In This Issue...

Newbies Nook - Information, Tips, and Instruction for Computer Users

Forum Favorites - Popular Questions and Threads from the Forum

Security Corner - How to Recognize and Avoid Email Scams - Part 2

Carol's Corner Office - Microsoft Office and OpenOffice How-To's and Tips

Dave's Recommended Software - Our Picks of the Best Software Available

How To - Delete System Restore Points

Freeware Focus - A Spotlight on Freeware programs

Useful Websites - Useful Websites Found on the Net and Recommended by Readers

The Lighter Side - Funny, Interesting, and Thought Provoking Items Found During Our Travels Across the Internet

Everything You Want to Know About Upgrading to Windows 7

Windows 7 Versions and Upgrades

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past six months you are probably aware that Microsoft released their newest Operating System, Windows 7, on October 22nd. Windows 7 has been the topic of network news reports, slightly funny commercials, and general internet buzz! So, should you buy a new PC? Full version, Upgrade, or OEM? Should you get Windows 7 32bit or 64bit? Should you upgrade? Can you upgrade? How much does it cost? Which version is right for You? What features are included in the different versions? How many Windows 7 versions are there? Is Windows 7 stable?

WOW! You sure do have a lot of questions! Let's look at each question and we'll start with the last one.

Is Windows 7 stable?

Yes! Windows 7 is rock solid! I've been running the Release Candidate since May, and Installed the final shipping version on October 22 with not one hitch related to Windows 7. The only issue I've encountered was with a fingerprint reader driver, whose manufacturer hasn't released proper Windows 7 drivers. I've found a working driver and everything is smooth sailing! I will go out on a limb and say that Windows 7 is Microsoft's best operating system ever!

What versions of Windows 7 are available?

Windows 7 is available in 6 different versions - Windows 7 Starter, Windows 7 Home Basic, Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate, and Windows 7 Enterprise. Of these you, as a consumer, will only have contact with four. Windows 7 Basic should only be seen in 'emerging markets' and Windows 7 Enterprise is only available to businesses, though it's features are identical to Windows 7 Ultimate. Of the remaining 4 versions only Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate are available for sale to the public. Windows 7 Starter may only be purchased and installed by OEM's (HP, Dell, etc). I know it is a tad bit confusing. I've created a chart below showing which features are available in each consumer version of Windows 7 along with the cost associated with the various purchases options.

Which Windows 7 version is right for you and what is the cost?

Feature		Starter	Home Premium	Professional	Ultimate
	Windows Basic
	Windows Standard (Classic)
	Windows Aero (Glass and transparency)
	Aero Background
	Areo Peek
	Aero Shake
	Aero Snap
	Changeable Desktop Wallpaper
	Desktop Gadgets
	Jump Lists (Start Menu and Taskbar)
	Multi-Touch
	Multilingual User Interface
	Multiple Monitors
	Preview in Explorer
	Taskbar Program Previews
	Windows Flip
	Windows Flip 3D
	Feature	Starter	Home Premium	Professional	Ultimate
	AppLocker
	BitLocker
	BitLocker To Go
	Calculator (updated)
	Games (standard)
	Games (premium)
	Internet Explorer 8
	NotePad
	Paint (updated)
	Snipping Tool
	Sticky Notes
	Windows DVD Maker
	Windows Fax and Scan
	Windows Journal
	Windows Media Center
	Windows Media Player 12
	Windows Mobility Center
	Windows Photo Viewer
	Windows PowerShell
	Windows XP Mode
	WordPad
	XPS Viewer
	Feature	Starter	Home Premium	Professional	Ultimate
	Automatic Drive Defragmentation
	Encrypted File System
	File Based Backup
	Previous File Versions
	ReadyBoost
	ReadyDrive
	Reliability Monitor
	SuperFetch
	Sync Center
	System Image
	System Image to Network
	Troubleshooting Help
	Feature	Starter	Home Premium	Professional	Ultimate
	AAC Decoding
	Dolby Digital Compatible
	DVD Playback Possible
	DVD (MPEG-2) Decoding Included
	DVD (MPEG-2) Decoding by Download		N/A	N/A	N/A
	H.264 Decoding
	Windows Media Center
	Windows Media Player 12
	TV Tuner Support
	Feature	Starter	Home Premium	Professional	Ultimate
	Boot from VHD (Virtual Hard Drive)
	Connect to a Projector
	HomeGroup Networking	Join Only
	IIS Web Server
	Internet Connection Sharing
	Join a Domain (business network)
	Location Aware Printing
	Network Bridge
	Network and Sharing Center
	Offline Files
	Presentation Mode
	Remote Desktop Client
	Remote Desktop Host
	Software Restriction Policies
	Windows XP Mode
	Feature	Starter	Home Premium	Professional	Ultimate
	Action Center (improved Security Center)
	BitLocker
	Encrypted File System
	Fast User Switching
	Parental Controls
	Windows Defender
	Windows Firewall
	Windows Update
	User Account Control (UAC improved)
	Feature	Starter	Home Premium	Professional	Ultimate
	32 bit Version Available
	64 bit Version Available
	64 bit CPU Support
	Maximum Supported RAM (32 bit version)	2GB	4GB	4GB	4GB
	Maximum Supported RAM (64 bit version)		16GB	192GB	192GB
	Maximum Supported (physical) CPU	1	1	2	2
	Maximum Supported Cores per CPU	No Limit	No Limit	No Limit	No Limit
	Feature	Starter	Home Premium	Professional	Ultimate
	Available at Retail
	Available by Download
	Available with New PC
	Full Version Price Retail DVD		$183.49(US)	$274.49(US)	$291.99(US)
	OEM System Builder DVD		$104.99(US) 32bit $104.99(US) 64bit	$139.99(US) 32bit $139.99(US) 64bit	$174.99(US) 32bit $174.99(US) 64bit
	Upgrade Version Price Retail DVD		$112.99(US)	$179.49(US)	$199.99(US)
	Upgrade Family Pack (3 home Premium)		$149.99(US)
	Windows Anytime Upgrade Available
	Windows Anytime Upgrade to Premium	$75.99(US)
	Windows Anytime Upgrade to Pro		$84.99(US)
	Windows Anytime Upgrade to Ultimate		$130.99(US)

Note: All prices are in US Dollars. Microsoft is offering a limited time offer called a Family Pack($149.99), which includes a license to upgrade three(3) computers from a previous version of Windows to Windows 7 Home Premium. This is currently the best value available to most consumers.

Note: In several countries college level students are eligible for very special pricing on downloadable versions of Home Premium or Professional. See www.win741.com for more details.

