Monroe

I have several very valuable film DVDs in my collection ... dvds that I bought years ago at a "normal" price but have since gone up in value since they have become scarce in the market place. Last year I bought a DVD from Amazon ... new - sealed for less than $7 but was selling for $999 by an Amazon seller. There was one DVD left in the Amazon stock at $6 and change ... didn't think it would be sent to me as there was another DVD of the same film (with a different cover) going for $10 ... package came and the thousand dollar DVD was inside for $7. The DVD for $999 has since disappeared but there is still a seller in the United Kingdom selling the DVD for £69.54 ($111.88) ... I have the DVD still unopened and ordered the cheaper version (with the different cover) instead to open. Out of Bounds - Sophia Myles ... I happen to be a Sophia Myles fan. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Out-Bounds-Anthony-Michael-Hall/dp/B0002K117E/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1380488969&sr=1-1&keywords=out+of+bounds You cannot believe what some of the older (some not that old) Disney films (DVDs / tapes) are going for today. Some of the older tapes have high prices also but I would be nervous in paying too much for an older tape to add to a collection ... could break or just be in really bad shape. I bought this DVD set for under $20 years ago as soon as it was released since I liked John Thaw and the film ... A Year in Provence (1993) ... some prices now for that particular set ... there are other sets cheaper but some are saying they are not the full film ... A Year in Provence (1993) John Thaw (Actor), Lindsay Duncan (Actor) Format: DVD Price: $99.99 & FREE Shipping. Only 1 left in stock. http://www.amazon.com/Year-Provence-John-Thaw/dp/B00005NKCN/ref=sr_1_2?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1380493349&sr=1-2&keywords=a+year+in+provence I have quite a few older DVDs that have gone up in value and they are like new, as I bought them. However, last evening I think I have found the most "expensive" price for a DVD set ever. There may be more out there as I search around for high priced DVDs and tapes. Hot Springs Hotel: The Complete Series (1995) 1 new from $176,468.15 ... 1 used from $99,999.99 http://www.amazon.com/Hot-Springs-Hotel-Complete/dp/B002F3BPTU/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1380488155&sr=1-1&keywords=hot+springs+hotel It may be a gimmic or for real ... perhaps a DVD set that was very limited, I don't know but I thought others might might like to see this particular DVD price. Just this year in May, I finally got around to getting the three seasons of "Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World" ordered ... I got lucky on the first and second season ... they were going for just under $20 or slightly over but about two weeks after I ordered and received those two sets they must have become very scarce ... Season one I got for under $20 and sealed ... now look ... Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World - Season One (1999) Price: $93.09 & FREE Shipping. Only 1 left in stock. http://www.amazon.com/Arthur-Conan-Doyles-Lost-World/dp/B0000E69H6/ref=sr_1_5?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1380490624&sr=1-5&keywords=lost+world This was in May and I had just received Season 1 and 2 ... Season 3 is still on order for $23 from Amazon. They have not cancelled my order but I don't expect they will be sending me Season 3. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World - Season Two (1999) Price: $92.59 & FREE Shipping. Only 2 left in stock. http://www.amazon.com/Arthur-Conan-Doyles-Lost-World/dp/B0001I2CFC/ref=sr_1_8?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1380490624&sr=1-8&keywords=lost+world Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World - Season Three (1999) 7 new from $131.99 ... used from $56.50 http://www.amazon.com/Arthur-Conan-Doyles-Lost-World/dp/B00063MCI4/ref=sr_1_7?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1380490624&sr=1-7&keywords=lost+world Just thought some might find it interesting what some "older" DVDs are going for these days !!! Search around those yard sales and then find a buyer ... but only DVDs that are in great shape ... no scratches and such which may be hard to find DVDs in that condition. ... just to add about another film. Happen to be a Toni Hudson fan from back in the 80's and she may have been the first teen hacker in a film. The film is "Prime Risk" and the VHS tapes are not cheap but I bought a DVD when they were first sold ... maybe only 5 DVDs were manufactured ... just joking, but no one has a DVD for sale today and I have no idea what that DVD could be worth. It just disappeared very quick and I have read where people "wish" this film would be released on DVD ... well it was released on DVD and disappeared. There must have not been very many copies released. Prime Risk (1985) Lee Montgomery (Primary Contributor), Toni Hudson (Actor) | Rated: PG-13 | Format: VHS Tape 4 used from $27.46 ... 1 collectible from $289.95 http://www.amazon.com/Prime-Risk-Lee-Montgomery/dp/B000BT58JS/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1380496046&sr=1-1&keywords=prime+risk I can't exactly remember where I got the DVD, one of the places online ... that has to be one scarce DVD. Here is a customer review of Prime Risk ... one of the very early computer films with a pretty teen girl hacker! This was made in the mid eighties, the big computers used rolls of tape, the desktop machines had five and a quarter inch floppies, and the whole story is built on mumbo-jumbo and double talk about the magnetic strips on ATM cards being recorded as music and "spies" from a foreign power seeking to destroy the United States by an attack on the Federal Reserve System using multiple point electronic jamming. It's kind of laughable now, and the average second grader can poke holes in it, but it was interesting then and is still kind of fun to watch. Being a pre 9/11 movie they get to fly a light plane around Washington, DC landmarks, run through real airport terminals, and indulge the "really smart girl who is also drop dead pretty and a guy who is misguided but really fairly smart" movie pairing in fun. It's a romantic thriller comedy, so there is boy and girl stuff, guns, shooting, blowing up stuff, and absurdist leaps of action, but it still easily qualifies for a PG-13 rating-- and might even get a PG today. Interesting, fun, and a way of looking back at "those days.

