Windows Newsletter #207
August 21, 2009 by admin
Welcome to the latest edition of my free Windows Newsletter.
I hope you find it helpful and please do leave feedback at the end of this page in the “comments” section!
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The Windows XP Task Manager Utility
Task Manager provides information about programs and processes running on your computer. It also displays the most commonly used performance measures for processes.
You can use Task Manager to monitor key indicators of your computer’s performance. You can see the status of the programs that are running and end programs that have stopped responding. You can also assess the activity of running processes using as many as fifteen parameters, and see graphs and data on CPU and memory usage.
www.updatexp.com/windows-xp-task-manager.html
The Windows XP DirectX Diagnostic Tool
The DirectX Diagnostic Tool is designed to help you troubleshoot DirectX-related issues.
It is also handy for finding out what graphics card you have installed and other general system information such as type and speed of the processor.
www.updatexp.com/directx-diagnostic-tool.html
Windows XP chkdsk Tool
This tool creates and displays a status report for a disk based on the file system. Chkdsk also lists and corrects errors on the disk. Used without parameters, chkdsk displays the status of the disk in the current drive.
It is a tool that all users should run occasionally to check the “high level” file integrity of their hard drives.
www.updatexp.com/windows-xp-chkdsk.html
The DVD Decoder Plugin For Windows Media Player
Need to play DVDs on your computer?
You can do it cheaply by purchasing a small plug-in that can turn Windows Media Player into a DVD player!
www.updatexp.com/dvd-decoder-media-player-windows.html
Defrag Podcast: Windows 7 MultiTouch
In this episode the guys from DEFRAG look at multitouch in Windows 7.
What are all the multitouch gestures? Will there be more? What is Microsoft’s thinking behind multitouch? How/when will I see multitouch on my desktop?
They answer all these questions and more.
http://blog.marcliron.com/windows-7/multitouch
Windows Updates For August 2009
Microsoft released a series of security updates for Windows and Office on August 11th 2009.
The following is a summary of these security updates.
http://blog.marcliron.com/security-issues/windows-updates-for-august-2009
XP Mode vs. Med-V
Strictly one for the “techies” reading this newsletter.
With the release of the XP Mode Release Candidate, there has been a lot of talk and confusion around when XP Mode is a ideal solution and when you should look at Med-V as a solution.
http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/springboard/archive/2009/08/08/xp-mode-vs-med-v.aspx
Panda Internet Security 2010
Panda Internet Security 2010 is a complete security suite that lets you use the Internet with complete peace of mind. It protects you from:
Viruses / Spyware / Rootkits / Hackers / Online fraud / Identity theft and all other Internet threats!
http://blog.marcliron.com/tech-reviews/panda-internet-security-2010
SpinRite
Is your hard drive starting to play up? Then STOP and read this.
Famous tech and security guru Steve Gibson has a utility that may save you getting into the data loss territory!
Use SpinRite to check for and repair any obvious read-trouble on the drive and perform low level tests like data pattern testing, defect scrubbing, data relocation and unreadable sector repair and recovery.
There is nothing else like this on the market today.
Microsoft IE 8 Shines in Web Browser Security Test
Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 8 rated tops among five browsers tested by NSS Labs for effectiveness in protecting against malware and phishing attacks — though NSS Labs acknowledges Microsoft paid for the tests.
http://threatpost.com/blogs/microsoft-ie-8-shines-web-browser-security-test-114
Microsoft Promising Office 2010 ‘Sandbox’ Security
Last week, Microsoft revealed more details about a new security feature in Office 2010, dubbed “Protected View,” that is designed to shut down the popular hacker tactic of feeding users rigged Word, Excel and PowerPoint files.
www.computerworld.com/s/article/9136831/Microsoft_struts_Office_2010_sandbox_security
10 Cool Features to Look Forward to in Office 2010
With the release of the Office 2010 Technical Preview, details are finally starting to roll in. Deb Shinder highlights some of the features she thinks might make the new version worth the upgrade.
http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/10things/?p=900
Windows Live Movie Maker – Now Live!