Note: OEM Versions have very specific licensing requirements in the EULA. Purchasers of OEM versions must be a 'system builder' installing the OS on a computer with the intention of selling that computer to an end user. This is a gray area. As an example, If you build a computer and sell it to a friend for $1, who sells it back to you. Does this satisfy the EULA? This does not constitute legal advice. Use your best judgment.

The most welcome change between Vista and Windows 7 is that each version is a subset of the next higher version. With Vista if you bought the Professional version you missed out on features such as Media Center and DVD Maker. With Windows 7 Microsoft has included all features of Starter in Home Premium, all features of Home Premium in Professional, and all features of Professional in Ultimate. Now each higher version adds value (and cost of course) to the next lower version

If you look closely at the above chart you will see the major features present in Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate, but not in Home Premium are:

• Ability to join a domain - A domain is a common computer network found in businesses. If you don't use your computer at the office, or don't telecommute then Home Premium is probably the version for you.
• Create a system image to a network location - Windows 7 can create a disk image. Professional and Ultimate versions allow you to create an image directly to a network location. If you don't have a home network, or don't plan on using this feature then Home Premium is probably the version for you.
• Encrypted File System - EFS encrypts the entire contents of a hard drive. This is more than likely overkill for most users, especially with software such as TrueCrypt available for free. If you see no reason to use EFS Home Premium is probably the version for you.
• Multilingual User Interface - If your home communicates with family, friends, and business colleagues using one common language Home Premium is probably the version for you.
• Remote Desktop Host - Remote Desktop allows you to control another computer over the local network, or internet, as if you were setting in front of it. You can access files, run programs, or use the computer as normal. The computer you connect to (the host) must be a Microsoft Professional OS or higher (XP Professional, Vista Business/Ultimate, and Windows 7 Professional/Ultimate). If you do not have a need to connect to the computer with Remote Desktop then Home Premium is probably the version for you.
• Windows XP Mode - Allows Windows XP to run in a special virtual machine. Useful for programs that have difficulty running in Vista or Windows 7. Most programs will run fine in Windows 7, however there may be some legacy programs (and special circumstances) which require a program to run on Windows XP. This is a situation that will effect businesses much more than consumers. If you have programs that will NOT run correctly on Vista or Windows 7 then XP mode will benefit you. Home Premium is probably the version for the other 99.99% of users (most likely you).

I'm sure you will agree that Home Premium is the version what will provide the best 'bang for the buck' for nearly all home users. Microsoft did an excellent job packaging the correct feature set into Home Premium. As a result very few home users will need or require the added features available in the Professional or Ultimate versions, so why pay more if you aren't going to use them?

Can you upgrade to Windows 7?

From a legal standpoint anyone who has a computer running a legal copy of Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows Vista is eligible to upgrade to Windows 7. This includes those who have upgraded to those operating systems from a previous one. Microsoft recommends the following hardware for Windows 7:

• 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
• 1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
• 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
• DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver

Of course, Microsoft is notorious for making recommendations that are a little low for their new operating systems. If you truly wish to have an enjoyable experience with Windows 7 you should not upgrade unless your hardware is closer to the following:

• 2.2 gigahertz (GHz) or faster processor.
• 2 gigabyte (GB) RAM. More is always better.

Generally Windows 7 will work on the same level hardware as Windows XP. If you have a computer that runs XP well it will also run Windows 7 well, assuming it has 2GB or more of RAM.

If you are considering an upgrade, and you should, you will want to download the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor from Microsoft. Running the Upgrade Advisor will scan your computer's processor, memory, storage, and graphics subsystem for Windows 7 compatibility. It will also attempt to identify any known compatibility issues with currently installed programs or hardware. Finally, Upgrade Advisor will present you with a report noting any problems or conflicts. Another tool I suggest you use before upgrading is SecurAble. Securable will scan the processor and report whether it is 32bit or 64bit, as well as if it supports D.E.P. and Hardware Virtualization. For those with 64bit processors I highly recommend installing a 64bit version of Windows 7. Those opting for Windows 7 Professional with hopes of using XP Mode will benefit greatly from a CPU that supports hardware virtualization.

Should you upgrade to Windows 7?

My personal opinion? In all honesty - Yes. Windows 7 adds a new 'stability' to the Windows operating system while improving the interface is a way that simplifies the user experience, while reducing the system load of the operating system to Windows XP levels. The updated user interface is reason enough for me! That was an easy answer! (grin)

OK, it may not be that simple. Answer the following questions for yourself:

1. Do you plan on keeping your present computer for a some time?
2. Do you currently have a computer running XP or Vista in a manner that is acceptable to you?
3. Do you plan on upgrading any hardware in the near future?
4. Are you one who found Vista did not meet your expectations?
5. Are you currently running a 32bit OS?
6. Do you enjoy that 'New OS Smell'?

If you answered YES to at least two of the above questions I believe you should look into upgrading. There was some humor there, but I do believe the questions are valid.

If you plan on keeping your present computer for some time there are several items to be aware of. Microsoft can only support an operating system for a finite amount of time. With XP now surpassed by two operating systems you will find hardware manufacturers making hardware that does not support Windows XP

If your present computer hardware runs XP or Vista at a level that is acceptable to you then Windows 7 will run just as well (Maybe better than Vista).

As stated above, newer hardware will begin to focus on Vista/Windows 7 compatibility and leave XP behind.

If you found Vista too much of a system hog you will be pleasantly surprised with Windows 7. I, personally, did not have that issue with Vista, but some did. Windows 7 has been optimized to a greater degree than Vista. As an example, I see almost 500MB more free RAM with Windows 7 than I did with Vista.

If you are currently running XP or Vista 32bit now is an excellent time to move to 64bit. A 64bit operating system will perform slightly faster on identical hardware and handle more RAM. While computing as a whole isn't completely 64bit yet it certainly is moving that direction quickly.

I love the 'New OS Smell'! I'm sure many of you do too. That lovely aroma lofting around the computer after installing a new OS gives me the same feeling as a warm cup of coffee on a chilly morning... OK, that may be an exaggeration, but if you like to tinker, get excited by new techy things to learn and investigate, or are just a big geek you will find Windows 7 a worthy upgrade.

Windows 7 32bit or 64bit?

If you are given a choice I highly recommend choosing a 64bit version of Windows 7. If your current CPU supports 64bit processing (SecurAble) you will notice slightly increased performance just from the use of a 64bit operating system. One modern day pitfall of 32bit operating systems is a hard memory limit of 4GB. 32bit operating systems can only address 4GB of memory total. You may be thinking that this isn't a problem for you because you only have 4GB of RAM. The problem is the 4GB limit includes memory addresses the operating system must reserve for hardware. If you have 4GB of RAM and a 512MB video card your computer will only be able to use around 3.25GB of the 4GB of RAM (you probably paid extra for) because Windows will reserve 512MB of addressable area for the video card and a little more for your USB controller, network card, etc. This leaves just over 3GB of addressable area for Windows to use for RAM. Users of 64bit operating systems do not have this limit and in this instance would have the full use of all 4GB of RAM.

