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Windows XP SP3 Causing Worldwide Panic… and other stuff from the past week. |
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May 12, 2008 - 10:35 AM - by Digital Dave
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So, if you read all the crap floating around the “internet’s” XP SP3 is causing global warming and massive panic for a lot of people. Seriously… that’s just stupid.
Windows XP SP3 is a service pack and if you are one of the folks who tried to put it on without doing a backup first… well, you reap what you sow .
Now Microsoft has made with VERY clear with an article titled “Steps to take before you install Windows XP Service Pack 3” this SP is not a download and slap on. Everyone who is even thinking about installing SP3 should read the document. This is a service pack and just because a lot of people are having great success installing it, doesn’t mean you will. Read the document and follow the recommendations. It may just save you a ton of time and problems.
You should also remember you can uninstall it. Simply go to Add\Remove Programs and select SP3 for removal. Uninstall it, reboot, and all should be fine.
Now I get the fact that some people are having issues with the service pack and that’s not good in anyone’s eyes, but the fact remains that if you didn’t follow the guidelines, hey… that’s not Microsoft’s fault.
Vista SP1 Rolls Once Again.
Ahhhh… Vista SP1… can you think of anything better than getting your grubby little hands on this bad boy? Yea… neither can I.
I’m sure as you all know by now Microsoft has re-released Vista SP1 to the masses and it looks like people are starting to take notice especially the real money player (that would be the corporations… they have HUGE wallets). From what MS is saying, more and more corporations are starting to roll Vista now that SP1 is available and has fixed a lot of issues some companies were seeing especially in the networking arena. I’m starting to roll it to the field (Sales folks) with some success. They like it but some of the older software is still not quite up to speed and I’ve had to upgrade some packages to get it Vista compliant. Might as well do it now cause Windows 7 is based on the same code base as Vista is, so pay or pay later.
I also wanted to mention the infected webpage we all seemed to have run across this past weekend over on Redmond.com. It looks like the page was hacked big time and as soon as I saw it (thanks to all who posted about it) I removed the link to the page.
This type of problem should serve as a reminder to us all. Protecting our own computer security is a vital part of keeping the bad guys out of our networks. If you think just a simple AV will do it for you, you’re wrong. Bad guys want your data and they want it bad. As soon as I was aware of the problem I checked all the systems in my house just to make sure they were protected and all the security measures I had put in place were still working as they should (and they were).
That’s about it. I’ve been playing catch-up at work and still have some... [Read More]
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1 Reply | 206 Views
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Vista is Good… XP SP3 is Better… Slightly. |
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May 03, 2008 - 10:05 AM - by Digital Dave
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If you read all the press about Vista it’s the worst thing since “New Coke” hit the market. Seriously, what were those folks thinking when they decided to release that debacle? I remember when it was released people FLIPPED! I not talking kinda-sorta flipped, I’m talking flipped out like someone on 20 RedBulls flipped! Why would you try and change something that was about as good as it could get (yes, I know, if you are a Pepsi fan you hate Coke but this is my babble and I’m using Coke as an example here).
So here we sit, at a crossroads of sort, staring at our computers wondering what to do? Do we stick with XP and install SP3? Or, do we take the plunge and install Vista with SP1? Is Vista about as cooked as it’s going to get? Has XP been taken about as far as it can go? The answer to both is yes but in my personal opinion XP SP3 has a slight lead (and I do mean slight).
As with every operating system we all have used, v1.0 has pretty much been a pain in the ass for the most part. We all had to learn about the new features, install new drivers, upgrade this component and that component, and we loved it (admit it, you did). But, people seem to forget our beloved XP was hammered relentlessly prior to SP2 for having more holes in it than a slice of Swiss cheese. Day after day XP took beating after beating for security vulnerabilities and the press was more than happy to supply the bats for the beating party.
Microsoft then announces it’s going to fix those issues and SP2 is going to force people to make some changes to applications and for the most part all of us were told we better get ready for a more secure computing environment and basically, we needed to just deal with it. Well the world just exploded! Microsoft was going to tell US how to be secure? LOL! You have got to be kidding me! Well they did, and after the beating bats were collected, we were left with SP2 and guess what? The world didn’t explode and we WERE left with a more secure computing environment but…then… well, talk turned to SP3 and lordy, what an outcry when we were told it would take THIS long to get. We were not happy campers.
As you all know MS has been playing “chicken” with XP SP3 and now that we are on the cusp of FINALLY getting it, it was pulled INDEFINITLY, because of some bug with Microsoft Dynamics. Thankfully the Internet took care of us again and it’s readily available from a host of sites. I have tried SP3 myself on about 10 machines, from laptops to high-end desktops, and it has installed beautifully on all of them. It literally was one of the easiest SP’s I have ever installed and now we have word the folks who have TechNet accounts can get XP with XP SP3 already integrated which makes it even easier to stick with XP and people are in droves. Why? Simple… it works.
