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July 8: Microsoft Security Update Gets an F
2008-07-10 00:07:00
F is short for Fail, and Microsoft got a failing grade from me on its latest security update for Windows X P (KB951748). Upon installation, tens of thousands of users lost Internet connectivity.Security Update for Windows XP (KB951748) addresses a serious problem and it should be installed. Unfortunately, this update does not work well with Check Point's ZoneAlarm , a widely used software firewall.Microsoft's grade was based solely on its failure to test or detect compatibility problems with ZoneAlarm.Internet Connectivity Shut OffOnce the update was installed, ZoneAlarm detected suspicious activity in the Windows XP kernel and disabled network traffic. It did what it was designed to do.The Blame BeginsZoneAlarm is made to block suspect intrusions and extrusions. Many people are blaming ZoneAlarm for the problem, but I do not think it is their fault. Firewalls are under frequent attack, and ingenious ways of selectively allowing or blocking network traffic enables ZoneAlarm to be ef...

SP3 to Automatic Updates on July 10
2008-07-08 05:05:00
The time has come. On July 10, 2008, at 10:00 AM PST, Microsoft will begin to "push" distribution of Windows X P Service Pack 3 via "Automatic Updates ".This is not the first service pack to be distributed, but it is still a risky move. If there are problems with updates to the millions of Windows XP computers, Microsoft will get the brunt of the harsh criticism, both deserved and undeserved.For computer users who follow Microsoft's advice, Automatic Updates is set to download and install recommended updates as they become available. However, if there is a glitch in the installation process, users could wake up to an unusable computer. That is why I recommend you use Automatic Updates solely to provide a notification of update availability.At this point, Microsoft knows most of the causes of SP3's installation and compatibility problems. I believe that Automatic Updates will first scan your computer for the known troublemakers, and if detected, will disallow the download/installatio...

Windows XP SP3: Is it Needed?
2008-07-05 10:55:00
Using Windows is like living in a high-crime neighborhood: You are never safe. SP3 enhances security and installs needed updates.SP3 provides new features, mainly security enhancements developed for Vista, which may not be available as individual updates for XP.On a few computers I updated, some previously loaded Critical Updates (to SP2) had not installed themselves fully. Others were never downloaded. SP3 detected these incomplete or missing updates and installed them.Anyone who installs Service Pack 3 accepts a certain amount of risk (failure to install, loss of data, unanticipated problems due to incompatibilities, waste of time, etc.) However, not installing all of the recommended security enhancements is risky too.While you will not notice it, SP3 will make your computer more secure. Moreover, any time you can increase the security of your Windows-based computer, you should seriously consider doing it.PS: Contrary to earlier reports, SP3 will not speed up your computer. There ...
More About: Microsoft , Windows X , Windows Vista , Windows Xp

How to Remove Windows XP Service Pack 3
2008-07-03 12:19:00
Microsoft has a nice way of putting it:"After you install Windows XP SP3, a hardware device or an installed program may work differently."Isn't marketing speak just priceless?Well, just in case "differently" is not to your liking, Microsoft recommends four ways to remove SP3. You can use the following:Control Panel: Add or Remove ProgramsHidden $NtService Pack Uninstall$ folderSystem RestoreRecovery ConsoleWhile it is likely that one of these procedures might solve your problem, it is possible that none of them will work.If you are not thoroughly familiar with these tools, do not attempt to use them. Instead, contact Microsoft and get their free technical support for SP3 installation issues.Helpful Information:How to Block Windows XP SP3 InstallationWindows XP Service Pack Installation Guidelines
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The XP SP3 Installation Green Light
2008-06-29 14:15:00
The May 6, 2008 Red Light :A number of seasoned computer experts advised Windows XP users to hold off 1-2 months before installing Service Pack 3.Did they need a detailed knowledge of SP3 to offer that sound advice? Not really. Based on prior experience with previous updates, it was safe to assume it will take Microsoft approximately 6-8 weeks to discover and fix most of SP3's unexpected installation and compatibility problems.The Green Light:There's a related Green Light rule of thumb for computer owners to install SP3 with less risk (provided they make the proper preparations). The green light will be given by Microsoft on the day it starts to distribute SP3 via Automatic Updates.I recommended waiting until the third week in June before installing SP3. Given the experience of thousands of XP computer owners, my "Red Light" rule of thumb was right. Only time will tell if proceeding on my proposed "green light" was a wise decision.And don't forget the yellow light: Proceed with ca...

