All subscribers get a Windows 7 e-book, free

Bonus

Our free bonus this month is crammed with 83 tricks you'll want to take advantage of immediately (or whenever you install Win7). The bonus e-book is a 41-page printable PDF by Chris Pirillo of the Lockergnome.com tech site. Thousands of these e-books have sold for $7 each, but every WS subscriber can get a copy absolutely free. The offer is good only for a few weeks, so get your copy now. Simply visit your WS preferences page, update your info and save it, and you'll see a download link thereafter. Thanks! —Brian Livingston, editorial director

Should your personal computer be quarantined?

Top Story by Robert Vamosi

A hot topic at last week's RSA Conference in San Francisco was how to stem the flood of botnet-infected PCs. The controversial solution posed by a Microsoft security executive? Quarantine them.

Loungers help move old data to a new disk

Lounge Life by Tracey Capen

Technology can be great, but when you're trying to upgrade a PC, incompatible hardware can be a pain. Moving data from an older drive to a newer one gave members of the Windows Secrets Lounge an opportunity to provide helpful information, as shown in the first of the following most-active threads this week:

Print media a favorite amongst hoarders

Wacky Web Week by Stephanie Small

Yes, there are reasons to keep print media alive. You may be happy getting your news online, but for some citizens the loss of the printed page will have a profoundly life-altering impact.

Let's put your firewall to the test

Langalist Plus by Fred Langa

Most PC users take it on wary faith that their firewalls are providing full protection from malicious applications. A better policy is to use firewall testing services and free applications to ensure your firewall is correctly set.

Choose the right backup medium for your data

Insider Tricks by Scott Dunn

Floppy disks, tape, Zip drives, DAT drives, optical storage, NAS drives, and beyond — your backup options, past and present, can be mind-boggling. These days, the most convenient backup medium is an external hard drive — it's quick, easy, and automated — but it's never good to put all of your archives in one basket.

New threats to Internet Explorer 6 and 7

Patch Watch by Susan Bradley

The most important news this Patch Tuesday was not about a new patch, but the lack of one. Microsoft announced that it is investigating public reports of a new security threat to Internet Explorer 6 and 7. No IE patch came with the advisory, but the company did include a workaround.

All subscribers get a Windows 7 e-book, free

Introduction by Brian Livingston

Every so often, we like to give Windows Secrets subscribers a bonus they can download for free and keep as a useful technology guide. This month, your bonus is an e-book crammed with 83 tricks you'll want to take advantage of as soon as you install Windows 7. Or, if you already have a copy of Win7 running on your desktop or laptop, you can start tweaking immediately.

Get help from the Windows Reliability Monitor

Top Story by Woody Leonhard

Windows abounds with special-purpose tools that can help in the care and feeding of the beast — if you can just figure out where to find them. Today, I'd like to introduce you to the Reliability Monitor, one of my favorite ways to identify and exorcise the demons that lurk within.

Windows 7 generates many and varied questions

Lounge Life by Tracey Capen

Upgrading to any new operating system is a time of uncertainty for most PC users, and the rollout of Windows 7 is no exception. For those burning questions regarding Win7, tap into the collective expertise of the Windows Secrets Lounge for answers.

How to make eating truly mindless

Wacky Web Week by Stephanie Small

Let's face it: there are times when eating is just a drudge. Who cares about flavor — just get it down as quickly as possible. Don't you wish there were a gadget to speed up the task?

More on where Windows 7 puts important files

Langalist Plus by Fred Langa

PC users who have made the jump from Windows XP to Windows 7 are in for a surprise when they go looking for temporary files. In the Feb. 25 Windows Secrets newsletter, I answered the question, "Where did 'Documents and Settings' go in Win7?" This week, a subscriber wants to know where Win7 puts temporary Internet files.

What — or who — is using your connection?

Best Software by Ian "Gizmo" Richards

Unexpected disk and processor activity on your PC is worrisome, but unexplained Internet activity is more troubling. When a PC suddenly starts uploading or downloading data from the Internet, a bit of paranoia is perfectly reasonable — possibly your system is infected with a virus or other malware. In this report, I'll give you some tips and tools for diagnosing unexplained Internet traffic.

Tailor Windows to work the way you do

Insider Tricks by Scott Dunn

One of my favorite things about Windows is the many ways you can reconfigure it to suit your own style of work. From startup to shutdown, the following tips can give you a Windows makeover you can live with.

WS has a new technical editor and Lounge admin

Introduction by Brian Livingston

Every time I think I'm learning my job around here, new people show up who make me work harder to keep up with them. The latest role models making me pale by comparison are a new technical editor and a new full-time administrator for the Windows Secrets Lounge.

