[On decommissioning of update servers for 2000, XP, (and Vista?) as of July 2019]

3 hours ago, maile3241 said:

Hello everybody.
There is a new way to update Xp or Win 2000 more can be found here: https://legacyupdate.net/

Github: https://github.com/kirb/LegacyUpdate

Some screenshots:

Hello @maile3241! Long time no hear from each other! Are you OK? I hope so. Anyway, this Legacy Update service is an interesting found! I had a look at its homepage but I couldn't find any information about the supported languages. Do you know if it is for English Windows versions only?

Cheers, AstroSkipper

[The MSFN café - A Penny for Your Thoughts]

10 hours ago, msfntor said:

Some People Are Still Atheists Even Though Breakfast Burritos Exist

Here: https://babylonbee.com/news/report-some-people-still-atheists-even-though-breakfast-burritos-exist

Sorry, but that does not make any sense at all. Moreover, all matter can be explained scientifically. I finished with this subject in my youth, when I did not even know this outstanding man:

Quote

"The question is, is the way the universe began chosen by God for reasons we can’t understand, or was it determined by a law of science? I believe the second," wrote Hawking. "If you like, you can call the laws of science 'God', but it wouldn’t be a personal God that you would meet and put questions to."  Stephen Hawking

This is an excerpt of Stephen Hawking's book "Brief Answers to the Big Questions" published by the U.K.'s Sunday Times" from 2018, and I totally agree with his assessment. He had even provided proof for his statement. 
Source: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/10/15/stephen-hawking-warns-superhumans-ai-posthumous-book/1645963002/
Unfortunately, I will not be able to go into further detail on his statements in terms of god, as this would violate the forum rules. 

Cheers, AstroSkipper     

[ProxHTTPSProxy and HTTPSProxy in Windows XP for future use]

17 hours ago, D.Draker said:

I think AstroSkipper wrote that Germany've been americanised against his will. Hence the result.

You're right! That comes out against my will with this constant Americanisation we are all subjected to. I call that subtle influence. 

17 hours ago, D.Draker said:

British, of course !

Fortunately, the British and German date formats match.  Therefore, I would not have to make a decision. The only remaining obstacle would be the effort required to change all the posts concerned. 

[The MSFN café - A Penny for Your Thoughts]

4 hours ago, mina7601 said:

Guys, please don't turn this into an argument. Thanks.

It's not always peace, joy and happiness. People also have an opinion sometimes! And it should be possible to express it. 

[ProxHTTPSProxy and HTTPSProxy in Windows XP for future use]

1 hour ago, Dave-H said:

I'm not asking you to change them of course, but I've always wondered why, if you are German, that you put the dates in your posts in American format, not European format?

The actual file names, I'm pleased to say, are the 'correct' way around!

Hello @Dave-H! How are you? Hope all is fine with you! To answer your question you're absolutely right! When I started this thread I couldn't really decide which date format to use in general. To keep it now as consistent as possible, I have decided to leave it as I started.  Actually, I prefer the format dd-mm-yyyyy as it is usual in Germany.  Maybe, I'll revert it but then I'd have to edit all posts to keep consistency. 

[Which Antiviruses are Known for a Fact to be Working on XP SP3 as of 2019?]

29 minutes ago, msfntor said:

And I'm not going out of the house today, to touch the rain.

I'm not afraid of anything then.

OT: I stayed at home today too. I still have to take it easy.  However, my lady went to a St. Martin's market. It's a pre-Christmas public market.

[Which Antiviruses are Known for a Fact to be Working on XP SP3 as of 2019?]

40 minutes ago, msfntor said:

- because you get rid of horrible Avast.

My congratulations!

 

Is it portable? Link to it, please?

Thank you @AstroSkipper  !

Here is the link to WiseVector's homepage where you can directly download the latest version (at the moment 3.07) and an older manual: https://www.wisevector.com/en/ . But I don't think it's portable, just like most other AV programmes are.
Direct download link: https://update2.wisevector.com/WiseVector_StopX.exe
Latest Manual (for the version 2.70): https://www.wisevector.com/wisevector_stopx_user_guide_en.pdf

[ProxHTTPSProxy and HTTPSProxy in Windows XP for future use]

Update notification!

Both versions of my Root Certificate and Revoked Certificate Updater have been updated and are now of 10/25/2022. You can find them in the section 11.2.4. Downloads related to Root Certificate Updates in the first post of this thread.