Ok jaclaz, that clears some things up ... no SP2 for Windows 7 ... really makes a good image backup so much more important, after getting everything set up. thanks

Well I will give a brief summary of my experience from my first post with my dealings in doing a Windows 7 repair job ... having never played around with Windows 7 beforehand. It didn't go the easy way for me ... fortunately I did a lot of research on some subjects and took everything on a flash drive to have on hand. I went with three antivirus cds and the latest Stinger download ... we are talking Windows 7 (64bit), wasn't sure about that till I got there. The computer was terribly slow but the antivirus cds came up with "no virus" so I went to the "factory reinstall" plan. Had a heads up on it being a Tosiba Satellite and I knew how to get to the hidden part of the hard drive to reinstall the OS. I didn't want to fool around trying to repair anything and maybe waste more time ... running those antivirus cds took hours and most of the day. The reinstall went pretty smooth but the computer was bought in 2010 and the MS security updates were in the hundreds, maybe 400 to 500 after 3 or 4 passes ... that was a nightmare and another 1 1/2 days of sitting around watching for anything to go wrong. I made a discovery in my searching around for Windows 7 information and found out that Windows 7 is supposed to have a nice "image backup" program and when they bought the computer there was a Sony pack of 25 DVDs in the box, they had no idea of what to use the DVDs for so ... after all the critical security updates were downloaded and installed ... I used the Windows 7 backup program to burn an image to those DVDs ... it took three dvds and then it asked to make a Windows Recovery or Repair disc ... which I did. So they have this backup made on Sep 20th and I hope they never have to go all the way back to Sep 2010 to download updates again and also hopefully, never another "factory reinstall". So here is my question ... can I really expect this "image backup" to work if it is needed down the road in 6 months or so? I read good things about the image backup program on Google but I would like input from some Windows 7 people on this forum. I certainly hope it will work ... a real nightmare doing a factory reinstall going back to 2010. Thanks and any suggestions appreciated for a better "free" image backup program for Windows 7 or if the Windows 7 image backup program is a "first class" program then that will be just fine for any future problems. Just to add ... after the factory re-install the computer was again back to normal and running fast. It was just those 2 days of updates that turned the project into a nightmare of sorts and I had my fingers crossed that none of those updates would mess everything up.

I usually don't have any trouble with Google ... I type in ... "XP KB XXXXXXX download" ... and the MS download page is usually always there either first or second. ... maybe I didn't fully understand the conversation, in that case just disregard !