Now Vista is a different story, but what a lot of people seem to miss when it comes to Vista is the simple fact... [Read More]
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6 Replies | 923 Views
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Microsoft Releases 3 Critical Patches |
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May 13, 2008 - 5:46 PM - by Digital Dave
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You need them. You must have them. Download now.
On Tuesday, Redmond rolled out four patches for the month of May as expected, with three deemed "Critical" and one "Moderate."
Security pros say that though this is a relatively light release, the critical bulletins stretch across current and relevant application platforms as well as operating systems, and IT shops shouldn't take the implementation of these patches lightly.
Full Article with the patch breakdown over on Redmondmag.com
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0 Replies | 18 Views
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10 Free and Fantastic IE Add-ons |
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May 13, 2008 - 5:41 PM - by Digital Dave
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I love that they used the word "fantastic". Makes it sound like you need them.
We spent hours digging through the toolbars and other freebies to find ten totally free IE add-ons that don't suck. We split them into two categories: Useful Stuff and Fun Stuff. Each entry links to the Windows Marketplace page where you can find more information and a download link for each add-on.
Full Article Over On Extremetech.com
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0 Replies | 19 Views
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Windows XP SP3: Problems, Performance Gains |
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May 13, 2008 - 5:39 PM - by Digital Dave
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Hmmm... some good... some not so good.
Windows XP SP3, the final service pack for Windows XP, was released to manufacturing a few weeks ago, and popped up on Windows Update about a week later. Even though the service pack is rather light on actual new features, it still caused a few problems for some users. Despite these problems, some benchmarks show that while SP3 delivers better performance compared to XP SP2, Microsoft seems to have solved many performance issues with Vista, turning the company's latest OS offering into the better choice for gaming - according to ExtremeTech.
Some users have been reporting being dropped into an endless reboot loop after installing the third service pack to Windows XP. Application Development Trends Magazine (fancy name) dug a little deeper into the matter, and came up with some interesting observations. The bug seems to mostly hit AMD desktop machines made by Hewlett-Packard, although some other OEMs have been affected too.
Full Story Over On osnews.com
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0 Replies | 20 Views
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Fedora Linux 9 Final |
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May 13, 2008 - 12:11 PM - by Digital Dave
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Come and get it...
The Fedora Project is an openly-developed project designed by Red Hat, open for general participation, led by a meritocracy, following a set of project objectives. The goal of The Fedora Project is to work with the Linux community to build a complete, general purpose operating system exclusively from open source software.
Download from Betanews.com
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0 Replies | 26 Views
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Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool 1.4 |
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May 13, 2008 - 11:28 AM - by Digital Dave
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Very nice...
This tool will help to remove specific, prevalent malicious software from infected systems. Because computers can appear to function normally when infected, Microsoft advises you to run this tool even if your computer seems to be fine. In addition to using this tool, you should use an up-to-date antivirus product to help protect your computer from other malicious software.
Grab it from the folks over at betanews.com
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0 Replies | 38 Views
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iPhone Gets A New Goolge Reader. |
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May 13, 2008 - 11:23 AM - by Digital Dave
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Screw the reader! I want my 3G!
This new version is designed to offer many of the same features as the desktop, while making it quick and easy to act on items. If you've used list view, then it should be familiar to you. Scan the titles for an item that interests you, tap and it expands in place. Starring, sharing, and keeping unread are done in place, so you never have to leave the list view or refresh the page. We think it's a very fast way to power through your reading list.
Read the Entire Article Over On Googlereader.blogspot.com
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0 Replies | 30 Views
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Google Will Be Bigger Than Windows |
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May 13, 2008 - 11:21 AM - by Digital Dave
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Hey... who threw the chair? Oh... okay... never mind.
Why is Microsoft so concerned about Google? Lots of reasons, one of which is this: By this time next year, Google's search business will be larger and more profitable than the most profitable and legendary monopoly in history--Microsoft Windows. (Just Google's search business--that doesn't even include AdSense).
Full Article Over On Alleyinsider.com
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0 Replies | 35 Views
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Hypersonic Avenger AG2 12" Notebook Review |
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May 13, 2008 - 11:17 AM - by Digital Dave
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I mention this review since what you get for the price is really good and with everyone looking for value in the laptop market this laptop seems to fit the bill nicely.
Some boutiques choose to focus on either notebooks or desktops, but Hypersonic chooses both. Right now, they offer two different series for each, but the Avenger will be the third for their notebook line-up. The Aero notebook series focuses on general computing, while the Aviator is for performance gluttons and gamers. Their Avenger series will feature high-performing sub-notebooks, for those who value performance and a smaller build more than battery-life and a larger build.
That's no understatement. While other sub-notebooks, such as the Lenovo X300 or the Apple MacBook AIR build for better battery life, Hypersonic packs a powerful Penryn processor along with lots of RAM and a large hard drive. That's the trade off, though. Better battery life or a faster machine? There's no such thing as both unless you have a battery the size of the notebook itself.
