Recent Posts

476

Living Room / Re: Firefox fixes the version number problem

« Last post by cyberdiva on August 16, 2011, 01:16 PM »

Control over your own computer is an illusion unless you run linux and review every bit of source code you install. Automatic updates can at least compensate this downside.

-vlastimil (August 16, 2011, 11:30 AM)

Well, all I want is control over those aspects that I understand.  I understand that some of my add-ons will often fail to work if I update Firefox too soon.  I understand that when people who upgrade Firefox as soon as possible report all kinds of problems, I want to be able to hold off on updating.  I have no desire to be the canary in the coalmine.

My approach to Firefox updates is much the same as my approach to Windows Updates.  I have set Windows Updates to let me know when new ones are available, but let me decide whether and when to download and install them.

477

Living Room / Re: Firefox fixes the version number problem

« Last post by cyberdiva on August 16, 2011, 10:33 AM »

Perhaps I'm not understanding this correctly, but I think Firefox updating itself automatically is not a good idea for a couple of reasons.  One is that at times the add-on developers don't come out with new versions of their add-ons as soon as a new Firefox version appears.  I have often waited to update because add-ons for some software I depended on weren't yet compatible.  (And on at least one occasion, I had to stay with an older version of Firefox because I couldn't update the software and the add-on for the old software wouldn't work in the new Firefox.)

In addition to the above issue, there's also the fact that many people (I among them) prefer to wait a bit before updating Firefox to be sure no serious bugs are reported in the new version.  I would NOT want to be forced to update before I felt confident that the new version was OK.

(When I was about to post the above I was told that another post had been added.  I see that rssapphire has misgivings somewhat similar to mine.   )

478

Found Deals and Discounts / Linkman 8 Pro and Cacheman 7.10 62% off on Bits du Jour 8/15/2011

« Last post by cyberdiva on August 12, 2011, 01:56 PM »

I just received a notice that Outertech is offering both Linkman Pro 8 (2-computer license) and Cacheman 7.10 (2- computer license) on Bits du Jour this Monday, August 15, 2011.  Each will sell for 62% off.  Here are links to the specifics:

http://www.bitsdujour.com/software/cacheman-7/saf=503646/

http://www.bitsdujour.com/software/linkman-pro-8/saf=503646/

With the discount, each program will be available for $14.99.

479

Living Room / Re: xkcd - password truth

« Last post by cyberdiva on August 11, 2011, 07:38 AM »

So now you finally have a use for what you learned when you studied The Canterbury Tales or Gawain and the Green Knight back in 'English Lit' class. Wow! Aren't you glad you paid attention? 

-40hz (August 11, 2011, 05:36 AM)

Oh, darn!  I wish I had known this umpteen years ago when I read these.  Then again, umpteen years ago, I didn't have to think about secure passwords.  My typewriter didn't need them. 

480

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: Edit Text Anywhere with Your Favorite Editor [Freeware]

« Last post by cyberdiva on August 10, 2011, 08:31 PM »

You might like to know that TEA can be portable, which might occasionally be helpful.

-rjbull (August 10, 2011, 04:13 PM)

Yes, that's a good point.  Thanks for pointing it out.

481

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: Edit Text Anywhere with Your Favorite Editor [Freeware]

« Last post by cyberdiva on August 10, 2011, 03:57 PM »

I wasn't arguing against TEA, I was merely saying that I didn't feel any need for it, since I was content using the input mechanism available in each forum or blog.  The only thing I need is what Lazarus provides: backup in case of loss.  Since that's the case, I'd rather just use a FF add-on, rather than install yet another program. 

482

Clipboard Help+Spell / Re: High CPU usage when running along with Activewords

« Last post by cyberdiva on August 10, 2011, 03:48 PM »

I love ActiveWords, but it apparently fields five .exe files when you open it.  I just took a look at what processes were running in TaskManager, and I found TWO AWMonitor.exe, AWLearnTrain.exe, AWFeedback.exe, and Nahuatl.exe (this last is said to be Nahuatl ATL Server).  So if you're trying to add ActiveWords to CHS's exclusion list, you may have to add all of these. 

