Days of the Blue
I always wondered when I would run into a random BSoD. A truly unexpected blue screen of death, especially when you don’t think that the place is running on Windows.
In this case, it was an aquarium. The Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. I took a few photos, but there was no flash photography allowed. These had a touch screen interface that allowed you to touch a picture of the fish in the tank for more information.
I hope the automated systems that keep these fish alive aren’t using Windows.
The people around me did not understand why I was taking pictures.
Governing Windows into Submission: Part Three
System Optimization
Browser Temporary Files: First thing is first, clearing out temporary files and other browsing data will irritate other users. Also, there is little reason to worry about temporary information unless it’s a real security issue. There is little benefit to clearing out temporary files more than once a month. It does not speed up your browsing experience or your computer, but you may actually benefit from a personal temporary retention policy. Keep the history unless it is absolutely necessary to clear.
Registry Cleaners and Optimizers: The system slowdown from your computer is not coming from a bulky registry. On Windows XP and above, you do not have a registry limit. There is no max size. Now true “registry optimizers”, such as TweakUI, truly do their job. Your system is not slowing down from the size of the hives or the amount of keys, but what they are actually telling your machine. Turning a value of 1 to a zero to disable the mouse cursor shadow will boost system performance. Do not bother using registry cleaners as they will do more harm than good.
For more proof that register cleaners do not work, perform a sweep (Note: Don’t.) after a clean Windows installation. What do you get? Now try it with another program, it doesn’t matter if it is shareware or freeware. You will get dramatically different results every time with each program. The only registry cleaner I can recommend is RevoUninstaller. It removes a program from your system completely, including all registry entries, folders, and files. Extremely helpful. Registry cleaners are proven to work as well as colon detoxification.
Fine Tuning Visual Settings: This is a quick tweak native in Windows to increase system performance by a great deal depending on your hardware. If you don’t care for the mouse to have a shadow that sucks up more resources than most people think, then follow these simple steps. First: Start Menu – Control Panel – open the “System” applet. Go to the Advanced tab and now we’re in the Visual Effects tab. Note: Make sure to save your current theme if you want to go back by – Control Panel – Display Properties – Themes tab – Save As…! The best custom selections I can recommend without losing a few features, such as the rectangular selection box, are:
- Uncheck any window animation effects, such as when minimizing and maximizing.
- Uncheck any Fade effects, examples would be how the ToolTips fade in and out.
- Uncheck shadows under menus and shadows under mouse pointer, but leave on “drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop”.
- Uncheck any sliding effects.
- Leave checked “translucent selection rectangle” and “show window contents while dragging”.
Feel free to play with the settings. Save your current theme. You cannot break your system from this tab.
Crucial Maintenance: Many know about Disk Defrag. Well, if you have Vista or soon Windows 7, you don’t have to worry about defragging all that much anymore unless the Task Scheduler service is disabled. By default, Defrag will do it’s job at the default scheduled time for Vista. With XP, you must defrag at least once every two months. If you’re a huge data rat with gigabytes of photos and videos, defrag at least once a month. System instability and data loss can occur in Windows from a heavily fragmented disk and excessive disk trashing! It’s in your Start Menu – Accessories – System Tools – Disk Defragmenter. Do not defrag under Linux.
Startup Queue: The number one biggest complaint I’ve heard always involves a slow booting computer. While it’s not the actual system booting, but the incredible amount of software that steps into the Thunderdome to fight to the death over precious system resources. It can be chaotic, definitely, but there are three ways to take control over what starts up and what is hurled out the window. Many know the MSCONFIG utility, but I do not recommend this because there may be dozens of entries that are not labeled properly. Some Spyware and legitimate software do not give hints to the process, which is why it can be overwhelming to guess which is which.
MSCONFIG: If you do decide to take the MSCONFIG route, I highly recommended checking every entry with the process library database. When you bring up the task manager by right clicking the taskbar and selecting Task Manager, or pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc, or even going through Ctrl+Alt+Del and selecting TM, you can type in the process names from the Process tab to check to see what they belong to as well. A rogue process needs to be brought back into the herd. This can be time consuming and a user may accidentally disable a necessary program.
