Browse all Windows Secrets content
Content is listed below in reverse chronological order. Clicking on any title will take you to summaries of the articles for each newsletter, with links to the full article pages. Clicking any date will launch that issue in a new browser window.
Free subscribers: How to access all paid content
Looking for a topic? Search all content
The DIY guide to PC troubleshooting and repair
Top Story by Scott Dunn
The next time your computer acts up, drop the mouse, put down the phone, and use this troubleshooting checklist to find and fix the problem. Whether it's a slowdown, some strange behavior, or a total crash, a few basic troubleshooting tricks and tools may be all you need to get your PC back to peak performance.
Outlook corrupts HTML to text for some readers
Known Issues by Dennis O'Reilly
If you're unable to view the newsletter in HTML format, a fix is in the works. We've received reports from a handful of readers that Microsoft Outlook has spontaneously converted our HTML content into an unreadable form of plain text, and we're on the trail of a solution.
A suit you can recycle for spare change
Wacky Web Week
Most people return their used cans to the recycle center for pocket change. This guy uses them to enhance his wardrobe.
From paper to searchable PDF on the cheap 
Best Software by Becky Waring
You don't have to shell out $500 for software that converts scanned paper documents into searchable PDF or Office files. One of the three programs I tested is the clear winner in turning all your scanned images into fully indexed documents.
Seven uncommon keyboard shortcuts you'll love
Woody's Windows by Woody Leonhard
I have used Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, Ctrl+X, and other standard shortcut-key combinations for so long they now live in my subconscious. Recently, I discovered a handful of obscure-yet-useful keyboard shortcuts that I now use on a daily basis, and while you may already know about one or two of 'em, I bet a few of my favorites will come as a surprise to you.
Free tool identifies unsecure ActiveX controls
Perimeter Scan by Ryan Russell
If you use Internet Explorer 7, some of your ActiveX controls may make your system susceptible to a drive-by browser attack. Now you can find and disable these unsecured controls by running a free program, though you may not want to disable all of them.
Six days left to get secret Internet history
On the Way to the Web: The Secret History of the Internet and Its Founders (photo, left) won't be available in stores for weeks. But Windows Secrets readers can get the best chapters now, until July 2. —Brian Livingston, editorial director
Save time by creating folders in bunches
Top Story by Scott Dunn
Simplify file management by generating new folders from your right-click menu that automatically have the current date in the folder name. Run a four-line batch file from your context menu that creates whole hierarchies of folders that you name from the Command Prompt.
Readers reach out to help other readers
Known Issues by Dennis O'Reilly
Troubleshoot Windows glitches, show menus in Vista's Explorer, and supercharge your OS with a low-cost shareware tool. There's lots of support for development of a true Windows Secrets reader-to-reader forum, as shown by your reaction to last week's report on Brian's meeting with readers in China.
The only thing I think about more often than beer
Wacky Web Week
First impressions are always important. It's easy to be judged based on the brand of your shoes, the style of your clothes, or the scent of your cologne. According to this video, men now have one more thing to be judged on.
Get top-flight antivirus without spending a dime
Best Software by Scott Spanbauer
Protect yourself from viruses and other online threats while skipping the annual subscription fees. These three antivirus freebies may lack some of the costly bells and whistles (and associated system slowdowns) of commercial alternatives, but they stop malware unobtrusively.
Strengthen your privacy in Firefox 3
Pc Tune-up by Mark Joseph Edwards
Firefox does a good job of protecting your privacy online, but at least one of the new features in Firefox 3 might leave you exposed. A simple configuration tweak lets you browse in private, and a few great add-ons give the browser even more power.
The clock is ticking for service-pack testers
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
If you're using the release candidates for Vista SP1 and XP SP3, you face a June 30 deadline to convert to the final versions. For most beta testers, the transition is seamless, but some Vista SP1 testers may not be able to uninstall the service pack.
Get the secret history of the Internet
On the Way to the Web: The Secret History of the Internet and Its Founders (photo, left) won't be available in stores for weeks. But Windows Secrets readers can get the best chapters now.
Dig deeper to reveal the secrets of Firefox 3
Top Story by Scott Dunn
The latest version of the leading IE alternative is fresh off the assembly line, with revved-up performance and handy new features. Firefox 3's about:config settings let you fine-tune the browser to the perfect mix of speed and security.
There's more than one way to transfer big files
Known Issues by Dennis O'Reilly
Readers respond to Becky Waring's review of file-transfer services in her inaugural Best Software column with their own favorite transfer methods. File-splitting programs and alternative file-transfer services take the sting out of moving multi-gigabyte media files.
These chocolate eggs are definitely on a roll
Wacky Web Week
Who doesn't love a Cadbury Creme Egg? With their rich, chocolate shells and their caramel centers, they are a true seasonal classic.
The best deals for sending faxes online
Best Software by Becky Waring
Online fax services let you ditch your landline and fax machine and fax from anywhere via e-mail or the Web. The paperless office is not quite here, but three services in particular offer low-cost solutions that save a forest full of trees.
Help shape the future of the Windows interface
Woody's Windows by Woody Leonhard
Windows guru Long Zheng has undertaken an important project that may bring some consistency to the user interface in the next version of Windows. You can contribute by voting on the most egregious problems in the current Windows user interface in hopes that Windows 7 shows some improvements. Maybe.