OK jaclaz ... you provided more "clarity" as usual. I guess I didn't fully understand what I was looking at ... I saw "flash drive" in the description. I just found a more expensive USB flash drive ... a Kingston. Kingston Digital HyperX Predator DataTraveler 512GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive Price: $599.99 & FREE Shipping. http://www.amazon.com/Kingston-Predator-DataTraveler-512GB-DTHXP30/dp/B00AV3XGPW/ref=pd_sim_e_3 * Dramatic speed up to 240MB/s * Highest capacities - uncompromised data storage to carry your digital world on a portable USB drive * 4-Channel architecture - unsurpassed performance to play applications straight from the drive * USB 3.0 - latest USB standard guarantees backwards compatibility with USB 2.0 * Zinc alloy metal casing - resilient protection for data in a cutting-edge design * HyperX valet keychain - exclusive accessory for a stylish twist to portable storage I take this to be also "solid state" although I don't see it mentioned anywhere but at that price ! ... just noticed that the $599.99 price seems to a "real bargain" ... look at the prices on the right side of the page, from other sellers/companies. $743.46 + $3.99 shipping / $768.35 + $8.79 shipping / $778.23 + Free Shipping Additional information: Here goes one better ... same model but a 1 TB size. Kingston DataTraveler HyperX Predator 1TB USB 3.0 Flash Drive Price: $1,271.47 & FREE Shipping. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E65QM8O/ref=twister_B00AV3XGPW?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ... How expensive can these things get ???

That was my decision also, stop with .NET 2.0 ... I had .NET 2.0 installed on my Windows 98SE setup and decided to only go that far with Windows XP.

Yes that is a nice clean looking flash drive ... while looking for a price on that drive ... I came across one expensive flash drive ... now I'm wondering just how expensive a flash drive can be ... of course, one made out of solid gold or platinum would probably win that arguement but I'm just talking about a normal type flash drive. Patriot Supersonic 256GB Magnum USB Flash Drive Price: $259.66 & FREE Shipping http://www.amazon.com/Patriot-Supersonic-256GB-Magnum-PEF256GSMNUSB/dp/B00B964QFO/ref=sr_1_13?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1379363373&sr=1-13&keywords=S200+usb+flash+drive ... at least you get "Free Shipping" !!! this is only a 2 GB drive. IronKey D2-S200-S02-3FIPS 2GB Basic S200 USB2.0 Flash Drive 2 GB Price: $125.29 + $6.62 shipping http://www.amazon.com/IronKey-D2-S200-S02-3FIPS-Basic-USB2-0-Flash/dp/B0099PAB38/ref=sr_1_14?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1379363373&sr=1-14&keywords=S200+usb+flash+drive ... no "Free Shipping" on that one !

jaclaz ... I guess I was using the wrong words ... recovery is probably what I had in mind. Good to know that ... thanks for the link for additional information. I'm thinking of how I always had to reinstall Windows 98SE from a Factory CD that came in the box. When I moved to XP I had an image backup program so I just made backups as I installed XP and added settings and software. Never wanted to go back to "Step 01" again. I don't think they have installed much software but I will take along an extra flash drive to temporary store anything they might have in the way of folders and such. ...

Thanks jaclaz, vinifera for the help. I have decided to download ClamWin, Bitdefender and probably a few more ... also downloaded Microsoft Security Essentials, both 32 and 64 bit. Going to put everything on a flash drive to have ready ... no downloading needed to save time. Got some basic info on how to tell if the computer is 32 bit or 64 bit. Hope that Kaspersky Rescue Disk does the trick but if it does not, I have one question. If I have to redo the Windows 7 installation ... which I am assuming is hidden on the hard drive somewhere, will it have to be registered again or should everything just work OK after the redo? Is all that registration information (SN and such) also kept on that "hidden" Windows 7 OS? ...

