Messages

3976

Best Text Editor / Re: Pre-review discussion of "BEST TEXT EDITOR"

« on: April 23, 2005, 09:55 AM »

how about 'notepad++' http://notepad-plus....orge.net/uk/site.htm

it's got all the really smart features.

3977

Mouser's Zone / Re: launcher tool

« on: April 22, 2005, 09:41 AM »

yep, all the drag and drop features work with the windows quick launch bar.

on the point of nested menus - this can be done with the standard windows tray also.

it probably isn't that widely known but you can create your own little quick launch nested menu type helper thingy just by making a folder with some shortcuts dropped into it. all you need do then, is create a new toolbar to this folder (right click on the taskbar > toolbars > new toolbar) and then position it wherever you want.

if you place folders within this first folder and shortcuts within these secondary folders you can create your system of menus that will appear in the toolbar that relates to it.

note: this won't work as a floating toolbar - it needs to be part of the main windows tray bar. if you position it so that only the title to this bar is visible, all icons within it are forced into a menu structure that can be accessed through the little >> symbol.

(hope that made some kind of sense.)

3978

Mouser's Zone / Re: launcher tool

« on: April 22, 2005, 04:36 AM »

it's a tough one - can't really think of what hasn't already been done elsewhere several times over.

i've tried a few of these quick launcher and replacement menu type things but have found you can customise the xp task bar enough to do most of what these extra utils do.

one thing springs to mind that i don't think i've seen functional elsewhere; the ability to drag and drop a file onto one of the program shortcuts contained in the quick launcher bar, thereby opening the program up with the file open and ready for action inside it - just as you can do with your normal icons scattered around your system. stick a recycle bin button on it and this could work like a floating bin - drag the file(s) onto it to delete and 'scrunch', gone.

another nice feature might be something that would provide buttons for common tasks. say, a button to create a new folder on the desktop (i know right click and all that - sorry, it's too much for me).

3979

General Software Discussion / Re: RK Launcher

« on: April 22, 2005, 04:11 AM »

there's also a thing called 'ObjectDock' over at http://www.stardock....products/objectdock/ which looks very similar.

you know this apple style inferface - is it actually any good?

it looks pretty but if it's anything like the mac o/s GUI i've touched then all i can say is, it's retarded.

oh dear, have i said something i shouldn't. i'll say it again, the mac inferface is rubbish. it's for people that don't know how to program a video recorder.

3980

DesktopCoral / Re: DesktopCoral 1.00.04 BETA DOWNLOAD?

« on: April 19, 2005, 03:18 AM »

i think Iconoid http://www.sillysot.com/ does a random icon dance 

3981

Best FTP Server / Re: ASRT: What should we do for 4/23?

« on: April 18, 2005, 04:25 AM »

can't think of anything to suggest but it would be great to see it happen.

i'm sure there are altruistic experts out there who would be willing.

3982

Mouser's Zone / Re: Any new ideas for small utilities?

« on: April 16, 2005, 06:47 AM »

i'm pretty sure i've seen a little program that does what you're describing Ozzy1 but it was a few years ago and i really can't remember what it was called.

i'm sure it does exist and i've probably still got it somewhere - if i can find it i'll let you know.

okay, my memory won't be perfect but i do remember that it allowed for programs to be started in order and that there was a message box that did something. it might have asked if you wanted the program to carry on loading or to prevent.

this might have been all determined on whether the 'numlock' key was on or not - something like that.

3983

General Software Discussion / Re: the definitive minimal amount of programs for the greatest security?

