The LangaList 2-Aug-99 A Free Email Newsletter from Fred Langa About BrowserTune, HotSpots, Columns, Tips & Tricks, and Other Activities In This Issue: It's Here: The BrowserTune2000 Full Beta! Win98 Second Edition Unfit For The Enterprise? A Boatload of Official MS Office2000 Fixes and Workarounds NT Bug Du Jour Hoax Busters Puka-Puka Lives! More Slooooooooow Log On Fixes Free Palm III Just For Grins More! It's Here: The BrowserTune2000 Full Beta! OK, you've waited long enough. You've run the BT2K demo (in fact, in aggregate, you and your fellow readers have run the demo version almost 60,000 times in the last few months!). Now it's time to see what the full BT2K can do for you! In a nutshell, it's this: In minutes, you can determine if your browser's most essential functions are working properly, and if your Internet connection is up to speed. And if you choose, you then can zero in on any of over 300 browser features and functions to see exactly what your browser supports (or doesn't!). Best of all, there's nothing to download or install, and no setup whatsoever is required! It's all done with special web pages! BT2K is designed to be useful for you in these ways: Comparing competing browsers (for example, Microsoft's versus Netscape's versus Opera's...) Diagnosing what's wrong with a flaky, unstable, or degraded browser Comparing ISP performances Verifying that your modem, cable, LAN or other connection is delivering the speed you're paying for Fixing any of the hundreds of problems that can crop up in today's browsers Ensuring that web plug-ins and add-on components haven't degraded your browser's performance, security, or stability Validating new browser installations; ensuring that everything installed correctly Discovering everything your browser can do--- not just the basics you may already be familiar with Learning about today's best web technologies And much, much more! BrowserTune 2000 ("BT2K") is in late beta. It is nearly finished but there still are some rough edges. For example, some of the page formatting is still very plain because I want to make sure the darn thing is fully working before I worry about making the pages look pretty 8-). Also, there undoubtedly are some bugs that I haven't been able to uncover yet despite the hundreds and hundreds of test runs I've tried---it is still a beta, after all. However, even though this is a beta, BT2K is extremely safe. It does not and literally cannot alter anything inside your browser or PC. It is 100% noninvasive and makes no changes whatsoever to your system. BT2K may uncover hidden problems with your setup (that's its job) but it cannot and will not create new problems for you. Also, you're in full control. BT2K will fully explain everything it's doing before it does it. You'll always know exactly what's going on, and why. You're always in control of the tests. This is the key to making the most of BT2K: Read the instructions that accompany each test. They'll tell you what's going on, what to expect, and what to do if you run into ANYTHING that doesn't work properly. For example, every page has a "Problem with this page?" link at the bottom. If something doesn't seem right and the on-screen instructions don't explain it, just click that link! When you run BrowserTune, it will start by looking for the five most common browser trouble spots--- the areas that most often interfere with proper browser operation. These preliminary, very basic tests take only 2-5 minutes, and ensure that your browser's core functions are at least minimally OK. If they're not, there's no point in finishing the rest of BT2K until the core functions are working properly. So, if BT2K detects trouble or fails to complete any of the preliminary tests, use the "Problem With This Page?" link that's on every page to get information on fixing these problems. Once they're fixed, then you'll be all set to run the more detailed BT2K tests. If your browser passes the five preliminary tests you'll then be asked to choose one of two paths through the rest of BT2K: The BT2K TWO-MINUTE TUNE-UP is a fast, highly-automated series of diagnostic tests that takes just minutes to run. It quickly examines the approximately two-dozen most-common browser trouble spots. To the largest degree possible the tests are self-running with automatic scoring of the test results! At the end of the automated tests BT2K will offer you a detailed, customized, personalized diagnosis/analysis. It's like having your own browser technician at your side, giving you personalized advice! The BT2K PROFESSIONAL VERSION starts with the same tests as the Two-Minute Tune-Up (above) but then goes on to let you examine any or all of BT2K's detailed, incredibly thorough additional tests. Go as deep or as shallow as you wish: You can test anywhere from one to over 300 separate features and functions of your browser with automatic scoring of the test results! You can use these tests to zero in on a specific problem uncovered by the Quick Tune-Up, or to explore all your browser has to offer, or to ensure that everything--- and I mean everything---is working OK. At the end of the professional tests BT2K also will offer you a detailed, customized, personalized diagnosis/analysis. It's like having your own browser technician at your side, giving you personalized advice! OK, enough with the description: It's time for you to click on over and test drive BT2K for yourself. When you're done, please jump back here to discuss what you like to (ack!) didn't like, to report bugs, typos, etc., and to generally provide feedback. BT2K is for you, so your opinion is critical! Starting around 3PM (EDT; GMT-4) Monday August 2, BT2K will be available at http://www.browsertune.com/bt2k/ ---------( Please Visit This LangaList Sponsor!)