Full Review Over On Techgage.com
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0 Replies | 37 Views
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RUMOR: IBM To Stop Selling x86 Servers |
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May 13, 2008 - 10:44 AM - by Digital Dave
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So the rumor mill out of ChileHardware forum has IBM giving up, or I should say, looking to deal to its partner Lenovo who you all know by now bought the IBM laptop division from them a while ago, the x86 side of the IBM house.
According to the rumor mill, IBM wants to concentrate on its "P" and "Z" series line and also buff up its services division which is about to be threated by the likes of HP who is currently in "talks" with EDS about a possible buyout of the company.
Now I'm not saying this is earth shattering by any means but I do take it as a warning shot between IBM and HP. Any multi-billion dollar company who feels threated will start to circle the wagons to protect their territory.
At the very least this will be interesting to watch.
Here's a link to the post. You will need to use a translator if you don't speak the language.
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0 Replies | 46 Views
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SATA Hard Drive Docking Station |
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May 13, 2008 - 6:39 AM - by Digital Dave
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This is ingenious.
The device is incredibly simple. The dock plugs into your USB port and supports both regular and notebook-sized SATA hard drives. Just dock a drive and you'll be able to access your data in about 10 seconds after powering up.
It's perfect for technicians, enthusiasts, and anyone who has bare drives lying around. If you are constantly backing up entire drives, making images, or formatting new drives, the Thermaltake BlacX is an ideal solution to quickly accessing a bunch of different sized hard drives with minimal fuss.
The BlacX doesn't require any drivers and it's PC and Mac compatible!
Check it out over on mwave.com
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0 Replies | 55 Views
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Windows Vista is 37% more secure than Windows XP |
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May 13, 2008 - 6:21 AM - by Digital Dave
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Well, it's true (according to these folks).
Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Vista is 37% more secure than its Windows XP ancestor, a security vendor claimed today, a rate it hinted was disappointing.
Using different data collection techniques, Microsoft has recently asserted that Vista is 60% more secure than XP.
For every 1,000 machines running Vista, security company PC Tools counted 639 unique threats over a six-month period, said Michael Greene, the firm's vice president of product strategy, on Friday. "A threat is actually when [malicious code] has penetrated the machine," Greene said. "The malware has to be on the machine to be counted by our ThreatFire community."
Full Article Over On Computerworld.com
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0 Replies | 27 Views
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The Most Absurd Laws from Around the World |
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May 12, 2008 - 4:43 PM - by Digital Dave
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David J. is on fire today.
I just read this list and even we here in the States have some pretty... how shall I say this... interesting laws.
I imagine that the reason most of these laws and bans still exist is that no one has gotten around to changing them. However, they’re totally worth laughing at and leave you imagining where the hell they might have come from. This is what happens when legal power lands in the wrong hands.
1) - The United Kingdom - * It is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament. The reasoning behind this is that technically anyone who dies within the walls of Parliament is automatically granted a Royal state funeral.
Much More....
More Crazy Laws.
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0 Replies | 73 Views
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Visual Studio 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 Beta Downloads |
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May 12, 2008 - 4:32 PM - by Digital Dave
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For the "I have to have it now" crowd.
Visual Studio 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 significantly improves the developer experience during the development process, and at runtime. These additions cover a range of highly requested customer features that continue to make Visual Studio the best software development tool available. For more information, see Visual Studio 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1, or visit the Visual Studio 2008 SP1 (Beta) Forum.
Grab It Over On msdn.microsoft.com
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0 Replies | 46 Views
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Microsoft and Blackberry - BIG LOVE! |
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May 12, 2008 - 2:00 PM - by Digital Dave
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Well, you knew this was going to happen sooner or later.
It seems the folks at both Microsoft and RIM (Blackberry) have agreed to allow access to both Hotmail accounts and Windows Messenger chat... stuff.
Microsoft has been trying to get more of it's "Live" services into the hands of the mobile consumer and it looks like they are finally succeeding.
You can read all about it over on EWeek.com.
Full Article Eweek.com
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0 Replies | 58 Views
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Microsoft Blocked YOUTUBE Over The Weekend... |
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May 12, 2008 - 1:28 PM - by Digital Dave
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Officially from Microsoft they said it was a mistake. Uh... yea...
Users of Microsoft's instant-messaging service found themselves unable to share links to YouTube videos on Friday evening and Saturday morning, sparking brief worries of a possible Microsoft-led effort to block access to the Google-owned video-sharing site.
Microsoft said in a blog posting Sunday that the issue was a mistake made by the third party that handles blocking of potentially unsafe content for MSN Messenger and Windows Live Messenger.
"As some of you noticed, we had a problem from Friday night to Saturday morning where our Messenger service was incorrectly blocking some legitimate IP addresses," a Microsoft employee said on the company's Messenger blog. "We sincerely apologize for any difficulties this caused our users."
Full Breakdown Over on News.com
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0 Replies | 50 Views
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