It's Not Broken - Do I fix It?

[TsoTsi]

1.0] Current status: WinMX 3.53/Piepatch 2.6, XP Pro SP2 and - no problems that i know of

2.0] Aim: I wish to install WinMX 3.54b4/KMPatch v1.9

3.0] Problem: I know just enough about everything WinMX to make me dangerous enough to let loose on a PC.

4.0] Solution: Please teach me to become even more dangerous :

4.1] Should uninstall v3.53 before installing v3.54b4?

4.2] If i uninstall v3.53 first, will this remove the Piepatch automatically? Will the same thing happens if i install v3.54b over the current installation of v3.53? Should i simply use the Piepatch un-installer first, before doing anything?

4.3] I assume I apply the KMPatch v1.9 only after WinMX v3.54b have been installed or, does it not really matter?

4.4] Everything else considered, my readings on this forums lead me to believe that v3.54b4 is stable enough. Is there general consensus amongst users about this?

4.5] i've read somewhere that the "hosts" file can also be replaced/modified in order to open up more channels for e.g. Bittorrent clients (to fix the channel limits imposed by MS in XP SP2 to tighten the XP security net/firewall) - can someone shed more light on this and maybe elaborate on the subject? Would a KMPatch v1.9 installation peacefully co-exist with such a modified "hosts" file?

4.6] And lastly, what are the key benefits of using v3.54b4 over v3.53?

Thanks for your time and effort in helping, and sorry for the lack of techsavvy.

[Me Here]

Hi TsoTsi,
Its always a pleasure to help you anyway we can so let me give you my best advice regarding your questions..

I am the queen of danger as far as computers go, so I am just your gal to help you become that way also... :twisted:

4.1] Should uninstall v3.53 before installing v3.54b4?

No, its not necessary to uninstall your WinMX before installing the 1.9 Patch.  It will upgrade you to the 3.54b4 when you choose the XP option during installation.  And will save your settings this way also.

4.2] If i uninstall v3.53 first, will this remove the Piepatch automatically? Will the same thing happens if i install v3.54b over the current installation of v3.53? Should i simply use the Piepatch un-installer first, before doing anything?

Uninstalling the 3.53 will not touch your hosts file.
Yes please run the uninstall for the Pie Patch prior to installing the 1.9 Patch.  This is not always necessary however, I have had to help a few folks manually restore their original hosts files in order to get the dll working properly.

4.3] I assume I apply the KMPatch v1.9 only after WinMX v3.54b have been installed or, does it not really matter?  

Again, the Install 1.9 will do this automatically for you, so all you have to do is install the 1.9 patch to get everything working.

4.4] Everything else considered, my readings on this forums lead me to believe that v3.54b4 is stable enough. Is there general consensus amongst users about this?

Yes the general consensus on this is very positive for the 3.54, its very stable and in-fact more stable then the 3.53 versions.  Keep in mind that simply replacing the WinMX.exe file for 3.54 with the WinMX.exe file from 3.53 is enough to make the change of versions, if your really unhappy with the 3.54 its easy and painless to go back, as we have all versions and betas ever released in our Archive.

4.5] i've read somewhere that the "hosts" file can also be replaced/modified in order to open up more channels for e.g. Bittorrent clients (to fix the channel limits imposed by MS in XP SP2 to tighten the XP security net/firewall) - can someone shed more light on this and maybe elaborate on the subject? Would a KMPatch v1.9 installation peacefully co-exist with such a modified "hosts" file?

There are many links regarding this information on modifying your hosts file for other applications or to give your self further protection against various nasties on the net.  I can get you some of the links we know of that can give you more information, but to answer your question, Yes the install 1.9 will coexist with these modified hosts files.

4.6] And lastly, what are the key benefits of using v3.54b4 over v3.53?

Some of the key benefits are 3.54b4 has major bug fix that helps to maintain your connection, especially for secondary users, among other small bug fixes.
The shared folder options are renamed to Library for 3.54 and there is much better control for management of shared files, types, and folders for the beta4, along with much better listing quality for video type files.
The other less talked about feature is the use of an abbreviated 'Full File Path' listed in your browse or shared files.  This allows for more privacy for folks that aren't aware of personal info that can be gathered from the original full path mode of the 3.53.

Now your armed and dangerous Tso, so just grab that file and install.  IF your one of the few that have any additional difficulties then just let us know and we will be glad to help you get set up.

[TsoTsi]

Ahh, me here, what a gal! Thanks for venturing forth with me, as here we go again..

