windows

Laptop owners who upgrade their Windows XP and Windows Vista machines to Windows 7 are complaining that Microsoft's new operating system (OS) is severely reducing their available battery life. Many users are voicing complaints on Microsoft's TechNet ... forums that after upgrading their notebooks, battery life is dropping from two hours to a half hour. (Source: microsoft.com ) The problem appears to be caused by a new tool Microsoft designed to alert users when their battery needs to be replaced. According to some of the TechNet posts, the alert appears time and time again, even as a battery ... (view more)

Security firm Sophos tells PC World that two security measures introduced in Windows Vista and expanded in Windows 7 have had a marked effect on levels of infection on computers. Nevertheless, several online security professionals have reminded ... users of Windows 7 that while the new operating system (OS) offers enhanced security over its predecessors, it's not invulnerable. They note that human vulnerabilities will always leave people at risk to hackers. Two New Security Features Mark Improvements Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) partially randomizes the order in which data is stored ... (view more)

With Windows 7 only recently released and by all accounts faring quite well amongst business and home users alike, it's hard to imagine Microsoft plotting the release of Windows 8 for any year in the near future. However, an ex-employee blog ... suggests otherwise. Microsoft's Windows 7 was released only in October (the 22nd, to be exact), and since that time has turned Vista-haters and other critics into big fans of the Windows platform once again. In a recent Windows 7 survey , digital content distributor Steam found that almost 1 in 4 of its users had converted to the new operating system (OS ... (view more)

One of the most crucial mistakes Microsoft made with its 2007 perating system (OS) Vista was fail to convince gamers that the OS was worth an upgrade. Vista, by all accounts, slowed down systems more than necessary, making it one more obstacle in ... the quest to play titles like Crysis at the maximum video frames per second. It seems, however, that the Redmond-based company's attempt to rectify that situation with the new Windows 7 is paying off. According to a recent survey performed by video game download center Steam, users of the increasingly popular operating system account for an ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader Bill P. writes: " Dear Dennis, I finally made the plunge to Win7, thanks to your series of articles on upgrading from XP to Windows 7 . I noticed that Outlook Express is no longer part of Windows 7. Question: is there another ... email program similar to Outlook Express, and one that can import all my old Outlook Express emails for use on Windows 7? I've archived many Outlook Express emails over the years that I would still like to keep. " My response: I faced the exact same issue when I upgraded to Windows 7. In short: Microsoft chose not to bundle an email program with ... (view more)

Comodo Time Machine Comodo Time Machine (CTM) is an alternative to the Windows System Restore. It is a rollback utility that allows users to quickly restore their computers to an earlier point in time using CTM 'snapshots'. Snapshots are contain ... system properties, including the registry, critical operating system files and user created documents. http://www.comodo.com Windows Double Explorer Windows Double Explorer manages two or more Windows Explorers in one application. Also you can add your favorite folders with drag and drop to the toolbar for quick access. It's similar to Norton ... (view more)

A change made to Windows in 1993 may have opened up a security hole that, surprisingly, remains unpatched today. The issue is unlikely to affect home users but could pose a risk to corporate networks. The problem stems from Windows NT version 3.1, ... which was one of the first 32-bit operating systems. As with the recent development of 64-bit operating systems, this meant some compatibility problems with older software. At the time, Microsoft added a feature known as a Virtual DOS (Disk Operating System) machine to run 16-bit applications on the system. The feature has been a fixture ever since ... (view more)

Microsoft announced yesterday that it was working on a special emergency patch to prevent the spread of an Internet Explorer zero-day flaw in its Internet Explorer browser that allowed hackers to breach the defenses of Google, Adobe, and about 32 ... other companies. The attack is said to be "the most sophisticated cyber attack... seen in years," according to tech security firm McAfee . Now, Microsoft is offering recommendations for home and business users trying to keep themselves protected until the Internet Explorer patch is widely available. Older Versions of IE, Windows Most ... (view more)

Infopackets reader 'DL' writes: " For nearly a decade I've been able to use a pan-and-scan virtual desktop in Windows 98 and XP. For clarification, a pan-and-scan virtual desktop is a desktop that actually extends beyond your monitor's maximum ... screen resolution to give you about twice as much real estate. For example, when you move your cursor to the edge of the screen using a pan-and-scan virtual desktop, the screen moves to reveal more desktop. This enables you to open, say a document full page and not have to use those darned time-consuming scroll bars. It's an incredible productivity ... (view more)

Apple's much-hyped tablet computer could be on sale within a few months . But now Microsoft has responded by promoting its own tablet PC in partnership with HP. The Windows 7 Tablet: by HP Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer showed off the device as part of ... his major address to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Wednesday night. The computer is effectively a Windows 7 notebook but in the form of a single touchscreen rather than a separate keyboard and display. Pricing isn't confirmed, though reports are that it will be sold for less than $500. The new device is produced by HP, and not Microsoft. ... (view more)