The WS Security Baseline: your hardware firewall
Perimeter Scan by Ryan Russell
Your hardware firewall is your primary security defense, but today's products are also differentiated by their performance and functionality as wireless access points. I'll be updating the Windows Secrets Security Baseline over my next few columns, and today I focus on your first line of defense: the hardware firewall.
Get the secret history of the Internet
On the Way to the Web: The Secret History of the Internet and Its Founders (photo, left) won't be available in stores for weeks. But Windows Secrets readers can get the best chapters now.
Get our free search add-ins for Firefox and IE 7
Introduction by Brian Livingston
We're doing our part to make it easy for you to get the technical info you need about Microsoft Windows. We've developed for your use, absolutely free, two browser search add-ins that let you fetch articles not just from WindowsSecrets.com but also from an expert set of Windows-specific sites on the Web.
Free add-ons teach Windows Explorer new tricks
Top Story by Scott Dunn
You can choose from dozens of file managers to replace Windows Explorer — some of them are even free — but only the original is so closely integrated into the OS. Before you give Explorer the boot, check out some first-rate add-ons that turn Windows' tired file browser into the information manager of the future.
'Hi, I'm popping corn — can I call you back?'
Wacky Web Week
Microwaves have long been the standard appliance for popping popcorn. But what if you want to avoid those harmful rays that supposedly shrink your head if you stand too close? Or you may be somewhere with no access to a microwave and absolutely need your popcorn fix right this minute.
Two top defraggers speed your disk accesses
Best Software by Scott Spanbauer
Free, easy-to-use disk defragmenters and optimizers let you consolidate scattered files to maximize the performance of Windows XP and Vista. One program lets you select for yourself which files to reunite and move to the fastest areas of your drive, while the other utility makes the disk-optimization choices for you.
How reliable are antivirus lab tests?
Pc Tune-up by Mark Joseph Edwards
Several different labs conduct tests that pit antivirus solutions against various sets of malware circulating in the wilds of the Internet. Now questions are being raised about the effectiveness of the tests in representing real-world PC threats and how accurately they reflect an antivirus program's ability to prevent infections.
Windows XP Service Pack 3 gets official fixes
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
The repeating reboots caused by XP SP3 on non-Intel systems have been quelled, but there's still no rush to install the OS's last service pack. Symantec's FAQ addresses concerns with both XP SP3 and Vista SP1, while Microsoft's Knowledge Base article avoids singling out AMD processors.
Get the secret history of the Internet
Bonus Download
On the Way to the Web: The Secret History of the Internet and Its Founders (photo, left) won't be available in stores for weeks. But Windows Secrets readers can get the best chapters now.
Hong Kong readers: meet with me on June 15
Introduction by Brian Livingston
For many moons, I've wanted to hold a series of free seminars for Windows Secrets readers in various cities of the world. I don't really have an entire series worked out yet, but I'm doing kind of a trial run by offering a meeting with newsletter subscribers on June 15 in a single city: Hong Kong.
Outlook Web Access corrupts HTML attachments
Top Story by Scott Dunn
The "Safe HTML" filter in Microsoft's Outlook Web Access for Exchange Server deletes code from HTML attachments without warning. Microsoft claims the filtering protects users by removing malicious elements, but the deletions can ruin a collaborative project and the "feature" isn't present in any other Microsoft mail products.
XP Service Pack 3: not yet ready for prime time
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
The growing list of XP SP3-related glitches being encountered by users should give pause to anyone thinking of downloading and installing the update. If you've kept XP patched from week to week, there's presently no clear advantage to implementing the OS's latest service pack, though you'll want to do so eventually.
You want me to spell what?
Wacky Web Week
As exciting television goes, spelling bees aren't more than a notch or two above watching Congressional debates on CSPAN. They may lack the grimaces of mixed-martial-arts contestants, but in recent years the pre-teen contestants of the Scripps National Spelling Bee have supplied some high-level drama — and hilarious bloopers.
Transfer mammoth files reliably for free
Best Software by Becky Waring
File-transfer services make it easy and relatively reliable to exchange multi-gigabyte files with family, friends, or co-workers. Xdrive and TransferBigFiles top the list of free file-transfer services, though each of the two imposes some limitations.
The hardware way to boost your productivity
Woody's Windows by Woody Leonhard
You might think that my favorite PC timesaver would be a souped-up computer, a super-secret utility, or a settings tweak that makes Windows run at warp speed. Nope. The tool that speeds my workday like no other is my ancient, indestructible Northgate keyboard — and while these babies have been out of production for years, I know how you can get your hands on a close approximation.
Take the mystery out of network-traffic analysis
Perimeter Scan by Ryan Russell
The free TCPView utility shows which programs are responsible for which network connections. Free up bandwidth and stay safe by identifying the network links that you don't need or that jeopardize your security.
XP Service Pack 3 problems require a news update
Introduction by Brian Livingston
We usually skip publication on any 5th Thursdays that come around (such as May 29), but serious problems involving Service Pack 3 for Windows XP have made us work overtime to bring you today's special report. Contributing editor Susan Bradley has written an out-of-cycle Patch Watch column specifically designed to bring you the facts. She encourages you today (as she's stated in previous columns) to wait on installing XP SP3 if you don't have some urgent need for it.
Norton software conflicts with Windows XP SP3
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
Antivirus software from Symantec Corp. may cause the installation of Service Pack 3 for XP to corrupt the Windows Registry by adding unnecessary keys. Symantec advises users to disable the SymProtect security feature of its products before applying XP SP3.