Downgrading Vista to Windows XP
2008-06-26 08:29:00
There is a lot of confusion about the possibilities for downgrading Windows Vista to Windows XP. After June 30, 2008, the leading computer manufacturers (Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc.) will no longer sell desktops and notebooks solely with Windows XP.Fully supported, factory-installed Windows XP Professional is available as a "Vista downgrade". With your new Vista computer, you receive operating system disks for both Vista and XP Pro, each licensed solely for use on your new computer.You can transition to Vista at any time. However, before you install your copy of Vista, you will have to backup your data. Vista's installation (or XP's reinstallation) will erase all of your programs, data and customized settings.Only two editions of Vista come with "downgrade rights":Vista BusinessVista UltimateIf you want to downgrade Vista Home Basic or Premium to XP on your new computer, you must first upgrade (at added expense) to Vista Business or Ultimate.In addition, you can only downgrade Vista t...
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How to Block Windows XP SP3 Installation
2008-06-20 07:23:00
Unless you select the proper options, Windows XP's Automatic Updates service will download security updates and install them at a specified time, in the "background", without your involvement.Within a few months of its May 2008 introduction, SP3 will be distributed via Automatic Updates; so make sure that its settings let you manage what is installed.I just discovered a tool from Microsoft that prevents installation of service packs obtained with Windows Update.The tool can delay the installation of Windows XP Service Pack 3 until May 2009. It can also be used with Vista SP1 and future service packs for Windows Server 2003. It only works with Windows Update and cannot stop the installation of service packs from CDs and DVDs.The Windows Service Pack Block er Tool Kit can be downloaded from Microsoft's website:http://www.microsoft.com/download s/Just in case you are confused about Microsoft's terminology, here are some definitions:Automatic Updates is an operating system service acce...
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Don't Take Advice from Bloggers
2008-06-02 02:21:00
If you can get past my attention-grabbing blog post title, you might consider taking my advice about taking advice from blogs and forums on remedies for advanced technical computer problems.In the process of researching issues with Windows X P SP3 installation, compatibility and performance, I spoke with a number of industry experts. Their affiliations include Microsoft , Dell Technical Support, and The Geek Squad . I also scanned some industry and technical magazines, forums and blogs.In many blog comments and forum posts, I was shocked to find high-risk, but authoritatively-stated fixes to blue screen and Registry problems. Far too often, those detailed technical recommendations were not checked for typos or were authored by someone unknowingly giving bad advice.The average non-technical computer user gets flustered when his or her computer has a serious, unexpected malfunction. At that point, they are in the greatest danger of acting on bad advice and making their unfortunate situat...
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Another Reason to Postpone SP3 Installation
2008-05-23 12:14:00
Microsoft should be blamed for many Windows X P SP3 installation issues. However, new problems will be caused by third-party software publishers that did not adequately test their own offerings for SP3 platforms.Antivirus programs and utilities that monitor and halt applications need the most testing. By waiting a month to install SP3, you will be spared the grief caused by ineffective error detection and lax quality assurance practices at independent software providers.
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Defensive Computing
2008-05-21 16:04:00
Michael Horowitz is the author of Defensive Computing , a blog published by CNET. He writes on a broad spectrum of computer-related topics; most include valuable advice on avoiding safety threats and minimizing computer problems.I find myself agreeing with Michael's recommendations, so I thought it would be helpful to point you to his website.

