Saving Documents and Web Pages as PDFs

Adobe’s PDF format offers a great way to save and send electronic documents, from formatted business letters to product brochures. PDF documents appear identically on all computers, so you don’t have to worry about things like whether the recipient has access to the same fonts as you or if your company logo and other graphics will display properly.

PDFs are also an excellent way to quickly save “snapshots” of web pages for future reference. Since some web pages change frequently, PDFs are a useful way to capture or archive content that might be hard to find again later.

To save a document or web page as a PDF, open it and press Command Promt, just as though you’re going to print the page. But instead of clicking Print or pressing the Return key, click the PDF button in the lower left corner of the Print dialog. Choose Save as PDF at the top of the menu, navigate to the location you’d like to save to, and click Save.

The PDF button also contains other useful options. Mail PDF opens a new message in Apple’s Mail program, with the PDF already attached. Encrypt PDF lets you protect your file with a password. And Compress PDF creates a more compressed version of the file — great for emailing large, multi-page PDFs.

New Launches from ASUS

ASUS today announced availability of the long-anticipated U2E, the perfect companion for road warriors. The 11-inch all-in-one leather crafted notebook is designed to deliver the highest level of versatile performance while conveying an individual’s sense of style.

Rich, Varied Connectivity
The U2E is the lightest notebook with a built-in DVD-RW. To deliver the ultimate mobile experience on Windows Vista, the ASUS U2E comes equipped with 3GB high-speed DDR2 memory. With an energy saving back-lit LED panel, micro-DVI, VGA out, an 8-in-1 card reader, and three USB 2.0 ports, the U2E enables road warriors to excel without compromise.

Multiple Drive Options
The ASUS U2E is available with two hard drive options. The U2E-A1B is equipped with a 32 GB Solid State Drive (SSD) and a 160 GB external hard drive (MSRP $2699). The U2E-A2B comes with a single 120 GB hard drive (MSRP $1,999).

Availability
The ASUS U2E will be available at MicroCenter and the following websites.
• Newegg.com
• Amazon.com
• Costco.com

ASUS Launches the World's Fastest Graphics Solution: The ASUS EN9800GX2/G/2DI/1G

ASUS®, worldwide leader in component and notebook design and manufacturing, today released the ASUS EN9800GX2/G/2DI/1G SLI-ready graphics cards. Sporting dual GeForce 9800 GPUs (graphics processing units), the EN9800GX2/G/2DI/1G offers true-to-life extreme HD gaming and picture-perfect HD movie playback. Delivering speeds up to 50% faster than the GeForce 8800 Ultra, the new EN9800GX2 is the fastest graphics card available. Designed with the PC enthusiasts in mind, the integrated SmartDoctor feature allows users to overclock the Shader Clock for even better graphical performance. Each ASUS EN9800GX2 will bundle with a full-version DirectX 10 game, Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts.

The World's Fastest Graphics Solution
The ASUS EN9800GX2/G/2DI/1G features a 1GB frame buffer, and performs 30 to 50% faster across all games than leading GeForce 8800 Ultra-based graphic cards. The EN9800GX2/G/2DI/1G is designed to take advantage of the new PCI Express 2.0 bus architecture, offering the highest data transfer speeds for the most bandwidth-hungry games and 3D applications. New PCI Express 2.0 bus architecture also maintains backwards compatibility with existing PCI Express motherboards.

High Definition PC Gaming and Multimedia Entertainment
The ASUS EN9800GX2/G/2DI/1G enables smooth game-play at high resolutions (up to 2560*1600) with all available in-game settings set to the highest settings. An integrated HDMI connector also allows users to send both high-definition video and audio signals to HDTVs via a single cable, eliminating the clutter of multiple cables.

Overclock the Shader Clock with New SmartDoctor
ASUS’ world exclusive technology provides users with the ability to tweak the Shader Clock on GPUs with the new SmartDoctor. With this overclocking utility, users will be able to overclock the Shader Clock and Engine Clock independently for astonishing performance boosts without the hassle of rebooting or re-flashing BIOS.

Hottest DX10 Game Bundle: Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts
Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts is the latest chapter in this highly-rated strategy game and it delivers an unprecedented level of realism. With superb lighting effects, mission persistence, improved vehicle and soldier AI, enhanced physics and a dynamic weather system, this game sets new standards in visual realism for the RTS genre. With the powerful performance of the ASUS EN9800GX2/G/2DI/1G, gamers will be able to enjoy this game in all of its graphical splendor.

The ASUS EN9800GX2/G/2DI/1G is currently available through ASUS North American dealers. The introductory MSRP is $599 USD. For more information on the graphics card, go to http://usa.asus.com/.

Apple: Editing Word Files — Without Word

It’s easy to work with Microsoft Word files on your Mac, even if you don’t have Microsoft Word installed on your computer.

TextEdit, your Mac’s built-in word processing program, can open MS Word files (which are often distinguished by a “.doc” or “.docx” suffix). Simply double-click the document icon. It will automatically open in TextEdit if that’s the only word-processing program on your computer. If you have several, you can specify which program to use by Control-clicking on the file icon (or right-clicking if you have a two-button mouse) and selecting your desired program.

Now you can edit file just like any other document. However, if you want to share your file with MS Word users, be sure to save your work in Word format. Here’s how.

From the File menu, choose Save As… or type Command-Shift-s. Click-hold on the File Format tab and choose one of the Word formats. Press Save.

If you own iWork ’08, you can use similar techniques in Pages, Apple’s advanced word processor. But instead of using the Save As… command, select Export from the File menu. Choose the Word option and press Next.

Finally, navigate to the destination where you’d like to save the document, and press Export.

Browse in Privacy with Safari

Under normal circumstances, Safari retains records of your web browsing activity. It remembers the pages you visit, the data you download, and your web searches. It may also store your personal data in order to automatically complete online forms.

While these features can save time and help you retrace your online steps, there are occasions when you might prefer to leave no footprints — for example, when browsing on a public computer.

The solution is simple: Before you begin browsing, go to the Safari menu and select Private Browsing. When the warning box appears, click OK. Now Safari stores none of the aforementioned info.

What if you decide you need privacy after you’ve been browsing? You have several options: You can remove individual pages from Safari’s page-view history, erase the entire history, or clear all traces of your activity, including any cookies and cache files you may have accumulated.

