Dear Windows-Help.NET subscriber, This is the first issue of the new Newsletter I intend to send out on a weekly basis. I realise that not all of you will be capable of receiving HTML mail, but for the vast majority this won't be a problem. This newsletter will also be available on-line, and a text version is available as well. Information about your free subscription options can be found at the end of this document. Note that if you where formerly subscribed to both the Windows 95 or 98 Tips & Tricks updates but under slightly different addresses you will receive duplicate copies of this Newsletter. Just unsubscribe 1 of the addresses. For the software the address xxx@aol.com is a different address than xxx@Aol.com. If you have trouble unsubscribing, just send me an email. The first major announcement I have to make is that I've teamed up with Joseph Burke of InfiniSource, Inc.. The result of this strategic alliance will be a whole new Web site under the InfiniSource.com banner, with far greater depth and scope than either of our individual Web sites could offer before. InfiniSource will indeed become your gateway to the "Infinite Resources of the Internet". Soon you will see a completely redesigned Web site, as we merge our Web sites into one vast resource. You can still access your favourite Windows-Help.NET site at it's usual address, that won't change. However, this important development will give me a lot more time to devote to the combined Web site, enabling me to develop it to a far greater extent than was ever before possible. You are reading the first tangible result of this merger... this redesigned and expanded news letter. We also plan to increase the number of recommended books in the Bookshop. Through our association with Amazon.com we can offer you the service of a renowned Internet retailer, while we - on the other hand - will sift through the vast selection available and try to list only the "best of the breed" books. In the past week I've updated the Support BBS with the latest software. This greatly enhances the usability of the BBS. And yes, a major change in the BBS color-scheme is in the works, and for the Web site as well. This will all come together when I have completed work on the new site, which will merge the Windows-Help.NET and InfiniSource.com sites.

We keep you abreast of these developments and hope to have the new site online by early next year. In the News On the 17th of November, a federal judge gave Microsoft 90 days to modify its Windows 98 operating system or pull it from the market. This in relation with the Sun Java lawsuit. Microsoft didn't take long to react. Microsoft explains how it will comply with the preliminary ruling in the Sun Microsystems lawsuit without impacting users or losing functionality. If you want to keep up with all the news regarding the Microsoft anti-trust case, visit the IT Works Web site, where Patrick Van Renterghem has assembled a good links page. Speaking about the anti-trust case, the announcement by America Online on Tuesday that they will acquire Netscape Communications in a stock-for-stock transaction, has already caused Microsoft to urge the government to drop it's anti-trust case against the software giant. The AOL - Netscape deal is worth around $4.2 billion. At the same time, AOL also announced a strategic alliance with Sun Microsystems, an alliance that will dramatically shift the balance of power in the online world. Note to Bob Cringely's article Microsoft to kill Samba? Bob Cringely talks about a Microsoft Knowledge Base Article Q166730 which was removed from the Knowledge Base. This article describes how to enable plain passwords in Windows 98, since Windows 98 sends only encrypted passwords by default, and Samba servers can only use unencrypted passwords. To enable unencrypted passwords in Windows 98, add the registry entry EnablePlainTextPassword (as a DWORD value), to the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ System \ CurrentControlSet \ Services \ VxD \ Vnetsup, and give it the value 1. Central Command announces the discovery of the first HTML virus.

Improve your Download Speed
To potentially double your download speed in both Windows 95/98 & NT, check out TweakDUN (new version 2.22)

Microsoft to kill Samba?
Microsoft is changing its Server Message Block (SMB) communications protocol, and removed all support for Samba on the Microsoft web site, in an apparent attempt to kill this competing product.

Read more in this column by Bob Cringely

See Note

Iomega "Click of Death"
Want to check on the Zip disk casualty figures? Read more about the Click of Death Class Action Lawsuit (Filed 9/10/98)? Check out the "Unofficial Iomega Click of Death Home page"

Microsoft gets Y2K
New effort may make up for late start. Read more in this InfoWorld article.

Microsoft Pinball Arcade
Here's a new Microsoft "giveaway", Microsoft Pinball Arcade. There's a choice of seven class table designs, although you can only play 1 in this trial version.

W9x/NT DEMO. Download (4.58Mb) | Web site.

Windows 2000 Ready PC Program
Microsoft and several leading PC manufacturers have announced the Windows 2000 Ready PC Program, which is designed to help businesses take advantage of Windows NT Workstation 4.0 while preparing for Windows 2000 Professional.

Windows NT® Services for UNIX add-on pack
With its new Services for UNIX Add-On Pack, Microsoft makes it easier to integrate Windows NT Workstation 4.0 and the Windows NT® Server 4.0 operating system with existing UNIX environments.