Where does the HOSTS file go in XP/2K

  • Thread starter Thread starter casey.o
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casey.o

In Win98, the HOSTS file is right in the "Windows" folder. I'm trying
to connnect to the internet with Win2000, and when I opened a website it
started loading links to stuff I have blocked in Win98, such as
doubleclick and facebook. I did a search, and found the default HOSTS
file located in WINNT\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC. Is this the normal place?
(On XP that would be the same except it would be WINDOWS, not WINNT).

Or, does it really matter where it's placed. What if it's put into the
WINDOWS or WINNT folder?
 
In Win98, the HOSTS file is right in the "Windows" folder. I'm trying
to connnect to the internet with Win2000, and when I opened a website it
started loading links to stuff I have blocked in Win98, such as
doubleclick and facebook. I did a search, and found the default HOSTS
file located in WINNT\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC. Is this the normal place?
(On XP that would be the same except it would be WINDOWS, not WINNT).

Or, does it really matter where it's placed. What if it's put into the
WINDOWS or WINNT folder?
Click to expand...

This is kind of a joke. On a Unix system, /etc/hosts would be
a traditional location for the hosts file, and it performs the
same function (override DNS). The Windows developers obviously
thought it would be fun to make a "recognizable landmark" by placing
the file in a folder called "etc". That's where I would
expect it to work.

Why not just be satisfied with the place you found it ?
You can edit the thing and test it, like neuter facebook
(like I have), then enter facebook in the browser and
note that it doesn't work ("Failed to connect").

127.0.0.1 localhost
127.0.0.1 facebook.com

WinXP:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\hosts

Win2K:

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\etc\hosts

That's where a search finds mine. My Win2K one is the
default file, and has no filters loaded. The WinXP one
has a handful of filtered items, like Facebook. I just
edited the file, where I found it.

Paul
 
This is kind of a joke. On a Unix system, /etc/hosts would be
a traditional location for the hosts file, and it performs the
same function (override DNS). The Windows developers obviously
thought it would be fun to make a "recognizable landmark" by placing
the file in a folder called "etc". That's where I would
expect it to work.

Why not just be satisfied with the place you found it ?
You can edit the thing and test it, like neuter facebook
(like I have), then enter facebook in the browser and
note that it doesn't work ("Failed to connect").

127.0.0.1 localhost
127.0.0.1 facebook.com

WinXP:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\hosts

Win2K:

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\etc\hosts

That's where a search finds mine. My Win2K one is the
default file, and has no filters loaded. The WinXP one
has a handful of filtered items, like Facebook. I just
edited the file, where I found it.

Paul
Click to expand...

It dont matter where it is, I just found the default one, (which is
useless) and wanted to make sure the REAL one belonged there. I just
copied the one from Win98, which has gotten quite large over the years.
I probably have around 50 entries alone just for facebook.

Is your Win2K in the root called "Windows"? You must have changed it,
because by default it is setup in "WINNT" (if you just let the CD
install it without modifying anything).

I always make a shortcut on the desktop to the HOSTS file. so I can get
to it quickly. I also made two batch files called HOSTSON,bat and
HOSTSOFF.bat (in Win98). Hostson names it HOSTS, Hostsoff renames it to
HOSTSOFF. That way, if it's blocking sonme site I want to enter, I can
just turn it off. Yea, I know there is software for this, butr I like
my batch files better.

By the way, I was able to make a pretty good dialup connection using
Win2K, after changing to the USR Sportster modem. In fact it's darn
near as good as Win98. But for some reason, aftrer changing the modem
in the settings, it's taking forever for Win2K to bootup. It gets to a
spot where it says "configuring networks". It literally hangs there for
about 3 minutes. Then it loads the desktop really slow. Finally it
seems to return to normal speed. But I'm taking about 5 or 6 minutes to
just boot.

This started after I removed the old Creative modem from the control
panel/modems and the dialer settings. Then replaced them with the USR
modem driver and settings. That is all I did.

