Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : Computer Learning -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: aldrums who wrote (10260)	6/24/2000 10:01:00 AM
From: aldrums	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 110631

DSL with Dial-up Back up. I just thought of another question I've been wondering about for a while. I have been toying with the idea of running my dial up and my DSL connection simultaneously so if my DSL connection fails my dial-up would automatically kick in and be my back up connection. The trouble is, when I run both connections at the same time all the ISP traffic seems to go through my dial-up connection instead of my DSL. Is there anyway to set up your system so it works DSL first, dial-up second? Thanks.

To: aldrums who wrote (10260)	6/24/2000 10:47:00 AM
From: mr.mark	Respond to of 110631

hi alex, re "that stupid EZ-Bios program that automatically installs itself..." it's news to me. sorry i don't have anything for you on that. "Norton Utilities... just a bunch of extra stuff you didn't need that might slow your computer down" i run norton systemworks2.0. there is a more recent version called 2000 which is v3.0. it's a utility suite comprised of 5 components... utilities, antivirus, cleansweep, crashguard and web services. the first three are the heavy hitters, imo. they are the ones that i have come to rely upon to enhance my computing experience. contrary to the conclusion you have come to about these programs, i know them to be essential tools that speed things up, in addition to keeping things working smoothly. the crashguard component is suspect in that many feel it causes more crashes than it prevents. while that may be true, the true function of cg is to help you save work when you pc is headed south, and to warn you of imminent crashes. still, i keep it disabled. the 5th component, web services, is useful, but not terribly exciting, imo. i could go on about this software for an hour (as most long time members of this thread can attest to), but i'll refrain from that. i'll just go on record as saying i do not concur with the conclusion you've come to on norton stuff. <g3> still early here... must go grab some breakfast. :) mark

To: aldrums who wrote (10260)	6/24/2000 11:45:00 AM
From: Gottfried	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 110631

aldrums, columnist Lincoln Spector ran some informal tests and says the Norton defrag is about 4 times faster than the Windows defrag. Then he goes on to say [June PC World, page 262] that doesn't matter, because you can defrag unattended at night. I disagree. The Windows defrag program can hang up. He goes on to recommend Norton antivirus. Then he points out the Norton disk scan is 4 times as fast as the Windows disk scan. You're more likely to use these essential tools if they're faster. Well, you can buy the whole Norton System Works suite, including AV, for about $35 after rebate. You NEED an AV program and a stand-alone AV is maybe $25. So for an extra $10 you get the rest of the suite. The clean sweep feature alone is worth the price, because it monitors program installation and allows for relatively clean uninstalls. [it's not perfect]. Several users of Norton here do not use Norton crash guard. It has little value and sometimes just prolongs the agony of an impending crash. I chose not to install it. I have a crash maybe once a week only and decided to live with that. All in all I recommend Norton. You can customize it to a great degree. [I have V3.0] Gottfried