Startup Delayer: One of my favorite freeware programs that has served me well for a long time. For those that need a lot starting up at once during boot need this software. It’s a lot friendlier than MSCONFIG and allows you to delay any software by what time you specify. Those with bulky anti-virus protection suites like Norton would benefit the most. Anti-virus software needs to start all required services, check for updates, and if configured, might begin to perform a system scan immediately. Startup Delayed can push back a program to startup a full minute before everything else. This will allow it to do what it needs without struggling for space in a crowded pond. Beautiful.
AutoRuns: The third suggestion is the most advanced. It may look like an advanced version of MSCONFIG, but it handles far more than startup programs. A closer look will reveal to seasoned users that AutoRuns can “show other locations, including Explorer shell extensions, toolbars, browser helper objects, Winlogon notifications, auto-start services, and much more.” A very powerful program. Imagine if HijackThis and MSCONFIG produced a baby. Then the baby grew up to become Zeus.
2009 Predictions: Apple
Hi, my name is Dan. I use a combination of systems including OS X 10.4 Tiger, Fedora, SabayonLinux, Debian, and Ubuntu. I also have FreeBSD, OpenBSD, and OpenSolaris installed. I do not see it as a hobby. It has been necessary that I learn multiple operating systems a year. The knowledge and experience gained in my field has been absolutely invaluable.
I have no side, but I am against the critically negative views that Apple has been spending millions of dollars on that only infuriate the world. These are reasons why Apple’s share in the market will go back into a muddy hole while they rely on their MP3 track and player sales once again. Unless, of course, Amazon doesn’t become anymore of a threat.
- Guerrilla Tactics: Apple will begin to slowly decline in sales thanks to actions bordering malware practices thanks to Apple update software opening the gates for other services without user confirmation. We installed Safari as your default browser while you were asleep, I hope you don’t mind!
- Snobbish Public View: Apple has suffered greatly from annoying TV advertisements and Steve Jobs’ biased bashing of Windows Vista. How would you feel if you went to Best Buy to purchase a new desktop or laptop and the salesperson tells you why Windows is a terrible idea, you should buy a Mac. This is no different than what Jobs and Apple have done. If you make a trend seem elitist, the consumer will assume elitism and pass.
- The Latest Trend: There is nothing wrong with OS X, but many users will grow tired of expensive upgrades. Microsoft releases service packs and organizations release the latest one thousand man hour Linux distros for free. It seems we are already hearing about the next Mac 10 version the day after the last one hit retail. This could make a lot of consumers feel that they are luxury items and will never keep up with the trends. The prime example being the iPhone. When iPhone 3.0 is announced, there may be a larger backlash than the $200 price cut.
- Native Applications: To suggest that many Windows users are still using Windows out of ignorance is a terrible marketing ploy. People need Windows to run Windows applications, not just Microsoft Office. Boot Camp is not an option as the majority will never buy a Mac for the sole person to run Windows side-by-side. Why bother when they need Windows more than OS X? Note that almost all Windows software can be installed on Linux and BSD, which are Unix-like operating systems, just like Mac OS X.
- Pushing Geek Stereotypes: The assumption that only gamers and non-professionals in the media field use Windows is more misdirection from Apple. To plant a seed in the back of everyone’s mind that unless they are playing World of Warcraft, they have no business buying a $300-500 machine that they need for school or work. No, instead, they can buy a $2,800 17″ laptop that plays no games, but they will have more fun editing video and images.
- False Security Blanket: Apple needs to stop preaching that OS 10 is far more secure than Windows. Everyone knows the saying that has become a cliche, but if the market share turned around, obviously it would be more valuable to write harmful software for a Mac instead of Windows. By a simple Google search, many can see how this has already changed dramatically over the last five years. There are no safe operating systems, only safe user practices.
- Obsessed Fan Base: The hardcore Mac fanbase frightens people. Who would want to be in a scene with those kids? You will not see these types of people with Linux. Well, unless Ubuntu is mentioned somewhere. Are there hardcore Windows junkies? I have never really met any in my time.
