Hampton Roads User Group (HUG)
Bob Ennis, President; email bennis@exis.net

HUG Happenings

Since this is for July and August, please note the combined schedules. We will NOT have a meeting on the first Monday in July since that is the July 4th holiday and the building will be closed. Our next meeting will therefore be on July 18th.

I use the great F-Prot for DOS anti-virus program as my 'on demand scanner'. I think it is the very best in the world for that purpose on FAT32 and under drives. Unfortunately, it does not check NTFS drives. The latest version of this program is still v3.16b. The program is available from:
F-Prot V3.16b via WWW or F-Prot V3.16b via FTP.

You can run this program on demand from within Windows by executing the F-prot.pif (Program Information File) that comes with the program, but that does not check all files because some of them are in use. Before you can use the .pif file though, you have to change the Cmd line: in the Properties to point to your correct file specification (instead of the E: drive etc. as it is now).

You can also run this program on demand from a batch file, like fp.bat, consisting of just a few lines like:

d:                  (to change to the drive or partition containing your f-prot program)
cd d:\utils\f-prot  (i.e., to change to the program directory on that drive)
f-prot              (to execute the program)

You would just boot your machine to a DOS prompt and enter 'fp' to run the batch file. The batch file has to be in a directory that is in the path, else include the path in your command line.

For the most thorough check for viruses that you can do on your machine, you must run the program from another drive, like a bootable floppy or CD, after a cold boot. At one time you could run F-Prot from the A: drive with just one floppy disk, then it took two disks, then it took three. Now, due to the fact that the sign2.zip file has outgrown the capacity of a standard 1.44 MB floppy, we have had to come up with a different procedure.

I have made a bootable floppy like the Windows 98 Startup disk, which creates a RAM drive large enough to hold the program and all the database files, extracts all the files needed from archives in the c:\temp folder, and then runs the program from that RAM drive. I have tested this and it works perfectly. It would be too hard to try to explain how to make up this bootable floppy, but I will be happy to make anyone a copy of it. I guess the ideal arrangement would be to post it on a server somewhere and let anyone that wants it download it from that server. If anyone has some space on a publicly accessible server, let me know and I will upload it to you.

In addition to the bootable floppy, you will also need the macrdef2.zip and the fp-def.zip archive files from F-Prot data archives Just download those two archives to your c:\temp folder.

For a resident 'on access scanner', I recommend the free AVG program from AVG Free or the free AntiVir program from AntiVir Personal Edition Classic. If you can afford it, I think the very best of all is the excellent NOD32 program from NOD32 AV

In addition to the anti-virus programs, you also need to use a good firewall, a good anti-trojan program, and a couple of good anti-spyware programs.

I have been using the ZoneAlarm Free firewall for some time now and like it very much. You can tell it not to bother you with all the routine alerts and just notify you of the really important stuff. I can run all my programs under the highest security settings without having to make any modifications to the security zones. When it asks permission for a program to connect to the Internet, I only have to press one key or click one button. You can set it to not even ask you, but I don't recommend that you do that. It is easy to configure and to operate. They make you jump through a few hoops to get the free version, but it is well worth the effort. The latest version is now 5.5.094 at: ZoneAlarm Free. FWIW (For What It's Worth) though, I have not liked any version of this program since the 4.5.594 one and that is the version that I use, available from that same hot link.

As for anti-trojan software, TDS (Trojan Defence Suite) is reputed to be absolutely the best there is, from: Trojan Defence Suite While you're there you might want to take a look at their interesting free tools under the Products tab.

The BOClean program is also very good. From: BOClean

I use Spybot Search & Destroy as my main anti-spyware program and like it a lot. The latest final version is now 1.4 found at Spybot Search & Destroy 1.4 You definitely should update to the 1.4 version of this program if you have not already done so. Also, you are well advised to not use the default server for the updates as it is frequently busy. I have found the Australian server to be the most reliable. You can make it the default server by checking for updates first, then open the list of servers and right click on the Australian server. You get a short menu where you can elect to make that one your default. If you can help support this excellent program, please do so. It is well worth it. He doesn't ask for much and it is completely voluntary.

