I’ve got a new article up: SSD Tweak Guide (sort of)
Please use that articles comment section.
Computer News
Microsoft Fix it Updated
Microsoft Fix it has been updated to version 2.5. For those who don’t know what this is yet:
Microsoft Fix it troubleshooters help you automatically diagnose and repair common computer problems, and provide you with the next steps to take if your problems aren’t fixed.
You can see / download all Fix it apps here. I recommend this only for advanced users.
Home users should check out the main Fix it page here.
Time To Run Windows Update.
Got Windows? Then you got updates. Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for February 2011
New Article Up – Using VirtualBox 4
The purpose of this article is to introduce the average PC user to VirtualBox. Terminology may be simplified to make it easier to understand for the non-Geek.
This article contains 3 sections and covers installing VirtualBox Hosts and Guests under Windows and openSUSE.
VirtualBox is virtualization software that runs under most modern operating systems. What this means in layman’s terms is that you set up an environment that pretends to be an actual computer, this is a “virtual machine” ( VM for short). With that virtual machine you can run another operating system in a window just like you would run another program. For instance, if you are using Windows 7 you could run Ubuntu in a window at the same time (see screenshots below for examples). To be clear, only the machine (computer) is virtual, you are actually running this other operating system.
The advantages of using virtual machines are many. For the home user these would include trying out new operating systems and the ability to run programs from different operating systems.
You can run many Windows games under Linux, or use Microsoft Office. You could try the latest Windows 7 SP beta, test new programs, tweaks, and configurations. You can try the latest Linux distros in an environment that is more realistic than a Live CD.
My favorite way to use VirtualBox is to run Windows under Linux. More specifically, I run Windows XP and 7 under openSUSE 11.3 (more on this later).
Security is also an advantage. The main operating system is separate from the one running on the virtual machine. For the most part viruses, malware, crashes, bugs, etc. are all contained inside the OS running in that VM. This of course does not relieve you of the responsibility of using safe computing habits. Lets say you download a file that contains a virus while under an Ubuntu VM and then run that file in Windows you could get infected.
Time To Run Windows Update
Updates available for XP-7 and MS Office. There is also an optional update for Windows 7 that basically prepares your computer for SP1.
This update is necessary to successfully install and to remove any service packs to all versions of Windows 7 and on Windows Server 2008 R2.
FWIW, I have no clue when Windows 7 SP1 will come out. Last I heard was Q1 which means sometime before April.
Microsoft Security Essentials 2
This version of Microsoft Security Essentials includes the following new features and enhancements to better help protect your computer from threats:
-Windows Firewall integration. Security Essentials setup enables you to turn on or off Windows Firewall.
-Network Inspection System. This feature enhances real-time protection by inspecting network traffic to help proactively block exploitation of known network-based vulnerabilities.
-New and improved protection engine. The updated engine offers enhanced detection and cleanup capabilities with better performance.
Time To Run Windows Update
Updates, and updates, and more updates available for XP, 2K3, Vista, 2K8, Seven, Office, etc.
Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for December 2010
3DMark 11 Is Out
Benchmark program 3DMark 11 has been released.
———-
CONTEST CLOSED
*** I have 2 keys for 3DMark 11 Advanced Edition to give away. So I’m going to have a little contest.***
The rules for the contest:
1 – Post a reply in this post with the name of your favorite PC game of all time. Only post 1 (one) game. One entry per person.
2 – Posts that violate rule #1 will not be considered.
3 – Contest begins now (07DEC2010) and runs until 5 pm (EST) tomorrow (08DEC2010).
4 – When making a reply you must use your real email address or I have no way to contact you.
5 – Winners will be picked at random using a random number generator. Winners will be notified within 24 hours of contest close. After being notified the winners must reply within 48 hours or I will pick someone else.
6 – Good Luck!
CONTEST CLOSED
———-
3DMark 11 Info:
Minimum requirements
3DMark 11 requires DirectX 11, a DirectX 11 compatible video card, and Windows Vista or Windows 7.
OS: Microsoft Windows Vista or Windows 7
Processor: 1.8GHz dual-core Intel or AMD CPU
Memory: 1 GB of system memory
Graphics: DirectX 11 compatible graphics card
Hard drive space: 1.5 GB
Audio: Windows Vista / Windows 7 compatible sound card
Links:
Download it from Major Geeks (they have 4 keys to give away).
3DMark 11 home page
New Windows 0-day vulnerability emerges, bypasses UAC
Story found via Neowin, via Winrumors, original at Prevx. It being the Thanksgiving Holiday here in the states I assume most of the MS staff here is off and the only official statement I can find from Microsoft at the moment is from a German Microsoft TechNet blog post. Microsoft is investigating new vulnerability in Windows Kernel (translated).
Being a privilege escalation exploit, it bypasses by design even the protection given by the User Account Control and Limited User Account technology implemented in Windows Vista and Windows 7. All Windows XP/Vista/7 both 32 and 64 bit are vulnerable to this attack.
Time To Run Windows Update
I don’t see anything critical since the last round of updates but there are “important” updates available. What you get depends on what OS you are running.