- Learning Curve: People who have switched over know first hand that learning OS X is not an easy. The calming and soothing words of “ease” and “simple” may bring a few dozen people to switch, but they soon realize that it is just another operating system. Nothing more. A new library of software to learn, menus to navigate, and the fear of what they could break. To dispel a common misconception, a Mac can break.
- Free and Retail Support: The lack of knowledgeable persons in the office, family, or IT department pushes potential switchers away from purchasing a new operating system. Not only that, but a local PC tech bench is usually less than a few miles away in a city while a Genius Bar is a 48 hour wait after the one hour drive. Dropping off the Mac with the Genius Bar is best done on a Friday to allow pick up by at least Sunday. My old team in Fire Dog could turn around a baker’s dozen systems in one day. Why the two day waiting period if they are easier to work with than Windows Vista?
- Fear of the Unknown: People are afraid of the unknown, it is our nature. What’s even more of a scare is spending $1,800 on a new system that they do not know how to use. This boils down to a stagnant investment. Especially for a student. Don’t blame Gates for pushing Microsoft technologies on schools, blame the school budget.
- Alternatives to the Mac: Linux is free. This year, everyone will be able to buy a desktop at hardware cost with an operating system preset for no extra cost. Imagine buying a brand new, top of the line PC for under $300 with a fully functional operating system that can run both Linux and Windows applications.
- Perpetual State: You only have to buy Windows once. Your license is perpetual. If you take time to understand the Windows Product Activation and what repairs constitute a simple five minute phone to an automated system, then no one will panic as much when the motherboard catches on fire. We have ten flags to set off and a motherboard is more than 4. Windows on boot needs seven to pass. I have never seen anyone turned down for activation with a legitimate product key.
- Charitable Nature: Bill Gates is one of the most giving philanthropist of our generation. At least, the biggest public philanthropist figure. Steve Jobs swindled over $20 million in stock from his own company and chooses to give nothing back to society, only lottery-type winnings when one person purchased the billionth song on iTunes.
Comparing the Big Three
Note: The following is only a comparison. I see this a guide to many in the main areas of Linux, Windows, and Mac operating systems. This in no way rates them. I have over 13 operating systems installed on systems ranging from OS X, Linux, BSD, and Windows. I may have an addiction, but I hope you enjoy.
Customization:
GNU/Linux: Well over 500 distributions. When it comes to customization, you have an endless amount of options. You can choose that one distro that makes you feel as if it is truly made for you. I’ve been through over 45 distros myself and have always came back to my first love known as Fedora. The preferences for theme and desktop effects are extended even further with the addition of compiz and other free utilities. There is also multiple free desktop environments for Linux such as Gnome and KDE that are completely different.
Windows O/S: The shell is your playground. If you want visual effects disabled, you can do it without adding third party software. Almost all tweaking options are native and you can make your desktop rather personal. You can make your desktop look like other operating systems, including installing software enabling Windows XP to look like Vista. Users can extend customization further with Windows Power Toys (XP Only). A novice can control their startup queue rather easily along with a preference on services. With the ease of customizing a system in Windows Vista and 7, a beginner can easily control their system environment simply by clicking through the aptly named applet titles.
Mac OS X: Typically when faced with changing to another theme or customizing certain aspects of OS X, you have to use third-party tools such as Quicksilver or ShapeShift. Many people think there isn’t a lot of freeware when it comes to OS X, but that’s not true. Most of the highly recommend programs I’ve seen cost under $20, but the fact that they cost any money pushes potential users away. A notable freeware site for great customization is the respectable software from Unsanity. Several programs are listed as freeware that eliminate several annoying quirks and an exploit or two. While a lot of options are not straight out of the box, OS X can be tweaked into that unique snowflake worthy of a screen shot on Digg.
Installation:
GNU/Linux: Here is where it gets a little complicated as most distros has different bootloaders and entirely different setup processes. Many of the more popular ones have a GUI setup process, but there are several that can only be done through a CLI. Though, a lot has changed and with the likes of Ubuntu, SabayonLinux, and Fedora; many new releases will have every step explained thoroughly. The only real difficult choice is which distribution to use and what packages to install. Note that different Linux distros use different package formats and package management.
