Comments on Upgrading to Windows 7

By terry Leave a Comment

Longtime subscriber Clif of the Clif Notes Newsletter wrote about my Windows 7 installation experience articles in last week’s online issue:


Hi Terry,

Thanks for the preview of the hassle to come when I move my laptop to win7 from the RC. Hopefully the drivers I have backed up will work. I’m hoping the driver backups I have will help me avoid the issues that you had getting the correct drivers installed.

See the following:

Continue reading Comments on Upgrading to Windows 7

Filed Under: Software, Speed-up, System Repair, Terry's Computer Tips, Updates, Upgrades, Usability, Vista, Windows 7, Windows Repair, Windows Updates, Windows XP

To Active-X or Not to Active-X

By terry Leave a Comment

I received a question from subscriber and friend Ralph Campbell, who asked:

A number of times I have seen you refer disparagingly of “Active-x controls”.
I have seen downloads that require Active X to run properly. I have read the definition of the program, but, I guess I am just dense. What is this thing, and why do you consider it so insidious?
Admittedly, I’m technical-challenged, but can this program be explained?
What does one do as an alternative, if the program you want to download, requires Active-X to run?
Ralph Campbell

Active-X controls are downloadable programs that have full capabilities to do anything on your computer.

I’m not sure why Microsoft chose such the innocuous word “control” for a program that had no security constraints imposed upon it.

Read the rest of the article in ActiveX or No ActiveX

Filed Under: Anti-Spyware, Internet Explorer, Internet Privacy, Security, Stability, System Control, Windows Updates, Windows XP

Microsoft Update versus Windows Update

By terry Leave a Comment

It’s time for another article on Microsoft Update and why we should be using it.

Although Microsoft has been recommending that users switch from Windows Updates to Microsoft Updates since mid-2005, at the end of 2006 new computers from at least one major manufacturer were still being shipped with Windows Update and not Microsoft Update

If you’re running Windows XP, the choice is simple. Switch to Microsoft Updates!

Read more in Microsoft Update versus Windows Update

Filed Under: Microsoft Updates, Terry's Computer Tips, Updates, Windows Updates, Windows XP

Windows Security Updates Fix Vista Issue, too

By terry 1 Comment

AP has a good article about yesterday’s “Patch Tuesday” updates from Microsoft. Microsoft releases almost all updates on one day each month — the 2nd Tuesday of the month.

This time, there were 6 crifical updates, including one for the “malicious software engine” that powers Windows Defender, including on Vista.

What kind of problem? The usual — a flaw that could let the attacker take over the whole computer! In the anti-malware program, no less…

If you haven’t done your Microsoft Updates, do them now. IF you’re still using Windows Updates, start Windows Updates manually, then click on the option on the right-hand side of the screen to upgrade to Microsoft Updates.

Microsoft Updates will update Windows, Word, Excel, Powerpoint and other Microsoft programs — all in one step. Windows Updates only handled Windows — you had to go to other places at microsoft.com to get the other updates.

Filed Under: Anti-Adware, Anti-phishing, Anti-spam, Anti-Spyware, Microsoft Updates, Other, Windows Repair, Windows Updates