Installing Windows XP SP3: My Experience
2008-05-17 15:15:00
After an antivirus scan and a full backup, I installed Windows XP SP3 on an older, IBM laptop (model a21m, PIII 800MHz, 512 MB RAM). The laptop had the latest operating system updates, device drivers and BIOS.The SP3 installation took an hour and a half, despite a fast broadband connection. More powerful computers should take significantly less time to complete the installation.I would like to think that my cautious approach improved the chances for a successful installation:Downloaded SP3 from Microsoft 's Windows UpdateDisconnected the networkShut down ZoneAlarmDisabled Norton Anti VirusConfirmed that other programs were not runningInstalled Service Pack 3Rebooted twice (you may think this is one time too many)Connected to the networkReran Windows Update and discovered that "Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool" did not download with the initial updateDownloaded and installed "Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool"RebootedDefragmented the hard driveNo problems were encountere...
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Windows XP SP2 Critical Updates: Don?t Forget to Install Them
2008-05-15 08:22:00
If you are not planning to upgrade to Windows XP SP3, you still need to install Critical Updates as they become available.On the second Tuesday of every month, Microsoft Windows Update provides patches for your operating system and applications. The available downloads typically include:Patches for newly-found security vulnerabilitiesBug fixesA malware removal toolApplication upgrades While the Automatic Updates feature is recommended, nothing gets installed without my approval. The Automatic Updates icon is used as a notification to launch Windows Update. To have the best control over what gets installed, select the Custom update option.Based on a hardware and software scan, a list of available updates is generated. Some of these are critical updates, while others are optional or unwanted. I make my selection, press Install, and hope for the best. (Serious installation problems are encountered roughly twice a year.)This month, you get a new screen with two Windows X P SP2 update opt...
More About: Windows Xp

Free Windows XP SP3 Installation Support
2008-05-13 12:24:00
Microsoft is offering Windows XP users free, unlimited technical support for Service Pack 3 installation and compatibility issues. This generous, free offer is good until April 14, 2009, which happens to be Windows X P's "Mainstream Support Retirement Date".BTW, there is even better news for those of you who take excellent care of your personal computers. Microsoft will continue supporting Windows XP until April 8, 2014, the "Extended Support Retirement Date".I still recommend that you postpone the installation of SP3 for 6-8 weeks. That still leaves you nine months of free, unlimited support, just in case you need it...Source: https://support.microsoft.com/
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Two reasons not to install Windows XP SP3
2008-05-13 05:58:00
There are two reasons you should not install Windows XP SP3:Windows X P SP3 is not ready for youYou are not ready for Windows XP SP31. Why is Windows XP SP3 not ready for you?It's admirable for Microsoft to offer an upgrade to a product that has already been replaced by Vista and will not be sold after June 30, 2008. While this strategy may not be in Microsoft's best interests, I appreciate their continuing development of my older proprietary operating system.It's really a cheap shot at Microsoft to say Windows XP SP3 is not ready for installation. Operating systems are incredibly complex, and the installation of a service pack with a large collection of patches and new features will often fail. There is no company in the world capable of providing a defect-free operating system upgrade on the scale of Windows XP SP3.But to make a long story short, I recommend waiting for at least two months before installing SP3. This will give Microsoft time to detect and fix bugs that affect a ...
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Pixel Ads and Search Engine Optimization
2007-02-06 10:35:03
The MillionDollarHomePage (MDHP) has a Google Page Rank of 7, and thousands of visitors per day.Last December, I learned about the MDHP, and the novelty and potential benefit from owning a five-year MDHP link to my site, was just too intriguing to resist. So on January 4th, I bought a 100 pixel block of MDHP real estate with the idea of "researching" the potential of this new form of advertising.I had no idea about what to expect from my $100 investment, or even how to create an ad -- let alone one that would get noticed amongst the other 9999 pixel blocks.Currently, in the world of pixel advertising, there's the MDHP and "everything else". The MDHP is unique, well known, hopefully enduring, and truly part of "Internet history". That is not to say that other pixel ad sites will not also gain prominence in the future, but many of today's copycats will never be viable.Most of what I hope to discuss about pixel advertising relates to my experience with both the MDHP and today's less...
