I want to set up a system that will never be on-line and would like some
advice on how to do this.

The advantages that I think apply are:

1. No malware will ever infect the system
2. I will not need a firewall, any internet-security software or
anti-virus software, meaning that few resident security routines, loaded
at start-up, will be required leading to greater system performance.
3. I will not need to continually install security updates to system and
application software, again resulting in better performance as well as
easier set-up
4. I will not be tempted to load on the latest level of software
'enhancements', most of which are really not useful additions to
software which is already seriously over-bloated to start with (for
example, I doubt whether there are many things in PS CS3 which were not
in PS 6.5 and which are critical to my work). This will mean I spend far
less time maintaining my system, learning new software and battling with
system instabilities.
5. I don't need to move inexorably to newer hardware every 12 months, as
I have been doing for the past 10 years. Ms Word and/or competitive
equivalents ran with acceptable performance and acceptable function 15
years ago on my 120 Mhz, 32 Mb RAM Pentium system.


But there are problems I can foresee:

A. Windows XP will not work without an on-line activation (I suppose I
could revert to Win 2K - that was equally stable, but some of my
software is XP (and later) only). Some apps. are moving (or have moved)
to a similar requirement.
B. I fear some, as yet unspecified, problems with web-browsers (which
are required accessing html help files for example).
C. Some major apps. (like those in MS Office) require on-line
connectivity to provide help support.
D. There is the obvious problem of getting data into and out of this
system. Yes, I could use R/W CD media (a throw back to the old pre-LAN
days of 'sneaker-ware') - but it's not really attractive. IF I have any
LAN connectivity, there is always the risk that malware will migrate
across the LAN - isn't there?
E. I can't do LAN printing or back up data to my in-house 'server'.

I'm sure there must be a smart way of meeting my objectives. Can
somebody point me in the right direction?

Thanks.

You can activate by phone.

"X-Eyed_Bear" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:WA6Hj.22800$(E-Mail Removed)...
>I want to set up a system that will never be on-line and would like some
>advice on how to do this.
>
> The advantages that I think apply are:
>
> 1. No malware will ever infect the system
> 2. I will not need a firewall, any internet-security software or
> anti-virus software, meaning that few resident security routines, loaded
> at start-up, will be required leading to greater system performance.
> 3. I will not need to continually install security updates to system and
> application software, again resulting in better performance as well as
> easier set-up
> 4. I will not be tempted to load on the latest level of software
> 'enhancements', most of which are really not useful additions to software
> which is already seriously over-bloated to start with (for example, I
> doubt whether there are many things in PS CS3 which were not in PS 6.5 and
> which are critical to my work). This will mean I spend far less time
> maintaining my system, learning new software and battling with system
> instabilities.
> 5. I don't need to move inexorably to newer hardware every 12 months, as I
> have been doing for the past 10 years. Ms Word and/or competitive
> equivalents ran with acceptable performance and acceptable function 15
> years ago on my 120 Mhz, 32 Mb RAM Pentium system.
>
>
> But there are problems I can foresee:
>
> A. Windows XP will not work without an on-line activation (I suppose I
> could revert to Win 2K - that was equally stable, but some of my software
> is XP (and later) only). Some apps. are moving (or have moved) to a
> similar requirement.
> B. I fear some, as yet unspecified, problems with web-browsers (which are
> required accessing html help files for example).
> C. Some major apps. (like those in MS Office) require on-line connectivity
> to provide help support.
> D. There is the obvious problem of getting data into and out of this
> system. Yes, I could use R/W CD media (a throw back to the old pre-LAN
> days of 'sneaker-ware') - but it's not really attractive. IF I have any
> LAN connectivity, there is always the risk that malware will migrate
> across the LAN - isn't there?
> E. I can't do LAN printing or back up data to my in-house 'server'.
>
> I'm sure there must be a smart way of meeting my objectives. Can somebody
> point me in the right direction?
>
> Thanks.