483

General Software Discussion / Re: too much security?

« Last post by cyberdiva on August 10, 2011, 03:39 PM »

I have Nod, mbam and sas running full time.

-cmpm (August 10, 2011, 09:46 AM)

I'm under the impression that it's not wise to have two anti-malware programs (mbam and sas) running in real time.  Wouldn't you be better off running one in real time and one on demand?

484

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: Edit Text Anywhere with Your Favorite Editor [Freeware]

« Last post by cyberdiva on August 09, 2011, 06:02 PM »

It's not just crash proofing.  One of the great things about TEA is that you conveniently get your favourite editor to edit your posts with, so you can use macros, shorthands, whatever.

-rjbull (August 09, 2011, 03:39 PM)

That's a good point.  However, I tend not to use my text editor for most messages that I write with a browser.  Mostly what I write in Firefox are forum posts, responses to blogs, etc.  I don't tend to need macros, etc. for that.  I'm usually content with whatever input mechanism the forum or blog provides, which often includes things I can't do with my favorite text editor, UltraEdit, such as use colors, bold, etc.  So I guess what I'm saying is that for me, the Lazarus add-on provides the one thing I really need: backup in case my message goes poof.

485

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: Edit Text Anywhere with Your Favorite Editor [Freeware]

« Last post by cyberdiva on August 09, 2011, 09:04 AM »

Edit: if there's on thing that's annoying is browser crash in the middle of an edit.

-MilesAhead (July 29, 2011, 05:29 PM)

I've stopped worrying about browser crashes since I started using the Firefox add-on Lazarus.  I never have to think about summoning up my text editor to be sure I don't lose what I'm writing--if something goes wrong, I just retrieve the missing text from Lazarus.  It's my favorite add-on.  However, if I were using a browser in which Lazarus didn't work (e.g., Opera), I'd definitely look into Edit Text Anywhere.

486

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: USB Safely Remove on GOTD

« Last post by cyberdiva on August 09, 2011, 08:49 AM »

USB Safely Remove was updated to version 4.7 a few days ago.  I assume that's the version on GOTD?

487

Living Room / Re: Opera wand. Does it work well? Enough to abandon lastpass?

« Last post by cyberdiva on August 08, 2011, 04:16 PM »

I've had pretty good luck with LastPass on Opera.  The one time when I couldn't get it to work with a site, I wrote to tech support and they made a suggestion that worked.  I should add, however, that Opera is my secondary browser; my default is still Firefox, where I also use LastPass in spite of having a license for RoboForm 7.  (I couldn't resist a half-price offer, but I found that I really liked LastPass well enough so that I didn't bother to install RoboForm.)

488

General Software Discussion / Re: What is Mozilla trying to do?

« Last post by cyberdiva on August 07, 2011, 09:52 AM »

For me FF still wins because of the add-on community - but I suspect that is going to get short lived as Mozilla seem to be using radpid version numbering to destroy obvious compatibility for so many addons. Yes I know you can override the version number in the addon but most people can't/won't do that and this seems to me to be stripping FF of its edge in the choice of browsers.

-Carol Haynes (August 07, 2011, 08:33 AM)

I strongly agree.   I'm very happy with Firefox 5, which works well on my Windows 7 64-bit and aging WinXP Pro 32-bit computers.  I have stayed with Firefox primarily because of the add-ons, but each so-called major upgrade creates havoc with some add-ons, and I know of some developers who are losing patience with the need to alter their add-ons with increasing frequency.   

489

General Software Discussion / Re: How necessary is the UAC in Windows 7?

