MS Windows Vista Compatible Software

Checking out Windows Virtual PC with XP Mode

Teching It Easy: Windows Vista, Live & 7 — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:39:58 +0000

Compatibility is always a sensitive issue when it comes to a new version of Windows. Microsoft takes it very seriously and considers it a hallmark of the Windows platform, making it easy for users to transition to a new release with little or no hiccups. With the release of Windows XP, Microsoft introduced Compatibility Mode, which let older applications run on the OS emulating supported versions of Windows with the ability to save settings so that your applications will start in the correct mode every time. Compatibility Mode worked in some cases and others it did not.

Windows Vista's compatibility story was a tough one, simply because of the fundamental changes that were made to enhance the system's security foundations. This ultimately affected how older applications would function, because many older applications were written with the intention of running under Administrative privileges. Meaning, some applications were designed to write to parts of the system that were considered vulnerable to attack and malicious activity. It is a beneficial change that has greatly helped the security initiative in Windows. Windows Vista's kernel version change also affected how certain applications tried to install on the system, since applications were hard coded to check for a specific version of Windows. Microsoft's solution to Vista's compatibility woes included the Virtual PC 2007 utility which allowed Windows customers to run a virtualized copy of Windows XP or 2000 and still run their legacy applications in a suitable environment while transitioning to the latest version of Windows. Although it was a solution it required a costly overhead in resources while being a cumbersome experience of having to switch between the host operating system (Vista) and the guest operating system (XP or 2000).

I recently migrated from Windows 7 RC to Windows 7 RTM, I also moved to the final version of Microsoft's virtualization solution for small businesses and power users running legacy applications; Windows XP Mode. Back in July I started using the first beta and found it a handy solution on Windows 7 64 bit since my GPRS modem is not compatible with Windows 7 64 bit, so I was able to use the Internet through XP Mode. I also benefited from XP mode for 3 key legacy applications: Microsoft PhotoDraw 2000 v2, Print Shop 5.0 and Hallmark Card Studio 1.0 This article takes a look at some of the improvements since the beta and RC were released. Prior to Windows Virtual PC with XP Mode, Microsoft's most popular virtualization solution was (and in some way, still is) Virtual PC 2007 which supports systems that do not have a processor with hardware based virtualization technology. XP Mode is a more sophisticated solution, in addition to the ability to running Windows XP in a virtual environment, you can publish applications from within the Virtual Machine and use them along side Windows 7 applications without the need for the operating system layer.

What is Virtualization?

Virtualization is jargon that has caught on with many who are in the Information Technology realm. Virtualization involves using non-physical solutions that would often involve deploying physical hardware resources. In the world of Virtualization a Virtual Machine takes the place of a physical machine, providing similar resources, only non-tangible, this is done on a machine with appropriate resources such as a powerful CPU, lots of Memory and in some cases a GPU (graphical processing unit) depending on the desired capabilities to efficiently run one or more "virtual" instances of an operating system. For instance, I could own a computer with a 2 GHz processor, 3 GBs of memory and be able to run an additional operating system on top of the included operating system, whether it be Windows or Linux without the need to have another machine by sharing some of the resources of the computer with the virtual machine.

Setup

As I noted earlier, to use XP Mode, your computers processor (CPU) needs to support hardware based virtualization. This can be recognized by standards such as Intel-VT and AMD-V. Some computers might not have this capability built in, so I recommend you check Intel or AMD's website to find out if your processor is supported. Some PC Manufacturers might have the technology disabled on certain models requiring that you enable it. Enabling Virtualization support might be a bit complex for novices which requires that you enter your computers BIOS, the experience can vary depending on the manufacturer of your computer.

For more information about the requirements and supported operating systems, see the Windows Virtual PC product page

x86 Virtualization - Wikipedia provides a page with information about which processors from Intel and AMD support virtualization here

Virtualization technologies from Intel

More information about Windows XP Mode for Windows 7

Please follow these steps to enable hardware virtualization:
- Restart the computer and enter BIOS setup (usually F2, F10 or F12 key on your keyboard, you need to do this before the computer loads the Windows operating system.

On my Computer, I had to hit the F10 key, select my language, select Security > System Security and enable the following:
* Virtualization Technology (VTx)
* Virtualization Technology Directed I/O (VTd)
    - Search virtualization setting in BIOS and enable the setting.
    - Save BIOS settings (usually F10).
    - Power off the computer, wait for a few seconds and start the computer.

The next step is to download Windows Virtual PC and Windows XP Mode software, go to the following link: http://www.windows.com/business/downloads

There are two files you will need to download:
1. Windows6.1-KB958559-x64 or x86 depending on the architecture (32 or 64 bit) you are running.

Restart the system, then install:
2. WindowsXPMode_en-us

After downloading and installing Windows6.1-KB958559-x64 you will have to restart your system, then install the WindowsXPMode_en-us file, installation is quick and easy.

After Installation is complete, go ahead and launch Windows XP Mode from the Windows Virtual PC (Start Menu > All Programs group). The software will go through a quick configuration wizard while it details some of the benefits of the software users new to virtualization.

The three applications I will be using for this scenario are:

Microsoft PhotoDraw 2000 v2 - a business graphics solution that was released with the 2000 wave of Office products. PhotoDraw provides features for editing images, vector illustrations and creating web graphics. I love this product because of its easy to use interface and plethora of features for creating cards, certificates and stationery.
Hallmark Card Studio 1.0 - This is a very old 16-bit product that features a very fun interface with a collection of professional greeting cards for any occasion. I never had to go to a store when I was using this program - lets hope it works. :)
The Print Shop 5.0 Premier Edition - I remember back in high school my teacher used this program to create a wide variety of print projects, from programs to flyers. I like its easy to use interface, and wizard based approach to getting task done. Its not a replacement for Microsoft Publisher which I use for more complex projects, but compliments it very well.

Configuring Windows XP Mode

Before you begin installing applications and using XP Mode, it is recommended you configure the software depending on the scenarios it will be used for. If you are using a few applications, it is recommended you adjust the allotted amount of RAM (default 256 MBs) to something a bit more realistic. I have 4 GBs of RAM in my machine, so I decided to give my XP Mode setup at least 1024 MBs of RAM. To do this, click Start > All Programs > Windows Virtual PC > Windows Virtual XP Mode

Select the Windows XP Virtual Machine, Click Settings on the Command Bar

If you are familiar with Windows Virtual PC 2007, the Settings window presents options you are accustomed to seeing. All of the settings listed manages how the Virtual Machine performs and functions. The first setting we will adjust is the amount of RAM, select that option from the list. In the right pane, you will see a field that you can edit. Enter the desired amount, note that this will depend on how much memory is available to the Host operating system (which is your physical computer). Microsoft recommends 2 GBs of memory and an additional 15 GBs of hard disk space per virtual environment to run Windows XP Mode. You are not limited to using the pre-bundled Windows XP Mode, (although its recommended), you can use your own Windows XP installation media. The Virtual Windows XP option is faster than creating your own virtual machine though. All you need to do is download the package that applies to your Windows 7 platform (either 32-bit or 64-bit) and run through the quick setup wizard.

Depending on how your virtual machine is configured when not in use, you might not be able to edit the settings. You must first ensure that it is shut down to make any changes to the Virtual Machines settings. To shutdown the Virtual Machine, click Start > All Programs > Windows Virtual PC > Windows Virtual XP Mode. The Explorer window will open displaying your Virtual Machine along with its current state, as you can see, my own is set to Hibernated. Click Settings on the Command Bar, select 'Close' in the settings window and select the 'Prompt for action' radio box. Each time you close the virtual machine, you can choose to hibernate, shutdown or turn off the virtual machine. This will give you the option to make changes to Virtual Machine when shutdown.

Starting the Virtual Machine

Starting Windows XP Mode

Starting XP Mode is very simple, you can launch Windows XP Mode from the Start Menu > Windows Virtual PC programs group or from the "Command Bar > Open", if you are within the Virtual Machines Explorer.

Installing applications and publishing

Once you have Started Windows XP Mode, you will see a familiar Windows XP environment. Along the top of the screen is the Toolbar that controls your experience working between the host and Virtual Machine, Restarting or Ending your session, connecting USB devices, securing your session, minimizing, maximizing and closing the Virtual Machine.

Installing and using an application in Virtual XP Mode

Installing applications is the same as installing in Windows, simply insert the application disk or connect to your Network resource of your choice, double click the setup file or the auto-run program will begin the installation. Once the installation is complete you can launch the application from the All Programs menu and use it from within Windows XP Mode normally.

Using the application in Virtual Windows XP is very similar to working in Virtual PC, but the key differentiation happens when you virtualize your applications. My next step was to see how I could benefit from Integration Features without having to use the operating system layer. When you install an application, automatically it places a shortcut in the Windows Virtual PC programs group called Virtual Windows XP Applications in Windows 7. When you launch the application from there, Virtual Windows XP will request to close the Virtual Machine (if it is open) because a virtual application cannot run while the virtual machine is open. If you close the virtual machine, any unsaved data will be lost. After this is done, Virtual Windows XP starts the Virtual Application which runs outside of the guest operating system (Windows XP). And that's it, you are able to use the application just as you would a native application installed in Windows 7. The only thing is, you will notice that the application continues to use the guest operating systems look and feel.