OK, I don't have Windows 7 for myself but I was on the phone last night with an older couple (good friends) who do have Windows 7 and seem to have a really bad messed up computer. They said this started about 3 weeks ago ... suddenly very slow startup, web pages loading slow ... just getting on the internet was a chore. I was with them on the phone last night for almost 3 hours trying to get something worked out. I guess it sounds like they maybe picked up a virus or maybe a bad MS update since they have "auto updates" on ... I don't know ... they know about e-mails and attachments and not to open any from people you don't know. I tried to have them get into System Restore over the phone but that was a chore with the computer running so slow ... I had them go back to an earlier date in August but SR never finished. So I gave up and am going tomorrow to try to fix everything ... now understand, I am not familiar with Windows 7 much at all, I run XP. I just downloaded the Kaspersky Rescue Disk (09-15-2013), I will try to find any viruses with it and hope that might work. If it doesn't then I may have to redo the computer to like it just came out of the box. I asked them to have everything that came with the computer handy, in case that might be the way to go. I am assuming that a "fresh" copy of Windows 7 is sitting in a hidden part of the hard drive for this purpose ... they don't remember any restore CD / DVD in the box ... it's a Toshiba notebook and there is a manual. My real question ... I want to put a good working free antivirus program on the Windows 7 setup so they have something to help in the future. I have checked this review ... 13 Best Free Antivirus Programs http://freebies.about.com/od/computerfreebies/tp/best-free-antivirus.htm The top three are these: 1. avast! Free Antivirus 8 2. AVG Anti-Virus Free 2013 3. Avira Free AntiVirus 2013 ... but when you read the reviews when people have tried them, they really don't like them, they say the programs slow the machine down and this or that. Really not many "Thumbs Up" on them. I don't run any antivirus on my XP setup but I think they probably should have one installed. I could tell them about Stinger which they have to download ... they are older and mosly visit web pages and do e-mail ... they don't do much or no downloading and would probably not understand all that but I can try to get them to make some notes. I told them about CCleaner in 2011 but I had to go to their house and download it to get it installed. No problem with that, was due for a visit anyway. I'm open to ideas, suggestions and what antivirus would really be good with Windows 7. I think MS has a virus/malware program download for XP so I'm guessing this would also be availabe for Windows 7, would that be the way to go ... I'm trying to do the KISS method for them ... "Keep It Simple Stupid" . have to add ... I have no clue if their Windows 7 is 32-bit or 64-bit. thanks ...

Thanks -X- for the reply ... I have the Windows XP Update Remover already installed, came across that program several months back and yes you are right, it doesn't remove the IE 8 Cumulative updates. I don't plan on fooling around with any other older updates at this time ... just the IE 8 updates. I think I am correct in thinking that "cumulative" means that all the fixes / changes are carried forward in each new monthly IE 8 Cumulative update. I just didn't think all those older IE 8 updates are needed on the hard drive as newer updates are released. I plan on removing those updates and probably making a new image backup of everything after a few software updates.

Would like some input or opinions dealing with removing (uninstalling) older MS XP Security updates that are still on my computer. I am mainly interested in the older "cumulative security updates" for Internet Explorer 8 that have built up over the months. Every month there is usually a new IE 8 cumulative security update released and since it is "cumulative" ... could all those "older" IE 8 updates be removed from time to time or remove the older one each month before installing the newer IE 8 cumulative update? I would probably leave all the other security updates alone ... unless someone has an opinion on any of them also. I don't need hard drive space ... just looking around to clean "unneeded" stuff off the hard drive. thanks ... Just to add ... since there seems to have been some bad updates in the last two months, I am not installing them for awhile but I still download them to have on hand. I have been installing only the IE 8 Cumulative update and Root Certificates Update for Windows XP (August 2013) for now. I had to reinstall the bad update from July ... Windows Media Format Runtime 9.5 for Windows XP (KB2834902) that was released Aug 27th ... so I am holding off on putting anymore updates on my computer through April 2014 and then maybe in May or June 2014 all those "final" updates should be "OK" ... just my thinking. I do not want to mess up my XP setup going into these last months or so ... I have an image backup with the July updates installed so I have something to fall back on.

phaolo ... that's OK, just thought I'd throw that suggestion out there for you or anyone interested in "saving" videos to watch later or to just keep. I like to save TV commercials ... that are well made, funny, sexy, banned ... something that would play in Europe or the rest of the world but probably not in the US. As I mentioned in my first post as an addition ... have tried the new version and it seems to be working just fine. Downloaded six videos so far and all is well.

