The Weekly Geek

In my previous post about 64 bit computers I mentioned a time when Microsoft Automatic Updates ran and rebooted a computer of mine while compiling a video. Since then another person I know told me of the same issue and I have received many calls over the last year about “lost” data that occurred when office computers were left on and files such as Excel and Word were left open and unsaved and the system rebooted.

Fortunately most people were using Office 2003 or 2007 so a saved copy was there, however a couple of clients still use Office 2000 and that was a little more difficult.

Today let’s go over how to prevent Windows XP Home, Vista Home and Window 7 Home versions from rebooting automatically after a Windows Automatic Update. [Read more →]

When you click on the “Start” button and hover over the “All Programs” button and then your individual programs buttons, there is a slight delay. I see no reason for that. We can decrease and even remove that delay with a simple registry edit.

Before you make the following changes to the registry, be sure to first back it up, otherwise expect meteors from the heavens to destroy your computer! So back it up just like you have learned in other articles here.

To edit the registry, click on the “Start” button and then click on the “Run” button and type in “Regedit” in the box provided.

Now you will need to navigate the left side by clicking on the “+” symbols to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop.

On the right hand window pane double click on MenuShowDelay (the list is in alphabetical order).

The current value should be 400, I believe this is milliseconds but I could be wrong. Change the number to a lower number down to and including 0 (Zero). I choose 10, just in case.

Restart your computer and see the change.

Until we meet again, have a virus free week.

The registry is the DNA of a computer. Just like with human DNA you must be very careful when dealing with it. Without being prideful, you must follow my listed steps carefully or very bad things will happen.

For a PDF with images of this article, download it here!

To back up the registry go to Start | Run and type in regedit in the Run box, then press the Enter key.

When the registry opens go to the top left corner and click on File | Export.

Now choose the location to backup to (I strongly suggest the root folder which is just C:, that way if there is an issue it is easier to access).

Select Open, which is located n the lower right of the windows to go into the folder.

Make sure that under Export Range the All button is selected.

Select “OK”, that is all there is to it!

Until we meet again have a virus free week!

One of the more anticipated features of Windows 7 is the proclaimed “better” support for and implementation of 64 bit architecture. The 64 bit architecture consists of a 64 bit operating systems (most are 32 bit) and a 64 bit motherboard and of course a 64 bit processor.

These systems will allow users to address more memory (RAM), to do more with and / or speedup video editing, Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM).

About 4 years ago when Windows release Windows XP 64 bit I was eager to jump on the 64 bit bus (pun intended), since then I have learned a few things I want you to consider before hopping on that bus. [Read more →]

The Internet Crime Complaint Center is reporting that last year the business model of scareware and my term crapware reached $150 Million in the US last year. http://www.ic3.gov/media/2009/091211.aspx

Symantec published a report in October of 2009 reporting 40 million infected users worldwide. http://eval.symantec.com/mktginfo/enterprise/white_papers/b-symc_report_on_rogue_security_software_WP_20100385.en-us.pdf

As Scareware continues to proliferate via Facebook, with the deaths or misfortunes of celebrities, due to web site injections and drive-by downloads and the profitability of this scam, expect it to rise dramatically in 2010.

So what is a person and business to do?
I have discussed the details of these infections over the last 13 months more than I would like. Today I want to help you clean up your computer from an infection and give you a suggestion or two on preventing the fake anti-virus and fake infection warnings.

[Read more →]