Thinking I had f**ked something up, I booted to Win98, deleted the whole
Win2k folder as well as Docs and Settings, and replaced them from my
backup. It booted quicklty again, but as soon as I changed those modem
settings again, it's booting slow again. I manually deleted the
"Creative" folder (no uninstaller). I even went into the registry, but
saw nothing except a reference to a Creative.PDF.

What would cause this?

I should mention that I do have a yellow device (missing driver) in
Device Mgr. But that has been there for years. It says PCI Device. I
alwaysd thought it's the Network card built into the motherboard, but I
do have that disabled in the Bios.
 
It dont matter where it is, I just found the default one, (which is
useless) and wanted to make sure the REAL one belonged there. I just
copied the one from Win98, which has gotten quite large over the years.
I probably have around 50 entries alone just for facebook.

Is your Win2K in the root called "Windows"? You must have changed it,
because by default it is setup in "WINNT" (if you just let the CD
install it without modifying anything).

I always make a shortcut on the desktop to the HOSTS file. so I can get
to it quickly. I also made two batch files called HOSTSON,bat and
HOSTSOFF.bat (in Win98). Hostson names it HOSTS, Hostsoff renames it to
HOSTSOFF. That way, if it's blocking sonme site I want to enter, I can
just turn it off. Yea, I know there is software for this, butr I like
my batch files better.

By the way, I was able to make a pretty good dialup connection using
Win2K, after changing to the USR Sportster modem. In fact it's darn
near as good as Win98. But for some reason, aftrer changing the modem
in the settings, it's taking forever for Win2K to bootup. It gets to a
spot where it says "configuring networks". It literally hangs there for
about 3 minutes. Then it loads the desktop really slow. Finally it
seems to return to normal speed. But I'm taking about 5 or 6 minutes to
just boot.

This started after I removed the old Creative modem from the control
panel/modems and the dialer settings. Then replaced them with the USR
modem driver and settings. That is all I did.

Thinking I had f**ked something up, I booted to Win98, deleted the whole
Win2k folder as well as Docs and Settings, and replaced them from my
backup. It booted quicklty again, but as soon as I changed those modem
settings again, it's booting slow again. I manually deleted the
"Creative" folder (no uninstaller). I even went into the registry, but
saw nothing except a reference to a Creative.PDF.

What would cause this?

I should mention that I do have a yellow device (missing driver) in
Device Mgr. But that has been there for years. It says PCI Device. I
alwaysd thought it's the Network card built into the motherboard, but I
do have that disabled in the Bios.
Click to expand...

My Win2K disk goes all the way back to my first (PC) computer :-)
You could say the contents of that disk "have been around the block".
There are a few files dated 1997. My guess is, the Win2K was an upgrade
version, upgraded over top of Win98SE perhaps.

*******

Regarding your performance problem, my guess is, your newly added modem
is likely considered to be the "primary" network connection or something.
And the OS is "obsessing" over it at startup. Perhaps before, the modem
wasn't considered your primary network connection. I don't really recollect
all my dialup adventures with Win2K. I probably did use it on dialup, to reach
work, but I don't remember that far back as to how it behaved. Win2K was
always a bit slow on boot, because it was messing around as you describe.
But I don't remember any delays that lasted quite that long. Maybe 3 minutes
tops.

You could try running a LAN cable from the "slow" machine, to a router,
or via a crossover cable, to another PC. And see if Windows can become
fixated on that instead :-) Then later, you can use dialup.

Both of my old OSes have /fastdetect in the boot.ini file, and I think
you remove that if using a serial mouse. I tested a serial mouse here
once, and I think had to change that to get it to detect. By having
/fastdetect, the OS isn't supposed to check for a serial mouse.

