Digital Audio Extraction (DAE)

(a) DAE means accessing the data on an Audio CD in a digital format, transferring it through the IDE channel and then using the CPU to route it to the Sound Card for Digital-to-Audio conversion.

(b) In computers of yester years, we had a molex cable, called the 'Audio cable' that was used to transfer pre-processed analog data from the CDROM to the sound card. In case the sound card was integrated into the motherboard, this cable linked the CDROM to the MB. In such kind of a setup, one could listen to music by plugging in a pair of headphones into the headphone jack of the CDROM drive. Further, you also had the facility of controlling Audio CD playback using the Volume controls built into the CDROM drive's front panel OR using the CD Player option in the Windows Volume Controls.

(c) The Audio cable was replaced in the new age systems with DAE. DAE, does not require a cable to connect the CDROM to the Sound Card. Also, since the data processing is no longer being carried out in the drive, the headphone jack and the volume controls on the drive would no longer function. Nor will the CD Player controls built into Windows, control the Audio CD volume.

(d) NOTES:
- In case BOTH an audio cable and DAE is being used, DAE takes precedence over the former.
- Since the CDROM works like any other CD Player available in the market, with DAE disabled; you can use the headphone jack of the CDROM to listen to Audio CDs, even without the Audio cable plugged in.
Ref URL - http://www.epanorama.net/documents/pc/cdrom_audio_wire.html

(e) DAE can be enabled at 2 levels - at the OS level OR the Application level. By that logic, it also means that if you want to disable DAE, you HAVE to do it at both the levels. NOTE: At the OS level DAE is right now only supported by Windows XP (among that Microsoft OSs, that is).

You can turn it ON in Windows XP by -
1. Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
2. Click the Hardware tab, and then click Device Manager.
3. Locate the CD-ROM, and then click the plus sign (+) in front of the device.
4. Right-click the CD-ROM drive, and then click Properties.
5. Click the Properties tab.
6. Click to check "Enable digital CD-ROM audio for this CD-ROM device" option, and then click OK.

To turn it ON in Windows Media Player version 7 (and above) follow the instructions given at -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;296615

To turn it ON in Winamp 2.x series, install the input plugin available at -
http://www.url.ru/~copah/CDReader.htm

I haven't tried it in Winamp 3.x and above, but I think this should work -
1. Go to Preferences (Ctrl+P) > Plugins > Input > in_cdda.dll > Config.
2. Check "Use Digital Audio Extraction"
3. Close Preferences.
4. Close Winamp.

Keeping your system secure

I recently switched over to Broadband. With Broadband comes an increased threat of virus and spyware infections. True to my fears, my system started behaving erratically within days of going 'always-on'. Cornered, I decide to embark on this expedition to secure my system against all the dreadful stuff doing the rounds on the Internet. Here are my recommendations -

(a) A good Firewall: From what I have heard, Zone Alarm is a b'ful free firewall program. I opted for the 90 days Trial version of Norton Internet Security 2005, though. It comes with a time-tested personal firewall solution.

(b) An Anti-virus: Now, where have we heard this before. ;) Trend Micro has a decent free AV for offering. I personally recommend, Norton AV, if u have the money to shell out, that is.

(c) An Anti-spyware program: Get two of these in fact. While two AVs behave like two wives in one house, two anti-spyware programs work like comrades-in-arms in protecting your system. I would recommend Spybot S and D and Microsoft Anti-Spyware Beta. I am running Spybot S and D alone at present. Why? Cause I use Windows 98 SE and MAS Beta, unfortunately, only supports Windows 2K and XP platforms.

(d) An Anti-spam solution: Haven't configured any mail client on my system as yet. But, most web-based mail services do seem to have good spam filters in place. On a different note, NIS 2005, comes bundled with a Anti-spam software.

So, right now the burden of protecting my system rests on the tried and tested shoulders of - NIS 2005 and Spybot S and D. And trust me, I 'zealously' update these two software with the latest definitions every week.

P.S -

I had some doubts about the anti-spyware defintions update capability of MAS Beta 1. The following articles made a believer out of me, though -

http://malektips.com/microsoft_antispyware_0011.html

http://snipurl.com/fqur