Re: Internet connection problem

January 10, 2008

Re: Internet connection problem

Forwarded to WinME General via crosspost.

--

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)

MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)

AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net

DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Alan wrote:

> I'm running WinMe and had a hardware crash that wiped out most of the

> files for Zone Alarm (free ed) and AVG Anti-virus. I re-installed AVG

> OK but ZA won't re-install, and I got various error messages about

> VSUTIL.DLL not found. However that file was still in C:\Windows\System

> with its original date-stamp and I tried replacing it without success.

> I eventually fixed ongoing error messages at startup by finding and

> deleting residual files and registry entries for ZA, but it still

> won't re-install. I also got an error message in Total Recorder at

> close-down saying it couldn't reinstate missing registry key

> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\Schemes\Apps\.Default\InternetAlert

> \.Current so I added that key manually (with no content) without

> making any difference. I've also tried re-installing Total Recorder

> and re-installing Windows.

>

> Apart from having no firewall I also have a major problem with

> Internet connection speed (I am on dial-up), which is normal (about

> 36K) when I re-boot and first connect with Firefox, then slows down to

> about 0.05K after a few minutes on-line and everything times out

> including Outlook Express. Not sure whether it's idle time, number of

> packets sent or switching sites that triggers the problem. Closing the

> browser doesn't fix it but a re-boot does. Ping Plotter gives normal

> response times but a few unreacheable destinations. Local URL's are OK

> so that might be irrelevant. The Dr TCP settings I can see are also

> OK.

>

> I have run out of things to try. Can anyone help me with other

> suggestions or registry settings relating to ports, firewalls,

> browsers and Internet connection that might have been corrupted

> please? And where can I find the correct settings?

>

> It took several re-boots to post this message.

January 11, 2008

Re: Internet connection problem

Re: Internet connection problem

On Jan 9, 9:19 pm, "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABear...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Forwarded to WinME General via crosspost.

> --

> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)

> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)

> AumHa VSOP & Adminhttp://aumha.net

> DTS-Lhttp://dts-l.net/

>

> Alan wrote:

> > I'm running WinMe and had a hardware crash that wiped out most of the

> > files for Zone Alarm (free ed) and AVG Anti-virus. I re-installed AVG

> > OK but ZA won't re-install, and I got various error messages about

> > VSUTIL.DLL not found. However that file was still in C:\Windows\System

> > with its original date-stamp and I tried replacing it without success.

> > I eventually fixed ongoing error messages at startup by finding and

> > deleting residual files and registry entries for ZA, but it still

> > won't re-install. I also got an error message in Total Recorder at

> > close-down saying it couldn't reinstate missing registry key

> > HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\Schemes\Apps\.Default\InternetAlert

> > \.Current so I added that key manually (with no content) without

> > making any difference. I've also tried re-installing Total Recorder

> > and re-installing Windows.

>

> > Apart from having no firewall I also have a major problem with

> > Internet connection speed (I am on dial-up), which is normal (about

> > 36K) when I re-boot and first connect with Firefox, then slows down to

> > about 0.05K after a few minutes on-line and everything times out

> > including Outlook Express. Not sure whether it's idle time, number of

> > packets sent or switching sites that triggers the problem. Closing the

> > browser doesn't fix it but a re-boot does. Ping Plotter gives normal

> > response times but a few unreacheable destinations. Local URL's are OK

> > so that might be irrelevant. The Dr TCP settings I can see are also

> > OK.

>

> > I have run out of things to try. Can anyone help me with other

> > suggestions or registry settings relating to ports, firewalls,

> > browsers and Internet connection that might have been corrupted

> > please? And where can I find the correct settings?

>

> > It took several re-boots to post this message.- Hide quoted text -

>

> - Show quoted text -

Have you tried System Restore to some time before the hardware crash,

Remove ZA (which version do you have?), put on AVG (I find AVG 7.5

"works")? No doubt you would have put on any backup if you had one?

January 12, 2008

Re: Internet connection problem

Re: Internet connection problem

> Have you tried System Restore to some time before the hardware crash,

> Remove ZA (which version do you have?), put on AVG (I find AVG 7.5

> "works")? No doubt you would have put on any backup if you had one?