Paul
 
Regarding your performance problem, my guess is, your newly added modem
is likely considered to be the "primary" network connection or something.
And the OS is "obsessing" over it at startup. Perhaps before, the modem
wasn't considered your primary network connection. I don't really recollect
all my dialup adventures with Win2K. I probably did use it on dialup, to reach
work, but I don't remember that far back as to how it behaved. Win2K was
always a bit slow on boot, because it was messing around as you describe.
But I don't remember any delays that lasted quite that long. Maybe 3 minutes
tops.

You could try running a LAN cable from the "slow" machine, to a router,
or via a crossover cable, to another PC. And see if Windows can become
fixated on that instead :-) Then later, you can use dialup.
Click to expand...

I googled computer pychiatrist and then looked for one who
dealt with obsessive compulsive behaviour and fixations. And I
found a guy who can come to the OP's home and who only charges $125
dollars an hour, including travel time.

He mentions on his webpage the very things you do above. So his
treatment should work.
 
My Win2K disk goes all the way back to my first (PC) computer :-)
You could say the contents of that disk "have been around the block".
There are a few files dated 1997. My guess is, the Win2K was an upgrade
version, upgraded over top of Win98SE perhaps.

*******

Regarding your performance problem, my guess is, your newly added modem
is likely considered to be the "primary" network connection or something.
And the OS is "obsessing" over it at startup. Perhaps before, the modem
wasn't considered your primary network connection. I don't really recollect
all my dialup adventures with Win2K. I probably did use it on dialup, to reach
work, but I don't remember that far back as to how it behaved. Win2K was
always a bit slow on boot, because it was messing around as you describe.
But I don't remember any delays that lasted quite that long. Maybe 3 minutes
tops.

You could try running a LAN cable from the "slow" machine, to a router,
or via a crossover cable, to another PC. And see if Windows can become
fixated on that instead :-) Then later, you can use dialup.

Both of my old OSes have /fastdetect in the boot.ini file, and I think
you remove that if using a serial mouse. I tested a serial mouse here
once, and I think had to change that to get it to detect. By having
/fastdetect, the OS isn't supposed to check for a serial mouse.

Paul
Click to expand...

Maybe you can tell me this: I started W2K using the F8 Key, and goit to
the "Safe Mode" screen. I did NOT boot in safe mode, but chose the one
that is supposed to "LOG the boot". (I dont recall the exact words). I
thought that a log file would be created, which might show what is going
on. What I found was a file called bootlog.txt in the root of that
partition. But that file was dated about 5 months ago. So either it
did not create a new file, or it got put in some weird place. I know
those files dont show the amount of time spent on any step, but I
thought I could get some idea what to look for.

This brings me to the place where I am not sure what or how to actually
create a boot log file (in text). After that, I dont know if I could
really figure out what is goingf on, but I thought it was worth a try.

This kinda sucks, because this is the first time I have gotten a useful
dialup connection on any NT based OS. I've been connecting around
45kbps at best (on Win98, my best connect is 49.333). And I have
retained a useful connction for hours in 2K. At least that way I can
run a newer browser (Up to version 12 with Firefox). But now I got this
very annoying slow booting. It really does seem to obcess over
"Connecting to network" (I believe those are the words used), for
around 3min. Then the desktop finally loads, but it takes another full
minute or longer for the desktop icons to show up. After that, there is
at least another minute before anything will actually open. For
example, if I click on "My Computer", I'll get the hourglass icon, but
have to wait a minute before "My Computer" finally opens. So, in the
end, I'd say that we're talking at least 6 minutes from the time I turn
on the computer, until I can do anything with it. With a good 3 to 4
min. just to boot. 90% of that boot time spent in that "connecting to
network" mode.

I do have "fastdetect" in boot.ini
I do have a serial mouse, but back in 2000 darn near everyone did, so I
dont see how that would matter.......

Just for the heck of it, I ran the SP4 upgrade again. It was already
installed, but I thought I'd give it a try. Nothing changed....

I've come to the conclusion that horses are smarter than computers. I
can spend days trying to fix a misbehaving computer, and much of the
time still not fix it.

