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TOP STORY Readers respond on controlling reboots By Brian Livingston Patching Windows is good, and rebooting right after you've patched is good, too. But if you're right in the middle of something, seeing Windows reboot when you didn't expect it can be very bad. My top story on Mar. 2 revealed several little-known settings you can use to control how often Windows reminds you to reboot after installing patches — or whether you want any reminders at all. The problem is that, by default, Windows reminds you every 10 minutes. And, if you happen to be typing in some application and you press the N key when the reminder window pops up, you've launched Windows' Restart Now option. There's no way out of it. I want to re-emphasize the importance of rebooting before and after installing patches. I've heard warnings about the way patches can leave Windows in an "unstable state" until it's rebooted. (No one's given me any verifiable examples of this, though.) Having said that it's important to reboot, it's also true that unexpected reboots are simply unacceptable. Microsoft should never have programmed the reboot-reminder dialog box (see illustration) to grab the keyboard focus and launch instantly from an accidental key press. Clicking the Restart Now button with a mouse, or pressing Alt+N, should be the only ways the reboot process gets kicked off. If it's so important for a PC to be rebooted before and after patches are applied, Microsoft should make this a requirement for every such patch. Windows users should be informed that their applications must be closed before patching begins, so no work is lost. By the same token, if a user is so deeply involved in a project that Restart Later is his or her choice, the operating system must absolutely respect that choice. Patching to defend against a Windows security hole is a great idea, but it's not worth losing all the windows you may have had open on your busy Desktop. This is why I revealed in the last issue several settings you can change to specify how often the reboot reminder pops up after patches are installed. As always, my readers have even more ideas about how you can take control of the reboot process. Let's get started, shall we? Remote Desktop causes unexpected restarts Tony Hunt found that Windows itself isn't the only culprit in rebooting your PC without adequate warning:
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Windows Secrets NewsletterIssue 71 2006.03.16 Contents (Scroll down to Index) TOP STORY Readers respond on controlling reboots WINDOWS GIZMOS New ways to record, watch, store media INDEX OF REVIEWS Best picks for LCDs, digicams, smartphones SECURITY BASELINE Linksys releases WRT54GL firewall for add-ons WOODY'S WINDOWS Vista 5308: through a glass, darkly PATCH WATCH More than just two patches this week OVER THE HORIZON Windows flaws from server to client PERIMETER SCAN Perfect your patch process WACKY WEB WEEK Hacked Roomba plays Frogger in traffic YOUR PREFERENCES About your subscription Newsletter Control Panel Windows Secrets home page How to subscribe Change your delivery address Change your preferences Access past free issues Access past paid issues Upgrade to paid version Search for info (WinFind) Submit a Windows tip Get subscription help How to unsubscribe Circulation:over 140,000 |
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Symantec Ghost triggers reboots, too Many products that automatically update themselves request (or require) a reboot to complete their installation processes. Regardless of the trigger, the end user usually does play a role in the process. Brian Harder, who works in a health-care organization, reports that unexpected reboots affected his users' Great Plains Dynamics billing applications built on Microsoft's SQL Server:
How to schedule reboots on stand-alone PCs In my Mar. 2 article, I described how to completely disable reboot reminders or, preferably, re-schedule them to occur every 12 hours, so (if you forget to reboot) you'll see a reminder the next morning, when you're not actively typing. I explained the procedure for users of Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), a free Microsoft program for distributing patches. But reader Charles Little offers a way XP Pro users can re-schedule the reminders without WSUS:
Use Task Scheduler for planned reboots Andy Helsby recommends a way to make patch-install reboots fairly painless -- even when you can't physically be present at a server that needs rebooting:
