Author Topic: Interesting Software and System News  (Read 2817227 times)

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Offline bob3160

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Re: Interesting Software and System News
« Reply #3615 on: February 19, 2013, 03:36:26 PM »

7+ Taskbar Tweaker allows you to configure various aspects of the Windows taskbar.
Also works on Windows 8 :)
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Re: Interesting Software and System News
« Reply #3616 on: February 19, 2013, 03:38:08 PM »
Thanks boB  :)

Offline bob3160

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Re: Interesting Software and System News
« Reply #3617 on: February 21, 2013, 12:05:53 PM »



ArsClip makes your clipboard more useful than ever before.



Features:
- Multiple Permanent Clip groups
- Picture, RichText, File Copy, Unicode, HTML support
- Copy and paste automation support using Permanent Clips
- Highly configurable
- Win7 Jumplist support
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Offline Chris Thomas

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Offline Chris Thomas

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Re: Interesting Software and System News
« Reply #3619 on: February 23, 2013, 10:05:26 AM »
Windows 7 users might get a service pack or something similar on Feb 26

Windows 8 users too


http://support.microsoft.com/kb/894199
« Last Edit: February 23, 2013, 10:07:12 AM by Chris Thomas »

Offline CraigB

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Re: Interesting Software and System News
« Reply #3620 on: February 23, 2013, 10:10:41 AM »
Windows 7 users might get a service pack or something similar on Feb 26

Windows 8 users too


http://support.microsoft.com/kb/894199
Tuesday, February 26, 2013

This is a summary of the new and changed content to be released on Tuesday, February 26, 2013.
New non-security content:•Platform update for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 (KB2670838)

 Locale: All
 Deployment: Recommended/Automatic Updates, WSUS, and Catalog
 Classification: Feature Packs
 Supersedes: KB2741355
 Target platforms: Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2
 Approximate file sizes:
 Description:
 Install this update to resolve issues in Windows. For a complete listing of the issues that are included in this update, see the associated Microsoft Knowledge Base article for more information. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.
◦Windows 7 update: ~ 5718KB

◦Windows 7 x64-Edition update: ~ 11519KB

•Update Rollup for Windows Server 2012 Essentials (KB2781267)

 Locale: All
 Deployment: Important/Automatic Updates, WSUS, and Catalog
 Classification: High Priority, Non-Security, Update Rollups
 Target platforms: Windows Server 2012
 Approximate file sizes:
 Description:
 Install this update to resolve issues in Windows. For a complete listing of the issues that are included in this cumulative update, see the associated Microsoft Knowledge Base article for more information. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.
◦Update Rollup for Windows Server 2012 Essentials update: ~ 56593KB

•Update for Windows 8, Windows RT, and Windows Server 2012 (KB2794599)

 Locale: All
 Deployment: Recommended/Automatic Updates, WSUS, and Catalog
 Classification: Updates, Non-Security
 Supersedes: KB2780541 on Windows 8, Windows RT, and Windows Server 2012
 Target platforms: Windows 8, Windows RT*, and Windows Server 2012
 Approximate file sizes:
 Description:
 Install this update to resolve issues in Windows. For a complete listing of the issues that are included in this update, see the associated Microsoft Knowledge Base article for more information. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.
◦Windows 8 update: ~ 647KB

◦Windows 8 x64/Windows Server 2012 x64 update: ~ 904KB

◦Windows RT update: ~ 722KB

•System Update Readiness Tool for Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Vista (KB947821) [February 2013]

 Locale: All
 Deployment: Important/Automatic Updates, WSUS, and Catalog
 Classification: High Priority, Non-Security
 Supersedes: KB947821 on Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Vista
 Target platforms: Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Vista
 Approximate file sizes:
 Description:
 This tool is being offered because an inconsistency was found in the Windows servicing store which may prevent the successful installation of future updates, service packs, and software. This tool checks your computer for such inconsistencies and tries to resolve issues if found.
◦System Update Readiness Tool for Windows 7 [February 2013] update: ~ 146799KB

◦System Update Readiness Tool for Windows 7 x64/Windows Server 2008 R2 x64 [February 2013] update: ~ 387884KB

◦System Update Readiness Tool for Windows Server 2008 R2 IA-64 [February 2013] update: ~ 63138KB

◦System Update Readiness Tool for Windows Server 2008/Windows Vista [February 2013] update: ~ 132336KB

◦System Update Readiness Tool for Windows Server 2008 IA-64 [February 2013] update: ~ 48112KB

◦System Update Readiness Tool for Windows Server 2008 x64/Windows Vista x64 [February 2013] update: ~ 183233KB

SOURCE: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/894199

Offline bob3160

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Re: Interesting Software and System News
« Reply #3621 on: February 23, 2013, 11:22:04 AM »
I thought the link offered by Chris was sufficient since going to the link gave me all the information ....
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Offline bob3160

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Re: Interesting Software and System News
« Reply #3622 on: February 23, 2013, 12:39:29 PM »
System information without a Third Party program:
Bring up the Run Command Box (Windows Key + R key)
and type the following:
msinfo32 and hit OK