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Updating Firefox and Managing Extensions
2007-02-06 10:35:03
Before you start updating your Fire fox browser, it is a good idea to purge unneeded extensions. I suggest you incorporate this preliminary step in any Firefox update.Since Firefox disables incompatible extensions, you need to proceed carefully if you want to eliminate the risk of losing essential functionality. Firefox 1.5 can list the extensions it will disable in a browser update, but pre-version 1.5 users will have to do their own checking for version compatibility.My recommended procedure for updating Firefox 1.5:1. Review your list of installed extensions (Tools>Extensions ) and uninstall the ones you no longer need.2. Where possible, update the extensions that are important to you. This may require a browser restart. (I usually restart applications after any update.)3. Run a check for the availability of browser upgrades (Help>Check for Upgrades). You will be informed of which, if any, extensions will be disabled by the browser update.*4. (Optional) Back up the Firefox "prof...
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No Extensions Lost with Firefox 1.5.0.1 Update
2007-02-06 10:35:03
The process of upgrading Firefox 1.5 to release 1.5.0.1 went flawlessly.On the day the new release was published, Firefox 1.5's automatic update feature sent notification that a new version of the browser was available.Automatic Update Options:The automatic update feature's options enable you to select the types of items you want to update, i.e. extensions and themes. You also can control the update feature's autonomy, i.e. "ask me what to do when an update is available" or "just go ahead and install whatever you find, but warn me if extensions will be disabled". While I selected the more permissive option, it is generally safer if permission to proceed was always required.My Browser's Update:Unlike my bad experience with the upgrade to release 1.5 (due to inadequate warnings about the potential loss of extensions), I was provided with the data necessary for deciding whether or not to install the 1.5.0.1 update:* Mozilla's strong recommendation to upgrade immediately* A list of...
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My Gripe about Firefox Losing Extensions
2007-02-06 10:35:03
On his website, Computergripes.com, Michael Horowitz succinctly restated my complaint regarding the loss of functionality from extensions deactivated in the Fire fox upgrade: "The gripe is that this happens without warning."If I knew this loss would occur, I would have waited until all of my essential extensions worked with the upgraded version. This setback will not happen again to me, but in the weeks and months to come, thousands of other unsuspecting Firefox users will get the same unpleasant surprise.Comments on my previous post from a number of readers offered "workarounds" for the lost functionality problem. Most of these are inappropriate for the vast majority of current and prospective Firefox users. Here is a sample.Example 1:"Just type the name of the extension into google and find the website of the person who makes it."This advice is fine if you know and trust the developer's website. But it is inadvisable for anyone to go to an unknown website and download programs -- ...
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Firefox 1.5 Drops Old Extensions
2007-02-06 10:35:03
By upgrading to Fire fox 1.5, many users of prior versions will no longer have some of the added features on which they depend to perform important tasks. Prior to upgrading to version 1.5, Firefox users receive no warning, other than a note buried deeply in the technical "Release Notes," about the potential loss of key features that were added to previous versions.I got caught up with the excitement over the new features and increasing market share. I did not realize that by upgrading, I was taking one step forward and two steps back.By design, Firefox enables users to add functionality selectively to their browser, through the use of "add-ons". Once installed, these add-on programs, called extensions or plug-ins, effectively become an integral part of the browser from the user's perspective.Extension s vary greatly; some perform only a single function such as converting ASCII to Unicode, while others are like small multi-featured applications. Firefox 1.5 plug-ins include Adobe Rea...