Windows O/S: Windows has come a long way when it comes to installing the operating system. Windows XP made the process a bit more tolerable, until you had to reinstall XP on several computers without the option of it being unattended. Though, Windows really shines when it comes to unattended or other methods, such as slipstreaming. You can slip in some hot fixes, applications, latest drivers, and Service Packs. When it comes to Vista and Windows 7, installation is a breeze. Though, I have had terrible experiences upgrading a Vista machine. Since Vista, you can upgrade and leave a previously installed operating system in a folder, a feature present in all versions of OS X, but I will always prefer clean slate in Windows.
Mac OS X: Usually everyone buys their Mac from an Apple store. This means that it is already setup for you. There is no further configuration on your part, except the installation of any programs you have on hand and maybe a few tweaks. You can get the same service for Windows from the likes of Geek Squad or Firedog. I’m not sure on the price differences, but considering it is Apple, it might not be any cheaper. I touched on it a bit above, but upgrading OS X is a breeze. It’s quick and you have the choice to Archive your last operating system into a Previous System folder. It works well enough and has been present in all OS X versions. There isn’t much else to say besides installation for OS X is simple and straight forward.
Directory Services:
GNU/Linux: There are several open source options for directory services, but most of them would work under any combination of technology used. Most are custom OpenLDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) or proprietary subscription based, such as the Red Hat Directory Service, which includes a great deal of support. Samba 4.0 is currently in beta, but it is targeting Active Directory to potentially knock the giant down. We can only wait until then, but do not let current software dissuade you from open source, as there are many benefits in choosing a non-MSAD setup. Under certain circumstances, the overall cost and freedom could be the reason, but the complexity might be too much for some.
Windows O/S: The king of the directory service: The Active Directory. I also do not mean solely the directory service, I mean the whole Exchange, file, printer bundle. This is the reason why I see IT return to a Windows based server. While other services have tried to create similar software, nothing seems to compete with scalability, management, and administrative tools. The light weight MSAD known as ADAM can be installed on XP Professional making the Active Directory possible everywhere. No other alternatives seem to be in the position to dethrone Microsoft yet.
Mac OS X: Apple has their own custom OpenLDAP called Open Directory. I have not actually used OD, but from research, I can see that it is quite good. One day, I want to invest time learning more about OD, but for now, I have to base my experience from comparisons and the setup process. I do see that since OS X 10.5 Leopard Server has a boasting simplified setup and many other features. While only being around seven years (OS X 10.2), OD seems to have blossomed into potential competition for AD.
Corporate Standing:
GNU/Linux: Thanks to Wine, a Windows emulation package, there is little that you cannot install under Linux. Linux is also far more secure than Windows, especially as a server. With KDE, most users can cross over from Windows at a medium pace. Depending on choices made, a common distro can be configured to don the role of a server. Enterprise level Linux does exist, of course, such as SUSE. Regretfully, the amount of choices small businesses may be faced with can be overwhelming. Simply saying, “Windows XP and Server 2003,” can prove to be much easier, but definitely harder on the wallet.
Windows O/S: Windows based machines can be cheap, bought on a lease, or purchased in bulk. Windows is typically everywhere. Microsoft has a powerful grip on the corporate scene. Though, when it comes to Windows Server, I have mixed feelings. Not only can it be a nightmare to install and configure properly, there are many security flaws present within each version that go without a patch or quick fix for a while. Windows Server does not come cheap either as 5-per CALs can rack up some monster costs. Companies have two options: Device and user CAL. I do not see Windows share of the corporate market decreasing substantially anytime soon.
Mac OS X: Unless a company hires a capable tech or lives next door to a Genius Bar, Macs do not seem to be capable of most environments. Many say that companies are ignorant or hostile to Macs in a corporate setting, but this is definitely not the case. Most companies have enough employees to know that forcing them to learn a new operating system might be quite a bother, especially if training is involved. This means all new errors, software, and guidelines for everyone to follow. The OS X server can be pretty expensive with the hardware, but can, of course, be purchased separately. You receive 10 CAL out of the box. Costs for more depend on the server, but Apple offers an unlimited CAL option.