If I want, I can use the application in the virtual machine itself

...or I can simply use the program as a virtual app from within Windows 7

So after installing PhotoDraw 2000, I decided to run Hallmark Card studio 1.0 and The Printshop 5.0 to see how that would function. Yup, installed and functioned just fine.

Installing Legacy applications

Understanding Integration Components

Integration components make it easier to use a virtual machine by improving the interaction between physical resources and a virtual machine environment. These are installed automatically when you set up Windows XP mode. For other operating systems, you install them separately after you set up the operating system. Integration components provide access to the following resources:

Clipboard. You can cut, copy, and paste data between the host operating system and the guest operating system. For example, you can copy a URL from the browser in a guest operating system, and paste it to a browser in the host operating system.
Hard drives. This feature makes all the drives on the host available to the virtual machine. You can easily access all host data from within the virtual machine. Note

NOTE: Host hard drives are listed in the guest by using the computer name of the host operating system. For example, on a host computer named WindowTest, the C drive would be listed in the guest operating system as 'C on WindowsTest‘.

Printers. This feature makes it possible to use the same printers in a virtual machine that you can use on the host. To share printers, when Windows XP is the guest operating system, you must also install the printer drivers.
USB devices. Printers, storage devices and smart card readers are automatically shared with virtual machines. Other types of supported USB devices are supported by redirecting them to the virtual machine. For more information, see ?To use a USB device in a virtual machine.

Integration components also make it possible for you to move the mouse seamlessly between the desktops of the host operating system and the guest operating system.

There are some integration limitations with the host operating system

...giving old applications new life

Integration is also a bit different, instead of files saved to the host OS's common directories such as Documents, Pictures, they are saved within the Virtual Machine installation. Some other things users will notice, Virtual applications do not benefit from window management functionality in the host OS such as thumbnail and live previews. Apart from these minor limitations, the application continues to function just as normal. I can use the application without any problems while utilizing the benefits of Windows 7 which is probably the best thing about it. The other cool feature is not having to interact with the operating system layer, just being able to use the application is a great benefit. When you close a virtual machine, it can be hibernated, shut down, or turned off. When a virtual machine is opened from hibernation, it does not go through the boot sequence, so it is available for use faster than if it was turned off or shut down. You can even create shortcuts of your Virtual applications in Windows 7 and even pin them on the Taskbar for quick access.

What about other versions of Windows?

Windows Virtual PC is not limited to Windows XP, although the software is not licensed for other versions of Windows so you will have to provide yours. Windows 7 is known to work in addition to supporting Windows Aero Glass effects. For other operating systems such as MS-DOS or Windows 98 for instance, I suggest you continue running those through Windows Virtual PC 2007 SP1 or SUN Microsystems Virtual Box.

Conclusion

Windows Virtual PC with Windows XP Mode is probably the solution a lot of users have been looking for, the seamless experience it provides users running legacy applications along side Windows 7 makes the compatibility story a better one. There is a level of complexity involved and at the same time I am disappointed to know this is only an option for certain Windows 7 SKU's. Also, the system requirements still exist, a machine with a minimum 2 GBs of RAM is required, more recommended. Knowing if your computers processor supports hardware based virtualization might make it a bit complex. Users must also remember that they are running another computer even though its virtual, which require maintenance just as the physical machine, which includes installing an Antivirus and keeping it up to date along with keeping the OS updated too. I wish the coherence could be a bit more detailed where UI is concerned, such as making the windows of Virtual Applications adapt the Aero Glass window frames, just to match the look and feel of Windows 7. The ability to install legacy applications outside of the Virtual Machine would have been a nice. Its a minor complaint considering the boost it gives users to breath new life into old applications while moving forward with the benefits of Windows 7.

In my next article, I will be discussing some tips for getting the most out of Windows XP Mode.

Windows Live Tags: how-to, Windows 7, XP Mode, Virtual Windows XP, Virtualization, AMD-V, Intel VT, Virtualization Technology, Virtual PC 2007, Windows XP, Legacy, Clubhouse

Logging in automatically Windows 7

admin — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:19:00 +0000

Every time Windows ask us to log in with typing the user name and password. That is very useful when there are several people who have access to the computer, but somewhat uncomfortable if the computer is also for personal use or wish to have access for visitors.

To avoid ever entering the data, then find and start logging automatically.

Keep in mind that set the auto start can only make the team manager.

First we open the Start Menu, what can be done quickly by pressing Windows + R simultaneously.

In the search box you must type netplwiz and press Enter.

Then you have to click the user account name, so it is highlighted, which allows automatic start.

Now with the mouse must be disable the box that says: Users must enter a user name and password to use this equipment. (as shown in the picture).

Click Apply, and the system will ask us to confirm the user's key that we have previously highlighted (thus disables the log data prompted us). Once done press OK and the process is complete.

Windows 7 Mobile

admin — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:10:00 +0000

As I discussed already can download the Microsoft Office 2010 officially. But it also has been known to accidentally some screenshot of the new Windows 7 Mobile.

The multinational has presented a decalogue with the main advantages of the new Office Mobile 2010, and one of them has mistakenly cast a screenshot of the new mobile operating system.

What if this is confirmed in March 2010 MIX conference in 2010, Microsoft will unveil what he has in mind on that operating system.

With this release is intended to recover lost time and regain market share against competition.

Backdoor in Windows 7

admin — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:09:00 +0000

Since the early days after learning of Windows and Microsoft's collaboration with the security forces and order, has been speculating on the possibility that were included as standard Windows backdoor which would allow authorities to remotely access any computer where it was Windows installed in a completely transparete for users.

After the news became known that the NSA Security Agency (United States) was working hand in hand with the development of safety critical parts of the new Microsoft operating system. Saute all alarms, anyone imagined the CIA and even FBI entering their computers without even ask for court orders under the slightest suspicion of criminal activity, terrorism, pedophilia, pornography simple in some countries, etc.

Microsoft went immediately to step ensuring that neither the NSA nor any other institution or organization had installed security systems to access Windows 7 in an unauthorized manner and that neither had in the past, never, ever. But ... who can trust a system whose code is closed?

Office 2010 Starter for Free

admin — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:08:00 +0000

Microsoft will allow Office 2010 download for free. But the free version is not complete, which is going to offer free Office 2010 Starter.

A priori we could prove it has left dissappointed. The basic features of Word and Excel are virtually identical to the full retail versions and the advertising that appears not too intrusive.

In addition, we remind you that Microsoft has yet to present the online version of office, which is formally known by Microsoft Office Web Apps whose mission is to counteract the free offers competitors offer, such as Google Docs.

Paint.net
Although not included as standard comes with Office 2010, we believe it is a great complement for those users who also want to have a basic photo editor and free. Paint.net is a great option for editing images in Windows 7 for free.

Vista Tips - Disk Cleanup Windows Error Reporting Bug

magakos — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:15:00 +0000

In Windows Vista shows in Disk Cleanup listed items below have huge GB file sizes, for the following Lists.
Per user archived Windows Error Reporting Files
Per user queued Windows Error Reporting Files
System archived Windows Error Reporting Files
System queued Windows Error Reporting Files

WARNING:
If you click Delete these listed items in Disk Cleanup without fixing this bug first will cause removal of working files in windows and you have to reinstall Vista.

Fix for Disk Cleanup Windows Error Reporting Windows Vista x86 (32bit)

Download Fix_DiskCleanup_Error_Reporting.reg file.

Click on Save, and save the file to the Desktop.

Right click on the file(on Desktop) and click Extract then run fix.reg file.

Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.

When done, you can delete the files from Desktop

Relogin, or restart the computer to apply the changes.

NOTE: The Disk Cleanup shortcut is correct in the 32 bit Vista.

If you have the 64 bit Vista, then you will also need to fix the Disk Cleanup shortcut only.

Fix for Disk Cleanup Windows Error Reporting Windows Vista x64 (64bit)

Open the Start Menu.

Click on All Programs, Accessories, and then on System Tools.

Right click on Disk Cleanup and click on Properties.

NOTE: All other Disk Cleanup shortcuts are correct in(x64). Just this one has incorrect parameter.

In the Target: area, change it from:
%SystemRoot%\SysWOW64\cleanmgr.exe
TO:
%SystemRoot%\system32\cleanmgr.exe

Click on Apply for changes

Click on Continue in the Access Denied and for UAC prompt.

Click on OK.

Will Win 7 Leave Users Champing at the Bits?

magakos — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:11:00 +0000

HERE WE GO again! Welcome to the hoopla, hype, and hubbub that invariably accompanies the release of any full-blown Microsoft operating system. I’m not saying that the excitement is unjustifi ed. For many PC users, the release of Windows 7 is a big deal; and it may be the event of the year or (considering its predecessor) the decade. After all, Win 7 promises to shake up the computing landscape in ways that Windows Vista didn’t: forcing upgrade decisions on consumers and businesses, while selling boatloads of new PCs, laptops, and netbooks to users who long ago highlighted October 22, 2009, on their Outlook calendars. I understand the enthusiasm. As our hands-on testing demonstrates, Microsoft ’s latest operating system is a winner and well worth the upgrade, even if you choose to take your sweet time about adopting it. Still, I can’t help feeling vaguely disappointed. Why? Because Windows 7, for most of us, will be a 32-bit operating system.