It only took 10 seconds to cure a misbehaving horse today. It was a
bright sunny day,l and he was crunching the fence down, trying to get
that one blade of grass that is always "greener on the other side". He,
(a stallion who likes to think he's a big-shot) was doing this right
below my bathroom window. That's when a 32oz cup of water exited my
hand, hit the window screen, and sprayed all over the naughty horse
(fence crunching guilty subject). That was about 10 hours ago. He hid
in his shelter for at least an hour after the water incident. He is
still stareing at that window, (from a distance) as if it's a
monster..... And I'm still laughing my ass off!!!!

Maybe I should just toss a 32oz cup of water at my computer!!!! :)
 
Maybe you can tell me this: I started W2K using the F8 Key, and goit to
the "Safe Mode" screen. I did NOT boot in safe mode, but chose the one
that is supposed to "LOG the boot". (I dont recall the exact words). I
thought that a log file would be created, which might show what is going
on. What I found was a file called bootlog.txt in the root of that
partition. But that file was dated about 5 months ago. So either it
did not create a new file, or it got put in some weird place. I know
those files dont show the amount of time spent on any step, but I
thought I could get some idea what to look for.

This brings me to the place where I am not sure what or how to actually
create a boot log file (in text). After that, I dont know if I could
really figure out what is goingf on, but I thought it was worth a try.

This kinda sucks, because this is the first time I have gotten a useful
dialup connection on any NT based OS. I've been connecting around
45kbps at best (on Win98, my best connect is 49.333). And I have
retained a useful connction for hours in 2K. At least that way I can
run a newer browser (Up to version 12 with Firefox). But now I got this
very annoying slow booting. It really does seem to obcess over
"Connecting to network" (I believe those are the words used), for
around 3min. Then the desktop finally loads, but it takes another full
minute or longer for the desktop icons to show up. After that, there is
at least another minute before anything will actually open. For
example, if I click on "My Computer", I'll get the hourglass icon, but
have to wait a minute before "My Computer" finally opens. So, in the
end, I'd say that we're talking at least 6 minutes from the time I turn
on the computer, until I can do anything with it. With a good 3 to 4
min. just to boot. 90% of that boot time spent in that "connecting to
network" mode.

I do have "fastdetect" in boot.ini
I do have a serial mouse, but back in 2000 darn near everyone did, so I
dont see how that would matter.......

Just for the heck of it, I ran the SP4 upgrade again. It was already
installed, but I thought I'd give it a try. Nothing changed....

I've come to the conclusion that horses are smarter than computers. I
can spend days trying to fix a misbehaving computer, and much of the
time still not fix it.

It only took 10 seconds to cure a misbehaving horse today. It was a
bright sunny day,l and he was crunching the fence down, trying to get
that one blade of grass that is always "greener on the other side". He,
(a stallion who likes to think he's a big-shot) was doing this right
below my bathroom window. That's when a 32oz cup of water exited my
hand, hit the window screen, and sprayed all over the naughty horse
(fence crunching guilty subject). That was about 10 hours ago. He hid
in his shelter for at least an hour after the water incident. He is
still stareing at that window, (from a distance) as if it's a
monster..... And I'm still laughing my ass off!!!!

Maybe I should just toss a 32oz cup of water at my computer!!!! :)
Click to expand...

Both my WinXP and my Win2K have one of these. The file is
virtually useless. Collecting a bootlog of this type tells
you squat. For one thing, there's no timing information
in here (unlike Linux "dmesg" circular buffer, which collects
a nice record of the startup process).

C:\WINDOWS\ntbtlog.txt

WinXP has "Bootvis", but rather than being a total package,
I think it taps into a subsystem added to WinXP (ETW?).
I don't think this works in Win2K. No evidence here at least.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bootvis

The serial mouse would not be detected if /fastdetect is present.
My serial mouse worked just fine. I acquired it back in an
era when I was using XWindows, and a three button mouse was
handy for such. The mouse was so old, it was a rubber ball mouse,
which required weekly cleaning, and the thrill of using those
soon wears off.