To send us more information about controlling the Windows patch-reboot process, or to send us a tip on any other subject, visit WindowsSecrets.com/contact. Brian Livingston is editor of the Windows Secrets Newsletter and the coauthor of Windows 2000 Secrets, Windows Me Secrets, and eight other books. |
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FORWARDING INSTRUCTIONS Please share this information with your friends You're encouraged to refer your friends and colleagues to this free newsletter. Because most e-mail programs don't correctly display a formatted message that's been forwarded, simply call people's attention to the permanent Web address of this issue: WindowsSecrets.com/comp/060316. |
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WINDOWS GIZMOS New ways to record, watch, store media  In
your home, PC and living-room technology continues
to blur together. And when you're on the go, new portable devices make it easy to take your data anywhere and everywhere.HP introduces a hi-def DVD burner for your home theater rack, and BenQ releases a digital projector small enough to fit in your hand. To take all that digital media with you, Seagate introduces a portable, personal storage device built around a 5GB hard drive small enough to fit in your pocket.  Watch HDTV
and burn it on DVDsNestled amongst your home-theatre equipment, you might never guess the HP z556 is a powerful Windows Media Center PC. The unit decodes over-the-air high-def signals and records to an ample 250GB hard drive. The internal DVD drive (standard, not high-def) is compatable with both flavors of R and RW DVDs and supports Lightscribe to etch a label image onto any DVD you burn. The z556 also sports 7.1 audio output. HP z556 Digital Entertainment Center  Palm-sized projector:
business or pleasure?The BenQ CP120 projector offers big-screen punch. But weighing only 2.9 pounds (1.3kg), it won't break your back hauling it to your next meeting. The CP120 runs at a native 1024x768 resolution and supports both 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios. Built-in wireless 802.11 a/b/g allows you to run presentations from a laptop without hooking up any cables. While the CP120 is clearly aimed at business professionals, its tiny size makes it small enough to serve as a modest portable home-theater system. BenQ CP120 Micro-Portable Wi-Fi Projector  Take it with you
in a Seagate portableThe Seagate Pocket Drive lets you take all of your data (or at least 5GB of it) anywhere you want. With a 2MB cache and a USB 2.0 connection, the disk has room and speed to spare for backup files, music collections, videos, or just about anything else. The retractable USB cable provides power, so you don't need to carry a bulky AC adaptor. It's a bit larger than your average Flash drive, but at roughly 90 bucks, it's one of the cheapest and fastest portable storage devices around. Seagate Pocket 5 GB Hard Drive —————— For non-U.S. sources of information on a product reviewed above, enter the model name into a search box at one of the following links: Canada / U.K. / Elsewhere Windows Gizmos reviews only recently released products that create new market categories. Once enough competing products have emerged for comparative tests to be conducted, the results will be summarized below in the Index of Reviews. |
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INDEX OF REVIEWS Best picks for LCDs, digicams, smartphones  LCDs
are getting wider and cheaper, thin is "phat" for digital cameras, and smartphones
threaten to make laptops, cell phones, and MP3 players extinct.Slim LCDs continue gaining in popularity as screens get bigger and prices get smaller. Strong monitor contenders from Gateway, Apple, Dell, and HP take the top honors in the latest reviews. In the digital camera space, both Canon and Casio boast two models that have claimed the top ratings this month. And, when it comes to smart phones, PalmOne and T-Mobile prove they're no dummies. 20- TO 24-INCH LCDs LCD competition continues heating up 
 Handheld Computing and Digital Camera Magazines give Apple's 20" Widescreen Cinema Display a near-perfect score. Like other products named after a fruit, however, you'll pay a hefty premium for this monitor. Meanwhile, Dell's 24" LCD, top-rated by CNET and CPU Magazine, is priced comparably to the Apple but is considerably larger. For big-screen fanatics with smaller budgets, Gateway's 21" widescreen LCD and HP's 20" LP2065 come in a couple hundred dollars below Apple and Dell's offerings. Apple Cinema Display (Handheld Computing, Digital Camera Mag) Dell UltraSharp 2405FPW (CPU Magazine, CNET) Gateway FPD2185W (PC Mag, Extreme Tech) HP LP2065 (Maximum PC) Link to all ratings and full reviews ULTRACOMPACT CAMERAS Casio and Canon crush camera competition 
