Windows Vista security.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

I use Registrar Registry Manager to search for and delete unnecessary items in the registry, CCleaner, Registry Mechanic, System Mechanic Pro, PCmedic only find a dropfull of these entries. After running the Nortons' Complete removal tool, twice, three times, doesn't make any difference, Registrar found another 1,200 entries. Plus still at lot of Symatec and Norton left in various subfolders in Desktop, Users, program files, program data.

Even worse is trying remove that trial version of Office 2007. You do have to be wide awake when dealing with the registry.

From the recovery with all that ####### on it, started off with 312,000 entries, cut that back to about 250,000 with all the other programs installed. Then I left the computer on, MS installed 102 upgrades on it's own, and the registry count jumped up to 363,000. Screw it, no wonder why you need a 500 GB drive today, just for the OS.

Most of the registry tools are garbage. If you're not an expert, you can sometimes do more harm than good. The registry cleaner in CCleaner is very safe. And again, use RevoUninstaller to remove programs, not the one in Vista. The Norton Removal Tool to use is at symantec.com/nrt, not the uninstall tool that is part of the Norton program. I have done clean installs and the NRT works fine. There are several good forums where you can get all of your questions answered and find the best solutions to these problems. There are tools to use that make this job much simpler and more thorough.

[NickD 202]

Most of the registry tools are garbage. If you're not an expert, you can sometimes do more harm than good. The registry cleaner in CCleaner is very safe. And again, use RevoUninstaller to remove programs, not the one in Vista. The Norton Removal Tool to use is at symantec.com/nrt, not the uninstall tool that is part of the Norton program. I have done clean installs and the NRT works fine. There are several good forums where you can get all of your questions answered and find the best solutions to these problems. There are tools to use that make this job much simpler and more thorough.

A good registry cleaner would be one that checks all the contents of the registry to the files and programs on the computer. And if the files or the programs are not there, will delete those entries. Such an automatic registry cleaner does no exist.

[Niels Bohr 72]

Eventhough the Windows Registry holds millions of information, it doesn't even take 1 MB of space. But, if you have a 64 bit OS, it may take like 2 MB more or less of storage. Think of the Windows Registry as a massive text file that has 500,000 lines of text. Those entry are not program files themselves.

Honestly, I think those registry cleaner are a rip off, really. Since they only save your less than 1 MB of space. Sure, there may be duplicate keys but still, it will not affect performance. Heck, throughout the lifetime you own the computer, the registry will not take as much storage as you think it takes.

[Ali G. 37]

This is where Unix / Linux (aka Mac OS) kicks azz, as they don't use the same form of registry. If the registry equivalent is corrupted on those systems, it can basically rebuild itself. Whereas, when the windows registry corrupts, time for a reinstall. The other benefit of unix is that once you uninstall a program, it is gone for good and no ####### is left lingering around.

Edited February 26, 2010 by Booyah

[NickD 202]

The best OS I have ever used was with the Amiga 4000 I had, no registry, but you had to type simple commands to tell the computer what hardware it had, didn't have a BIOS either. Was a program so small, could fit it all on a 720 KB floppy. It was multi-tasking, had a desktop unit with built in hard drives and floppies, a monitor, a mouse, keyboard, and a printer. Had a WYSIWYG 80 column wide word processor while Apple and IBM were still fooling around with a 40 column wide WP.

Had some of the best video and audio games in the business way far ahead of the others and would boot up in a couple of seconds. Had to fight with my kids so I could get some work done. But unfortunately, Commodore purchased that company and really screwed it up, they were way ahead of Apple, IBM, and Microsoft.

Have to say I was not really familiar with file ownership with Vista, guy from MS suggested I switch to the Windows Live e-mail program. First problem I ran into was unable to import Windows Mail e-mails. That is when I really started to learn about ownership. XP doesn't have that #######, you have to right click each file, click on properties, and play games with potential file ownership and give permission to even move, delete, or copy a file. Having a bit of difficulty comprehending this. HP puts a bunch of ####### on their computer, supposingly to make it easier. You can't do anything to delete their files Many Microsoft files are the same way, exactly who are they protecting? Certainly not the owner of that computer.