Home Use:
GNU/Linux: This was always seen as more of a hobby to the masses, but thanks to recent developments (Vista), more and more people have given Ubuntu and others a chance. 2008 was a great year for Linux and 2009 is looking even better. Windows market share is decreasingly like no one has seen before to OS X and Ubuntu. The casual home user may benefit even more from using Linux as it does not have Internet Explorer as the default browser, which has always been insanely insecure. With package management managing software elegantly and streaming updates, it’s amazing that it took this long for Linux to explode. Linux is not for hobbyist and programmers only; you can be a computer novice and still enjoy Linux.
Windows O/S: 2008 was a bad year for Windows. Many long time Windows users have split between a Mac and a Linux based machine when faced with Vista. If Microsoft relied on Vista for another year, anyone could have predicted where the market share would have gone, but Windows 7 is looking better and better. I have actually used Windows 7 beta long enough to gather an honest opinion and I think it’s about time Microsoft pushes out a new operating system that has the potential to replace Windows XP. Windows Vista is okay, but I can’t imagine why anyone would truly benefit from the system when Windows 7 offers backwards compatibility and other great features, such as the improved SuperTaskbar, which is not similar to the taskbar in OS X. I should know, I’ve used them both extensively.
Mac OS X: While not predominately used in corporate settings, it is all the rage for home users. Browsing is more secure as Safari was unhinged from OS X sooner than Internet Explorer from Windows. Albeit, that is not to be said that OS X is malware/virus free. With enough time, devastating code can be written for OS X as it gets increasingly popular. For those that flock to OS X expecting a unique and secure experience, they may receive that, but for a computer to truly be secure, users must develop safe browsing habits. Many say OS X is just for graphics and music are being misled by a common misconception as OS X offers more than the credit it receives. A fine operating system, but definitely the least used of the three for me.
Windows: Command.com The Parameter is Incorrect Error
Not a common problem, but irritating. Know this: your system is fine. There is no need to perform an entire System File Check or repair your system using the Windows installation disc. Your command line interpreter is fine, you can still access cmd.exe. Here is the solution for the “command.com the parameter is incorrect” seemingly endless prompt.
First, the person who encounters this error probably has Spybot – Search & Destroy. What happens is that Spybot cannot delete a certain file(s) while it is resident in memory and asks to run at the next startup. The file is deleted anyway and when the user reboots, they are blasted with endless windows.
This is only because the files have already been removed. This is your system simply telling you that it cannot locate the file(s) … for every single file that Spybot flagged to delete at startup.
The good news is that you can easily get into Windows without clicking Okay 500 times. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to bring up the Task Manager. End the Explorer process. In the Task Manager, go to File – New Task (Run…) – type explorer. Your desktop will come up bypassing that enormous system startup queue.
Now that you’re back in the shell, download the following software because doing this through Spybot would take the rest of your life and it’s not possible through msconfig. There is a program called Autoruns, it’s very useful. Though, it’s a very advanced version of msconfig. Mind your clicks.
Download and run that software. Wait for everything to load after scanning. It will say Ready at the bottom left on the status bar and Options will no longer be grayed out. Go to Options and click Hide Microsoft Entries. Scroll down to a huge pile of Spybot entries.
Do you see the parent of all the files? It should be a registry key, RunOnce. Right click it and select “Jump to…” This will automatically throw you into the proper registry key. You can export and backup the registry key just in case you delete something by right clicking the RunOnce key and selecting Export.
Now this is the easy part. Select all of the Spybot entries and delete them. Every single one of them. After deletion, go back into AutoRuns and refresh. You will see all of the entries gone. Go back into Spybot. Go into Advanced Mode, go into Tools, and then System Startup. If there are any entries left that are Spybot, delete them.
Now you will not be faced with a seemingly infinite gauntlet of prompts.
Governing Windows into Submission: Part Two
Services
Windows services can be a long discussion given the variety of Windows users out there with an endless amount of hardware and software configurations. Trial and error is the key here. Although, I will explicitly describe which services cannot be disabled or risk the stability of the entire system.
