Windows Live shares your Messenger contacts

Top Story by Woody Leonhard

Anticipating its "Wave 4" Windows Live rollout of new Hotmail and Messenger apps, Microsoft made sweeping changes in how it connects you with its latest social-networking construct. With the new Live format, Microsoft pays a great deal of lip service to maintaining your privacy; but my tests show you can't trust what you see on the screen.

Audio conversion project stopped by Win7 upgrade

Lounge Life by Tracey Capen

Microsoft has done a reasonably good job of making the Windows XP-to-Win7 upgrade process as painless as possible. But as with most operating system changes, it's the legacy drivers for audio and video that cause the most problems.

The world's most effective fly swatter

Wacky Web Week by Stephanie Small

There are few things more annoying than a pesky fly, buzzing around the house, landing on your food, then on the wing again before you can grab your swatter — it's exhausting.

Learn even more tricks to avoid wireless hacks

Bonus

This month's free bonus download for all our subscribers is a two-chapter excerpt from Hacking Exposed Wireless, Second Edition by Johnny Cache, Joshua Wright, and Vincent Liu. The book provides valuable information to keep your wireless networks safe from potential hackers.

A step-by-step guide for improving boot times

Langalist Plus by Fred Langa

Even powerful, capable hardware can sometimes get bogged down, and few things are more irritating than a needlessly long boot. There are many causes for slow PC start-ups, but some simple maintenance will usually set things right.

Clean up your Windows notification area

Insider Tricks by Lincoln Spector

On most PCs, the Windows notification area, originally meant for small apps you always want running, is choked with all sorts of programs that shouldn't be there. Putting some order back into the notification area will remove app clutter, plus it might help your PC boot faster and possibly fix those previously unexplainable system problems.

Novel antivirus product works in the cloud

Perimeter Scan by Ryan Russell

I've been hearing about a new community-centric AV program that purports to use your social network to fight malware. The free version I looked at has some intriguing features, such as the ability to run alongside other AV programs, but the community part seems something of a stretch.

Learn even more tricks to avoid wireless hacks

Bonus

This month's free bonus download for all our subscribers is a two-chapter excerpt from Hacking Exposed Wireless, Second Edition by Johnny Cache, Joshua Wright, and Vincent Liu. The book provides valuable information to keep your wireless networks safe from potential hackers.

Run Windows on iPad using remote-computing apps

Top Story by Michael Lasky

Windows users might dismiss Apple's new ultra-light, ultra-sleek iPad as just another frivolous toy for Mac heads. But add remote-computing software and services, and the iPad's combination of light weight and nicely sized screen makes Apple's pad a dandy Windows terminal.

At some point, you just have to move on

Lounge Life by Tracey Capen

When I say it's time to move on, I'm not talking to the millions of PC users who continue to use Windows XP and refuse, for now, to upgrade to Windows 7. No, I'm talking to those procrastinators who cling to Windows XP SP2 in spite of Microsoft's July 13 support cutoff date.

Where to send your annoying Apple friends

Wacky Web Week by Stephanie Small

Apple fans can be really annoying. They're always crowing about some sleek new laptop, phone, or music player. And don't even get them started on the iPad — they just won't stop.

Troubleshooting broken apps and shortcuts

Langalist Plus by Fred Langa

If you click on an icon to run a program and nothing happens, the program could be hosed — and that's bad news. But it might only be the iconized shortcut that's messed up, and that's a cinch to fix. This week's first item illustrates both these possibilities.

How to pick and optimize your home router

In The Wild by Robert Vamosi

Staying safe on the Internet requires the combined forces of a router-based firewall, security software, regular updates, and a secure browser. In this column, I provide recommendations and tips on how to pick the right router and how to set it up for maximum protection from malicious Web sites.

Support ends for Windows 2000 and Windows XP SP2

Patch Watch by Susan Bradley

We bid farewell to Microsoft support for Windows 2000 and Windows XP SP2 this month. The complex security systems we live with today that protect us from malicious Internet attacks have their roots in these two venerable operating systems.

iTunes account theft strikes close to home

Top Story by Susan Bradley

These days, even online security experts can get burned by identity thieves who strike at popular online services. A recent attack on an iTunes account dramatically points at the need to regularly change passwords and manage online billing info.

What's the best choice for a novice Linux user?

