Tuesday, October 20, 2009
The Registry, it's Your Friend, and Your Enemy
The Windows registry is a great idea, and works well, usually. You may wonder why I say that. Well, the truth is, if it weren't for the registry, Windows would have to look in lots of places for information about how to make windows run. You can think of environment variables, paths, applications, application settings, a whole number of things. However, all this information is in one place, allowing Windows to run more efficiently than the old days. Why is this bad? Because, as you continue using your system, this registry gets corrupted, and as it gets corrupted, it will cause your computer to slow down, and even begin to have stability issues. Even with this, there's good news. There are tools you can download to help clean up these errors. I have a site where I review many of these tools to help you keep your windows registry healthy, and your computer running strong.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
XP: I Bet Microsoft Wishes it Would Just GO AWAY
Interesting piece on Slashdot.org saying that Dell will be offering Windows XP on new PCs past the June 30 cutoff. While this may sound bad on the surface, after all, WHO would want to use an old operating system, it really is good news. Why do I say that? It's quite simple really. Windows XP works, and as we mentioned a few days ago, Vista is still a work in progress. Dell gets this. They understand that most, if not all of their customers, don't want a system that half works or one that will need constant upgrades. They are simply listening to their customers and the market in general.
Microsoft probably has another take on this. They spent lots and lots of money building Vista, and people aren't adopting it as well as Microsoft would like. Perhaps now is the time Microsoft will start listening to their customer base and give them what they need and want, rather than what Microsoft wants to give them.
Here is a list of things I'd like to see Microsoft do to help us with Windows:
1) Lock down all ports not necessary to run the OS. They've done this with Windows Server 2008, which is a really good start, but should have been done a long time ago.
2) Get rid of Visual Basic Script. If you look at how many viruses are written in .vbs files, it's an alarming number.Removing support for VBS would be a great step toward securing Windows and making it more secure.
3) Remove IE from the OS, and separate it into a component that can be installed or not installed as desired. IE is OK as a browser, but shouldn't be imbedded into the Operating System. The OS should be as lean as possible, with modules that can be installed or not installed as desired. Perhaps a smaller, simpler version of Windows Explorer could be included in Windows as the shell, but IE be included as an option instead of a core component.
4) Better tools to keep Windows clean. Instead of giving us Media Player, IE, and other "fluff" applications as a part of the windows core, a really GOOD registry cleaner would be nice. Microsoft designed the Windows Registry. Who better to know how to keep it clean, than them? They could even embed registry cleaning into the shutdown process and make it transparent to the end user.
5) As much as I'd like to say quality virus and spyware protection, I can't. These are applications that need to update regularly and quickly. While many people write viruses for Windows, I think this space is better left to third parties like McAffee and Norton.
6) A workable firewall implementation. Current Windows firewalls, tend to err on the side of denying everything. Setting up a basic firewall that will allow outgoing requests while denying anything inbound shouldn't be that difficult.
Thoughts?
Microsoft probably has another take on this. They spent lots and lots of money building Vista, and people aren't adopting it as well as Microsoft would like. Perhaps now is the time Microsoft will start listening to their customer base and give them what they need and want, rather than what Microsoft wants to give them.
Here is a list of things I'd like to see Microsoft do to help us with Windows:
1) Lock down all ports not necessary to run the OS. They've done this with Windows Server 2008, which is a really good start, but should have been done a long time ago.
2) Get rid of Visual Basic Script. If you look at how many viruses are written in .vbs files, it's an alarming number.Removing support for VBS would be a great step toward securing Windows and making it more secure.
3) Remove IE from the OS, and separate it into a component that can be installed or not installed as desired. IE is OK as a browser, but shouldn't be imbedded into the Operating System. The OS should be as lean as possible, with modules that can be installed or not installed as desired. Perhaps a smaller, simpler version of Windows Explorer could be included in Windows as the shell, but IE be included as an option instead of a core component.
4) Better tools to keep Windows clean. Instead of giving us Media Player, IE, and other "fluff" applications as a part of the windows core, a really GOOD registry cleaner would be nice. Microsoft designed the Windows Registry. Who better to know how to keep it clean, than them? They could even embed registry cleaning into the shutdown process and make it transparent to the end user.