« on: April 16, 2005, 04:28 AM »

i'm glad to see someone talking so passionately on the subject  Scott - i suppose when i use language like 'definitive', 'minimal' and 'greatest' i deserve a bit of a slap around the face to bring me back to reality.

i'm sure you'll understand that i was only really interested in solutions to common systems used today. so things like win xp and 2k - just what your average user has at home (with a powerful enough machine to run current software).

i just wanted a least fuss solution - something i can recommend or install on a typical non techie users pc and then leave them to it. hopefully with the knowledge that the next time i visit them it won't simply be to fix their computer.

regards to anyone more clued up, well, they don't really need a 'definitive' answer as they will have discoverd their own preferences through experience or reliable information from elsewhere. a few opinions shouldn't go unwelcomed though, so as to cut through the fashions and unfound loyalties to a particular program that we can sometimes fall prey to.

the joy of being a wiser pc user is that you do have the freedom to play around with different security software, safe with the knowledge that pretty much whatever you end up using will do a sufficient job for your everyday use.

on a personal level, i'm not in the least bit worried about the security of my own machine. i have a firewal, anti-virus scanner and still haven't updated to service pack 2. big wow, i know.

maybe my original post should have been more along the lines of asking the question of what would be the best 'security practise'. this might lead to a more interesting and conclusive reply. (or am i just moving the goal posts?)

the method of backing up your hard drive (and doing it regularly) still seems the best solution to me. keeping a track of what each backup contains; what programs were installed and in what state. maintaining this kind of habit will then help in those rare occasions when even the most knowledgable user messes up his ultra secure system.

programs like 'goback' appeal more to me than any typical kind of security software but i still wouldn't use it because of the strain on the system it appeared to have when i tried it (i might have been imagining that though).

i admit whole heartedly prevention of something going wrong with your machine whether it be  infection or whatever is all in hope and can never be 100% fool proof. the ultimate prevention lies with the ability of the user so i guess i'm onto a loser when i ask what's the best security software to use when aimed at your average mom or dad.

i'd like to see the 'system restore' feature of win xp beefed up a bit (or goback improved). something akin to full system backup but on a realtime and regular basis with plenty of snapshots. i know acronis true image, et al, are almost there but as your documents aren't intelligently stored so that they don't get wiped out in the restore process it's not the perfect solution (yet).

to sum up, prevention would be very nice but a quick cure suits me if it's not too painful.

3984

General Software Discussion / Re: [suggestion] ProcessGuard and RegDefend

« on: April 16, 2005, 03:24 AM »

i second that.

since installing vmware i have tested installations there first that i thought might be a bit dodgy.

the system backup still remains my favourite means of security though - you can come over and blow my machine up if it takes your fancy. my systems all backed up in the other room. (just don't come and burn the other room down, that would be upsetting.)

okay, seriously. it might be a bit of an inconvenience to have to restore your system after it goes t*ts up. but that only takes a few minutes - rather that than waste time trying to figure out what's been compromised on your computer.

3985

Official DonationCoder.com Reviews / Re: 30 day trial for VMware Workstation 5

« on: April 16, 2005, 03:15 AM »

i have to agree it's not nice but what can you do - they make the conditions up and if you don't supply your email address then you don't receive your serial key to install the software.

it doesn't really worry me as i use a specific address for this kind of situation - open to all junk anyone would like to throw at it. i wouldn't use my personal email address for this sort of thing.

3986

DesktopCoral / Re: DesktopCoral Download

« on: April 14, 2005, 05:25 AM »

yep, move away...

well, if ozzy doesn't mention it then i think i'll have to.

i'm sure they would really like to know about it over there.

3987

DesktopCoral / Re: DesktopCoral Download

« on: April 14, 2005, 03:29 AM »

sounds good.

just wondering mouser...

... have you told anyone over at samurize.com that you've made 'desktopcoral'?

3988

DesktopCoral / Re: DesktopCoral Download

« on: April 13, 2005, 02:13 AM »

just as a quick extra...

whilst dropping some files/folders/shortcuts into the 'desktopcoral' area i noticed that the 'barred' sign appears - fair enough, this is logical for how the util works.

but, how about adding the feature so that you could drop files or whatever onto a certain area of the 'desktopcoral' and then a particular task would be carried out?

maybe a recycle bin area or automatically copy file to preset folder area. things that are done on a regular basis.

also, is it possible to allow for the desktop icons to be placed underneath the marked area?