Lounge Life by Tracey Capen

It's unlikely that Linux will ever be on every desktop PC, but there's a growing and dedicated corps of PC users that find it far more than a curiosity. Linux use ranges from simple desktop terminals to super computers, and advocates point to its flexibility and open-source coding as just some of the reasons it makes a superior development platform.

Outclassed by his canine exercise partner

Wacky Web Week by Stephanie Small

You know what they say: imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. When someone copies your workout technique, it's subtle proof that they admire your style.

Learn even more tricks to avoid wireless hacks

Bonus

This month's free bonus download for all our subscribers is a two-chapter excerpt from Hacking Exposed Wireless, Second Edition by Johnny Cache, Joshua Wright, and Vincent Liu. The book provides valuable information to keep your wireless networks safe from potential hackers.

Windows' primary disk-checking tool gets stuck

Langalist Plus by Fred Langa

Windows' built-in disk-repair tool, chkdsk.exe, has come a long way over the years, but some disk problems are simply beyond its ability to remedy. When Windows' disk check is not up to the task, third-party repair tools may be your ticket back to a healthy hard drive.

Rescue Windows with a bootable flash drive

Insider Tricks by Lincoln Spector

Using Windows system rescue CDs isn't practical if your machine isn't equipped with an optical drive. Fortunately, a clever solution may be sitting on your desk: take a flash drive you have at hand, add some software, and create a custom, USB-based, bootable Windows recovery toolkit!

New iPhone OS is not always an easy update

Patch Watch by Susan Bradley

Apple usually has relatively pain-free updates, but the latest iPhone operating system, iOS4, is causing headaches. The phones most affected are those connecting to Microsoft Exchange servers, but those synching with Gmail also have problems.

All subscribers get a free book excerpt

Introduction by Tracey Capen

We like to give loyal Windows Secrets subscribers a little something extra when we can. This month, every subscriber can download a two-chapter excerpt of the new book Hacking Exposed Wireless, Second Edition by Johnny Cache, Joshua Wright, and Vincent Liu.

Office 2010's Web tools raise security questions

Top Story by Yardena Arar

Microsoft's newest Office adds some nifty Internet features, including easy access to shared documents via SkyDrive and PowerPoint Broadcast. But putting personal and business information into the cloud opens up potential security risks that all Office 2010 users should be aware of.

Unresponsive USB drivers stump Lounge member

Lounge Life by Stephanie Small

Every PC user knows how useful USB flash drives are: from importing pictures from a camera to making portable backups, their uses are endless. When a flash drive suddenly stops working, the question arises: is it the drive or the PC that's failed?

The sound of Tweeting takes to the streets

Wacky Web Week by Stephanie Small

Ah, Twitter. That love-it-or-hate-it social networking cosmos where the profound stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the inane and the absurd. One has images of Twitter authors obsessively banging away on their keyboards and smart phones at all hours of the day and night, 140 characters at a time.

Graphics card stuck in nonworking mode

Langalist Plus by Fred Langa

What do you do when your graphic system malfunctions in such a way that you can't see the screen to change modes or otherwise fix the problem? Graphics systems are supposed to revert automatically to a known-good setting if the hardware can't support a given resolution or refresh rate, but sometimes they don't. Then what?

Good reasons not to install 64-bit Office 2010

Insider Tricks by Lincoln Spector

Microsoft hid an interesting option on the Office 2010 DVD — a 64-bit version of the company's new suite. But before you go looking for it, understand why you're better off with the 32-bit version — Microsoft hid Office x64 for a reason.

The ultimate software deal has strings attached

Woody's Windows by Woody Leonhard

If you qualify, a Microsoft TechNet subscription lets you download nearly every application Microsoft sells, all for a paltry $199. It's completely legitimate — so long as you're not using the software for work but rather evaluating its features, testing its performance, or otherwise assessing its suitability for yourself or others.

SkyDrive takes on the online-storage arena

Top Story by Michael Lasky

Office 2010 marked Microsoft's aggressive entrance into the cloud-computing arena, and Sky Drive is a key component of the company's move to online services. Part of the new Windows Live service, SkyDrive offers generous — and free — online data storage and simple collaboration. But there are other cloud-based services that provide more features and better options.

Thumbs-up scores spotlight interesting posts

Lounge Life by Tracey Capen

One week ago, we launched a new thumbs-up rating system in the Windows Secrets Lounge as a way for Lounge members to highlight particularly useful posts. Seven days later, the thumbs-up scores are starting to roll in. Over 90 posts have received a thumbs-up so far, with more coming daily.