A numbers game set to a catchy tune
Wacky Web Week
Math. For some, it's nothing but numbers and endless frustration. For others, it's a universal language. And for a few gifted individuals, math is a reason to sing.
All readers are eligible for our bonus download
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."
XP SP3 triggers false positives in security apps
Top Story by Scott Dunn
Installing Windows XP Service Pack 3 can cause your anti-malware programs to report the presence of Trojans and keyloggers that aren't there. The false positives have blocked important system files in some cases, and in others they have misled users into reinstalling XP.
Readers offer more ways to keep XP fresh
Known Issues by Dennis O'Reilly
A better way to clear out temp folders, a great all-purpose Windows cleaner, and more free online storage top your suggestions for giving XP a new lease on life. The question remains: Who benefits when Microsoft's only real competition is with itself?
Mobile phones have come a long, long way
Wacky Web Week
Who hasn't rummaged through their pants pocket or purse looking for their ultra-sleek, super-tiny cell phone and longed for a return to the days when using a mobile phone meant lugging around a 2-pound battery pack and holding a brick to your face?
Top free tools for rooting out rootkit spies
Best Software by Scott Spanbauer
An easy-to-use rootkit detector and cleaner makes trapping this sneaky spyware a snap. Whether you're comfortable sorting through your PC's processes and Registry keys manually or you prefer to have someone else do the sleuthing, there's a rootkit detector for you.
Testing the effectiveness of rootkit removers
PC Tune-Up by Mark Joseph Edwards
Several new anti-rootkit tools have been released recently, and existing security tools have been enhanced to protect your PC from rootkit infection. Now third-party tests reveal which rootkit removers do the best job of protecting your system.
HP recommends against installing Windows XP SP3
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
Both HP and Microsoft are working to fix problems causing AMD-based PCs to reboot repeatedly after XP Service Pack 3 is loaded. In the meantime, security expert Dr. Jesper Johansson has beaten the companies to the punch by devising a tool that ensures AMD machines can be patched.
All readers are eligible for our bonus download
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."
Steal our links — no, really, we mean it
Introduction by Brian Livingston
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.
Keep XP fresh until Windows 7 arrives
Top Story by Scott Dunn
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.
Windows rocks! The OS plays a Who classic
Wacky Web Week
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.
One online notetaker outshines the competition
Best Software by Scott Spanbauer
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.
More vulnerabilities found in Internet Explorer
PC Tune-Up by Mark Joseph Edwards
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.
XP Service Pack 3 crashes HP's AMD-based PCs
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
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.
Over 12,000 readers got a bonus — did you?
Bonus Download
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.
Make your PC difficult to steal, easy to recover
Top Story by Scott Dunn
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.
Fred's departure triggers a torrent of 'thanks'
Known Issues by Dennis O'Reilly
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.
A Japanese take on full-body massages
Wacky Web Week
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?
Rearrange your keyboard the free and easy way
Woody's Windows by Woody Leonhard
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.
Free tool roots out software vulnerabilities
Perimeter Scan by Ryan Russell
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.
Windows Secrets readers get a free e-book bonus
Bonus Download
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.
Tune in May 6 for debate on Microsoft licensing
Introduction by Brian Livingston
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.
Thwart malware attacks by locking out bad sites
Top Story by Scott Dunn
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.
Checking IE7Pro's background gives a reader pause
Known Issues by Dennis O'Reilly
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.
All good things come to an end as Fred reboots
Langalist Plus by Fred Langa
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.
Another reason to keep both hands on the wheel
Wacky Web Week
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.
Five antivirus programs ace the PC-defense test
PC Tune-Up by Mark Joseph Edwards
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.
What you need to know before you install XP SP3
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
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.
Microsoft exec loses his cool on Vista upgrades
Introduction by Brian Livingston
Scott Dunn was the first journalist to reveal on Apr. 3, 2008, that Vista Service Pack 1 allows its "upgrade edition" to be clean-installed just like its "full edition." This is a feature that hasn't changed in Vista since I described it back on Feb. 1, 2007.
Nine must-have freeware apps rise to the top
Top Story by Scott Dunn
The "best freeware" lists published by Web sites and magazines frequently trumpet dozens of programs, but the results reflect the subjective opinions of just one or two testers. To find the best of the best, I compared roundups of "great" freeware conducted recently by four reputable publications to find the programs that were endorsed by at least three of the reviews.
Keep malvertisements from infecting your PC
Known Issues by Scott Dunn
Some of the Flash ads that crowd your browser are serving up more than just another annoying sales pitch. Windows Secrets readers suggest simple and free methods for protecting yourself against an onslaught of malware-toting advertisements.
A new twist on table manners
Wacky Web Week
Mothers spend years teaching their children to keep their elbows off the table, chew their food with their mouths closed, and avoid slurping their drinks.
How Firefox 3 blocks bad sites better
Woody's Windows by Woody Leonhard
With the release of Firefox 3 imminent, your ability to identify and block "bad" Web sites automatically is about to take a giant leap forward. A fascinating new feature in the browser adds near-real-time — and anonymous — checking to stop phishing and other malicious sites in their tracks.
Detect zombie PCs by sniffing your network
Perimeter Scan by Ryan Russell
If one of the PCs on your network were infected with a botnet, how would you know? Identify the interloper by using the free Wireshark network monitor, which also helps you troubleshoot e-mail and other programs that fail to establish or maintain a network connection.