« Last post by cyberdiva on August 04, 2011, 10:05 AM »

In large measure, I agree with what Carol and 40hz have recommended regarding Microsoft Security Essentials and the Windows firewall.  Indeed, that's what I currently have on my Win7 desktop and my Win7 netbook.  But I find myself worrying about the popularity of these programs, especially MSE.  If the overwhelming majority of people use the same anti-virus program, be it MSE or any other, doesn't that make it easier for the bad guys to develop malware specifically designed with that particular AV program in mind?  (Hmmm...perhaps I should change my username from cyberdiva to worrywort    )

490

General Software Discussion / Re: 'new' file manager - Elyse

« Last post by cyberdiva on August 03, 2011, 09:59 PM »

Lots of files on your PC have the exact same name. They can't go in the same location without overwriting each other.

-Deozaan (August 03, 2011, 09:50 PM)

I haven't spent time looking at the details of Elyse, but my assumption is that the notion of "location" would change, as would "name," so that if files had different tags, they'd be seen as different files.  

491

General Software Discussion / Re: 'new' file manager - Elyse

« Last post by cyberdiva on August 03, 2011, 09:48 PM »

How interesting!  It sounds like it's using a method of organizing files that's similar to what attracted me to Powermarks and then to Linkman as bookmark managers.  I no longer had to worry about what folder to put a bookmark in, how to classify it or remember where I put it.  I just added whatever keywords came to mind, and then I was able to search on any of those keywords.   I'm not sure, but this might make a LOT of sense for organizing files as well.  I wouldn't have to spend time deciding whether to put this file in a folder devoted to computer security, or one devoted to Firefox, or to Windows 7, or to....  Indeed, anything that I might associate with the file could be used as a tag.  This method certainly works for me with my thousands of bookmarks in Linkman.  Perhaps there are reasons it wouldn't work as well for files, but offhand I can't think of any.  (Hmmm....would I have to give up many of the features of my current file manager, Directory Opus 10?  Would I be willing to do so?)

492

General Software Discussion / Re: How necessary is the UAC in Windows 7?

« Last post by cyberdiva on August 03, 2011, 07:40 AM »

Thanks for your response, SJ.  I agree with you that common sense is vital.  I think that over the years it has been and continues to be my most effective weapon.

I haven't found that the security software I currently use "only serve to slow the machine down (typically to a crawl)."  Not at all.  My computer is delightfully fast and responsive.  And WinPatrol Plus is not on my machine "just to monitor System files."  I use it primarily for a variety of other functions; it happens to also offer the option of protecting the Internet HOSTS and key System files.  Again, I haven't noticed that selecting this option negatively affects the performance of my computer.

As for the UAC, which is how this thread started, once I found I could get ActiveWords to work with Dreamweaver without turning off UAC, I put UAC back on its default setting (one notch down from the top).  I'm content to leave it there.  My suggestion to tomos about dropping it down a notch was in response to his strong dislike of the blackened screen.  You've convinced me that that might be more risky than the Microsoft description led me to believe.  Many thanks.

493

General Software Discussion / Re: How necessary is the UAC in Windows 7?

« Last post by cyberdiva on August 02, 2011, 06:51 PM »

The question is can you keep it out when it comes-a-knocking. The answer - in that configuration - is no.

-Stoic Joker (August 02, 2011, 05:06 PM)

I don't rely on UAC as my only defense.  I've got a firewall, AV software, and whatever firewall function the router has, along with Malwarebytes in real time, and WinPatrol Plus (which, among other things, keeps watch over my HOSTS and critical systems files).  And, of course, my own experience and common sense.  So yes, I guess I do feel that when it comes a-knocking, it's unlikely to get in the door.  (She says, crossing her fingers.  )

494

General Software Discussion / Re: How necessary is the UAC in Windows 7?

« Last post by cyberdiva on August 02, 2011, 04:45 PM »

Doing that renders UAC pretty much useless. And while the flicker-to-black is a bit annoying, it's a sign that UAC really is kicking in and you aren't being faked

-f0dder (August 02, 2011, 03:44 PM)

F0dder, I think "pretty much useless" is an overstatement.  You get the same notifications that you'd get in the next highest setting, but without the screen going black.  Microsoft explains that because the UAC dialog box isn't on the secure desktop with the setting I suggested, "other programs might be able to interfere with the dialog's visual appearance.  This is a small security risk if you already have a malicious program running on your computer."  The risk is obviously more than with a higher setting, but I don't think I'd say that UAC is rendered "pretty much useless" with the lower setting.

