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You can browse this site for information, tips & troubleshooting information about Microsoft Windows Operating Systems.
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Automatically Attach VHD Images
January 9, 2012 - 10:05 GMT
Windows 7 users can create virtual hard drive (VHD) images using the Disk Management tool. These images can then be mounted and used like any other partition in the operating system. A newly created image gets automatically attached in the current Windows session. The problem is that when Windows is restarted, the image is no longer attached, so after each reboot you'd have to manually attach the image before you can continue using it.
Reviewing Windows 8 Developer Preview
December 14, 2011 - 20:15 GMT
I'm reviewing the Windows 8 Developer Preview with focus on running Windows 8 in a PC environment. That means I'm not using touch and have little interest in the Metro apps that are included in this developer preview.
How to check your laptop battery health in Windows 7
November 16, 2011 - 17:25 GMT
Windows 7 includes a new command that shows you a lot of details on its power usage & settings and helps you troubleshoot power issues (like Windows 7 waking up unexpected when you've put it in Sleep mode). This command also shows you some detailed information about your laptop's battery, including its design capacity and the last full charge. With this data you can calculate how much (percentage-wise) your battery has deteriorated over time.
September 8, 2011 - 13:00 GMT
Unlike Windows XP and Vista, Windows 7 doesn't launch a screen saver if you leave the computer idle on the Windows logon (or Welcome) screen. There is a 'work around' to anable a screen saver at the login screen though.
Optimize Windows 7 for use with a Solid State Drive
June 8, 2011 - 12:10 GMT
If you can justify the price, a Solid State Drive (SSD) is a great upgrade that will improve your overall computer experience. There are a few things that will improve your SSD's performance and/or endurance that you can apply, and I'll show you some tips to reduce the amount of space needed for your Windows 7 installation. Since space cost is at a premium in SSD's, these tips could come in handy.
Flash Player Sandbox Comes to Firefox
Adobe debuts new beta Flash Player with security sandbox for Firefox. Will it make the web more secure? Adobe's Flash Player plugin is among the most attacked pieces of software on the Internet today. While Adobe rapidly moves to fix urgent flaws as they emerge, they have also been moving towards a sandboxing approach that mitigates the risk of an..
Google readying home entertainment system: report
Google reportedly is making a home entertainment system that would carry its name, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. The foray would be another step outside Google's virtual bounds into the world of hardware. The company is in the process of buying Motorola Mobility, which would better position it against rival Apple by producing i..
Oracle's $1.9 billion acquisition of cloud-based talent management software maker Taleo is a shot across the bow to rival SAP. Take that, SAP. Oracle just announced it is buying Taleo, maker of cloud-based talent management software, for $1.9 billion. The move comes just two months after rival SAP said it would acquire HR software provider Success..
Security camera video flaw lets voyeurs see all
Video feeds from some home users' Internet security cameras including children's rooms and bathroom scenes are being seen by others around the world because of a coding error that is part of the cameras' software. The flaw in the TrendNet security cameras was discovered after word of the shared footage spread on various message boards and blog..
Acta: Europe braced for protests over anti-piracy treaty
Further protests in opposition to controversial anti-piracy measures have taken place, with another 100 expected to happen in Europe this week. A petition calling for the rejection of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (Acta) has attracted over 1.75 million signatures. The treaty intends to standardise copyright protection measures, but has ..
Top 6 Facebook annoyances and how to fix them
Facebook changes features like Kim Kardashian changes husbands. Just when users get comfortable with the latest iteration of New Facebook, Zuckerberg and company go and change something else, drawing the ire of its millions of users. Here are six Facebook annoyances that are currently grinding our gears and ways to deal with each.
Transplant jaw made by 3D printer claimed as first
A 3D printer-created lower jaw has been fitted to an 83-year-old woman's face in what doctors say is the first operation of its kind. The transplant was carried out in June in the Netherlands, but is only now being publicised. The implant was made out of titanium powder - heated and fused together by a laser, one layer at a time. Technicians say..
