Tech: untrying the sound software

Subject: RE: tech: untrying the sound software
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 04 May 05 - 07:00 PM

And congratulations, leeneia, on doing it right.

Many people seem to be unable to resist the tempatation to just delete program folders, and that often really messes things up.

Some programs will put an "uninstall" program in their folder, and those are usually safe to use if you're reasonably confident of the source. The recommended method, though, is is to always use the Windows Add/Remove programs for any programs that show up there.

John

Subject: RE: tech: untrying the sound software
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 04 May 05 - 06:09 PM

I know. I'm just trying to share useful info with those who don't know.

Subject: RE: tech: untrying the sound software
From: Bill D
Date: 04 May 05 - 11:29 AM

Safe software depends on where you get it and knowing how to find trustworthy sources. You just have to have a procedure, and all it really takes is a bit of time and not waiting till you MUST have something to learn about the alternatives.

Subject: RE: tech: untrying the sound software
From: JedMarum
Date: 04 May 05 - 10:26 AM

"Free" software, and sometimes paid-for stuff comes with so many "strings attached" in the form of internet communications, that they can bring your internet surfing to a near stand-still. They very often include what you and I might call spyware - I'm sure they'd call them product enhancements. They may be logging all your activities to various hosts, checking behind the scenes for other people using their software and exchanging information, collecting data on your PC from their locations (users and servers) to increase their on-line processing power - or ALL of the above!

Sneaky bast*ards ... and it's all apparently legal, still.

Sound software IS the greatest abuser, in my estimation - but I stay away from free software and even treat the store bought stuff with a suspicious eye.

Subject: tech: untrying the sound software
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 04 May 05 - 09:57 AM

Recently there was a thread on converting CD's to mp3. Somebody recommended downloading trial software from an Australian company called Switch. I downloaded their trial applications, and it was bad for my computer.

NB: I have found over the years that computers are very touchy about sound applications. If you downloaded something to do with sound and your computer starts acting peculiar, then get rid of the new sound feature.

Now, my computer is getting old. It uses Windows 98. Even though the software is supposedly compatible with that, I found that all-internet tasks were slooooow or didn't work at all. So I pushed Start-Settings-Control Panel- Add/Remove Programs and removed all the of trial Switch applications except for Express Rip. (That's the one I really wanted.) Everything seems to be fine now.