5) As much as I'd like to say quality virus and spyware protection, I can't. These are applications that need to update regularly and quickly. While many people write viruses for Windows, I think this space is better left to third parties like McAffee and Norton.
6) A workable firewall implementation. Current Windows firewalls, tend to err on the side of denying everything. Setting up a basic firewall that will allow outgoing requests while denying anything inbound shouldn't be that difficult.
Thoughts?
Sunday, April 20, 2008
What? Vista a "Work in Progress?"
There's an interesting story on slashdot today. It has to do with Microsoft, and their admitting that Vista is a work in progress. What strikes me odd about this, and why I'm mentioning it on a blog on how to keep Windows running is simple. First, they [Microsoft] have basically said here that Vista was early. They don't think 5 year release cycles are good, so rather than calling XP a stable OS and building on it, they made a mistake by building a new interface and OS from the ground up. They also admit that Vista takes more hardware and disk space to run than XP. While I don't necessarily think that is a bad thing, as you add more functionality, the number of instructions needed to complete each task is increased, this requiring both more space and hardware normally.
What bothers me, is the way they released this to the public, many of whom are not your average "geek" and expected them to just live with all the problems until patches and service packs could fix all the bugs. Will they fix the bugs? Yeah, they will. Eventually. Will this hurt Microsoft's reputation of having stable systems since 2000 and XP? Perhaps. Will they survive it? Absolutely. Perhaps this is why they've been so willing to release a system before its time. It will be interesting to see when this mentality takes over in Apple as well.
So, what can you do today to help keep your system running at top performance? Well, to start with, make sure you have no viruses or spyware on your computer. Remove any old software no longer in use, and defrag your hard drive. These are a couple of simple steps you can use to help keep 2000 or XP running at its peak, so hopefully you don't get bitten by Vista until it's no longer a "Work In Progress"
If you need spyware protection or anti-virus software, you can see my review sites for each by clicking the links in this article.
What bothers me, is the way they released this to the public, many of whom are not your average "geek" and expected them to just live with all the problems until patches and service packs could fix all the bugs. Will they fix the bugs? Yeah, they will. Eventually. Will this hurt Microsoft's reputation of having stable systems since 2000 and XP? Perhaps. Will they survive it? Absolutely. Perhaps this is why they've been so willing to release a system before its time. It will be interesting to see when this mentality takes over in Apple as well.
So, what can you do today to help keep your system running at top performance? Well, to start with, make sure you have no viruses or spyware on your computer. Remove any old software no longer in use, and defrag your hard drive. These are a couple of simple steps you can use to help keep 2000 or XP running at its peak, so hopefully you don't get bitten by Vista until it's no longer a "Work In Progress"
If you need spyware protection or anti-virus software, you can see my review sites for each by clicking the links in this article.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
What? XP is Better than Vista?
On July 22, 2005 Microsoft announced its new line of operating systems and Windows Vista, codenamed 'Longhorn', made its first public appearance. While graphic effects and new user tools certainly looked respectively stunning and very useful, the very last five minutes of the presentation -- price and system requirements -- came as a surprise to many.
No Thanks, I'd Rather Spend My $399 Elsewhere!
Pricing is a major issue in Vista. There are six different versions of the operating system, roughly divided in two target markets, consumer and business, with increasing prices. Consumers can choose between a wealth of four different editions, with three available for developed countries. Windows Vista Starter edition is limited to emerging markets; the Home Basic is intended for budget users with low needs; Vista Home Premium covers the majority of the consumer market. For businesses, there are two versions: Windows Vista Business is designed for small business, while Windows Vista Enterprise, the premium business edition, is only available to customers participating in Microsoft's Software Assurance program. Windows Vista Ultimate contains the complete feature-set and is aimed at enthusiasts.
Prices range between $199 and a 'suggested retail price' of $399, making Vista one of the most expensive, if not the most expensive OS of all times. When it first came out, the XP line included less options (avoiding consumers waste their time choosing their favorite version) and shipped at about 60% of the price Vista has now, almost 3 years after its launch.