Cheers, AstroSkipper

[Which Antiviruses are Known for a Fact to be Working on XP SP3 as of 2019?]

Why I switched from Avast! to WiseVector StopX

There is a very specific reason why I have recently started recommending WiseVector StopX. Until now, I have always used products from Avast! and was also satisfied. On my old computer, which is low on resources and performance, I actually had Avast! Premier installed on my Windows XP partition and had been using it for many years. This year, unfortunately, I had several negative experiences. More and more often, the GUI shut down completely and showed only an empty, white window. Only a repair installation could revive it. In addition, programmes that were reported as false positives were not ignored as offered and excluded from further monitoring. Instead, their access was completely blocked and no longer released. Furthermore, again and again, almost periodically, the Avast! service caused a very high and prolonged CPU load. All these problems prompted me to uninstall the entire Avast program package. And then came the next set of difficulties. The uninstall routine is an imposition.
An uninstallation had not really taken place. Whoever programmed this routine should be fired!

All files and program folders were not deleted. Thus, completely useless! Even the special Avast uninstaller "Avast! Clear" could not remove everything.

So I had to do it manually. The main program folder could not be deleted. Not even with administrator rights. Same with a booted Linux and Mini Windows XP from outside. Both could not delete anything from the locked files and folders. So I was thinking about a proper solution how to delete the locked folders and files. 
By the way, I am writing this to spare others similar problems. 
Anyway, the solution is either one tries to delete it under the user account System, whose rights can be obtained with suitable tools (for example RunAsSystem), or one falls back on good old DOS. And this is how I did it. I booted my computer into a real DOS mode and used Volkov Commander to delete all the locked files and folders. DOS doesn't give a damn about accounts and permissions. What needs to be deleted, gets deleted. DOS was my first OS on an IBM compatible PC, and it is an endless love.  In any case, this approach was the right way to get rid of all remnants of Avast! Premier. BTW,  before uninstalling, I measured the amount of disk space which was consumed by Avast!. And I was stunned. It was about 1.5 GB in many different folders. Unbelievable!  After that torture, I installed WiseVector StopX at last. I configured it as well as possible and tested it deeply. WiseVector StopX is very light-weight and consumes approximately 100 MB of disk space in only one program folder. It has less RAM usage, very low CPU load and is easy to handle via its tray icon. On my old computer, it's simply perfect.  The performance of my system has been increased, all actions are much faster than before. In short, I am impressed and very happy with my switch to this antivirus program.

Cheers, AstroSkipper

[SYSTEM registry file is corrupted]

Hello @Cixert! A very good tool for defragmenting the registry files and the pagefile is PageDefrag 2.32 from Sysinternals. It solved in several cases starting problems that I had in the past. Another approach is an examination of the integrity of your hard disks with tools from outside. As you wrote in the first post, two different computer are concerned. If so, maybe both are infected by the same malware, or you have installed a program on both computers causing this corruption. In any case, a very deep investigation is necessary if the simple solutions don't work.

Cheers, AstroSkipper 

[My Browser Builds (Part 4)]

On 11/6/2022 at 2:53 AM, Mathwiz said:

No human-readable checkbox AFAIK, but there is a Boolean setting in about:config.

media.autoplay.enabled; defaults to false in St 55 (not sure of the default in St 52).

I suspect a good JavaScript programmer (@AstroSkipper?) could rig up a custom button to toggle that setting!

Thanks for the flowers!  The question mark though is a bit undefined and can be interpreted in different ways.  
Firstly, I am rather a batch than a JavaScript programmer if at all. Indeed, I created some custom buttons using JavaScript in the past. Reading reference manuals and using already existing code snippets was what I did to get the right code for a specific custom button. In some cases, I did it from scratch by myself, in others I used already existing code and modified it. One of my strengths!  But frankly, far away from a good JavaScript programmer. Otherwise, I wouldn't post websites here that no longer work properly due to JavaScript problems, which no one really seems to be interested in, though.

Secondly, as I posted in the previous browser thread https://msfn.org/board/topic/182647-my-browser-builds-part-3/?do=findComment&comment=1227973, I already created such a custom button. It toggles a boolean variable from true to false and vice versa in about:config. The status of this variable is shown by the button itself in the form of an image that changes its colour, i.e. its image accordingly. Actually, I created this button for a specific boolean variable, but it can work with any other if you change its code slightly. It works perfectly in New Moon 28 and probably also in other UXP browsers , but in Serpent 55, I really don't know. My custom buttons require the extension Custom Buttons, and I don't know if it is compatible with this browser. Truth be told, I never used Serpent 55 in the past.  So I have to test that. Anyway, I will write a post about this custom button in my thread "Extensions and custom buttons for UXP browsers - Corrections, modifications, adjustments, and special recommendations" soon. So, stay tuned! And, this is the mentioned thread: 

Kind regards, AstroSkipper 

[Which Antiviruses are Known for a Fact to be Working on XP SP3 as of 2019?]