Rolling fun comes to a backyard near you

Wacky Web Week by Stephanie Small

Everyone loves the amusement park — the noise, the food, and of course the rides. But then the lines become unbearably long, and your feet hurt, and you wish you could take the fun home.

Using Task Manager to troubleshoot startup woes

Langalist Plus by Fred Langa

Sometimes when trouble strikes, you have to choose between a simple brute-force fix and a more-complex but also more-informative surgical repair. Reinstalling software is inelegant but usually works; using Windows' built-in tools can be quicker and less traumatic.

Gizmo rounds up top free imaging apps

Best Software by Ian "Gizmo" Richards

I'm wrapping up my series on freeware with one of my favorite topics: the best in free imaging applications. The most-impressive products I've encountered this year, they should be on the PC of everyone who makes screen captures, manages huge image libraries, or builds digital panoramas.

The .NET updates get worse, not better

Patch Watch by Susan Bradley

While many of you are still digging out from June patches, there's more .NET updates in your future. I'm about to yell "uncle!" when it comes to .NET, and I'm sure many of you are as well. Microsoft is releasing updates for .NET 3.5 at the same time it's bringing out version 4.0.

Now you can vote for your favorite Lounge posts

Top Story by Brian Livingston

Our online forum, the Windows Secrets Lounge, is a great warehouse of computer knowledge — but sometimes it's a bit hard to find the single best page you need out of the 125,000 discussion threads our members have contributed. That's why our developers are launching this week a significant improvement to the Lounge — a way to cast votes for the posts you consider the most useful and, in so doing, help others find them.

Looking for input on safe browsing strategies

Lounge Life by Tracey Capen

By now, you'd be hard-pressed to find even a novice PC user who doesn't know that bad things come through browsers and Internet links in e-mail. It's amazing that in a battle as old as the Internet, we still don't have clearly defined strategies for protecting our PCs from all forms of malicious attacks.

The next hybrid car or a rolling Chia Pet?

Wacky Web Week by Stephanie Small

Green energy is all the rage. Everything from foodstuffs to infrastructure — and especially cars — is vying for ecological correctness.

Is 'Sleep' the same as 'Suspend' or 'Standby'?

Langalist Plus by Fred Langa

The sleep-state modes programmed into today's PCs are rigidly defined, but the common names of these modes vary wildly from vendor to vendor. With no standardized language, it can be difficult to know exactly what it means when your PC goes into standby mode. But here's help.

Act now to save money on Microsoft Office 2010

Woody's Windows by Woody Leonhard

With the official consumer release of Office 2010 now in full swing, sticker shock awaits. Office 2010 may be many things, but cheap ain't one of 'em. If you act immediately on Microsoft's model-end clearance sale, you can save a great deal of money — more than $200 in one scenario.

Anti-malware apps flag legitimate utilities

Perimeter Scan by Ryan Russell

Malicious code isn't the only thing anti-malware applications catch when they scan your PC and e-mail. Legitimate utilities get flagged, too. It's good that security software errs on the side of caution, but PC users need to know when to trust their security tools and when to trust their online sources for apps.

Little-known beta apps enhance Gmail's usability

Top Story by Lincoln Spector

While there's much to like about Gmail, there's also much that's missing — such as multiple signatures, hierarchical tags, and the ability to embed pictures as part of your mail. You might be surprised to learn that Gmail actually does support those features, and about 50 more, in a beta program called Gmail Labs.

Getting rid of an MP4 file that refuses to go

Lounge Life by Tracey Capen

We've all had those instances when a file is no longer needed but the application that created it won't let it go. This usually happens when the application thinks it's still working on the file, but in some cases the link is not so obvious.

Would you like to ride in my bubble-gum balloon?

Wacky Web Week by Stephanie Small

We all know that fun with helium includes funny-sounding voices and high-flying balloon rides — sometimes even on a lawn chair.

Sometimes, changing software is the only option

Langalist Plus by Fred Langa

Even world-class troubleshooting may not be enough to salvage software that just won't work right on your system. It's a hard decision when you've paid good money for software, but sometimes the only rational decision is to toss the software into the bit bucket.

