Openoffice New Version and Windows ME

[Dick Kistler]

So, John Corliss, does Openoffice.org_yada_1.99999_yada_118 install on
Windows ME?

Dick Kistler

 

[Sparky]

So, John Corliss, does Openoffice.org_yada_1.99999_yada_118 install on
Windows ME?

Dick Kistler

http://development.openoffice.org/releases/2.0_beta.html#mozTocId75173

Or, "yes," whichever you prefer.

-Sparky

 

[Dick Kistler]

http://development.openoffice.org/releases/2.0_beta.html#mozTocId75173

Or, "yes," whichever you prefer.

-Sparky

What I was referring to was the fact that the last publicly availiable beta
version, 1.9_113 I think, would not install on Windows ME, no matter what
the system requirements said. The bug was reported(many times), but the
developers were not in a hurry to post a version which would install on ME
just to fix that one bug(even though they had a version that fixed it). So
we had to wait another week

And the answer is...yes! OpenOffice.org version 1.9_118 does install on
Windows ME. Ta da!

Dick

 

[John Corliss]

What I was referring to was the fact that the last publicly availiable beta
version, 1.9_113 I think, would not install on Windows ME, no matter what
the system requirements said. The bug was reported(many times), but the
developers were not in a hurry to post a version which would install on ME
just to fix that one bug(even though they had a version that fixed it). So
we had to wait another week

And the answer is...yes! OpenOffice.org version 1.9_118 does install on
Windows ME. Ta da!

Dick,
Yes it does. However, in order to set it up for full functionality,
one is required to install Sun Microsystems Java Runtime Environment,
which I loath. I tried it for a while and then uninstalled both of them.
Will probably go with final version though, but I will always run my
browsers with Java disabled. It's only common sense to do so.

 

[Richard Steinfeld]

John Corliss wrote:

However, in order to set it up for full functionality,

one is required to install Sun Microsystems Java Runtime Environment,
which I loath. I tried it for a while and then uninstalled both of them.
Will probably go with final version though, but I will always run my
browsers with Java disabled. It's only common sense to do so.

This is getting to be a real problem, alright.

Last week, I discovered that one of my Sun Java directories was infested
with viruses. In a fit of disgust, I deleted all Java everything from my
Windows ME computer, then went into the registry and pulled out all the
keys by hand. I have a growing dislike of unneccessary scripting -- I
never want dancing bears on web sites I visit, and I especially am gored
by sites that make me wait forever for their etheric "art" to finish
playing before I can view their goddamn catalog. (This is good for
business?)

But almost immediately, I discovered that there's quite a bit of "good"
freeware that requires Java in order to work at all. Many programmers,
like many software and electronics engineers, are all caught up in their
own cleverness and completely out-of-touch with usability and the end
user. So, a few programs, some recommended right here, are Java or nothin'

Then, too, there's another movement underfoot. You see, it appears that
like Adobe and even in some cases, Unix and Linux, Java has become a
"platform-independent" operating system that sits on top of the
system-specific OS you're already using. Does this slow your system
down? Of course. But it allows the programmer to write one-size-fits-all
code. And we're into a new generation of software that's just that.

So, reluctantly, I reloaded Sun Java on my system, but with one new
twist that I want to share:

Repeat after me:
Thou Shalt Not Ever Allow A Program To Be Installed Remotely!

The drill was to:
1. Decline the "install now" option. Look for the locally-installed
alternative. You know, you'll usually find it on the web page with text
like, "Download this if, for some reason, you can't use our wonderful,
stupendous (oh, boy are we just so clever) instant installation."
2. Download the packed installation file (.zip, .ext: whatever).
3. If possible, unpack the .zip so that you can find any readme files
lurking in the file pack. Such a file will hopefully tell you before
rather than after, how to tweak stuff for your own system.
4. Track the installation with Total Uninstaller or a similar
installation tracker. This is an important step, and one that you cannot
do if you allow any drive-by download. Using this type of tool will
allow you to reverse all the damage at a later time without having to do
it by searching laboriously through thousands of lines in your registry.
5. And if you were (foolish, scatterbrained, tired: pick one or more)
enough to install Real Player or Quick Time (let's not forget _this_
monster), traking the installation may save your computer. I said "may."

Note: just _one_ of my new Sun Java directories contains more than
16,000 files. ***I said six teen thousand files.***

Richard

 

[Susan Bugher]

John Corliss wrote:

Then, too, there's another movement underfoot. You see, it appears that
like Adobe and even in some cases, Unix and Linux, Java has become a
"platform-independent" operating system that sits on top of the
system-specific OS you're already using. Does this slow your system
down? Of course. But it allows the programmer to write one-size-fits-all
code. And we're into a new generation of software that's just that.

IIRC the whole point of Java - the reason it came into existence - was to provide an easy road to
platform independence. That seems to me a most laudable goal. Both Java and Microsoft's NET
framework are supposed to make life easier for programmers. ISTM Microsoft's *main* goals for the
NET framework are clear (and not laudable).