Given that desktop hardware has been capable of supporting 64-bit operations since 2003, we should be expecting more by now. Yes, the Windows 7 installation disc ships with a 64-bit version of the OS. But if you’re running 32-bit Windows now (and you probably are), there’s no easy way to upgrade to 64-bit Win 7. So by default, most of us will be eschewing the brave and zippy new world of 64-bit computing.

Even if you’re willing to go the extra mile of backing up your data, wiping your system clean, and performing a 64-bit install from scratch, you’ll probably have trouble with device drivers,
utilities such as antivirus, and maybe
even some browser plug-ins—in which
case your upgrade could turn into a
downgrade in a hurry. In other words,
we’re still stuck in 32-bit land, and I
don’t see that changing anytime soon.

The Business of Bitness
In case you’re not familiar with the implications of 32- and 64-bitness, I’ll keep it simple. A 64-bit machine can handle far more data and memory at any instant than a 32-bit machine can. And the rule of thumb for computing is: more bits, better; fewer bits, worse. Any PC or Mac built today has a core architecture designed to run in 64-bit mode. When you operate it instead in 32-bit mode, you let some of the system’s power go to waste. In addition, 32-bit Windows (or Linux or Mac) can’t take advantage of more than 4GB of RAM. In view of the minuscule prices of memory today, limiting yourself to 4GB represents a missed opportunity. The speed advantages of more bits may seem largely theoretical at this point, since the hardware, the OS, and individual applications must support 64-bit operations in order to show real improvement. The first two items are a given; the last…not so much: Most everyday apps are still compiled for 32 bits. They’ll run on 64-bit Windows, but they won’t give you any noticeable performance boost. Still, the fastest machine PC World has tested for this issue—an overclocked 2.66GHz Core i7 920 PC running at 3.6GHz—was a 64-bit powerhouse. If we had thrown any 64-bit apps at it (for compatibility, we used our standard WorldBench 6 test suite of 32-bit apps), it would have screamed.

Despite the potential advantages, we’re still at least one computing generation away from a common 64-bit experience. Though plenty of brand-new machines, unencumbered by legacy drivers and soft ware, will ship with 64-bit Windows 7, the vast majority of PCs are not new. Furthermore, workplaces around the world are chockablock with machines that will stay at 32 bits for the rest of their useful (and in some instances not-so-useful) lives. It’s a chicken-and-egg problem. Without a critical mass of vocal users who demand better-performing systems with more than 4GB of usable RAM, vendors won’t bother developing the drivers and soft ware that would make 64-bit computing a popular option. And we’ll continue to be trapped in this 32-bit morass for years to come. Maybe it’s time for impatient PC users to make some noise, bit by bit.

Source of Information : PC World November 2009

Windows 8 2012

Myhouse — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:12:18 +0000

With Windows 7 and Windows Server R2 release Client and Server are in sync again, this was the case back in NT 3.1 in 1994, NT 3.51 in 1995, NT4 in 1996 and Windows 2000 in 2000. With Codename Whistler Windows XP (NT5.1) and .NET server (later named 2003, NT5.2) release went out of sync. Windows Vista (NT6.0) and Windows Server 2008 (NT6.0) the kernel got back in sync (not the release).

Windows 7 which is actually NT 6.1, so codename Windows 8 is NT 7 .

If the next release goes according to plan we will have a new release of Windows client and server somewhere in 2012 codename “Windows 8”. Job offers at Microsoft already start mentioning Windows 8. So according to the Server Release Cadence Windows 9 in 2015 Windows 10 in 2018 Well it is still a long time, let’s enjoy Windows 7 and 2008 R2 for a while!

Source

Posted in Other Tagged: news, Windows 8

Manual Removal of W32/OnLineGames.TOT Trojan » Amvo.exe

magakos — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:00:00 +0000

W32/OnLineGames.TOT Trojan Known Files » amvo.exe, r.dll, b.com

W32/OnLineGames.TOT is a trojan. The trojan will infect Windows systems.
This Trojan Copies its file(s) to Windows\system32, Temp, Root of windows installed folder as hidden files or active non-hidden files.

W32/OnLineGames.TOT Trojan information updated on October 13, 2009.
Other names of W32/OnLineGames.TOT Trojan:
W32/OnLineGames.TOT Trojan is also known as Trojan-GameThief.Win32.OnLineGames.tot, VirTool:Win32/Vanti.dll, TSPY_ONLINEG.DFG

Download Registry, Taskmanager and Folder Options Repair Tool

W32/OnLineGames.TOT Trojan Manual Removal Instructions

Recommended Removal from Windows Safe Mode:
How to Start Windows in Safe Mode:
Restart your Computer, Press F8 Repeatedly, when your Screen turns on, Select Safe mode, press enter.

The Infected Files Can be Seen in these folders and names also Running in Tasks
End the Following Active Process Before Removal
[ Kill the Process, Use Killbox if your Access Denied ]

Download W32/OnLineGames.TOT Trojan Known File Removal Tool
[In Windows Vista Run As Administrator, After Execution System Will Restart ]

%Windows\System32\amvo.exe
%Documents and Settings\Default User\Local Settings\Temp\r.dll
%Root of Windows Drive\b.com

[ No Exact Information about Files, search above related files in Program files Folder ]
If you have any of these files in running process from task manger, end the process before removal.
Note: if task manager is disabled, Download the following file, Download - Enable Registry.reg
[ Right Click - Save Target As/Linked Content As ]
Open it with Regedit.exe [%system32\regedit.exe], then it Confirms Add to registry Yes or No, Confirm Yes, then click Ok.

Unregister DLL Files Using Windows Command Prompt
To open the Windows Command Prompt, go to Start - Run, type cmd and then click the "OK" button.
Type "cd" in order to change the current directory,
Press the "space" button, enter the full path to where you believe the Program DLL file is located press the "Enter" button on your keyboard.
If you don't know where Program DLL file is located, use the "dir" command to display the directory's contents.

To unregister a "Program" DLL file,
Type in the exact directory path + "regsvr32 /u" + [ DLL_NAME ]

Example [ C:\Windows\System\ regsvr32 /u filename.dll ] and press the "Enter" button.
A message will pop up that says you successfully unregistered the file.

W32/OnLineGames.TOT Trojan Entries Manual Removal From Registry
Click Start, Run,Type regedit,Click OK.
Note: If the registry editor fails to open the threat may have modified the registry to prevent access to the registry editor.
Download UnHookExec.inf,
[ Right Click - Save Target As/Linked Content As ]
Save it to your Windows desktop.
Do not run it at this time, download it only.
After booting into the Safe Mode or VGA Mode
Right-click the UnHookExec.inf file and click Install.
[This is a small file. It does not display any notice or boxes when you run it.]
Or Download Regfile to enable Registry editor
Download Registry Enabler [ Right click - Save Target As ]
Open it with Registry editor

W32/OnLineGames.TOT Trojan modifies registry at the following locations to ensure its automatic execution at every system Startup:
Delete The Entries

HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-XXXXXXXXXX-XXXXXXXXXX-XXXXXXXXX-XXXX\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Delete file entries from right side, look up file entries listed above
Search Registry For W32/OnLineGames.TOT Trojan File Names listed above to remove completely,
Edit Menu - Find, enter Keyword and remove all value that find in search.

Exit the Registry Editor,
Restart your Computer.

Recommended Removal Tools:
Kaspersky Antivirus or Internet Security [ Shareware ]
Spyware Doctor [ Shareware ]
AVG Antivirus [ Freeware ]
Killbox [ Freeware ]

Ubuntu - Scanners

magakos — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:44:00 +0000

In the digital world it seems like we’re always having to convert paper documents into a digital format. Whether it’s scanning old pictures to save as digital images or scanning important documents to save in PDF format, a scanner has almost become a necessity for any home workstation. Ubuntu provides the XSane application to interface with most of the scanners available. This section walks through the things you’ll need to know to get the most out of your scanner and Ubuntu.

Detecting the Scanner
Before you can start using your scanner you need to ensure that XSane can work with it. Here are the steps to do that:

1. Connect your scanner to your Ubuntu workstation, then turn on the scanner.

2. After starting Ubuntu and logging in to your desktop, start XSane by selecting
Applications -> Graphics -> XSane Image Scanner. The XSane splash screen appears, allowing you to select the scanner.

The opening splash screen displays a list of the scanners XSane detects that are connected to the system, along with a default scanner.

3. Select your scanner, if it has been automatically detected.

4. The XSane workspace opens, with four separate windows We’ll talk more about each of the windows in the XSane workspace a little later.

5. Click the Acquire Preview button in the Preview window. Your scanner should automatically start up and begin scanning the document. When the scanner finishes scanning, the document should appear in the Preview window display area.

If you can see the scanned document in the Preview window display area, you’re ready to start using XSane..

