Satisfy your "Burning" desire!

Got a "burning desire" to make an .ISO, or copy a CD, or make a data only CD or some such thing? The answer may be closer (and cheaper) than you think. I have had much success with CDBurnerXP which is a fairly simple to use but effective FREE program (and free is good). In spite of it's name, this simple download is not just for XP. It seems to work on just about any Windows operating system (including Windows 7) and the specifications say this is the case. By the way, this program will also do HD-DVD's and Blu-Ray discs. I note that it is also downloadable in just about any language including some I've never heard. Some parts of the program have a little "learning curve" to them, but nothing too difficult. If you get confused there are very clear downloadable instructions (with pictures) to get you going again. Can't ask for more than that. I've been using this for some time now and I find it quick and relatively simple to use and does just about all the basic "burning" chores that the average person might want to do. It's available for download here. Have fun with this!

Windows 7 Upgrade (smooth as silk)

I have just completed an "in-place" upgrade from Vista to Windows 7 and I am very surprised to say that it all went without incident. The upgrade took a little over four hours and, sure enough, all my programs and settings were intact and usable when I was finally able to boot into Windows 7 for the first time.

I suspect that it all went so well because I took all the necessary steps prior to starting the process. This means scanning your Vista system using Microsoft's Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor and updating where it advises that you should. In my case that was a webcam driver and two items from my graphics card which Windows "suggested" should be uninstalled and then reinstalled again after the upgrade was complete. Since these were classified as "suggestions", I let them stay as they were with no negative effects. All in all, a very uneventful operation if one has made the necessary preparations to ensure their system is ready for the upgrade.

Sadly, it's not so easy for those folks trying to upgrade from Windows XP to Window 7. In that case, it will require a "clean install" which means formatting your hard drive and losing all your programs and settings, so preparing a complete backup of those items is a godsend when you have to start re-installing them all. Make sure you have as many of the "install discs" as you can find and be prepared to redownload the rest from the internet.

That being said there is an alternative method (costing about $20). It's called "PC Mover" and the "Upgrade" version can be found here. It claims to be able to accomplish an "in place" upgrade to Windows 7 from Windows XP and several other Windows operating systems. I have not tried this out myself but I've been told that it works very well. I'd still most certainly do a complete backup (just in case).

Recycle or Renew?

If your computer has failed you and you're wanting to re-install your operating system OR you want to do a "clean install" of a new operating system (like Windows 7) OR you're getting rid of an older computer, then you will need to remove all the old data from your current hard drive. Removal of all the previous data ensures that there is no opportunity for identity theft from easily accessed "old" information. There are many programs that can do this, but one of the best and easiest is Darik's Boot and Nuke, a freeware program that is available online for download. DBAN, as it is called, can safely and completely overwrite a hard drive using the same data destruction techniques as the RCMP, for example. There are many tutorials online with instructions on how to do this. (Note- Be sure that you don't have any data on any connected hard disks that you want to recover because DBAN will delete all the drives it detects.)

If you don't feel comfortable using this program after reading all the "on-line" info, the next best thing is simple to remove the hard drive and destroy it manually. This, of course, means that you will have to acquire a new hard drive for your computer.

Are you ready for Windows 7?

Windows 7 is coming! This is the operating system that folks say Vista should have been but wasn't. If you already have Vista, Microsoft is pre-selling Windows 7 Upgrades now for those of you who might want Windows 7 but want to avoid the rush. For those with Windows XP, a full and clean installation is required and these can also be pre-ordered. The actual program will be delivered when Windows 7 is officially released on October 22, 2009. Both of these items were being pre-sold at about half price, but this offer expired on July 11th, so now it's full price for both of them.

Wondering if your computer can handle Windows 7 or not? Generally speaking, if you're already successfully running Vista, you're "probably" all set to go. To be sure, you can download and install the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor from here . If anything, you might have to update a driver or two. It's important that all your peripherals be plugged in so the Upgrade Advisor program can scan these too. In my case, that meant one webcam driver needed upgrading. In the rare event that an upgraded item is not available, it's still possible to run these items in "compatibility mode" as it has been previously.

Of course, most computer manufacturers already have the Windows 7 Final Release so that their new computers will come with the OEM version of Windows 7 already installed, and any new computer from most of the main manufacturers which are sold from now on with Vista already installed, will be entitled to a free upgrade to the identical edition in Windows 7 when it is released on October 22nd. There's all sorts of additional information available online to answer any other questions you may have. Will you go "Windows 7", or not?

Vista - Service Pack 2

Service Pack 2 for Vista has just been released. I installed it in about half an hour with no problems whatsoever. Just make sure that Windows Update is right up to date. You will probably be offered a couple of minor updates that you should install. In my case, after I did those installations THEN I was presented with a page advising that there was yet another uninstalled update, and when I clicked on it there was "Vista Service Pack 2". If all is up to date, the install will only download the files that will actually be changed so the package is much smaller and the install is completed quite quickly (about 1/2 hour). If all is not up to date, then the whole service pack is downloaded and the install time is much longer. If, for some reason, Vista Service Pack 2 does not appear you can download the whole thing from the Microsoft site yourself OR wait a few days and see if it turns up. Apparently Microsoft is NOT releasing to everyone at the same through Windows Update.

Here is the correct download site at Microsoft:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=a4dd31d5-f907-4406-9012-a5c3199ea2b3&DisplayLang=en

"Conficker" got you?

Did the "Conficker" worm get to your computer? Are you sure? Here's a link to a simple eyechart which will indicate whether or not you likely have "Conficker" on your computer. If not, you've kept you security software up-to-date and active. If so, all the major security companies have removal tools to get rid of it again. Although nothing much happened on April 1st as was feared, since that day "Conficker has indeed "phoned home" for instructions so nobody is out of the woods just yet. Consider this a word to the wise and save yourself a lot of grief. Always remember to update your security software, daily if you can!

Windows Update - A little bad news!

For some reason Windows Update is periodically providing as an "optional" update the following item; IdeaCom touchscreen update (PS/2). Nobody is quite sure how Windows Update has picked them for this "optional" update offer since most folks are nor even running a PS/2 on their system. The problem is that once installed this item will usually disable the touchscreen on your laptop and in the case of mice that are not installed via USB, it will also disable them. Uninstalling this is then very difficult and some registry editing may be required, otherwise it will just re-install itself and you still have the problem to contend with. To make matters worse, not all computers seem to be affected equally. My best suggestion is, if you are presented with this "optional update", do NOT install it but rather "hide" it so Windows Update will never show it again. In addition, why not Google "IdeaCom touchscreen update (PS/2)" and see how others are handling the situation. Forewarned is forearmed!