Mike Rochip
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Posts posted by Mike Rochip
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Have you tried a clean install or creating a new user profile?
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There are quite a few user comments posted here discussing both good and bad experiences:
There is also a lot of MS bashing which adds nothing to the debate over the quality or functionality of the product itself.
I'm glad this forum doesn't allow that.
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I was just about to post the exact same thing! For some reason that reminded me of an old Bugs Bunny cartoon. If I remember correctly Marvin the Martian was going to blow the Earth up because it blocked his view of Venus...
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This may be a long shot but it's possible the Themes sevice is set to disabled.
Start>Run>sevices.msc>Enter
Some sites recommend the Themes service be set to Disabled as a tweak to improve PC performance. The default XP theme will still work but modified themes won't.
If that's not it you could search the CCleaner Forums for "uxtheme.dll" there's quite a bit of advice and discussion about it.
Good Luck!
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There's some info here that may be of some help.
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Come to think of it, we may have done that already...
Do a video search on AltaVista for "STS48 UFO" (STS-48 is the designation for one of the Space Shuttle missions). It's a very interesting video that was broadcast live from the Shuttle. I saw the video on an old Fox show (Sightings?) and it sure looks like it's not a trick of the light, reflection off the windows of the Shuttle, ice particles, or whatever else NASA tried to say it was.
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So far I can't decide.
It seems to load pages faster and I really like the browsing shortcuts. It plays video from web pages much better than any other browser I've tried but I have dial-up and an old computer so I'm not sure that's a valid comparison for most people. Firefox is easier to customize by adding extensions. According to the Orca forums you can do most anything a Firefox extension will do but you have to do it by using about:config and/or editing preferences, CSS etc.
Since Orca is still in beta (version 3) it will be interesting to see what changes or additions they make in the release version. There's a lot of info in the Avant browser forums in the Orca section and a forum to report bugs, suggest features, changes, and improvements.
IMHO Orca is much better by far than any other browser except Firefox.
Give it a try and see what you think...
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"The Bush administration has finally agreed to let the military build a forward base on the moon, which will put them in a better position to keep track of the goings and comings of the visitors from space, and to shoot at them, if they so decide."
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Quick update:
I've been using Orca for a while now and it's easily one of the best browsers I have ever used.
It's VERY fast.
Lots of built in features that work very well.
Neat mouse and keyboard shortcuts.
Secure (no malware found since I've been using it).
In full screen mode it autohides all the toolbars so you can access them quickly and easily while staying in fullscreen mode.
Based on latest Firefox release. Incorporates many of Firefox's features such as about:config.
No crashes or freeze-ups.
Etc etc etc
GIVE IT A TRY! You will be pleasantly surprised.
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I'm not sure if this a definitive answer but I've been reading a lot about thie rootkit and no one has ever said it can come from anywhere but the CDs. Apparently it is installed when Sony make you download their (pirated) media player to be able to play the CD.
Quite a few people have commented on how stupid Sony is being because your computer becomes indected if you BUY the CD but not if you download the songs for FREE via filesharing networks.
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I've been giving it a try for a little while now and so far so good. LOTS of features, well laid out menus with easy to understand commands and info, and a really cool mini toolbar that appears when you move the cursor over an image. Pages load fast on my ancient PC and there are settings to block sounds, Flash, etc.
Only minor complaint is that I had to import my Firefox favorites into IE before Orca would list them. I didn't see a way to do it directly but that's certainly a minor issue.
I've tried IE, Maxthon, Opera, and many versions of Netscape. Orca is the only one that compares favorably with Firefox. After I use it for a while I'll post any other info good or bad.
Thanks for the tip, rridgely
!Link to Dr. Orca Forums including Help:
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This article has a lot of info about formats, features, prices (in English pounds), etc. on a variety of music players. Seems like a good source of info for nubies like me.
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This isn't an expert answer, but I've had this happen. If you double-click on the icon you should get a message saying sonething like the file or program can not be found and then give you an option to search for the target or delete the shortcut. I've never had any problems after deleting the shortcut.
As to why it wasn't deleted when you removed the program, my guess is maybe it was a shortcut you created rather than one that was automatically created. I think (I definately don't know for sure) that shortcuts created by the user have a small diagonal arrow on the lower left-hand corner of the icon.
Hope this helps...
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I read somewhere that one of the features of Vista will be that when you reboot it will almost be like you did a sort of clean install or system restore as an added protection against malware. Has anyone else heard this or have any comments about whether it's a good idea?
Thanks
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Nice that Yahoo reports about the new services of their biggest competitor. smile.gif
LOL I thought the same thing!
next thing you know google will be its own internet browser....I think I heard somewhere that they were looking into that.
I also read somewhere that Google is studying whether it would make sense to offer free WiFi service, possibly nationwide. The theory is that it would bring more traffic to it's advertising services.
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The news I thought was most interesting was:
To get the uninstall program, users were asked to request it by filling out online forms. Once submitted, the forms themselves download and install a program designed to ready the PC for the fix. Essentially, it makes the PC open to downloading and installing code from the Internet.