What you should know about anti-malware testing

In The Wild by Robert Vamosi

The debate over who produces the best anti-malware product is quite possibly the most contentious in the PC industry, and your computing safety hangs in the balance. In this report, I take a look at what test results are available to the public and what they say (and don't say) about antivirus products.

Microsoft fixes threats to video and ActiveX

Patch Watch by Susan Bradley

Microsoft released a slew of fixes for Internet Explorer, Excel, and ActiveX — mostly for threats that are more possibilities than reality. Excel gets the most patches, but there are critical updates to Adobe and Apple products, too. For a list of the most-recent Microsoft June security updates, check out the MS security summary.

Five small and essential apps to armor your PC

Top Story by Lincoln Spector

Protecting yourself from the criminals of the Internet shouldn't cost you a fortune. In fact, it doesn't have to cost you anything. Firewalls and antivirus programs can't do all the work of safe computing — small, targeted utility apps that encrypt your files, keep your passwords safe, and clean up your PC add to your protection.

Mysterious radio signals plague a PC user

Lounge Life by Tracey Capen

Strange things happen on PCs that make them seem possessed — but Lounge member Tom Riding's machine is channeling odd radio signals all on its own. In a thread titled "IE8 Win7 automatically connects to radio station," Tom describes how the radio signals emanate from his PC even with Internet Explorer closed and when the PC is not in use.

Making your smartphone part of the act

Wacky Web Week by Stephanie Small

Who cares about talking. It's the games, movies, digital photos, and hundreds of crazy apps that make smartphone users love their pocket-sized devices.

Manage your Internet reputation with ease

Bonus

This month's free bonus download for all our subscribers is a two-chapter excerpt from Me and My Web Shadow: How to Manage Your Reputation Online by Antony Mayfield. The book provides valuable information about managing and protecting your online persona, while also providing tips on how to make the Internet work in your favor.

Tame Windows' unruly Taskbar with ease

Langalist Plus by Fred Langa

The Taskbars in XP, Vista, and Windows 7 have consistently misbehaved for a small but persistent number of users. If you're one of the unlucky few whose Taskbar won't hide and unhide, or whose Taskbar mysteriously (and annoyingly) unhides itself from time to time, these tweaks may be just the ticket.

Indispensable utilities for every PC user

Woody's Windows by Woody Leonhard

No doubt you're the designated techie for your family and friends, so when they have a question or problem with their PC, you're the first call. By installing the right utilities on their PCs, you can reduce your tech time and have more social time.

For some applications, free is not good enough

Best Software by Ian "Gizmo" Richards

Anyone who's read my column more than once or twice knows I'm a long-time advocate of free software, which is why only eight of the 40 programs on my laptop are commercial products. Those eight are applications that simply work better than any of their free competitors — I'm going to tell you about five of them, and why I still use them.

Manage your Internet reputation with ease

Bonus

This month's free bonus download for all our subscribers is a two-chapter excerpt from Me and My Web Shadow: How to Manage Your Reputation Online by Antony Mayfield. The book provides valuable information about managing and protecting your online persona, while also providing tips on how to make the Internet work in your favor.

Going green with Win7 is harder than it looks

Top Story by Susan Bradley

Trying to consume less energy in a home office by putting workstations to sleep automatically seemed like the right thing to do. But when two Windows 7 PCs developed insomnia, returning them to a greener state let me discover some interesting tricks and tips.

Looking to the Lounge for a cheap photo editor

Lounge Life by Tracey Capen

Serious digital photographers spend an inordinate amount of time working with their photo-editing application — usually Photoshop, if they can afford it. For those who can't (or for whom Photoshop is just too complicated), there is endless debate about what's second-best.

Dunkin' Donuts is whispering in your ear

Wacky Web Week by Stephanie Small

Advertisements are everywhere in today's world. With billboards, televisions, the radio, and even our reading material bombarded with ads pushing product, it's only a matter of time before they find their way into our cell phone conversations.

Use Windows System Restore with caution

Langalist Plus by Fred Langa

Window's System Restore is a good, basic safety net for solving system problems, but what it doesn't do will surprise you. To use Windows' system backup tool most effectively, you need to know its limitations — and have other recovery tools readily at hand.

How much security software do you really need?

Best Software by Ian "Gizmo" Richards

Yes, the Internet can be a dangerous place. But use smart computing practices and the right security products, and you can reduce your risk to very low levels. What may surprise you is that safe Web browsing needn't require very many computer security products, and you can put together an effective defense without spending a cent.