Please allow me to sum up what i digested from your reply. Help me if i'm wrong, i am to follow these steps exactly:

1] Start out with the current v3.53/piepatch installation.

2] Run the PiePatch 2.6 un-installer.

3] Run the v1.9 Patch executable - this will automatically update my current WinMX v3.53 installation to v3.54b4, and that will also, simultaneously, update the appropriate DLL file. End of story.

4] The only thingies left are to start enjoying my ol' favorite proggie and also get the info relating to the hosts file change from you? As far as the latter is concerned, i was actullay brazen enough to change that file some time before the disruption hit WinMX, but now i cannot remember exactly what i did or where i got the info from. Am i right in surmising that it (the hosts file replacement for the XP channel-patch) is of no consequence anymore anyway, because the PiePatch must've taken care of that for me by replacing? it yet again with its own hosts file?

BTW- i'm on a secondary connection, and i use both PG2 and Protowall. Good or bad? OK, so i'm referring to the latter two - not my secondary connection..

Thanks for hanging in there/here with me..

[Me Here]

*giggles*

Yes your summery of events of this thread are correct, for the steps to follow 1 - 3.

As for 4, well yes the Hosts file more then likely undid the work or changes you put into the hosts file prior to the WinMX Peer Caches shut down.  Yes I am still planning on getting you some links to read or Ghostship actually as he is better at those types of things..

I see no need to run both Peer Guardian and Protowall, as both use basically the same block lists.  They both receive their lists from BlueTack.org at present time and I think you should pick which ever one you prefer.
That said the Patch that KM designed also has a built in block feature but, as you may be using other P2P systems besides WinMX I think its a good idea to keep either Pg2 or Protowall running.  The lists we use for the .dll fix is specifically for WinMX.

That should help ya i think, if not let me know.  Keep your eyes on this spot for further links about the hosts file modifications..

[TsoTsi]

Don't you worry, i'll be watching (this space, that is, whilst i'm trying to fill the empty space in my dome)..

I'll only be able to report back on installation steps 1-3 in ca. 24hrs or so- that's assuming of course, that somebody bar myself (and you, me here) is actually following this discussion, and that that somebody is not bored stiff by now.

Meanwhile, i am frantically searching for that host file gippo and i'll post it here if i find it before you do. Something keeps on nagging me that this may not even have anything to do with the hosts file, but some other file altogether. Shucks, i hate it when i get all confused like this.. "somebody" better be following this and help me out- soon..

[TsoTsi]

One thing about PeerGuardian and Protowall that i forgot to mention is, eh, sorry, actually there are two things:

1] I like wearing a belt and bracelets where things of safety are concerned.

2] It is my understanding that both these proggies do the same job, but at different levels. PG seems to take precedence over PW in blocking IP's. On rare occasion i have found the one will indeed not block an IP, when the other does. Probably an overkill using both. For user friendliness (i.e. specifically for okes like me), PG shines through, but there are other issues with it that is a spot of bother right now.

That's all folks.

[TsoTsi]

Not only was i absolutely confused about the hosts file patch, but i also seem to have lost the plot with this crummy monologue.. still, somebody may find this useful:

After much searching, i found that the hosts patch i'd referred to earlier, has in fact nothing to do with the hosts file - or maybe WinMX for that matter. It refers to something called the Event ID 4226 Patcher (4226 fix), which deals with the number of simultaneous TCP/IP connections that XP SP2 can handle at a time. I am not going into the details of it here, but if you want to read more about it, please follow this link:

http://www.lvllord.de/?lang=en&url=tools&PHPSESSID=9b5ec389ad2e0bf9fdc97527b58dcac4

Hope this saves you the trouble of looking for it, me there

[TsoTsi]

Report back ---- ---- All the way!

[Me Here]

Excellent  

Do you still need information on modifying hosts file?  

There are some interesting uses for this and I can get you that if you like.

[Anonymous]

Hi! me here,

Nope, thank you. When i went to check the drivers/etc directory, i saw that i'd been prudent enough to save a backup (hosts.BAK) copy of my original hosts file, and i simply restored that.

Did you read my post above the last? You'll see in that that i got the hosts file also mixed up with some other mods i made earlier. I posted a link to the site in that post if anyone is interested. It is called "Event ID 4226 Patcher", referring to <<EventID 4226: TCP/IP has reached the security limit imposed on the number of concurrent TCP connect attempts>>. Useful for BT clients, and not so much WinMX?

Take care and thanks again for your help

[TsoTsi]

Oops! Once again i forgot to log in... - the previous posts is mine..