----------- FREE ADDRESS LABELS! Get 300 Personalized Address Labels FREE from iPrint.com! You pay just $1.45 for shipping within the US. This limited-time offer is good for first-time customers only. Click below to get started! http://www.iPrint.com/121.html?ad=384ZU121A -----------( the above is a paid advertisement )--------- Win98 Second Edition Unfit For The Enterprise? The WinMag discussion of all the problems and hassles some users are having with Win98SE has ended, but the InformationWeek discussion still is going on strong! Have you installed any of the Win98SE variants in your business? If so which one(s)? What were the results? Is Win98 a worthwhile upgrade/update for larger businesses---or is it just a can of worms waiting to be opened? Join in a separate week-long discussion focused on high-end Win98SE installations; it's going on right now at http://www.informationweek.com/langaletter ! A Boatload of Official MS Office2000 Fixes and Workarounds In the last issue ( http://www.langa.com/newsletters/Jul-29- 99.htm ), I mentioned that Microsoft was beginning to populate its KnowledgeBase with Office 200 fixes and workarounds. Well, here's a bunch of them---you may want to save this message in the event of future problems. By the way, some of the articles may require that you "join" Microsoft's TechWeb; it's free, and I think the service is well worth the two minutes it takes to sign up. Current Office 2000 fixes and workarounds: Q235335 OFF2000: Error Message "Ie5wzd caused an exception in module Msjava.dll" During Setup: http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q235/3/35.asp Q235662 OFF2000: Internal Error 2344 When Running Office 2000 Setup: http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q235/6/62.asp Q237381 MS Graph 2000: Characters Lost or Changed toAll Caps When Typed: http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q237/3/81.asp Q202946 OFF2000: Setup Command-Line Switches for Office 2000: http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q202/9/46.asp Q205499 OFF2000: Cannot Access Help Topic When DriveNot Available: http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q205/4/99.asp Q210391 OFF2000: Setup May Remove Older Components: http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q210/3/91.asp Q217221 OFF2000: Using SelfCert to Create a DigitalCertificate for VBA Projects: http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q217/2/21.asp Q217585 OFF2000: Not Enough Disk Space Message When Installing Office: http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q217/5/85.asp Q217623 OFF2000: Unable to Restart Registration Wizard: http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q217/6/23.asp Q217714 OFF2000: Setup Appears to Hang Followed byInternal Error 2336 or 2755: http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q217/7/14.asp Q217883 OFF2000: System Requirements for Office: http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q217/8/83.asp Q218853 OFF2000: Troubleshooting Office Kernel32.dllErrors Under Windows 98: http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q218/8/53.asp Q218873 OFF2000: Troubleshooting Office Kernel32.dll Errors Under Windows 95: http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q218/8/73.asp Q221354 OFF2000: "Problem Starting the Office Assistant" Error Running Office Programs: http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q221/3/54.asp Q224095 OFF2000: Error Message "This applicationrequires the Windows Installer to run: Would you like to install this service now?" http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q224/0/95.asp Q224099 OFF2000: Error Message "No procedure for creating files of this type is registered with the shell.": http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q224/0/99.asp -----------( Please Visit This LangaList Sponsor! )------ Have WE got YOUR number? http://www.web-4life.net If we do, then you can have LIFETIME Internet Access for a one-time fee of $149.95 Get out from under your Internet Landlord. WEB 4 LIFE is webCOMBO's largest distributor. Hurry, price is going to $179.95 on 8-15-99. Why rent & pay monthly? 