On Microsoft

Microsoft is a difficult situation for me to evaluate. I think the company still has a lot of growth ahead in some areas. But, that depends on where management wants to take it.

There are three core businesses that are already well developed: Windows, Office, and Servers.

The moat in the first two are wide. The Windows moat is huge.

The business model in operating systems is great. You keep upgrading every few years; the hardware needn't progress for you to find thin...

Microsoft is a difficult situation for me to evaluate. I think the company still has a lot of growth ahead in some areas. But, that depends on where management wants to take it.

There are three core businesses that are already well developed: Windows, Office, and Servers.

The moat in the first two are wide. The Windows moat is huge.

The business model in operating systems is great. You keep upgrading every few years; the hardware needn't progress for you to find things to tweak and get people to buy the next step up. It's insanely profitable.

I think the new launch (Vista) will be bigger than people expect (eventually) in how it allows for cross selling other Microsoft products (but we'll see about that). I expect the press to be very negative at least until well after the launch, because there will always be some bugs and delays.

Games

Eventually, video games will be a big business for Microsoft. I hate the economics of the console business, but love the economics of the publishing (and development) side of things.

I'm sorry to see that Microsoft didn't use its cash pile to buy up an established business here (publishers were cheap in the market a few years ago; an all cash deal would have worked well. Now, everyone thinks video games will be the next big thing).

The console wars are going well for Microsoft. The two keys to establishing a dominant console are launching first and getting good games on your platform. We'll see how Sony (SNE) does this round, but I expect them to be the big loser.

Nintendo may surprise here. I think the Xbox 360 and Nintendo's new console (Wii) will do very well. It'll be interesting to see the breakdown of the consoles in both the domestic and foreign markets. I think Sony may still be strong overseas, but could be in a much poorer position at the end of this round than they were with the PS2.

Search

Long-term I am optimistic about search. I think Google's position is much weaker than most people think. I don't think Microsoft will be the only one to benefit here.

Search is a very natural cross sell with Windows. That's the direction everything seems to be headed in (combining online and desktop search). For future growth in terms of market share I think Microsoft is in a better position than either Yahoo (YHOO) or Google (GOOG).

I also think we might see a couple other (largely unknown) search engines gain some share.

I think Google's strength is its brand. Its dominance helps with advertisers more than users. I don't think it has a lock on users. Also, I think Google has been poorly positioned for doing much of anything outside of keyword search.

I expect to see a lot more in the way of intelligent, social search inspired stuff. Years from now, much of search will have to be helping you find what you didn't know you wanted to find.

Google is dominant in a different business: helping you find what you know you want to find (but don't know the name / location). The two types of search are very different. Both will be important, but the growth in other forms of search will be coming off a smaller base and will likely integrate with keyword search. Google has the most to lose here.

Other Devices

Microsoft wants to perform well on mobile devices and on your TV. Compared to competitors it is very strong in these respects.

The strategy seems to be the one I would favor - to control the point of initial contact wherever software is used and then to only venture into the actual application or content side of the business where it is highly profitable to do so. In video games it will be highly profitable. In other areas it is less likely to be very profitable.

I expect to see more generic, web-based applications. These will be less profitable for everyone. Office should hold up well, but not as well as Windows. Basically, Microsoft needs to take what it has in PCs and import that to TVs, Handheld Devices, Consoles, and the Web.

That should be the strategy. I think that is the strategy. These aren't unrelated businesses that need to be broken up to unlock creativity (as some have suggested). Rather, the profit potential for each is greatly enhanced by being part of Microsoft. If you take these pieces apart they are worth very little. There would only be the three businesses I started off talking about and the console / games business.

Internationally, there is going to be natural growth for Microsoft's dominant businesses. It won't be a tremendous growth rate, but it will be strong and will require virtually no additional investment to secure.

Obsolescence Issues

Overall, I like the future for software a lot more than hardware, because the marginal gains in the quality of hardware will slow greatly in the years ahead.

The question isn't what can be done mathematically in terms of increasing specs; it's what that translates to for the user. We are reaching a point where the individual user will not directly see the benefits of increased hardware performance as clearly as he did in the past.

Much of the research that goes in to this area will only serve to bring down prices and benefit memory intensive businesses - it will not provide as much of a "wow" factor for the user anymore.

This is especially true in games. The situation in desktop applications is already such that improving the software design is where most gains will come from.

Computing power is simply not a scarce resource for most individuals sitting at home or in a cubicle. Advances will benefit some users a lot and will trickle down to the end user (often via the web) through fast responses and cheap services. But, that's a barely noticeable change.

You'll see something here akin to the kind of thing you see in the brokerage business. It won't be obvious, because price competition will never be as great in software.

Generally, you'll just see the prices for doing anything electronically come down. That's very different from what we've seen over the last few decades, where you also had advancements that attracted new users, because they allowed developers to do something differently, not just more cheaply.

This is a very long-term trend I'm worried about. It could weigh heavily on a business like Dell (DELL), because PCs are actually quite durable; once the rate of obsolescence slows, sales will have to slow as the cycle lengthens.

Management

I think Microsoft's management is absolutely the best in the business. In fact, I think it's one of the best in any business.