Have your Windows Mail and Windows 7, too

Patch Watch by Susan Bradley

From the e-mail received after May's Patch Tuesday, it's obvious that Windows Mail is still extremely popular with Windows 7 users. So I'm revisiting the patch described in Microsoft Support article MS10-031 and giving more details on exactly how to get the Mail you want on Windows 7.

Tighten your Facebook privacy settings

Top Story by Scott Mace

In their hunt for market dominance, social networks Facebook, Google Buzz, and Microsoft Live are redefining what social means — and in the process, straining the bounds of personal privacy. Facebook, the big daddy of these three, has made quiet changes to its privacy settings, ones that members need to understand if they are going to manage the distribution of their personal information.

Is segregating data and apps worth the effort?

Lounge Life by Tracey Capen

The debate over splitting your data and programs into separate partitions for easier backups goes far back into hard-drive antiquity. It was never as simple as one might have hoped in Windows XP, and based on comments in a lengthy Lounge thread, it's no easier in Win7.

Beware the yellow liquid in the odd sink

Wacky Web Week by Stephanie Small

Visiting foreign places is exciting. New sights, sounds, and tastes give travelers an eye-opening view into life outside their home territory.

Manage your Internet reputation with ease

Bonus

This month's free bonus download for all our subscribers is a two-chapter excerpt from Me and My Web Shadow: How to Manage Your Reputation Online by Antony Mayfield. The book provides valuable information about managing and protecting your online persona, while also providing tips on how to make the Internet work in your favor.

Take charge of Windows' User Account Control

Langalist Plus by Fred Langa

Windows can be a terrible nag, and in Vista and Windows 7 it can be most annoying when popping up its User Account Control (UAC) security prompts. UAC implementation proved clumsy in Vista, and it can still annoy in Win7 — but there are ways to make it less so.

Use Microsoft Office 2010 free for 180 days

Woody's Windows by Woody Leonhard

Microsoft officially allows you to run the new Office 2010 — the whole enchilada — for up to 30 days, without entering an activation key. Unofficially, there's a little-known trick allowing potential Office 2010 buyers to rearm trial copies, thus letting them kick the tires for half a year without spending a penny.

Free utility suite bundles over 100 tools

Perimeter Scan by Ryan Russell

A popular Windows utility maker offers its suite of apps as a single download with a new application launcher that makes picking and running a utility quick and easy. The suite covers everything from an application-crash reporter to a Windows updates viewer — and over a 100 other titles in between.

Manage your Internet reputation with ease

Bonus

This month's free bonus download for all our subscribers is a two-chapter excerpt from Me and My Web Shadow: How to Manage Your Reputation Online by Antony Mayfield. The book provides valuable information about managing and protecting your online persona, while also providing tips on how to make the Internet work in your favor.

New findings update WS Security Baseline

Top Story by Robert Vamosi

Our monthly update of the Windows Secrets Security Baseline focuses on malware suites — all-in-one commercial packages that fight viruses, spam, spyware, and malware that's still unknown — plus suites you assemble yourself. Regardless of your skill level — beginner, intermediate, or advanced user — you should be able to find security protection that's right for your needs.

How many firewalls running together is too many?

Lounge Life by Tracey Capen

The firewall is one of the most fundamental components of PC security — and it's the least understood by the average computer user. The conventional wisdom is to never run more than one antivirus program at a time and never run multiple anti-spyware apps together — so why do we routinely rely on both hardware and software firewalls?

Fun ways to take revenge on would-be thieves

Wacky Web Week by Stephanie Small

Getting ripped off really stinks. While someone else is out having fun with what's rightfully yours, you're left with lost time, money, and good humor.

Hard-drive defragmentation is still worthwhile

Langalist Plus by Fred Langa

Today's hard drives are 10 times faster than the drives of old — is defragging really still worth the bother? One reader wonders whether the time has come to challenge the conventional wisdom about defragging.

Reassessing and retuning Google's Chrome

Best Software by Ian "Gizmo" Richards

Critics have rightly questioned whether Google's Chrome browser transmits too much data about user browsing habits to the company's databases. Although most of the reports of Chrome's privacy issues are more alarmist than factual, problems do exist — but they can be effectively controlled by changing a few Chrome settings.

