You install or remove software and get that “reboot now” thing. Wouldn’t it be nice if you knew what it was going to do? I know that the software put an entry in the runonce section of the registry so that on the next reboot, it does whatever.

Some software does not allow you to decide if you want to reboot now. Some people click cancel and decide when they are going to reboot.

What happens if you install/remove something else and IT puts a runonce entry in the registry? Does the action(s) of one interfere with the actions of another?

If software has a “backup” process, what does it back up? Some spyware software, anti-virus software, firewalls, what-have-you, will perform a “backup.” What would be restored?

If you have multiple pieces of software that do “backups” and you have any problem, what restore would you use?

I saw something about XP restore points. The recommendation was to change the default amount of hard drive space set aside for restore points. The obvious question is, how many restore points do you need to save? Why can’t I choose which restore points I want to save as opposed to the most recent XX restore points?

Is there a law about what HAS to be in an end user license agreement (EULA)? Even when you read the EULA, do you know if you should agree to this ‘agreement?’ What is NOT being stated (because they do not have to)? What recourse do you have if you agree and you have an issue? Most of the EULAs I read seem to imply that they will take NO responsibility whatsoever if you agree to this agreement. Where is OUR protection? Wouldn’t it be cool if WE could have an agreement that THEY had to agree to so that THEY would be responsible for issues from their software? Hey, I can dream.

In my last column, I mentioned using Spy Sweeper in lieu of Spybot. My CPU-constrained PC was not able to effectively run Spy Sweeper. Webroot sent me a link to install an updated version so I did so. It wasn’t any help. The software runs fine on my daughter’s laptop because she has more processor power. So even though I did like the functionality of Spy Sweeper, I decided to remove it and put Spybot back.

Spybot USED to remove ActiveX components in its advanced tools section. The section is still there. You can highlight one that you want to delete. It asks if you are sure you want to delete it. You say yes. It does not delete it. I am running from an administrator profile so I know that isn’t the problem. I really do not feel like using regedit to find what Spybot would have deleted and manually delete it myself. I’m going to reinstall Spybot and see if that problem goes away.

Where is software that stops these unwanted ActiveX components, BHOs, tracking cookies, etc. from being installed in the first place? So many different software products make claims to do so. Yet, ’stuff’ still gets on the PC and you have to be reactive and remove stuff after the fact as opposed to proactive and avoid whatever these ‘things’ are going to do. Maybe I’m asking for too much. I don’t think so.

I recently installed Ad Muncher. Nice little free software that “munches” banner ads. Works well and has lots of other cool features.

You know, if the basic software that we use all the time had the functionality we require and deserve, maybe all this additional software wouldn’t be necessary. You think these software companies purposely make their software really lame and get paid by other software companies so these other companies can sell software to fix the software that is lame? Makes my head hurt.

[Howie]

[tags]backup,activex,eula,spybot,spy sweeper,ad muncher[/tags]