1 hour ago, msfntor said:

But M. Premium is not free, it's trial...
This is not important for me, with my healthy attitude on the net. No visits to dubious sites! 
In any case, if the virus comes, I'll rebuild Windows...which has not happened for more than a decade...
Or use SterJo NetStalker?.

As far as I know, you need a license only for the premium features like real-time protection and so on. Without a licence, Malwarebytes should be able to be used as an offline scanner. Try it and you will see! I own a lifetime license, therefore I never used the free version. 

[360 Extreme Explorer Modified Version]

1 hour ago, AstroSkipper said:

3 hours ago, AstroSkipper said:

FWIW, here is the result of Speedometer 2.1 with New Moon 28, latest version 2022-11-03 on my 22 years old computer. This test lasted a long time. Therefore, no more tests on my old machine from me, unfortunately. Anyway, I thought people need to have something to laugh about here. And of course, I am interested in what values newer computers achieve compared to mine. 



Cheers, AstroSkipper

3 hours ago, NotHereToPlayGames said:

2.66 !!!???  Holy cow, Batman!

It should be noted that the "Speedometer" test takes several things into account.  I will get one result when running "fast" wi-fi, another result when connected directly to LAN.

Just to understand my very low result. This 22 years old computer is equipped with an Intel Pentium 4 Northwood 2.80 GHz CPU (single core, 32 Bit), 1.5 GB SD-RAM and an NVIDIA GeForce 6200 graphic card with 256 MB. All hard disks are connected via IDE. You might understand now why the value is that low.

The good and only comforting thing is that I hold the record with the lowest score. 

[My Browser Builds (Part 4)]

Unfortunately, I observed a new breakage of a web service. The service https://languagetool.org/de doesn't work anymore in New Moon 28 (2022-11-03). This must have been happened recently as some weeks ago it still worked. Same in Mypal 68. In 360ChromePortable 13.5.1030 rebuild 6, no problems at all. It seems to be a JavaScript problem. Here is a screenshot of New Moon with https://languagetool.org/de and the error console opened:



Maybe, someone has an idea, or it can be fixed via a polyfill script.

Cheers, AstroSkipper

[360 Extreme Explorer Modified Version]

2 hours ago, AstroSkipper said:

FWIW, here is the result of Speedometer 2.1 with New Moon 28, latest version 2022-11-03 on my 22 years old computer. This test lasted a long time. Therefore, no more tests on my old machine from me, unfortunately. Anyway, I thought people need to have something to laugh about here. And of course, I am interested in what values newer computers achieve compared to mine. 



Cheers, AstroSkipper

1 hour ago, NotHereToPlayGames said:

2.66 !!!???  Holy cow, Batman!

It should be noted that the "Speedometer" test takes several things into account.  I will get one result when running "fast" wi-fi, another result when connected directly to LAN.

Just to understand my very low result. This 22 years old computer is equipped with an Intel Pentium 4 Northwood 2.80 GHz CPU (single core, 32 Bit), 1.5 GB SD-RAM and an NVIDIA GeForce 6200 graphic card with 256 MB. All hard disks are connected via IDE. You might understand now why the value is that low.

[360 Extreme Explorer Modified Version]

11 minutes ago, NotHereToPlayGames said:

2.66 !!!???  Holy cow, Batman!

It should be noted that the "Speedometer" test takes several things into account.  I will get one result when running "fast" wi-fi, another result when connected directly to LAN.

My test was performed over a direct internet connection via LAN.

[360 Extreme Explorer Modified Version]

15 hours ago, NotHereToPlayGames said:

How well does Serpent 52, Serpent 55, BNavigator, New Moon 27, and New Moon 28 compare on your computer?

FWIW, here is the result of Speedometer 2.1 with New Moon 28, latest version 2022-11-03 on my 22 years old computer. This test lasted a long time. Therefore, no more tests on my old machine from me, unfortunately. Anyway, I thought people need to have something to laugh about here. And of course, I am interested in what values newer computers achieve compared to mine. 