Here's what you'll get:


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Offline DavidR

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Re: Interesting Software and System News
« Reply #3623 on: February 23, 2013, 03:11:21 PM »
Um, that's been there for some time (even in XP) that I had forgotten about it ;D
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Offline CraigB

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Re: Interesting Software and System News
« Reply #3624 on: February 23, 2013, 03:31:47 PM »
I thought the link offered by Chris was sufficient since going to the link gave me all the information ....
I posted it in full mainly for Chris as he stated Windows 7 users "might" get a service pack or something similar on Feb 26 seems like he didn't know :-\

mister.marmot

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Re: Interesting Software and System News
« Reply #3625 on: February 23, 2013, 03:57:51 PM »
Quote
Hotspot shield has had virus warnings from various AV products over the years and as close back as 2011 was as hard to remove all it's code as any virus and maybe they have cleaned up their act now but I would stay away from a company who's purpose is to mine my browsing habits, puts up adverts I might find offensive, reduces my access to some pages on the web, slows down my browser, disconnects from the internet randomly, is hard to remove, makes it harder for my anti-malware products to do their job unless it was absolutely necessary to view something not allowed from my country. 


Even so there has got to be better proxy solutions.

Sorry, Bob3160 your other recommendations look cool and I'm going to try some.  This product gave me a scare and I had to say something and give my reasoning.  Thanks for all your dedication to the Avast! community!
It doesn't contain any virus. It may not be something you like or, something I would ever use but, there are people who do.

I confirmed that after uninstalling Hotspot Shield it left a Windows service installed and active.
 For the next 2 days my Online Armor firewall recorded high net traffic and my hard drive was thrashing for no apparent reason.  Right after the February hot patches from Microsoft my computer refused to log into the wireless router.  I spent hours resetting the stack, removing the drivers, upgrading drivers verifying my other computers can access the router and the router hadn't changed.  I looked at the list of services and drivers installed and found  that Anchorpoint left two services and one was still starting with Windows.  Disabling their service did not help, however, and now I am reinstalling the operating system.  Well, guess it's time to try Windows 8.

I would never, ever recommend Hotspot Shield to ANYONE and I wonder why it is not considered mal-ware when it leaves an active service installed. 

Offline bob3160

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Re: Interesting Software and System News
« Reply #3626 on: February 23, 2013, 04:11:44 PM »
Quote
I would never, ever recommend Hotspot Shield to ANYONE and I wonder why it is not considered mal-ware when it leaves an active service installed.
Many programs leave things behind. Unless what's left or left running is malicious, it can't be considered Malware.
( I also didn't recommend the program simply made you aware of the program. )
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mister.marmot

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Re: Interesting Software and System News
« Reply #3627 on: February 23, 2013, 04:16:30 PM »
Quote
I would never, ever recommend Hotspot Shield to ANYONE and I wonder why it is not considered mal-ware when it leaves an active service installed.
Many programs leave things behind. Unless what's left or left running is malicious, it can't be considered Malware.
( I also didn't recommend the program simply made you aware of the program. )

No proper programs leave actively running services installed.  They may leave configuration files, registry entries and directories but not active code and especially not active services.

Your mention of the software and my installing it were just coincidence.  It was done on my own mistaken choice being up late at night installing Trillian chat and not remembering what Hotspot Shield had done in 2011.

Offline Chris Thomas

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Re: Interesting Software and System News
« Reply #3628 on: February 23, 2013, 04:57:51 PM »
Quote
I would never, ever recommend Hotspot Shield to ANYONE and I wonder why it is not considered mal-ware when it leaves an active service installed.
Many programs leave things behind. Unless what's left or left running is malicious, it can't be considered Malware.
( I also didn't recommend the program simply made you aware of the program. )

@mister.marmot

I have used this program. This is a legit program and it doesn't leave anything behind. Try the latest version of this program. Uncheck the toolbars. They have more than 10 million users.

mister.marmot

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Re: Interesting Software and System News
« Reply #3629 on: February 23, 2013, 04:58:31 PM »
After needing to install another OS and having professionals recommend a system rebuild every 18 months I've decided that portable applications stored on a USB 3 Passport drive is the way to avoid so much headaches. 

If I want to swap OS or even run 3 OS in Virtual Boxes they can all access to the G: drive applications and no registry problems to deal with just some locked file errors if I'm not mindful.

This is a growing trend and I found several applications already in service on my laptop here:


http://portableapps.com/apps

Palemoon put out their own portable release and at that website you'll find portable versions of:

Foxit Reader, Revo Uninstaller, Songbird player, VLC player, Audacity editor, Thunderbird mail, Open Office, Firefox, Opera, Chrome, Iron, Skype, Gimp and a bunch of graphic editors and viewers,  Notepad++ (nicest little editor I've ever used) and a slew of little games.


With browsers and the extensions keeping themselves up to date regularly there's no reason for me ever again to have to deal with transferring a profile over or even reinstalling my browser just because I buy a new computer or switch OS or if the machine is dead I can unplug the Passport and move to another machine.   Just need to keep the external drive mirrored.