Finally, here comes XP Service Pack 3
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
On the heels of Vista Service Pack 1 comes the update that far more Windows users have been anticipating. Unfortunately, XP Service Pack 3 is an unremarkable update for everyone except network admins, who will appreciate the additional control over wired and wireless connections offered by SP3's Network Access Protection.
Two search engines help you find Windows info
Introduction by Brian Livingston
How many times have you said to yourself, "I know I saw an article three or four months ago, but now I'm danged if I can find it"? Our site now makes it easier for you to locate the exact trick you're looking for in more than 6,000 articles that our contributors have written in the past few years — or on the entire Web.
Flash ads bearing malware plague popular sites
Top Story by Scott Dunn
A Flash-based advertisement that appeared last week on the USA Today site downloaded malicious code to users' computers, generating erroneous warnings of a malware infestation and offering a phony solution. The Flash vulnerability is so widespread that such "malvertisements" may be present on thousands of sites, but there are measures you can take to reduce your exposure.
The U.S. election process, in a nutshell
Wacky Web Week
For the first time in decades, voters of all stripes are actually paying attention. But just how does the whole U.S. political system work, anyway?
Three fast, thorough, easy-to-use disk cleaners
Langalist Plus by Fred Langa
CCleaner, Cleanup Assistant, and DTweak Pro are powerful, ready-to-run tools that target junk files and more. Along with these best-of-breed, GUI-based disk-cleanup tools, I'll tell you about the most popular choices sent in by your fellow readers — and maybe by you!
The best — and worst — personal firewalls
PC Tune-Up by Mark Joseph Edwards
If you chose the firewall on your PC based on reputation, you may be in for an unpleasant surprise. The Matousec Firewall Challenge answers the million-dollar question: "Is my firewall really protecting me?"
.NET Service Pack 1 creates a tax-season .MESS
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
An unannounced auto-deployment of Microsoft's .NET Service Pack 1 rocked the accounting industry by affecting key applications right before the U.S. tax deadline. This week, I'll help you control the damage by providing you with a primer on .NET patching.
Outages cast doubts on MS online services
Top Story by Scott Dunn
With the recent public betas of Office Live Workspace and Microsoft Online Services, the Redmond company is ratcheting up its efforts to deliver the power of MS Office — or at least a portion of it — to the Internet. But Microsoft's ability to offer software as a service (SaaS) has come under fire due to server outages and bugs that have plagued the company's online services in the last several months.
Article on Vista upgrade trick rattles the cages
Known Issues by Brian Livingston
The lead story in Windows Secrets on Apr. 3 revealed that Vista Service Pack 1 allows the "upgrade edition" of the OS to be clean-installed, something that supposedly requires Vista's more-costly "full edition." The same trick was present in the original release of Vista, as I reported more than one year ago, but the fact that Microsoft executives have allowed the procedure to remain in SP1 sparked yet another round of thrills on the Web.
A new approach for handling telemarketers
Wacky Web Week
Telemarketers. They have an uncanny knack of calling right when you don't want them to. Whether you're just sitting down to dinner, forced to interupt a relaxing shower, or deep in R.E.M., they generally find you at the most inconvenient moment — all so they can try to subscribe you to a magazine you've never heard of.
Beware disk cleaners that can make things worse
Langalist Plus by Fred Langa
My search for the best disk-cleanup program has uncovered some that aren't worth the time and effort, let alone paying a registration fee. One of the utilities I tried even left more unnecessary files on my drive than were there before I ran the program!
Disabling AutoRun still leaves you open to attack
PC Tune-Up by Mark Joseph Edwards
The worst kind of security bug is one that Microsoft probably won't be fixing any time soon. This week, I tell you about an annoying security problem in which Windows Vista fails to disable its AutoRun and AutoPlay features, even though you think you've got these two security risks under control.
Patches for IE should be top priority this week
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
Patches for IE should be our first priority this month, with several vulnerabilities that are ripe for malicious attacks facing us. There's still no sign of Windows XP SP3 in the near future, but Windows Server 2008 is receiving its first patches, and Vista SP1 is subject to a much-needed patch for an earlier patch that's proved troublesome.
It's official: upgrade hack included in Vista SP1
Top Story by Scott Dunn
The new Service Pack 1 version of Windows Vista allows end users to purchase the "upgrade edition" and install it on any PC — with no need to purchase the more expensive "full edition." The same behavior was present when Vista was originally released, but the fact that the trick wasn't removed from SP1 suggests that Microsoft executives approved the back door as a way to make the price of Vista more appealing to sophisticated buyers.
VirtualBox is an impressive VM contender
Known Issues by Scott Dunn
My Mar. 27 lead story described Microsoft's Virtual PC and VMWare's VMWare Player as virtual-machine software that PC users should consider — but there's a great alternative to both. A few readers recommended VirtualBox, and my tests show that this open-source upstart includes the best features of both of its competitors.
Video shows top 10 ways to break your server
Wacky Web Week
The staff of Scalent Systems labor ceaselessly to quell your common computing woes — again and again.
Use Vista's superior system font in XP
Woody's Windows by Woody Leonhard
My last column explained how to make Vista's all-new application fonts (Calibri, Candara, Corbel, Cambria, Constantia, and Consolas) work for free on your Windows XP or 2000 computer. This week, permit me to show you how to install Vista's new system font, Segoe UI, on your Windows XP computer — yes, legally — and use it as your WinXP system font.