To review the pages you’ve visited and delete them as desired, go to the History menu and select Show All History. Here you can select pages and clear them with the Delete key. To wipe the entire Safari history, select Clear History from the History menu. For a completely clean slate, go to the Safari menu and select Reset Safari.

Note that the Private Browsing option does not prevent Safari from collecting cookies (the preference files automatically generated by many websites). The Reset Safari option clears all cookies. If you want to delete only certain ones, choose Preferences from the Safari menu, click the Security tab, and then click Show Cookies. You can select and delete individual cookies from the list that appears. Careful, though — if you’re a frequent web user, this list can be very, very long.

Apple: Creating Live Links in Documents

Sometimes it’s useful to create a hypertext link within your documents. You might, for example, make a link that automatically opens a Safari web page when clicked, or one that generates a pre-addressed email message.

Here’s how to create a link in TextEdit, your Mac’s word processing program: First, select the text you’d like to use as your link. Next, go to the Format menu and select Text, then Link. In the pop-up that appears, type the URL you’d like to link to. (Your linking text needn’t be a URL itself. For example, you could link to the same location either by typing: “Get more info at www.apple.com,” or “Get more Apple info here.” Press OK, and you’ve got your link.

You can generate an email just as easily. In the Link destination field, type “mailto:” followed by the email address, with no spaces, like so: mailto:info@apple.com.

TextEdit boasts a new feature in Leopard: Smart Links, which automatically creates links from email addresses and URLs as soon as you type them. To activate it, select Preferences from the TextEdit menu, make sure the New Document tab is selected, and check the Smart Links box in the lower right corner. Now Leopard will automatically generate a link in TextEdit each time you type a URL or email address. (You may need to restart TextEdit to enable this change.)

Leopard also lets you create live links in Mail. First, highlight your linking text. From the Edit menu, select Link, then Add… and enter the desired web address in the popup.

In Pages, the advanced word processing program included in the iWork ’08 package, there’s an extra layer of sophistication: You can forge links by selecting Hyperlink from the Insert menu, or create them via the Inspector window. You can also create bookmarks that link to other locations within a multi-page document, or generate email with the subject field already filled in.

Middle Range PC

Asked dozens of times what specs to look for in buying a new computer. It really depends on what you need the PC to do. If you are an avid gamer, you will need a highly-loaded system with lots of memory to take care of video, sound, etc. If you’re planning on using it for business, then you will need a middle range computer with a DVD-RW or CD-RW drive for backup purposes. The list can go on forever because there are so many different things a computer could be used for nowadays.

What most people ask us is what’s the best you can get for a midrange PC - one that would be good and not too pricey. This is what we recommend to most everyone that asks us that question:

Middle Range PC

AMD or Intel running about 2 GHz or more
512 MB Memory
40 or higher GB hard drive
DVD or CD-RW USB slots
Ethernet No Floppy! Instead, use a USB thumb drive

Which Pc is right for you

The ideal computer does not exist. It all boils down quite simple to balancing costs against the features you get. Obviously, the more you pay the more features you get, but are these features the ones that you need? Hopefully, this page, together with our deciding what you want page, will help you figure out what exactly you need in your computer.

There is no easy way around it. You will have to familiarise yourself with some computer basics. You will need to be acquainted with terms like RAM, hard disk and video cards. Knowledge is what differentiates the novice who walks into Dixons and lets a trainee salesman sell him the highest margin computer, from the savvy buyer who knows exactly what he wants and is therefore in a superior position to shop around and get the best deals.

For the purpose of this page we'll assume that you are not necessarily looking at a new computer. This presumption will let us cover facts relating to both new and second user PCs.

Don't buy a PC older than a 486 (like a 386 or a 286). As you can get 486's from as little as 2000/- it doesn't make sense to go for anything cheaper.

Ensure that your computer has at least 32 MB of RAM if you want to run Windows 95 or Windows 98.

Some cautions to observe:

Check the computer thoroughly. Play an audio CD, dial out using the modem, try the monitor on different resolutions and different colour and refresh rate settings, try reading and writing from the floppy drive, shut down and start up the computer a few times, run a text and a graphics file through the printer, run a full surface scan on the hard disk if time permits, go into the bios and run an autodetect on IDE devices to ensure that the hard disk is the size you think it is, check that all passwords have been erased (use delete on booting up to go into Setup),

Make sure you get all driver disks with the computer. If any of these devices are in your computer you will need drivers for them: Soundcard, CD drive, graphics (every computer has this), modem, SCSI card, other cards, and external devices like printers and scanners. Make sure also that you have not just DOS drivers but drivers for the Windows 95 or Windows 98 that you intend running on that computer.

Ensure that you have a clean hard disk. You want to erase any software or user files that the previous owner had on it.

Get a copy of every piece of software sold you with the computer. Programs installed on the machine will be of no use to you if you have to re-format the hard disk and start from scratch (this does happen with PCs). Make sure you are given the CD or floppy disks with the programs on them, including the operating system (Windows 3.x, 95 or 98).

If you can format the hard disk and re-load the operating system, do it. Or get a friend to do it for you.

Ask to see the original purchase receipts and get a copy if possible. Get the warranty transferred if the computer is still under warranty. (Call the manufacturers and they'll usually be able to confirm if it is still under warranty). Ask them if the warranty can be transferred to your name. Check that the warranty seals on the computer are intact.

Get the original packing if it is available. You may need it later.

For Notebooks/laptops: Ensure you have the charger, test any additional batteries offered with the machine, test the PCMCIA slots.

General cleaning tips

Below is a listing of general tips that should be taken when cleaning any of the components or peripherals of a computer as well as tips to help keep a computer clean.

Never spray or squirt any type of liquid onto any computer component. If a spray is needed spray the liquid onto a cloth and then use that cloth to rub down the component.

Users can use a vacuum to suck up dirt, dust, or hair around their computer on the outside case and on their keyboards. However, do not use a vacuum for the inside of your computer as it generates a lot of static electricity that can damage the internal components of your computer. If you need to use a vacuum to clean the inside of your computer use a portable battery powered vacuum designed to do this job.

When cleaning a component and/or the computer turn it off before cleaning.