According to security experts, the program fails to make the computer confirm that such code should come only from Sony or First 4 Internet.
"The consequences of the flaw are severe," Felten and Halderman wrote in a blog posting Tuesday after being tipped by a Finnish researcher, Matti Nikki. "It allows any Web page you visit to download, install, and run any code it likes on your computer. Any Web page can seize control of your computer; then it can do anything it likes. That's about as serious as a security flaw can get." (From CBS News)
Unfortunately, it looks like while there will soon be a range of options to remove or deactivate the rootkit, people may have been exposed to even more malware from other sources after merely making the request to aquire the "fix" from Sony.
As people have often mentioned in these forums, these sort of things will probably have the most negative effect on casual and inexperienced users who in good faith follow Sony's instructions.
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If you download this latest version (Developement Build 104) you may have to uninstall previous versions to avoid a conflict. I had to remove 4.51 for the new version to work.
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I've been using this player for a long time now, no complaints at all.
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"Sir, you're under arrest for the attempted thinking about copying of Neil Diamond's new CD. This violates Statute 114.987.63 Section 3 Subsection 4 Paragraph 2 of the Patriot Act which I'm sure you realize is a 7th Class Felony."
"God, is this ever embarrassing!"
"How so? That you were caught trying to take food from the mouths of Neil Diamond's children?"
"No Sir, it's that someone knows I listen to Neil Diamond! Besides, I never actually tried to copy it."
"But you THOUGHT about it, didn't you?"
"No sir! What gave you that idea?"
"Your computer works for us as an undercover agent to infiltrate the minds of unAmerican scum like you that would pervert the wholesome goodness that is Sony and the RIAA. It reported you to the FBI, CIA, Homeland Security, Crime Stoppers, COPS, Oprah, and America's Most Wanted. As soon as we can figure out where the Heck's he hiding you can be sure we'll let Vice President Cheney know. How does being tortured sound to you, PUNK!?"
"Can't be worse than listening to Neil Diamond."
"You think this is funny, do you?"
"But I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!"
"Shut up scum! Your kind makes me sick!"
"You mean Neil Diamond fans? My friends told me the same thing... But I didn't do anything!"
"Do you deny visiting HowStuffWorks.com and reading their nefarious How to Backup Your CD article?"
"That was 3 years ago! I just wanted to backup my Windows 3.1 disc because there's only 3 left in the world and Microsoft wants $249.00 for one and I'd have to turn in the one I have so I still wouldn't have a backup and..."
"SHUT UP! I'm sure Mr. Bill Gates would be interested in your little plan to deceive Microsoft! HOW DARE YOU!"
"BUT I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!"
"Are you calling your computer a liar? Before you answer that you snot-nosed little twerp perhaps you'd be interested to know your printer has verified everything your PC told us. And how do you explain the giant pile of blank CDs over there next to the meth lab? Looks like a plan to flood the third world with black market Neil Diamond CDs forcing Sony into bankruptcy and thus bringing down the entire US economy you communist sympathizing freedom hating wacked out psycho."
"Giant pile of blank CDs? There's like 30, they're cheaper when you buy a spindle."
"Spindle? Don't try to dazzle me with your fancy piracy lingo."
"So you're honestly telling me that my PC and my printer are accusing me of conspiring to bring down America by copying my Windows 3.1 disc in an elaborate scheme to cover up the fact that I secretly intend to ship bootleg Neil Diamond CDs to the third world?"
"Yup."
"Gee, I'm surprised my TIVO didn't catch on."
"You might want to curb the sarcasm, Piracy Boy. As soon as we can guarantee your TIVO admittance into the Witness Protection Program it assures us it is willing to testify concerning the little Celine Dion caper you thought nobody would find out about."
"I want a lawyer."
"They don't have lawyers in the Hell you're going to be in for the next 20 years!"
"Does this Hell have Neil Diamond CDs?"
"Yup."
DISCLAIMER: I kind of like Neil Diamond's older songs but if anyone finds out I'll deny it.
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A senior Homeland Security official cautioned entertainment companies against discouraging piracy in ways that also make computers vulnerable. Stewart Baker, assistant secretary for policy at DHS, did not cite Sony by name in his remarks Thursday but described industry efforts to install hidden files on consumers' computers.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - People who attempt to copy music or movies without permission could face jail time under legislation proposed by the U.S. Justice Department on Thursday. The bill, outlined by U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales at an anti-piracy summit, would widen intellectual-property protections to cover those who try but fail to make illicit copies of music, movies, software or other copyrighted material.
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Has anyone tried Dr. Orca?
in Software
Posted
I really like it and am using it all the time now. Since it's based on Gecko (Firefox 1.5) it has all the excellent functionality of Firefox plus a lot of neat features. The thing I like the best is it loads pages very quickly, even when there is stuff running in the background.
It doesn't have the ability to use Firefox extensions as of yet, but from the comments in the forums I wouldn't be surprised if that is added before the release version.