I don't know what to suggest on your Win2K, except to suggest
looking more at the network control panel and associated files
or registry entries.

You could also try tunning Autoruns on the Win2K machine,
but I don't know if the utility runs on there or not.
You might need to use www.archive.org and enter the URL
for the thing there, and use an older version, to work on
your setup. Maybe it's an AV which is slowing things
down, or some innocent piece of cruft you added to the
OS, which has decided to take a snooze during startup.
Autoruns is for listing startup items, amongst other
things.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902

Paul
 
I don't know what to suggest on your Win2K, except to suggest
looking more at the network control panel and associated files
or registry entries.

You could also try tunning Autoruns on the Win2K machine,
but I don't know if the utility runs on there or not.
Click to expand...

NO, it dont run on Win2000 or 98. I tried it.
You might need to use www.archive.org and enter the URL
for the thing there, and use an older version, to work on
your setup. Maybe it's an AV which is slowing things
down, or some innocent piece of cruft you added to the
OS, which has decided to take a snooze during startup.
Autoruns is for listing startup items, amongst other
things.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902
Click to expand...

Well, I fixed that slowness. Instead of reinstalling a recent backup, i
installed a backup from a year ago. Apparently some of tghe screwing
around I did awhile back to make the modem work, screwed soemthing up.
That old backup works fine, and I installed the USR modem, and removed
that old Creative one. I was able to connect, but there is another
problem. The modem dials, but there are no tones afterwards. It just
sits there doing nothing. I had to try to connect about 8 times before
I finally connected. Then it was working well.

But there is another problem, adn I have noticed this in the past. If
I'm using Firefox (this has happened using version 8 and now 12). I'm
connected, everything is working fine, then all of a sufdden the
computer just shuts off. I have Seamonkey, Flock, and K-Meleon
installed, none of them cause that. It seems like FF gets a scipt
error, but rather ahan locking up the browser like it does on Win98, it
just shuts the whole computer off. Needless to say, I have completely
removed Firefox from Win2000.
 
It could be overheating.

Have you used a "loading" application to test that the
computer is stable ? I use Prime95 Torture Test, but
there are lots of other things that'll run the CPU
at 100% long enough to heat up the CPU. Maybe THERMTRIP
is shutting off the computer.
Click to expand...

It never does that on WIn98. And it never has done anything like that
when Win2000 is running for other uses. Just Firefox. Actually the
whole computer will be rebuilt this week. The reason I got that tower
from Ebay (which had the virus), was for Win98 / 2000. It's one of the
fastest processors that have drivers for 98. Instead of the 1ghx
processor I have now, it will be 3ghz. I had a motherboard but needed
other stuff to do thjis, and wanted a new case too. So I bought the
whole tower. I already tried a clone of both 98 and 2K on a spare HD.
Amazingly enough, 2K booted, and so did 98. I didn't doubt 98 would,
but I had my doubts about 2K. Of course both need drivers.

But I doubt it's overheating. It didn't actuallyu shut off anyhow, it
just rebooted to a black screen. One other thing that comes to mind, is
that in the last year or so, every once and awhile, it dont want to
bootup. (either OS). I have to pull the RAM and reinstall it. Seems
like a bad connection. But that stopped after I cleaned the RAM and the
slots for it with rubbing alcohol about 2 montrhs ago. But I have
wondered if there might be a loose connection on the Mboard or a ram
stick????? Maybe 2K is using some Ram that 98 dont use????? IOr
something like that. I dont plan to reuse that MB. It's old, tends to
eat clock battteries too. But I'll save the power supply, Ram, and as
few othger parts. The drives will go into the new computer, except the
floppy drive, which is damn near dead.
*******

As for the modem, are you perhaps using a driver intended
for operation in another country ? I don't remember
seeing anything like that in the INIT strings. It's just
your symptoms suggest the modem isn't looking for the
right threshold values.

Paul
Click to expand...