Two or three years ago running a 64bit OS was hit or miss due to difficulty finding reliable drivers. Today it is almost a no brainer! This is especially true if you have 4GB(or more) RAM, or plan to in the near future. Even companies like HP and Dell are including 64bit versions of Windows as the default choice on many new computers and as an option on most others.

Full, Upgrade, or OEM version?

Purchasing a Full, Upgrade, or OEM version of Windows 7 (and most other operating systems) boils down to licensing. Each version includes an End User License Agreement (EULA) which states the terms you agree to by installing the software. Even though the EULA specifically limits which version you qualify to purchase and use there are obvious work-around's that are possible. Whether of not you use them will depend on your own personal moral compass. I do not condone installing any software outside the conditions set forth in the EULA! However, these work-around's may be good to know in a pinch.

Windows 7 Full Version

• Box contains both 32bit and 64bit installation media, but only one license key. You can install 32bit or 64bit.
• Installation media contains all Windows 7 versions, but only the purchased version may be installed.
• Can be used to perform both a clean (full) installation and an upgrade installation.
• Does not require a previous legal Windows license to be in compliance with the EULA.
• License is not tied to the computer - you may move the installation to another computer as long as you remove it from the first.
• Microsoft will provide support.

Windows 7 Upgrade Version

• Box contains both 32bit and 64bit installation media, but only one license key. You can install 32bit or 64bit.
• Installation media contains all Windows 7 versions, but only the purchased version may be installed.
• Can be used to perform both a clean (full) installation and an upgrade installation.
• Does require a previous legal Windows license to be in compliance with the EULA.
• License is not tied to the computer - you may move the installation to another computer as long as you remove it from the first.
• Microsoft will provide support.
• The Family Pack special mentioned above contains both 32bit and 64bit media, as well as a special key that can be used for up to 3 installations.

Windows 7 OEM Version

• Box contains either 32bit or 64bit installation media and one license key depending on which version you purchase.
• Installation media contains all Windows 7 versions, but only the purchased version may be installed.
• Can only be used to perform a clean (full) installation.
• Does NOT require a previous legal Windows license to be in compliance with the EULA.
• License is tied to the computer (motherboard and CPU) - you may not move the installation to another computer.
• There is some confusion, and much discussion, about the legality of installation by home users and what constitutes a 'System Builder - See note under the above chart.
• Microsoft will not provide support.

Should you buy a new computer?

Sure! Why not? Well, I really can't tell you to buy a new computer. Not everyone has the same wants, needs, or financial ability. But, consider the costs above to that of a new PC before you decide. A new computer from the major OEM's (HP, Dell, etc) will come with Windows 7 and with careful shopping can be had for under $300. If your hardware is older than 3 years don't make a upgrade decision until you check the cost of a new computer. I've even heard there will be laptops available for $300 on Black Friday.

Windows 7 Upgrade Tips

Plan Ahead

• How does that old saying go? I believe it is, "Measure twice - cut once". Get a plan together before you begin.
• Backup! Backup your data. If you have the ability - create a disk image. At the very least backup anything can copy to another location.
• Visit the manufacturer's site for your computer and hardware for drivers. If Windows 7 drivers are available download 64bit drivers for 64bit Windows 7 or 32bit drivers for 32bit Windows 7.
• If Windows 7 drivers are unavailable download Vista drivers, which will work in most (but not all) cases.
• Try to find the latest version of your software and download it (Antivirus, DVD Player, Office, etc). If they have a 64bit version get it!
• Copy any drivers and software you download to an external location (CD, DVD, flash drive, external hard drive, or network location)
• If you have a 64bit Processor upgrade to a 64bit version if at all possible.
• Gather any license keys or serial number necessary for your software. Write them down, or store them in a text file with your drivers.

The Cost

• Almost everyone is eligible for the upgrade price.
• ANY previous Windows version you own entitles you to upgrade to the Windows 7 version of your choice (example: XP home to Win7 Pro).
• Purchase the Windows 7 upgrade version you want. If you want to run Windows 7 Professional, then that is the version to purchase.
• Those who feel they quality as a 'system builder' can purchase the OEM version at a reduced cost.
• If you are a student visit www.win741.com for special pricing. Windows 7 Professional is available also.
• The Family Pack is a wonderful deal that allows you to upgrade 3 computers for only $149.99.

General Windows 7 Upgrade Information

• Windows 7 license keys will work for both 32bit and 64bit versions.
• Windows 7 license keys are versions specific. The key that comes with Windows 7 Home Premium will not activate an Ultimate installation.
• Both the Full and Upgrade DVD's are exactly alike. Each will do a clean or in place upgrade installation and contain all Windows 7 versions.
• Both the Full and Upgrade versions of Windows 7 contain both a 32bit DVD and a 64bit DVD.
• The OEM version contains only the bit version you purchase (buy 32bit - get 32bit DVD).
• Microsoft provides NO support for OEM installations. You're on your own, which doesn't bother a lot of do-it-yourselfer's.
• The OEM version can not perform an in place upgrade.
• In place upgrades can only be performed when going from Vista to Windows 7
• In place upgrades must be from the same corresponding version of Vista to Windows 7 (Vista Business to Win7 Pro, Ultimate to Ultimate, etc).
• in place upgrades must be from/to an operating system of the same bit (32bit Vista to 32bit Window 7).
• This does not mean you can't use an upgrade DVD to move from a previous Windows installation to a higher level version of Windows 7.

Windows 7 Upgrade Process

• It is highly recommended that you do not perform an upgrade, or in place upgrade but rather a clean, or custom, installation.
• Performing a clean, or custom, installation will let you install any Windows 7 version. Meaning you can install Win7 Ultimate (assuming that is the version you purchased) if your qualifying previous operating system was only XP Home.
• A clean, or custom, installation will format the partition you choose. This will erase any installations contained there and install a clean copy of the Windows 7 version you choose.
• Boot from the DVD to perform a clean, or custom installation even with upgrade DVD's.
• There is no need to install another operating system to a new hard drive before you install Windows 7. Simple boot to the DVD and perform a 'custom' installation.
• If you have difficulty activating (not likely) type SLUI 4 from the Start Menu and hit Enter. You will be presented with a window with a few simple questions. Answer the questions and click Next to get the MS Activation number. Call Microsoft and they will give you a special phone activation key.
• If all other activation attempts fail you can use the Vista trick. Install Windows 7 without entering the key. Reboot. Insert the Upgrade DVD and run the installation from the DVD within Windows, thereby performing an in place upgrade of the Windows 7 installation. This time enter the key. Reboot after installation and you should be activated.
• After installation look for a folder labeled "Windows.old". This should contain your documents, program files, and windows folder from the previous install, if there was one.
• Don't count on the "Windows.old" folder as your backup! It may not be there, but will make restoring programs and documents easier if it is.