Cheers, AstroSkipper

[Which Antiviruses are Known for a Fact to be Working on XP SP3 as of 2019?]

1 hour ago, msfntor said:

Sure, look here: https://forums.malwarebytes.com/topic/236112-cannot-open-malwarebytes-3512522-premium/

Thank you for the link! I had also read this forum post at the time, but sadly its solution was ineffective for me. At that time, I really tested everything! Malwarebytes' support was also involved. There was nothing I hadn't tried. And, I have read all the articles that have ever been published. Therefore, my hope is not very high that the problem can still be solved. But as my Latin teacher always liked to say: "Neues Stück, neues Glück". Translated: "New piece (of text), new luck". 

[Which Antiviruses are Known for a Fact to be Working on XP SP3 as of 2019?]

1 hour ago, msfntor said:

Ah oh...thank you @AstroSkipper!

...but I've the old Windows version, so I fear the old viruses...?

For the old ones, of course!  BTW, Malwarebytes' versions 1 and 2 were abandonded. No more definition updates! But, versions 3 and 4 are supported. The last version compatible with Windows XP is Malwarebytes (Premium) for Windows 3.5.1.2522. It still receives definition updates. but no more program updates, of course.  Truth be told, I had problems with installing Malwarebytes (Premium) for Windows 3.5.1.2522. On my Windows XP computer, I finally couldn't properly run this version in the past, but others didn't seem to have such problems. Anyway, all a bit strange! Maybe, there was an incompatibility with Avast! I might try it one last time as I have removed Avast! completely in the meanwhile.

[Which Antiviruses are Known for a Fact to be Working on XP SP3 as of 2019?]

1 hour ago, msfntor said:

@XPerceniol - I've Malwarebytes Anti-Malware scanner free version v1.75.0.1300, use very rarely...

I loved this version and used it as an offline scanner for many years. Unfortunately and sadly, it was abandoned, hasn't got any definition updates for a long time, and logically won't get any more, either.

[Which Antiviruses are Known for a Fact to be Working on XP SP3 as of 2019?]

15 minutes ago, XPerceniol said:

I look forward to know what those reasons were/are.

On 11/3/2022 at 6:00 PM, AstroSkipper said:

There are reasons why I changed from Avast! to WiseVector StopX, though. I will write something about it soon.

Did it cast you a 'pretty penny'? I have a few pennies that are pretty and shiny.

It's a longer story. Oddly enough, I've had various problems with Avast! this year. Will probably write about it at the weekend. Then I will have time for it. One thing I can say: Although I had some concerns about the country of manufacture, WiseVector StopX is a great AV program and requires only few resources in terms of used disk space, RAM usage and CPU load. It's just perfect for an old box like mine! And the software is constantly being developed and maintained, is Windows XP compatible and free of charge.  But, you have to configure it very carefully!

 

[360 Extreme Explorer Modified Version]

26 minutes ago, mina7601 said:

44 minutes ago, XPerceniol said:

do you know which version was the last to support XP? thank you in advance

If you're talking about X-Chromium, version 49.0.2605.0 rev16 is the last to run on XP.

But of course such a version makes no sense at all, as it is far too old. Besides, in this age category, Advanced Chrome Custom Build 54.20.6530.0 is by far the very best.

[360 Extreme Explorer Modified Version]

35 minutes ago, D.Draker said:

Indeed, I took it from here. Can't say it's 100% safe, I guess so, but I only used it for a short amunt of time. All version here, except for the latest 109 and 108.

https://github.com/ungoogled-software/ungoogled-chromium-windows/releases

Interesting! But, these versions including older ones are not compatible with Windows XP, of course. Therefore, only for Windows 7 and higher.

[The MSFN café - A Penny for Your Thoughts]

40 minutes ago, msfntor said:

Black screen only, cause I've stopped the update process, because it got stuck.. No backup. Thank you @AstroSkipper!

You're welcome! On my computers, I do have a perfectly working imaging system to restore important partitions in a very short time if they are damaged and not recoverable. Has saved my a** a lot of times! Just a tip!

[360 Extreme Explorer Modified Version]

28 minutes ago, D.Draker said:

Just tried a new version of Chromium 104.0.5112.102 (Official Build, ungoogled-chromium) (64-bit) on the same Emma, only a bit above 100MB.

Looks like something has changed in memory management compared to older Chrome or Chromium versions. Hopefully for the better! Hope dies last!