Windows shortcuts can boost your efficiency

Top Story by Scott Dunn

Constantly moving your hands between the keyboard and mouse is not the most efficient way to interact with our computers, but most of us doggedly stick to it. But if you take a little time to learn (or relearn) a few basic keyboard and mouse shortcuts, you can blaze through your windows faster and more easily — and possibly put less stress on your overworked hands as well.

Loungers thinking about upgrades and apps

Lounge Life by Tracey Capen

This week's sampling of intereting Lounge posts include everything from organizers to nitty-gritty Web programming. Thanks to the collective mind of Windows Secrets Lounge members, many of these problems find solutions. In some cases, just getting pointed in the right direction is enough.

From Lucky Charms to … toy charms?

Wacky Web Week by Stephanie Small

Remember as a child, getting excited when you dug a prize out of the cereal box? Eating became secondary, as you dumped out the edibles — at least that's what I did — in search of the buried treasure.

Solving Windows 7 networking problems

Langalist Plus by Fred Langa

Win7-to-Win7 networking may be easy, but connecting your new Win7 system to older PCs with previous versions of Windows or non-Windows systems can sometimes be a real headache. Firewalls and Win7's HomeGroups are usually the primary culprits, but the following step-by-step tips should help solve your networking troubles with minimal hassle.

Free software sheds light on PC activity

Best Software by Ian "Gizmo" Richards

When your PC suddenly starts churning away on its own without obvious cause, you probably wonder: Just what the heck is going on in there? The possibilities range from the benign to the nefarious — from normal background maintenance to a hacker mining your system for whatever he can find. Here are some tips and software that can help you know exactly what's happening.

MS patch causes BSOD if PC has Alureon malware

Patch Watch by Susan Bradley

A collision between one of Microsoft's recent Windows security patches and the rootkit Alureon is giving some PC users the infamous "Blue Screen of Death." I previously advised you not to install Microsoft's security patch MS10-015 until I looked into it in more detail, but now I'm ready to give you the all-clear — with caveats.

Good stuff is being posted in the Lounge

Lounge Life by Brian Livingston

More than 33,000 new members have signed up to use the Lounge discussion board since it moved to our domain name last November, and they and the 20,000 existing Loungers have been posting a flurry of useful tips. Beginning this week, our newsletter's new "Lounge Life" column will highlight the best new topics and the most-interesting questions posted.

Quick cures for the worst Windows 7 annoyances

Top Story by Scott Dunn

In its seemingly never-ending quest for a better Windows, Microsoft simply can't resist tinkering with — and sometimes completely removing — features that many of us loved. If you find yourself tripping over new Windows 7 features or missing favorite old ones, I've got some tips that will come to your rescue.

Running stairs: easier with four legs and a toy?

Wacky Web Week by Stephanie Small

Running stairs may be the ultimate poor-man's Stairmaster, but even for a dog it gets deathly dull — fast. What's needed is some serious motivation.

Wanted: easy desktop-shutdown options

Langalist Plus by Fred Langa

Tools built into every version of Windows let you create customized shutdown shortcuts. It's easy to add shutdown, reboot, suspend, hibernate, or other options to your desktop — if that's what you want or need.

Win7 upgrade restrictions make no sense

Woody's Windows by Woody Leonhard

Microsoft's words and actions sometimes directly contradict each other; in several places, the Windows 7 license agreement prohibits actions that the setup software then allows or even automates. All Microsoft end-user license agreements suffer from defects, but with Win7, the conflicts, contradictions, and confusion have reached new heights — or depths.

Minimize your chances of being a malware victim

Perimeter Scan by Ryan Russell

Making a PC secure — truly secure — is incredibly difficult, and no one has ever done a perfect job of it. Eliminating all security vulnerabilities in your system is simply not within your power, but you can make it a much less-attractive target.

Freeware outdoes Windows' built-in system tools

Top Story by Scott Dunn

Most standard Windows maintenance tasks can be accomplished using the utilities included with the OS itself — but that doesn't mean those tools are your best option. Whether you're looking for an easier way to browse the image files in a folder, create a restore point, revert to XP's Classic Start Menu, or customize your file associations, there's a (free) app for that.

Readers are vocal about EULA wording changes

Known Issues by Stephanie Small

Microsoft's Web site often bears end-user license agreements (EULAs) that differ from the ones displayed to users during software installation, as described in a Feb. 4 top story by WS senior editor Woody Leonhard. Whatever your feelings about EULAs in general, the idea that a EULA might change after that fact sparked a lively discussion among members of the Windows Secrets Lounge.

Office prank busts out more than laughs

Wacky Web Week by Stephanie Small

Working the 9-to-5 office drill can drive you a little batty — unless you look for ways to liven things up a bit. Just don't take it too far.