The driver came right from USR, and it was in English? That's all I
know. Actually, when I replaced my year old backup last night, it
booted and installed the USR modem itself. I suspect the drivers are on
the 2K install CD, and I have the whole CD copied right on the HDD. So
it just went there and found the drivers, (I think), because I have the
downloaded drivers in a different location which it would not know
about. And I've neve found any version of Windows smart enough to
locate drivers on it's own, unless I specify the location.

Which reminds me of soemthing I was thinking about. Seems everytime I
try to fix something I have to download stuff. Much of it comes from
MS, like that" Autoruns" Process Explorer", and so on...... Why dont MS
include that stuff in the installer? They add all sorts of bloat and
crap, but not some useful diagnostic stuff (which are all pretty small
anyhow). But I guess I'm too practical, and they want us to hunt around
the net trying to figure out which version will work, and then trying to
download even more stuff to disable their bloat crap, like Tweak-UI. I
think I should apply for a job at MS. They need help!!!!
 
NO, it dont run on Win2000 or 98. I tried it.


Well, I fixed that slowness. Instead of reinstalling a recent backup, i
installed a backup from a year ago. Apparently some of tghe screwing
around I did awhile back to make the modem work, screwed soemthing up.
That old backup works fine, and I installed the USR modem, and removed
that old Creative one. I was able to connect, but there is another
problem. The modem dials, but there are no tones afterwards. It just
sits there doing nothing. I had to try to connect about 8 times before
I finally connected. Then it was working well.

But there is another problem, adn I have noticed this in the past. If
I'm using Firefox (this has happened using version 8 and now 12). I'm
connected, everything is working fine, then all of a sufdden the
computer just shuts off. I have Seamonkey, Flock, and K-Meleon
installed, none of them cause that. It seems like FF gets a scipt
error, but rather ahan locking up the browser like it does on Win98, it
just shuts the whole computer off. Needless to say, I have completely
removed Firefox from Win2000.
Click to expand...

It could be overheating.

Have you used a "loading" application to test that the
computer is stable ? I use Prime95 Torture Test, but
there are lots of other things that'll run the CPU
at 100% long enough to heat up the CPU. Maybe THERMTRIP
is shutting off the computer.

*******

As for the modem, are you perhaps using a driver intended
for operation in another country ? I don't remember
seeing anything like that in the INIT strings. It's just
your symptoms suggest the modem isn't looking for the
right threshold values.

Paul
 
It never does that on WIn98. And it never has done anything like that
when Win2000 is running for other uses. Just Firefox. Actually the
whole computer will be rebuilt this week. The reason I got that tower
from Ebay (which had the virus), was for Win98 / 2000. It's one of the
fastest processors that have drivers for 98. Instead of the 1ghx
processor I have now, it will be 3ghz. I had a motherboard but needed
other stuff to do thjis, and wanted a new case too. So I bought the
whole tower. I already tried a clone of both 98 and 2K on a spare HD.
Amazingly enough, 2K booted, and so did 98. I didn't doubt 98 would,
but I had my doubts about 2K. Of course both need drivers.

But I doubt it's overheating. It didn't actuallyu shut off anyhow, it
just rebooted to a black screen. One other thing that comes to mind, is
that in the last year or so, every once and awhile, it dont want to
bootup. (either OS). I have to pull the RAM and reinstall it. Seems
like a bad connection. But that stopped after I cleaned the RAM and the
slots for it with rubbing alcohol about 2 montrhs ago. But I have
wondered if there might be a loose connection on the Mboard or a ram
stick????? Maybe 2K is using some Ram that 98 dont use????? IOr
something like that. I dont plan to reuse that MB. It's old, tends to
eat clock battteries too. But I'll save the power supply, Ram, and as
few othger parts. The drives will go into the new computer, except the
floppy drive, which is damn near dead.