Conclusion

Windows 7 is an excellent operating system. If you have a chance to upgrade, or purchase a new pc, I highly recommend it. Go with a 64bit version if at all possible. Plan ahead. Backup your data. Perform a clean install - I always suggest starting with a 'clean slate' when moving to a new OS!

We'll have more Windows 7 information in the next issue!

The Daves Computer Tips Forum needs your help (OK I need your help)! The forum has over 375 members and over 3300 total posts. We desperately need your participation for the forum to thrive! The forum is not only a great place to get and give computer advice, but a wonderful place to meet like minded individuals from around the world!

I would like to introduce the NEW Newsletter discussion forum - a place to openly discuss recent newsletter topics.

Can you help Soldat import a schedule into Outlook Calendar?

Soldat would also like to know how frequently he should run Check Disk in Vista.

A question about RAM turns into a discussion on backups. Do you have anything to add?

A dead CMOS battery prevents richard37066's computer from booting. Good info to keep in mind!

Come join us in the forum. Join. Jump in. Ask. Help. Learn. Chat.

How to Recognize and Avoid Email Scams - Part 2

In Part 1, I presented the FTC's list of the 12 most common email scams and a few of their tips for protecting yourself. In this issue, we'll explore email scams in more detail and repeat the tips for how to avoid them.

As we saw in Part 1, Email scams continue because they are profitable. Savvy scammers can send out millions of emails per day and even if just a small percentage of people are duped, the numbers can be huge. Obviously, you don't want to be a victim, but some of those emails can be very convincing; how can you recognize a scam? As always, "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is". Let's look at some actual examples, many of which are being caught by my email spam filters.

Business Opportunity Scams

Most of these scams promise a lot of income for a small investment of time and money. Here's one I get almost every day:

Subject: ***Automated Money Making System - set up it ONCE - forget about it and make money EVERY day***
From: "Giedrius"
Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 15:17:36 +0300
To: <xxx@xxxx>

Dear Internet Friend,

Find out the completely automated twitter growth & money making system for people that want to set up a system ONCE, forget about it, and have it grow and make money EVERY day!

http://twitter.8.sritis.lt

Sounds tempting, doesn't it? Just set up your Twitter account to do this and get rich - Not! A couple of things stand out: 1). I don't know anybody by the name of "Giedrius" and 2). I've never done business in Lithuania (.lt). My spam filter caught this, but not everyone is as lucky.

Work At Home Schemes

E-mail messages offer the chance to earn money in the comfort of your own home.
Here's one:

Subject: 400 tested "Work at Home" websites
From: "WEB Review Agency"
Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 20:10:19 -0400
To: <xxx@xxxx>

--------------------------------------------
See instructions above to stop receiving announcements from this advertiser.
This announcement is sent via your permission from a partner site.
To stop further announcements: http://racerring.com/dbm83/httpd/forms/ddce3cau.php?101253&16219614

Or Write:
Pacific Valley West, LLC
375 N. Stephanie St., Suite 1411
Henderson, NV 89014

That's a real street address, but no “partner sites” I belong to have permission to send me anything unsolicited. Completely bogus.

Easy Money

These are similar to Business Opportunities scams which often tout the ease of getting into the business. Offers such as "Learn how to make $4,000 in one day," or "Make unlimited profits exchanging money on world currency markets," appeal to the desire to "Get-Rich-Quick." Here's an excerpt from one I get all the time: “Your blueprint to $48,000 a month passive income!” If it's so easy, why aren't we all millionaires? And why are they selling the information instead of working the plan themselves?

Investment Opportunities

These scams may tout outrageously high rates of return with no risk: “Get a Forex Robot that is capable of doubling your money every month!” This implies that all you have to do is use the robot and double your money. Often, there's wording to suggest the promoters have high-level financial connections; that they're privy to inside information; or that they guarantee the investment.

Get Something Free

The lure of valuable, free items -- like computers or long distance phone cards -- gets consumers to pay membership fees to sign up. After they pay the fee, consumers learn that they don't qualify for the "free" gift until they recruit other "members.” It's really a pyramid scheme in disguise. Here's one, and what do you know, it's our old friends Pacific Valley West from the work at home scam above:

Subject: Receive a Free DELL Laptop Computer
From: "Confirmation Number - DLL6752"
Date: Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:44:22 -0400
To: xxx@xxxxx

Confirmation Number - DLL6752
Recieve a Free DELL Laptop Computer: http://outerinside.com/dbm83/l.php?409827&16219614
------------------------------------------
To Stop Recieving Announcements About This Offer:
http://outerinside.com/dbm83/l.php?409828&16219614

Take An Offer
1700 7th Ave.Suite 116 #363
Seattle WA 98101
--------------------------------------------
See instructions above to stop receiving announcements from this advertiser.
This announcement is sent via your permission from a partner site.
To stop further announcements: http://outerinside.com/dbm83/httpd/forms/c26cbb9u.php?101772&16219614

Or Write:
Pacific Valley West, LLC
375 N. Stephanie St., Suite 1411
Henderson, NV 89014

Someone close to me once didn't believe me when I told them this is a scam, so I locked down my PC and browser, set up a Mailinator email address and proceeded to “sign up” for my “free” Dell laptop. It wasn't long before my friend realized that by completing all the “offers” I was required to complete to “qualify” for the laptop, I could buy one outright.

Health & Diet Scams

These offer "scientific breakthroughs", "miraculous cures", "exclusive products", "secret formulas", and "ancient ingredients". The one below (the embedded image containing the actual claims has been stripped) claims that this “Power Colon Cleanse” formula will get rid of extra pounds and inches. More than likely, you'll simply be flushing your money down the toilet (literally).

Subject: Lose the Waste, Lose the Weight?
From: Cleanse Your Body (CleanseYourBody@beneaththehorizonoasis.com)
Sent: Tue 6/02/09 12:44 PM
To: xxxxx@hotmail.com

<.jpg image removed>

These examples should give you a good idea of what an email scam looks like. In Part 3, we'll take a look at Trojan horse emails, phishing scams, and the Nigerian 419 scam.