Never get any component inside the computer or any other circuit board damp or wet

Be cautions when using any type of cleaning solvents, some individuals may have allergic reactions to chemicals in cleaning solvents and some solvents can even damage the case. Try to always use water or a highly diluted solvent.

When cleaning be careful not to accidentally adjust any knobs or controls. In addition when cleaning the back of the computer if anything is plugged in make sure not to disconnect any of the plugs.

Never eat or drink around the computer

Limit smoking around the computer

Computer Maintenance Tips

Santa may have brought you a new computer or peripheral for Christmas, but he didn't tell you how to take care of it. Now is a good time to get some good computer maintenance habits developed before you get yourself into trouble.

Ten tips to keep your computer running smoothly:

1. Never, never, turn your computer off with the power switch until Windows has shut down.

The one exception to this rule is when your computer locks up and your hard drive is not running (hard drive light is not blinking). In this situation, you can turn the power off without harmful effects to the hard drive. As cutting the power can also result in lost data or Windows files, you should only do this when you have to.

Following this rule will prevent permanent hard drive defects caused by the hard drive heads contacting the surface of the drive disc, and it will prevent a host of Windows problems.
Whenever possible, recover from crashes by pressing the Ctrl + Alt + Delete keys at the same time. Press them again to reboot your computer.

2. I highly recommend that you purchase an UPS (uninteruptable power supply) for your computer. This will keep your computer from crashing during power outages, and will protect your computer from low and high voltage occurrences.
An UPS is far superior to a surge protector and will save your computer from almost any power type of disaster. (See #1 above for what happens when your computer crashes.)

3. Backup, backup, backup, any data you cannot afford to lose to at least two separate physical drives. So backup data to floppies, Zip disks, CD-RWs etc.
The time to backup is when you create something you can't afford to lose. Don't wait until tomorrow.

4. Run Scandisk and Defragment at least once a month. This will keep your hard drive healthy and prevent crashes. Alternatively, purchase Norton Utilities and use it to keep your hard drive healthy.

5. Never unplug peripherals from the computer when it is powered up. Unplugging with the power on can short out the connector socket or the motherboard.

The only exception to this rule is if you know a peripheral is "hot pluggable". If you do not know what "hot pluggable" means then ignore this exception.

6. Do keep at least 100 MBs of your C: drive free for Windows to use. If you use Windows Me or Windows XP then you should have 200 MBs of free space on your C: drive.
If you do not have enough free space you will choke Windows and it will start dumping data to your hard drive, or it will just get really, really, slow.
Use the ADD/Delete tool in the Windows Control Panel to delete unneeded programs from your drive.
You can also use Cleansweep included in Norton Utilities to clean up your drive. If you do use Cleansweep or another hard drive cleaner, do not delete shared files unless you back them up. The cleaners do a rotten job of knowing if another program uses shared files.

7. Do not let a lot of programs load up when you start your computer. They use valuable memory and Windows Resources (Windows internal workspace).
All programs in your Windows System Tray (in the lower left of your screen) are running on your computer. Close them if you don't need them or run them and configure them not to load when you boot up.
Other programs running in the background can be found by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete at the same time.

8. Do use a virus checker regularly. Everyone should use a virus checker. The best type of protection is continuous monitoring from a dedicated anti-virus program like Norton Antivirus.
The second best thing is to use is the free online virus checker Housecall provided by Trend Micro.

9. If you have a high speed Internet connection you need a firewall program. A firewall program keeps those who want to hijack your computer from gaining access to your system. You really do not want someone else running your computer.
I suggest you purchase and run Norton's Personal Firewall program. Your firewall should boot up with your computer to protect it from invasion. A free personal firewall program is available from Tiny Software.

Case in point: When I run Windows Me for 10 hours or more with my DSL connection, my computer is usually attacked by a hacker at least once.
Do not think you are safe from hackers!! Hackers use search programs to seek out computers at random. Get a firewall program and use it.

10. Keep track of the software disks you receive with your computer and new peripherals. These disks contain valuable software drivers and programs for Windows and are needed when Windows must be reloaded. Keep these disks and your Windows software disks in a safe, dry, place -- you never know when you will need them.

Hopefully these computer maintenance tips will keep you out of trouble.

Backup4all can save your data

You can’t be too careful when it comes to protecting your data. If you don’t already have a favorite backup program, consider Backup4All Professional, Getting started is easy: Using a wizard, you give the backup a name, choose which files to back up (you can select individual files or entire folders), tell it where the files should be stored, and run. That’s the simple view. Backup4All can handle more complicated backup requirements.

For example, Backup4All is flexible in the destinations you can pick from: a locally-connected drive (your hard drive, CD/DVD drive, or a USB drive, for example), a LAN drive, or via FTP to a remote location. If you choose a CD/DVD destination, you can choose to erase the disk before beginning the backup, and use a built-in driver (you pick the write speed) or the UDF file system.

You also select the type of backup: full, incremental (just what’s changed since any backup, including the last incremental backup), differential (what’s changed since the last full backup), or "mirror,” which is the same as a full backup but without the compression into ZIP files and without password protection of a regular backup. (A mirror is a good choice when you need an exact copy of the source -- as when you duplicate all files on a disk to a second disk.) Note: A good discussion of the difference between incremental and differential backups can be found on the company’s Web site: http://backup4all.com/incremental-backup.php.

A backup catalog keeps a copy of your configuration options (filters, destination, etc.) as well as a list of the files and folders that have been added to the backup. You can choose the ZIP settings (compression level, for example) and you can specify the maximum size for a ZIP file (to enable splitting the backup into multiple files).

The wizard also asks if you want to back up all files or select (filter) the files you want to back up, so you can choose to only back up only .DOC/.DOCX files, for example. You can also specify an "exclude” filter (to back up everything except .PPT files, for instance). You can filter using wildcards or by file attributes (read-only, archived, etc.). The program offers some sophisticated logic to your file selection; for instance, you can choose to backup only files where the date modified is between two dates (you specify the date range).

You can tell Backup4All whether the program should compare the backup copies to the original, have the program delete all source files or delete empty directories after the backup is complete. You can define what program(s) you want to run either before or after the backup, what sounds to make in the event of success, errors, or warnings, and what e-mail to send a report to (you can attach the backup log if you wish).

