The Net Gate

Best of breed software

• AVG Anti-Virus is a FREE virus scanner that works well for Windows XP, Vista and 7.
• Spybot Search & Destroy is a FREE spam scanner that works well for Windows XP, Vista and 7.
• Internet Eraser is a FREE history eraser.

• Internet Explorer is a FREE web browser that works well for Windows XP, Vista and 7.
• Mozilla Firefox is a FREE web browser that works well for Windows XP, Vista and 7.

Note: the reason for using both is because of their different implementation of ‘standards’ which causes unsimilar display results when you design web pages – (check out my posts on Mozilla Firefox).

• Windows Live Mail is a FREE mail client that works well for Windows XP, Vista and 7.

Note: Outlook Express is end-of-life and was my initial prefered mail client – (check out my posts on Outlook Express).

• Skype is a FREE Internet Phone client and service that works well for Windows XP, Vista and 7.

Media Players

• VLC is a FREE mediaplayer with great video codec support that works well for Windows XP, Vista and 7.
• iTunes is a FREE mediaplayer and library tool that works well for Windows XP, Vista and 7.

Note: check out my posts on iTunes support

• IrfanView is a FREE image viewer that works well for Windows XP, Vista and 7.

Media Library and Conversion Tools

• Videora iPod Converter is a FREE video converter for iPod.

Note: check out my posts on Videora support

• DVDVideoSoft.com offers a FREE collection of tools to work with DVD, video and audio files.
• DVD Profiler is a DVD Collection Database Manager.

File, Print and System Tools

• Cute PDF is a FREE PDF creator that works well for Windows XP, Vista and 7.
• ZipGenius is a FREE file compression tool.
• FileZilla is a FREE file transfer client and server that works well for Windows XP, Vista and 7.
• CCleaner is a FREE system optimization tool that works well for Windows XP, Vista and 7.
• MyDefrag is a FREE system disk defragmenter and optimizer that works well for Windows XP, Vista and 7.
• KeePass is a FREE password manager that works well for Windows XP, Vista and 7.
• SyncBack is a FREE backup and file synchronization tool that works well for Windows XP, Vista and 7.
• iTunes Sync is a FREE Free iTunes MP3 Player Integration tool that works well for Windows XP, Vista and 7.

Note: check out my posts on iTunes Sync support

Remote Assistance Tools

• TeamViewer is a FREE Remote Assistance Client that works well for Windows XP, Vista and 7.
• TightVNC and UltraVNC are FREE Remote Assistance Clients.

Note: check out my posts on Remote Assistance support

Enjoy the free ride!

Microsoft Office 2001 is the revamped version of Microsoft Office 98 for MacOS.

Conflicts with the Preferences files and the Install cach files (error type 11)

If you have problems starting an MS-Office application, just remove the Microsoft Preferences in the Preferences (Voorkeuren) folder of your System Folder (or drag them to your desktop for backup). Reboot the system and start Word. A new Microsoft Preferences folder will be created in your Preferences (Voorkeuren) folder of your System Folder. Have your Serial number (or registration card) ready to re-enter.

Conflicts with Norton Anti-virus 5.0 and 6.x (here’s looking at you, Guy)

File Open and Save functions in Word, Excel and Powerpoint will lock your system if Norton Anti-Virus (NAV) is enabled on your system. The workaround is to either disable the NAV extension, which gives you no protection at all, or to disable the scan function in NAV for ‘application run’ and ‘file open’. The application will not lock your system if you open a file directly from a folder (i.e. without first launching the application).

Detailed information is available from Microsoft.

Check out the following articles and sites for official documentation and software:

• The Microsoft Mactopia Downloads.
• Check the MacFixIt Reports.

Installing Office 98 on the MAC is easy as (Apple) pie. After dragging the folders to your hard disk, the programs starts a first run installation when you open an Office programme. If this process aborts with a disk error code, update your drive setup.

Run ‘Drive Setup 1.7.3′

select: Update Driver

reboot your system

Additional dictionaries and spell checkers need to be installed manually (Value Pack option). An installer for the Value Pack offers you a selection list.

Check the Microsoft web site (download area) for the latest updates. The Microsoft Office Manager (aka MOM) is available for download and can be easily added.

What WinZip offers to Windoowzz users, StuffItt does for MacOs users. If you started with StuffIt Deluxe 5.0 ,originally from Aladdin Systems, you can upgrade it. A free upgrade to 5.1.5 is available to registered users (have your serial# ready to instal). DropStuff and Expander version 6.0.x is available for PowerPC systems or higher. These upgrades are highly recommended if you experience problems with recently compressed files. They will coexist with your Stuffit Deluxe 5.1.5.

iMAC Bondi essentials

When to Install Available Updaters?

• iMAC Firmware update 1.2
• iMAC Update 1.1
• iMAC CD Update 2.0

MAC OS 8.6 support

This system will run fine with Mac OS 8.6. Make sure you run the ‘Drive setup‘ after each software upgrade. Also check if your ‘Mac OS ROM‘ is still up to date.

General comment:

Do not apply any patch or upgrade unless you experience the problems that are described by the vendors. Indeed, in some cases you only make life difficult. Follow the golden rule ‘do not touch it, when it works’.

Conflicts with USB extensions

symptom: this system was not able to boot and needed the PRAM to be cleared at each startup.

solution: disable the ‘USBSuperDiskDriver‘ and ‘USBSuperDiskUTDriver‘ extensions.

Virtual PC 2.0 support

Can’t live without Windoowzzz applications? Virtual PC will turn your Mac into a bogus PC. Note that Connectix Virtual PC 2.1.1 and earlier versions are not compatible with Mac OS 8.6 nor with 9.0.

If you started with Virtual PC 1.0 Windows95 and bought a registered 2.0 upgrade, you may follow these steps to upgrade:

Part 1: Install Virtual PC 1.0

1. Disable your Anti-virus scanner software

2. Install Virtual PC 1.0 from the CD-ROM

select ‘Custom Install’ for a 260 Mb or 150 Mb Disk Image

3. First time run of Virtual PC

enter your Serial Number

note: at this point Virtual PC may hang your system; just reboot and continue

in Windows95 enter your Windows OEM Serial Number

4. Install Virtual PC 1.0.1 Update (VPC101U.sit)

5. Run the Hard Drive Expander Updater (HDEU.sit)

Part 2: Install Virtual PC 2.0 upgrades

6. Install Virtual PC 2.0 upgrade from the CD-ROM

enter your name (it may be scrambled)

7. Install the Virtual PC 2.1.1 Update (VPC211U_sit.hqx)

note: you may also skip these updates and proceed to step 10

8. Install the Virtual PC 2.1.2 Update (VPC212U_sit.hqx)

9. Install the Virtual PC 2.1.3 Update (VPC213U_sit.hqx)

The update files are no longer available on the Internet. I made a personal repository of the files.

Part 3: Install Virtual PC 2.0 Additions and customize your settings

10. Mount the ‘Extra’s 2.0′ PC Disk to install the Virtual PC 2.0 Additions

note: these additions are necessary to share folders and to install the correct display drivers!

11. Run the updater in Windows95 (Virtual PC must be loaded)

you can drag and drop the updater file (VPC20ADD.EXE) to the Windows desktop

note: if this does not work mount the Windows disk image and the Extra’s disk image then copy the updater file to the Windows disk image

12. Start Virtual PC again

change the regional settings (keyboard, language, etc.) if appropriate

have a Windows95 master copy CD-ROM available for the drivers!

This should make your system happy. If it does not, you handled it badly and the poor thing is taking revenge.