Fine-tune your Registry for faster startups

Langalist Plus by Fred Langa

A little Registry maintenance and tweaking can make your system boot faster. In fact, free Registry tools can improve all your system's phases: startup, shutdown, and everything in between.

Malware may lurk in your browser's cache

In The Wild by Robert Vamosi

A new JavaScript exploit can enter your system via an encrypted public Wi-Fi network and either attack immediately or wait to be remotely triggered. As described at the Black Hat DC 2010 conference, the exploit is able to convert an encrypted https session into an unencrypted http session; and that's just for openers.

Malicious media files could deliver exploits

Patch Watch by Susan Bradley

Microsoft predicts attacks within 30 days, targeting a hole plugged by this month's most-important Windows update. The patch for this vulnerability is rated "Critical" for all client versions of Windows and for most server editions as well.

The EULA you click may not be the one in effect

Top Story by Woody Leonhard

When you accept Microsoft's end-user license agreement as part of Windows' installation, that click is considered by many people to be as enforceable as a wet-ink signature — at least in the U.S. But I've found that the terms in the EULA you agree to during an installation may vary from the license that's posted at Microsoft's Web site.

Even well-guarded PCs may get infected

Known Issues by Dennis O'Reilly

There's a window of vulnerability between the appearance of new malware and the updating of anti-malware tools against the new threat; you may fall victim in that interim. That's what happened to one Windows Secrets Lounge member, whose well-protected system appears to have been subjected to a questionable download in his browser.

Make music on the cheap with soda bottles

Wacky Web Week by Stephanie Small

Remember when you were a kid and would make "music" by blowing across the top of your soda bottle? (Maybe you still do it.) Most of us would be satisfied with playing a one-note symphony.

MS Security Essentials: right-sized protection?

Langalist Plus by Fred Langa

Are you tired of bloated, multi-megabyte security suites that slow your system down and are packed with features you don't use or require? Maybe Microsoft's small, sharply focused security tool is all you really need — and you can get it without having to spend a nickel.

Two free photo editors anyone can use

Best Software by Ian "Gizmo" Richards

High-end digital image editors such as Adobe Photoshop and the free GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) are overkill for someone who simply wants to enhance digital snapshots. Two less-complex photo editors, targeted at average snapshooters, are much easier to use and produce outstanding results — for free!

The long wait for 64-bit PC software continues

Top Story by By Michael Lasky

Even though 64-bit PCs have been available for seven years, the promise of 64-bit computing has been delayed by a dearth of 64-bit software. The situation is improving — slowly — but many major PC applications remain 32-bit affairs.

Pac-Man has now invaded your living space

Wacky Web Week by Stephanie Small

The best optical illusions are truly mind-boggling. Tricking your brain into seeing what isn't really there can be challenging — but once you get the hang of it, you have the sensation of a hallucination without having to ingest any controlled substances.

Many free alternatives to Microsoft Office

Langalist Plus by Fred Langa

There are a surprising number of excellent office software suites available, and some of the best don't cost a dime. MS Office remains the king of office suites, but if you can't or don't want to use it, numerous free and commercial substitutes stand ready to serve.

Security updates for Internet Explorer, Firefox

Patch Watch by Susan Bradley

Microsoft released an out-of-cycle patch to remedy the IE "Aurora" bug that recently enabled Chinese hackers to attack Google and many other companies. Separately, Mozilla released not one, but two, updates to Firefox — improving that browser's security and adding an array of new features.

Easy ways to resize digital photos for e-mail

Best Software by Ian "Gizmo" Richards

Modern digital cameras take great photos, but the multi-megabyte size of each digital image often makes the photos too large to send as e-mail attachments. Free software can work just as well as commercial tools for reducing the size of the photos and, with just a few mouse clicks, can prepare hundreds of images for easy e-mailing.

Patch arrives for IE hole targeted by Chinese

Top Story by Yardena Arar

As of this writing, Microsoft is scheduled to release on Jan. 21 an update that fixes the Internet Explorer vulnerability behind the recent, highly publicized cyberattacks on Google and other major corporations. The sophisticated "Aurora" exploit is delivered through common file attachments or links — typically in e-mail or other messages that appear to come from trusted sources — but proven security measures and a little common sense can negate all such threats.

This vending machine gives and gives and gives

Wacky Web Week by Stephanie Small

A refreshing beverage or snack straight from a vending machine is a simple treat that almost everyone enjoys. Whether at work or school, allowing yourself to indulge in a soda or a cookie brings pleasure to even the most ordinary day.

Extend the life of your laptop's battery

Langalist Plus by Fred Langa

With proper care and feeding, the expensive lithium-ion batteries in your notebook PCs and other portable gear can run well for many, many years. On the other hand, common battery-care mistakes will reduce your batteries' run times and lead to needless and costly early replacement.