The services in this article are mainly discussed for Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3. This will allow coverage for all the services featured in both Windows XP Home and Professional. I use Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3 and I only have 24 services set to automatic. Most of those are not Windows related. Several are LogMeIn, HP printer, FileZilla server, and security software.
Please keep in mind that every PC has different needs. I claim no responsibility in the consequences of this article to readers.
Read More of “Governing Windows into Submission: Part Two”…
Governing Windows Into Submission: Part One
System Protection
Windows can be a beast of burden and difficult to tame for some. With the right tools, it can be done. Here are several programs and security tips that I recommend.
Read More of “Governing Windows Into Submission: Part One”…
Sorry Microsoft, I’m Done
Update: The reason behind this blog is undoubtedly that Microsoft may be dropping Vista in favor of Windows 7. Excellent. Let Vista rest in stagnation because there are too many issues by users crying out to be fixed or give options to adjust certain annoyances. Ah, well. Windows 7, for me, will be the answer, but I feel sorry for consumers everywhere that invested in Windows Vista. This includes the latest expensive productivity software when earlier purchased versions should have sufficed and brand new Vista certified hardware.
Everyone has that one friend in their lives that never seems get things right, but try their best. They may imitate others because they probably have this crazy notion they aren’t good enough on their own. What’s worse is that they make mistakes. A lot of mistakes. Though, I wouldn’t call this friend lazy, but he or she will sit on a resolution for months, or years, before attempting to repair the error. This kind of friend is not just a teenager, but is displayed through all spheres of life. This friend is quite literally everywhere you go. At first, regretfully, when you lose contact permanently, you seem to become a better person.
In my spheres of life, Windows has been that friend of mine. Microsoft has never learned from past mistakes, which has led to serious security compromises. We all vividly remember the Blaster worm and numerous other exploits. Well, here is a lovely little networking flaw that can be abused to crash Vista systems. It can allow rootkits to be hidden and DoS attacks to create chaos for your daily computing needs. Meaning that your Vista machine could be exposed to damaging attacks.
Well, I’ve been trying to keep up with Windows and stay optimistic, but I have to finally admit, Vista was a failure. Windows 7 seems more and more like what Vista would have been if they let it stay in the oven a couple more years. Windows 7 is going to be a failure as many people who already painstakingly upgraded to Vista now feel they will be pressured into upgrading to Windows 7. Though, Windows XP will not be retired for quite a while until Vista/7 get their game together; you will not be able to purchase XP in stores on preconfigured manufacturer computers. Only online through the same retailers.
I was sad to hear that Microsoft will address this vulnerability in their next service pack. There is no estimated release date for SP2 and I feel it will bring little to the table to resurrect Vista. The damage has been done and so many Windows users have felt cheated by a half-finished product, which is clearly evident now with videos displaying Windows 7 features and technology. Sure, it may be feature rich, but just like Vista, there is nothing that changed the productivity and convenience for Windows. Well, aside from easy to use parental controls.
Sadly, I’m telling Microsoft I’m done defending and supporting them and now it seems the once proud software giant has taken a knee during an important play. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have two more days to wait until the official release of Fedora 10. With a speedy GUI boot process and many other amazing changes, there will be no reason I will have to do anything Windows again besides emulate Windows XP. Come to think of it, I don’t recall the last piece of software that won’t install properly with Wine. Hell, even recent big name MMOs install under Linux now.
I used to actually enjoy Windows with the amount of customization and choices. Even though Windows XP wasn’t quite “good” until Service Pack 2, that does not entitle M$ to give the same treatment towards Vista. At least try to hammer out security flaws when found. Albeit, Mac OS X is full of security flaws, at least Apple will hot fix them as soon as when it matters.
Microsoft Discontinues OneCare
Microsoft just announced it will be discontinuing OneCare and roll out out a free antivirus product soon.
A little too late from the big M$. They know about their own security holes, but instead of giving the huge variety of users something free and easy (similar to AVG), they push a difficult to use security solution with a yearly subscription. OneCare was baffling as many would come into Circuit City asking to set their subscription up.
Microsoft first attempted a huge subscription service with Windows XP. This explains the annoying activation service as it was supposed to function as an annual renewal to use their operating systems.