Now, let's repeat those tips from US-CERT:

• Filter spam
• Don't trust unsolicited email
• Treat email attachments with caution
• Don't click links in email messages
• Install antivirus software and keep it up to date
• Install a personal firewall and keep it up to date
• Configure your email client for security

See you next time!

Ken Harthun is the Security Editor for Daves Computer Tips. He also writes about security issues for IT Knowledge Exchange and blogs on general Geek things at Ask the Geek. You can read more about Ken here.

Hi everyone! Bet you missed me didn't you? I know I missed you! Having said that, I'm glad to be back and hopefully will be writing articles for you on a more regular basis from now on!

On with the article now!

Hide a Sheet Tab in MS Excel

I bet you didn't know that you could hide a worksheet in MS Excel did you? Well a lot of folks don't!

If you are wondering why on earth you would want to hide a worksheet, the answer is that sometimes you might have worksheets that you do not use very often but they are still a very important part of your Excel workbook, like book prices that are referenced by other sheets.

To prevent inadvertent changes to these sheets, or to just have less tabs to navigate through, you can hide one or more of your worksheets from view.

Follow the steps below to learn how:

1. Click on the worksheet tab you would like to hide. If you want to select multiple sheet tabs, use your CTRL key.
2. Click on Format | Sheet.
3. Click on Hide.

• To unhide any hidden sheets, you can simply click Format Sheet | Unhide.
• Select the sheets you would like to unhide.
• Click OK.

There is another method that you can use to hide a worksheet that is a bit more advanced, but you may like it:

1. Right-click the tab of the sheet you would like to hide.
2. Select View Code.
3. When the Microsoft Visual Basic (VBE) window opens, click on F4.

You will see the Properties pane on the left with a list of properties.

4. Make sure that the Alphabetic tab is selected and note the last property on the list, Visible.
5. The Visible property has a default value of xlSheetVisible. Click on that value and a drop-down arrow will appear.
6. Select xlSheetVeryHidden and close the Visual Basic window.

You will now see that the sheet is hidden.

The difference using this method is that the name of the hidden sheet does not appear when you click Format | Sheet | Unhide, which makes it a pretty effective say of hiding information from most MS Excel users.

To unhide a sheet that has been hidden using this method, follow the steps below:

1. Right-click the tab of any sheet in your workbook.
2. Select View Code.
3. When the VBE window opens, click CTRL + R to show the Project pane.

You will see all workbooks listed in the Project pane.

4. Select the name of the hidden sheet under the workbook name.
5. Click F4 to show the Properties pane.
6. In the Properties pane, change the Visible property from xlSheetVeryHidden to xlSheetVisible.
7. Close the VBE window.

Your sheet is now visible!

I bet you can find your own reasons for hiding a worksheet in your MS Excel workbook and now you have a couple of ways to make it happen!

Until then, take care of YOU!

Carol Bratt is the Office Applications Editor at Daves Computer Tips. She has authored several informative Microsoft Office books and writes the monthly Word Bytes Newsletter with more tips and tricks in each issue. Visit Carol's website for more great Microsoft Office tips and tricks! Click here to see her latest books! You can read more about Carol here.

Anti-spyware and Anti-malware

Webroot SpySweeper - Daves Computer Tips Seal of Approval Winner! See the test results HERE. Spysweeper provides the best protection of the seven anti-spyware programs tested! Great detection and removal rates with a small real-time protection memory footprint. This is the one you want! SpySweeper includes the ASK toolbar. Be sure to uncheck this option during installation. Free 14 day trial.

CounterSpy - Runner-up in my Anti-Spyware test. Not only does CounterSpy scan and remove spyware, it also uses real time protection. Real-time protection prevents spyware infection. Free 15 day trial. Winner of Computer Shopper Magazine's Best Buy Award!

Antivirus and Firewall

ESET Smart Security - New from the maker's of NOD32. Antivirus, Antispyware, Antispam, and Firewall all wrapped into one effective, swift, and low resource package. It is what I use to protect each of my computers!

Kaspersky Antivirus - Kaspersky is my second choice for antivirus software. A good program that is very close in performance to NOD32. Free trial.

Online Armor Firewall - You shouldn't be on the internet without a software firewall that offers inbound and outbound protection. Online Armor is the Best of the Best for those needing a firewall. Online Armor's easy to navigate interface and the protection level can't be beat!

Audio and Video

Acoustica Audio Converter Pro - This program converts audio formats and bitrates. Perfect for those with portable audio players or large music collections. 30 day trial.

Adobe Premier Elements 8 - Elements is the home version of Adobe Premiere, the best professional video editing suite today. Premier Elements costs 1/6th the price of the professional version, but is very capable of making videos that will impress everyone.

DVDFab is my favorite DVD software. I tried over 30 different programs before settling on DVDFab. It offers every function of the other programs and more! Copy, burn, shrink, convert for mobile devices, or convert for streaming. Almost all of the other programs I've tried did not function as advertised, were extremely slow, or did not have features that worked as advertised. DVDFab works, and works as advertised! It's easy to use, has a pleasant user interface, and it updated often.

Computer Hardware

Crucial Memory - Memory (RAM) is the upgrade that gives any computer the best bang for the buck. If you want to speed things up with more memory, why not purchase it from the leading source of quality RAM memory. Great selection, good prices, excellent support, and a lifetime warranty! A real winner!

CyberGuys - The place to get those hard to find cables and accessories for your computer!

HP Computers - My current pick for new laptops and desktops. In the current market I don't think you can beat HP's combination of price and performance. Their laptop line is very cost effective and the design is absolutely beautiful!

Newegg - Newegg.com is known for great service and awesome pricing on computers, upgrades, and electronics. If you're looking for computers, computer parts, or electronics you owe it to yourself to start here! Great Products. Great Prices. Great Customer Service!

Computer Maintenance

Diskeeper 2010 - My current favorite defrag program. As files are written and erased from the hard drive they begin to leave "spaces" behind. When the drive is written to again files are broken up to fill in these spaces. This causes the drive to go to several different locations to read an entire file, which slows performance greatly. Diskeeper has several advanced features such as; automatic defrag, scheduled defrag, and the ability to defrag the MFT (Master File Table) and paging file. 30 day trial.

Registry Mechanic - A very thorough and efficient registry cleaner and defragmenter. A definite must to maintain peak performance and stabile operation. 30 day trial.

Computer Utility

Acronis True Image 2010 - Do you value the data on your computer? Do you value your time? How much time will you spend recovering data and returning your computer to its original state after a hardware failure or software glitch? True Image is my #1 choice in backup tools. Whether you choose file or image based backups (you should use both!) True Image will perform better than any other application I've used. Disk images created with True Image are generally 10-20% smaller than those from comparable programs. If your time and files are as important to you as mine are to me this is a must have.

