Try Vista Without Installing It!

Now you don't have to install Vista to try it out. If you're still cautious about whether or not Vista is for you, here's a chance to try it out on-line. Microsoft has provided an on-line trial site for Vista which can be found here: http://www.microsoft.com/midsizebusiness/products/windowsvista/try.aspx. Why not give it a try before you decide anything. Now you can be sure your decision is based on your actual experience with Vista. Who could ask for anything more?

Vista Keeps Changing Your Folder Icons?

If you have Vista you may know that Windows has had a habit of "forgetting" the way in which you have set up any folders on your desktop. Nothing is more frustrating than opening a desktop folder and finding it's been "re-arranged" because Windows has had a lapse and now the order is not what you wanted and/or the icon sizes are incorrect. The frustrating part is that it's always been really hard to reset your folder display properties and have Windows remember what you want for next time. Here's how you can do it and have it work (most of the time, at least). Go to the desktop folder you want to reset and right-click on it. Now choose "Properties", and then "Customize". On the page that opens you'll see "What kind of folder do you want?" and "Use this folder type as a template". Choose from the drop-down menu below these items, the type of folder you want, of the five listed. For a folder holding desktop shortcuts for instance, choose "Documents". Now place a check mark in "Apply this template to all sub-folders". Now click "Apply" then "OK". Go back to your desktop and open the folder you just modified. Right-click on the already open folder and you will get a drop-down menu giving you various ways you can choose to organize the folder items. If you had been resetting another type of folder, say music, for instance, you could have chosen one of the "Music" options and the resulting drop-down menu, as outlined above, would give you options to arrange you music according to different criteria ( song titles, artist names, etc.) You may have to do all your desktop folders one at a time, but at least it can be done.

There now, that wasn't so bad was it?

Stressed With Microsoft? WUBI-Ubuntu (Linux) Awaits!!

Wubi is an officially supported Ubuntu installer for Windows users that can bring you to the Linux world with a single click. Wubi allows you to install and uninstall Ubuntu as any other Windows application, in a simple and safe way. Are you curious about Linux and Ubuntu? Trying them out has never been easier!

No need to burn a CD. Just run the installer, enter a password for the new account, and click "Install", go grab a coffee, and when you are back, Ubuntu will be ready for you.

You keep Windows as it is, Wubi only adds an extra option to boot into Ubuntu. Wubi does not require you to modify the partitions of your PC, or to use a different bootloader, and does not install special drivers. It works just like any other application. Wubi is spyware and malware free, and being open source, anyone can verify that. Wubi keeps most of the files in one folder, and if you do not like it, you can simply uninstall it as any other application.

Wubi and Ubuntu cost absolutely nothing (free as in beer), but yet provide a state of the art, fully functional, operating system that does not require any activation and does not impose any restriction on its use (free as in freedom).
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You can find the WUBI - Ubuntu installer for Windows here.

(Thanks to SourceForge.net for the info.)

Are Your Programs Needing An Update? Are You Sure?

If the answer to the above question is an "I'm not sure", then you may want to look at the following FREE program. It's from FileHippo and it's available here. It's quick and accurate for the programs it checks and does not use any resources until you call on it. Of course, you'll have to remember to use it. I check mine every day and I find it's invaluable for finding those items that have new updates. If an update is found, you can download directly from the FileHippo high speed server so no searching around for the correct one is required.. In addition, you can set the program to also check for "Beta" versions and even to show you the install path to where a particular program is located on your computer. All in all, a nice little program. That's the FileHippo Update Checker.

Desktop Shortcuts Reverting to Generic Icons? Refresh Them!

Refresh your icons by right clicking an empty space on your desktop. Choose 'personalize', then click on 'display settings'. Now, change 32 bit colors to 16. Click apply and okay. Now change 16 bit colors back to 32 bit, apply and okay your way out.

The generic icons should be reset back to the associated web page icons you have chosen.

(Thanks to PC Pitstop for this hint.)