A patch for Microsoft's e-mail clients

Patch Watch by Susan Bradley

For anyone using a Microsoft e-mail client, checking e-mail while at the coffee bar could be hazardous to your PC. The familiar remote-code execution threat behind so many of the recent hacker attacks now targets users of Outlook Express, Windows Mail, and Windows Live Mail.

The 120-day Microsoft security suite test drive

Top Story by Fred Langa

Frustration with most commercial antivirus suites launched a long-term, real-life test of Microsoft Security Essentials, Microsoft's free anti-malware application. In one of the rare extended tests outside a lab, Microsoft's software has quietly kept two Windows 7 PCs free of infections, even in dangerous public environments.

A snapshot of what's hot on the WS Lounge

Lounge Life by Tracey Capen

Regular Windows Secrets readers will note that Lounge Life has a new and expanded design. Our new table of Windows Secrets Lounge links highlights some of the most interesting — and wide-ranging — topics under discussion.

Dancing baby redefines the shuffle

Wacky Web Week by Stephanie Small

Watching babies crawl is adorable and wondrous — it's their first stumbling act as they begin the long journey to independence.

Manage your Internet reputation with ease

Bonus

This month's free bonus download for all our subscribers is a two-chapter excerpt from Me and My Web Shadow: How to Manage Your Reputation Online by Antony Mayfield. The book provides valuable information about managing and protecting your online persona, while also providing tips on how to make the Internet work in your favor.

Tuning Windows power settings boosts performance

Langalist Plus by Fred Langa

Using the right combination of Windows Power Plan settings extends notebook battery life and saves energy when using any PC — and it can make some applications perform better, too. No matter what Windows you're using — XP, Vista, Win7, Server '08 — you may be in for a pleasant surprise when you see just how much control your power options offer.

The absolutely safest way to upgrade to Win7

Insider Tricks by Lincoln Spector

Few things are scarier than installing a new version of Windows — at least, few things you can do while sitting at a desk. The safest route to a successful Windows 7 upgrade is a dual-boot configuration on your PC, letting your old OS and Win7 coexist during the transition.

Give your flagging WiFi signal a boost

Hot Tips by Michael Lasky

Over time, your home or office WiFi has probably lost some of the zip it had when you first set it up. Interference from surrounding WiFi networks is one of the most-common causes of degrading wireless performance, but there are relatively simple steps you can take to get back that missing bandwidth.

Hotmail's social networking busts your privacy

Top Story by Woody Leonhard

In its rush to take on Facebook and Google Buzz, Microsoft is now collecting and displaying personal information on your Hotmail page — information you may never have wanted to broadcast. Exactly how it's mining this information is something of a mystery, but if you use Hotmail or Windows Live, it's time to review your privacy settings — lest something you said or did comes back to haunt you.

Partitioning's ongoing role in Windows security

Lounge Life by Tracey Capen

The strategies and opinions about dividing a hard drive into multiple partitions are almost as old as the PC itself. PC technology has changed radically in the past few years, but there are still good reasons to divide up drives into separate compartments — as the following post makes clear.

Here's one way to get up the mountain

Wacky Web Week by Stephanie Small

Snow sports are almost always a fun way to celebrate winter. Skiing or snowboarding — sometimes the hardest part is just getting up the hill.

Two ways to make 'self-healing' Windows setups

Langalist Plus by Fred Langa

If you want or need free ways to make Windows reset itself to pristine condition after each use, here are two approaches. With Microsoft's SteadyState application or a virtual PC snapshot, Windows can start each session completely fresh, perfectly set up, and with no record of any previous activity or changes.

Custom boot CDs help fix Windows disasters

Perimeter Scan by Ryan Russell

What do you do when your PC won't load Windows — or it loads, but you're locked out? Panic is the first thing that comes to mind. But a better alternative is to create custom boot CDs to access your files and recover lost passwords.

Oracle releases Java patch earlier than expected

Patch Watch by Susan Bradley

If you thought your Java was fully brewed with last week's patch, guess again. After two security researchers revealed a new vulnerability in Oracle's Java app, the company quickly sent out a surprise update.

New admins and mods join us in revealing secrets

Introduction by Brian Livingston

We've added some valuable members lately to our work group as well as the WS Lounge, and I want you to know who they are. I know that staffing up will lead to changes that are hard to predict, but I'm confident that the differences will be for the better.