Acronis Disk Director - My favorite tool to partition, format, and resize hard drives.

Roboform - This program is the next best thing since sliced bread in my book! This program integrates into Internet Explorer and firefox. It generates very secure passwords at the click of a button. How do I remember these complex passwords? Roboform allows you to save passwords and personal data in an encrypted format. A master password (yes only one password to remember!) allows access. Roboform in IE and FireFox works like a super powered bookmark. You click the site you want to go to and Roboform opens the site, enters your username and password for the site (if required) and as if by magic clicks the submit button. If you shop online Roboform can enter your personal information and credit card information, which is also stored in a secure encrypted file, in one click. A real time saver with great security thrown in to boot! 30 day trial.

WinRar - What is commonly called a zip utility, similar to the more widely known WinZip. WinRar is faster and works with more formats for about 1/2 the price of WinZip. 30 day trial.

Desktop Utility

LogonStudio - Change the screen that appears when you log into Windows (where you enter your password). Hundreds of skins available online. It's free.

CursorFX Plus - Change the cursors on your computer, add interesting effects. Hundreds of cursor packs are available online for free.

IconPackager 5 - Icon Packager puts you in control to change every icon with the click of a button. Tired of the plain icons built into Windows? There are hundreds of Icon Packs available online for free, which will add a truly personal feel to your computer.

WindowBlinds 7 - WindowBlinds changes the look and feel of Windows. By changing the appearance of the task bar, start menu, and any other window or program you open. It adds transparency, shadows, alpha blending, and animations. Hundreds of themes are available online for free.

Internet and Email

1&1 hosting - If you want to start your own website, blog, photo gallery, or have a personalized email address then 1&1 is for you. 1&1 can not be beat for reliability, features, support, and price. 90 day guarantee.

Google Gmail - The best internet based email (webmail) available. Each mailbox has a 6.5GB limit. The interface is superb, and the spam filter is top notch. You will never need to delete an email again! It has a great search function and a feature called thread view, which makes finding emails easy. A webmail account offers several advantages including not being required to change your email address if you change service providers. Gmail requires an invitation from a current member. If you are interested shoot me an email and I'll send you an invite.

Microsoft Outlook 2007 - Outlook is the current email client of choice for corporate America. I get well over 200 emails a day. Outlook has a few features I really need such as a plug in for automatic backups, office sounds which offers me some audible feedback, and the ability to change headers. I've used Mozilla Thunderbird and liked it a lot. With the amount of mail I go through I really need the features of Outlook. If you aren't a heavy user, or don't need the features I do then Thunderbird is a great alternative.

Firefox 3 - An amazing, free, web browser. If you aren't using it you should be! Highly customizable through addins called extensions. There are thousands of extensions which can allow FireFox to do just about anything you can imagine. More importantly, Firefox is not subject to ActiveX, which is a large part of Internet Explorer, AOL, and MSN. No ActiveX means much less chance of getting spyware! Firefox also conforms to web standards more closely than Internet Explorer, which means you will see what the authors intended, not Microsoft.

Mozilla Thunderbird - A great free email client, from the same folks that brought us FireFox. Easy to use and highly customizable through extensions.

Photo and Picture

Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 - Photoshop Elements is the home version of Adobe Photoshop. If you are serious about digital photos you will find Photoshop Elements a great program to have at your disposal. Elements provides all the functionality most will need at 1/6th the price of the full Photoshop version.

Picasa - A great (FREE) way to organize, edit, and share your digital photos.

Now I hear you asking... Why would anyone want to do that? Under normal circumstances I would never recommend this course of action but when dealing with a heavily infected machine it is, more often than not, a very wise precaution.

Many infections become embedded in the System Restore point and any further use of that feature may well bring back malware-infected files you don't want, even after what appears to be a successful cleanup.

At this point I emphasize that this should always be the final step and not a preliminary, if something goes wrong during cleanup, deleting restore points will leave you you with no way to reverse any actions. Leave System Restore in place until you are certain your computer is clean and stable then get rid of the old (possibly) infected restore points.

By default Windows allocates an average 12% of hard disk space for system restore points; once this quota has been reached it will automatically delete the oldest restore point and so on. Some users reduce this quota (200MB being minimum) thereby exponentially increasing the amount of free space available but I would only recommend this course of action as a last resort by advanced users with a solid backup plan in place.

Deleting the restore points is a simple process of turning System Restore off - don’t forget to turn it back on again!

Delete System Restore Points in Windows XP

Go to Start>Control Panel>System and in the ‘System Properties’ window click on the System Restore tab. Now you should see an option to Turn off System Restore. Just place a checkmark (left click) in the adjacent box and click on the Apply button. You should repeat this for each drive if you have more than one. To turn back on; simply navigate to the same location, remove the checkmark and click on Apply.

Delete System Restore Points in Vista

Go to Start>Control Panel>System, or type "system" in the Start Menu. In the left-panel under ‘Tasks’ click on System Protection. Now, under Automatic Restore Points, you should see C drive listed with a checkmark in the adjacent box. Just remove the checkmark (left click) and click on the Apply button. You should repeat this for each drive if you have more than one. To turn back on; navigate to the same location, replace the checkmark and click on Apply.

Delete System Restore Points in Windows 7

Type "system protections" in the Start Menu. Click on "Create a Restore Point" in the results to open the System Protection tab. Highlight the C: drive and click the Configure button. In the new windows click the circle adjacent to Turn Off System Protection and click Apply. Click the Delete button and approve the warning. Once complete click OK to return to the System Protection tab. If you have additional hard drives select them in the window and repeat the process. To turn back on: navigate back to the System Protection tab and select Restore System Settings and Previous Versions of Files and click OK.

Delete all but the last restore point

There is no facility for deletion of individual restore points, but there is a way to delete all restore points except for the most recent one.

Go to Start\All Programs\Accessories\System Tools\Disk Cleanup, or type "clean" in the Start Menu on Vista/Windows 7 and click Disk Cleanup from the results. If you have more than one drive you will have to choose the C: drive. Click OK. In the window that opens click on the More Options tab. Windows 7 users will have to click "Clean Up System Files" to see the More Options tab. Now click on the Cleanup button under ‘System Restore’. Click OK on the resulting warning box and you are done.

Please use these features sparingly. Contrary to advice from many ‘experts’, I believe System Restore to be the average user’s best friend and often the easiest and quickest way to ‘fix’ simple errors. If, however, you have just finished cleaning up a heavily infected machine or your virus/spyware scanner persistently identifies an infection which has previously been reported as deleted... I recommend using the above procedure.

