Carl Finch on fri 14 jan 05
At 01:18 AM 1/15/2005 +0000, Janet Kaiser wrote:
>All you XP Home Edition users... Have you downloaded service pack
>2 yet? It takes forever on dial-up, so may be worth getting a
>friend on broadband to download it for you and save to CD. It
>certainly slowed down my e-mail for a couple of weeks whilst it
>was trying to download by itself...
Which is why Microsoft will mail you a CD containing SP2--gratis!
--Carl (practicing unsafe hex, sans SP2,
in Medford, Oregon)
Kim Lindaberry on sat 15 jan 05
Janet,
I am puzzled by your PC doctor's notion that Norton doesn't do anything
to prevent a virus infection. Maybe it is just one more flaw on the PC
platform. I have Norton Anti-Virus and Norton SystemWork on my Mac
running OSX. When configured correctly it automatically scans all
incoming email and attachments. It also scans all removable media
(floppy disks, zip disks and external hard drives) on mount. Maybe the
PC version doesn't work this way, but the Mac version certainly does. I
would have to question if your PC doctor is as knowledgeable as he
should be.
Kim
On Jan 14, 2005, at 7:18 PM, Janet Kaiser wrote:
> It was interesting talking to my PC doctor today. He refuses to
> sell Norton because he asks what is the point of having software
> which tells you that you have been infected, but doing absolutely
> nothing to prevent the initial infection? . . .
Lesley Alexander on sat 15 jan 05
Maybe THIS one IS a stupid question.. but I have the impression that
the up Microsoft updates for XP include handing over free perusal of
everything in your computer, any time... goodbye privacy. Makes me
uncomfortable and I turned Windows Messenger off. I have Norton and
Spyware Doctor, who knows, maybe they do the same thing. Any help from
the computer guys here? Lesley
>
>Matt
>(I support my pottery addiction by working as a computer guy. Easier
>and more lucrative than teaching... )
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
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>
>
>
Janet Moe/Paul Bailey on sat 15 jan 05
Okay, this may be a stupid question but how do I tell if I've downloaded
service pack 2? I have my computer set to do the automatic downloads. Is
there some way to check this?
Gaye Sekula on sat 15 jan 05
My computer is set for automatic updates, but I never wait for it to tell
me. Every few days I go to
_http://v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/v5consumer/default.aspx?ln=en-us_
(http://v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/v5consumer/default.aspx?ln=en-us)
and see if there's anything new. Usually there isn't, but I don't trust
waiting on the update notification.
Gaye, San Antonio
MacIntire, Matt on sat 15 jan 05
>> Okay, this may be a stupid question but how do I tell=20
>> if I've downloaded service pack 2?=20
There are no stupid quesitons, right? =20
There are several ways to tell what service pack and other updates you
have installed. The simplest is to go to Windows Update and choose
"View Installation History." This option may vary slighlty depending
upon which version of Windows you are running.
To find the Windows Update site, open Internet Explorer and pull down
the Tools menu. Click on Windows Update.
FWIW... Windows Automatic Updates may be downloading and installing the
updates, or it may just be downloading them, and waiting for you to
approve the installation. Check your current settings with the Control
Panel "Automatic Updates" applet.
Matt
(I support my pottery addiction by working as a computer guy. Easier
and more lucrative than teaching... )=20
Janet Kaiser on sat 15 jan 05
It was interesting talking to my PC doctor today. He refuses to
sell Norton because he asks what is the point of having software
which tells you that you have been infected, but doing absolutely
nothing to prevent the initial infection? He is tusseling with
his conscience though, having just changed from employee status
to owner. Should he have the software to sell to those who insist
they read a magazine review that Norton was best and then be
certain of a sale, or should he stick to his own ethical code of
conduct? Whilst he was talking to another client, I heard him
mention a wizard MicroSoft spy ware detection package... Forgot
to ask him what that was, but he was pretty impressed by what it
found on his home computer, which he has protected right up to
"industry standard" so to speak
All you XP Home Edition users... Have you downloaded service pack
2 yet? It takes forever on dial-up, so may be worth getting a
friend on broadband to download it for you and save to CD. It
certainly slowed down my e-mail for a couple of weeks whilst it
was trying to download by itself... That stupid automatic update
feature... I am always terrified that the "you have a new update
to install" (or words to that effect) is not from M$ at all, but
some virus disguised as a M$ patch.
