Software

The article Adrian Kingsley-Hughes wrote is titled Five crucial things the Linux community doesn’t understand about the average computer user, but I’d like to add a couple. One is:
6 - Users don’t know there’s an alternative.
Ask the average computer user what Linux is and they won’t know - most don’t even know what an operating [...]

This tool covers updates and bulletins that aren’t covered by the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) tool.
The SMS Extended Security Update Inventory tool is a scan tool built for the sole purpose of helping customers determine SMS client computers that may need security updates that are not detectable using the existing SMS Security Update Inventory [...]

RTO Software has created a free tool for you network admins to scan for applications that may not have been updated to work with the recent changes in Daylight Saving Time (DST). For more information, go here.
UPDATE:

Daylight Saving Time Help and Support Center
Webcasts for daylight saving time changes in 2007

Unlike the earlier Virtual Server, Windows Virtual PC 2007 will not run on Windows 2000. (Sniff - an OS with almost all of the advantages of XP, none of the drawbacks, and ran well on boxes half as fast and with half as much RAM - I’ll miss you Windows 2000…)
As with the previous [...]

Here’s a free application that is “Internet filtering and [a] control solution for the home. K9 puts YOU in control of the Internet so you can protect your kids.” I have no experience with this software - but members of a technician’s mailing list I’m subscribed to liked it.

I’m waiting for a comparison test of CounterSpy v2 and Spy Sweeper - for a few months CounterSpy was the best anti-spyware tool and I used the demo version to clean up customers’ infected computers. Then Webroot brought out version 5 of Spy Sweeper and it did a faster and better job of spyware [...]

Take note, Vista users! This article states that Vista’s firewall as it is configured out of the box offers little more protection that Windows XP’s firewall did - and most security experts agree that the XP firewall isn’t sufficient. You need a third party software firewall, especially if you are connected to high [...]

Now this is an interesting download! Previously, the only programs that allowed you to transfer a program from one PC were aftermarket ones like PCmover. This program will only transfer programs between a Windows XP Service Pack 2 computer and a Windows Vista computer. It says it’s only available in the [...]

Here are four programs that provide unique functionality and fun to enhance your experience using a Tablet PC. And don’t forget Microsoft Ink Desktop, which is available separately for download.
Media Transfer
Copy or stream media files from your home computer to your Tablet PC, so that you can enjoy your favorite music, videos, or pictures wherever [...]

I was wondering when Microsoft would come out with a product like this. Paul Thurriot has a write up on it here. I disagree with this quote from Paul’s article: “[Microsoft product manager Todd] Headrick told me that people don’t do backups today because it’s too complicated and they don’t like to push [...]

ENTRY FORM
How can we better experience this world of ours at the cross roads of human impacts and climate change? How can we best communicate these experiences, particularly in light of the major changes Earth now faces, as one world? How can we most compellingly understand and communicate those experiences and processes? [...]

Microsoft Windows PowerShell command line shell and scripting language helps IT Professionals achieve greater productivity. Using a new admin-focused scripting language, more than 130 standard command line tools, and consistent syntax and utilities, Windows PowerShell allows IT Professionals to more easily control system administration and accelerate automation. Windows PowerShell is easy to adopt, learn, and [...]

This page will sign you up to be notified of the beta release of Windows Server “Longhorn”. TechNet Beta Central has other resources available, including:

Web forums managed by Microsoft experts
Feedback to product teams
Virtual Labs, which let you experiment with new software features
Free e-learning to acquaint yourself with the software
Beta news through TechNet Flash so [...]

Are you a small computer repair person and builder? I build maybe six computers a year for customers. Until I found this link, I thought that I couldn’t offer the discounted or free upgrades to Windows Vista that the big boys do. Here’s what you do: Go to the Microsoft Partner [...]

I’ve been using SpinRite for about six months now - the first time I tried it was on a customer’s computer that wouldn’t boot into Windows XP. I thought, well, I’ll try this software first and - if it works - I’ll save the customer the cost of backing up their data, reinstalling [...]