No I didn't - I decided the missing folders for AVG and ZA were first

priority, then when I ran into reinstall problems I thought there

might be missing system files too so I reinstalled Windows - which of

course wiped out all the earlier Restore points. Catch 22.

I have since realized my 'normal' connection is also very slow (only 3

or 4K) and the cause of the additional slowing isn't Internet

connection but something else - no idea what yet. Wondering if a

registry patch of all the settings that might be affecting it would be

worth trying, but I don't know where to get it from. Any ideas please?

January 12, 2008

Re: Internet connection problem

Re: Internet connection problem

How do you know the internet connection isn't the problem? It's my

experience that telephone line quality is darn near *everything* when it

comes to dial-up connection speed.

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

http://www.grystmill.com

"Alan" <alan_raro@hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:2c101068-a783-4ca0-8414-23b9e3664780@z17g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...

>> Have you tried System Restore to some time before the hardware crash,

>> Remove ZA (which version do you have?), put on AVG (I find AVG 7.5

>> "works")? No doubt you would have put on any backup if you had one?

>

> No I didn't - I decided the missing folders for AVG and ZA were first

> priority, then when I ran into reinstall problems I thought there

> might be missing system files too so I reinstalled Windows - which of

> course wiped out all the earlier Restore points. Catch 22.

>

> I have since realized my 'normal' connection is also very slow (only 3

> or 4K) and the cause of the additional slowing isn't Internet

> connection but something else - no idea what yet. Wondering if a

> registry patch of all the settings that might be affecting it would be

> worth trying, but I don't know where to get it from. Any ideas please?

January 12, 2008

Re: Internet connection problem

Re: Internet connection problem

Agree, telephone dialup is the worst type of connection to the internet..

I fought with the local phone company for over 10 years about the dialup i

had..

First they installed "boosters" on my service, which makes the voice

better but the data stream

worse.. went from 33,600 down to 26,400..

Then the phone company had falures on their remote switches which further

reduced the packets

down to 14,400.

each time the phone company "tryed" to do anything it just got worse..

When I finnally dropped AT&T (BellSouth) my dialup was 4,600..

And just like you I had completely redone my computer 3 or 4 times with no

good results..

To this day the AT&T people have denied they have any fault in the matter..

(however I have talked to over 20 neighbors and all using dialup had the

same problems..)

((further test of the telephone network in this region showed not one of

the phone switches or

line services were compliant with FCC regulations))

RTS

"Alan" <alan_raro@hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:2c101068-a783-4ca0-8414-23b9e3664780@z17g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...

> > Have you tried System Restore to some time before the hardware crash,

> > Remove ZA (which version do you have?), put on AVG (I find AVG 7.5

> > "works")? No doubt you would have put on any backup if you had one?

>

> No I didn't - I decided the missing folders for AVG and ZA were first

> priority, then when I ran into reinstall problems I thought there

> might be missing system files too so I reinstalled Windows - which of

> course wiped out all the earlier Restore points. Catch 22.

>

> I have since realized my 'normal' connection is also very slow (only 3

> or 4K) and the cause of the additional slowing isn't Internet

> connection but something else - no idea what yet. Wondering if a

> registry patch of all the settings that might be affecting it would be

> worth trying, but I don't know where to get it from. Any ideas please?

January 12, 2008

Re: Internet connection problem

Re: Internet connection problem

You may want to give "Copper.net" a try, my experience with them is quite

positive.

Harry.

"Alan" <alan_raro@hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:2c101068-a783-4ca0-8414-23b9e3664780@z17g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...

> > Have you tried System Restore to some time before the hardware crash,

> > Remove ZA (which version do you have?), put on AVG (I find AVG 7.5

> > "works")? No doubt you would have put on any backup if you had one?

>

> No I didn't - I decided the missing folders for AVG and ZA were first

> priority, then when I ran into reinstall problems I thought there

> might be missing system files too so I reinstalled Windows - which of

> course wiped out all the earlier Restore points. Catch 22.

>

> I have since realized my 'normal' connection is also very slow (only 3

> or 4K) and the cause of the additional slowing isn't Internet

> connection but something else - no idea what yet. Wondering if a

> registry patch of all the settings that might be affecting it would be

> worth trying, but I don't know where to get it from. Any ideas please?

January 13, 2008

Re: Internet connection problem

Re: Internet connection problem

On Jan 12, 1:22 pm, "webster72n" <webster...@gmail.com> wrote:

> You may want to give "Copper.net" a try, my experience with them is quite

> positive.

