Archive for January, 2006
Check if you are protected against WMF problem
As previously reported Windows had a severe security problem involving an obscure file format called WMF. Microsoft issued a patch to fix the problem but maybe you missed it. Steve Gibson has written a little program to test if you are protected. Read more about it in a column by Steve Bass.
Avoiding physical problems caused by computer use
It’s important to make sure that using a computer doesn’t cause physical strain. Back and wrist problems are not uncommon, not to mention eye strain. There is nothing at the site that commonsense wouldn’t tell you but it doesn’t hurt to look at Microsoft’s 10 healthy computing tips. Another reference to look at is from [...]
Have your Internet favorites or bookmarks available anywhere
I travel a lot and sometimes I end up using a computer in a library, Internet cafe, or other public place. I like to have access to my Internet favorites (AKA bookmarks) so I have a copy of them at a place on the Web where I can access them from anywhere. I happen to [...]
Update on Microsoft suport policy
In an earlier entry I noted that that Microsoft had previously stated that support for Windows XP Home would end on December 31, 2006. Fred Langa now reports
Microsoft finally finished updating the Lifecycle pages, so they now all say the same thing: The Dec 31 2006 dates have been erased from the support timelines for [...]
The Return of the C:\ Prompt?
The command line returns! Actually it never went away. However PC World reports that there will be a new command-line interface in Windows Vista. That may not sound very interesting to many people but it means that a lot of system and file tasks may be easier. PC World says
Code-named Monad, the new shell will [...]
Forgotten Windows XP passwords
Many home users of Windows do not bother with passwords for their user accounts but if you do use passwords (a good idea for multi-user systems) then you may want to create a password reset disk. Then if you forget your password, you wil have a way to get back into your user account. The [...]
Backup file for Windows product activation
Windows keeps a file that contains a coded record or “hash” of the type of hardware that your system has installed. It is part of the Windows Product Activation process. The file’s name is wpa.dbl and it is in the folder Windows\system32\. There is also a backup file wpa.bak. These files should be copied [...]
Make Web pages easier to read in Internet Explorer (continued)
Size is not the only font property that can affect the readability of a Web page. Font style matters also. Some sites use serif fonts such as Times New Roman. These fonts are standard for print media but are harder to read on Web pages. If you wish a more Web friendly style of font, [...]
Make Web pages easier to read in Internet Explorer
If you find that the text on a Web page is too small to read comfortably, go to the IE menu entry, View-Text Size. There are five settings listed; choose the one best suited for you. If the font sizes have been set to specific pixel settings by the author of the page, this method [...]
Support for Windows XP Home Edition expiring?
As of now, Microsoft’s support for Windows XP Home Edition is set to expire on December 31 of this year. If left unchanged, that would mean that anyone wanting support, including security updates, would have to pay starting in 2007. There is precedence, however, for Microsoft extending the support period. Pressure from users [...]