1 GB Ram a MINIMUM Requirement?!
While Microsoft claimed that "nearly all PCs on the 2005 market will be able to run Windows Vista", the requirements of many of the 'premium' features, such as the Aero theme, are still a no fly zone for a high percentage of users today. Depending on the version, Vista hardware requirements for a successful installation and everyday use can go to up to 1 GB Ram / 10 GB Hard Drive, certainly a bold and unwanted step compared to XP's 32 MB Ram / 250 Hard Disk space. Malicious users soon started talking about lobbyism between Microsoft and main hardware producers, where Microsoft would have set minimum requirements much higher than is reasonable to somehow 'force' customers to upgrade their hardware.
Vista's high hardware requirements is a point on which software developers are currently working on and have tried to partially (but unsuccessfully) fix with the latest Service Pack release that would both fix security bugs and some of the performance issues. While performance was claimed to be increased by up to 5%, users tend not to see the results of the upgrade.
Have I Already Seen This Somewhere?
Unlike XP's unique design, Vista aspect and theme has often been compared to the Aqua interface of Apple's Mac Os X, often by the same Apple CEO Steve Jobs during many of his notorious Keynote addresses held once every six months. Similarities are stunning and quite evident and include, but are not limited to: the Aqua design and theme, calendar and mail application, the chess application, different aspects in window behavior, and so on. Apple even produced a TV ad to explain of all these similarities, which substantially help put this thought in the mind of the consumers.
It Worked on XP... Why not in Vista?
While XP features a very useful set of options that let you run any given application in a way that is compatible with every single Microsoft operating system since Windows 95, Windows Vista is facing serious compatibility problems with many of the games and utility programs that previously worked in XP and now can no longer work under Vista, not even in a virtual machine environment. As of July 2007, there are about 2000 applications with the 'Vista Compatibility Logo'. That may sound like a lot, but is actually an extremely low percentage compared to the number of programs that can currently work under XP, either natively or in simulation modality.
Annoying Security Guard ends up Putting your Files in Danger!
Windows XP security was, while certainly not flawless, at least working to a reasonable level. Vista security, on the other hand, may only be described as overzealous: every action you do that has a potentially dangerous consequence for your security yields a truly annoying alert asking you to authorize or deny permission and confirm the operation. Curiously, even this aspect was featured in an Apple TV commercial, and is maybe known as one of the most annoying features of the system. Many users, in fact, will end up completely disabling the security system, with dangerous consequences in terms of security. When a security system practically prompts so many users to disable it, clearly there is something wrong there.
In the end, 'downgrading' from Vista to XP is probably worth the effort. And I put 'downgrading' between apostrophes because, all things considered, a passage from Vista to XP seems much more like an upgrade at this point!
Check out more articles and resources from this author here: http://wysinnwyg.altervista.org
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dario_Borghino
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Why clean the registry?
There are a variety of reasons to clean up your Windows registry. If you have experienced a slow performance when using your computer, malfunctions with your hardware, continual freezing, crashes and system errors, then running PC Diagnostics tool can fix all of those problems.
The reason why a PC Diagnostics tool shines is that it is easy to use and customize. The result is that you're able to fix your Windows registry in a way that you're comfortable with, as well as being able to fix it more efficiently. At the same time, with one click you can have it perform automatically so you don't even have to mess with creating a custom scan. In other words, you can choose what you are most comfortable with.
When running Diagnostics tools, you can monitor the scan while it is in progress. At the same time, you can even schedule scans to occur automatically, so your Windows registry can be maintained and cleaned automatically. In this case, you may schedule to run a scan at a time when you are not on your computer, such as at night when you're sleeping. This way it does not interfere with any of your tasks.
Another benefit of using Diagnostics tools are that you do not run into compatibility issues as you would with other registry cleaners. In fact, Computer Diagnostics tools have been found to be compatible with all major Windows operating systems. Another benefit of a PC Diagnostics tool is that it has backup utilities to ensure the safety of your operating system while a scan is taking place.
What can you expect after running PC Diagnostics tools? The first thing you'll notice is that your performance speed goes up. Just like your car requires certain maintenance to run efficiently, so does your computer. Prolonged use can corrupt Windows registry, if the registry isn't cleaned consistently. Otherwise, remnants of information from installed software and hardware, as well as the use of applications and command signals will accumulate over time and bog the system down.