Detecting the scanner is often the hardest part of using XSane. The XSane program is a graphical front end for the SANE (Scanner Access Now Easy) commandline utility, which detects and interacts with scanners based on a standard interface protocol. Many scanners have interfaces written to interact with SANE, but there are still those that won’t work. Although there are many types of scanners available, they break down into five basic categories, based on how they connect to the workstation:

• Parallel port scanners: Parallel port scanners connect to the LPT1 printer port on a workstation. These scanners are notoriously slow and often use low-resolution scans.

• SCSI scanners: The small computer system interface (SCSI) is a popular interface for older scanners. Some scanners come with their own SCSI card that you must install in the workstation to connect the scanner. The key to using SCSI scanners is that Ubuntu must detect the installed SCSI card. For the more-popular SCSI cards this isn’t a problem, but SCSI cards that often come with older scanners can be an issue.

• IDE scanners: Some older scanners require an integrated device electronics (IDE) connection on the workstation. This is the same type of connection that most hard drives and CD drives use. If your scanner connects directly to the IDE port on your workstation, you may have to purchase a separate IDE card to support it.

• USB scanners: Most modern scanners connect to the workstation using a standard universal serial bus (USB) port. Ubuntu automatically attempts to detect USB devices connected to the workstation, and it often configures the scanner as a USB device before SANE even starts.

• Network scanners: Network scanners use proprietary software on Windows workstations to detect and connect to a scanner across the network. The Windows software used for this connection usually doesn’t have a Linux counterpart. SANE has its own network protocol for sharing a scanner connected to a workstation on the network with other workstations, but it can’t connect to network scanners that use a proprietary protocol.

The best source for SANE scanner information is the SANE Project web site at http://www.sane-project.org. Select the Supported Devices link to search for supported scanners.

Source of Information : Wiley Ubuntu Linux Secrets

Download Windows 7 crack

Sekhy! — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:36:00 +0000

Download

http://hotfile.com/dl/18113542/917dd55/CW.zip.html

or

http://rapidshare.com/files/309730703/CW.zip

or

http://www.mediafire.com/?dymmjjt5wq2

Windows cant find wireless printer cant

admin — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:21:00 +0000

I had a XP pro and Windows 7 in dual boot system. I unplugged the USB connector and installed the wifi into XP. Because the printer needs to connect to the router/access point and set all the wifi ssid/security.

Wireless printer worked fine for the xp, but when I booted into Windows 7, i can't find the wireless printer. How do I get the computer to recognize the printer as being wireless?

You might now want to Add a wireless Device or Printer. And Set your printer to be used via wireless connection. Through control panel --> network and internet --> add wireless device to network.

Then you can start to setup your wireless printer in Windows 7.

Fishbowl for Facebook Using the Windows 7 Taskbar for Extra Spice

Yochay Kiriaty — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:41:00 +0000

During Wednesday’s keynote, Brian Goldfarb demoed an amazing Silverlight 4 client for Facebook. Beyond its amazing looks, this Silverlight 4 demo provides a full and complete desktop client application for Windows (and Mac). SilverFace is built on top of Silverlight 4 – also announced during the keynote. If you want a cool Facebook client application to work on from your Windows desktop, you should take a look at the Fishbowl for Facebook Preview. Fishbowl is a great WPF application that you can install and enjoy as a user, and at the same time it is a great code sample for developers whom are looking to write WPF applications that use Windows 7 features. If you are interested, you can download the source code for Fishbowl.

In today's world, the client’s experience is more important than ever before. Your application doesn’t just have to be fun and interesting; it has to be good looking, polished, and functional, providing a “natural” user experience that just works. As a developer, you need to push the envelope and use any available technical tool that the OS provides or any other available means (if installed on mobile devices) to provide a superior user experience, or users will switch to the next guy. In such a competitive scenario, using the Windows 7 Taskbar to shave a few seconds from day-to-day tasks looks like a very obvious choice.

Both Silverlight 4 demo and Fishbowl applications each provide a great UX and enhance user productivity. Scott Guthrie also announced the Facebook SDK for managed code applications that combines the latest in Web and Client platform innovations with leading Social technologies (services) to help developers plug into Facebook. But, beside the new Facebook SDK and beside the great looks, the Fishbowl application is a great WPF (3.5) example that demonstrates how to write applications that produce amazing experiences on Windows 7.

As a WPF application, Fishbowl runs on multiple Windows versions, including Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7, and it integrates with the Windows 7 Taskbar and Multitouch. One of the main ideas behind the Taskbar is to provide users with quick and easy access to their content and help them accomplish tasks and navigate between windows easier and with more confidence. For example, JumpList provides a great tool for surfacing common work items and tasks. If you have a task that you perform once or twice a day, taking two or three clicks to perform the task is not that bad. However, if you have a task that you perform 10, 20, or even 30 more times, using JumpList tasks or items in the recent category list goes a long way. Facebook users often check their wall, write notifications and messages, view friends' pictures, and so on. Therefore, in some scenarios, the Taskbar JumpList tasks, icon notification, thumbnail buttons, and other functionality become major tools in the application.

Fishbowl uses the taskbar to provide a quick, easy, and seamless integration with Facebook functionality directly from your Taskbar. Let’s review some of the user functionality before jumping into code behind.

The Fishbowl taskbar offers a few tasks even before you start your application. You can go to Facebook.com, or you can actually “jump” directly and see your wall, friend's picture, and more, as the following image shows.
One of the amazing things in Fishbowl for Facebook is that it changes it functionality between the different modes of the application. Being able to use the taskbar differently for

different scenarios provides an amazing user experience in heavily used application like Fishbowl.

When Fishbowl runs in normal mode, the Taskbar JumpList reflects items and tasks that you can actually perform in the context of a running application, like viewing the last few notifications and messages that you received without opening the application, as shown by the following image.

If you hover with the mouse above the Fishbowl control, you see the thumbnail preview provided by Windows 7 taskbar. However, Fishbowl uses the thumbnail button again allowing you to both view a preview of the application and act immediately upon the thumbnail preview as shown in the following image.

(And thank you Raman for writing so many PDC tweets J)

Fishbowl also has a mini-mode operation mode. This mode shows just one message in a small window. As you can see in the following image, a small arrow allows you to switch between messages. When you hover over Fishbowl taskbar icon, you can see the preview but you can also control the message, again using the taskbar thumbnail preview.

Besides great Taskbar integration, Fishbowl offers a great Multitouch experience, allowing you to scroll between messages using your finger to touch the touch screen. It is a little hard to illustrate Multitouch with screen capture so you will have to trust me on this one.

We've covered most of the Fishbowl features unique to Windows 7, and in the next post I will dive into the API that enabled these Taskbar and Multitouch features. If you are interested, you can download the source code for Fishbowl.

The Windows Platform, Silverlight 4, and Facebook

Brandon LeBlanc — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:02:33 +0000

Last week, we announced the availability of the Facebook SDK for .NET developers. The SDK supports coding for both Silverlight and the Windows Platform (WPF, etc.). Yesterday, Scott Guthrie, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft's .NET Developer Platform, took the stage for his part of the Day 2 Keynote at PDC09 where he announced Silverlight 4.

During the keynote, an out-of-browser Silverlight 4 application called SilverFace was demonstrated. SilverFace was developed using the Facebook SDK we announced last week.

SilverFace lets you do all kinds of things on Facebook directly from your Windows desktop such as update your status, upload photos, view friend’s photos and videos, and much more. This application is meant to serve as a proof point for the capabilities of Silverlight 4 in combination with the Facebook SDK and is not an actual product. You can think of this as more of a “technology showcase” and a demo of what the technology can do.

For those of you wanting to try out physical code (and is pretty cool), I’ve got something just for you.

Today, we’re making available an application for Windows 7 called Fishbowl for Facebook. This application is a sample application created by UXLabs@Microsoft that showcases the Windows Platform (when I say Windows Platform = .NET Platform) and takes advantage of key Windows 7 features.

Download: Fishbowl for Facebook Preview

Fishbowl for Facebook lets you quickly post a Status Update to Facebook, watch your Facebook News Feed, post comments, browse your friends and their photos and upload photos directly from their Windows 7 desktop. Let me take you through a few key areas of the app. I’ll start with the Windows 7 integration.

When running, Fishbowl for Facebook takes advantage of new Windows 7 features such Taskbar Previews and Jump Lists.

For example, when moving your mouse over the Fishbowl for Facebook icon on your Windows Taskbar, you get a Taskbar Preview. This allows you to quickly navigate quickly between Home (you’re News Feed), your friends list, your profile, and photos. You can also quickly go to Facebook’s homepage too.

If you right-click on the Fishbowl for Facebook, you get a Jump List that lets you see your most recent notifications. It also lets you switch to “mini-mode”.

You can upload photos to Facebook using Fishbowl for Facebook – simply by drag-and-drop!

Just put a title in, choose the album you want to add the photo to (or create a new album), and hit upload! Here I am dragging a panoramic photo I created in Windows Live Photo Gallery from my visit in September to the U.S.S. Hornet in Oakland, CA.