Last but not least, you can schedule the job to run on a regular basis, using Windows’ scheduler or its own built-in schedule system.

Once the backup goes to work, Backup4All displays a progress indicator. Because you can set the priority of the backup itself, the program shouldn’t interfere with your current work -- and Backup4All can even back up open files so there’s no need to shut everything down and take a break while the backup runs.

When you find you need to recover a file, the Restore option lets you place the archived file to the original or to a new location and choose which files are recovered. It’s simple and efficient. The help system clearly spells out what each option does; I referred to it frequently to understand the more complex options. My first few backups were executed using the default options -- backing up all files in the selected directories, for example. As with most software, the more I worked with the program, the more I understood what options I wanted to use and which I could safely ignore.

There are other bells and whistles; for example, backup definitions can be grouped, so you can have a set of "daily” backups stored in one group and weekly or monthly backups stored in another group. Using an Outlook-like interface, you can click on a group name and see the different backups for that group.

We did have problems on one machine using rewriteable DVD media. When we tried to put two backups on the same disk, the first backup worked fine but the second caused the system to hang. Backing up to hard drives gave us no such problems.

You can’t be too careful about your data, and Backup4All does a good job using a well-designed interface, with plenty of bells and whistles for more experienced users. A "standard” version ($40, $29.95 for a limited time) may be all you need if you don’t want e-mail notification or AES 128, 192, and 256-bit encryption. A full comparison chart is available at http://backup4all.com/feature-matrix.php.

Quick Take: Analogue Vista Clock

Despite its name, Analogue Vista Clock isn’t for Vista users. It’s a neat little alarm clock utility for Windows XP and Windows 2000 only (a Vista is in the works) that sits on your desktop. It’s oblivious to mouse clicks and keyboard input, so it doesn’t get in the way of any of your work, misinterpreting mouse clicks of buttons “underneath” it.

I placed the clock in the upper-right corner of my desktop (you can set the precise pixel position), set the transparency level to a “light” setting so I could see through the clock to buttons and menus underneath it, and I was all set.

Yes, I know, you can get the system time by looking at the display in the system tray, and I’ve tried many programs that place the clock in the title bar of the open window. Neither is satisfactory. The system tray’s clock doesn’t have an alarm, and the title bar clocks sometimes interfere with the display -- causing windows to blink or flash annoyingly.

A system tray icon calls up the settings window, where, in addition to setting the transparency, you can change the size, change the face (you can choose from two skins or download more after you register), add or remove a second hand, and optionally set an on-the-hour chime.

Granted, you can only set one alarm, though you can choose which days of the week the alarm sounds and pick from one of five sounds (or choose a random sound file from the folder you select). The alarm can even be set to wake up your system.

Analogue Vista Clock sells for $14.95. A trial version is available for free download at http://www.4neurons.com/Clock/

Toshiba Satellite A305 Review

The Toshiba Satellite A305 is a redesign of the older Toshiba A205, vastly improving the look and feel of the notebook, as well as adding the incredibly durable Fusion finish. While some of the lower body looks similar to the older notebook, everything from the waistline up has changed to a sleeker, softer, and glossier feel. Read on to see how well this notebook stacks up against its older brother, and find out if this notebook is worthy of a spot on your lap.

Our review unit of the Toshiba Satellite A305 features the following specs:

• Windows Vista Home Premium (SP1, 32-bit)
• Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T8100 (2.10GHz, 3MB L2, 800MHz FSB)
• 15.4" diagonal widescreen TruBrite TFT LCD display at 1280x800 (WXGA)
• ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650 with 512MB video memory
• Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN (802.11a/g/n)
• 3GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM (maximum capacity 4GB)
• 200GB Serial ATA hard disk drive (5400RPM) Primary
• 200GB Serial ATA hard disk drive (4200RPM) Secondary
• DVD SuperMulti (+/-R double layer) drive with Labelflash
• 1.3 megapixel webcam
• Harmon/Kardon stereo speakers
• Fingerprint reader
• Dimensions (WxDxH Front/H Rear): 14.25" x 10.5" x 1.4" /2.25"
• Weight: 6 lbs 13.5oz with nine-cell battery
• 120W (19V x 6.32A) 100-240V AC Adapter (6.0" x 2.55" x 1.45" and weighs 1.56 lb)
• 9-cell (6000mAh) Lithium Ion battery
• 1-Year Standard Limited Warranty
• Price as configured: $1,249.99
  

Build and Design

The first thing you will notice is every part of this notebook is glossy, from the screen cover to the palm rest, and even the keyboard keys. Toshiba is really showing off their new durable Fusion finish on every part of the notebook that they can, and in some ways it is a very good thing. Durability is a big thing with notebook finishes, as many glossy finishes will dull and scratch over time. The new Toshiba Fusion finish on this notebook is incredibly durable, and has yet to actually scratch throughout my testing. With multiple trips in my backpack, I can't find any visible scuffs on the cover, where other notebooks would show fine scratches almost out of the wrapper.

So what does this Fusion finish mean to you? Your keys will not go from matte to glossy over time as they wear down (they are already glossy). Every part of the notebook will get full of smudges and fingerprints, but you can always wipe it down in a couple of minutes to make it look brand new. On other notebooks you get all the smudges, but it would take some hard work with some plastic polish before you ever got it looking new again.

Build quality is excellent in most areas, giving the notebook a very solid feel. Squeaks and creaks are not present, and panel flex is at a minimum. The only areas that stand out as needing some improvement are the wobbly battery, and rough edges around the screen frame where the two plastic pieces meet.

Optimize windows xp security center settings

Microsoft beats the drum harder for SP2's new Security Center than for any other slice of the update, touting it as proof that the new-and-improved Windows XP is a lot more secure, thank you, than earlier editions.

Security Center, which you can reach from the Control Panel or from the new icon plopped into the Taskbar's system tray, is a bare-bones dashboard that shows the status of three things, Automatic Update, firewall protection, and antivirus defense, and warns you when, for instance, your virus definitions aren't up-to-date or the firewall has been turned off.

The Center isn't a new idea, although Microsoft may want you to think so. Frankly, similar displays have been around for ages. Worse, the new Center might not actually even detect your antivirus software or firewall (assuming you have them in place), which could lull you into a false sense of security (pun intended). And worse yet, its firewall, although better than no firewall, isn't up-to-snuff.