Maybe this program would be helpful in watching Youtube videos and some others with proper links. You have to download the video but if you have a fairly fast connection, it shouldn't be much of a problem ... besides, I usually want to save the videos, so they would be downloaded anyway. You can then use any player that you want to watch the videos ... I happen to mostly use KMPlayer 3.0.0.1442 in my XP setup ... didn't like the newer KMPlayer versions and I have some other players also. The program is Youtube Downloader HD ... I find it a good way to watch videos on your own time. http://www.youtubedownloaderhd.com/download.html Note: There hasn't been an update for some time with this program, I guess because it was working so well ... when I first started using Youtube Downloader HD, it seemed they were updating the program a lot but this last version (2.9.6) lasted a very long time but today as I started this reply I see Youtube Downloader HD is now version 2.9.9 ... I haven't tried this version yet with XP so I hope nothing drastically has changed and the program works as good as before. Add ... have tried the newer version and it seems to be OK and works just fine on XP. I also download the portable version, so no installing ! --------------------------------------------------- Youtube Downloader HD Youtube Downloader HD is a fast free video downloader. Download and convert videos into avi video format or into mp4 (compatible with iPad, iPhone). You can download High Quality videos, High Definition and Full HD videos from YouTube. Youtube Downloader HD is a Freeware! What's new in the latest version: 1. Significantly increased download speed! 2. VEVO videos can be downloaded again Youtube Downloader HD for Windows is a completely FREE Software. It contains absolutely NO ADWARE, NO SPYWARE, NO REGISTRATION, NO POPUPS, NO MALWARE or other unwanted software. Main Downloads: Download Youtube Downloader HD Version 2.9.9 Free. 4.5 MB. With installer. For Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista/7 FLV Converter Version 1.2 Free. 3.6 MB. With installer. Handy free tool to convert FLV files to AVI video Youtube Downloader HD - Portable Version Version 2.9.9 Free. 3.9 MB. Without installer. Standalone exe file. For Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista/7 ...

Just read this article, didn't see any mention of it ... possible back doors in hardware and software. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0054adb2-1709-11e3-9ec2-00144feabdc0.html September 6, 2013 7:45 pm ‘Back door’ spying claims set to hit tech groups By Richard Waters in San Francisco A range of US hardware and software companies are in danger of being dragged into the widening scandal over internet surveillance, following the latest leaks from Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor. The leaked documents include NSA claims that it has collaborated with technology companies to plant “back doors” into their systems – or ways for the agency secretly to penetrate systems without the users’ knowledge. “They’re crossing a line – if they’re putting back doors into the software itself, it’s a serious problem,” said Mark Anderson, a US technology commentator. The Snowden leaks have already proved deeply embarrassing to US internet companies, after it was revealed that they had complied with secret US court orders to hand over information about their users and, in some cases, set up systems to facilitate the transfer of the data. However, the latest disclosures threaten to draw a wider number of companies into the scandal, potentially undermining international confidence in their products. ... more at the link ... this is the very last part of the article: Some computer security experts said that official attempts to plant back doors were likely to play only a small part in overall efforts to compromise IT systems. “Computer security is still in such a [bad] state that you don’t need to insert a back door,” said Paul Kocher, a US cryptography expert. “If the front door is locked, you can just go in through a side window.” The latest Snowden revelations did not refer to any technology companies by name as having collaborated with the intelligence services. Intel and Cisco Systems both repeated earlier denials that they had ever put back doors in any of their products.

That was fast ... thanks -X- for the information, I wasn't aware of the problems with the July update.

I just discovered that an additional MS XP update has been added since the updates came out on August 13. It is dated Aug 27 ... KB2834902 - Windows Media Format Runtime 9.5 for Windows XP (08/27/2013) This is my list of updates for my XP setup for August. I did have that KB2834902 update in July but perhaps something was wrong and MS released it again on Aug 27th. I don't know for sure. It wasn't listed when I downloaded the updates on Aug 15th. MS XP Updates August 2013 01 KB2849470 - Windows XP (275 KB) (08/12/2013) 02 KB2859537 - Windows XP (335 KB) (08/12/2013) 03 KB2862772 - Cumulative Security Update for IE 8 for Windows XP (9.2 MB) (08/09/2013) 04 KB2863058 - Windows XP (519 KB) (08/12/2013) 05 KB2850869 - Windows XP (252 KB) (08/12/2013) 06 KB931125 - Root Certificates for Windows XP (August 2013) (08/12/2013) 07 KB2834902 - Windows Media Format Runtime 9.5 for Windows XP (08/27/2013) Microsoft Office 2007 08 KB2767849 - Microsoft Office 2007 (1.6 MB) (08/02/2013) Just a heads up ... for the last few months I have been doing an "update recheck" just before the new monthly updates are due out, just to make sure that the list still matches my earlier list ... I had a change occur in the June update list. Maybe someone else can confirm the KB2834902 update from July showing up again in August. ... additional information, the KB2834902 update is for my IBM Thinkpad T41 ... I also have a T42 that requires a different update ... KB2803821 - Windows Media Format Runtime 9 for Windows XP (08/27/2013) and that newer version was also released on Aug 27th. I don't have "Automatic Updates" on and just manually download the monthly updates to store. I have been installing the updates every three months and then I make an image backup, going to keep doing this till April 2014 to make that "last" perfect Factory DVD image to always have if and when trouble strikes. Will be ready for any additional MS patches or "unofficial" patches, if that should be the case. ...