I don't mind the screen going black, but tomos seemed to find it very unpleasant, and it apparently lasted longer on his computer than on mine.  If having the screen go black really bugs someone, they might well wind up turning UAC completely off.  That would render it useless.

495

General Software Discussion / Re: How necessary is the UAC in Windows 7?

« Last post by cyberdiva on August 01, 2011, 08:07 PM »

You might try taking your UAC settings down a notch (to one up from the bottom).  As I understand it, you get notified just as often as with the setting above it, but your screen doesn't go black at all.

496

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Babylon discount

« Last post by cyberdiva on July 31, 2011, 06:33 PM »

Hi, Shades.  Thanks for your response.  I wondered whether perhaps you distrusted Lingoes, but I see that's clearly not the case.  I've now downloaded and installed it on my desktop to try it out, and I think I will go ahead and put it on my netbook.  It's not as good as Babylon Pro, but with the Vicon Spanish-English and English-Spanish dictionaries, it's better than I'd expected.  And the price is certainly right. 

Muchas gracias otra vez.

497

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows Update disaster - recovery help, please!

« Last post by cyberdiva on July 31, 2011, 09:12 AM »

Does being on the Windows Secrets list mean they consider it in quarantine?  They're recommending you defer installation until it's status is clearer?

-rjbull (July 30, 2011, 02:33 PM)

The Windows Secrets list includes safe updates as well as doubtful ones.  I think they have five kinds of recommendations: SKIP - patch not needed; HOLD - do not install until its problems are resolved; WAIT - hold off temporarily until the patch is tested; OPTIONAL - not critical, use if wanted; and INSTALL - OK to apply.

I'm sorry I didn't see the thread you found.  I print out the patch list when it appears, and I just referred to that when I responded to your query.  And yes, I've found the Windows Secrets forum to be quite helpful, though as with any forum, some contributors are more knowledgeable/reliable than others. 

498

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Babylon discount

« Last post by cyberdiva on July 31, 2011, 08:58 AM »

Thanks very much, urlwolf and Shades, for this recommendation.  I've been looking for something to put on my netbook, since my Babylon 6 license is only for my desktop.  (Indeed, as I was in the process of transferring Babylon to my new desktop, I got a message from Babylon claiming I was using it on too many computers.  I explained to them that I was merely transferring it to a new computer, and they gave me a new license # and told me the old one would expire in a week.  This seems fair enough, and it sure beats the nasty response they made to urlwolf!)

Shades, is there some reason you use Lingoes only in off-line mode?   

499

General Software Discussion / Re: Question about Listary Pro

« Last post by cyberdiva on July 31, 2011, 08:08 AM »

Wraith, thanks very much for your response.  Your screenshot helped me realize that I was apparently looking for the toolbar in the wrong place.  It appears not when I have Directory Opus open but when I'm on a website and want to download something.  Of course, that's exactly when I wanted the toolbar to appear!  Duh... 

500

General Software Discussion / Question about Listary Pro

« Last post by cyberdiva on July 30, 2011, 04:10 PM »

Several messages on the Donation Coder forum called my attention to Listary, a program designed to extend and enhance file browsing.  I downloaded it, liked it, but wanted some features available only in the Pro version, so I bought it.  I'm not unhappy with the program, but I can't figure out how to get it to show a Listary toolbar.  Both the screenshot in the first message in this thread and a video on the Listary website show such a toolbar.  I've attached a screenshot from the video and have put a red arrow (well, it was red on my computer) pointing to the Listary toolbar.  

I'd be most grateful if someone could tell me how to get that toolbar to appear.  I'm using Windows 7 64-bit with Directory Opus 10 as my file manager.  Listary claims to be able to work with Directory Opus, and, just to be doubly sure, I've also put Directory Opus in a list of programs I want Listary to work with.  But nothing seems to produce the toolbar.