If you have limited hard disk space, there are many ways you can free up space on your hard disk. You can start by removing files, such as documents, music and videos, you no longer need. You can…

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Well, friends, your queries have been answered! Our buddies over at PCWorld are reporting that Microsoft has confirmed that the Windows 7 RC will be still active until June 1, 2010. This information was actually leaked about a month ago, but Thursday say the Redmond-based software giant confirm the news.

To add to the lengthy amount of time the RC will be available, it was also confirmed that, "the RC release will be available at least through June 2009 and we're not limiting the number of product keys, so you have plenty of time." Very good news for those using it, with no intent to purchase the full version for a while (after it's released, of course). How is this compared to Windows Vista RC2? Well, users were allowed to use that for 8 months since it was made available, so 13 months is a hefty boost in terms of the timeframe.

In other news, Windows XP is still going to be available on netbooks for one year after Windows 7 is released. As you can imagine, it'll only be available to vendors selling the netbooks, so don't expect to be able to waltz into a store and pick up a fresh copy of the almost-8-year-old OS. According to ComputerWorld, "Windows-based systems accounted for more than 90% of all netbook shipments from November through January, according to market research firm NPD Group Inc, [thanks to XP]."

XpyBurner is a latest and very dangerous rogue antispyware program, successor of SpyBurner scamware. Parasite uses popular and effective scare tactics in order to trick computer users into purchasing licensed version. XpyBurner is advertised through the use of Trojan horses and misleading websites. Once XpyBurner get in touch with your system it will configure itself to run automatically every time you turn your computer, also it will perform system scan. When the scan is completed XpyBurner will state that your computer is infected with variety of spyware and malware. But remember all these threats are imaginary and they shown with one purpose – make you believe that your computer is seriously infected and you must purchase XpyBurner.
But remember XpyBurner is scamware and don’t worth a penny. Remove it as soon as possible manually or using -

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


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

The files to be deleted:

wininet.dll
xpyburner.exe
Xpyburner.lnk
Uninstall xpyburner.lnk

Remove registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\XpyBurner
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{5222008A-DD62-49c7-A735-7BD18ECC7350}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\SpyBurner

Please be careful because manual removal of XpyBurner 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. -

• %Windows\System32\dwwnw64r.exe
• %Windows\System32\gand.exe
• %Windows\System32\lcntlsdl.exe
• %Windows\System32\llrgzkigveooe.dll
• %Windows\System32\rwfitcbuwqtcmfliu.exe
  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 [ Right click and select “Save Target as” ]
  Click to Download - Enable Registry.reg
  Open it with Regedit.exe [%system32\regedit.exe], then it Confirms Add to registry Yes or No, Confirm Yes, then 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 and select “Save Target as” ] and then continue with the removal.
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.]

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Delete Entry with Gand or any other Listed file name Above

Microsoft will help users upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7 by selling upgrade media, but warned XP users they must do a "clean" installation of Windows 7. That means all data on the XP machine will be lost.

"Regarding XP, customers can purchase upgrade media and an upgrade licence to move from Windows XP to Windows 7," a Microsoft spokeswoman told Computerworld US. "However, they will need to do a clean installation of Windows 7."

In a follow-up reply to questions, the spokeswoman fleshed out what Microsoft means by upgrade. "The 'upgrade' part is referring to the licence," she said. "You will be able to get the discounted 'upgrade' licence, but it will include full bits."

That's how David Smith, an analyst with Gartner, interpreted 'upgrade' in Microsoft's description of what it would offer XP owners. "They're talking about the upgrade price," he said, pointing out that most software vendors use the term to designate a lower-priced version aimed at existing customers.

Although Microsoft Tuesday spelled the six planned versions of Windows 7, it declined to provide pricing for them, or for the XP upgrade licences.

Typically, an operating system upgrade offers users the choice between an in-place migration of the machine - including installed applications and all data - and a fresh installation, which overwrites the hard drive's contents. When Microsoft launched Windows Vista in January 2007, for example, it offered people then running XP those upgrade paths.

Smith and other analysts applauded Microsoft's decision to not provide in-place upgrades from XP to Windows 7. "I'm not a big fan of them," said Smith. "They're tough enough from one version to the next, and from two versions [behind], it would be pretty challenging, technically."

Michael Gartenberg, formerly an analyst at JupiterResearch, and now a vice president of mobile strategy with JupiterMedia, agreed. "For most end users, it will probably mean that they end up with a more reliable installation," he said.

Microsoft benefits, too. "It makes life a lot easier for Microsoft by not having to support an XP to Windows 7 transition," said Gartenberg. "It means that it's something they can get out the door earlier."

Microsoft has been aggressively pushing Windows 7's timetable. Just two weeks after it launched the first - and in the end, the only - public beta of the new operating system, the head of Windows development said the company is moving directly to 'release candidate' directly to 'release candidate'.

But the process of upgrading a PC from Windows XP to Windows 7 won't be easy, Gartenberg predicted. "It's a double-edged sword. For many consumers who may be looking to go directly from XP to Windows 7, the idea of doing a clean install, backing up their applications, backing up their data, can lead to a lot of hassles," he said.

"Considering that there's a lot of XP out there, one has to wonder why Microsoft is taking this approach," Gartenberg added. "It's not going to be the simplicity of sticking a disc in the drive and upgrading. We'll have to see if that affects the upgrade market."

Microsoft said it was working on ways to help Windows XP users make the move, but would not get specific. "Microsoft plans to have other tools and ways to help people get through that process, but we don't have full details on that at this time," the company's spokesman said today.

[Via AskVG]