"The Finder" does it again ! ... the USB Sushi drives are hilarious ... I had no idea they were making flash drives like that. I can maybe see a drive in the "Swiss Army Knife" until the knife gets wet or muddy. I'll just stick with the conventional flash drives ... I did buy one that dencorso mentioned about 1 1/2 years ago ... Corsair Flash Survivor USB Drive. http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Flash-Survivor-32GB-CMFSV3-32GB/dp/B006B7R8ZG/ref=sr_1_9?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1378289494&sr=1-9&keywords=corsair+flash+drive Superior Protection for Your Valuable Data * Built from lightweight, aircraft-grade aluminum * Water proof to 200 meters * Vibration and shock resistant I have seen pictures of it being run over by a car and I think there are a few videos on YouTube also. I bought the 16 GB size ... the price has dropped some since I bought mine and I just noticed there is a newer black stealth model ... http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Flash-Survivor-Stealth-CMFSS3-16GB/dp/B008HK515Y/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1378289494&sr=1-3&keywords=corsair+flash+drive Multifunction Tool Swiss Army Knife with 8GB Usb Flash Drive - Black http://www.amazon.com/Multifunction-Swiss-Knife-Flash-Drive/dp/B00EO1Z1QE/ref=sr_1_2/178-7157242-7241457?ie=UTF8&qid=1378289134&sr=8-2&keywords=swiss+army+knife+usb+drive The New Thumb Shape USB Stick is just as the description says: "This thing is pretty freaking gross, it looks like a real thumb." Wouldn't want it if it was free but it's a conversation piece for sure ... along with the sushi drives. I just use the term flash drive or USB drive, in reference to your one link. ...

OK jaclaz, that Verbatim flash looks pretty neat with it's slim look. That's also pretty interesting looking inside the SanDisk Cruzer Fit ... I have to agree with Tripredacus about liking a larger flash drive ... maybe if a person is a spy or "corporate spy" those little flash drives might come in handy. I still might get one just to add to the collection and also a "conversation" piece. ...

JorgeA ... thanks for the information. Wallmart had the SanDisk Cruzer Blade 8 GB USB drive on sale for $4.97 ... going back to school/college sale so I grabbed a couple of those. http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Cruzer-Blade-Flash-SDCZ50-008G-AFFP/dp/B007KFAG7U I thought they were pretty small USB drives but the Walmart salesperson pointed out the SanDisk Cruzer Fit 16 and 32 GB product. I was amazed at how small they were. When I said earlier about a possible smaller USB flash drive ... I'm thinking the part that goes into the USB slot on the computer would always have to be that size ... unless that would change in the future with USB 4 or USB 5 ... but for now I guess that's probably the smallest USB drive available. I keep saying that I have enough flash drives and will not buy anymore but I may have to get one of those to add to the collection. http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Cruzer-Flash-Drive-SDCZ33-016G-B35/dp/B005FYNSZA ...

Saw this USB flash drive two weeks ago at Walmart ... it was the smallest size flash drive I have ever seen, don't see how there could be anything smaller but maybe someone here has seen one? Kind of easy to misplace or drop ... never to be seen again. SanDisk Cruzer Fit https://www.google.com/search?q=SanDisk+Cruzer+Fit&num=100&safe=off&sa=G&complete=0&hl=en&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=ySAlUpDHBu-5sQT3-YDwBg&ved=0CD8QsAQ&biw=1020&bih=630 ...

