System Restore

[OkeeDon]

In another thread, I outlined how many email accounts I monitor and the amount of spam I get. In a never ending quest to eliminate all of the spam, I found an anti-spam program that supposedly used a response method to eliminate spam. There are several fee-based programs like this, especially Spam Arrest, but this one was supposedly free.

I downloaded it and tried to set it up, but didn't like what I was seeing -- nothing specific, but it didn't seem to be working right, and I just got a gut feeling that it was doing something it shouldn't. So, I uninstalled it.

The end result was that my system was really messed up. I could no longer retrieve IP numbers from the cable modem (either at dome on the wireless system or at the office on the directly connected modem), Ad-Aware told me there were additional processes running that I didn't know about, and Windows XP started giving messages to me about being out of system resources.

I don't know what this program did/was still doing, but I suspect it might be some sort of scam to gain access to a computer. None of the defenses (firewall, Ad-Aware, Norton, etc) that I have set up were alerting me, but they wouldn't -- this was something I had set up internally.

I fought it for two days, then remembered System Restore. I set a System Restore for the day before I had installed the so-called anti-spam software, and suddenly, everything was back to normal. The only thing I lost was my current score in the game Free Cell; it was set back to the score as of the system restore date.

Bless you, Microsoft, and bless the day I installed XP.

PS, I'll post the name of the program only so others might remember and avoid it, if they come across it -- it was called Mail Sword.

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( only thing I lost was my current score in the game Free Cell )</font>

What kind of score do you average? I only average about 64-68%. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[TOMLESCOEQUIP]

Now if they would just come up with a program like that for everyday life.........sure would be nice to back up a few days and do things over differently now & then !!!!!!!!!!!

 

[higgy]

Used mine for the first time today, man is that great.

 

[beagdog]

I use system restore way more than I like to admit. Its the best thing since sliced bread!!

 

[OkeeDon]

Bird, 100%. But then, I cheat. Not going to tell you how. I'm addicted to that game, because it is the only game I know in which you can win every single time, if you play it right. If you lose, it's your fault for not studying it and coming up with a strategy. There is no luck involved; only skill.

If I didn't cheat (OK, I'll tell you, you just turn off your computer if you see you're going to lose, and it doesn't record the loss), then my average would be in the low 90% range - I average about 30 wins to each loss. My longest streak was 68 games (without cheating -- my score before the system restore was 450+ straight wins; after the restore it went back to 360, but that was with cheating; I played a lot while I couldn't get on the internet).

But, I'm not trying to make you feel bad; my score was similar to yours until I started figuring out some different strategies. Remember, I play it a lot; probably 20 or more games per day. It''s the only game I do play.

 

[Bird]

Yeah, Don, I play it a lot, too; probably almost as much as you do, and my score might be a little better if I didn't sometimes start a game, then have to do something else and just forfeit that game.

 

[OkeeDon]

The primary strategy I worked out was to forget about playing on the Aces; they'll take care of themselves when the time comes. Instead, I work on opening up new columns, getting a King there, and building down. I try to do it in a pattern -- all the Kings in the right hand or left hand 4 columns. I find that if I concentrate on making it a pretty pattern on the lower board, all of a sudden it just plays itself and I win again.

The other strategy is to try and keep all 4 free cells open. Of course you can't do it, but it helps. Again, I hardly think about the Aces.

The final winning strategy is to sit and figure out all the moves you're going to make subsequent to making the first one. If I don't end up with a least 2 free cells after a series of moves, I don't make the first move -- I start looking around for a different sequence.

Sometimes you have to go out on the edge -- fill all 4 free cells and see them open up again after some clever moves. One mistake and you're dead, even when cheating. The real fun behind the cheating is because even though you know you have a good chance to avoid the loss, if you play the wrong card the game will stop and record the loss before you have a chance to blink.

I play a lot better in the morning after a good night's sleep than I do just before going to bed...

 

[frank_f15]

ah! do we have another free cell adict here? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[frank_f15]

Bird: u did not ask me but i average about 90% , i never start a computer session without playing a game or 2. my best to date was 72 games without a loss. then i screwed up and lost 4 in a row. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif i think as with anything it depends on the day an how u feel. i usaully pay in blocks of 100games. unless i ever get to 100 straight wins /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif after 100 games i start over.