X-Eyed_Bear wrote:
> I want to set up a system that will never be on-line and would like some
> advice on how to do this.
>
> The advantages that I think apply are:
>
> 1. No malware will ever infect the system
> 2. I will not need a firewall, any internet-security software or
> anti-virus software, meaning that few resident security routines, loaded
> at start-up, will be required leading to greater system performance.
> 3. I will not need to continually install security updates to system and
> application software, again resulting in better performance as well as
> easier set-up
> 4. I will not be tempted to load on the latest level of software
> 'enhancements', most of which are really not useful additions to
> software which is already seriously over-bloated to start with (for
> example, I doubt whether there are many things in PS CS3 which were not
> in PS 6.5 and which are critical to my work). This will mean I spend far
> less time maintaining my system, learning new software and battling with
> system instabilities.
> 5. I don't need to move inexorably to newer hardware every 12 months, as
> I have been doing for the past 10 years. Ms Word and/or competitive
> equivalents ran with acceptable performance and acceptable function 15
> years ago on my 120 Mhz, 32 Mb RAM Pentium system.
>
>
> But there are problems I can foresee:
>
> A. Windows XP will not work without an on-line activation (I suppose I
> could revert to Win 2K - that was equally stable, but some of my
> software is XP (and later) only). Some apps. are moving (or have moved)
> to a similar requirement.
> B. I fear some, as yet unspecified, problems with web-browsers (which
> are required accessing html help files for example).
> C. Some major apps. (like those in MS Office) require on-line
> connectivity to provide help support.
> D. There is the obvious problem of getting data into and out of this
> system. Yes, I could use R/W CD media (a throw back to the old pre-LAN
> days of 'sneaker-ware') - but it's not really attractive. IF I have any
> LAN connectivity, there is always the risk that malware will migrate
> across the LAN - isn't there?
> E. I can't do LAN printing or back up data to my in-house 'server'.
>
> I'm sure there must be a smart way of meeting my objectives. Can
> somebody point me in the right direction?
>
> Thanks.
you can phone in the activation.
Zone Alarm Firewall differentiates between Internet access and Trusted
network for traffic. I'm not going to say it works right, but I can't
see why it would specify the two if there weren't some use for it. IF
it works, you could just block all 'internet' activity.
The other issues, yes, its a bit questionable. I use ZoneAlarm and
block some programs like microsoft help F1, and have no issues with it.
So problem C may not be an issue.

X-Eyed_Bear <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I want to set up a system that will never be on-line and would like some
>advice on how to do this.
>
>The advantages that I think apply are:
>
>1. No malware will ever infect the system

I've been online for 18 years... never a malware or virus infestation.

>2. I will not need a firewall, any internet-security software or
>anti-virus software, meaning that few resident security routines, loaded
>at start-up, will be required leading to greater system performance.

Using XP firewall here: no hit on performance. If you're running a
very old system, then such a hit might be something to consider, but
not with today's systems.

>3. I will not need to continually install security updates to system and
>application software, again resulting in better performance as well as
>easier set-up

Minimal time needed to do the above.

>4. I will not be tempted to load on the latest level of software
>'enhancements',

Learn some discipline. Staying offline won't help you there.

>5. I don't need to move inexorably to newer hardware every 12 months, as
> I have been doing for the past 10 years. Ms Word and/or competitive
>equivalents ran with acceptable performance and acceptable function 15
>years ago on my 120 Mhz, 32 Mb RAM Pentium system.

Stick with programs that work for you. I'm running a 6 year old
version of Photoshop, MS Office 2002, etc.

Again: discipline will help you here.

PD43 wrote:
> X-Eyed_Bear <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> I want to set up a system that will never be on-line and would like some
>> advice on how to do this.
>>
>> The advantages that I think apply are:
>>
>> 1. No malware will ever infect the system
>
> I've been online for 18 years... never a malware or virus infestation.
>
>> 2. I will not need a firewall, any internet-security software or
>> anti-virus software, meaning that few resident security routines, loaded
>> at start-up, will be required leading to greater system performance.
>
> Using XP firewall here: no hit on performance. If you're running a
> very old system, then such a hit might be something to consider, but
> not with today's systems.
>
>> 3. I will not need to continually install security updates to system and
>> application software, again resulting in better performance as well as
>> easier set-up
>
> Minimal time needed to do the above.
>
>> 4. I will not be tempted to load on the latest level of software
>> 'enhancements',
>
> Learn some discipline. Staying offline won't help you there.
>
>> 5. I don't need to move inexorably to newer hardware every 12 months, as
>> I have been doing for the past 10 years. Ms Word and/or competitive
>> equivalents ran with acceptable performance and acceptable function 15
>> years ago on my 120 Mhz, 32 Mb RAM Pentium system.
>
> Stick with programs that work for you. I'm running a 6 year old
> version of Photoshop, MS Office 2002, etc.
>
> Again: discipline will help you here.
I agree with PD43. My AV catches what items I do get, 1 a year. And I
play a lot. On purpose. So if you stopped sticking your finger in the
mud, it won't get dirty.
Browse known good sites, don't download. Like PD43, I use the same ole
programs, some from the 1990's that are old DOS command line I would
love to get into a windows GUI form but heck, I run them 1 time a year
maybe and they work. IF IT WORKS, USE IT. I too like the old
programs, I have Photoshop Elements 2.0 It was simple.