These tips will make Security Center slicker.

1. Make Security Center recognize your own security software.
Although Microsoft made an effort to coordinate Security Center with third-party antivirus and firewall software, SP2 may not sniff out yours without an update.

• For instance, although the Security Center should know if you have Symantec Norton AntiVirus 2004 installed on your PC, it probably can't determine that program's status--whether its virus definitions have been updated, for instance. You need to upgrade to AntiVirus 2005 or run Norton AntiVirus's own LiveUpdate to download a fix. (A fix was available via LiveUpdate for a short time in early September but was removed; it should be back up by the time you read this.) Symantec has planned corrections for older 2002 and 2003 editions of Norton AntiVirus, but it hasn't announced dates yet.
• Not using Symantec's products? Check with the maker of your antivirus and firewall packages by heading to its Web site and searching for "SP2." You should locate any important SP2 compatibility updates this way.
  

2. Use a different firewall.
SP2 automatically turns on the new Windows Firewall by default, a big improvement since Windows has long hidden its firewall; you may not even have known that your old copy of XP came with one. But we don't think the firewall's adequate, primarily because it blocks only inbound traffic, not outbound, too. This oversight makes it possible for a worm or virus that arrives, say, by e-mail, to infect your machine, drop in a Trojan horse or another backdoor, then use your PC as a spam-spewing engine, all without Windows Firewall giving you as much as a howdy-do. Other firewalls will let you know of any unauthorized outbound Net traffic and block it.

• Download ZoneAlarm 5.1, a free firewall that watches for both inbound and outbound threats. (Security Center recognizes only version 5.1, so if you're using an earlier ZoneAlarm version, please update it.) ZoneAlarm automatically disables Windows Firewall when it installs, so you're not needlessly running two firewalls.

3. Turn off the #&%$! alerts!
Despite the never-ending deluge of virus attacks, some of us did manage to keep our PCs protected before SP2--often with a more detailed dashboard display than Security Center offers. How? We used top-of-the-line at-home security products such as those from Symantec, McAfee, Trend Micro, or a host of other companies. And you can do the same. So how can we turn off Security Center's freakin' alerts? Here's how.

• From the Start menu, choose Control Panel, then double-click Security Center.
• Click "Change the way Security Center alerts me" in the Resources section on the left.
• Clear the check boxes in the Alert Settings dialog marked Firewall and Virus Protection (also, Automatic Updates if you want to drop alerts for that). Click OK.
  

4. Make the Security Center disappear altogether.
Obviously, this is a big deal; shut it down only if you're completely sure that you can maintain your own protection software.

• From the Start menu, choose Run.
• Type services.msc and hit Enter.
• Scroll down until you see Security Center. Double-click it.
• Set the Startup box to Disabled. Click OK.
  

The change takes effect after you reboot.

How to get rid of spyware and adware

If you want to get the best from your PC, you don’t want to have adware or spyware running on it. Many antivirus packages (for example, Kaspersky, McAfee VirusScan or ZoneAlarm) can detect and remove certain adware and spyware, but it’s best to have a separate program to look for and remove these unwanted PC pests.

A number of free applications are available for you to choose from. One is called Windows Defender and is available from Microsoft. Another good program to install and scan with on a regular basis is called Ad-Aware by Lavasoft. You can install both of these on your system, having Windows Defender running all the time and using the latest Ad-Aware to scan your system daily (if you are security conscious) or weekly to check for and remove anything that might have managed to sneak by Windows Defender.

Protect your PC with antivirus software

It is quite easy to protect your computer from viruses, worms, and Trojan horses: install a good antivirus program (for example, Kaspersky AntiVirus) and keep it up-to-date. A good antivirus scanner will not only be able to detect and block any viruses, worms, or Trojan horses that try to enter you system, it will also be able to remove any malware already installed on your PC.

It is important to keep the antivirus application updated (it’s recommended that you upgrade the main software package yearly) and that you download and install the latest antivirus detection databases regularly, because hundreds of new viruses and worms are released weekly. If you don’t keep the detection databases in the program up-to-date, the application won’t be able to detect and repair anything new that finds its way onto your PC. Consult the help file or manual for your antivirus program to find out how to do this (most are able to update themselves automatically).

Visit Kaspersky Anti-Virus Products
for a selection of popular antivirus software downloads that you can try on your PC

Perform a Repair Installation

How do you perform a reinstallation of Windows XP, sometimes called a repair installation?

Configure your computer to start from the CD-ROM drive. For more information about how to do this, refer to your computer's documentation or contact your computer manufacturer. Then insert your Windows XP Setup CD, and restart your computer.

• When the Press any key to boot from CD message is displayed on your screen, press a key to start your computer from the Windows XP CD.
• Press ENTER when you see the message To setup Windows XP now, and then press ENTER displayed on the Welcome to Setup screen.
• Do not choose the option to press R to use the Recovery Console.
• In the Windows XP Licensing Agreement, press F8 to agree to the license agreement.
• Make sure that your current installation of Windows XP is selected in the box, and then press R to repair Windows XP.
• Follow the instructions on the screen to complete Setup.
  

See these Knowledge Base articles for more information on reinstalling Windows XP

Getting A Great Refurbished Laptop

Are you sick of all the high priced notebooks out there? Does getting a used laptop seem like a better choice to you? Refurbished laptops are everywhere these days, and the word itself seems like a “buzz word” of the industry. But do these used machines actually hold up to the strict standard of the word “refurbished”?

In this article I will discuss exactly what process a used notebook should go through before it is called “refurbished”, as well as the advantages and disadvantages purchasing one brings.

Ok, so you see refurbished or recertified laptops being touted everywhere online these days, but are they all the same? The answer is no. Each company has a different process of restoring a notebook, and they aren’t all equal. This is what a good restoration process should look like:

- An examination of all hardware components

- Diagnostic and performance test

- Cleanup

- Cut & scratch repair (not always necessary)

What this process should equate to is a machine that runs just as good as when it was brand new, (and sometimes look just as good). The most important thing you can do if you are looking at a particular “recertified” laptop is find out about the company selling it. Are they reputable? How long have they been in business? What process do their refurbished laptops go through?