>

Thanks but I'm in New Zealand so Copper Net isn't an option. Also I've

checked with my ISP and they say there are no current connection

issues. I'm fairly sure the problem is with my PC because (i) it began

with the CD drive crash that wiped out Zone Alarm (ii) what was left

of ZA wouldn't uninstall so I had to delete leftover files mentioned

in re-boot error messages then searched the registry for leftover

settings and I probably missed some (iii) ZA refuses to re-install

with a missing VSUTIL.DLL error message when it isn't missing (iv) a

re-connect doesn't make any difference but a reboot and reconnect

does, and if it was an ISP issue their software wouldn't know I'd re-

booted while I was offline. If there were orphaned ZA registry keys

Registry Healer should find them but it doesn't. As to why

reinstalling Windows didn't work, all I can think of is that I did it

before I'd removed the ZA residuals that were causing reboot error

messages, and the new registry might have been corrupted during those

re-starts.

The handshake in the modem log is normal and as I said earlier Ping

Plotter gives normal response times, the CD drive's working again and

I can't find any other hardware errors so I don't think hardware's the

problem. Which leaves bad port, firewall and connection settings in

the registry as the most likely suspect, hence my question where I can

get a patch for those?

January 13, 2008

Re: Internet connection problem

Re: Internet connection problem

Regarding your ZA problem, please follow these instructions all the way through, as

originally received from ZoneLabs:

STEP1: UNINSTALL ZONEALARM

============

Windows 98/ME

============

01.) Click Start, Run

02.) In the Run box type in MSConfig

03.) Click OK

04.) Click the Advanced Button

05.) Place a check in Enable Startup Menu

06.) Click OK, then OK again

07.) Restart your computer

08.) Upon restart choose Safe Mode off the menu by using the arrow keys on the

keyboard and pressing Enter

09.) Once in Safe Mode close the help and support screen

10.) Double Click My Computer

11.) Click View, Folder Options, View Tab

12.) Place a dot next to "Show Hidden Files and Folders" or "Show All Files"

13.) Remove the check from "Hide Protected Operating System Files (Recommended)"

14.) Choose Yes to the warning

15.) Click OK

16.) Double click the "C:" drive

Note: In the future steps if you do not see any files or folders, please click the

"Show Files" link to view them.

17.) Double Click the Program Files Folder

18.) Right Click the Zone Labs Folder, click Delete, and choose Yes

19.) Close this window

20.) Click Start, My Computer

21.) Double Click the C:

22.) Double Click the Windows Folder

23.) Right Click the Internet Logs Folder, click Delete, and choose Yes

24.) Double Click the System Folder

25.) Click View, Details

26.) Right Click the Zone Labs Folder, click Delete, and choose Yes

27.) Right Click the file VSData95.VxD, click Delete, and choose Yes

28.) Right Click the file VSUtil.dll, click Delete, and choose Yes

29.) Right Click the file VSInit.dll, click Delete, and choose Yes

30.) Close this window

31.) Click Start, Run

32.) In the Run box type in RegEdit

33.) Click OK

34.) Click the + next to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

35.) Click the + next to SYSTEM

36.) Click the + next to CurrentControlSet

37.) Click the + next to Services

38.) Click the + next to VxD

39.) Highlight the "VSData95" folder

40.) Press Delete, click Yes

41.) close the registry Editor

42.) Click Start, Run

43.) In the Run box type in MSConfig

44.) Click OK

45.) Click the Advanced Button

46.) Remove check in Enable Startup Menu

47.) Click OK, then OK again

48.) Restart your computer

STEP 2: FIX THE ROOT CERTIFICATES ON YOUR SYSTEM

Open Your browser and navigate to the following URL.

Once at the web page follow the directions to reset your root certificates.

https://getca.verisign.com/

STEP 3: DOWNLOAD AND REINSTALL YOUR PREVIOUS VERSION OF ZONEALARM

Select the appropriate download link below to download ZoneAlarm.

Remember to SAVE the download to your desktop. DO NOT select RUN or OPEN when

downloading.

ZoneAlarm (FREE)

http://www.zonelabs.com/zadownload

--

Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+

http://dts-l.net/

http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm

"Alan" <alan_raro@hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:c97a0c95-8c67-4967-9877-e254558c5104@e32g2000prn.googlegroups.com...

