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Windows 8

Basic Browser Security – Private Browsing

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privatebrowsingThis article covers private browsing for Windows, Linux, and mobile platforms.

Private Browsing
(Also called Privacy mode, InPrivate browsing, Incognito mode.)
Basically when using private browsing most of the stuff usually stored on your computer by the browser no longer is. Among other things this includes cookies, history, and passwords. The security advantage of this is obvious (less stored information = less chance information is compromised). This browsing mode is not only useful on public machines but also shared computers at home and on mobile devices. [Read more…] about Basic Browser Security – Private Browsing

How To Downgrade Windows 8

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no8I’m not advocating it, but I understand some people may want to downgrade Windows 8. Here is how to do it:
See: Microsoft – Understanding Downgrade Rights

Downgrade only supported from from Windows 8 Pro to Windows 7 Pro (or Vista Biz, LOL).

Steps:
1 – You must have Windows 8 Pro (with license key)
2 – You’ll need a Windows 7 DVD or ISO.
You can download ISO’s here:
Windows 7 Professional with SP1 32-bit
Windows 7 Professional with SP1 64-bit
To create a DVD from an ISO use CDBurnerXP.
To create a bootable flash drive see: Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool. (If you have issues with this see here.)
3 – Install Windows 7 Pro. Do a clean install via instructions here: Installing Windows 7
4 – Activation. When entering key you will probably need to use the “Activation Support phone number” as per the Understanding Downgrade Rights above. Explain what you are doing. They will give you an activation code.
5 – That’s it!

The Windows 8 Freeware Machine

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freeware baby!
(last updated 31 August, 2014)
This is a Windows 8 version of the previous articles I wrote called The Freeware XP Machine,  The Vista Free Machine, and the Windows 7 Freeware Machine. This version is Windows 8 specific and has several additions and deletions of software I have tried based on recommendations of readers (and THANKS for the suggestions).
This is not a comprehensive list of freeware apps, there are lists like that all over the place. This is a list of apps I use and/or recommend. The goal of this list is to hopefully make your computing experience a little better and less expensive. I know that many of you already use a lot of these programs but perhaps this list would be something you might want to pass on to friends and family to help them out.
[Read more…] about The Windows 8 Freeware Machine