From a fresh start noted how fast this computer was, but the darn thing on it's own downloaded and upgraded to all those damn security files MS insists you must have. That really slowed down that computer.

Guess I like having control over my computer, don't have that anymore.

[NickD 202]

Oh, I just right clicked on a bunch of different files on my XP box, no ownership. If there are any problems with Vista, it's ownership. Have no idea why when only one person operated this computer, why all her e-mail files had different owners. Same with her photos, docs, and MP3 files, crazy.

[Niels Bohr 72]

Unix assign file privileges automatically when you create a new file. You always have to CHMOD it to change the privilege.

Windows Vista/7 copied that idea knowing that file modification by a virus is slim since Unix has no viruses since its conception. Windows, in just a matter of years, contains millions of viruses whereas Unix is 30 years old and has no viruses.

There are a number GUI interface for Unix these days, yet, people opt for Windows which I don't get. Unix/Linux uses less system resources as well.

Edited February 26, 2010 by Niels Bohr

[NickD 202]

Unix assign file privileges automatically when you create a new file. You always have to CHMOD it to change the privilege.

Windows Vista/7 copied that idea knowing that file modification by a virus is slim since Unix has no viruses since its conception. Windows, in just a matter of years, contains millions of viruses whereas Unix is 30 years old and has no viruses.

There are a number GUI interface for Unix these days, yet, people opt for Windows which I don't get. Unix/Linux uses less system resources as well.

Unix was a combined university that somehow AT&T, correct me I am wrong on that, going back a number of years, but some company somehow manage to get all the rights for it, with a very stiff pricetag. My kid was playing with Linux, maybe okay if you have nothing else to do, but would be nice if it was an OS on a single disk you can load and start using. Computers to me, is just a tool and not my life. Understand IBM has an interest in it, and perhaps Sun Microsystems, but to my knowledge, has never been offered as a standalone product that is supported by various software vendors.

I did jump at IBM's PCDOS, but ran into many compatibility problems, ironic a company of that size can't even write some code. Anything to get away from MS. If it wasn't for the Reagan administration, would be no such thing as Microsoft today, Bill was quite the killer putting out over 4,000 software companies out of business. Was some talk several years back about dissolving Microsoft and putting that OS in the public domain, but that never happened, Bill has the money and knows the right people. There just isn't any competition in the OS world, no standards, really no improvements, built in obsolescence, and very costly either in time or money to the consumer.

My kid also had to dump Linux for his favorite hobby, computer games, had to install XP to run them properly.

[Darnell 8,478]

but would be nice if it was an OS on a single disk you can load and start using.

Yup - check out knoppix at www.knoppix.org

create yerself a knoppix CD, and go forth.

I use knoppix cd each time i have to 'fix' a winders pc.

usually, there are files on the damaged winders pc that are important.

Within about 20 minutes, I'm able to boot with knoppix cd, set up samba, create a pc share across a network, and start the file copy to another winders machine.

I've mentioned this before (get a knoppix cd) - don't have to be much of a guru to make it work - at all.

The 'use' of a knoppix CD is becoming MORE commonplace, IMO.

Edited February 26, 2010 by Darnell

[NickD 202]

First thing I would have to do is to hire an interpreter.

"KNOPPIX ist eine komplett von CD oder DVD lauffähige Zusammenstellung von GNU/Linux-Software mit automatischer Hardwareerkennung und Unterstützung für viele Grafikkarten, Soundkarten, SCSI- und USB-Geräte und sonstige Peripherie. KNOPPIX kann als produktives Linux-System for den Desktop, Schulungs-CD, Rescue-System oder als Plattform für kommerzielle Software-Produktdemos angepasst und eingesetzt werden. Es ist keinerlei Installation auf Festplatte notwendig. Auf der CD können durch transparente Dekompression bis zu 2 Gigabyte an lauffähiger Software installiert sein (in der DVD "Maxi" Edition über 9 Gigabytes)."