> On Jan 12, 1:22 pm, "webster72n" <webster...@gmail.com> wrote:

>> You may want to give "Copper.net" a try, my experience with them is quite

>> positive.

>>

> Thanks but I'm in New Zealand so Copper Net isn't an option. Also I've

> checked with my ISP and they say there are no current connection

> issues. I'm fairly sure the problem is with my PC because (i) it began

> with the CD drive crash that wiped out Zone Alarm (ii) what was left

> of ZA wouldn't uninstall so I had to delete leftover files mentioned

> in re-boot error messages then searched the registry for leftover

> settings and I probably missed some (iii) ZA refuses to re-install

> with a missing VSUTIL.DLL error message when it isn't missing (iv) a

> re-connect doesn't make any difference but a reboot and reconnect

> does, and if it was an ISP issue their software wouldn't know I'd re-

> booted while I was offline. If there were orphaned ZA registry keys

> Registry Healer should find them but it doesn't. As to why

> reinstalling Windows didn't work, all I can think of is that I did it

> before I'd removed the ZA residuals that were causing reboot error

> messages, and the new registry might have been corrupted during those

> re-starts.

>

> The handshake in the modem log is normal and as I said earlier Ping

> Plotter gives normal response times, the CD drive's working again and

> I can't find any other hardware errors so I don't think hardware's the

> problem. Which leaves bad port, firewall and connection settings in

> the registry as the most likely suspect, hence my question where I can

> get a patch for those?

January 14, 2008

Re: Internet connection problem

Re: Internet connection problem

That should fix him up, Glee.

Had no idea Alan was all the way from New Zealand.

From tv- and other pictures it looks like a beautiful piece of country.

Harry.

"glee" <glee29@spamindspring.com> wrote in message

news:emLsEMhVIHA.5160@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> Regarding your ZA problem, please follow these instructions all the way

through, as

> originally received from ZoneLabs:

>

> STEP1: UNINSTALL ZONEALARM

> ============

> Windows 98/ME

> ============

> 01.) Click Start, Run

> 02.) In the Run box type in MSConfig

> 03.) Click OK

> 04.) Click the Advanced Button

> 05.) Place a check in Enable Startup Menu

> 06.) Click OK, then OK again

> 07.) Restart your computer

> 08.) Upon restart choose Safe Mode off the menu by using the arrow keys on

the

> keyboard and pressing Enter

> 09.) Once in Safe Mode close the help and support screen

> 10.) Double Click My Computer

> 11.) Click View, Folder Options, View Tab

> 12.) Place a dot next to "Show Hidden Files and Folders" or "Show All

Files"

> 13.) Remove the check from "Hide Protected Operating System Files

(Recommended)"

> 14.) Choose Yes to the warning

> 15.) Click OK

> 16.) Double click the "C:" drive

>

> Note: In the future steps if you do not see any files or folders, please

click the

> "Show Files" link to view them.

>

> 17.) Double Click the Program Files Folder

> 18.) Right Click the Zone Labs Folder, click Delete, and choose Yes

> 19.) Close this window

> 20.) Click Start, My Computer

> 21.) Double Click the C:

> 22.) Double Click the Windows Folder

> 23.) Right Click the Internet Logs Folder, click Delete, and choose Yes

> 24.) Double Click the System Folder

> 25.) Click View, Details

> 26.) Right Click the Zone Labs Folder, click Delete, and choose Yes

> 27.) Right Click the file VSData95.VxD, click Delete, and choose Yes

> 28.) Right Click the file VSUtil.dll, click Delete, and choose Yes

> 29.) Right Click the file VSInit.dll, click Delete, and choose Yes

> 30.) Close this window

> 31.) Click Start, Run

> 32.) In the Run box type in RegEdit

> 33.) Click OK

> 34.) Click the + next to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

> 35.) Click the + next to SYSTEM

> 36.) Click the + next to CurrentControlSet

> 37.) Click the + next to Services

> 38.) Click the + next to VxD

> 39.) Highlight the "VSData95" folder

> 40.) Press Delete, click Yes

> 41.) close the registry Editor

> 42.) Click Start, Run

> 43.) In the Run box type in MSConfig

> 44.) Click OK

> 45.) Click the Advanced Button

> 46.) Remove check in Enable Startup Menu

> 47.) Click OK, then OK again

> 48.) Restart your computer

>

> STEP 2: FIX THE ROOT CERTIFICATES ON YOUR SYSTEM

> Open Your browser and navigate to the following URL.