Five productivity-enhancing Registry tweaks

Insider Tricks by Scott Dunn

You're just minutes away from faster Start menus and shutdowns, shorter application "hangs," fewer annoying disk-space popups, and easier encryption. A few simple Registry changes can quash annoyances, improve performance, and add new features to Windows.

Browser forensic tools find malware entry points

Perimeter Scan by Ryan Russell

Malware removal is only the first step in fighting an infection. Your job isn't finished until you've determined what the malware is, how it breached your defenses, and how to prevent similar infections in the future.

Why the need to reboot after updating Windows?

Top Story by Susan Bradley

Not so long ago, Microsoft promised that fewer Windows patches would require restarting the system to complete their installation. Microsoft clearly hasn't delivered on that promise, so PC users need to take steps to ensure that they don't lose data due to unexpected post-update reboots.

Ask vendors to honor your rebate up front

Known Issues by Dennis O'Reilly

Here's a secret that vendors don't want you to know about: rebate terms are sometimes negotiable. You may be able to avoid the hassle of submitting rebate documentation via mail by asking for the rebate amount to be deducted from the price at the time of purchase.

Super Mario gets the hand-drawn treatment

Wacky Web Week by Stephanie Small

You've probably seen plenty of flipbooks in your time — and maybe even created one or two. A flipbook that takes five seconds to "read" probably took the artist hours to draw. Nevertheless, the books are a cool way to watch do-it-yourself animation.

Upgrade from Windows 7 RC to the retail version

Langalist Plus by Fred Langa

Microsoft's Engineering Windows 7 blog documents a little-known Win7 upgrade path from the Release Candidate. If you're using the Windows 7 RC, you can upgrade directly to the final, retail release of Win7 Ultimate, though following this unsupported upgrade path isn't for everyone.

'Samy worm' author now targets your router

In The Wild by Robert Vamosi

Fresh from criminal probation for his Samy worm exploits, Samy Kamkar is back with new software that can maliciously target your home network's router. Kamkar's first worm brought MySpace to its knees in 2005. Now, his new proof-of-concept software puts vulnerable home routers in its crosshairs.

Update repairs font glitch in Word and Web sites

Patch Watch by Susan Bradley

January's lone critical MS patch fixes a problem with embedded fonts — caused by an update released last July. The new update is critical only for Windows 2000 but should still be applied on all Windows systems to prevent fonts from displaying incorrectly on the Web and in Office apps.

Post your tips in the Windows Secrets Lounge

Introduction by Brian Livingston

Beginning this week, all articles appearing in Windows Secrets have their own threads in the WS Lounge, where you can submit any additional information you have. You're not restricted to commenting on columns, though — we have a whole lotta other forums where you can post anything you discover about Microsoft Windows.

Make tech rebates work for you, not against you

Top Story by Scott Dunn

Rebate scams can make getting a promised discount on products much more difficult — and much less reliable — than it might seem at first glance. But if you do your homework and take a few precautions, you can minimize the risk and maximize the discounts.

Stuck between a rock and a … couch?

Wacky Web Week by Stephanie Small

Remember getting into sticky situations as a child? Back then, you thought you could do anything, until the inevitable happened and you were left in a pickle. No doubt your parents chuckled at your self-induced predicament as you begged them for help.

Windows, solid-state disks, and 'trim'

Langalist Plus by Fred Langa

It's a little-known fact that all solid-state disks — all of them — suffer inevitable performance declines over time. It's also little known that Windows 7 and Server 2008 are currently the world's only operating systems to fully implement the new trim command that helps forestall this speed decline.

Highly efficient mouse tricks and 'gestures'

Best Software by Ian "Gizmo" Richards

In my Dec. 3 Best Software column, I showed you how to work more effectively by using keyboard shortcuts. Now I'll tell you about some operations you can perform with your mouse that can help you work faster with less effort.

Install Windows 7 many times from one USB drive

Woody's Windows by Woody Leonhard

If you'll be setting up Windows 7 on more than a couple of computers — or if you need to add Win7 to a PC without a working DVD drive — save yourself time and bother by converting a USB drive into a Windows setup "disc." With a couple of free utilities, a 4GB or larger USB drive, any Windows 7 setup DVD, and a little time, you can build your own Win7 universal USB installer.

Microsoft licensing portal offline for weeks

Patch Watch by Susan Bradley

A troubled December upgrade of Microsoft's cloud-based licensing service is causing serious headaches for organizations that rely on the site to manage software licenses. After more than a month and counting, the Volume Licensing Service Center remains inaccessible to many Microsoft customers.