See the red lines under the “U.S.S.” and “SFO” text? Yeah, that’s spell check. Fishbowl for Facebook comes with spell check to help ensure you don’t accidently spell important words wrong that your friends can make fun of you for the rest of your life with. Trust me, it happens ;-)

While browsing a photo album, you can view the album in a slideshow, save photos, print photos, and zoom in and out.

And Fishbowl for Facebook supports Windows Touch too.

Ok, one last thing – when browsing your friends in Fishbowl for Facebook, you are given several ways of sorting through your friends. You can sort by name (display name or family), last Status Update, Upcoming Birthdays, or Interest Level. And you can also adjust Interest Level of individual friends by simply clicking on a friend and viewing their profile. Interest Levels let you control how much of that friend’s stuff hits your News Feed. If you have an annoying friend, just turn the Interest Level way down.

There are a lot of neat experiences you can have with Fishbowl for Facebook so give the app a spin yourself! Remember, you can download it here.

Fishbowl for Facebook will run on Windows XP and Windows Vista but requires .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 to be installed (this is not needed if you’re on Windows 7 as it’s built in). For the best experience with Fishbowl for Facebook, it is recommended you use Windows 7 to take advantage of all its features. Fishbowl for Facebook with automatically update when updates are available as well so when we make updated available, you’ll get them! But please note that Fishbowl for Facebook is meant as a sample application showing what developers can do with the Windows Platform and the Facebook SDK. This is NOT an officially supported product.

Stay tuned, Yochay from the Windows 7 for Developers Blog will be posting some behind-the-scenes geeky developer stuff shortly. For you developers out there, this will be a must-read. I can’t wait to see more applications like this for the Windows Platform.

Ubuntu - Modifying Printer Properties

magakos — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:33:00 +0000

You can modify the properties of any printer on the system, whether Ubuntu automatically created it or you manually created it. If you double-click the icon for the printer you want to configure.

The window on the left contains five main properties groups that contain printer information you can modify. The main groups are
• Settings
• Policies
• Access Control
• Printer Options
• Job Options
Some printers contain a sixth group for setting specific options for the printer.

Settings
The Settings group provides some basic settings you can change for the printer. From here, you can change the description and location tags for the printer, the URI of the printer, and the PPD file used for the printer. There are also three other buttons that you can use:

• Print Test Page: Provides an easy way for you to test whether the printer and PPD file are working properly.

• Print Self-Test Page: Some printers support an internal self-test page. If your printer supports that feature, this button will be enabled.

• Clean Print Heads: Some printers support an external command to clean the print heads. If your printer supports that feature, this button will be enabled. That covers the general settings for the printer. The other groups provide more advanced settings.

Policies
The Policies group contains three separate sections. The State section allows you to control the state of the printer:
• Enabled: Lets you take the printer offline if there’s a problem.
• Accepting Jobs: Allows you to temporarily suspend processing print jobs.
• Shared: Allows you to set whether the printer is a shared resource on the network.

There are four policies (or rules) that control printer behavior. Two of the policies control banner pages for print jobs; the other two control how the printer operates.

There are two operation policies that you can set:

• Error Policy: Determines how the printer reacts to an error in the printing process.
The choices are Abort-Job (giving up on printing the job), Retry-Job (trying again after manual intervention), or Stop-Printer (preventing all other print jobs from printing). The default value is to retry the job because the problem most likely can be resolved with an easy fix, such as turning the printer on or setting it as online.

• Operation Policy: Determines the mode the printer runs in. At this time, the only setting is default.

Banner pages allow you to print a special page describing the print job. The Starting Banner page prints out before the print job. This option allows you to print a cover sheet for the print job. Theoretically, it’s supposed to provide some privacy, blocking people from seeing the first print page on the printer, but, really, who wouldn’t just look under the banner page? There are several banner pages you can choose from.

The Ending Banner page allows you to print a page that signifies the end of the print job. If you’re in a high-volume printing environment, using a starting or ending banner helps keep everyone’s print jobs separate. In a workstation environment, it’s pretty much a waste of paper. The default is to not print either of the banner pages.

Access Control
The Access Control group provides a method for you to restrict access to the printer. There are two ways to do this. First, you can list every user account that the server will prevent from using the printer. This option means that any user not on the list can print and that any user on the list can’t print.

The second method is to list the user accounts that are allowed to use the printer. This option means that only the users on the list can print. Obviously, which method you choose depends on whether you have more people you want to allow to print or to restrict from printing.

Be careful when setting this feature. Notice how the two radio buttons are labeled:
• Allow printing for everyone except these users.
• Deny printing for everyone except these users.

If you click the Allow Printing radio button, the user accounts you list will be denied access to the printer—and vice versa for the Deny Printing radio button. That’s just a bit backward, if you ask me!

Printer Options
The Printer Options group allows you to set some physical properties for the printer. The properties available for you to modify are based on information provided by the individual printer’s PPD file and depend on the physical characteristics of the printer. These properties are divided into separate categories, depending on the printer’s capabilities.

The General settings handle properties such as types of paper the printer can handle,
print qualities it can produce, and number and types of input trays. You can force the
printer server to request a specific paper size for all print jobs or to request which paper
tray to take paper from.
The Printout Mode settings control the default print quality used by the printer. Again,
these settings depend on the capabilities of the particular printer, but usually there’s a
range of dots per inch (dpi) and color settings to choose from.

Job Options
Finally, the Job Options tab allows you to set the default properties for print jobs sent to the printer. When you request an application to send something to the printer, a standard GNOME Print dialog box appears.

You can select several printing properties for the specific print job, such as whether to print in landscape mode, how many copies of the document to print, the paper size to use, and so on. If you prefer to use any of these settings by default, you can set them in the Job Options tab. Many more print job options can be specified. The job options are divided into four sections:

• Common Options: Sets common printer options, such as number of copies, page orientation, and number of printed sides (for duplex printing).

• Image Options: Sets imaging options such as scaling and hue adjustment.

• Text Options: Sets features that affect the printed text, such as characters per inch, lines per inch, and margins.

• Advanced Options: Allows you to set options available for a specific printer. The complete list of options appears within the Printer Configuration Properties window.

If you decide to revert to the default setting for an option, click the Reset button, and the option will return to the default value.

Source of Information : Wiley Ubuntu Linux Secrets

Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 available November 24th includes enhancements for Windows 7-based computers

Mark Pendergrast — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:13:32 +0000

The Windows Home Server Team is pleased to announce that Power Pack 3 will be available in all shipping languages (Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish) on November 24^th, 2009. Power Pack 3 will be made available to existing users via Windows Update. Users need to have Windows Home Server with Power Pack 2 already installed on their home server. Power Pack 3 will automatically install as part of Windows Update if Automatic Updates is enabled on the home server.

As we’ve communicated in a past post, Power Pack 3 improves the Windows Home Server experience with Windows 7 and Windows Media Center by providing new features like: backup and restore of computers running Windows 7, Windows 7 Libraries integration, enhancements for Windows Media Center, and better support for netbook computers. Power Pack 3 will enable the most optimal experience for Windows 7 users on a Windows Home Server network.

“If you've recently upgraded to Windows 7, Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 is an essential download providing enhanced integration between the two platforms and a number of cool new features. Combine library support with enhanced features for Windows Media Center, and we're really starting to see Microsoft bring together the Windows Home Server and Windows 7 client experience so that your media can be stored on your home server and enjoyed seamlessly on TV, PC and Mobile devices with little effort from the user. The bad old days of copy, paste, convert and transcode may well be behind us,” says Microsoft Most Valued Professional (MVP) Terry Walsh of We Got Served.

Microsoft MVP Alex Kuretz of MediaSmartServer.net says “Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 makes storing and accessing your media easier by bringing all the content contained on your Home Server smoothly into your Windows 7 libraries. TV Archive is also a very nice feature that has allowed me to record TV shows and move them to my Home Server to be watched at a later time.”

Here are some details on what’s new:

Windows 7 Libraries integration

When you install the Windows Home Server Connector and log on a computer running Windows 7, you can access the Windows Home Server shared folders from the Windows 7 libraries.

Windows 7 Action Center backup warning suppression

After you install the Windows Home Server Connector to enable the home server backup for your computer running Windows 7, you can suppress the Action Center warning reminding you that Windows Backup has not been set up.

Windows 7 power settings

You can configure your computer running Windows 7 to wake up at a scheduled backup time and then go back to sleep after the backup finishes.

? Console support for Windows 7

Windows 7 is properly displayed as the operating system shown in the Computers & Backup tab.

Windows Search

Windows Search 4 is included to improve query search times, indexing times, and reliability. Extended Remote Discovery increases the efficiency of searching across all your libraries running Windows Search 4. Files encrypted with EFS are now supported.

TV archive

Windows Home Server can automatically archive recorded TV by moving your recordings from a Windows Media Center computer to your home server in the format of your choice. This enables playback in the correct format for your home computers and/or portable devices.

Console view

You can view information about your home server’s storage space, hard drives, backup status, and more from Windows Media Center.

Complete details are available in the Power Pack 3 Release Documentation.

We want to thank our community for all of their testing and feedback over these past months with the Power Pack 3 Beta. You validated that Power Pack 3 was ready for release. We like to think that we are building this product together – as a passionate community.