> Once at the web page follow the directions to reset your root

certificates.

> https://getca.verisign.com/

>

> STEP 3: DOWNLOAD AND REINSTALL YOUR PREVIOUS VERSION OF ZONEALARM

> Select the appropriate download link below to download ZoneAlarm.

> Remember to SAVE the download to your desktop. DO NOT select RUN or OPEN

when

> downloading.

>

> ZoneAlarm (FREE)

> http://www.zonelabs.com/zadownload

>

> --

> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+

> http://dts-l.net/

> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm

>

> "Alan" <alan_raro@hotmail.com> wrote in message

> news:c97a0c95-8c67-4967-9877-e254558c5104@e32g2000prn.googlegroups.com...

> > On Jan 12, 1:22 pm, "webster72n" <webster...@gmail.com> wrote:

> >> You may want to give "Copper.net" a try, my experience with them is

quite

> >> positive.

> >>

> > Thanks but I'm in New Zealand so Copper Net isn't an option. Also I've

> > checked with my ISP and they say there are no current connection

> > issues. I'm fairly sure the problem is with my PC because (i) it began

> > with the CD drive crash that wiped out Zone Alarm (ii) what was left

> > of ZA wouldn't uninstall so I had to delete leftover files mentioned

> > in re-boot error messages then searched the registry for leftover

> > settings and I probably missed some (iii) ZA refuses to re-install

> > with a missing VSUTIL.DLL error message when it isn't missing (iv) a

> > re-connect doesn't make any difference but a reboot and reconnect

> > does, and if it was an ISP issue their software wouldn't know I'd re-

> > booted while I was offline. If there were orphaned ZA registry keys

> > Registry Healer should find them but it doesn't. As to why

> > reinstalling Windows didn't work, all I can think of is that I did it

> > before I'd removed the ZA residuals that were causing reboot error

> > messages, and the new registry might have been corrupted during those

> > re-starts.

> >

> > The handshake in the modem log is normal and as I said earlier Ping

> > Plotter gives normal response times, the CD drive's working again and

> > I can't find any other hardware errors so I don't think hardware's the

> > problem. Which leaves bad port, firewall and connection settings in

> > the registry as the most likely suspect, hence my question where I can

> > get a patch for those?

>

January 14, 2008

Re: Internet connection problem

Re: Internet connection problem

"RockyTSquirrel" <gafa_usa@/nospam/hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:364ij.32484$Ux2.7866@attbi_s22...

> Agree, telephone dialup is the worst type of connection to the

> internet..

> I fought with the local phone company for over 10 years about the dialup

> i

> had..

> First they installed "boosters" on my service, which makes the voice

> better but the data stream

> worse.. went from 33,600 down to 26,400..

> Then the phone company had falures on their remote switches which further

> reduced the packets

> down to 14,400.

It's funny how things change. When I first started using the net before it

was the internet, connecting to other computers on bulletin board systems,

14,400 bps was really fast. Now most people are getting cable/DSL and

dialup of any speed is unbearably slow. I subscribe to the 'fast' cable

internet even though I think the price is too high and now it seems they've

invented a much faster cable internet so they can charge even more. My PC

is about 5 years old and I don't have a single HDTV yet, but I hear the

latest goal is getting HD movies to download to the PC.

January 15, 2008

Re: Internet connection problem

Re: Internet connection problem

On Jan 14, 7:35 am, "glee" <gle...@spamindspring.com> wrote:

> Regarding your ZAproblem, please follow these instructions all the way through, as

> originally received from ZoneLabs:

>

Thank you very much, Glen. My manual clean-out had missed steps 27,

29, 39 and the root certificate update. Things are better but still

not right - I tried to reinstall ZA from my saved download from 2001

and got an error message about a missing vsinit.dll file which the

instructions had said to delete. Since re-doing yet another uninstall

I now seem to be able to stay on-line longer before things seize up -

but the problem is still there.

What I'll try next is to again reinstall Windows (knowing ZA is gone)

then look for a later ZA download.