Run your PC from afar — securely and easily

Top Story by Susan Bradley

Your office PC is miles away, when suddenly you realize you forgot that all-important file — what to do? Luckily, there are free tools (including one possibly residing in Windows) that give you remote access — or even full-scale remote control — of your PC, as if you were sitting right in front of it.

Formatting in Word results in major headaches

Lounge Life by Tracey Capen

We've all been there — everything looks great in Word Print Preview, but when the final document comes out, it's wasted paper. When you're ready to chuck Microsoft's ubiquitous document app for something else, the many Word jockeys on the Windows Secrets Lounge are an excellent resource.

Bandleader plays more than symphonic music

Wacky Web Week by Stephanie Small

Anger can elicit all sorts of different reactions — tears, a tantrum, or walking away — all fairly harmless ways to let it out.

Run multiple antivirus applications on one PC

Langalist Plus by Fred Langa

Conventional wisdom says antivirus tools don't work well together — so a PC should have just one tool installed at any time. In most cases, that wisdom is still correct — but if you pick the right kind of software, there are ways to clean a PC with multiple AV tools.

Living without Adobe Flash Reader or Sun's Java

In The Wild by Robert Vamosi

Recent problems with Adobe Flash and Sun's Java are leading some users to dispense with either while surfing the Internet. This week I'll discuss some of the latest Flash and Java problems and show you how to either disable these plug-ins or install anti-Flash/anti-Java apps.

Microsoft releases a taxing week of patches

Patch Watch by Susan Bradley

Digitally signed software is a system designed to build trust in the applications you install on a PC. Most of us don't think twice about installing digitally signed software, but we should — now that malware has made this system less trustworthy.

Microsoft decision puts public libraries at risk

Top Story by Yardena Arar

Millions of Americans depend on libraries, Internet cafés, and other public locations for their connection to the Internet, and keeping these points of access safe from hackers is especially difficult. Recently, however, Microsoft has made that challenge even more difficult for many public libraries.

Moving to Windows 7 can be a rough transition

Lounge Life by Tracey Capen

File management in Win7 is just different enough from XP's that even simple tasks can seem non-intuitive. Using posts in the Lounge and how-to stories in Windows Secrets should make the switch less painful.

Fiberglass never tasted so dog-gone good

Wacky Web Week by Stephanie Small

Vandalism can earn you some serious jail time — especially if you're damaging some cop's beloved cruiser.

When streaming video stutters and stops

Langalist Plus by Fred Langa

Watching streaming video on your PC is great — until poor computer performance or a slow network turns it into an unwatchable mess. But it doesn't have to be that way. Frequent pauses, video breakup, stutters, and hangs can often be eliminated with some simple fixes.

Three useful but little-known Web applications

Best Software by Ian "Gizmo" Richards

You're probably familiar with Web-based apps such as Google Calendar and Flickr, but there are dozens of useful, though less-known, Internet apps available for free. Some of these superb apps offer an excellent alternative to installing expensive, specialized utilities on your PC.

Build a community bulletin board in 15 minutes

Woody's Windows by Woody Leonhard

To thrive and grow, small organizations — clubs, charities, or any group with a common interest — need easy-to-use, easy-to-access ways to communicate and share information. For group discussions, e-mail is popular but often clumsy and chaotic; simple online bulletin boards, on the other hand, provide structure to discussions and are surprisingly easy to set up.

Over 60,000 Lounge pages are now in Google

Introduction by Brian Livingston

When we started opening up the Windows Secrets Lounge to Google and other Web indexes a few months ago, we didn't realize how hard it would be to get the search engine gods to find all our pages. Finally, we hit the right solution. Google now includes more than 60,000 pages from the Lounge — over half of our total discussion threads — with the rest soon to become available to searchers around the globe.

Security competition reveals new browser flaws

Top Story by Tracey Capen

CanSecWest 2010's hacker competition results in public defeat for Apple's iPhone and three of the leading Internet browsers. Apple, Microsoft, and other vendors are certain to release patches in the next few months for these holes, but what's a user to do in the meantime?

Winning the battle against obscure malware

Lounge Life by Tracey Capen

Sometimes the most difficult part of keeping your PC clean is knowing what's malware — and what's not. When you need help identifying suspicious files, expert users on the Lounge make an excellent resource.