The driver came right from USR, and it was in English? That's all I
know. Actually, when I replaced my year old backup last night, it
booted and installed the USR modem itself. I suspect the drivers are on
the 2K install CD, and I have the whole CD copied right on the HDD. So
it just went there and found the drivers, (I think), because I have the
downloaded drivers in a different location which it would not know
about. And I've neve found any version of Windows smart enough to
locate drivers on it's own, unless I specify the location.

Which reminds me of soemthing I was thinking about. Seems everytime I
try to fix something I have to download stuff. Much of it comes from
MS, like that" Autoruns" Process Explorer", and so on...... Why dont MS
include that stuff in the installer? They add all sorts of bloat and
crap, but not some useful diagnostic stuff (which are all pretty small
anyhow). But I guess I'm too practical, and they want us to hunt around
the net trying to figure out which version will work, and then trying to
download even more stuff to disable their bloat crap, like Tweak-UI. I
think I should apply for a job at MS. They need help!!!!
Click to expand...

By not putting debugging tools on the CD, they're
helping to ensure the mom & pop computer stores
get plenty of business.

Just for kicks, you should see if you can get PPP running
on PCLinuxOS. Get Linux to give that modem a workout.
I'm curious what connect speed you'll get from that :-)

Paul
 
By not putting debugging tools on the CD, they're
helping to ensure the mom & pop computer stores
get plenty of business.

Just for kicks, you should see if you can get PPP running
on PCLinuxOS. Get Linux to give that modem a workout.
I'm curious what connect speed you'll get from that :-)

Paul
Click to expand...

I think every OS since XP is giving "computer repair shops" a lot of
business. Some people just dont have a clue how to fix their computer.
I have a few people who regularly call me because they "broke" their
computer. One woman in particular who can not quit playing with the
settings, and will do something like change the desktop font size, so
the words "MY COMPUTER" fills the entire screen. It's usually an easy
fix, and she always pays me and I often get a good meal too. I'll fix
any computer running WinXP or under. I wont touch anything running
vista, 7, or 8.

I think Win7 and 8 will bring a lot of business to mom and pop computer
stores.

I can boot PcLinuxOs from a live CD, or I could probably even install it
on one of those 2GB HDDs I have. But in order to connect the modem,
I'll probably need step by step instructions. I'm just not sure what to
do....

Heck, if I could get it working, I might just setup one of my spare
computers with PClos and use that online. I know that OS can easily run
on slower hardware.
 
Run the LiveCD (I used 2014.05 as the 2009 wouldn't boot in the VM).

Try System : Control Center from the main menu.

In the Control Center, select System : Configure Your Computer
Enter the root password, which is "root".

Now a thing called PCLinuxOS Control Center opens
(not to be confused with the original vanilla "Control Center").

Select Network & Internet : Set up a new network interface

"Choose the connection you want to configure". Select
"Analog telephone modem (POTS)". Mine is connected to
COM1 for this experiment. No attempt appeared to be
made, in advance, that a modem was connected. I don't
get the impression it knows a USR modem is there.

"Select the modem to configure". My only choice was
"Manual choice".

"Please choose which serial port your modem is connected to".
That is "ttyS0/COM1" in my case.

"The package kdenetwork4 needs to be installed". Click
Next and let it fail horribly :-) It would be pretty
hard to get a package over the Internet, without an
Internet connection, but we can't fault the idiots for
trying.

"Could not install the kdenetwork4 package!" Shocker!
Click OK.

Next comes "Dialup: Account options". Enter a connection
name, like "MyISP". Enter the phone number, the userid and
password at the ISP. Selecting Authentication option, I
left this at PAP. I don't remember the differences of
all the options here. Just, let'er rip. Click "Next"
when you've made your choices.

Next come several dialogs for IP address, DNS,
gateway or whatever. Leave all of those at "Auto"
so DHCP can fetch them.

"Connection control". Tick the box for "Allow users to
manage the connection". Presumably that's so a dialog
box in the GUI, can drop the phone connection when
you want it to be dropped.