 Canon's Powershot SD500 (photo 1) has earned top ratings in three different tests, but the newer SD550 Digital Elph is coming on strong, already winning an Editors' Choice from PC Magazine. In the Casio lineup, the EX-Z750 (photo 2) boasts a little more pixel-pushing horsepower than its sibling, the EX-S500. The 750 has earned top scores in two tests, but the 500 is considerably more compact and stylish. Canon Powershot SD500 (Maximum PC, Digital Photography, Laptop Mag) Casio Exilim EX-Z750 (Handheld Computing, PC World) Casio Exilim EX-S500 (Digital Camera Magazine) Canon PowerShot SD550 Digital Elph (PC Mag) Link to all ratings and full reviews SMART PHONES PalmOne and T-Mobile rule in smart phones 
 The PalmOne's Treo650 (photo 1) remains one of the most popular picks for smart phones, but T-Mobile has some strong offerings as well. T-Mobile's SDA (photo 2) is the most compact of the new entries, while the Sidekick II offers a slick, landscape-oriented screen and wide, thumb-powered keyboard. All three devices combine Wi-Fi, media playback, PDA functionality, and e-mail with a host of extras. PalmOne Treo 650 (CNET, Wired Test, Cell Phone Handbook) T-Mobile SDA (Mobile Tech, PC Mag) T-Mobile Sidekick II (Mobile Mag, Cell Phone Handbook) Link to all ratings and full reviews —————— For non-U.S. sources of information on a product reviewed above, enter the model name into a search box at one of the following links: Canada / U.K. / Elsewhere The Index of Reviews summarizes only head-to-head comparative tests by respected industry reviewers, not individual ratings of single products. |
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THE SECURITY BASELINE Linksys releases WRT54GL firewall for add-ons By Brian Livingston The popular Linksys WRT54G wireless router/firewall, which has been featured in the Security Baseline for months due to its top ratings, has undergone a version change that may affect power users. Since its introduction in 2003, the Linksys WRT54G has run a version of the Linux operating system. Because of the openness of this OS, various independent parties have written extensive add-ons for the router. These firmware upgrades enhance the device with features like bridging and Radius authentication, as explained in a Wikipedia listing. Version 5.0 of the WRT54G, released near the end of 2005, replaced Linux with a proprietary operating system called VXWorks. This lowered Linksys's costs, since the new OS means only half as much system RAM and Flash memory is required in the unit. But this made a great deal of third-party add-on software incompatible with version 5.0. The bottom line: If you plan to use the firewall right out of the box, without installing third-party add-on software, the WRT54G is fine. But if you're in the habit of replacing the firmware, you should instead purchase the new Linksys Wireless-G WRT54GL (the L is for Linux). This downward-compatible model currently has a street price about $10 higher than the WRT54G. For an analysis of which software is compatible with which versions of the router, see the Wi-Fi Planet tutorial. For more on all things Linksys, visit LinksysInfo.org, an independent site. My thanks to reader Bob McDonald, who'll receive a gift certificate for a book, CD, or DVD of his choice for his research assistance on the WRT54GL. The Security Baseline as it stands Based on the latest published tests, the best four products to give your PC comprehensive protection against hackers are (1) a Linksys hardware firewall, (2) ZoneAlarm Security Suite 6 (or Panda Platinum Internet Security, which recently received a high rating in PC World tests), (3) Webroot Spy Sweeper for antispyware protection, and (4) an update-management tool of your choice. See details below.
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HERE'S A TIP You're reading the free version of the Windows Secrets Newsletter Subscribers to the paid version receive additional information in each issue. Some of the extras this week are: 
Woody Leonhard / Woody's Windows. You get a pointed look at Microsoft's
operating system through our guru's flat screen:• Vista 5308: through a glass, darkly • What you see — and what we'll get • Virtual folders morph into saved searches • Menus become a hidden feature 
Chris Mosby / Over the Horizon.
