XP Mode in Windows 7
Posted by admin on Dec 15, 2009
First of all, you should know that XP Mode is only part of Windows 7 Professoinal or Ultimate. If you have the Home Premium version, you will have to look at other virtualized XP options (see the end of the article)
There are pros and cons to using XP Mode, but if you do your homework properly, it can be a real life saver. You may have a program that only works in XP, and there is no update for it yet. We have found that many industry-specific programs have not make the leap to Vista or Windows 7 yet.
XP Mode Advantages…
- It allows you to run XP apps on Windows 7
- It allows you to run multiple versions of incompatible software
- It is integrated and launches seamlessly
- It provides a way to run 32-bit apps on a 64-bit operating system
- You can easily delete it and reinstall it (in case of a virus infection)
- Windows XP License is automatically included
XP Mode Limitations…
- It is resource intensive (uses lots of CPU and RAM)
- It needs a CPU with virtualization technology
- It is slow… up to a minute or two to launch the first time
XP Mode Alternatives…
- Virtual PC 2007 from Microsoft
- xVM Virtual Box from Sun
- VMWare
To use any of the above alternatives, you will require an XP License and installation CD to get it up and running. One benefit is that these programs will allow for multiple installations of XP (or older Windows versions) and even Linux.
Of course, if this project seems a bit out of your technical realm, please feel free to bring in your system and we can do it for you. We can even help you decide what solutions is the best for you.
Speed up the Internet with OpenDNS
Posted by admin on Jul 9, 2009
OpenDNS is a replacement DNS server for your computer or router. In a nutshell, DNS is the phone book for the Internet. It translates an internet address (www.icscomputers.ca) into a routable IP address, which your computer then uses to navigate the Internet. Each time you visit a new website, a DNS query is issued in the background, and you’re none the wiser. Internet service providers supply DNS to all their customers, but these servers tend to be overpopulated. Generally, the OpenDNS server is faster and more stable than the one provided by your ISP.
Change your current DNS settings to…
Primary: 208.67.222.222
Secondary: 208.67.220.220
Each operating system and router is different, so it is difficult to put how-to instructions in the post. Sorry.
Wipe an Old Hard Drive
Posted by admin on Jun 25, 2009
Nothing can complicate your life quite as thoroughly as identity theft. So before you well your old PC or return a dead hard drive, keep one important fact in mind: Deleting files does not guarantee that they are gone for good. To erase your hard drive properly, you can’t just toss the files into the Recycle Bin and empty it – you need to overwrite the data on the disks as well. I could get all technical at this point, but instead, just go to www.dban.org and download Darik’s Boot and Nuke, a free boot-disk utility that securely wipes any hard drive using any one of several tried-and-true methods. Once DBAN is done with your disk, you can be sure the data is gone.
Of course, nothing beats smashing the hard drive with a 2 pound hammer, but at least your drive will still be useable if you use DBAN. If that procedure seems a bit too technical for you, and you can always bring the drive to your favourite computer repair shop and have them do it for you.
How To Avoid Viruses
Posted by admin on Feb 13, 2009
Taken from Maximum PC, January 2009 Edition
Captain Obvious says that the best way to prevent infection is to avoid viruses in the first place, but what he doesn’t tell you is how to do it. And even though hackers continue to get more cunning in both delivery and execution, you can tip the odds considerably in your favor by practicing safe and sane computing.
If you receive an unknown or unexpected attachment, don’t open it no matter who it came from. Not only are some viruses capable of emailing themselves to everyone they find in an infected user’s address book, but inexperienced computer users are just as guilty of passing along payloads as hackers are of distributing them.
Bit Torrent sites and peer-to-peer networking clients are also common modes of spreading infection. When attempting to download a legitimate program – a Linux distribution, for instance – use the link provided at the vendor’s website. Pirated software is a particularly popular source of malware, so if your moral compass doesn’t steer you toward the straight and narrow, the risk of infection should.
