February 22, 2007
Pop-up ads can land you in jail
If you find yourself the victim of pop-up ads on a computer, with children in the vicinity, you could face decades in prison. I wish that I was exaggerating or being sensationalistic, but for Julie Amero this is far too real. Read more »
Make more space by deleting log files
Log files can be useful, but they mainly just take up space. Trim away your useless log files to gain space and make your backups and restores smaller and faster! Read more »
Gollum and Smeagol get their groove on
A hilarious new video that appeared on the Web recently is a creative, creepy, and delightful duet version of a Barry White classic. It's performed none other than those loveable Lord of the Rings creatures, Gollum and Smeagol Read more »
Avoid firewall confusion with insider secrets 
Firewalls are great tools, but some people find them a bit frustrating. This week I explain a bit about firewall technologies, firewall performance, how to extract and use information from firewall logs, and how to remove a certain firewall if the need should arise. Read more »
Vista Timesaver #4 — the Windows Experience Index
Windows Vista incorporates many firsts for Microsoft — some good, some dubious. Microsoft's first officially sanctioned hardware performance benchmark, the Windows Experience Index (WEI), displays some useful information — if you understand its limitations. Save yourself time and money looking behind the numbers. Read more »
February 15, 2007
Use Vista without activation for 120 days
It's widely assumed that a newly installed copy of Windows Vista must be "activated" before 30 days are up. But Microsoft has built into Vista a simple, one-line command that anyone can use to extend the activation deadline of the product to a total of 120 days — almost four full months! Read more »
New hardware doesn't have to cause problems
Usually a major hardware change causes endless software hassles. It doesn't have to be this way. If your current PC doesn't have "PCI Express" technology, your next one most likely will. Here's the scoop on PCI Express and what it means for Windows users. Read more »
Vista voice-recognition software is laughable
A video of a Windows Vista speech-recognition demo that went awry was devoured critics of the new operating system when it was posted on the Web late last year. Footage shows the program badly garbling the demonstrator's commands. Read more »
Tips for erasing and recovering data
Sometimes you want to permanently erase data from your systems, and other times you want to recover data. This week, I bring you more information about what does and doesn't work when erasing data from your systems. I'll also discuss your options when your hard drive fails and you need to recover data. Read more »
More denial-of-service flaws emerge
A slew of denial-of-service flaws seem to be cropping up lately, or maybe it's just that I've been finding a lot of them. I'll start off this week's column talking about a flaw that affects multiple Web browsers, including both Firefox and Internet Explorer. Read more »
Security and daylight patches are critical
With 12 security patches being flagged as critical, plus this week's Daylight Saving Time fixes, your patch session this month will be extensive. Because there are so many this month, I'm putting all the similar patches together within sections below. First up are the critical Office patches. Read more »
February 8, 2007
More on the Vista upgrade secret
I revealed in my Feb. 1 article that you can buy the "upgrade" version of Windows Vista and clean-install it to any hard drive, with or without a preexisting version of Windows XP or 2000. This renders the more expensive "full" version of Vista unnecessary — and many of my readers have provided additional information about why this upgrade trick works. Read more »
What's the value of a .name domain?
There are currently 265 different "top level domains" (.com, .edu, .org, etc.) to choose from when registering your domain. What's best? First, let's help a reader who's wondering if he got ripped off in buying a .name domain name. Read more »
New PC videos slam the Mac
Apple has been running for months its now-famous "PC vs. Mac" ad campaign. The series of commercials ("I'm a PC" — "I'm a Mac") is designed to pitch the Mac as a hip, young machine with more contemporary capabilities, while the PC is portrayed as sluggish and antiquated Read more »
Using Group Policy without XP Pro
Group Policy is a fantastic tool that can help you gain control over your computer. But what if it isn't available in your version of Windows XP? This week, I present a few tips for Windows XP Home users on taking advantage of Group Policy — even without the tools that come with XP Professional. Read more »
Vista timesaver #3 — search Outlook sanely
After trying hard for nearly a decade, Microsoft has finally baked a functional indexer into Windows. Even so, actually finding what you seek is trickier than ever. But there's one trick that everyone should know. Read more »
Apple makes QuickTime hard to patch
QuickTime is in my Top 10 list of third-party software you'll probably find on almost every Windows machine. You should patch it with the same priority as you would for any Microsoft vulnerability — but Apple isn't making this particularly easy for Windows users. Read more »
February 1, 2007
Get Vista upgrade, never pay full price
Many people are upset the fact that the economical, "upgrade" version of Vista won't accept a Windows XP or Windows 2000 CD-ROM as proof of ownership. Vista Upgrade is said to install only to a hard disk that already has XP or 2000 already on it. But I've tested a method that allows you to clean-install the Vista upgrade version on any hard drive, with no prior XP or W2K installation — or even a CD — required. Read more »
When your antimalware tools disagree
One tool says your PC is infected. Another says you're clean. Which do you believe? No need to flip a coin! With a little sleuthing, you can get to the bottom of just about any malware confusion. Read more »
Encryption, malware, and privacy, oh my!
Protecting your privacy isn't always easy — or cheap. This week, I give you tips on how to recover files encrypted with EFS, how to get rid of malware, how to avoid nosy search engines, how to erase data so it can't be recovered, and much more! Read more »
Patches are missing for Word, PowerPoint
As Microsoft unveils the latest version of Office — Office 2007 — I take a look at a few flaws that haven't yet been patched in previous versions. One of these flaws was recently discovered, and the other is a leftover from last year. Both are continuing the trend of Microsoft Office vulnerabilities that have been showing up for months, with no end in sight. Read more »
MS charges $4K for W2K daylight patch
This week, Microsoft declared a sale on Daylight Saving Time patches for Windows 2000, for those of you who are still running that platform. In other news, I'm going to spend a lot of this week's column on patches that are rated "nonsecurity" but could have a great impact on you and your business none the less. Read more »