Sincerely
Janet Kaiser -- Just back from a rollicking evening at the local
ADA pantomime production of Sleeping Beauty... Great fun, but
sadly very small audience. TV probably showing some total junk
like "Big Brother". Also at =A35 /=A36 balcony per head for
children and adults alike, those children who attended every
performance over the three night run are not showing this year. I
blame the middle classes... They forget we serfs are not earning
"fees" but are lucky to have a job earning the minimum hourly
wage!
************************************************************
THE CHAPEL OF ART - or - CAPEL CELFYDDYD
8 Marine Crescent : Criccieth : GB-Wales LL52 0EA
Tel: ++44 (01766) 523122 http://www.the-coa.org.uk
Contact: Janet Kaiser: The International Potters Path
--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.296 / Virus Database: 265.6.10 - Release Date: 10/01/2005
Gail Phillips on sat 15 jan 05
Hi, Janet/Paul -
If you go to Start, Control Panel and see Security Center, you have XP SP2. If Security Center isn't there, start downloading.
Also, you can go to your Control Panel, click on add or remove programs, then scroll down - Windows XP SP2 will be in the list. If you check the box at the very top of the window, you can see ALL of your updates (show updates checkbox).
Alternately, when you go to Windows Update on the web, you can click on View Installation History in the left column.
So right there, you have THREE ways to skin that cat. There are probably more.
- Gail Phillips
-------------- Original message from Janet Moe/Paul Bailey : --------------
> Okay, this may be a stupid question but how do I tell if I've downloaded
> service pack 2? I have my computer set to do the automatic downloads. Is
> there some way to check this?
>
Carl Finch on sat 15 jan 05
At 09:11 AM 1/15/2005 -0800, Janet Moe/Paul Bailey wrote:
>Okay, this may be a stupid question but how do I tell if I've downloaded
>service pack 2?
Stupidity is not your questioning, it is in the parochial minds of the
software designers!
>I have my computer set to do the automatic downloads. Is
>there some way to check this?
Yes! Click your way to:
Start/ Settings/ Control Panel/ System/ General
This General tab will show the operating system version and service pack
installed. (Depending upon just how you've set up Windows, the "path in"
may be a little different from what I've shown above.) This is just one of
several utilities that'll show it!
--Carl
in Medford, Oregon, shaking his head at the gratuitous use of "user
friendly" and "intuitive" in the software industry.
Chuck Wagoner on sun 16 jan 05
Or, just right click on "My Computer" and click on "Properties". It will
say what service pack is installed.
I have been impressed with the Beta1 version of Anti Spyware from
Microsoft. It is free for now. Just go to their download section.
Panda is now my choice for anti-virus. It has "prevent ware" and finds
suspicious activity even if the new virus is not in the company's
database. You will take a hit (as much as 5%, but it is worth it to me.)
> >Okay, this may be a stupid question but how do I tell if I've
downloaded
> >service pack 2?
John Rodgers on fri 21 jan 05
Janet Kaiser wrote:
>It was interesting talking to my PC doctor today. He refuses to
>sell Norton because he asks what is the point of having software
>which tells you that you have been infected, but doing absolutely
>nothing to prevent the initial infection?
>
Interesting!
I run Norton System Works, and on a few occasions I have had a virus try
and come across in some mail, etc. and a Norton Virus Alert window would
pop up, telling me of a virus being present, the name of the virus, and
telling the virus had been removed from my computer.
Regards,
John Rodgers
Chelsea, AL
Steve Slatin on fri 21 jan 05
John --
Jumping in late on this one, but IIRC, there used to
be a try-ware version of Norton (downloadable from the
Symantec site) that did this. Perhaps there was some
confusion, after trying, over whether this was the
free or at-cost version? I've used Norton, McAfee,
Panda, PC-Cillin and a few others. All have deleted
viruses, once found.