Powerful net monitoring: learn the whys and hows
Perimeter Scan by Ryan Russell
This week, I'll cover some of the benefits of using advanced tools such as Wireshark and give you detailed answers to some of your questions from my previous columns. Wireshark can reveal the stream of attacks your PC faces every day, so you can focus on the priority events you need to deal with.
XP virtual computing avoids dual-boot complexity
Top Story by Scott Dunn
It's possible to have Vista and chow down on your XP cake, too, if you apply a free — for now — virtual machine. If you're stuck with a Vista PC, but you really prefer using XP, I'll show you how to set up XP as a virtual machine on Vista, plus some tricks you can use to get the most out of this setup.
Reader tips on portable computing flow in
Known Issues by Scott Dunn
In my Mar. 20 article, I described techniques for putting an entire Linux OS on a flash drive, which is almost like having a pocket computer that can run many of your favorite applications. I mentioned some limitations and presented a warning, but readers have come to our aid with insights on protecting and using your diminutive computer accessory.
Is that a good spot over there?
Wacky Web Week
It's a vehicular jungle out there, with packed traffic, surly drivers, and a paucity of parking places, all begging the question, "Where the Sam Hill is everyone going to park?"
Get better results deep-cleaning Windows drives
Langalist Plus by Fred Langa
This week, I'll add to my previous comments on free and easy ways to eliminate what the Disk Cleanup tool in Windows leaves behind. You can quickly eliminate megabytes or even gigabytes of hard-to-remove junk and boost your system performance!
Make a bootable thumb drive that runs XP
PC Tune-Up by Mark Joseph Edwards
Some users benefit from having a bootable version of Linux on a USB flash drive — but did you know it's possible to do the same with XP? This week, I'll tell you how and explain a few challenges that stand in your way.
QuickTime, iTunes install Safari — like it or not
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
The auto-update routines for QuickTime and iTunes, two programs that play multimedia files, have quietly begun installing Apple's Safari browser unless PC users are sharp enough to turn off a little-noticed option. This week's abomination makes me question the entire concept of trusting auto-update mechanisms as a way of seeking better security.
We've made our secrets easier to find
Introduction by Brian Livingston
The Windows Secrets Newsletter and the online periodical it merged with in 2006, the LangaList, have published thousands of tips over the years. Now we've made it more convenient for you to browse through our brainstorms and find exactly the article that you've been needing.
Carry an entire operating system in your pocket
Top Story by Scott Dunn
Running applications from a USB flash drive on a public computer is convenient but exposes you to malware and other limitations of the host PC. By installing a Windows-like version of Linux on a flash drive, you can take a complete operating system wherever you go and work in a safe, secure environment, even in an Internet café.
You have another few months to acquire XP
Known Issues by Scott Dunn
In the Mar. 6 issue, I explained how to find a Windows XP system before retail and OEM sales of XP get yanked from the shelves on June 30 of this year. But system builders who cater to small businesses can still get XP until January 2009, which gives users who want to avoid Vista one more way to get their mitts on a Windows XP system.
Would you like mental floss with that?
Wacky Web Week
It's Thursday. You've made it through the week so far without spilling coffee on yourself, calling a co-worker by the wrong name, or sending a scorching e-mail to the whole office by mistake. You're on top of your mental game.
Install Vista's fonts on XP — legally
Woody's Windows by Woody Leonhard
Microsoft introduced a slew of new fonts with Windows Vista and uses one of them, Calibri, as the default font throughout much of Office 2007. So, if someone sends you a document, and it doesn't look quite right in XP, you probably need one or more Vista fonts — and I'll show you a perfectly legal way to get them absolutely free.
More need-to-know about network monitoring
Perimeter Scan by Ryan Russell
Completing my recent series on monitoring file-system and Registry activity, I'd like to add what you need to know about packet capturing. To monitor a program's activity for troubleshooting purposes, you really need to record its file, Registry, and network activity — and today, I'll help you understand my favorite packet-capture tool.
Ready or not, he-e-ere's Vista Service Pack 1
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
Right on schedule, Vista Service Pack 1 is showing up for people who use Windows Update. You'll be prepared to install SP1 by the time you finish reading today's special Patch Watch column, but the real question is, will your PC be ready?
How to fix that gizmo you dropped in the loo
Top Story by Scott Dunn
It happens to everyone: one moment, you're talking on your cell or dialing up a tune on your MP3 player, and the next, you're staring down at your gadget in a toilet, a puddle, or worse. If your portable electronic device gets dropped or submerged, is there anything you can do? Fortunately, the answer is yes.
OEM licenses for XP are nontransferable
Known Issues by Scott Dunn
My Mar. 6 article on buying systems with XP preinstalled stated that your XP license lets you remove the operating system from one machine and install it on another. But that's only true if you bought a retail copy of Windows XP, not a version that came preinstalled on your PC.
Hey, buddy, can you cc me on that?
Wacky Web Week
Ctrl+C won't copy. Your Tab button won't tab. Ctrl+A selects absolutely nothing. We've all been there, when the simplest of functions just won't function. But what's really going on when we repeatedly punch that Copy button?
Using Windows' hidden Disk Cleanup options
Langalist Plus by Fred Langa
You can get rid of more than just a few junk files by using some of Windows' little-known deep-cleaning settings. Most users report recovering dozens to hundreds of megabytes of space, and some users report gaining as much as 13GB of formerly-wasted space!
