May 15, 2008
All readers are eligible for our bonus download
You have only until June 4 to get our exclusive, FREE, 20-page excerpt from the hilarious new book Delete This At Your Peril (left). Maxim magazine says the author's e-mail exchanges with Nigerian spammers are "brilliantly deranged." Read more »
Steal our links — no, really, we mean it
This week, we've made it easier for you to send your friends and associates links to all the topics we publish. You can even send your buddies — who aren't Windows Secrets subscribers at all — links to some of our paid content. Read more »
Keep XP fresh until Windows 7 arrives
When Windows XP was released, wireless routers were rare, few cell phones supported e-mail, and YouTube was just a gleam in some PayPal employees' eyes. But like a fabled perpetual motion machine, XP keeps on going and going — and if you follow some simple guidelines, the OS will keep running in top condition until Vista's successor is ready in 2010. Read more »
Windows rocks! The OS plays a Who classic
The next time someone tells you Windows is no fun, point them to this video of the OS's version of a classic by one of the greatest rock bands of all times. Read more »
One online notetaker outshines the competition
Whether you just need to do a little brainstorming or you're creating a multimedia scrapbook, one free notebook service makes collecting and sharing ideas a snap. Or keep things super-simple by recording your thoughts in plain text via two other useful Web apps. Read more »
More vulnerabilities found in Internet Explorer
There are no patches for two recently discovered Internet Explorer 7 security bugs, but you can defend against them. One of the exploits causes secure information to remain cached, and the other may make Javascript unsafe. Read more »
XP Service Pack 3 crashes HP's AMD-based PCs
Microsoft's latest — and last — service pack for Windows XP causes some systems that use AMD chipsets to reboot over and over again. The solution involves booting into Safe Mode or using the Recovery Console to disable a problematic driver. Read more »
May 8, 2008
Over 12,000 readers got a bonus — did you?
We offered last week a 20-page excerpt from the hilarious new book Delete This At Your Peril (left). Maxim magazine calls the work "brilliantly deranged." More than 12,000 Windows Secrets readers took advantage of our bonus download. Read more »
Make your PC difficult to steal, easy to recover
For little or no money, you can lower the chances that your computer will be targeted by thieves. Take a few simple steps now to make your notebook and desktop PCs easier to recover should they ever be lost. Read more »
Fred's departure triggers a torrent of 'thanks'
A stream of tributes pours in from readers following news of Fred Langa's retirement from tech writing. While we know we'll never be able to replace Fred's honest, reliable, and downright useful advice, we pledge to do our best to live up to the standard he set. Read more »
A Japanese take on full-body massages
Who doesn't love a massage chair? These vibrating wonders provide relaxation and stress relief while you watch your favorite TV show. And models with multiple settings give you a variety of rubdown styles: Swedish, deep tissue — and Japanese? Read more »
Rearrange your keyboard the free and easy way
When was the last time you accidentally hit your Caps Lock key AND SUDDENLY STARTED SHOUTING? Completely disabling the Caps Lock key — indeed, disabling or remapping almost any key on your keyboard — is easy when you use the free SharpKeys Registry editor. Read more »
Free tool roots out software vulnerabilities
Secunia's Personal Software Inspector identifies the applications on your PC in need of an update or replacement. The new desktop version of the online scanner spots problems in thousands of programs, which is a big step up from the dozens of apps supported by its Secunia Software Inspector predecessor. Read more »
May 1, 2008
Windows Secrets readers get a free e-book bonus
All subscribers, free and paid, are eligible through June 4 to download a 20-page excerpt from Delete This At Your Peril (left). In this hilarious book, the author replied to notorious Nigerian and Russian get-rich-quick spam, asking the perpetrators for more and more outrageous conditions. Read more »
Tune in May 6 for debate on Microsoft licensing
Craig Crossman's Computer America radio program, which is broadcast in the U.S. and Canada and on the Web, will carry a special program May 6 on the controversy over the clean-install feature in Windows Vista. You can listen in to the show and even submit questions you'd like the host to ask. Read more »
Thwart malware attacks by locking out bad sites
Bolster your antivirus, firewall, and antispyware protection by customizing the IP address manager built into Windows. Redirect ad servers and other undesirable addresses in Windows' Hosts file and update your unwanted-address list automatically for free with the HostsMan utility. Read more »
Checking IE7Pro's background gives a reader pause
It should take more than glowing reviews to convince you that a free program is trustworthy. Suspicions have been raised about the source of one of the free apps a column recently listed, but there appears to be no cause for concern. Read more »
All good things come to an end as Fred reboots
My final Windows Secrets column prompts some reflection and summation. Thirty years after getting my first PC, it's time for me to hang up my mouse. Read more »
Another reason to keep both hands on the wheel
The universe works in mysterious — and often entertaining — ways. There are a few things fate clearly doesn't appreciate: polluters, chemically imbalanced celebrities, and race car drivers who celebrate their victories before they actually cross the finish line. Read more »
Five antivirus programs ace the PC-defense test
Avira Antivir and four commercial programs come out on top in tests of 37 antivirus packages. The big surprise: only one widely known brand made the list of the best protectors. Read more »
What you need to know before you install XP SP3
Windows XP Service Pack 3 will soon be available, but that doesn't mean every IT pro should rush out and install it on all XP systems. My philosophy is that while service packs should always be installed, they don't necessarily need to be added right away. XP SP3 is no different. Read more »