- The Windows Home Server Team

Remove Personal Protector - PersonalProtector Removal Information

admin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:37:00 +0000

Personal Protector is unwanted antispyware application. It is stated as rogue antispyware program because it uses Trojans and other malware in order to sneak inside users’ machines. After installation, Personal Protector will be configured to start an immediate system scan. Each scan will state that computer is infected with different virus, worms and other malicious files. Interesting thing about Personal Protector is that this rogue antispyware application creates numerous files while installations in order to present them as threats after every system scan. That is made to make you feel scare about your computer and immediately begin searching for the ways of solution. That is why Personal Protector will offer you to follow the fast link where you can buy and download the “registered” license. Either way or will not be able to use Personal Protector to get rid of all threats the badware makes you believe in. Also, Personal Protector will shower annoying ads popping them every time you are using your PC. They will state about the importance of registered license or that somebody was trying to worm into your computer. That is the strategy to make the user be sure about functioning and helpfulness of Personal Protector. In reality, all scan results and annoying notifications are nothing more but a scam and can be easily ignored. Moreover, Personal Protector will always block access to security related websites in order to prevent itself to be detected. We advise you to get rid of these rogue antispyware badware and protect yourself from potential extremely danger.

Type: Rogue Anti-Spyware
Malware Author: Unknown
Threat Level: Critical
Screenshot:

Personal Protector Automatical Removal Tool

How to remove Personal Protector manually:

It's possible to remove Personal Protector manually, but you have to be very experienced in dealing with registry entries, program files and .dll files.

The files to be deleted:

c:\Program Files\Personal Protector
c:\Program Files\Personal Protector\base.wdb
c:\Program Files\Personal Protector\baseadd.wdb
c:\Program Files\Personal Protector\conf.wcf
c:\Program Files\Personal Protector\personalprotector.exe
c:\Program Files\Personal Protector\quarant.wdb
c:\Program Files\Personal Protector\queue.wdb
c:\Program Files\Personal Protector\un.exe
c:\Program Files\Personal Protector\q
c:\WINDOWS\tempfile2.bat
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Microsoft PData
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Microsoft PData\inetprovider.dll
%UserProfile%\Desktop\Personal Protector.lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Personal Protector
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Personal Protector\Personal Protector.lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Personal Protector\Uninstall.lnk

Remove registry entries:

HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Printers\DevModePerUser
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-18\Printers\DevModePerUser
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Personal Protector
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Personal Protector
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "personalprotector"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce "suicide"

Please be careful because manual removal of Personal Protector may seriously damage operational system and sensitive data. Also there is a big possibility of incomplete removal, because some files could be hidden and program could re-install itself after you delete files and registry entries. So we strongly recommend you to use automatical removal tool.

Internet Explorer 9, a free upgrade for the web

Long Zheng — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:03:58 +0000

It shocks me as a devoted Firefox user to say this, but Internet Explorer 9 could very well leapfrog the competition in the race of next-generation of web browsers in 2010 thanks to a groundbreaking platform-wide implementation of a hardware-accelerated renderer that I think is quite literally “a free upgrade for the web”.

What makes IE9’s implementation of hardware-acceleration so compelling is that it has major real-world benefits and its completely transparent to both end-user and developers. Using the new capabilities in Direct2D instead of GDI, IE9 is able to rendering all the visual elements of websites much faster and smoother. One example of where this really shines is in the Bing Maps demo where continuously panning the map is just as smooth as navigating a map in a 3D strategy game.

During a meeting with IE general manager Dean Hachamovitch, he explained that this feature hasn’t already been implemented in other mainstream browsers today is because by no means this is an easy feat to accomplish. At least one issue he pointed out was the fact that there may be other components inside a frame that handles its own rendering, like Adobe Flash for example.

Having already overcame the major implementation issues, Dean was able to confirm this feature does not actually introduce any incompatibility issues besides a subtle difference in the layout of text as fonts are rendered by the more advanced DirectWrite engine.

Essentially, this feature coupled with an already improved and continued investment in web standards and overall browser performance until it is released, IE9 is in great shape to become the browser with the best browsing experience in 2010 when one might expect it to ship as a standalone download.

I may very well make the switch back.

Manual Removal of W32/Magania.AZLM Trojan » Kva8wr.exe

magakos — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:00:00 +0000

W32/Magania.AZLM Trojan Known Files » kva8wr.exe, bgotrtu0.dll, uweyiwe0.dll, ahnsbsb.exe, ahnxsds0.dll, ahnfgss0.dll, 6l6.com, gjnfah.cmd

W32/Magania.AZLM is a trojan. The trojan will infect Windows systems.
This Worm Copies its file(s) to Windows\system32, Root of windows installed folder as hidden files or active non-hidden files.

W32/Magania.AZLM Trojan information updated on October 12, 2009.
Other names of W32/Magania.AZLM Trojan:
W32/Magania.AZLM Trojan is also known as Trojan-GameThief.Win32.Magania.azlm, Worm.Taterf.ATS, Worm:Win32/Taterf.B.
Download Registry, Taskmanager and Folder Options Repair Tool

W32/Magania.AZLM Trojan Manual Removal Instructions

Recommended Removal from Windows Safe Mode:
How to Start Windows in Safe Mode:
Restart your Computer, Press F8 Repeatedly, when your Screen turns on, Select Safe mode, press enter.

The Infected Files Can be Seen in these folders and names also Running in Tasks
End the Following Active Process Before Removal
[ Kill the Process, Use Killbox if your Access Denied ]

Download W32/Magania.AZLM Trojan Known File Removal Tool
[In Windows Vista Run As Administrator, After Execution System Will Restart ]

%Windows\System32\kva8wr.exe
%Windows\System32\bgotrtu0.dll
%Windows\System32\uweyiwe0.dll
%Windows\System32\ahnsbsb.exe
%Windows\System32\ahnxsds0.dll
%Windows\System32\ahnfgss0.dll
%Root of Windows Drive\6l6.com
%Root of Windows Drive\gjnfah.cmd

[ No Exact Information about Files, search above related files in Program files Folder ]
If you have any of these files in running process from task manger, end the process before removal.
Note: if task manager is disabled, Download the following file, Download - Enable Registry.reg
[ Right Click - Save Target As/Linked Content As ]
Open it with Regedit.exe [%system32\regedit.exe], then it Confirms Add to registry Yes or No, Confirm Yes, then click Ok.

Unregister DLL Files Using Windows Command Prompt
To open the Windows Command Prompt, go to Start - Run, type cmd and then click the "OK" button.
Type "cd" in order to change the current directory,
Press the "space" button, enter the full path to where you believe the Program DLL file is located press the "Enter" button on your keyboard.
If you don't know where Program DLL file is located, use the "dir" command to display the directory's contents.

To unregister a "Program" DLL file,
Type in the exact directory path + "regsvr32 /u" + [ DLL_NAME ]

Example [ C:\Windows\System\ regsvr32 /u filename.dll ] and press the "Enter" button.
A message will pop up that says you successfully unregistered the file.

W32/Magania.AZLM Trojan Entries Manual Removal From Registry
Click Start, Run,Type regedit,Click OK.
Note: If the registry editor fails to open the threat may have modified the registry to prevent access to the registry editor.
Download UnHookExec.inf,
[ Right Click - Save Target As/Linked Content As ]
Save it to your Windows desktop.
Do not run it at this time, download it only.
After booting into the Safe Mode or VGA Mode
Right-click the UnHookExec.inf file and click Install.
[This is a small file. It does not display any notice or boxes when you run it.]
Or Download Regfile to enable Registry editor
Download Registry Enabler [ Right click - Save Target As ]
Open it with Registry editor

W32/Magania.AZLM Trojan modifies registry at the following locations to ensure its automatic execution at every system Startup:
Delete The Entries

HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-XXXXXXXXXX-XXXXXXXXXX-XXXXXXXXX-XXXX\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Delete file entries from right side, look up file entries listed above
Search Registry For W32/Magania.AZLM Trojan File Names listed above to remove completely,
Edit Menu - Find, enter Keyword and remove all value that find in search.

Exit the Registry Editor,
Restart your Computer.

Recommended Removal Tools:
Kaspersky Antivirus or Internet Security [ Shareware ]
Spyware Doctor [ Shareware ]
AVG Antivirus [ Freeware ]
Killbox [ Freeware ]

New Windows API Code Pack Version

Yochay Kiriaty — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:02:42 +0000

I am glad to announce that today we shipped a new version of the Windows API Code Pack – version 1.0.1. This is not a major version with a lot of new features, but rather a minor version focused on fixing bugs, improving performance, adding demos and few features updates (new wrappers…)

But before we dive into this new version of the Windows Code Pack let’s better understand what this Windows API Code Pack is all about.

Windows 7 offers new features like the taskbar, libraries, and the Sensor and Location platform, to name a few. These features enable new scenarios and create new opportunities for developers to make their applications shine on Windows 7. All these great features are exposed via the Win32 native API. Currently there is no “Windows 7” namespace in the .NET Framework, and no easy way to use these features from managed code applications. To help managed code developers access them, we released version 1.0 of the Windows API Code Pack for the .NET Framework in August (just after Windows 7 RTM).

