Process Lasso v5.0.0.46 released

This release fixes a memory leak seen *only* in Windows 2K/XP with Terminal Services disabled. The cause was a bug in Windows 2K/XP that Microsoft never fixed. It only affected systems where Terminal Services is disabled, something Process Lasso would have warned about repeatedly, and a non-default system state (something the user had to change). On affected systems, the governor's sanity checks would have periodically induced a self-restart before memory use became a large concern. This release also does other minor maintenance, including populating the update dialog with your activation code for easy license validation (registered users only), and waiting for TS or RDS to fully initialize at startup, when appropriate and able.

Downloads
Workstation:
32-bit: http://www.bitsum.com/files/prolasso.zip
64-bit: http://www.bitsum.com/files/prolasso64.zip
Server:
32-bit: http://www.bitsum.com/files/server/prolasso.zip
64-bit: http://www.bitsum.com/files/server/prolasso64.zip

Changes:

• [.46]Addition.All: At startup, wait for Terminal Services (or RDS in Vista+) to fully initialize (with timeout), unless service disabled
• [.46]Addition.Core: Added to default exclusion list
• [.46]Fix.Core: Fixed rare, slow memory leak seen *only* in XP or 2K installs with Terminal Services disabled. This turned out to be a known memory leak/bug in a Windows TS API that was not fixed until Vista.
• [.46]Fix.GUI: Fixed cosmetic error that appeared in .44 in InstallHelper config dialog #2 (extraneous static group controls)
• [.46]Fix.All: Fixed error message 'error cleaning up global config folder' for some older installs that still used prosuper.ini as config filename (instead of newer prolasso.ini)
• [.46]Change.GUI: Licensed update dialog now automatically populates activation code, for easy optional validation of your license prior to update (for updates after this one)
• [.46]Change.GUI: Improved handling of potential error condition where corrupt listview column settings could cause an empty listview (no columsn are shown)
• [.46]Change.GUI: Language updates

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Licensed user update dialog - Activation code will be automatically populated in license validation box

Licensed User Update Dialog 
- Activation code will be automatically populated in license validation box

First, to be clear, the license validation shown upon update notification is optional. If you know when your license will expire (if ever), don't worry about it. The fact that it is optional was not clearly shown though, so many took it as mandatory, or were truly concerned that their license is about to expire. Either way, they went to the tedious trouble of finding and entering their key every update. I apologize for that!

This dialog is now auto-populated with the license activation code. Checking your license to ensure you are still able to get updates will be a one-click, or perhaps zero-click, option from now on.

This change will be in v5.0.0.46. However, you will not see it until the first update after that. Until then, remember, it is optional.

Of course, for lifetime users, ignore all this.

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v5.0.0.44 released

This update adds support for UNC paths of global configuration and log folders, and improves unattended (silent) install support.

• [.44]Addition.All: UNC pathname support for global configuration and log folders, BUT use of these incur a performance penalty in the GUI (to be improved in subsequent updates). The core engine is mostly fine, though logging may want to be tuned down if network I/O is an issue.
• [.44]Addition.InstallHelper: Recursively create given global configuration folder and any necessary parent folders if it does not exist (as manually typed in configuration dialog, or given as a command line parameter during unattended installation)
• [.44]Addition.InstallHelper: Recursively create given global log folder and any necessary parent folders if it does not exist (as manually typed in configuration dialog, or given in command line)
• [.44]Addition.InstallHelper: More robust and expanded auto-cleanup of situation where prolasso.ini was embedded in a redundent subdirectory by the same name
• [.44]Addition.InstallHelper: Added new command line parameter /key for unattended installs
• [.44]Addition.InstallHelper: Provide more descriptive errors on unattended/silent install
• [.44]Addition.InstallHelper: Abort with error code 3 on critical config import errors
• [.44]Addition.InstallHelper: Abort with error code 4 with failure to create specified or default folder(s)
• [.44]Addition.InstallHelper: Abort with error code 5 with failure to create necessary registry key(s)
• [.44]Change.Logging: If specified global log folder does not exist, it is created along with any necessary parent folders
• [.44]Fix.InstallHelper: Improvements and fixes to /importconfigfrom command line switch
• [.44]Fix.InstallHelper: Fix bug where 'prolasso.ini' could be created as an unnecessary subdirectory, with prolasso.ini stored inside
• [.44]Fix.Licensing: Adjusted activation key code for server edition
• [.44]Fix.All: Fixed improper handling of empty global configuration path
• [.44]Docs.Update: Fixed poor sizing in Docs index
• [.44]Docs.Update: Updated command line options page

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Process Lasso v5.0.0.42

Minor release. See http://bitsum.net/forum/index.php/topic,761.msg4158.html#new  More coming. Less time rambling, more time coding. Lots going on.

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v5.0.0.41 released

This build makes the aforementioned graph tooltip size change. The next build has more extensive changes and improvements. The cosmetic quirks I've mentioned before I'm finally cleaning up, as well as continuing advancement in many other areas. This next build will be at least a week away though ;o. I wanted to issue one last minor update before I was forced to take a break due to the burdens of marriage ;p.

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Dynamic sized graph tooltips

I should have done this long ago, but here it is now .. for what it is worth. It took just a few minutes to do. One of those things that I hit myself over the head and say -- why didn't I get to this before? What am I speaking of? Dynamic sized graph tooltips. Yep, no more one size fits all.

This is coming in an update I'm publishing shortly.

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Update

I must apologize for 'losing it' when I found, despite my moral objections to toolbar bundles, my primary mirror had done this for me -- and was profiting off my free users. It is even more insulting when you consider I pay CNET $9 a month per listing, to keep my software mirrored and ... well, actually I'm not sure what I pay that for.

One of the sad things is how this will further hurt proliferation of Process Lasso. By directing new users to CNET, I was increasing the download count there. I wouldn't care much about CNET, but in their close cooperation with Microsoft, their downloads are used as the basis for the little known Windows MarketPlace... a software store for Windows that never really caught on, except maybe in the mobile space, for the few people who have Windows Mobile phones. Still, I prefer to be listed there, and have the 'standing' that comes with having a Download.com listing.

Anyway, it seems the general consensus of users is that they don't mind toolbar bundles. It has become a norm. I'm still not doing it, but the fact is that it is the norm. I believe this should change, for the good of the entire industry.

An ethical software framework should be developed, outlining what should and should not be done. It should ban deceptive practices. It should mandate clean uninstalls. There is nobody to enforce this though, and this is hardly the only area of our society that is rife with ethical violations.

In the meantime, despite my whining, my primary objective must be improving my software. Towards that end, I do have a new and more polished RegMerge on the way, along with another update to Process Lasso (may be a week on it though). I have definite plans, and know what I need to do.

Wish me luck ;). As always, I thank all those who use my software, and especially those who like it enough to buy a license. Even if you haven't bought a license, you are still a friend to me, and do be sure to put those annoying trolls in their place when you see them on reviews ;p. I've gotten to where I just can't read reviews anymore, I take them too personally. The last time I did read them though there were the typical trollish comments you'd expect on the internet. I am confident no matter what anyone does, no matter how perfect, there will always be critics... so, I don't let it bother me much.

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