Questions about screen saver, .NET and firewall

  • Thread starter Thread starter Peabody
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Peabody

I have a new computer, and am trying to figure things out.

1. I would like to be able to manually invoke the screen saver
rather than having it time in. In 98SE, I just had a desktop
shortcut to the relevant .scr file. How would I do that in XP?

2. Under Windows\Microsoft.NET I have entries for 1.0.3705 and
1.1.4322. And there is an entry in Add/Remove for "NET 1.1" as well
as a hidden ASP.NET User. Windows Update is offering me security
updates for 1.0 and 1.1, but also .NET 2.0 as a new install. Could
somebody tell me what .NET is, and whether I need it or not, and
which version I should have. Basically, WFT do I do with .NET?

3. I went out on the net for the first time today, and things
seemed to be going well. But then the Windows firewall popped up
asking if I wanted to give access to "Internet Explorer". And I
said yes, Which was the wrong answer - right? Well, anyway, where
can I find a list of the things that are now permitted through? I'd
like to find what that was that I screwed up on if I can.
 
1. XP is different. If you want to manually invoke a screensaver, just
create a desktop shortcut to the .scr file that's in your
C:\windows\system32 folder. Or press WinKey+L to bring up the logon screen
which will eventually change to a selected screensaver.

2. The .Net Framework is part of the operating system. You'll never need to
interact with it directly (unless you decide to become a .Net developer) so
don't worry about it. An increasing number of applications are built with
..Net, so don't touch it if you don't want to break anything. The most recent
upgrade to .Net is version 2.0.

3. You want to learn about firewalls in general, and Windows Firewall in
particular. In a nutshell, a firewall is like the door monitor you probably
had when you were in school, granting access into and out of the classroom.
A firewall grants access to your computer. Here's an introduction to Windows
Firewall:

"Understanding Windows Firewall"
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/internet/sp2_wfintro.mspx

4. The custom in newsgroups is one question per post.
 
Peabody said:
I have a new computer, and am trying to figure things out.
Click to expand...
1. I would like to be able to manually invoke the screen saver
rather than having it time in. In 98SE, I just had a desktop
shortcut to the relevant .scr file. How would I do that in XP?
Click to expand...

same technique, should work in xp too.
2. Under Windows\Microsoft.NET I have entries for 1.0.3705 and
1.1.4322. And there is an entry in Add/Remove for "NET 1.1" as well
as a hidden ASP.NET User. Windows Update is offering me security
updates for 1.0 and 1.1, but also .NET 2.0 as a new install. Could
somebody tell me what .NET is, and whether I need it or not, and
which version I should have. Basically, WFT do I do with .NET?
Click to expand...

short answer: you have version 1 already installed, so go ahead and get
all the updates offered for version 1 (be-it 1.0 or 1.1). Don't bother
taking the optional version 2 just yet; when you need it you'll know, as
some new software you try to install will complain. Until that happens
don't bother w/ it.

Note that V1 and V2 are different, and can BOTH be installed in the same
system. V2 does not replace V1. Don't worry about the ASP.NET user, it's
harmless and should not be fussed with.

Basically, .NET is used by a very few applications at this time; you
probably don't own any of them, but someday you might. Having it
installed but not used is not a biggie. If it really bugs you you can
remove it (via the Add/Remove Programs control panel).

As long as it is on your machine, DO take any critical updates WU offers.
3. I went out on the net for the first time today, and things
seemed to be going well. But then the Windows firewall popped up
asking if I wanted to give access to "Internet Explorer". And I
said yes, Which was the wrong answer - right? Well, anyway, where
can I find a list of the things that are now permitted through? I'd
like to find what that was that I screwed up on if I can.
Click to expand...

Well, IE certainly does need to access the internet, so saying YES was
appropriate. However, I do wonder about it actually asking you this,
since I'd have thought it would be enabled by default. whatever...

To check or change what/who is allowed, go into control panel | windows
firewall and snoop around - it's in there somewhere.
 
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