StartKey makes your desktop portable
PC Tune-Up by Mark Joseph Edwards
Let's face it, laptops are a mainstay for portable computing — but what if you could have access to your desktop without lugging around a laptop? Microsoft is working on technology that will make that possible in the very near future, and this week I tell you what you can get out of it.
March patches for Office are 'lambs,' except...
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
Microsoft released this week four different security bulletins for MS Office, but (with a few exceptions) they seem to shape us as pretty tame updates. The old saying about March weather coming in like a lion, but going out like a lamb, is just about the way this patching month has shaped up.
Your contributions help us sponsor needy kids
Introduction by Brian Livingston
One thing that editor-at-large Fred Langa and I agree on is that it's important to help disadvantaged people around the world. Ever since the LangaList newsletter and Windows Secrets merged in November 2006, we've continued to sponsor children in developing countries with a portion of your contributions — we just haven't taken the time to write about it.
Get yourself an XP system while you still can
Top Story by Scott Dunn
With Windows XP scheduled to disappear from store shelves on June 30, time is running out to buy a computer with that venerable OS preinstalled. As manufacturers stop producing XP drivers, finding hardware that still supports XP is becoming a challenge, but I've produced one last shopping guide for you before the clock runs out.
Sizing up your boot drive's pagefile
Known Issues by Scott Dunn
My Feb. 28 article discussed ways to save space on your Windows drive when you have multiple hard drives or partitions. You can save even more space by shrinking the Windows pagefile on the boot disk, as long as you don't care about preserving some complex debugging data.
The art of water-balloon tossing
Wacky Web Week
What was it about throwing water balloons as a kid that was so appealing? Throwing them at each other, your pets, moving cars. It was thrilling! Would it explode? How would your target react? Not to mention the ever-pressing question of how full could you actually get your balloon.
Hackers broke into my site — yours might be next
Woody's Windows by Woody Leonhard
Last week, somebody using a Russian Internet address stuck a line of unwanted HTML code — an iFrame exploit — on the AskWoody.com main page, and my life suddenly got very complicated. It could happen to you: once the province of propeller heads and tech terrorists, hacking Web sites has become as easy as running a kiddie script.
Use Process Monitor to find hidden information
Perimeter Scan by Ryan Russell
I'm finishing my Process Monitor (PM) series with a couple of examples of the kinds of behind-the-scenes information you can get by using it. Remember that the best feature of PM is that it catches transitory events that you might never see, even if you time things perfectly with some tool that only shows you your PC's current state.
Save space when using two drives or dual-booting
Top Story by Scott Dunn
You may be able to free up some valuable space if you're using two disk partitions, using two physical drives, or dual-booting between XP and Vista on the same machine. I'll show you several steps you can take to eliminate duplicate files and get more out of your disks.
Ultimate gets less support than XP Media Center
Known Issues by Scott Dunn
My Feb. 21 story reported that Microsoft considers Vista Ultimate, an upgrade from Vista Home Premium and Vista Business, to be a "consumer product," reducing the company's support for Ultimate to a maximum of 5 years rather than 10. What's confusing to buyers is that Microsoft does give a full 10 years of support to another consumer product: Windows XP Media Center Edition.
I want to ride my bicycle
Wacky Web Week
In an age when being "green" is everything, here's an emerging art form that (in this video, at least) is purely white. In an interesting use of 4x6 white card stock, this short clip showcases an experimental technique called "stratastencil."
Should you trust Windows Update hardware drivers?
Langalist Plus by Fred Langa
I don't trust Windows Update to install new drivers for devices that Microsoft isn't responsible for. Check out my reasons in this week's column and see if you agree.
The storage landscape times, they are a-changing
PC Tune-Up by Mark Joseph Edwards
Disk-drive storage capacity is growing at a rapid pace, but there's a new player in town. In the not-too-distant future, we might find that good ol' hard drives are a thing of the past; this week, I'll tell you about new storage technology that's growing by leaps and bounds.
A parade of problem service packs for Windows
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
If you're responsible for updating your company's systems, you now face service packs (and related problems) for XP, Vista, and Microsoft's .NET Framework — and even Mac enthusiasts have to deal with repercussions from the recent 10.5.2 OS X upgrade. If that weren't enough, those of you who haven't yet deployed the latest MS Office service packs will find plenty of quirks to chew on this week.
Microsoft cuts Ultimate licenses for volume buyers
Top Story by Scott Dunn
During most of 2007, buyers of Microsoft's volume-licensing bundle were allowed to run one copy of Vista Ultimate on each machine covered by the arrangement. Microsoft quietly changed this policy, however, and now allows businesses to get only one Vista Ultimate product key for every 100 copies of Vista Enterprise they purchase.
Dual-booting XP deletes Vista restore points
Known Issues by Scott Dunn
My Feb. 14 article explained how to set up a Vista machine to dual-boot between that OS and Windows XP. But booting to XP on a dual-boot system has the negative side-effect of deleting any Vista restore points, in addition to all but its latest backup file, and a Registry workaround is required to prevent this.
Roll over, Beethoven
Wacky Web Week
Chopin. Strauss. And now Robbi-985. In this two-minute clip by the afore-mentioned composer, a musical masterpiece is created using nothing but sounds from Windows XP and 98.
Vista Service Pack 1 — boring but necessary
Woody's Windows by Woody Leonhard
For those of us who lived through the toe-curling changes in Windows XP Service Pack 2, Microsoft's new Vista Service Pack 1 rates as a real yawner. I've had a chance to put Vista's upcoming SP1 through its paces, however, and my toes didn't even twitch.