It's not April 1 without a pranking or two

Wacky Web Week by Stephanie Small

Happy April Fools' Day! For those unaware, today is the one day of the year when you can play pranks on friends and family — and get away with it! Whether it's a classic like putting salt in the sugar bowl or something entirely new, don't let the day go by unpranked.

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 limited time, 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

Tools for managing Win7 and Vista system bootup

Langalist Plus by Fred Langa

When changing Windows 7 and Vista boot controls, don't look for the 'boot.ini' file, familiar to Win XP users. In Vista and Win7, Microsoft eliminated boot.ini and replaced it with the more-powerful Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store, tripping up a reader trying to track down a dual-boot problem.

Classic Shell puts XP Retro back into Win7

Woody's Windows by Woody Leonhard

If you've made the jump from Windows XP to Win7 and are asking yourself, "Why did I do this?" perhaps you miss familiar XP controls. Well, take heart — there's an excellent free application that will give you back some of the better features in XP's Start Menu and Explorer.

Microsoft releases an emergency patch for IE

Patch Watch by Susan Bradley

It's no April Fool joke: Microsoft released an emergency Internet Explorer patch to plug holes in its beleaguered browser. This is a patch you'll want to apply as soon as you can.

Many browsers patched prior to hacking event

Top Story by Susan Bradley

One of the top draws at CanSecWest, the highly regarded Canadian security conference, is the break-the-browser contest known as Pwn2Own. So can it be coincidence that Apple, Google, and Mozilla updated their browsers just days before the contest?

Running a virtual XP machine in Windows 7

Lounge Life by Tracey Capen

The Windows Secrets Lounge goes well beyond just solving problems. In the first post listed below, JoeP reports that Win7's Windows Virtual PC mode no longer requires hardware virtualization, and he provides the links for applying this useful tip.

The sincerest form of feathery flattery

Wacky Web Week by Stephanie Small

The old saw that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery can take many forms — someone who copies your dress, someone who copies your mannerisms, someone who steals your favorite catch phrases.

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 limited time, 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

Tips on working within Windows 7's Libraries

Langalist Plus by Fred Langa

Win7's Libraries are a powerful organizing tool, but they're not always the best option for accessing your files. For some kinds of file management, the old way — using Windows Explorer and working within the files' true folder — is still the best way.

Tools for removing blur from digital photos

Best Software by Ian "Gizmo" Richards

Just because a digital photo is poorly focused or blurred by motion doesn't mean it's a total loss. Low-cost and free software can rescue blurry photos, once destined for the recycle bin.

Support clock ticking on XP and Vista versions

Patch Watch by Susan Bradley

Microsoft's support for Windows XP Service Pack 2 and the orginal version of Vista is ending soon. If you haven't upgraded to Windows XP SP3 or Vista SP1 or SP2, now is the time to do so.

New security tools help protect your PC

Top Story by Robert Vamosi

The latest routers, security suites, and software patches can help protect your PC against today's ever-more-sophisticated Internet attacks. These security tools are easy to install, easy to maintain, and provide the average PC user with basic protection against viruses, botnets, Trojans, rootkits, and other types of malware.

The wisdom of running under Windows admin mode

Lounge Life by Tracey Capen

Windows users are looking for every trick to prevent malware attacks on their PCs. One question that frequently arises is when, and when not, to run with user administrator rights enabled. The tradeoff is convenience versus security.

Snoring canine companion rattles the windows

Wacky Web Week by Stephanie Small

Snoring is one of those loud, annoying habits that are always more irritating for the listener. Balancing peaceful sleep with family harmony can put any relationship to the test.

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

Windows 7 won't eliminate XP coverage

Langalist Plus by Fred Langa

Recent reader feedback had lots to say about the relative coverage of Windows 7 versus Windows XP. It's no surprise that Win7 users have lots of questions about this new operating system, but Windows XP problems are still with us and need answers.

New names, new threats from fake security apps

Woody's Windows by Woody Leonhard

Malicious applications posing as antivirus software are not new, but they're more common than ever — and more sophisticated. They pop up on your screen, warning you that your system is infected with all kinds of viruses. It's true, your PC is infected — but the infection is the warning, itself.

Tools for safely removing rogue anti-malware

Perimeter Scan by Ryan Russell

The last several rounds of malware I've had to fight were all of a type — bogus security applications. In this article, I'll share my favorite techniques for removing those fake "You're infected!" warnings that pop up on your PC.

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 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.