The steps you need to take NOW to protect yourself, because patches aren't yet available for some known threats:• Windows flaws from server to client • IIS can help hackers break in • Visual Studio flaw could threaten developers • IE issue with Java applets causes DoS 
Susan Bradley / Patch Watch. We tell you which official patches have problems and,
more importantly, how you can work around them:• More than just two patches this week • Will Office patches prevent the next worm? • Outlook patch fixes MS06-003 problem • Hotmail patch for IE7 beta is troubling 
Ryan Russell / Perimeter Scan.
How you can use free or commercial software to automate patching and upgrading,
whether you're responsible for 5 PCs or 50,000:• Perfect your patch process • Fully automatic, or semi-auto? • Antivirus apps firing out of control • Reboot early and often Paid subscribers can access all old and new paid newsletter content Make a contribution to support our research into Windows and you'll immediately be able to read and search through scores of valuable articles. In addition, paid subscribers are entitled to download valuable content that we license for you at least once every calendar quarter. To upgrade, simply make a contribution of any amount you choose If you do this by March 29, 2006, you'll instantly be sent the full, paid version of today's newsletter. To upgrade to the paid version of Windows Secrets, please visit WindowsSecrets.com/upgrade. Thanks in advance. |
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ELECTRONIC BOOKSHELF — new e-books from the editors 
Spam-Proof Your E-Mail Address, 2nd Ed.This 32-page e-book by Brian Livingston gives you step-by-step instructions that can eliminate 97% of the spam that would otherwise clog your e-mail account. You could call it "Livingston's Spam Secrets." The PDF-format e-book is the result of months of experiments and tests we conducted. We now receive little or no spam to the addresses we used as guinea pigs. These tests show that you can actually reduce your volume of spam to practically nothing, not just battle an unstoppable and ever-growing flood. The methods we describe work with Windows, Apple, and Linux and don't require any filters or block lists — but you can use those in addition to the book's techniques, if you wish. More info |
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USEFUL LINKS The business of specialized search Businesses that offer poor search features — or none at all — may be missing out on more than they think. Two competing firms offer free, customized search engines that may fit your needs. (By Brian Livingston, Datamation) More info The state of the silent PC A small manufacturing company recently started shipping a new kind of PC case that emits almost no audible noise whatsoever. Its components stay cool without the need for fans of any kind. (By Brian Livingston, Datamation) More info |
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WACKY WEB WEEK 
Hacked Roomba
plays Frogger in trafficThe wacky guys at Make Magazine must have had way-y-y too much time on their hands last week. Not only did they retrofit one of those Roomba robotic vacuums so it could be remote-controlled via Bluetooth. Then they covered it in green cloth and played Frogger with it late at night on a busy street in Austin, Texas. You remember Frogger — that '80s video game in which a lowly amphibian must hop its way across a freeway without getting flattened? It must be much more exciting when real cars are whizzing by. It's hard to believe that the magazine would risk actual drivers' lives in a stunt like this. So the photos must have been faked. Well, judge for yourself. See the photos |
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ABOUT YOUR SUBSCRIPTION The Windows Secrets Newsletter is published twice a month on alternating Thursdays. Issues appear 2 days and 16 days after Microsoft Patch Tuesday (the 2nd Tuesday of each month). Only the first issue of the month is published in August and December to allow vacation breaks. A short "news update" is sometimes published between regular newletters. Publisher: WindowsSecrets.com LLC, 300 Queen Anne Ave. N. #456, Seattle, WA 98109 USA. Vendors, please send no unsolicited packages to this address (readers' letters are fine). Editor: Brian Livingston. Contributing Editors: Susan Bradley, Woody Leonhard, Chris Mosby, Ryan Russell. Research Director: Vickie Stevens. Program Director: Brent Scheffler. Trademarks: Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. The Windows Secrets series of books is published by Wiley Publishing Inc. The Windows Secrets Newsletter, WindowsSecrets.com, WinFind, Windows Gizmos, Index of Reviews, Security Baseline, Briefing Session, Windows Patch Watch, Perimeter Scan, Update Management, and Wacky Web Week are trademarks and service marks of WindowsSecrets.com LLC. All other marks are the trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. How to subscribe: Anyone may subscribe to this newsletter by visiting WindowsSecrets.com/info.  |