3989

DesktopCoral / Re: DesktopCoral Download

« on: April 13, 2005, 02:04 AM »

excellent work mouser.

appears to work very well on my machine.

i've got two of them running at the moment so that two separate areas are excluded. this makes me wonder if you could incorporate this kind of feature into the options of just one 'desktopcoral' - multi box/border selections?

anyway, great work and it's certainly long overdue for this kind of util to appear.

will you be keeping the program quite minimal in features mouser (menu seems a bit bare)?

3990

General Software Discussion / Re: DirMS and Buzzsaw

« on: April 12, 2005, 03:26 PM »

what Jeff says sounds interesting.

i'll probably get laughed at for saying this but i did read somewhere recently that defragging modern hard drives doesn't really offer much benefit as their access speed is quick enough to open files whether fragmented or not.

of course, i've also read that one should keep your hard drives nice and defragged.

i use voptxp. anyone got any opinions on that one - just seems quick so i use it.

3991

General Software Discussion / Re: the definitive minimal amount of programs for the greatest security?

« on: April 11, 2005, 05:02 AM »

have to agree that having a backup of the system is the most important thing - i've recommended it to everyone since someone introduced me to ghost many moons ago. at the time it seemed magical being able to back up win95 (i think it was that far back) and i've been absolutely dumb founded ever since that a true backup method isn't built into windows straight out of the box - how more fundamental a thing do you want.

on the occassions that i've attempted to clean someone's pc of viruses it usually only took a few days for their machine to be infected again - answer: just wipe the operating system off and put the backup image on again. i've learnt that it's not even worth attempting to scan and clean a system most of the time.

only one thing to bare in mind with this kind of approach (and i'm sure most of us will have adopted it here) is to store valueble docs and config files on a separate partition so they don't get wiped out in the restore process.

i'm really looking forward to the 'backup' software review mouser as it's something i've never done on a folder/file basis - just whole parititions for me.

3992

General Software Discussion / Re: the definitive minimal amount of programs for the greatest security?

« on: April 11, 2005, 04:01 AM »

i'll definately look into process guard and the other programs you mention mob.

but i am curious as to what the differences are between things like process guard and microsoft's antispyware beta software. as microsoft's software is free (for the moment) i would favour recommending that to people i know.

for the most part i'm not entirely concerned of what to install on my own machine as i think i know what risks i'm taking (if any). my main interest is how to protect the average users machine with the minimum amount of fuss - without actually disconnecting that person from the net.

unfortunately, when posting this thread, i conveniently forgot the main problem with security issues on the pc and that is of the person sitting in front of it.

programs like process guard sound like they do a fantastic job except for one small problem: that is they require the user to understand the dialog boxes that pop up in front of them.

i have no doubt that people visiting this forum understand their computers well enough to know when to click 'accept' or 'deny' on a security alert dialog box but, alas, i don't believe that is the majority of users.

i repeatedly have to fix computers for people i know even though i have installed security programs for them and emphasised that they should be suspicious of everything they receive over the net. the problem does not lie so much with the software that is protecting their machine but with the way they understand how to use it.

as sad as it sounds, i think it would be fair to say that they wouldn't even know what internet explorer is let alone whether they should allow it through the firewall. maybe i know too many lazy people who just don't care what all the programs are called on their machine or maybe this is just how your typical user is. i suspect it is the latter.

they simply want to get the task done whilst they are sat at their desk and any security dialog box will be quickly dismissed without any real thought of what it said or what it means. they might take the policy to simply block everything when asked what to do by a dialog box, but then they will learn that this was incorrect as programs stop working correctly; so they will then learn to click 'accept' for everything to be allowed through the security layer and then we are back to the stage of having no barrier at all.

it would be easy to say all these people are morons and they deserve the problems they receive if they can't be bothered to learn about their system. i think that is a bit unfair and it doesn't help much. i admit, it isn't hard to learn the common day to day programs that one uses but when dialog boxes appear asking for permission for 'notavirus_honest.exe' to access the internet i suspect the people i'm talking about will interpret that as being a trustworthy and legitimate program to run. anything more obscure like a malicious piece of software named 'sxxx312.exe' will just confuse the user and then they will click whatever is required just to make the dialog box go away (i made 'sxxx312.exe' up).

i would just love to hear of some piece of security software that you could install and then forget about - knowing that it is protecting everything without any need for user intervention. being realistic, i suppose i am asking for the impossible as the user will always have the final say on what they allow onto their machine no matter what barriers are in place.