Create a Photo Slide show using Windows Movie Maker

Over the years I have been asked on many occasions how to put together a photo slide show using Windows Movie Maker. It isn’t all that difficult but, as with most things, is much easier when you know how. Assuming there are others among you who may struggle with this chore, what follows is a basic guide for making a simple slide show.

I shall be using the XP version of Windows Movie Maker. There are a few minor GUI changes in Vista/Windows 7 as well as an extra final option to burn to DVD using the native ‘Windows DVD Maker’.

Preparation:

This is the most important and often neglected aspect of the whole procedure, if your photos are not arranged, named and numbered correctly it can cause some major headaches.

Firstly, make sure all your photos are contained within the one folder. If you wish to use photos from a number of different folders then you should start off by creating a new folder in ‘My Pictures’. To do this; open ‘My Pictures’ and right click on any blank space, select ‘New’ and then ‘Folder’. Type an appropriate title into the dialogue box under the new folder and then hit ‘Enter’. Now just drag and drop or copy and paste all the required photos into the new folder.

Okay, next we need to arrange the photos in the same order as you would like them displayed in the slide show. Just drag and drop them around the folder until you have them in the desired sequence. Now we have to make sure they retain that order, Windows has a nasty habit of jumbling them all back up again: Select all the photos in the folder by either pressing the ‘Ctrl and ‘A’ keys simultaneously or left click on the first photo and then on the last photo while also holding down the ‘Shift’ key*. With all the photos now highlighted, right click on the first photo and select ‘Rename’. Type in an appropriate title followed by the number 01 in parenthesis, e.g. for the project used in this guide I typed in “Beautiful Tasmania (01)” without the quotes. Now just left click on any blank space or, alternatively, hit ‘Enter’. You will see that all the photos now bear the same name and are numbered sequentially. We are ready to make our slide show.

Windows Movie Maker:

(click the image for a larger view)

As you can see the GUI is clear and quite intuitive with all the necessary steps set out on the left hand side of the screen. Each of those sections should be expanded by clicking on the little ‘v’ icon, so they look like this:

The obvious first step is to import the photos into your project. Click on the ‘Import Pictures’ option and then browse to the location of the folder which contains your photos. Now ‘select all’ the photos in the folder (remember, ‘Crtl’ + ‘A’) and then click on the ‘Import’ button. All the photos should now be displayed within the ‘Collections Pane’:

Now we need to get those photos from the Collections Pane to the Storyboard/Timeline. To switch between the ‘Storyboard’ view and the ‘Timeline’ view just click on ‘Show Storyboard’ or ‘Show Timeline’. I always start off the project in ‘Storyboard’ mode, it is much easier to work with. The large squares are for your photos and the smaller squares for the transitions.

Okay, with the ‘Storyboard’ view enabled, highlight all the photos in the ‘Collections Pane’ using select all and then just drag and drop the first photo into the first big square on the Storyboard…..all the rest will follow in order:

Now we can add in the transitions. Under ‘Step 2’ click on “View video transitions’ and all available transitions will be displayed in the ‘Collections Pane’, replacing the photos. You can preview the effect of each transition by highlighting one (left click on it) and then hitting the play button on the preview player.

Unfortunately there is no ‘Randomize’ option available so if you wish to use random transitions you have to insert them individually, one at a time. That is okay in a small project but once you get up to 100+ photos or more it can be a right pain. The project I am using for this guide includes only 22 photos so I dragged and dropped different transitions randomly into the Storyboard. For a larger project it is best to select and use just one transition effect which will then be inserted automatically into all the spaces; once you have selected the transition and duly highlighted it, click on ‘Clip’ in the menu bar and select ‘Add to storyboard’. All the small squares should now be filled with transitions and your Storyboard should look something like this:
(click the image for a larger view)

Now we are going to add audio/background music to the slide show. Firstly, since we have finished with the transitions, click on the option to ‘Show Collections’ and the photos will now appear back in the ‘Collections Pane’. Now click on ‘Show Timeline’ to change the view so we can access the Audio/Music timeline:
(click the image for a larger view)

Okay, now click on the option, under ‘Step 1’, to ‘Import audio or music’. Browse to the location of your mp3 or wma music files, select the one you want to add and then click the ‘Import’ button. You can also insert a music CD in the ROM drive, navigate to that location and import a track from there. Now drag and drop the song/music from the ‘Collections Pane’ to the very beginning of the ‘’Audio/Music’ timeline.

If your project includes lots of photos you will need to add the same track multiple times or import and add different tracks until such time as the audio timeline is past the video display timeline. After placing the first audio track on the timeline use the horizontal scrollbar to locate the end of that track and then drag and drop the next song so that the beginning of the second track abuts the end of the first track, and so on. You can shorten up the final song/music by hovering the mouse cursor over the end of the track until the cursor turns into opposing red arrows, then simply hold down the left button and drag it to a position just after the end of video display:
(click the image for a larger view)

Now right click inside the last track and select the option to ‘Fade out’. You have just synchronized the audio and video:
(click the image for a larger view)

All finished, you can preview the end product by clicking on the play button of the preview player (make sure you scroll back to the very beginning of the timeline beforehand). You can, of course, use the preview feature at any time during the process. When you are satisfied, click on the desired option under ‘Step 3’, which would generally be ‘Save to my computer’. In the first screen you can give the slide show. a unique title and select the save location for the video file (‘My Videos’ by default):

Next you can select the best output for your needs, ‘Best quality for playback on my computer’ is recommended but other options can be accessed by clicking in ‘Other settings’. There is a distinct relationship between output quality and video file size so you will need to strike a balance. The recommended option will produce a nice quality yet smallish .wmv file suitable for viewing on a computer. If you are planning on burning the file to DVD for viewing via television I would recommend using the option, ‘High quality video (large)’.

Additional settings can be accessed by clicking on ‘Tools’ in the menu bar; select ‘Options’ and click on the ‘Advanced’ tab. From there you can select duration time for photo display (5 seconds is default). You must be careful here, there is a fine line between everything flashing by too fast and putting everyone to sleep through sheer boredom. I have found 6 seconds provides a happy medium and 5 or 6 seconds to be the best settings. The default transition duration (1.25 secs) is fine. Other settings allow for adjustment of regional video format and aspect ratio. These options are best set before you start the project

* If, at any time, neither of these procedures produces a result it means that Windows is unsure of where you are working. Left clicking anywhere inside the folder/working area will fix that problem.

Digital Clip Factory - another alternative?