Norton! Is Removal Really Necessary?

For those of you out there who believe that your Norton product may be more than you're comfortable with or you have a damaged or incomplete installation but you can't find a way to uninstall it easily, there's an answer. Symantec has on their site a little known but very effective "Norton Removal Tool". You will receive cautions about saving your registration information for a re-install if that's the way you're going. If you feel it's necessary to uninstall any Norton program, the tool can be downloaded from here . Be sure that you pick the correct tool for your particular product.

New Computer? Dump the "Bloatware"

If you've just purchased a new computer (Vista or XP) you probably already know that the manufacturer has installed all sorts of "trial" programs in an effort to get you to purchase them. This stuff is known as "bloatware" and you probably don't want it on your computer at all since is just takes up space and it's stuff that "just came with the new computer". Now, there's a program that can remove most of this junk in just one try. It's called "PC Decrapifier" and can be found here .There is a free version for general use and a commercial version for those needing a little more, but the free version should be enough for most folks. You may get a warning from your computer asking if you're sure you want to run this but it's okay to say yes. You will be presented with a screen that allows you to pick the stuff you want removed, so a word of caution, be careful what you ask for because when it's gone, it's gone!

Firefox 3.0 (finally)

After waiting for what seems like ages, Firefox 3.0 has finally been released for general use by us mere mortals. While the new version looks almost identical to previous ones, the browser is faster, has much better security features and too many new features to go into properly here. Users will find this new browser feels very familiar and comfortable to use. You may notice that some of your "old version" Firefox Extensions (Add-Ons and Themes) are not compatible with this new version, but Firefox 3.0 will check and disable the incompatible ones for you. This will give you a chance to go to the Mozilla Add-Ons site and see what's new and what's been updated for use with Firefox 3.0. Anything you can't find an updated version of yet will surely be updated soon as the creators of these add-ons come up to speed with the new version. The latest version of Firefox 3.0 can be found here. It will be well worth your while to visit the Firefox 3.0 site and catch up on all the latest improvements to this latest version of Mozilla's Firefox.

This version of Firefox has been downloaded in huge numbers since it's very recent release for general use. Mozilla maintains a download counter showing up to the minute figures of downloads as they occur, and the frequency of "downloads per minute". If you find this sort of thing fascinating, the download counter can be accessed here. Enjoy!

Vista Service Pack 1 - Not Ready for Prime Time

Vista has been around for some time now and folks either think it's okay (having worked out all the kinks for themselves) or they hate it. Now comes the long awaited Service Pack 1 and, in true Vista style, it either installs without a hitch or it drives you to drink with it's quirky installer.

For some folks, it's just another easy Windows Update but for others it's a real chore even getting Service Pack 1 to show up on Windows Update. The problem, it seems, is that the installer will not function at all unless all the "required" previous updates are already successfully installed (and these vary slightly depending on your particular version of Vista) and unless all your programs are fully compatible with this version of Vista. Also, make sure to update all your drivers as this will help a lot.

Even so, if you're lucky enough to get Service Pack 1 successfully installed you may still have odd and unusual problems. Many folks, myself included, had found it impossible to access the Vista Security page after installing Service Pack 1 because of a security feature called "DEP". If you have your own good security setup you can disable this program (DEP) quite easily. I can provide instructions how this can be done but I must add that Microsoft does not recommend this. You're on your own with that one. Incidentally, Microsoft is providing "No Charge" service until May of 2009 for Service Pack 1 problems. They couldn't help me. I had to figure it out on my own. Perhaps you'll have better luck!

In short, Service Pack 1 is problematic and not ready for the average home user yet. Good luck!

Clear your Firefox download list.

If you have been noticing that Firefox downloads have been getting slower and slower, it's probably because your list of items that Firefox has already downloaded is getting longer as time goes on. So why not clean out the list altogether. Using "Control J" will bring up a drop down menu showing all the items Firefox has previously downloaded. Just click the "Clean and Close" button and they're all gone. Now you can start fresh.