These are the most important questions you must ask. I’ll be honest here; there are many companies that claim that their notebooks are recertified, but this is really a lie. There is a risk involved when buying a reconditioned notebook, and checking a company out before you purchase can go a long way towards your peace of mind. That being said, good deals and quality notebooks can be found, and are found daily.

Before I conclude this article I would like to go over a few of the advantages and disadvantages buying a refurbished notebook can bring. For one, the obvious advantage is that you can save a lot of money on a mobile PC that runs just as good as ever -- as long as the laptop is of good quality. This is the advantage that appeals to everybody when it comes to getting a reconditioned laptop.

As for disadvantages? Well, as I said above, there is a risk when purchasing these notebooks. By doing proper research you can minimize this risk, but it will always be there. Another down side to these machines is that you are limited to whatever is available. With a new notebook your options are endless –- With a refurbished one, you have to take what you can get.

All in all, I think buying a refurbished laptop can be a great idea; provided you take the time to ask questions such as the ones above. If done correctly, you can get a great portable PC that will last you a long time to come, and save you a lot of cash as well.

Hidden Private Character Editor

Using the hidden Private Character Editor (PCE) tool, you can create up to 6,400 unique characters (such as special letters and logos) for use in your font library. PCE contains basic tools for creating and editing characters, along with more advanced options.

Its Documentation is available at Windows XP Product Documentation.

You can choose to link your private characters to all the fonts in your font library (so that any font you've selected can display your private characters), or you can choose to link your private characters only to specific fonts (so that only the specified font can display your private characters).
Using the Select Code dialog box, you can view your entire set of private characters. The Select Code dialog box displays miniature views of all your private characters with their corresponding hexadecimal values.
If you want to create a new private character using an existing character as your model, you can copy the existing character to the Edit grid and then modify it to suit your needs, or you can display the existing character in a Reference window alongside your Edit grid for use as a visual reference. You can use any character from any font that is installed on your computer.
By default, PCE creates characters using the Unicode character set. In addition, if you have installed one of the Asian input languages (such as Chinese, Japanese, or Korean), you can also use PCE with the Windows character set.

To open Private Character Editor, click Start, and then click Run. In the Open box, type eudcedit.

It is tough to understand why Microsoft chooses to leave this tool hidden. Providing a shortcut in start menu like paint would have been a better option.

Uploading Made Easy With "Power Uploading"

If you're currently using DivShare to store, host and share files you should be pretty excited about this new feature. And if you don't use this DivShare's free service, it could make you want to start.

DivShare launched a Power Uploader application that adds simplicity to the whole uploading process. This new tool provides users with a drag and drop interface with folder tree and file previews for quick and effective uploading of up to 10 files at once.

The uploading tool is a Java Applet and ActiveX Control that provides a pipeline between your hard drive and your DivShare account. And, if you play around a little, you’ll also find that the Power Uploader has great support for resuming a canceled or broken upload — that reduces your wait time in a big way if something goes wrong. Setting for the uploader can be accessed in your main Account page.

Hacking - The Must Learn Tips To Be Safe

This guide is to give you some tips, of which you may not have heard yet, and these can be useful to be on safer side when it comes to protecting yourself from hackers. Hopefully, it won't come to a hacker getting in, but if it does...CompuWorld should NOT be held responsible ;)

Tip 1: Hackers cover their tracks. Experienced hackers cover them more thoroughly, but amateur hackers sometimes leave things behind. Don't expect them to leave any really big evidence behind; expect more of little things here and there you might find surprising. For example, if you're writing a term paper and a black hat hacker accidentally saved it when he took a paragraph out- that's suspicious. Where did that paragraph go? Well, for one thing, now you know he was in that area. Check the folders surrounding the file- you might find something.

Tip 2: Decipher between the type of hackers that are attacking you. Experienced hackers will have a more in depth look around when they penetrate your system. They won't touch much because they know that that won't add too much to their knowledge. But if you know a hacker's been in, and some files are messed with, and you have a log of someone guessing passwords to a file or something of that sort, its probably some newbie who's just starting out. These are the easiest hackers to catch. They usually get so caught up in thoughts like "I'm in!" that they forget the basics, such as work behind a proxy.

Real Life Example
My friend was setting up a webserver once. His first time too, and he wasn't to anxious to set up some good software to protect against hackers and viruses. He didn't put up one IDS, and before you know it, the obvious happened. But this time, a newbie had struck. The nice log files showed, bluntly across the screen, multiple instances of a foreign IP address that stood out. Some stupid newbie had tried to login as "uucp" on my friend's XP computer, with a password of "uucp." Well, that's great, but he also had tried the same user/pass combination three times, enough to get himself logged nicely. Even a semi-brainless user with some form of neurological system knows that uucp isn't a default XP account. Again, excitement toiled this hacker's brain, and maybe if he hadn't done that, along with a few other stupid things, he wouldn't have gotten caught. What other things did he do? Well, lets see. He opened 35 instances of MS-DOS. He tried to clean the printer's heads, and he edited a .gif in notepad. Then he uninstalled a few programs and installed some html editor, and replaced four files with the words "14P." he might as well have posted his phone number. In a few days, we had tracked him down to suburban town in Ohio. We let him go, not pressing any charges, because he had done nothing really damaging and had provided me with an example of a moron for this guide.

Tip 3: Don't go crazy if you lose data. Chances are, if it was that important, you would have backed it up anyway. Most hackers nowadays wish they were back in 1989 when they could use a Black Box and having a Rainbow Book actually meant something. Most hackers aren't blackhat, they are whitehat, and some even greyhat. But in the end, most hackers that are in systems aren't satisfied by looking around. From past experiences, I have concluded that many hackers like to remember where have they been. So, what do they do? They either press delete here and there, or copy some files onto their systems. Stupid hackers (yes, there are plenty of stupid hackers) send files to e-mail addresses. Some free email companies will give you the IP of a certain e-mail address's user if you can prove that user has been notoriously hacking you. But most of the time, by the time you get the e-mail ID it's been unused for weeks if not months or years, and services like hotmail have already deleted it

Tip 4: Save information! Any information that you get from a log file (proxy server IP, things like "14P", e-mail addresses that things were sent to, etc.) should be saved to a floppy disk (they're not floppy anymore, I wish I could get out of the habit of calling them that) in case there's a next time. If you get another attack, from the same proxy, or with similar e-mail addresses (e.g: one says Blackjack 123@something.whatever and the other says Black_jack_45@something.znn.com) you can make an assumption that these hackers are the same people. In that case, it would probably be worth the effort to resolve the IP using the proxy and do a traceroute. Pressing charges is recommended if this is a repeat offender.