It would be hard for me to find more than a handful of people I'd rather have managing a business I was part owner of. I also think the current arrangement is a good one.

There is enough of a line between current operations and future investments in the Chairman / CEO split that investors will probably get the greatest benefit from the brilliance of the Chairman this way.

Everyone underestimates Bill Gates. It's easy, because his great triumph came some time ago now. But, he's interested in building something lasting. I trust him more than anyone in tech without a question. He always impresses me whether he's talking about his own industry or some other topic. He has exactly the right kind of mind for someone running a business where the long-run is such a concern.

Qualitatively, I think Microsoft scores close to perfectly. I could cite the profitability stats, but I won't, because you know they're better than almost any other business on the planet – and that's with a huge siphoning off of resources to investments in the future that aren't required to maintain the cash cow, wide-moat Windows franchise.

Valuation

Valuation is a bit more troubling. Microsoft is not at the point on an EV/EBIT basis where I'd be buying the stock if there was a risk of no extraordinarily profitable growth in the future. In other words, at the current price, it clearly makes for a bad bond.

The key is earnings growth. I think you have to believe MSFT will have a real future in search, games, and non-PC devices that will fuel future, highly profitable growth.

I think that future is there. As far as a truly large cap stock (say $10 billion or more) it's about as attractive as anything on the planet right now - and certainly it's the most attractive stock of any very large U.S. business. Even though Intel (INTC) and Dell are cheap looking, I don't like them nearly as much. Dell is an interesting situation, but I don't understand the business well enough.

I have a better idea of where MSFT is headed – and I like it.

Conclusion

I don't own shares of MSFT. I won't be buying any either. I don't normally own such large stocks. I prefer much smaller businesses, because the mispricings tend to get more out of whack. You aren't going to see MSFT trade at an EV/EBIT of 7.5 or something like that, but you do sometimes get those chances in small (high quality) businesses.

There are a lot of chances to find wild mispricings without much of the future being a concern. Those are the situations I prefer to invest in, because businesses like MSFT have an awfully large anchor with the amount of capital they've got – plus, they tend to be less likely to be wildly mispriced.

However, if I had to own one business with a market cap of more than $10 billion and hold it for a lifetime I would buy Microsoft here without hesitation.

Windows Vista Ultimate Review

Windows Vista is Microsoft's first new operating system in more than five years and the successor to Windows XP. However, it is not worth rushing out to purchase. If you desperately need to buy a new PC (if your old one died or you've been waiting and waiting for Vista to be released), then by all means do so; there's nothing wrong with Windows Vista. But there's no one compelling feature within Windows Vista that cries out to switch over, neither the enhanced graphic capabilities (Aero) nor the improved system performance features (truthfully, our Windows XP doesn't crash). As for security, Microsoft's biggest improvements in Windows Vista are within the Enterprise or 64-bit editions, editions most home users will not be running. Windows Vista is not the Apple Mac OS X 10.4 killer one hoped for (or feared). Nor are there specific big-name software packages written exclusively for Windows Vista--most software available today is compatible with both Windows XP and Windows Vista. But the extensive tie-ins to Microsoft.com and Live.com, and the many, many interdependences upon Internet Explorer 7 left us desperately wanting more (and often best-of-breed) alternatives. Hard core Microsofties who live and breathe within the MSN, Live.com, and Microsoft desktop software ecosystem will rejoice with the release of Windows Vista, but for the rest of us who are product agnostic, who use Firefox, Google Desktop, ZoneAlarm, GMail, and Corel WordPerfect, Windows XP SP2 will suffice nicely until some killer program necessitates that we all upgrade to Windows Vista.

There are six major editions of Windows Vista; we're reviewing four. We chose not to review Windows Vista Enterprise (available only to volume license customers) and Windows Vista Starter (available only outside the United States). Windows Vista Ultimate includes everything, and this is the edition getting the most promotion from Microsoft. It is not the edition most people will find packaged on their shiny new PCs or will end up with after an upgrade of existing hardware. See our feature comparison chart to know which edition is right for your specific needs, and check the following individual reviews for more details:

Windows Vista Business
Windows Vista Home Premium
Windows Vista Home Basic

Setup and installation
The Windows Vista DVD disc includes a Windows Imaging (WIM) format of the code, so whether you buy the Home Basic edition or the Ultimate edition, the code remains the same; only the product key unlocks your specific set of features. This means users who opt for the lesser editions can always upgrade (assuming they have the proper hardware) by downloading some additional code and securing a new product key online. However, all features--even if you paid for them--are dependent on specific hardware configurations being present; if you don't have the proper graphics hardware, for example, you'll simply never see the Aero graphic effects on that old Dell computer in your basement.

Hardware requirements for Windows Vista should not be taken lightly. In a controversial move to garner positive reviews, Microsoft sent hundreds of bloggers (not including CNET) free copies of Windows Vista Ultimate; Microsoft did not send boxed copies, rather the software giant sent top-of-the-line Acer Ferrari laptops with the operating system preinstalled. So even Microsoft seems to admit that the best performance is only available on top-of-the-line machines manufactured within the last year or so.

