Microsoft free tech help for Virus & Spyware

Yes it is free support from Microsoft if you need help getting rid of Virus and Spyware. Just give them a call at 866-PCSAFETY ( 866-727-2338 ).

Create your Own Custom Logo in Windows

If you ever wonder how OEM vendors customize there computer's with their own logo. Here is how they do it. Open up any photo editing program and create a pixel image 180x114 pixel. Save the image as a bitmap and name it oemlogo.bmp then place it in c:\windows\system32. Then create a notepad file the same folder and save it as oeminfo.ini - this file is usually contains customer support information but you can omit that as long as you use the following format.

[General]
Manufacturer=Elite PC
Model =Dream Machine

[Support Information]
line1=For even more great tips visit
line2=www.plasencia.us

Copying Files & Saying No To All

If your copying files and there is a duplicate file name you usually select Yes to All and it goes a long way until the files finish copying. But there is no No To All when copying files, so to force Windows to repeat the command over and over again. All you have to do is hold down the SHIFT key the first time you say No and it should repeat again and again.

Symantec 3 user Rip Off

Consumer beware when they buy a Symantec 3 user license.
The day when you install the first license is the day that your license is activated for all three users. So let's say if you never get to use the third license. The day you install the third license. Even though you never used it, it expires when the first license was installed. It's a rip off because your paying for something that you may never use. So before you buy make sure you have three computers that need a new license.

Vista for Beginners

Heard so much commotion about Microsoft Vista but haven't really learned enough. Try the great tutorial sites to learn what Vista can do to you.
Vista 4 Beginners
Vista via Lifehacker
Oreillynet

Jumpcut

Want to create your own movie using your own music and pictures online. Jumpcut is your new friend to make your movie come to life. It will only make your very creative.

Hulu Free Television

Want free television for your computer. Simple just sign up for Hulu and watch free television on the web. Why pay for it, when it's free.

Cyberlink Live

Want to watch television, see photo's, share videos, play music, monitor web cams and download documents. Then Cyberlink Live is what you need to be looking at. The software basically is installed on your main home computer in which you install the remote access software to view all the above. It turns your computer in to a multimedia device that you can share with friends and family.

Sync Files Using a USB

Like to use USB thumb drives. Here is a great tip on how to use Windows Briefcase to Sync all the files from your USB drive into your computer. By clicking on the file in the flash drive window -> click New -> and then Briefcase. Copy one or more folders as a Sync copy. To Sync the thumbdrive files with the computer files just click on the new Briefcase file and click UPDATE ALL.

Register your Laptop before you leave the country

It may sound innocent but if you do not register your laptop before you leave the country. When you return back to the U.S., customs may charge you an import duty.
So stay ahead of the game and register your laptop if you plan some day to travel outside of the U.S.

Send More 1 Gig files online

Need to send some big files online try these others sites as well.
DropSend
Senduit

Online Photo Editors

If you need to tweak your photo's online, try these free online editors

Links:
Picnik
FotoFlexer
SplashUp
Pixlr

Mint

Like Quicken & Money for personal finances but hate that you always have to upgrade yearly. Check out Mint. It's an online base personal finance software that is always up to date. It's currently in BETA version and it's free. So now it's a great time to do your finances online for free.

Cell Phone Mobile Chargers

Looking for a battery operated Cell Phone charger. Here are a few cool items with the amount of minutes it takes to charge each phone and the battery life before the unit needs a replacement battery.

Energizer Energito go instant Cell phone charger - charge 46 min/3 to 9 hours per charge depending on phone.
Turbo Charge TB550 - charge 32 minutes/3 full charges
Iogear Gearjuice - 57 minutes/500 cycles
iRecharge ERUSB1 by Cellboost - not a full charge but 22 minutes/250 to 350 full charge
Kensington Portable Power Pack for mobile devices - 27 minutes/more than 300 charges

Surf Anonymously

Here are a few software links to surf anonymously:

You will loose speed and not all websites are friendly because your using their proxy to conceal your ip address.
Proxify

List of available proxies but beware some might steal your information.
Available Proxies

A nice USB key software for surfing the net use Torpark

If your currently using Firefox you might want to install the Stealther extension.


To verify that your IP address is hidden go to this site to confirm your
IP Address

Downgrade Vista to XP

This might not be that easy if you think about it. You have to know if you want to still have Vista on your computer by setting up a dual boot or just wipe out Vista and load Windows XP.
If your going to do a dual boot on your computer to have Vista & XP installed download the Disk Part Tool on the Vista installation disk or GParted to create a second partition.
Disk Part Tool
DeParted
You can also use EasyBCD - you'll have to add the drive letter and change type to Windows NT/2k/Xp/2k3. Click add entry then save. When you'll reboot your computer the bootloader will appear.
EasyBCD


Note
Be aware that some high performance computers can't handle AHCI mode on SATA drives so you would most likely have to go into the bios and disable AHCI mode.
Also when doing a dual boot with XP & Vista you'll have problems loading Vista. That can be fixed by using the Vista DVD and selecting Repair your computer ont the install screen and select start up.

Vista Sidebar Upgrade

Here are some great sidebars. Download them and install them yourself.

App Launcher
Clipboard Manager
Memory Meter
Mini Outlook Inbox
Network Utilization

RIAA changing it's stragedy

Now the RIAA will no longer prosecute individuals for downloading music. But they will instead focus on internet service providers. It's more money for the RIAA and less chances for individuals to get caught. Eventually internet service providers will be the one's to take actions against the individuals, or be forced to terminate consumer services.

Vista Hotfixes

Can't wait for Vista Service Pack 1

Here are some fixes but you'll have to download and install it yourself.
In most cases they do significant changes to some computers.
Just make sure these KB fixes are not already installed on your computer.

IP addresses problems with network setup
IP fix
PC sleep mode Errors
Poor Video
Slow Performance for 3G connections
Connect a fail Network Printer
Also make sure these fixes are installed as well
938194 fix
938979 fix
You can also see earlier fixes of SP1 at
Hotfix
Additional releases at Download Hot fix

Vista Tweaks

Looking for Vista tweaks well here it goes:

Get rid of the User Account Control
Remove UAC

Boost your computer then go to tiny url and download the free application called TweakVI - the free version of the software is all that you need.
PC Boost

Command Line rights - just type cmd in the search box - but it will be restricted on some users. In order to unrestrict it type CMD then press Cntrl-Shift-Enter now you can run commands as an administrator. Also works when you type CMD.exe in the search box. How you know your in the Admin unrestricted command prompt all you do is look at the prefix to say Administrator.

Add tab browser to Explorer - just download QT TabBar
Browser TabBar