I also use the nice Ad-Aware SE Personal program. It is being updated frequently. I think you will like it a lot, as well. The latest version of this is now Build 1.06 available from: Ad-Aware SE Personal Build 1.06 You want to use both of these two anti-spyware programs as they complement each other. You will need to update to this new version sometime soon as the older version will only be supported for about ninety days.

Both of these two anti-spyware programs are completely free to individuals and have the ability to update built into the program. You can just click on a button in the first screen and it will dial in, and tell you if there is an update or not. If there is one, you just click another button and it will download the new information to your computer and install it for you. Very easy to use.

We now meet twice a month, on the first and third Mondays. We will be discussing Windows 98x/XP and their applications on both the first and third Mondays, as well as anything else, like Internet, Anti-Virus, Utilities, DOS etc., that there might be a special request for. We will mainly concentrate on the Windows 98x/XP, Internet and Anti-Virus stuff.

Our schedule for July 2005 will be:
July  4^th   BUILDING CLOSED, NO MEETING
July 18^th  Windows 98x/XP, Internet, Anti-Virus, Utilities, Excel, Word

Our schedule for August 2005 will be:
August  1^st   Windows 98x/XP, Internet, Anti-Virus, Utilities, Excel, Word
August 15^th  Windows 98x/XP, Internet, Anti-Virus, Utilities, Excel, Word

I will try to reserve a room for us beforehand and let you know by email, so check your email before you come in. If there is any doubt about where we'll meet, call me that afternoon at 497-2462.

In case you hadn't noticed, your old 5 1/4" floppy disk cases are almost exactly the right size to hold your CD-ROMS. That will also serve to keep them in a vertical position, which is said to make them last longer. You'll probably never use the 5 1/4" disks for anything, so you might as well get some use out of the cases that held them. Save you from having to buy new cases. I also notice that the old 5 1/4" Tyvek sleeves are very good for holding a single CD.

When you come to the meetings, it would be a good idea for you to always bring several 3 1/2" blank, formatted, virus free diskettes, of the 1.44 MB capacity that is. Or a writable CD-R or CD-RW disk, or better yet one of the new USB flash drives. Reason is, I frequently bring in some freeware/shareware programs that I think will benefit you, and I will make you copies of same. For example, at our last meeting, I was making copies of the great F-Prot for DOS anti-virus program. If you need something else, don't hesitate to ask. It may be on our hard disk, or I may have it at home, or I may be able to download it from the Internet for you. But, if you don't ask, you will never know.

If any member has a new email address that I do not know about, please send me an email message so that I may get that address. I mail out some material, from time to time, and you might be missing something of interest. Also, if you change your email address, please let me know.

If you know of anyone who might benefit from our group, please tell them about us and urge them to join us. Check your own expiration date, and if you plan to renew, please do so promptly. Make checks payable to HUG, for $25.00, and mail to me, Bob Ennis, 637 South Westgrove Rd., Virginia Beach, VA 23455-5737.

In case you did not know, your $25 membership fee entitles you to a limited amount of telephone assistance from me. If you have a problem with your computer, please do not hesitate to call me, and I will try to help you. As long as you do not abuse the privilege, I am glad to help. But, if the help requires over an hours time, you really need to get me out there for some private assistance and/or tutoring. Also, you are welcome to bring your computer into the meeting for troubleshooting, if you have a problem you can't resolve. Just let me know beforehand, to avoid conflicts.

For further information, contact either of the following officers. Members are encouraged to submit ideas or material for this column.

Bob Ennis  Pres/Treas 497-2462 or email Bob Ennis
Bob Fred   Vice Pres  855-7595 or email Bob Fred

For those of you who might not know, I am available for assistance and private tutoring on Windows 95x/98x, or any of the other applications mentioned previously. Call me at 497-2462 for information regarding fees, times available, etc

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