Now is the time for debunking the Mocmex threat
Perimeter Scan by Ryan Russell
I'm going to do something a little unusual for me; I'm going to tell you that a particular security threat isn't as bad as it seems. You'll never catch me saying a particular security problem is impossible or can't happen to you — I'm often warning about possible future threats — but this time I smell hype.
Microsoft pulls buggy Vista 'prerequisite' patch
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
Microsoft on Feb. 19 halted automatic downloads of a Vista patch that caused numerous PCs to reboot uncontrollably. The patch, numbered 937287, is a "prerequisite" or "preliminary" patch that was intended to prepare machines for the installation of Vista Service Pack 1, which is expected to be released in March.
Make your computer dual-boot Vista and XP
Top Story by Scott Dunn
It's getting harder to buy a new computer with Windows XP installed and — after Microsoft stops selling XP on June 30, 2008 — it will become nearly impossible. Fortunately, you can have your XP cake and eat your Vista, too, by setting up your system to boot between the two operating systems.
Labs provide alternatives in evaluating suites
Known Issues by Scott Dunn
My Feb. 7 article explained that the WSN Security Baseline summarizes the top ratings of several respected computer publications, but it is only a starting point for those who want to do their own research. One reader responded with an impressive list of independent labs that evaluate security software and publish the results online.
Suffering the slings of Cupid's arrow
Wacky Web Week
Cupid. That sweet, cherubic boy of Valentine lore who, with a single pluck of his bow, can bring together star-crossed lovers, awaken a cold heart from its frosty slumber, and famously inspire love down through the ages.
Task Scheduler tricks help you save time
Langalist Plus by Fred Langa
Some excellent reader feedback came in this month that lets us get even more out of task automation. One little password trick and two freeware tools can help you ease your PC maintenance chores and unleash the full power of Windows Task Scheduler.
A few jolts to increase your desktop performance
PC Tune-Up by Mark Joseph Edwards
Some of your systems might be running slowly — but maybe you don't have to replace them just yet. This week, I tell you about some tips and tools you can use to boost performance on Vista, XP, and even older versions of Windows.
Instead of roses, send a dozen patches today
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
A whopping 11 security patches and 7 nonsecurity patches were released this month for Windows, Firefox, Acrobat, and QuickTime, which means a potentially rough patching month. Rather than giving your loved ones red roses or fat-laden chocolates for Valentine's Day, show them how much you care by fixing their systems with these updates that the patch gods have sent us.
Symantec uninstaller may not finish the job
Top Story by Scott Dunn
Like most Windows software, Norton security products, published by the Symantec Corp., come with an uninstall option to remove the software from your computer. Unfortunately, neither Symantec's bundled uninstaller — nor a little-known, special utility from the company — removes every single thing.
Positive reviews for Norton raise readers' ire
Known Issues by Scott Dunn
I wrote on Jan. 24 that Norton Internet Security 2008, a Symantec product, now has the greatest number of Editors' Choice awards of any security suite, and therefore has replaced the ZoneAlarm suite in the WSN Security Baseline. This story touched a nerve for a significant number of readers, who have had bad experiences with Symantec and its products in the past.
Nuts — a little dab'll do ya
Wacky Web Week
Maybe there's something in the air. Maybe it's just the raw, animal attraction that comes with a unibrow. Whatever it is, the star of this 30-second Planters Peanuts commercial has it and is turning heads.
Don't let social-networking viruses bite you
Insider Tricks by Brian Livingston
The foolish people who develop Web sites that only work in Internet Explorer, and users who still run IE instead of safer browsers, such as Firefox, repeatedly expose themselves to one hacker attack after another. The latest example is an exploit that afflicts the social-networking sites MySpace and Facebook, in addition to the Yahoo Music Jukebox — but there's an easy way to protect yourself.
WinBubble is the best free TweakUI replacement
Woody's Windows by Woody Leonhard
With Vista now officially one year old and toddling into its Terrible Twos, I've given up hope waiting for Microsoft to deliver an up-to-date TweakUI for the new OS. Fortunately, six enterprising developers have rushed in where Redmond feared to tread, and I'll tell you which is my favorite at goosing Vista in wondrous — and sometimes useful — ways.
Make use of advanced Process Monitor features
Perimeter Scan by Ryan Russell
I continue today the coverage of Process Monitor (PM) that I started in my Jan. 17, 2008, column. Last time, I just introduced the basics. This time, I cover more advanced uses and a "case study."
Breaking news rouses us from our slumber
Introduction by Brian Livingston
We're not supposed to be publishing articles this week, because we usually skip publication on any 5th Thursday that comes around (such as today). We take occasional breaks like this so our writers can catch up on some much-needed sleep — but new information has come out about an important Microsoft upgrade, so contributing editor Susan Bradley has produced a special Patch Watch column to give you the facts you need.
Server 2003 may have 'critical' flaw, MS says
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
In a change from its earlier statements, Microsoft now reports that some versions of Windows Server 2003 have a security flaw rated "critical" rather than merely "important." If you didn't install security bulletin MS08-001 after its release on Jan. 8 — because you didn't feel you really needed it when it first came out — you should make time now to test your box and install the patch.