For those interested -- Norton's updates download
smoothest, McAfee was free with my ISP but a tad
clumsier than Norton, Panda was nice and had some
potentially valuable protections the others lack, but
interfered with some (poorly written, poorly behaved)
software I later got rid of, so I might go back, and
PC-Cillin was second best at just about everything, so
is worth a look for anyone who needs a new system.
McAfee's anti-spam program is efficient, but slows
down your computer, Ella only works with Outlook,
SpamNet had errors -- false positives and negatives
both, IHateSpam was smooth and fast, but false
positives were a problem for me, and Spamnix only
worked on Eudora so I didn't try it. As always, YMMV.
Anti-virus programs are a more mature technology, and
more of them are of acceptable quality overall than
anti-spam programs. As long as you're using something
and practicing reasonable precautions in computing any
of them will provide good protection.
-- Steve
--- John Rodgers wrote:
>what is the point of
> having software
> >which tells you that you have been infected, but
> doing absolutely
> >nothing to prevent the initial infection?
> >
> Interesting!
>
> I run Norton System Works, and on a few occasions I
> have had a virus try
> and come across in some mail, etc. and a Norton
> Virus Alert window would
> pop up, telling me of a virus being present, the
> name of the virus, and
> telling the virus had been removed from my computer.
>
=====
Steve Slatin -- No one, having once come to the attention of the authorities, is ever thereafter truly forgotten.
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Meet the all-new My Yahoo! - Try it today!
http://my.yahoo.com
Janet Kaiser on sat 22 jan 05
This has been an interesting thread... Brand
loyalty seems to be another attribute shared by
many in Clay Town! My reported speech about
Norton antivirus by someone who has dealt with
more PCs over the past 20+ years than any of us
have had hot dinners, was a case in point... No
need to call me to order about him or his
beliefs, certainly not with outstretched chin or
in an aggrieved tone!! LOL!
Most did not get the main point anyhow! I thought
it commendable that he would not sell what he
could not personally recommend, or in his words
"would not touch with a barge pole". Indeed, a
programme he knows will generate dissatisfied
customers coming back to him to complain about
the crap he sold them! It is a prime example of a
retailer being in a no-win situation. In his
case, because he is conscientious and would feel
behoven to spend time sorting out problems caused
by the Norton software he had sold. It is not
worth it to him either way.
One thing for sure... There is no cut-and-dried
solution for anyone. What works well for one
person in one country, will be a disaster for
another whether they live next door or elsewhere
in the world, so I believe it is better to
distrust those who lay down the law and
completely dismiss the opinions / methods /
experience of others out of hand. At least treat
everything they say with a goodly pinch of
salt... Collect information and then make an
"informed choice".
Yes, it is like working in clay! Anything and
everything is possible and like my Grandfather
used to say: "I have been to the best school of
all". It was the hardest, taking many years of
study and practical application... Yes, the
School of Hard Knocks, finally graduating from
the University of Experience. For all the claim
that theory outweighs practice these days, I
personally much prefer to hear words of wisdom
from someone with an overdose of the latter. Yes,
there is no denying much can be learned from
books, but how often does practice make mere
theory riseable? By the time each of us becomes
half way savvy, we are prepared to give "expert
opinion"... Even then, those who accept
everything they say without question are 100%
certifiable IMHO! LOL!
Janet Kaiser -- Just beat my own Spider record...
Wonder if anyone ever got a score under 87? And
how to save extra games, so others can have a go.
Freecell was more fun with numbered games...
**************************************************
**********
THE CHAPEL OF ART - or - CAPEL CELFYDDYD
8 Marine Crescent : Criccieth : GB-Wales LL52 0EA
Tel: ++44 (01766) 523122
http://www.the-coa.org.uk
Contact: Janet Kaiser: The International Potters
Path
--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.296 / Virus Database: 265.6.13 - Release Date: 16/01/2005
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