Microsoft has taken the wraps of Windows Live Movie Maker, “the one-minute way to turn photos and videos into great-looking movies that are easy to share — for free”.
http://windowslive.com/desktop/moviemaker
You can read a review here:
http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/wlmm.asp
You can watch a “demo video” here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94lYVLPBXpg
Listen to a Podcast: Windows Live Movie Maker:
http://marcusatmicrosoft.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!503D1D86EBB2B53C!3674.entry
Using Voice Recognition in Windows Vista
A useful tool within Windows Vista that most folks don’t know is there.
http://www.instantvista.com/windows-vista-voice-recognition-tutorial.html
Windows Help and How-to Centres
See what’s possible with Windows Vista:
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/windows/en-US/ideacenter.mspx
See what’s possible with Windows XP:
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/windows/en-US/usingwindowsxp.mspx
Windows XP Support Ends in 2009 and 2014
2 important dates for ALL users of Windows XP
http://blog.marcliron.com/windows-xp/windows-xp-support-ends-in-2009-and-2014
Who Do I Host My Tech Websites With?
I get asked this all the time, especially when folks realise that I gave up my full time job as an IT manager due to the revenue these websites generate me each month!
www.marcliron.com/my-sitebuildit-story.html
Microsoft Retail Stores are Hiring
Yes its true, Microsoft are opening retail stores in the US. Some even next door to existing Apple stores!
http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/08/microsoft-retail-stores-are-hiring.ars
Coupons and Discounts
For residents of the United States of America I have discounts and coupons from major hard ware and software vendors. Check back often as they change weekly:
# Software Discounts and Sony Computers
http://blog.marcliron.com/coupons
# Hewlett Packard (HP) Laptop, PC and Printer Discounts
http://blog.marcliron.com/hp-coupons
# Trial Software Downloads – Try before you buy
http://blog.marcliron.com/trial-software
Parting Words
There was some confusion over my offer to give the first 25 customers to purchase my current Windows Resource DVD, a FREE copy of my upcoming “What’s In Windows 7 Video/Handout package“. Everyone who has made a purchase WILL get a copy, and I am also extending the offer until the 31st August 2009 as many folks are on summer vacations at the moment.
The DVD page: www.marclironpublishing.com/dvd.html
See you on the 4th September 2009 for the next newsletter.
Enjoy!
Kind Regards
Marc Liron
Microsoft MVP – Windows Desktop Experience
2004/2005/2006/2007/2008/2009
Comments
16 Responses to “Windows Newsletter #207”
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Marc,
Congratulations on the new newsletter. It is masterful, but only what we have come to expect from you, having already spoiled us!
Michael
Great to have you back again delivering the newsletters. I wondered what was missing from my mailbox.
marc,
welcome back, your informative newsletters, are a welcome addition to my
computer tech database, its computer people like yourself that
put everyone at their best from a tech perspective, and give timely
advise on a host of issues that are ever changing…..
Outstanding ! Welcom back…
I have always liked the way you put technical information into language i can understand.
Many newsletters like this today are so full of misinformation that they are just not worth the time to try and read, (to much info – or not enough.)
That is why i have came to trust your information on Windows for so long…
Thanks,,and glad you are up and running….
Wes
Hey Mark nice to see you back long time no see. As usual your news letters have something for everyone only thing i wish i didnt see was the up and comming end of support for windows xp. awwww what a shame im dreading having to change to another operating system in the future as xp has been in my opinion the very best operating system by microsoft due to its user friendlyness.
Thanks Marc, didn’t realize how much I missed ur newsletter….Blessings
as a grey haired computer novice, i appreciate your easy to follow. easy to understand, directions. i have missed your sage advice, and welcome you back.
as a long time recipient of your communications, i trust that the health problems you experienced in you immediate family have come to a successful conclusion.
Great to have you back, have missed the good advise
I’m pleased to have your tech newsletter. I have lost Fred Langa to Windows Secrets,and Gizmo to Windows Secrets. I was a paid subscriber to Windows Secrets but have now discontinued using their newsletter as I found almost nothing in it of use to me. It is not directed to the home user and not to an XP user. Makes things complicated rather than simplifying them.
Great Job! Welcome back. Now I’llbe able to keep my computer running.
Gary
Welcome back…I wondered where you were! I like the layout.
Thank-God…Your Back !!!!!! I need to know everything about this Computer…
I’m still running WINDOWS XP I’m switching until I have to…
many of your looks look great, but sadly some will not allow viewing by Firefox -
how do I correct this….thanks Marc, glad to have you back
Hi Joan,
I test all my work in IE 8 and FF 3.5.x and all is OK.
Not sure why you are having problems… can you give me a specific example?
-Marc
Welcome back Marc. Good to see your newsletter’s once more. Your new live site looks great and so much info, will take me a month to get thro’ it all, Lol. Best of luck.
Marc:
I appreciate your newsletter. It contains much information that is useful to me.
Thanks