Thank you too Harry - since the Lord Of The Rings movies were made

here we've had a lot more favorable comment on our scenery from your

part of the world. When I visited the USA in 1980 the question about

NZ I remember most was "zat somewhere near New Brunswick?" The

funniest encounter was with a Disneyland guide who remarked on my

accent, which led to each of us insisting it was the other person who

had one!

I'll let you know how I get on.

January 15, 2008

Re: Internet connection problem

Re: Internet connection problem

"Alan" <alan_raro@hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:ff14fa9f-2540-46c3-a6b8-e58ca75d64eb@i12g2000prf.googlegroups.com...

> Thank you too Harry - since the Lord Of The Rings movies were made

> here we've had a lot more favorable comment on our scenery from your

> part of the world. When I visited the USA in 1980 the question about

> NZ I remember most was "zat somewhere near New Brunswick?" The

> funniest encounter was with a Disneyland guide who remarked on my

> accent, which led to each of us insisting it was the other person who

> had one!

>

> I'll let you know how I get on.

I didn't realize LOTR was filmed in NZ but it is beautiful country - because

I know Xena: Warrior Princess was filmed there..

I hear the people in that part of the world aren't very friendly to

Americans though.

January 16, 2008

Re: Internet connection problem

Re: Internet connection problem

"webster72n" <webster72n@gmail.com> wrote in news:O1WeaeUVIHA.4196

@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl:

> You may want to give "Copper.net" a try, my experience with them is quite

> positive.

>

> Harry.

>

I would second that. Been using Copper for years, very good. I called them

today, they have 50K users now on DU, growing, no plans to end DU.

ms

January 16, 2008

Re: Internet connection problem

Re: Internet connection problem

Thanks again to everyone. My connection speed is back to what it was

and Broadband Report's tweak utility gives it the all-clear.

Interesting what a few innocent-looking leftovers can do. I haven't

had time to sort out the firewall re-install problem yet. I know there

were issues with some versions of Zone Alarm, but I've got too much

else to do right now, so for a few days I'll risk working without a

firewall and hope Spyware Doctor gives me enough protection.

We like Americans OK Eric - it's just your current administration

we're not especially keen on. Then of course there was the nuclear

ship spat of almost 30 years ago which America completely

misunderstood - what we were objecting to (it was just after

Chernobyl) was the risk of a nuclear-powered ship having a reactor

accident while here and making our largest city uninhabitable for 50

years just so a few of your servicemen could have some R&R. That's not

how your Secretary of State (I forget his name) saw it - he decided we

were about to sabotage America's entire Pacific defense strategy and

kicked us out of ANZUS, which got us into strife with neighboring

Australia over commitments to joint defense operations. I guess

politicians are the same all over the world.

Please feel welcome to visit us - lots of Americans do and we'd love

to have you.

January 16, 2008

Re: Internet connection problem

Re: Internet connection problem

"Alan" <alan_raro@hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:73279501-8a79-447d-adf0-2d4517e3f852@e6g2000prf.googlegroups.com...

> Thanks again to everyone. My connection speed is back to what it was

> and Broadband Report's tweak utility gives it the all-clear.

> Interesting what a few innocent-looking leftovers can do. I haven't

> had time to sort out the firewall re-install problem yet. I know there

> were issues with some versions of Zone Alarm, but I've got too much

> else to do right now, so for a few days I'll risk working without a

> firewall and hope Spyware Doctor gives me enough protection.

>

> We like Americans OK Eric - it's just your current administration

> we're not especially keen on. Then of course there was the nuclear

> ship spat of almost 30 years ago which America completely

> misunderstood - what we were objecting to (it was just after

> Chernobyl) was the risk of a nuclear-powered ship having a reactor

> accident while here and making our largest city uninhabitable for 50

> years just so a few of your servicemen could have some R&R. That's not

> how your Secretary of State (I forget his name) saw it - he decided we

> were about to sabotage America's entire Pacific defense strategy and

> kicked us out of ANZUS, which got us into strife with neighboring

> Australia over commitments to joint defense operations. I guess

> politicians are the same all over the world.

>

> Please feel welcome to visit us - lots of Americans do and we'd love

> to have you.

That's awfully nice of you, Alan and just the way I assumed.

Thank you,

Harry.

January 17, 2008