1-888-267-1122 --------------( the above is a paid advertisement )--------- NT Bug Du Jour I can't recall the last time Microsoft released a security patch for Windows98---it must be flawless, right? --but they're churning out patches for NT on a regular basis. I guess that shows where Microsoft's focus is these days, as they count down to "Windows 2000;" the operating system formerly known as NT5. This week, it's the "Malformed Dialer Entry" Bug. This is an NT phone-dialer problem where a hacker can diddle with the dialer.ini file and gain system privileges he/she is not entitled to. This affects NT 4.0 (Workstation, Server, Enterprise Edition and Terminal Server Edition). The patch for NT Server, Enterprise Edition and Workstation: ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/bussys/winnt/winnt-public/fixes/usa/NT40/hotfixes-postSP5/Dialer-fix/ The patch for Terminal Server Edition is at: ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/bussys/winnt/winnt-public/fixes/usa/nt40tse/hotfixes-postSP4/Dialer-fix/ Hoax Busters A lot of you seemed to like the "Tiny Brain Disease" explanation for why so many people send around so many hoaxes. In addition to the two good hoax-busting sites I mentioned last week ( http://www.icsa.net/services/consortia/anti-virus/alerthoax.shtml and http://dir.lycos.com/Society/Urban_Legends/Computer_Virus_Hoaxes/ ) reader Veronica Bradly suggests this site too: http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/blhoax.htm In fact, it might be a great idea to make a form letter based on the above URLs--- you can send it back the next time some well-meaning person sends you a "Bill Gates Wants To Give You $1000!!!!!" email. ---------( Please Visit This LangaList Sponsor! )------ InternationalTimes.com -- The World's FREE Daily Print Newspaper. Eight pages covering news from around the world. Online delivery means it's as up-to-date as possible! Available two ways: Download from our web site or receive it through e-mail. Adobe Acrobat format allows reproduction on any computer and printer, or read it from your screen. Try it today! http://www.internationaltimes.com --------------( the above is a paid advertisement )--------- Puka-Puka Lives! Remember the "Puka Puka" problem we discussed in previous issues? (See http://www.langa.com/newsletters/May-17-99.htm, http://www.langa.com/newsletters/May-20-99.htm and http://bbs.winmag.com/columns/archives/052399/monday/column.asp?frames=yes ) This was where something would cause Windows to try to access an empty floppy drive, resulting in a noise that sounds something like "puka puka..." This week, reader Ryan Duval found some additional information: After countless attempts [including your newsletter's advice] of trying to keep Windows from accessing my floppy drive [when the Open or Save dialog comes up, Explorer opens, etc.], I found a section of microsoft.com that helps you get the most out of Win98. This section was actually helpful and solved a few of my problems, as well as the floppy drive problem. The section is located at: http://support.microsoft.com/support/windows/serviceware/win98/default.asp whereas the floppy drive article is located at: http://support.microsoft.com/support/windows/serviceware/win98/E9UC5GYQ5.ASP Thanks, Ryan! More Slooooooooow Log On Fixes Many readers wrote to suggest more fixes for very, very slow dial-up networking logons in addition to the fixes I suggested last week ( http://www.langa.com/newsletters/Jul-29-99.htm#dun ) Reader Rick was first out of the gate with this: In addition to removing unwanted protocols the checkbox in "Your_connection_name | Properties | Server Types (tab) | Log on to network" should be cleared for most ISPs. Leaving this checked (which is the default) will significantly slow down connections.---Rick Reader Bob O suggests: Fred, The slow logons could also be the type of modem used. By far the worse modem is the Rockwell HFC modem. Read about it here: http://808hi.com/56k/rockhcf.htm I had this modem and it was like death waiting for connections AND responses from the internet, not to mention the all-to-often disconnects. After installing a Paradise Wavecomm PCI Lucent modem, I get instant logons and never do I get disconnected.---Bob To these and all the many readers who wrote in---thanks! They Get a Newsletter, You Get an Organizer (Maybe) Just use this link to recommend the LangaList to a friend, and you'll be entered in a drawing to win a Palm III organizer (full details also available via this link): http://www.recommend-it.com/l.z.e?s=143182 Recommend-It is an ad-based site (you'll see banners and such). The advantage to you of using the Recommend-It service (above) is that (1) you can win a Palm III and (2) you can add a personal message to your LangaList recommendation. But if you'd rather use the tried-and-true, ad-free recommendation form, you'll still find it at: http://www.langa.com/recommend.htm . You can't win anything there-except my thanks for helping the LangaList to grow! In fact, either way, thank you! Just For Grins: Aphorisms 'R Us: The flood of email aphorisms and epigrams just keeps coming.... Some of the better ones: It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others. If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried. 99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name. Deja Moo: The feeling that you've heard this bull before. See you next issue! Best, Fred ( fred@langa.com ) --------------( your ad here?)------------ It costs less than you think! See http://www.langa.com/rate_card.html --------------( )--------------