3993

Official DonationCoder.com Reviews / Re: 30 day trial for VMware Workstation 5

« on: April 10, 2005, 07:43 AM »

ah yes, so i see. i've just received the serial for beta RC 3.

3994

Official DonationCoder.com Reviews / Re: 30 day trial for VMware Workstation 5

« on: April 10, 2005, 06:58 AM »

  great.

quite impressive how vmware workstation 5 works not that i've done a lot with it yet (thanks again to mouser for the review).

has anyone tried the beta 5 RC2 version - just wondered if there was any major difference. does it require a serial and is it also 30 day trial?

3995

Official DonationCoder.com Reviews / 30 day trial for VMware Workstation 5

« on: April 10, 2005, 04:40 AM »

forgive me if it's been said elsewhere already but there is a 30 day trial version of VMware Workstation 5 available for download http://www.vmware.co...top/ws_features.html

you have to agree to receive email from other companies so be warned.

the product itself looks fantastic though.

3996

BrowserTraySwitch / Re: Features being considered..

« on: April 10, 2005, 04:03 AM »

the comparitive rendering feature sounds like an excellent idea.

3997

General Software Discussion / Re: the definitive minimal amount of programs for the greatest security?

« on: April 10, 2005, 03:57 AM »

thanks mob for taking the time for your in-depth reply. you've provided exactly the right kind answers and opinions i was looking for when starting the thread.

it's clear that you've had plenty of experience with the security side of things and i can fully understand your view on not using an anti-virus barrier. my system has only sufferred a virus infection twice in about 5 years or so - and that was my own fault for installing suspicious software.

i've never heard of it but 'look-n-stop' sounds interesting and your other comments are enticing enough to make me try out the other programs you mention.

i have one question - does process guard (or the other programs you mention) bombard you with confirmation dialog boxes everytime you run a program?

(i can't remember what it was now, but i had to turn something off with agnitum outpost as it became really annoying - always asking if it was okay to run macromedia software i use, even though i had told it it was okay.)

3998

Backup Guide / Re: Pre-review discussion of Backup Software

« on: April 09, 2005, 05:49 PM »

this will seem a little late in the day and quite obvious to all those already using it but i just wanted to say how great process tamer is.

it made the paragon drive backup software work like a dream during the image making process (well, it made my system more responsive as it should). it's a pity paragon didn't allow for this in their own coding of the program. what's the point of having the feature of 'live' drive imagining if you can't use your system very well at the same time?

overall, i probably still have to favour paragon over acronis, simply because it requires less mouse clicking in creating and restoring the image. it's also less annoying as it doesn't need to verify the partitions so much during the selection process.

(i still can't get acronis to stop repeating itself after the dos boot - is it because i have the image on a separate hard drive?)

anyway, time to make a donation for 'process tamer' i think.

3999

General Software Discussion / Re: the definitive minimal amount of programs for the greatest security?

« on: April 09, 2005, 09:45 AM »

  not paranoid, okay, i believe you.

i think i tried winpatrol but it got kind of annoying with it asking if things were okay all the time - i know that's it's job but it seemed to have a poor memory and kept asking me things it should have already known.

from what i've done with other people's computers, it appears to me that the MS antispyware beta thing might be less annoying than winpatrol.

randiroo, your machine sounds more secure than fort knox.

4000

Backup Guide / Re: Pre-review discussion of Backup Software

« on: April 09, 2005, 04:03 AM »

not figured out what i'm doing wrong with acronis yet but i have to say it definately works a lot smoother whilst making the backup image. even has the option to lower it's priority whilst running by selecting from the tray menu (i don't think that the paragon program allows for this).

i have to confess i've not used 'process tamer' yet. it looks like i now have a piece of software that would benefit from it as the sluggishness of my system whilst using the paragon software is a bit poor.

mouser to the rescue yet again