history search?
 
jaster said:
Doug Kanter thoughtfully wrote:

[snip]
Click to expand...

.... snip ...
I'm using FF 1.5. When I looked up bookmark search it was an
extension. Do you mean history search?
Click to expand...

Somebody carelessly snipped attributions of quoted material.
Please don't do that.

In FF1.5, select:

bookmarks | manage bookmarks

and you will have a place to enter the search item. Enter
something and hit <enter>. A terrible interface, both coming and
going.

--
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the broken "Reply" link at the bottom of the article. Click on
"show options" at the top of the article, then click on the
"Reply" at the bottom of the article headers." - Keith Thompson
More details at: <http://cfaj.freeshell.org/google/>
Also see <http://www.safalra.com/special/googlegroupsreply/>
 
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