Re: tweaking software...to tweak or not to tweak

From: Lanwench [MVP - Exchange] (lanwench@heybuddy.donotsendme.unsolicitedmail.atyahoo.com)
Date: 03/06/03 

From: "Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" <lanwench@heybuddy.donotsendme.unsolicitedmail.atyahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2003 09:19:48 -0500

Awwww - you gave me my first smile of the day. Thanks. :-)

Re AdAware: it can't hurt to run it; you can always uninstall it afterwards.
If you are not prone to promiscuous software downloading, you're unlikely to
have a lot of garbage, but it's nice to check with AdAware- I do it
periodically and sleep more soundly for it.

Re popups: I use a teeny tiny free blocker - it's an all or nothing at all
thing, no white list available, but like most of them, you can bypass it by
holding the CTRL key when you click on whatever you want to pop up. It's
"Another IE Popup Killer", you download it to the folder of your choice (I
created c:\program files\aiepk\ ) and execute it - then it just runs & will
start up automatically. See www.fadsoft.com

Patrick wrote:
> Thanks for your reply!
>
> Well...I have heard many folks speak of Adaware but I
> guess I don't get into any issues deeper than accumulating
> the occasional net spook here and there so as long as I
> have kept my browser cache clean it does pretty much the
> same thing, or so it seems for my purposes at this
> juncture anyway. (Juncture...didn't the first Prez Bush
> use that word a lot? *shrugs and contemplates my navel for
> a sec.*)
>
> Oh yeah...anyway...
>
> yep on the AV. Like AVG 'cause it seems less likely to
> produce that embarassing and unsightly choke that Norton
> can cause from reading common script (etc.) as virus's and
> it's free, along with a nifty lil web based scan from
> Trend Micro that seems to scour deeply and leaves no
> bitter after taste.
>
> Using POW pop-up-snarfer which is ok but ya gotta train
> it. (Sick 'em killer!) Once I add a url into this lil
> doggie it seems to cage those wascaly wabbits pretty well
> and it's small...chee-wa-wa size. If you know of anything
> better or run across something new, light or full bodied
> with a touch of oak, 1' and 0's, or possibly circut board,
> give me a hoot would ya? Or just post a message...
>
> 'cause a lot of people don't like to "hoot". :-)
>
> Have a stellar day!
>
> Patrick
>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> I agree with you in most ways, but cannot put AdAware on this list.
>> All the others you mention, I have no need for (with the
> exception of AV software &
>> a simple little popup blocker). I like to keep things simple.
>>
>> Patrick wrote:
>>> Ok so...
>>>
>>> There's all this tweaking software out there like Spybot,
>>> Advance System Optimizer, Tweak XP, MemZip, Adaware,
>>> Ashampoo etc. The list goes on forever.
>>>
>>> Most, if not all say they will detect and "fix/clean" what
>>> they "call" redundancies in dll's, problems with registry
>>> entries and settings, spy software loaded into your
>>> browser cache...again...the list goes on.
>>>
>>> What I have found is this. Programs like Ad-Aware, and
>>> Spybot, and others that "say" the fix privacy issues
>>> associated with stored web pages and registry entries
>>> really do nothing more than simply clear out temporary
>>> internet files, cookies, and browser history. this can be
>>> accomplished via the tools menu or in control panel, by
>>> going into "Internet Options" and with a few
>>> clicks...accomplish the same thing. Why load ones system
>>> up with a lot of useless software that only does what one
>>> could do their self? Downloaers like Gozilla? Ever try
>>> to uninstall it?...Completely? Bet you still have it in
>>> your registry and lurking in your browser/shared
>>> applications...among other places.
>>>
>>> In addition, and in my experience, it's geneally NOT a
>>> good idea to trust a 3rd party software developer to know
>>> how to "fix" ones registry or delete dll's (Dynamically
>>> linked libraries). It's not even a good idea to do this
>>> ones self unless you REALLY know what you're doing. Every
>>> time I have trusted one of these programs to do what they
>>> claim to do, (increase security and provide a more
>>> efficiant, and faster system...as if mine isn't fast
>>> enough already...I'm so spoiled) my system slows, OS
>>> programs get confused, menues hang, log on/off becomes
>>> problematic and these things don't really detect all the
>>> redundant crap that's left from uninstalls as they claim
>>> they do...not even their own programs uninstall completely
>>> clean. I have actually loaded "wiper" programs
>>> to "wipe" "wiper" program garbage left behind
> from "wiper"
>>> program uninstalls.
>>>
>>> Equal time...I HAVE been able to get rid of SOME old stuff
>>> from SOME of these programs, but have also had to run the
>>> system restore (OS syst restore...not more software
>>> garbage)reconfigure some syst.32/catroot files in order to
>>> be able to install WINDOWS updates due to so
>>> much "tweaking" done by this stuff. Yep...it "tweaks"
>>> alright. Hey MS windows OS cofigurations may be far from
>>> perfect but it's the best we got in this dudes oppinion.
>>> Linux?...don't get me started. *chuckles*
>>>
>>> A good firewall...good anti-virus programs, (Zone Alarm is
>>> ok and AVG anti virus if ya want freebies) seems to be
>>> about the best one can do for security in addition to
>>> clearing out ones temp i'net, cookies, and history files
>>> without screwing up your machine.
>>>
>>>
>>> The behind the scenes trackers and info storage put there
>>> by our buddies at Microsoft? hmmmm...good question.
>>>
>>> luv ya Bill...*chuckles*
>>>
>>> In closing...(bet ya thought I'd never get to this part
>>> did ya? ;-) ) Beyond a statement that if anyone recommends
>>> this stuff to "fix" a potential problem it might be a good
>>> idea to also mention that these things are NOT a cure for
>>> what MAY be ailing a machine. They may help...they may
>>> not...they may make things worse...this is why the
>>> disclaimers are built into the software, and why one must
>>> agree to the licencing of shareware/freeware before using
>>> it.
>>> AND
>>>
>>> If any of you computer geniuses out there KNOW more about
>>> this stuff. Drop me a line would ya? I'm always curious
>>> and interested in how to make my puter dearms come
>>> true...if not that...at least get some of this kinda stuff
>>> to work like it says it's supposed to.
>>>
>>> E-mails are cool...I appreciate 'em muchly
>>>
>>> All the best and outa breath, Patrick
>>
>>
>> .

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