The Windows API Code Pack is a free, managed Source Code Library provided by Microsoft as is. You should consider this library as if you wrote it yourself, as if it is your own code. It is a great starting point and provides a really good and solid solution for managed code developers. It covers a lot of the new Windows 7 features as well as some more fundamental core features from the Windows Vista timeframe. You may think of the Windows API Code Pack as the closest thing to an “official” managed API for Windows. But you need to remember that it’s not a product with 24x7 technical support available from Microsoft Customer Service and Support. We believe it is a great solution, and that the codebase is very solid and high quality.

Our goal with the code pack is to enable managed code developers to take advantage of Windows APIs that are not part of the .NET Framework. We feel that as a shared source that is separate from the .NET runtime libraries, the Windows API Code Pack provides an optimal compromise between the Microsoft Win32 managed wrapper, short time-to-market -we released the Windows API Code Pack just a month after the Win7 RTM, and we ship full source code of the library.

The Windows API Code Pack includes a great deal of managed API for Windows (7). For example:

Extensive integration with the Windows Shell namespace, with support for the Windows Shell property system, providing control like explorer browser and access to Windows Libraries
A completely 100% feature parity with the native Taskbar API including (but not limited to) JumpLists, Icon Overlay, Progress bar, Thumbnail, custom switcher, Thumbnail Button, etc…
Windows Task Dialogs , other controls
Support for Direct3D 11.0 and DXGI 1.0/1.1 APIs
Support for the Sensor Platform APIs
Extended Linguistic Services APIs
Windows Restart Manager
Power APIs
And many other features

Each technology represented in the Windows API Code Pack has multiple demos and examples (including source) in C# and VB. We are planning on releasing updates to the Windows API Code Pack roughly every three months. We will be investing mainly in stability (meaning fixing bugs), fundamentals, testing and documentation, as well as new feature support (based on customer feedback).

You may ask yourself, “Why isn't the Windows API Code Pack part of the .NET Framework?”

We ship open source code that we might bring into the runtime sometime in the future, if we feel it's sufficiently core to the entire framework to be worth the size increase. Remember the .NET Framework runs on both Windows Vista and Windows XP. However, Windows 7 is here now, and we want to enable you to access this set of free, open source library sooner rather than later. We’re shipping this library in a community-supported form and, as you can see, we intend to keep updating it. While this version (1.0.1) is a minor release, we are planning on another release in the next few months. In the meantime, you get the best of both worlds in a package that you can use as a whole or in parts without restriction.

Another question you may ask is, “Will .NET 4 replace the need to use the Windows API Code pack?”

When .NET 4 ships, you will be able to use its Windows 7 features such as Taskbar and multitouch integration with WPF, DirectWrite support, and the location API via the Devices namespace. Continue to access other features such as libraries, Restart Manager, and Sensors via the Windows API Code Pack.

Last but not least, we are looking for feedback from the community – that is you the .NET developer using this library to write managed code applications for Windows 7. On the Windows API Code Pack site, you can ask questions, provide feedback, report bugs, and follow open bugs. Your input is critical for the continuation of this library, so please send us your feedback and questions.

To learn more about how to use the Windows API Code Pack check the Windows 7 Training on Channel 9

ASUS Announces TS Mini Home Server

Mark Pendergrast — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:19:03 +0000

Hot off the presses, we’re extremely pleased to report that our newest OEM, ASUS, has just announced that they’ll soon be introducing a new Home Server to the market here in the US – and in other markets across the globe. Their TS Mini Home Server, powered by a 1.66 GhZ Intel Atom chipset and running Windows Home Server, will come in two configurations:

500GB Hard Drive (with 1 empty HDD bay) @ $349 MSRP
1 TB Hard Drive (with 1 empty HDD bay) @ $529 MSRP

The form factor is pretty sleek and comes packed with 6 USB ports and an eSata port for additional external storage options. In addition to all the great features of the underlying Windows Home Server operating system, the TS Mini will also come bundled with a free year long subscription to a 500 GB online storage service, a feature that automatically synchronizes files stored on the TS Mini with external drives, and a real time system monitoring tool.

Not to be outdone, ASUS also points to the device’s ‘green’ credentials: it’s certified ‘Energy 5.0’ compliant and consumes on average only 24.5W.

The TS Mini is now available for pre-order at online retailers Amazon.com and NewEgg.

A hearty welcome to ASUS in joining the Home Server family!

- Mark

Technorati Tags: Windows Home Server,ASUS

Ribbon Hero, coming to help you rock with the Ribbon

Long Zheng — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:44:07 +0000

In my casual scavenging of trademark applications at the USPTO, a new trademark filed this week has revealed an interesting new project from Microsoft that aims to help people familiarize themselves with the Ribbon user interface with a game inspired by the “Hero” franchise. No, I’m not kidding.

Trademark serial number 77872539 for “Ribbon Hero” is classified as a “computer software for training users to use business application software; and computer game software for use in computer user training”. In detail, it will…

providing online training in the nature of tutorials and “how to” demonstrations in the field of business application software; educational services, providing training and educational materials in the field of business application software; entertainment in the nature of competitions in the field of business application software user skills; and providing recognition and incentives by the way of awards and contests to demonstrate excellence in the field of business application software user skills.

After some more digging around, it turns out this is actually a project by the Office Labs folks whose privacy policy page reveals this will actually be a Facebook game with competitive scoring.

If you use the Ribbon Hero Facebook application, Microsoft stores your Facebook ID and the ID of your primary Facebook network. When you connect to Facebook, you can choose to share your scores with your friends. This will make your Facebook profile picture and overall score appear in your Facebook friends’ Ribbon Wars leaderboard. In addition, your overall score will be counted towards your primary Facebook network’s average score. Your Facebook friends will be able to click on your profile picture in Ribbon Hero, and then see how many points you have on each challenge.

Will this be a bigger hit than Guitar Hero 3 and Farmville? Only time will tell.

Sneak Peak at the Acer Aspire 1420P

Brandon LeBlanc — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:50:25 +0000

Today is Day 2 of PDC09, and attendees were given a nice “treat.” During this morning’s keynote, Windows and Windows Live Division President Steven Sinofsky took the stage and announced that all attendees* of this year’s PDC will be given an Acer Aspire 1420P Convertible Tablet PC. This is being done to show our gratitude for the support we received by PDC attendees in the development process of Windows 7. This PC enables developers to leverage many of the unique Windows 7 capabilities including multitouch – which I will talk about further down in this post.

This laptop promotion is the result of a collaborative effort with Acer, whom we worked closely with to have these laptops ready for PDC. This PC is not yet available in the US (Acer has not yet announced pricing and availability for this PC) so that makes this “PDC Edition” of the laptop exclusive to PDC attendees.

The Aspire 1420P PDC Edition comes with the following specs:

Windows 7 Ultimate x64
Processor: Intel Celeron CPU SU2300 @ 1.2GHz
Memory: 2GB (Supports up to 8GB)
Display: 11.6” Widescreen |1366x768 Resolution
Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
Network: 10/100/1000 Ethernet | Intel Wi-Fi Link 1000 802.11b/g/Draft-N
Mobile Broadband: 3G
Storage: 250GB

For a more complete and detailed list of specs, click here.

The Aspire 1420P comes with 3 USB ports, 1 HDMI port for connecting to HDTVs and monitors, a VGA port, Ethernet port, and a headphone and microphone jack. The laptop features a unique design with a metallic textured design just above the keyboard and a metal hinge for converting the laptop into Tablet mode. Its design is essentially a small laptop with Tablet PC features. It’s slim, light, and has a small footprint – making it easy to carry around. This laptop features a CTRL+ALT+DEL button and a Flip 3D button. Also, the Aspire 1420P uses the Windows 7 Sensor and Location Platform to adjust the screen depending on which way you hold the PC (in Tablet mode). For example: if you’re holding it a landscape position, the screen will display in landscape for you. Vice versa if you hold it in a portrait position.

We worked with Acer to image the laptops with some great software – including the beta release of Office 2010.

Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010 Beta
Microsoft Touch Pack for Windows 7
Windows Live Essentials
Windows Virtual PC with Windows XP Mode
Microsoft Security Essentials
Corel Paint it! touch

Because the Aspire 1420P supports Windows Touch, we’ve included the Microsoft Touch Pack for Windows 7 as well as Corel Paint it! touch.

Corel Paint it! touch allows you to use your fingers to draw and paint. You can also turn your photos into paintings too.

One application I’ve written about recently is Amazon’s Kindle for PC. Amazon has released Kindle for PC and it works great on this laptop. You can download the beta of Kindle for PC today here. You can use multitouch gestures to move from page to page on the Kindle book you are reading. You can also zoom in and out with ease. For more on the Kindle for PC app, check out my demo video here on this post. In Tablet mode, reading books with Kindle for PC is very nice.

The Aspire 1420P also sports Mobile Broadband. With Windows 7, using Mobile Broadband is easier than ever before. Windows 7 will automatically detect if a Mobile Broadband connection is available (after inserting your SIM card).