This part of Knoppix I kind of understand, I think.

[Darnell 8,478]

click a flag, switch to english

sorry, the flags are small, but visible, towards the top.

[NickD 202]

click a flag, switch to english

sorry, the flags are small, but visible, towards the top.

Perhaps http://www.knoppix.net/ is a better site to use, but what I wonder about with a notebook, what about the special drivers you need for these dedicated things? I couldn't even load XP on my wife's HP, and they don't support Windows 7, but I am hearing Windows 7 also has file ownership. Learning how to deal with that, but this takes hours and hours. If there is a way to disable file ownership, would like to learn how. In chatting with HP, can only disable UAC, also checked the box for warnings before downloading upgrades, dang thing went ahead and downloaded them anyway. Maybe it was only a three second warning.

[Darnell 8,478]

with knoppix cd, as a 'recovery system' for winders - MOST 'specialized' generic (no, thats not a typo) drivers are there.

you won't hurt yer system by trying it -

and the cool thing about this CD ? it does NOT over write anything on yer hard disk - unless you specifically 'tell it to'

(which is useful for me, when i get involved in a 'rescue' )

Good Luck !

[NickD 202]

Apparently, I am not the only one bugged by file ownership with Vista and wonder if Microsoft is going paranoid. When I first met my wife, she was fighting with her two kids for computer usage, where they were scanning the net and constantly picking up bugs, worms, and all that other garbage. For my engagement present, gave her, her own notebook so we could chat. Computers prices are positively insane in Venezuela.

While my wife and I may share our finances, home, bed, and lives together, there are things we don't share, like toothbrushes, bathing soap, lipstick, shampoo, but mainly computers. I have all my business records on my computer plus a lot of CAD software. So wonder exactly who is sharing computers. Daughter was happy to have her own room with her very own computer in it, you sure don't want kids on your computer, can be a disaster if they crash it.

Did read that with Vista, the key program is cmd.exe in the windows/system32 directory. One guy made changes use some kind of editor to block ownership of files. Another said if he does that, wouldn't be able to read any of his files. Said he simply substituted cmd.exe from XP into Vista and got rid of it, that may be worth a try.

First, I am going to have to train my wife not to store her data in the root drive, that is insane. Her computer was problem free for three years, got it all back in shape again, but this time added a much larger second HD so made a Ghost backup of drive C. If she stores her data in the second drive, all I would have to do is to copy her bookmarks, and restore it back to original.

I am trying to learn the nuts and bolts of this ownership #######, is Vista adding something to each file? Or are they tabulating this in some other file? Whatever they are doing, it's a first class pain in the butt. We don't share computers, who does?

This privacy stuff is all BS, here are some examples, when I filed an insurance claim, all of my medical records from the day I was born are now part of public records. In forgetting to pay sales tax on a out of state purchase, got a letter from the state IRS for the amount of sales tax and a fine for not reporting it. Our clinic is now sending separate bills for all three of us, another pain in the butt as I have to make out three separate checks. Your auto insurance company knows your complete driving history from day one, any accidents, tickets. USCIS wants very personal information about your love life before you can apply. Don't dare use any key words in any e-mail because the FBI is watching. Kid used a b_o_m_b in Wisconsin and was arrested. Sure don't want to e-mail any MP3 files. Another way to get hit. During my tax audit federal IRS knew more about me than I did, just told them not to put me through all that tax form BS, just send me the bill. Hell, take my entire paycheck and send me a living allowance.

I am not paranoid in the above statements, big brother is watching, can tap your landline, but cellular phones are over the air broadcasts, anyone can listen to those. With satellite IR imaging, can watch my wife and I in bed, it's endless.

[Darnell 8,478]

NickD - I swear - you have enough fodder for magazine publication.

Magazines pay monies for well written articles.

I've listed some in a prior post, this thread topic.

Seriously - you should consider getting a check for publication. Multiple publications, multiple checks.

Turn Yer Pain Into Gain!

Edited February 27, 2010 by Darnell