If you want to assure that your computer is performing its best, it needs to be maintained properly. PC Diagnostics tools does this for you. The best thing about PC Diagnostics tools are that it offers a free scan to diagnose any potential problems you may have. If you are new to registry cleaning, then you owe it to yourself -- and your computer -- to take advantage of this free scan.
Otherwise, you may not even know about all the problems going on inside your computer.
Dennis Savoy
http://www.registry-repairing.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dennis_Savoy
The reason why a PC Diagnostics tool shines is that it is easy to use and customize. The result is that you're able to fix your Windows registry in a way that you're comfortable with, as well as being able to fix it more efficiently. At the same time, with one click you can have it perform automatically so you don't even have to mess with creating a custom scan. In other words, you can choose what you are most comfortable with.
When running Diagnostics tools, you can monitor the scan while it is in progress. At the same time, you can even schedule scans to occur automatically, so your Windows registry can be maintained and cleaned automatically. In this case, you may schedule to run a scan at a time when you are not on your computer, such as at night when you're sleeping. This way it does not interfere with any of your tasks.
Another benefit of using Diagnostics tools are that you do not run into compatibility issues as you would with other registry cleaners. In fact, Computer Diagnostics tools have been found to be compatible with all major Windows operating systems. Another benefit of a PC Diagnostics tool is that it has backup utilities to ensure the safety of your operating system while a scan is taking place.
What can you expect after running PC Diagnostics tools? The first thing you'll notice is that your performance speed goes up. Just like your car requires certain maintenance to run efficiently, so does your computer. Prolonged use can corrupt Windows registry, if the registry isn't cleaned consistently. Otherwise, remnants of information from installed software and hardware, as well as the use of applications and command signals will accumulate over time and bog the system down.
If you want to assure that your computer is performing its best, it needs to be maintained properly. PC Diagnostics tools does this for you. The best thing about PC Diagnostics tools are that it offers a free scan to diagnose any potential problems you may have. If you are new to registry cleaning, then you owe it to yourself -- and your computer -- to take advantage of this free scan.
Otherwise, you may not even know about all the problems going on inside your computer.
Dennis Savoy
http://www.registry-repairing.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dennis_Savoy
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Why Clean the Registry?
There are a variety of reasons to clean up your Windows registry. If you have experienced a slow performance when using your computer, malfunctions with your hardware, continual freezing, crashes and system errors, then running PC Diagnostics tool can fix all of those problems.
The reason why a PC Diagnostics tool shines is that it is easy to use and customize. The result is that you're able to fix your Windows registry in a way that you're comfortable with, as well as being able to fix it more efficiently. At the same time, with one click you can have it perform automatically so you don't even have to mess with creating a custom scan. In other words, you can choose what you are most comfortable with.
When running Diagnostics tools, you can monitor the scan while it is in progress. At the same time, you can even schedule scans to occur automatically, so your Windows registry can be maintained and cleaned automatically. In this case, you may schedule to run a scan at a time when you are not on your computer, such as at night when you're sleeping. This way it does not interfere with any of your tasks.
Another benefit of using Diagnostics tools are that you do not run into compatibility issues as you would with other registry cleaners. In fact, Computer Diagnostics tools have been found to be compatible with all major Windows operating systems. Another benefit of a PC Diagnostics tool is that it has backup utilities to ensure the safety of your operating system while a scan is taking place.
What can you expect after running PC Diagnostics tools? The first thing you'll notice is that your performance speed goes up. Just like your car requires certain maintenance to run efficiently, so does your computer. Prolonged use can corrupt Windows registry, if the registry isn't cleaned consistently. Otherwise, remnants of information from installed software and hardware, as well as the use of applications and command signals will accumulate over time and bog the system down.
If you want to assure that your computer is performing its best, it needs to be maintained properly. PC Diagnostics tools does this for you. The best thing about PC Diagnostics tools are that it offers a free scan to diagnose any potential problems you may have. If you are new to registry cleaning, then you owe it to yourself -- and your computer -- to take advantage of this free scan.
Otherwise, you may not even know about all the problems going on inside your computer.