You can choose to connect to the Mobile Broadband connection where you will be required enter subscription details from your mobile carrier. No need to mess with 3^rd party Mobile Broadband connection utilities.

Not only can you use multitouch with the Aspire 1420P, you can also use it as a Tablet. The Aspire 1420P is perfect for writing down notes using Microsoft OneNote 2010 (my favorite Office app).

Overall, this PC will be great for all the developers attending PDC to experience many of Windows 7’s new features and to be able to develop with those features in mind.

* This promotion is for full-conference attendees who are onsite at PDC. It is not available to Microsoft attendees, members of the media, government employees, staff, speakers, crew, volunteers, day pass attendees, guests, or Workshop-only attendees.

Ubuntu - Adding a New Printer

magakos — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:40:00 +0000

One amazing feature of Ubuntu is its ability to automatically detect printers connected via USB cables, parallel cables, and even serial cables. If you have one of these printers, you most likely don’t need to add it to the system. You should already see an icon appear under the Printers window. Just move on to the next section to configure it. If you are not fortunate enough to have your printer automatically detected, you’ll have to manually add it. Here are the steps for doing that:

1. Click the New button on the toolbar. The New Printer wizard appears and lists your printer options. Before the New Printer wizard appears, the Printer Configuration tool scans your workstation and the local network for any accessible printers. If it detects any, they’re added to the top of the connection list.

2. Select the connection type of the new printer. Although the printer is defined as a local printer on your workstation, this utility also allows you to configure six types of printer connections (besides the currently connected printers) to make a printer available to the system. As you select each connection type in the left side of the window, a different Properties area appears in the right side. For example, if you select Windows Printer via Samba, text boxes appear where you can enter the printer name, a userID, and a password to access the network printer. Click the Browse button to browse your local network to locate shared printers. After you’ve selected the connection type and changed any Properties settings, click Forward to continue with the wizard.

3. Select the printer manufacturer or the location of the PPD file. Ubuntu uses PostScript printer description (PPD) files to format files for printing. PPD files are based on the same concept as the standard printer drivers you’ve probably used in Microsoft Windows. Each printer must have a PPD installed for CUPS to know how to format text and graphics sent to the printer. This wizard window allows you to select the PPD file to use for the new printer. You have two options:

• Select the printer manufacturer from the list of installed drivers.
• Install your own PPD file for the printer.

If you’re lucky enough to have the PPD file for your printer, copy it to a location on your workstation and select the Provide PPD File option. Browse to the location of the file and select it, then click Forward. If you don’t have the PPD file for your printer, you’ll have to hope that Ubuntu has your specific printer make and model defined in its library. If you find the printer manufacturer listed, select it and click Forward.

4. If you selected a printer manufacturer, the next wizard window provides a list of specific printer models and PPD files. Select the printer model and (optionally) the proper PPD file. This wizard window asks you to select the specific model for your printer. Hopefully, your printer model will be listed. If not, you must go back a step and find your own PPD file to install. If your specific model is listed, select it, and a list of available PPD files is shown. Some models may have only one PPD file, but others may have two or more files to choose from. In that case, one is usually marked as recommended. Try that PPD file first. If it doesn’t work, select a different PPD file. Clicking the Forward button takes you to the final wizard window (some printer drivers also have an optional window, which appears before the final wizard window, for setting individual options).

5. Define a printer name for the printer, and add the optional description and location if you want to include more information about the printer.

6. Click Apply in the Summary window to finish adding the new printer.

The new printer is added as an icon in the Printer Configuration window (even if you mapped to a remote printer). You should now see the new printer when printing from applications on your system. However, before getting too carried away with printing, it’s a good idea to check how the printer is configured.

Source of Information : Wiley Ubuntu Linux Secrets

Windows 7 and the opportunity for Developers - PDC09

Mark Relph — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:49:24 +0000

Developers! Developers! Developers! Greetings from the Microsoft PDC in LA – it’s Mark Relph from the Windows Ecosystem Team. I hope everyone is enjoying PDC this year either here in person or watching the stream at microsoftpdc.com. I wanted to give you a sense of what the Windows Ecosystem team is doing at PDC and the conversations we are having with our amazing developer community at the show. I just walked out of the Day 2 keynote that featured Steven Sinofsky, President of the Windows & Windows Live Division and it was fantastic! (for a couple of big reasons)

A Hallway Discussion about Building Windows 7

Steven’s keynote began as a “hallway discussion” about how we developed Windows 7. We learned a lot from the Windows 7 development process. Steven described the engagement we had with beta testers, partners and the developer community across various channels including the “Engineering 7” blog and the Windows Ecosystem Readiness Program. These programs helped us to make sure developers had the resources they needed to be ready for Windows 7. We also found that a disciplined release and disclosure cycle was invaluable. Everyone wants to get code sooner, but having API complete and feature complete code that is actionable is far more valuable. This extended to our disclosure by ensuring all information was accurate and actionable to ensure we provided the ecosystem with correct information.

One of the key highlights from Sinofsky’s keynote was the role of telemetry and research in developing Windows 7. Telemetry is the broad set of tools we use to assess the engineering “integrity” of the Windows platform and how Windows is performing in the real world. This real world data has been incredibly valuable for us in enhancing the product. Without customers opting in to participate and send us real time data- we would not be able to make some of the improvements we made. Beyond the telemetry is the qualitative view—the type of research we do to gain an in depth understanding of how people use their PCs and what problems people would like to be solved. As developers we often feel “we know” what customers want. These are some of the tools that help us to remove our observer biases and to walk in the shoes of real customers.

The Windows 7 Ecosystem - Great Hardware Powered By Great Software

Steven then shifted to a focus on Developing for Windows 7. Steven’s keynote highlighted how vibrant the ecosystem around Windows 7 is. Along with Mike Angiulo, they demonstrated the opportunity developers have to take advantage of the range of hardware devices that run Windows. The ecosystem around Windows is really amazing. Think about the install base - there are more than one billion users who use Windows. Those users want great applications and there are 3 million programmers building applications around the world and 90 percent of those developers target Windows. You could also look at our telemetry from the beta cycle which shows more than 800,000 unique applications (which includes multiple versions, 32/64 bit & languages) running on Windows 7 during the beta timeframe. From packaged ISV software, shareware and custom applications the number of applications available for Windows 7 is measured in the hundreds of thousands. Only 3 weeks after the launch of Windows 7 we know that over 25,000 applications from our partners in the Microsoft Partner Program have a public statement of support for Windows. Even more partners are striving for a higher quality bar by earning the “Compatible with Windows 7” logo. Today, 1700 hardware and software companies have delivered over 9,000 logo’d products. Many partners are also coming out with public statements of support. One way to measure that is the Windows 7 Compatibility Center which provides compatibility information and upgrade path for some of the most commonly used products on the market. We have had 2 million visitors to the site since its launch on October 20^th. Today, there are over 25,000 products listed on the site with both 32-bit and 64-bit compatibility status and our database that is constantly growing. Finally if you take into account market impact, over the last several years, NPD data tells us that the top 4000 applications generated $4 billion in sales. This speaks volumes to the strength of the software ecosystem. As I post this blog, it is clear that the Windows ecosystem is growing and thriving.

Speaking Of Hardware….

Steven spent a few minutes talking about what it takes to build a laptop. The decisions about processors, memory, inputs, video and the drivers the make the experience great. He talked about working with our friends at Acer to really experience what it takes to build a great PC. Speaking of hardware, there was one really big surprise…….

For all the full conference attendees of PDC09 we giving away a “PDC Special Edition” laptop!! It’s a cool machine and Brandon will be posting a full review on the machine to this blog very soon.

Finally, Steven talked about the future of IE. I won’t cover the details here, but my colleague Dean Hachamovitch will speak to the news over on the IE Blog.

Announcing the Winners of The Code7 Contest

Another way to look at the health of the ecosystem is individual innovation. Over the last few months we gave developers around the globe the opportunity to show the world their talents in the Code7 Developer Contest. Developers across multiple countries answered the call and we had finalists from around the world join us at PDC to show off their work for the final judging. I had the pleasure of hosting the final event during the pre-PDC Windows Developer Bootcamp. I’m pleased to announce the grand prize winner is Benjamin Bondi from the Middle East & Africa for his application called “Notes Everywhere” a WPF client that enables you to manage desktop notes everywhere by leveraging Windows 7 and Windows Azure. Benjamin will receive $17,777 and the accolades of his peers in the developer community!

The momentum of the ecosystem and excitement of developers has made PDC an amazing event to be a part of. Sinofsky’s movie theater analogy from the keynote is the best way to describe it. We’ve built a great theatre with awesome sound, a great projector, good snacks, and comfortable seats - but the theatre is only as good as the movie that brings it to life. The same can be said about Windows 7 – it is a great OS supported by amazing hardware & software. If you are a developers and want to bring your application to life on the big screen then think about building the modern Windows application by building on – the Ribbon User Interface, Jump Lists & Progress Bars, Libraries, Multi-touch, Ink, Speech, DirectX®, High Definition Audio/Video, sensors and a connection to the cloud. Check out a few of the resources available to you at the Windows Developer Center and watch for the Windows specific sessions from the PDC as they become available online at microsoftpdc.com