"Do you want to try to connect to the Internet now?"
I clicked Yes, then turned off the modem after about
five touch tone digits had been dialed. So at least
it did reach the modem.

There was no command line for any of this, but it
took a gazillion GUI boxes to get there :-)

Presumably, since you picked a name for the
connection, there will be an icon now with MyISP
printed on it. For double-clicking the next time
a connection is desired. You wouldn't want to
go through all those dialogs again. I can't see
that icon! Shocker! (Not a surprise really. It's
Linux.)

Have fun,
Paul
Click to expand...

I'm gonna install Pclos on one of those spare small HDDs I have and give
this a try. It never ceases to amaze me how they can put something like
that "install the kdenetwork4 package", KNOWING it's not possible, and
no one corrects it.... DUH...... Must have been a blond programmer! :)
Why didn't they just include that package with the OS? And considering
the size of the 2014 Pclos, compared to the 2007 and 2009 ones, they
could easily pack that program on it.
 
I think every OS since XP is giving "computer repair shops" a lot of
business. Some people just dont have a clue how to fix their computer.
I have a few people who regularly call me because they "broke" their
computer. One woman in particular who can not quit playing with the
settings, and will do something like change the desktop font size, so
the words "MY COMPUTER" fills the entire screen. It's usually an easy
fix, and she always pays me and I often get a good meal too. I'll fix
any computer running WinXP or under. I wont touch anything running
vista, 7, or 8.

I think Win7 and 8 will bring a lot of business to mom and pop computer
stores.

I can boot PcLinuxOs from a live CD, or I could probably even install it
on one of those 2GB HDDs I have. But in order to connect the modem,
I'll probably need step by step instructions. I'm just not sure what to
do....

Heck, if I could get it working, I might just setup one of my spare
computers with PClos and use that online. I know that OS can easily run
on slower hardware.
Click to expand...

Run the LiveCD (I used 2014.05 as the 2009 wouldn't boot in the VM).

Try System : Control Center from the main menu.

In the Control Center, select System : Configure Your Computer
Enter the root password, which is "root".

Now a thing called PCLinuxOS Control Center opens
(not to be confused with the original vanilla "Control Center").

Select Network & Internet : Set up a new network interface

"Choose the connection you want to configure". Select
"Analog telephone modem (POTS)". Mine is connected to
COM1 for this experiment. No attempt appeared to be
made, in advance, that a modem was connected. I don't
get the impression it knows a USR modem is there.

"Select the modem to configure". My only choice was
"Manual choice".

"Please choose which serial port your modem is connected to".
That is "ttyS0/COM1" in my case.

"The package kdenetwork4 needs to be installed". Click
Next and let it fail horribly :-) It would be pretty
hard to get a package over the Internet, without an
Internet connection, but we can't fault the idiots for
trying.

"Could not install the kdenetwork4 package!" Shocker!
Click OK.

Next comes "Dialup: Account options". Enter a connection
name, like "MyISP". Enter the phone number, the userid and
password at the ISP. Selecting Authentication option, I
left this at PAP. I don't remember the differences of
all the options here. Just, let'er rip. Click "Next"
when you've made your choices.

Next come several dialogs for IP address, DNS,
gateway or whatever. Leave all of those at "Auto"
so DHCP can fetch them.

"Connection control". Tick the box for "Allow users to
manage the connection". Presumably that's so a dialog
box in the GUI, can drop the phone connection when
you want it to be dropped.

"Do you want to try to connect to the Internet now?"
I clicked Yes, then turned off the modem after about
five touch tone digits had been dialed. So at least
it did reach the modem.

There was no command line for any of this, but it
took a gazillion GUI boxes to get there :-)

Presumably, since you picked a name for the
connection, there will be an icon now with MyISP
printed on it. For double-clicking the next time
a connection is desired. You wouldn't want to
go through all those dialogs again. I can't see
that icon! Shocker! (Not a surprise really. It's
Linux.)

Have fun,
Paul
 
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