March 20, 2008
We've made our secrets easier to find
The Windows Secrets Newsletter and the online periodical it merged with in 2006, the LangaList, have published thousands of tips over the years. Now we've made it more convenient for you to browse through our brainstorms and find exactly the article that you've been needing. Read more »
Carry an entire operating system in your pocket
Running applications from a USB flash drive on a public computer is convenient but exposes you to malware and other limitations of the host PC. By installing a Windows-like version of Linux on a flash drive, you can take a complete operating system wherever you go and work in a safe, secure environment, even in an Internet café. Read more »
You have another few months to acquire XP
In the Mar. 6 issue, I explained how to find a Windows XP system before retail and OEM sales of XP get yanked from the shelves on June 30 of this year. But system builders who cater to small businesses can still get XP until January 2009, which gives users who want to avoid Vista one more way to get their mitts on a Windows XP system. Read more »
Would you like mental floss with that?
It's Thursday. You've made it through the week so far without spilling coffee on yourself, calling a co-worker by the wrong name, or sending a scorching e-mail to the whole office by mistake. You're on top of your mental game. Read more »
Install Vista's fonts on XP — legally
Microsoft introduced a slew of new fonts with Windows Vista and uses one of them, Calibri, as the default font throughout much of Office 2007. So, if someone sends you a document, and it doesn't look quite right in XP, you probably need one or more Vista fonts — and I'll show you a perfectly legal way to get them absolutely free. Read more »
More need-to-know about network monitoring
Completing my recent series on monitoring file-system and Registry activity, I'd like to add what you need to know about packet capturing. To monitor a program's activity for troubleshooting purposes, you really need to record its file, Registry, and network activity — and today, I'll help you understand my favorite packet-capture tool. Read more »
Ready or not, he-e-ere's Vista Service Pack 1
Right on schedule, Vista Service Pack 1 is showing up for people who use Windows Update. You'll be prepared to install SP1 by the time you finish reading today's special Patch Watch column, but the real question is, will your PC be ready? Read more »