Break time! Next issue will be Feb. 7
Introduction by Brian Livingston
They say honest work never hurt anyone, but we do need a chance once in a while to sleep in between bouts of digging up for you the secrets of Windows. That's why we publish our newsletter weekly, except on any 5th Thursday of the month that occurs.
Symantec edges out ZoneAlarm in Security Baseline
Top Story by Scott Dunn
Symantec's security suite has gained more first-place awards from respected test labs than the well-known ZoneAlarm suite, pushing Symantec into the top spot in our WSN Security Baseline. We publish the baseline and update it whenever our analysis of the recommendations of leading PC publications and Web sites changes.
Leaving MSN may be easier than you think
Known Issues by Scott Dunn
Some readers of my Jan. 3 and Jan. 17 articles on the shrinking appeal of MSN Premium asked what they might lose if they canceled Microsoft's for-pay service, which is now duplicated by features in the company's free Windows Live and Windows itself. The facts show that fears of losing one's e-mail address or dial-up access are groundless.
Pick up the phone, it's Ahnold
Wacky Web Week
The campaign trail can be a grueling, cold, and humorless place. What better way to brighten the day then with a supportive call from the Governator himself?
Where's the Recovery Console in Windows Vista?
Langalist Plus by Fred Langa
The good ol' Recovery Console from Windows XP has morphed into five separate Vista tools. XP's console was good for system recovery after a crash, but it's gone in Vista, replaced by different tools and a whole new front end.
ExtraOutlook is a free way to set Outlook loose
PC Tune-Up by Mark Joseph Edwards
Microsoft Outlook is a great tool, but it's too bad that you can only run one instance at a time. Fortunately, some savvy coders have come up with a way to get around that limitation, and now their free workaround is available to everyone.
The new IE 7 and Silverlight are coming your way
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
This week, I'll show you how to prevent the automatic deployment of Silverlight and a new build of Internet Explorer 7 throughout your company via Microsoft's WSUS utility. Optional software isn't mandatory, and I urge you to skip the Silverlight download in particular unless you have a specific need for the software.
MSN drops parental controls for paying customers
Top Story by Scott Dunn
MSN Premium, Microsoft's suite of paid Web services, is dropping some parental controls and recommending that its users switch to the company's free Windows Live equivalents instead. If this pattern continues, MSN Premium will be left with absolutely no services that aren't provided free in Windows Live or Microsoft Windows itself, a situation I described in a Jan. 3 article.
Get still more built-in performance tools
Known Issues by Scott Dunn
My Jan. 10 story explained how to assemble within XP most of the same performance tools that are found in Windows Vista. This week, clever readers go the extra mile, pointing out even more free tools for monitoring and improving your system speed.
A modern-day love story
Wacky Web Week
Maybe it was the glow of his LCD flat screen or the curves of her hard drive. Whatever it was, these two can't keep their megabytes off of each other.
Super-size your right-click context menus
Woody's Windows by Woody Leonhard
Although it's become fashionable to knock Windows Vista, I readily admit that I like the beast, cantankerous as it may be. Vista sports lots of hidden, little-known gems that can help you get real work done, real fast — if you know where to find 'em. Here are some of my favorites.
Process Monitor logs program activity for you
Perimeter Scan by Ryan Russell
Microsoft's free Process Monitor tool allows you to log any specific file and Registry activity a process is performing. My last two columns on Dec. 6 and Jan. 3 dealt with Microsoft's Process Explorer, but today I'd like to introduce you to an even more powerful tool: Process Monitor.
IE 7 and Silverlight downloads planned by MS
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
Microsoft is planning to download to corporate sites a new build of Internet Explorer 7 on Feb. 12, and a new application called Silverlight on Jan. 22, according to a post by ZDNet blogger Mary Jo Foley. If your company uses Microsoft deployment tools to download and install updates, you may be wondering, "What if I don't want everyone in my company to have the new IE 7 installed?" and "What the heck is Silverlight?"
Give XP the performance tools of Vista
Top Story by Scott Dunn
Windows Vista has an all-in-one window for monitoring the health of your system and tweaking its performance — but what if you use XP, not Vista? With just a couple of downloads and a few drags and drops, you can add a Vista-like performance center to Windows XP.
What, your cell phone doesn't do laundry?
Wacky Web Week
First there was the simple phone call. Then came text messaging. Then we gained the ability to send e-mail, take photos, download music, surf the Internet, and get turn-by-turn driving directions.
How you can easily schedule complex tasks
Langalist Plus by Fred Langa
Once you know the trick, Task Scheduler can do just about anything but make the coffee. The key is using a means of program control that dates back to the ancient days of DOS: command-line parameters.
Make Windows XP portable and take it with you
PC Tune-Up by Mark Joseph Edwards
Portable applications are very handy, because you can copy them onto a USB storage device and use them on whatever PC may be handy. This week, I'll tell you about a free tool that lets you to turn Windows XP into a portable operating system.
Vista gears up for its first service pack
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
Microsoft's Vista team is getting ready to release Service Pack 1, but a few "pre-SP1" bumps were hit along the way this week that negatively affected Home Premium users. Those problems have been swatted by now, but there are still several other issues that relate to Vista and XP updates.
Microsoft charges customers for free services
Top Story by Scott Dunn
Thousands of customers are paying almost $120 USD per year to Microsoft for an Internet subscription service that includes e-mail, security, and other features. But Microsoft gives away almost identical services absolutely free in Windows Live and the Windows operating system itself, while neglecting to inform those who pay through the nose.