And finally, get in the habit of regularly checking for software updates. New exploits are always being discovered in Windows, Quicktime, web browsers, and other common programs.
Malware Terminology 101
Posted by admin on Feb 13, 2009
Taked from Maximum PC, January 2009 Edition
A computer virus is a piece of software or code capable of reproducing itself and spreading to others systems, but the term is often used to describe a multitude of threats. The effects of malware can range from mildly annoying to completely debilitating, sometimes costing corporations thousands of dollars in downtime and manpower to heal the outbreak. Let’s have a look at the different types of infections.
TROJAN HORSE – Named after the mythological wooden horse used to sneak Odysseus and other Gree heroes into Troy, a Torjan horse will masquerade as a legitimate program but will unleash a harmful payload once installed.
WORM – Computer worms are self-replicating programs that burrow into systems, seeking out vulnerabilities to exploit. The ability to spread without any user action makes them particularly dangerous.
SPYWARE – Ever fell like you’re being watched? If your PC is infected with spyware, you just might be. Even worse, spyware not only monitors your activities but can also hijack your system with redirected web searches and other annoyances.
POLYMORPHIC – To avoid detection, polymorphic malware constantly changes its own code, often using encryption with a variable key. This stealthy technique poses a problem for typical scanners.
Microsoft to Offer Free Antivirus App
Posted by admin on Feb 12, 2009
Taken from Maximum PC, Feburary 2009 Edition
Having achieved only modest market share with its subscription-based OneCare PC security plan, Microsoft is switching gears and offering consumers a free antivirus app beginning mid-2009. Code-named Morro, the app will focus strictly on malware protection versus OneCare’s combo of AV, system maintenance, and data backup; it will be available for XP, Vista, and the upcoming Windows 7 OS.
Microsoft says its motivation is to get antivirus protection on more PCs. But the company has no plans to bundle the app with Windows. Rather, it will be available for download, which should help the company avoid any antitrust flak.
Are AV heavyweights McAfee and Symantec worried that Microsoft’s free app will lure their paying customers? Representatives from both companies say no. As Symantec’s Senior VP of Consumer Business Rowan Trollope put it, “We view this announcement as a capitulation by Microsoft and a reinforcement of the notion that it’s simply not in Microsoft’s DNA to provide high-quality, frequently updated security protection… Making a significantly scaled-back version of that same substandard security technology free won’t change that equation.” Ouch!
Vista Features You Can Disable Right Now
Posted by admin on Nov 4, 2008
There are a few features in Windows Vista that you can remove or disable, and probably not affect your use of the operating system at all. Since running unnecessary processes in the background can rob you of system performance, it is a good idea to turn off what you do not use… especially if your system is less than top-of-the-line.
Remote Assistance – Click on Start, right-click Computer and select Properties. Click Remote Settings. Uncheck Allow Remote Assistance connections to this computer.
Internet Printing Client – Open the Programs and Features control panel and click the Turn Windows features on or off link on the left; you’ll get the Windows Features dialog box. Expand the Print Services section and uncheck Internet Printing Client. Click OK, and reboot when prompted.
Windows Meeting Space – Open the Programs and Features control panel and click the Turn Windows features on or off link on the left; you’ll get the Windows Features dialog box. Simply uncheck Windows Meeting Space.
Tablet PC Stuff – First, open the Program and Features control panel and click the Turn Windows features on or off link on the left; you’ll get the Windows Features dialog box. Uncheck Tablet PC Optional Components. Then click on Start, tupe in services and press Enter. Find and double-click Tablet PC Input Services. In the Startup Type drop-down menu, select Disabled and then click OK.
Sometimes the Best Things in Life ARE Free
Posted by admin on Sep 24, 2008
Here is a list of some of the best – and FREE! – programs you can find.