Dennis Savoy
http://www.registry-repairing.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dennis_Savoy
The reason why a PC Diagnostics tool shines is that it is easy to use and customize. The result is that you're able to fix your Windows registry in a way that you're comfortable with, as well as being able to fix it more efficiently. At the same time, with one click you can have it perform automatically so you don't even have to mess with creating a custom scan. In other words, you can choose what you are most comfortable with.
When running Diagnostics tools, you can monitor the scan while it is in progress. At the same time, you can even schedule scans to occur automatically, so your Windows registry can be maintained and cleaned automatically. In this case, you may schedule to run a scan at a time when you are not on your computer, such as at night when you're sleeping. This way it does not interfere with any of your tasks.
Another benefit of using Diagnostics tools are that you do not run into compatibility issues as you would with other registry cleaners. In fact, Computer Diagnostics tools have been found to be compatible with all major Windows operating systems. Another benefit of a PC Diagnostics tool is that it has backup utilities to ensure the safety of your operating system while a scan is taking place.
What can you expect after running PC Diagnostics tools? The first thing you'll notice is that your performance speed goes up. Just like your car requires certain maintenance to run efficiently, so does your computer. Prolonged use can corrupt Windows registry, if the registry isn't cleaned consistently. Otherwise, remnants of information from installed software and hardware, as well as the use of applications and command signals will accumulate over time and bog the system down.
If you want to assure that your computer is performing its best, it needs to be maintained properly. PC Diagnostics tools does this for you. The best thing about PC Diagnostics tools are that it offers a free scan to diagnose any potential problems you may have. If you are new to registry cleaning, then you owe it to yourself -- and your computer -- to take advantage of this free scan.
Otherwise, you may not even know about all the problems going on inside your computer.
Dennis Savoy
http://www.registry-repairing.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dennis_Savoy
Monday, April 7, 2008
Is your windows computer really secure?
Is your computer safe? Are you SURE? I hope you're not thinking, "Of course it's safe, it's on a desk (or the floor) so it can't fall on anyone." That's not what I mean. What I mean, is are you "hackerproof?" Your computer might have things running that you don't need. Need a web server? Probably not, but Microsoft IIS is probably running in the background. Telnet? It might be running as well. These are avenues a hacker could use to get control of your computer and use it to send spam, or worse, attack other computers. So how can you tell if your computer is at risk? The first step, is to install a good firewall.
There are two distinct types of firewalls out there. The first is a hardware firewall. These are devices that form a virtual "barrier" between you and the internet. Linksys, D-Link, Belkin, NetGear and other manufacturers make these types of firewalls. I highly recommend using one. The other type of firewall is software. Applications like ZoneLabs ZoneAlert, or Norton Internet Security are examples of Software firewalls. So which type is best for you? The answer to that is a definitive, "It depends." It depends on what you're going to use your computer for. If you have a laptop, and will be taking it to Starbucks or other places other than your home, you should have a software firewall. If you have a desktop or tower computer, perhaps just a hardware firewall is good enough for you. Even if you have a hardware firewall, I still recommend using a software firewall as well. You can never have too much security.
Wanna see if you're at risk, check out ShieldsUp! from Gibson Research Center. It's a great tool to see how protected you are.
So what does this have to do with keeping windows running? Hackers bring systems down, what better way to keep your system running than to keep it secure.
There are two distinct types of firewalls out there. The first is a hardware firewall. These are devices that form a virtual "barrier" between you and the internet. Linksys, D-Link, Belkin, NetGear and other manufacturers make these types of firewalls. I highly recommend using one. The other type of firewall is software. Applications like ZoneLabs ZoneAlert, or Norton Internet Security are examples of Software firewalls. So which type is best for you? The answer to that is a definitive, "It depends." It depends on what you're going to use your computer for. If you have a laptop, and will be taking it to Starbucks or other places other than your home, you should have a software firewall. If you have a desktop or tower computer, perhaps just a hardware firewall is good enough for you. Even if you have a hardware firewall, I still recommend using a software firewall as well. You can never have too much security.
Wanna see if you're at risk, check out ShieldsUp! from Gibson Research Center. It's a great tool to see how protected you are.
So what does this have to do with keeping windows running? Hackers bring systems down, what better way to keep your system running than to keep it secure.
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