Didn't realize anyone had been posting about K-Meleon since I last posted about the new K-Meleon 1.6.0 Beta 2.6 version. That version only comes as a zip portable version, as far I know. There is an installer version and portable version for : K-Meleon 1.6.0 Beta2 (2010-12-12) * Full packages with installer o http://kmeleon.sourceforge.net/gfx/countries_flags/us.png English | Check MD5 * 7zip portable packages without installer o http://kmeleon.sourceforge.net/gfx/countries_flags/us.png English | Check MD5 http://kmeleon.sourceforge.net/ I don't think there would be a newer version with an installer ... I don't remember seeing any but there could be one around. It seems that the newer versions are released as a portable version ... but I can't say 100% that that is right. You could ask JamesD at the KM forum. Skins can be changed under Preferences ... How to change skins. The following gives you a quick reference to how to go about changing to a newly downloaded skin or theme for K-Meleon. * Skins are folders contained in your "C:\Program Files\K-Meleon\skins" folder. * Skins are stored in zip format. You will need an archiver to unzip the skins/themes. * Extract the files into "C:\Program Files\K-Meleon\skins". * Open K-Meleon, go to Edit>Preferences>GUI Appearance and select a skin from the list. * Select "Show Toolbar Background". Click OK. * Exit K-Meleon and loader if used. You will restart K-Meleon with you new skin. Note: Some older skins from v0.7 may not show the background image. Rename the image to back.bmp for use in K-Meleon v0.9 ... in the skins folder there should be several skins already there and there are some older skins at this link ... I think some should work with v1.6 ... if I understand what you were asking. I also thought there were more skins but I can't find them, if they exist. My KM v1.6 doesn't crash too much and never at this site ... but I am using Windows XP these days. I mostly go around with JavaScript off but need to put it on sometimes ... I also run Proxomitron with the Sidki filter set ... also used it with Windows 98 before I switched to XP. http://kmeleon.sourceforge.net/wiki/K-MeleonThemes15 Proxomitron - Sidki Filter set (under Proxomitron Config Sets) http://prxbx.com/forums/ HTH

CharlotteTheHarlot ... thanks for the additional heads up on the faulty MS Patches ... correct me if I am wrong on this assumption, when you first brought the Aug security patch problem to my attention, I have been trying to determine if all the patches in question apply only to Windows 7 ... I can find nothing mentioning Windows XP or Windows 8 ... as I said earlier, correct me if I am wrong on this ... or anyone else is also welcome to post any information. I downloaded the XP updates for Aug, not to install but to save them for "possible" future use. I have my XP setup updated thru July and all seems to be OK but now I figured to just save all future patches till the Dec 2013 update and install some or all ... or wait till the final April 2014 update release and then install everything (maybe)! I have several image backups to fall back on if the patches screw something up. thanks

jaclaz ... thanks for posting the earlier links, I missed them earlier today, you and Charlotte post so much information all over the place, it's easy to miss something ... the article: "Computer Virus Hits U.S. Drone Fleet" is amazing. "The virus, first detected nearly two weeks ago by the military’s Host-Based Security System ... But the virus has resisted multiple efforts to remove it from Creech’s computers, network security specialists say. And the infection underscores the ongoing security risks in what has become the U.S. military’s most important weapons system. “We keep wiping it off, and it keeps coming back,” says a source familiar with the network infection, one of three that told Danger Room about the virus. “We think it’s benign. But we just don’t know.” Military network security specialists aren’t sure whether the virus and its so-called “keylogger” payload were introduced intentionally or by accident; it may be a common piece of malware that just happened to make its way into these sensitive networks. The specialists don’t know exactly how far the virus has spread. But they’re sure that the infection has hit both classified and unclassified machines at Creech. That raises the possibility, at least, that secret data may have been captured by the keylogger, and then transmitted over the public internet to someone outside the military chain of command." and this also about encryption ... "But despite their widespread use, the drone systems are known to have security flaws. Many Reapers and Predators don’t encrypt the video they transmit to American troops on the ground. In the summer of 2009, U.S. forces discovered “days and days and hours and hours” of the drone footage on the laptops of Iraqi insurgents. A $26 piece of software allowed the militants to capture the video". I noticed the article is dated 2011 ... hopefully the virus is gone and they have encryption in place. and XP in use at Mission Control ... "Windows XP = Mission Critical Software". Well, if XP is good enough for Mission Control, well there you have it ... except that there doesn't seem to be too many rocket launches anymore !!! ... onward to the stars and asteroids with XP in my little rocket ship. ...

CharlotteTheHarlot ... thanks for clearing that up with the Thurrott article. When I read it, I felt I had already read it from somewhere ... should have checked the "big thread" a little better ... a little bit of everything in there ! ... educational for me.