If you are a customer of ICS, then you know that our favourite anti-virus program is AVG, and for many home users, the FREE version is plenty good enough. You can download it at free.avg.com
If you are attempting to switch from Norton to AVG (or any other antivirus program for that matter) we suggest that you download and run the Norton Removal Tool first. This little utility published by Symantec removes all the remnants of any of Norton’s products. You can find it at symantec.com
Another great little program for doing a bit of housekeeping, is a little gem called CCleaner (it used to be called Crap Cleaner). We still cannot beleive that it is free… since it does so much that would normally take hours to do. You can use this link to get your very own copy.
If you use Microsoft Office at work, and would like to use it at home… but cannot justify the $199 for the Home & Student version, then consider OpenOffice. This great office suite is created by the same community that gave us Linux… and its FREE! Download your copy at OpenOffice.org
Ever need to create a bz2 archive? What about any of the compression formats that WinZip does not support? Download and install 7-zip, and you will never have a problem with a compressed archive again. Get it at 7-zip.org
Minimize greedy RAM gobblers and find memory holes in programs using a great little tool from Kerkia called Minimem. Originally designed for Firefox, the author has re-coded it work with any program. Get it at kerkia.net
Xirrus Wi-Fi Monitor is a sidebar gadget for Windows Vista that displays informaiton about your current Wi-Fi connection, as well as nearby hotspots. You’ll be able to see how strong the signal is, and get your IP and MAC addresses. You can get that from Microsoft’s Vista Gadget link or directly from Xirrus.
Sprout is the quick and easy way for anyone to build, publish, and manage widgets, mini-sites, mashups, banners and more. Any size, any number of pages. Include video, audio, images and newsfeeds and choose from dozens of pre-built components and web services. Try it out at sproutbuilder.com
Make Vista’s User Account Control Less Annoying
Posted by admin on Jun 18, 2008
Taken from PCWorld Magazine, May 2008 Edition
Windows Vista’s User Account Control feature is a constant annoyance for many users, but turning it off entirely can leave your system vulnerable to online threats. Fortunately, you can do a bit of fine tuning via the Group Policy Editor to disable the most irritating parts of this feature without ditching it altogether.
Here’s how to tweak the appropriate settings in this configuration tool. Click Start, type gpedit.msc, press <Enter>, and then click through the UAC prompt. In the left pane, find Local Computer Policy/ComputerConfiguration/Windows Settings/Security Settings/Local Policies/Security Options. Now with Security Options selected in the left pane, look for ‘User Account Control options’ on the right.
To retain the benefit of UAC, leave it turned on but set it to stop prompting you. Double-click User Account Control: Behaviour of the elevation prompt for administrators in Admin Approval Mode. Choose Elevate without prompting, and click OK. A pop-up will complain that UAC is not on, ignore it.
You can also surpress UAC prompts entirely. It’s not as safe as the defalt settings, but it’s more peaceful.
Vista Home Premium doesnot have the Group Policy Object Editor. To make the change in that version, you will have to edit the registry. This is something that we do not recommend for the average user.
Windows 7
Posted by admin on Jun 18, 2008
Taken from PCWorld Magazine, May 2008 Edition
Microsoft recently dropped two strong hints that the next version of its Windows operating system will arrive in 2009, up to a year sooner than anticipated.
The hints might signal Microsoft’s intention to cut its losses with Windows vista, which customers, especially large companies, have grudgingly accepted or shunned.
The company has long said that it wants to release Windows 7 about three years after Vista, and most outsiders had pegged 2010 as a likely arrival year for the new OS. But recently in Miami, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates reportedly said in response to a question about Vista, “Sometime in the next year or so we’ll have a new version”.
And in announcing plans to extend the availability of Windows XP Home for low-cost laptops, Microsoft said it would retire the OS only after June 30, 2010, or one year after the release of Windows 7, whichever came first.
The annoucement’s wording implies that the company may be targeting the middle of next year as a release milestone for Windows 7.
Microsoft has divulged few of the changes planned for the new operating system.