Tip 5: Don't be stupid. If you've been hacked, take security to the next level. Hackers do talk about people they've hacked and they do post IPs and e-mail addresses. Proof? Take a look at Defcon Conventions. I've never gone to one, but I've seen the photos. The "Wall of Shame"-type of boards I've seen have IPs and e-mail addresses written all over them in fat red, dry-erase ink. Don't be the one to go searching the Defcon website and find your e-mail address posted on the Wall of Shame board!

Tip 6: Don't rely on luck. Chances are, sometime or another, you're going to be targeted for an attack. Here you can rely on luck. Maybe they'll forget? Maybe they don't know how to do it? If you think this way, a surprise is going to hit your face very hard. Another way you could stupidly rely on luck is by saying this: It's probably just a whitehat. On the contrary, my friend, it's probably just a blackhat. A blackhat with knowledge stored in his head, ready to be used as an ax. It's your data. You take the chance.

Try these links to learn some of the terms which were too goofy for your ears...
White Hat Hacker
Black Hat Hacker
Grey Hat Hacker
Traceroute

Five sexiest laptops

What makes a sexy laptop? Is it sleek portability? A pattern which catches the eye as well as the heart? A design that is as avant-garde as any fashion accessory? A notebook which, when flashed, gets you into any club and lets you walk out with the girl of your dreams (or at least for the night)? If you answered yes to all the above, give yourself an A--for incredible optimism.

Though none of these sexy numbers come cheap (with the exception of the HP Compaq 2133), most likely, the only thing you are going to get is a second glance for having an unusual laptop in your hands. Colors are so last season, with the latest and most desirable going the extra mile by being the slimmest or having a unique patterned design. We took a look at what's available in the market and give you five good reasons why you should drool-protect your keyboard before reading on.

MacBook Air
What the ASUS Eee PC did for price, the MacBook Air did for design. By working with Intel to create a new class of low-profile processors, Apple unleashed an impossibly slim laptop which wowed the world when it was first unveiled coming out of a manila envelope.

Yes, we know about the ridiculous compromises in features. We have also heard of the USB port which defies all but a standard-sized USB connector. But they all fly from the mind when one sets eyes on the sleek aluminum chassis. If there was ever a zen laptop, then the MacBook Air is about as close as you can get. Don't take our word for it. When the competition starts touting words like MacBook Air killer, Apple knew it had a winner.

HP Compaq 2133
Imagine the MacBook Air, make it shorter and thicker and you would probably end up with the HP Compaq 2133, or better known as the HP Mini-Note. The first sub-12-inch laptop from the US maker, the metal body has no visible screws or panels to spoil its aesthetic appeal.

We're not sure if looks were the original intent, though, as HP claims that the design was aimed at making the unit tamper-proof (i.e. no user upgrades allowed). Nonetheless, we love the acrylic-reinforced LCD and large keyboard, which makes it one of the few mini-notebooks that won't give finger cramps from typing anything longer than an email.

LG P300
This one's for the gamers. For too long we have been marginalized and forced to choose between sleek portability or gaming prowess when it came to laptops and, by jove, we've had enough. Fortunately, before we go up in arms outside PC manufacturers' headquarters demanding action, the LG P300 came and saved the day.

With similar dimensions to the ThinkPad X300, the P300 doesn't include an optical drive. Instead, it holds a gaming-grade Nvidia GeForce 8600M GS which is competent enough to play even the resource-intensive Crysis, as long as one is not too fussy about high resolutions and textures. It helps that the purple tiger stripe design on the top cover is especially eye-catching, though the jury is still out as to whether the look is a little too loud.

IdeaPad U110
Lenovo has come a long way since the boxy Bento-like ThinkPads. The IdeaPad range is a consumer-class lineup that aims to please the eye, which the latest U110 fits the bill perfectly. The 11.1-inch laptop comes in a choice of black or red which has a vine-patterned texture on its top cover which makes it look like an intricate work of art.

But looks is not its only forte. Lenovo has tried to pack as many features as possible under the hood. From the bezel-less screen to its 5.1-channel audio system and face-recognition Webcam, this is one laptop which seeks to impress from all angles. Granted, the battery life with the four-cell is a mere 2 hours, but fortunately there are extended battery options available.

Sony VAIO TZ series
A lot of thought was put into the design of Sony's TZ series. From the slim, LED-backlit screen to the tilt of the keyboard, the Japanese company did all it could to ensure that this laptop is not only a pleasure to behold, but a joy to use.

Available in several colors as well as a choice of Solid State Drives, this 11.1-inch number is one of the few which didn't sacrifice features or usability in its bid for portability. The keyboard keys are similar to those on the MacBook, which makes it easy to type on. It also has excellent battery life even with the standard cell, while the extended battery actually lifts the unit from the rear and gives it a nice tilt. Though some have reported that the build quality could be a little more solid, we feel that for the frequent traveler this is almost a must-have accessory to carry around.

Software Server Revisited

After you've added many files to your software virtual server (see the previous Software Server tip), it can take a while for people to find their desired software package since there are so many available. The solution is to separate your software into categories, but if you have software category folders and standard software folders intermixed, people still will have problems finding their desired software. So, precede software category folders with an exclamation point, apostrophe, or some other character that would force a sort to place category folders before standard software folders in a folder listing.

Check the Size of Your Expansion Cards

Before purchasing expansion cards for your PC (such as a new video card, a new drive interface card, etc.), it may be wise to get the size of the card and compare it to how much room your motherboard design has allotted for the card. Yes, all PCI slots have the same connectors, but the room between the PCI slot and, say, your CPU chip (with a fan on top!), may not accommodate larger cards! For example, some motherboards can not take the combination of the Matrox Millennium II (c) and the Diamond Monster 3D (c) cards due to lack of space. It's no fun to change out motherboards just to get a new expansion card to fit, but it does happen.