Now for those of you who still think that is all just too complicated, I recently tested a fine product called ‘Digital Clip Factory’ which is simplicity itself. It is the easiest to use slide show maker I have ever come across, here is my subsequent review:

(click the image for a larger view)

Despite some earlier reservations I must say, after trying it out, I am overall quite impressed with this slide show. maker from Dunes MultiMedia.

Digital Clip Factory does not include lots of features and options but that simplicity will appeal to many. If you prefer a wider range of control over your slide show. compilations then this may not suit, but if it is an easy 2 click solution you are after (well maybe 3 or 4 clicks), Digital Clip Factory is well worth a look.

DCF includes the terrific “Ken Burns’ motion effects (pan and zoom) and quite a good range of options for video, including; adjust display length for each slide, adjust transition time/zooming and output quality. Audio options, however, appear to be practically non-existent. I could find no way to sync the audio track with the video display, no fade-in nor fade-out and no help on these matters. There are no help files included with the program and it appears any assistance is restricted to the meager information on DCF’s home page. That said, the GUI is clear and pretty much self explanatory. Also, after selecting an audio track which was slightly longer duration than the video display I did notice, on play back, that they both finished at the same time….so I guess the program must include some kind of auto sync function when longer audio tracks are used.

For purposes of testing I processed 22 photos (total size 35mb) using DCF’s pre-loaded settings (at 75% quality) which took around 2 minutes to produce a good quality .wmv video file (size 34.7mb). I did experiment with the program’s ‘Fast’ setting (the lowest quality and smallest output file size) but the quality was very poor. I’m sure that with a little playing most would find a happy medium.

After my brief testing of DCF I can report a couple of traps for first time users:

1. Audio does not play when using the ‘Preview’ function. Don’t worry, the audio will be there when the finished file is played.
2. When first opening the program each time, it remains unresponsive for several seconds until a ‘Donate’ button appears at the bottom of the window.

Technical:

License........................................	Freeware
Download....................................	http://www.dunesmm.nl/digitalclipfactory/
Download size............................	1.12MB
Installed size................................	3.06mb (version 1.3.0.0 on Vista)
Uninstaller included....................	Yes
Help files included......................	No
Output file format........................	WMV (Windows Media Video)
Supported Operating Systems.	I could find no information on the publisher's site as to which operating systems are supported but a quick look around the net suggests that DCF supports Windows XP and Vista only.
Other Requirements(e.g. .net)...	None

There are undoubtedly more advanced free slide show. makers around plus the output file size is rather large, still DCF’s simplicity and ease of use would make it an appealing option for many.

Next issue I shall be showing you how to convert and burn the saved video files to DVD so you can watch them on the television through a standard DVD player.

Cheers all,
JIM

New Freeware Programs

Recovery Toolbox for CD Free – Is one of those applications you only need when you need it (if you know what I mean)... A handy one to bookmark, just in case.

Recovery Toolbox for CD has been developed for recovering data from corrupted media of all types that are most common nowadays: CD, DVD, HD-DVD, Blu-Ray, etc. The program allows you to recover files of any types. The tool completely scans disks and saves as much information as possible. During the recovery process, Recovery Toolbox for CD Free uses a lot of different algorithms, which considerably increases the amount and quality of recovered data.

• Recovering corrupted data from all most common types of media for today
• Working with data that became corrupted both after a physical damage of the media and due to program errors
• Allowing the user to completely control the recovery process
• Giving the user as detailed report about the data recovery process as possible

 

Prevent V 1.0 – Now here is a handy little tool for anyone who suffers with siblings, kids, grandkids, whoever, messing about with their data. Prevent simply prohibits access to the; cut, copy, paste, move to, send to, copy to, delete and rename options... Cool!!

 

POKAT reader – Would you like to view your PDF documents in a new and innovative way? This program allows you to read PDF files as "Flip-Style" publications by just one click of a button. POKAT reader is also a very handy PDF file manager; no matter where your PDF files are located/saved, it will automatically add them to its library so they are all accessible from the one place. Includes some nice presentation and management features too.

 

PixFix v3.5 – Is another in the ‘data recovery’ genre. This one, as the name implies, will help recover lost or deleted photos from; hard disk drive, camera, USB flash drive and media cards.
The free version will only work on files up to 1MB in size. There is a reasonably priced upgrade available however which provides the ability to work with larger files... a small price to pay perhaps?

 

Easeus Todo Backup – I must admit to not knowing a lot about this software but, if it is from Easeus then you can be pretty sure it will be a quality product.
It features all the usual data backup options and, from what I can gather, also includes a ‘Clone Disk’ option which backs up the entire PC, including the operating system, data, applications, everything needed for complete system restoration. I do not believe it includes any boot CD though for disaster recovery. The site suggests using a Linux based recovery CD or a WinPE bootable CD. I could be wrong but that’s the way I interpret the info on the site.

 

Privatefirewall – This firewall from ‘Privacyware’ was a commercial product until quite recently but is now free for all to use. It is a very good firewall too. Not sure it is better than Online Armor (free) but if Online Armor does not do it for you this is certainly a viable and excellent alternative.

It includes some nice features and supports Windows 7 too (including 64bit). Well worthy of consideration.

 

SRWare Iron – If you like the Chrome browser then you really should take a good look at this one. This browser is based on the Chromium-source and offers the exact same features as Chrome - but without the critical privacy concerns.

It really is very fast, as one would expect, and because it is devoid of all the data collection features, which Google seem determined to employ, it is also much more private.
I downloaded SRWare Iron portable to USB flash and it certainly is an excellent alternative.

Jim Hillier is the Freeware Editor at Daves Computer Tips. A computer user with over 25 years of experience, his love of freeware is expressed through his Freeware Focus column in each issue of the Daves Computer Tips Newsletter. You can join Jim at the Daves Computer Tips Forum for other discussions on Freeware. You can read more about Jim here.

Pingtest.net - a useful test to determine the quality of your internet connections!

The Consumerist - a great site to find useful to you as a consumer. Definitely a great site!

Black Friday deals - in the US the day after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday and represents the beginning of the holiday shopping season. Retailers are known to offer incredible deals on Black Friday.

A managed DNS service such as www.no-ip.com allows you use a domain such as www.myhomenetwork.com (your choice) to reach your home network so you don't have to remember an IP address.

Awesome illusion - Magician Kevin James does a mystical job of cutting a person in half!

The egg, the lemon, and the orange - I love magic. How does he do that? ~ Thanks to Jim

Symphony of beer - I'm not sure if this is an excuse to drink, or an environmental issue!

NFL Fantasy football - This is a great video promoting fantasy football. ~ Thanks to Larry