posted by ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
purplerabbits at 01:26pm on 09/02/2004
purplerabbits at 01:26pm on 09/02/2004A few geek queries - Windows XP based.
1. Is it safe to let LiveUpdate update stuff when I don't know what it is? At the moment I'm letting it do anything that says it's a security patch, but what of other stuffs - are MS try to plant spyware on my machine or what?
2. On the subject of Spyware - why does every single programme I open, including Spider Solitaire, ask for Internet access? I've got ZoneAlarm set up to warn me and so far everything seems to work when I say no, but what's going on?
3. (...and this is the tough one) Does anyone know why I might be having problems getting my XP box and my '98 box to see each other over the network. So far I've told them both the name of the workgroup and their own names, and marked some folders for sharing, but nothing shows up...
1. Is it safe to let LiveUpdate update stuff when I don't know what it is? At the moment I'm letting it do anything that says it's a security patch, but what of other stuffs - are MS try to plant spyware on my machine or what?
2. On the subject of Spyware - why does every single programme I open, including Spider Solitaire, ask for Internet access? I've got ZoneAlarm set up to warn me and so far everything seems to work when I say no, but what's going on?
3. (...and this is the tough one) Does anyone know why I might be having problems getting my XP box and my '98 box to see each other over the network. So far I've told them both the name of the workgroup and their own names, and marked some folders for sharing, but nothing shows up...
confused
(no subject)
2: welcome to broadband :) they all want ot tell the boss that someone's using them, and that it wasn't a waste of programmers' time. lots of progs also check for latest updates by default...
3: your firewall is probably in the way. under the 'firewall' tab, check that the necessary machines are listed as trusted.
anonymouseth
---------------
(no subject)
(no subject)
2. Lots of programs are network-aware and will do this. If it doesn't need it, just say no. Or it could be..
3. It could be a number of things. It could be ZoneAlarm - has it been told about your network and to allow traffic on it?
It could be just that Windows 2000/XP are more serious about network security than Win98 ever was. Can XP see 98's folders?
(no subject)
No-one knows Microsoft's reasoning as regards updates, not even MS.
2) It *might* be trying to check for new versions, but if it really is *everything* doing this I'd suspect a virus in a core library. Again, the operations of windows apps in this area is less than trasparent.
3) Argh. Because it's Microsoft; the various versions of Windows are appalling when it comes to networking together.
Make sure that all settings on all network protocols are identical (ie, same letter-case for workgroup name).
Check the Windows Update site for a non-critical patch for 98 specifically for windows networking/filesharing; for that matter install all networking updates on there. I do not however guarantee that your PC will survive the process, but that's what I had to do to get (most of) my windows network talking to each other.
Oh and set something up for sharing (even an empty folder) on all machines in the network.
(no subject)
Every Xmas we see a ton of viri and trojans because people get new machines and do not run Windows Update before going looking for porn.
Microsofts privacy policy is on the update website, and at present doesn't install spyware, nor does it send info about your machine to Microsoft. It simply makes up a list of what you have and what you have already downloaded, then checks against whats available. [Back in win95 days it did send a list of what software and hardware you had to Microsoft but they changed tack after being publicaly critised]. The only thing that has happened with Windows Update is the most recent patch disables the ability to send userIDs and passwords as a URL http://USER:PASSWORD@www.domain.com/ In reality this was always insecure for obvious reasons, and only used to gain access to porn sites you hadn't paid for.
2) I agree with above:
it is either the Apps are looking for updates, very common now or...
you have something trying to get access everytime you open anything. Test this by running the Calculator thats built into XP, (its on the Start button inside your programs, or type CALC in Run...)
Get AdAware from www.lavasoft.nu it's free and removes non-viral nasties like tracking cookies and spyware.
3)The XP machine should have a user added to its User List that matches the Login Name of the Win98 machine. BUT XP should ALWAYS be able to access Win98 shares with no problems, on XP go to your Netword Neighbourhood and tell it to look for Machines.
On both win98 and XP you can Find/Search for computers and put in * to see all the connections.
Find out the two machines IP addresses: use the Run... from the Start button. on win98 it's WINIPCFG on XP it's CMD to get a command window then IPCONFIG /ALL
they should both be in the same series i.e. 192.168.yyy.xxx or 169.yyy.xxx.xxx (the yyy MUST be the same as well)
If you have a 169 series and a 192 then you need to change one to match the others series, the Win98 box is easier to change by far. Network Properties, TCP/IP for the network adapter)
192... series IP adresses should always have subnetmasks of 255.255.255.000
169... series IP adresses should always have subnetmasks of 255.255.000.000
-Roy
(no subject)
Also, thought I'd share this great comeback line when 8 of us Aberdeen goths (only 1 actually FROM aberdeen originally) had to put up with a trendy prick walking along Union St. on our way to Moshulu - "Still paddling in the shallow end of the gene pool I see"! Trendy prick was lost for words. Know of any other lines as good as this one anyone?
question 3
Soph xx
Windows XP
"They've taken all the sharp edges off the windows so people can't hurt themselves".
Give me OpenVMS, any day.