Drive Defragmenters - Not All The Same

It is generally known that in order to optimize your hard drive's speed and its life, you need to defragment the drives often. This places file contents closer to each other on the HD instead of spreading out information. Drive defragmenters are not all the same, however, and the numbers they provide can be dramatically different.

For a test case, I used a Win95 system and checked two drive partitions - a 1.63 gb partition and a 1.17 gb partitions. I tested Microsoft's OSR1 Win95 Defragmenter and Norton Utilities' V2.0 Win95 Defragmenter, SpeedDisk.

1.63 gb partition
Microsoft reported 1% fragmentation
Norton reported 3% fragmentation

A 2% difference. Which one do you believe?

1.17 gb partition
Norton reported a 7% fragmentation
Microsoft reported a 0% fragmentation

Again, which is the correct number? With differences like these, there is no way to tell. However, because of the differences and possible high fragmentation percentage, I would recommend defragging the drives in these scenarios.

Windows XP Firewall Explained - How Good Is It?

Windows XP comes built-in with a firewall, and if you are running Service Pack 2, it is turned on by default.

Although Windows XP's firewall is certainly better than nothing, you should strongly consider acquiring another firewall to work on top of, or replace (recommended!) the firewall that comes with Windows XP.

• Windows XP's firewall filters inbound traffic only. This means that if somehow your computer gets attacked, such as by spyware, it could open holes in your machine for it to communicate with the outside world. This can potentially lead to system crashes or identity theft.
• Windows XP's firewall lacks more advanced features that can help protect your computer. Some firewalls can determine that a computer is repeatedly trying to attack your machine, and it will eventually block all traffic from the attacker. Also, some firewalls can prevent you from accessing sites known to host suspicious activity.
• Some software programs may seem too 'chatty', constantly communicating with a remote computer. This may be to check and see whether or not updates to a piece of software are available. Sometimes, however, this communication may be merely to display advertisements or communicate usage statistics to the software manufacture. While not directly supported by Windows XP's firewall, many other firewall programs can be configured on an application-by-application basis to prevent this needless chatter.

HDD User's Guide --- Preface

Computer systems are now in every aspect of our lives. This means that reliability is more important than ever before. Also, as computer-related technology progresses, the volume of data being handled has greatly increased. Hard disk drives (HDDs) have become very important in computer systems.

Today, any degradation in HDD reliability may severely affect not only computer users but also society as a whole.

To meet the changes in the market and social demand, we have pursued the development and production of very high capacity, high performance HDDs. In addition to high performance, we have increased the reliability of our HDDs, as shown in the figure below.

HDDs are precision devices, and careless handling may cause them to fail or may destroy the data they contain. However, the performance and reliability of HDDs are guaranteed as long as the HDDs are used under the specified environmental conditions. There is no need to be overly concerned about their handling.

This guide provides the information needed to use HDDs in an appropriate environment and to further improve the reliability of computer systems including HDDs.

Lab Notebook Tips

Need for Notebook

A lab notebook provides evidence of an inventor’s conception of an invention and the steps taken to reduce the invention to practice. It becomes a permanent record of the date of invention, which can be invaluable in patent contests.

What to Include

Detail is critical. Record:

• When the idea was formed, and whose idea it was
• The problem the idea solves
• A description of how the idea can be implemented
• Objective and rationale of any experiment conducted
• Purpose of experiment or test
• What was done, when it was done, and who did it
• Results (positive or negative)
• Conclusions drawn
• Plans for future experiments, with protocols
• Key to abbreviations and special terms used-in context, in a table, or in a glossary
• Related activities such as conferences and creation of test equipment
• Lab meeting discussions-with record of who made what suggestions
• Descriptions of tests, including

o test results and explanation
o preferred operating conditions
o control conditions
o operable and preferred ranges of conditions
o alternate specific materials
o photographs or sketches of the results or the test device
o raw data from recording instruments
o drawings
o charts
o computer printouts
o any other supporting data
o references to any document too large to include in notebook, e.g., engineering drawings. Include number, title, date, and short description of what it depicts.

Include only factual data. Avoid opinion or speculation about the usefulness, quality, etc. of the invention or the research project.

How to Manage Your Notebook

• Use a bound book. If loose sheets are used, number them consecutively, then date and sign each page, and have each page witnessed.
• Keep your notebook intact. Don’t remove pages or affixed material.
• Make entries in chronological order-on the same day as the event. If this is impossible, enter the information and indicate when the actual work was done.
• Use ink to avoid any question about alteration and to prevent tampering.
• Use pages in consecutive order, and try not to leave empty spaces. If you do leave empty space, draw cross-diagonal lines through the blank area and date it.
• Don’t modify previous entries later. If a new drawing or new data is required, it should be entered under a new date and cross-referenced to the earlier entry.
• Make entries directly in your notebook; don’t make notes on scraps of paper to be recopied.
• Sign and date every page as completed (see below for more on signatures).
• Indicate the name of the person working with you in connection with each entry. If someone else makes an entry in the notebook, he or she should date and sign the entry.
• Permanently affix items such as photos, small drawings, computer printouts, etc. Sign and date the attached materials so your signature crosses both the affixed item and the notebook page.
  

Signatures in the Notebook

• Sign and date each entry in the notebook, using the complete date, including the year. On the inside front cover of the notebook, sign and enter the beginning date of the notebook.
• All the contributors should sign joint work. The text should establish who is responsible for each aspect.
• Following the description and illustration of an idea in the notebook, a witness who will not be named as a co-inventor and who is not working on the project should sign and date the entry. A statement similar to the following should precede the signature: “Read and understood.
• The first reduction to practice should be demonstrated to an independent witness, and he or she should sign and date a statement similar to the following: “Performance observed and understood
  
• The witness should sign and date the entries as soon as possible, preferably the same day, but they can be reviewed and acknowledged on a periodic basis.
  

Storing the Lab Notebook

• Keep notebooks in a central location while not in use-preferably in a fireproof safe or filing cabinet.
• Catalog notebooks. Assign a number to each notebook-in consecutive order within the lab or consecutively to each scientist.
• When complete, the notebook should be stored in a secure, central repository, along with corresponding patent applications and/or issued patents.
• Keep notebooks relating to patented inventions for the life of the patent plus six years.