Susan
--
Posted to alt.comp.freeware
Search alt.comp.freeware (or read it online):
http://groups.google.no/groups?q=+group:alt.comp.freeware&hl=en
Pricelessware & ACF: http://www.pricelesswarehome.org
Pricelessware: http://www.pricelessware.org (not maintained)

 

[John Corliss]

John Corliss wrote:

However, in order to set it up for full functionality,

This is getting to be a real problem, alright.

Last week, I discovered that one of my Sun Java directories was infested
with viruses. In a fit of disgust, I deleted all Java everything from my
Windows ME computer, then went into the registry and pulled out all the
keys by hand. I have a growing dislike of unneccessary scripting -- I
never want dancing bears on web sites I visit, and I especially am gored
by sites that make me wait forever for their etheric "art" to finish
playing before I can view their goddamn catalog. (This is good for
business?)

I totally agree.

But almost immediately, I discovered that there's quite a bit of "good"
freeware that requires Java in order to work at all. Many programmers,
like many software and electronics engineers, are all caught up in their
own cleverness and completely out-of-touch with usability and the end
user. So, a few programs, some recommended right here, are Java or nothin'

Then, too, there's another movement underfoot. You see, it appears that
like Adobe and even in some cases, Unix and Linux, Java has become a
"platform-independent" operating system that sits on top of the
system-specific OS you're already using. Does this slow your system
down? Of course. But it allows the programmer to write one-size-fits-all
code. And we're into a new generation of software that's just that.

Not sure I understand you here.... Adobe is an OS?

So, reluctantly, I reloaded Sun Java on my system, but with one new
twist that I want to share:

Repeat after me:
Thou Shalt Not Ever Allow A Program To Be Installed Remotely!

Absolutely. Well, except for some of the dreaded Microsoft updates.

The drill was to:
1. Decline the "install now" option. Look for the locally-installed
alternative. You know, you'll usually find it on the web page with text
like, "Download this if, for some reason, you can't use our wonderful,
stupendous (oh, boy are we just so clever) instant installation."
2. Download the packed installation file (.zip, .ext: whatever).
3. If possible, unpack the .zip so that you can find any readme files
lurking in the file pack. Such a file will hopefully tell you before
rather than after, how to tweak stuff for your own system.

Yep. I do this every time. Also I read the EULAs and such.

4. Track the installation with Total Uninstaller or a similar
installation tracker. This is an important step, and one that you cannot
do if you allow any drive-by download. Using this type of tool will
allow you to reverse all the damage at a later time without having to do
it by searching laboriously through thousands of lines in your registry.

Again, this is something I always do.

5. And if you were (foolish, scatterbrained, tired: pick one or more)
enough to install Real Player or Quick Time (let's not forget _this_
monster), traking the installation may save your computer. I said "may."

I installed Quicktime, but would never allow Realplayer to sink it's
roots into my system. Total Uninstall helped me completely remove
Quicktime before I installed Quick Time Alternative.

Note: just _one_ of my new Sun Java directories contains more than
16,000 files. ***I said six teen thousand files.***

Geez. Kinda doesn't contribute to system stability having that many
files added.

 

[Richard Steinfeld]

Not sure I understand you here.... Adobe is an OS?

What I listed are additional layers that form uniform operating systems
atop the OSs that diddle the chips. They are platform-independent as
regards the software that's written to run on them, but they're
platform-dependent when it comes to commmunicating with the chips and
file structure, cut-paste operations, etc. Adobe's products run on three
or four platforms and offer seamless interchangeablilty as far as the
data files are concerned. The programs also talk with each other so that
data can go back and forth. These programs are extremely powerful. In
some ways, they're the only game in town. For example, when it comes to
fonts, Adobe provides (with PostScript) the real McCoy -- the real
professional "foundry" fonts such as Optima, genuine Helvetica. Unlike
the Microsoft just-good-enough True Type, the genuine foundry faces
actually change aspect ratios as their size is changed -- you don't just
make them bigger and smaller keeping the same proportions (examine these
faces very carefully to see the difference). In the case of PhotoShop,
precise color matching is done with genuine the Pantone system,
providing precise instructions for printing. These things are licensed
-- fees are paid -- and you pay, too. Granted, the stuff is very
professional. Anyway, that's a bit much, but hopefully, you get the idea.

Absolutely. Well, except for some of the dreaded Microsoft updates.

Ach!
The problem is that the install file that I downloaded doesn't work
right. The drive-by install did. It looks like I might have to use the
dreaded install-from-the-web method after all.

Yep. I do this every time. Also I read the EULAs and such.



Again, this is something I always do.