Hackers outwit online banking identity security systems
Criminal hackers have found a way round the latest generation of online banking security devices given out by banks, the BBC has learned. After logging in to the bank's real site, account holders are being tricked by the offer of training in a new "upgraded security system". Money is then moved out of the account but this is hidden from the user...
Kinect for Windows gesture sensor launched by Microsoft
Microsoft has launched a version of Kinect, its voice and motion-controlled sensor, to work with Windows-based PCs. It joins a previous version which was designed for the company's Xbox 360 games console. The new hardware features a "near mode" which allows it to track movements as close as 40cm away, compared to 50cm on the original model. Howe..
Facebook files for $5 billion IPO
At long last, the Holy Grail of Internet IPOs is here. Facebook filed Wednesday to raise $5 billion in an initial public offering. In 2011, Facebook earned $1 billion on sales of $3.7 billion. As of December 31, Facebook had 845 million monthly active users. The company crossed the line into profitability in 2009, five years after it launched in ..
Technology firms create DMarc to fight phishing
A crackdown on "phishing" scams has been announced by 15 of the top technology companies. Email providers such as Google and Microsoft will work with companies like Paypal and the Bank of America to improve authentication. Phishing attacks typically involve scammers posing as familiar companies in an attempt to trick users into sharing personal i..
Google in privacy policy changes across its services
Google has changed its privacy policy, streamlining it across its multiple services including search, email, video and social networking sites. More than 60 different policies will be combined into one that will go into effect 1 March, the company said. Google said the new policy will give people more relevant search results and help advertisers ..
HP pays $425,000 to settle claims over hazardous laptop batteries
The company eventually recalled 32,000 batteries, which a watchdog agency said were at risk of overheating or catching fire. Hewlett-Packard will pay US$425,000 to settle a claim that it knowingly sold laptops with hazardous batteries that could overheat or catch fire, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced Monday. HP had learned o..
Facebook to Google: 'Don't be evil'
Facebook, Twitter and MySpace have a message for Google: "Don't be evil." A group of developers from those companies banded together to call Google's bluff on claims about its controversial new Search Plus Your World tool. The recently launched tool prominently spotlights Google's fledgling Google+ social network in Google.com's search results -- ..
Once an emerging darling, the open source browser is now beset by a troubling handful of issues. Firefox is a web browser with some very strong roots. Its history dates back to when Netscape was battling for users against the almighty Internet Explorer. Back in those days, web sites actually had small banners on them stating which browser the sit..
Facebook vs Google+: What's the best social network?
With more than 800 million users, including 150 million in the U.S., Facebook is a must-have for connecting online. With a "mere" 90 million users so far, Google+ can't be a replacement for Facebook. But with great design and unique features, it makes a good addition. In fact, in a lot of ways Google+ is better.
A year of transition for Microsoft and Intel
Intel and Microsoft helped usher in the era of personal computers. Now the two companies are reinventing themselves in an industry where PCs are no longer the primary driver of innovation and growth. Both Microsoft and Intel are still money-making machines--they raked in $20.9 billion and $13.9 billion, respectively, in quarterly earnings announce..
Congress withdraws SOPA, PIPA anti-piracy measures
U.S. lawmakers stopped anti-piracy legislation in its tracks on Friday, delivering a stunning win for Internet companies that staged an unprecedented online protest this week to kill the previously fast-moving bills. Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said he would postpone a critical vote that had been scheduled for Jan. 24 "in light of recent e..
Apple Mac-based security threats jumped in 2011
New Mac-based security threats jumped in 2011, but still remain far below that of Windows PCs, according to a posting by F-Secure Labs. A total of 58 unique variants were detected from April through December, according to the Labs' Threat Research team. Nearly half, 29, were Trojan-downloaders, which F-Secure defines as a type of Trojan horse prog..
ACS: Law solicitor Andrew Crossley suspended by SRA
Andrew Crossley, the controversial solicitor who sent thousands of letters to alleged illegal file-sharers, has been suspended from the profession for two years. The court heard how Mr Crossley used his law firm ACS: Law to demand money in recompense for alleged copyright infringements. The scheme unravelled when several cases went to court.