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The 2005 Linux vs. Windows TCO Bombshell
2007-02-06 10:35:03
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is a key consideration in the selection of application software, computing platforms and other components of enterprise computing architecture. So when a controversial annual Linux vs. Wind ows TCO survey is released by a prominent industry analyst, it is bound to create near violent worldwide discord between the warring OS camps.The report by Laura DiDio of the Yankee Group is scheduled for announcement to the press today.From my understanding of the TCO survey's Executive Summary (thanks to the electronic newsletter, W2Knews), it is full of surprises and bad news that will likely enrage the Linux and Open Source community. Here are some of the key points in the W2Knews article -- including a few findings that really shocked me:"An overwhelming 88% of corporations report that Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Server 2003 operating system provides equal to or better performance and reliability than Linux in comparable usage scenarios."Users rated security of L...
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Search Engine Results - Let's Define Terms
2007-02-06 10:35:03
Today, Microsoft introduced a new version of its search engine. MSN Search now uses its own database and technology to generate its search reports. Before today, Microsoft relied on Yahoo's search engine.In forums, blog postings and journal articles, the terms "better" and "relevant" are used when results from different search engines are compared. But how meaningful are these appraisals, and how are they made? Are these assessments purely subjective opinions, or are they conclusions based on accepted and valid metrics?For now, I'm sticking with Google -- until I'm convinced that there is something "better".
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Optimizing Training Effectiveness
2007-02-06 10:35:03
Since you are visiting our new blog, we would like to share a few thoughts about us and our work. In this post, we will begin to describe our planning for training program development. Advanced technical training has been a primary service of IAPS since our inception in 1977. We understand the "business" of training -- what works, as well as what doesn't. Most of our training programs are instructor led, on-site, and customized as needed. When we plan a training program for a client, we consider the potential role of mentoring, on-the-job training, media-based or computer assisted self study, or a combination of these training modes in addition to our instructor led workshops. These considerations are essential if our client wants to optimize the overall cost and effectiveness of the training program. In future posts, we will describe additional factors and considerations related to the development of effective training programs for practicing professionals. We will also di...
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DCE: Will Open Source Renew Interest?
2007-02-06 10:35:03
The source code of the Distributed Computing Environment (DCE) is now being made available under an open source license. Previously, DCE 1.2.2 source code was only obtainable under a traditional software product license.DCE was introduced in 1991 as industry-standard, vendor-neutral, full featured, scalable middleware. Most of the major computer vendors embraced DCE, which has supported thousands of mission critical applications in small to large enterprises and governmental agencies. Today, DCE deployments still provide many mission critical IT services.DCE is a mature technology. For the past several years, DCE product development ceased and our DCE training and consulting work solely involved the maintenance or migration of DCE legacy systems and applications.With DCE source code now freely available to the open source community, it will be fascinating to see how this complex technology will evolve and find new applications. With great interest, we will continue to follow develo...
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Consulting and On-Site Technical Training
2007-02-06 10:35:03
Founded in 1977, IAPS is a leading international training and consulting firm that designs and presents educational programs for technical professionals and managers. IAPS provides technical experts to assist organizations with assessment, design and implementation of leading edge software for electronic products and complex IT systems. IAPS also provides technical litigation support services on intellectual property matters in addition to technical training support services and education consulting.
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Scan Your Registry
2007-02-06 10:35:03
Shortly after I began working with Windows systems, I learned of the term "registry".Most references to the Windows registry were associated with system failure or malfunction. The registry errors were due to obsolete, incorrect or unwanted entries from applications or malware, file corruption, or a simple editing mistake.My associates talked about their problems with the registry in the same tone that they talked about heart attacks and strokes.Even the name, "registry", was imposing enough for me never to tamper with it.However, the other day at DOWNLOAD.COM, I came across some registry repair tools. My curiosity got the best of me, and I downloaded free trial versions of two registry repair programs:- WinASO Regis try Optimizer (version 2.0.5)- Registry Mechanic (version 4.0.0.101)December 04, 2006:WinASO Registry Optimizer 2.8 - Updated: October 23, 2006Registry Mechanic 6.0 - Released: November 08, 2006These programs detect registry errors and, at your option and peril, repair t...
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