How has Total Uninstaller worked out? I'm asking because since VCom
bought System Suite from Ontrack, they've put out a new version rather
than maintaining the one that I bought. I was disgusted with the way
that they failed to maintain the antivirus during the busy Christmas
season. I need to leave SS on my box because I did lots of installations
with it. Once I make a large change, however, I'll put System Mechanic
on the box to take the place of VCom's wares. For one thing, so far as
I've seen, I really like the way Iolo does business -- they'll talk with
you on the phone forever for no charge. Try to get any answer out of
VCom -- lotsa luck -- it's like trying to get through to Symantec or
Quicken. So, yeah, this is off topic, but maybe it'll be helpful.

I installed Quicktime, but would never allow Realplayer to sink it's
roots into my system. Total Uninstall helped me completely remove
Quicktime before I installed Quick Time Alternative.

Very impressive! With System Suite and Real Player, I had to run the SS
uninstaller two times, plus use the Windows utility twice, and then pick
the corn silk from between my teeth with a registry editor -- not fun. I
did get that sonofabitch off my machine.

BTW, I recently met a guy who had worked for Real Networks in San
Francisco -- I said some desparaging things about his former employer,
but I throttled back on the yelling because, after all, he was "former."

Geez. Kinda doesn't contribute to system stability having that many
files added.

Yeah. Dunno. I want to try out two freewares. One is a brainstorming
application; the other is a GANTT program. Trouble is that both of them
require Java. Damn.

I forgot -- what OS are you using?

Richard

 

[Gert van der Kooij]

Note: just _one_ of my new Sun Java directories contains more than
16,000 files. ***I said six teen thousand files.***

Which version of the JRE did you install?
My j2re1.4.2_08 directory only contains 581 files. Maybe you also
installed the development kit?

 

[John Corliss]

What I listed are additional layers that form uniform operating systems
atop the OSs that diddle the chips.(clipped)
Anyway, that's a bit much, but hopefully, you get the idea.
Yep.


Ach!
The problem is that the install file that I downloaded doesn't work
right. The drive-by install did. It looks like I might have to use the
dreaded install-from-the-web method after all.

Hmm. The downloaded jre-1_5_0_04-windows-i586-p.exe worked fine for me.
I wonder what the difference was.

Although I should mention that I use the last freeware version of that
program.

How has Total Uninstaller worked out?

If anything has changed (for instance I move the shortcuts around on the
Start Menu) or if it has been too long after installing a program and I
try to use it to uninstall a program, Total Uninstall will hard-lockup
my system. So I mainly use it for reference purposes because it is very
thorough in logging changes.

I'm asking because since VCom
bought System Suite from Ontrack, they've put out a new version rather
than maintaining the one that I bought. I was disgusted with the way
that they failed to maintain the antivirus during the busy Christmas
season. I need to leave SS on my box because I did lots of installations
with it. Once I make a large change, however, I'll put System Mechanic
on the box to take the place of VCom's wares. For one thing, so far as
I've seen, I really like the way Iolo does business -- they'll talk with
you on the phone forever for no charge. Try to get any answer out of
VCom -- lotsa luck -- it's like trying to get through to Symantec or
Quicken. So, yeah, this is off topic, but maybe it'll be helpful.

Sorry, but I'm such a freewareholic that I rarely buy software these days.

Very impressive!

Aaaa. Not really. Just went over all the changes logged by Total
Uninstall and reverted them. Kinda tedious though.

With System Suite and Real Player, I had to run the SS
uninstaller two times, plus use the Windows utility twice, and then pick
the corn silk from between my teeth

Heh. I like that analogy. Really the truth too.

with a registry editor -- not fun. I
did get that sonofabitch off my machine.

BTW, I recently met a guy who had worked for Real Networks in San
Francisco -- I said some desparaging things about his former employer,
but I throttled back on the yelling because, after all, he was "former."

Plus, it would be nice to allow him to live because of the possibility
that even if he's "former", he might at some point relay your concerns. 80)>

Yeah. Dunno. I want to try out two freewares. One is a brainstorming
application; the other is a GANTT program. Trouble is that both of them
require Java. Damn.

I forgot -- what OS are you using?

Millennium Edition. I have it whipped into shape enough for it to be
reasonably well behaved.

Right now though, I'm giving serious thought to buying one of these (OT):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16802102001

so that I can have a totally separate hard drive to experiment around
with other (free) OSes and not have to deal with partitioning etc.

 

[John Hood]

Which version of the JRE did you install?
My j2re1.4.2_08 directory only contains 581 files. Maybe you also
installed the development kit?

Mine too. For a total of about 30 meg. On a 40 gig drive that isn't much.

John H.

 

[Sparky]

Mine too. For a total of about 30 meg. On a 40 gig drive that isn't much.

John H.

My updates don't erase the files & directories of previous versions. I
just checked, the directory containing my current jre1.5.0 04 has 542
files for almost 57 Mb.

The parent directory, which includes previous versions, contains a total
of 2,223 files for 181 Mb.

Perhaps this is the discrepancy?

-Sparky