That said, many people will still want to upgrade their current Windows XP SP2. This will keep all your current data and applications, importing them directly into the new operating system. To see which edition(s) of Windows Vista your current computer can handle, visit the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor to find specific hardware recommendations so you don't buy the wrong edition. Most people will find either Windows Vista Home Basic or Windows Vista Home Premium to be their best choice. While Windows Vista does make a backup of your previous operating system before installing, it is always recommended that you backup your current Windows XP system yourself, just in case.

Rather than upgrade, we recommend you perform a clean installation. With a clean installation, you keep all your current on the Windows XP drive and install only the data and applications you want to run on Windows Vista. A clean install can be accomplished by buying a new PC with Windows Vista already installed, partitioning an existing Windows XP machine to dual-boot into Windows Vista, or adding a new hard drive to an existing Windows XP machine.

Our clean installations took anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour, depending on the hardware in the system. It's pretty much an automated process, with the installer first copying the WIM image onto the new hard drive or partition then expanding that image. Once again, we experienced an uncomfortably long plateau at "Expanding: 27 percent"; as with previous builds, we waited between two and five minutes before the expansion continued. About halfway through, the installer reboots and continues the installation in Windows Vista.

During the installation, Windows Vista will load the drivers included within the installation image, but it will also download additional drivers from a much larger database at Microsoft. This assumes, however, that one has an always-on Internet connection; dial-up users may find that upon completion of the installation process some drivers are missing.

Once fully installed, Windows Vista first asks for your country or region, then time and currency, and, finally, the desired keyboard layout. Next, you'll choose a username, a user icon, and a password. Then select your desktop wallpaper and security settings: Automatic, Install Important Updates Only, or Ask Me Later. After reviewing the computer's time and date settings, there's one more message: "Please wait while Windows checks your computer's performance." Here, Microsoft grades your computer on a five-point scale, with the overall rating based on your system's lowest score (in our case, that was for the video card).

Windows Vista includes new musical tones written by veteran musician Robert Fripp. Compared to the familiar start-up tones of Windows XP, Windows Vista's are lighter, almost spritely. The sounds for User Account Control and Log Off are also perkier than those found in similar security warnings within Windows XP.

New on the Windows Vista desktop is a Welcome Center which contains links to frequently asked questions such as, "How do you configure your printer?" and "How do you connect to your Internet service?" There is also room for some sales opportunities, either with manufacturer specials or online offers from Microsoft, such as the Windows Live OneCare service. Frankly, we think it is better for you to look beyond the Windows ecosystem for e-mail, Internet browsers, and security applications.

After closing the Welcome Center, you'll notice to the far right there is a shaded sidebar populated with three example Gadgets ("widgets" to everyone else), tiny desktop applets that display content, such as RSS feeds. In one Gadget, a slide show of images from the sample photo library display; in the next, the current time; finally, there's a Gadget for subscribed RSS feeds. We downloaded and installed Firefox 2, made Firefox our default browser, and quickly set up a few RSS feed subscriptions. Guess what? The Windows Vista Gadget was unresponsive to our efforts, displaying only the default MSN feeds from Microsoft. Microsoft says the default RSS Gadget feeds off a common store of RSS feeds within Windows Vista, and firefox hasn't yet adopted the API for that store. You have to use Internet Explorer 7 or choose a Firefox-friendly Gadget instead. By clicking the + symbol atop the sidebar, you'll see a panel of available Gadgets, with a link out to the Web to find even more. The Gadgets are not fixed to the sidebar; they can be dragged across the desktop. And even the sidebar itself can be disabled to allow for a full desktop view. An icon located within the taskbar will restore the sidebar at any time.

The familiar Start menu features some cosmetic changes for Windows Vista. Aside from the distinctive rounded icon, the Start menu now includes a built-in Search function. We would have preferred to have access to Search directly from the desktop rather than digging down a level or two. The All Programs list now displays as an expandable/collapsible directory tree, something Windows should have offered years ago. The new Start menu is divided in half, with access to documents, pictures, music, games, recent items, My Computer, network, Control Panel, default programs, and Help along the right-hand side.

Also new within Start is an Instant Off button. This button caches all your open files and processes, allowing you to turn off your laptop or desktop quickly without all the "cleaning up files" messages you see in previous versions. We like the feature, but on our Acer Travelmate 8200, Instant Off and closing the lid to hibernate sometimes produced limbo states where the laptop simply wouldn't wake up again, forcing us to reboot.

In Windows Vista, files become unmoored from the traditional directory tree structure--kind of. The more ambitious plan of including a whole new file system was scrapped early on; instead, Windows Vista relies on metatags, which are keywords linked to files to make them searchable. With metatags, you can create virtual file folders based on a variety of search terms. Say you're doing a report on mountains, any file that is keyword-enabled to include "mountains" will be grouped into a virtual folder without physically dragging that file to a new location. The downside is that older files (say you upgraded your system from Windows XP or imported data from an earlier version of Windows) will have to be retroactively metataged in order to be searched. Also different is the file path displayed within Windows Explorer. Gone are the backslashes, replaced with arrows that offer drop-down menus of alternative folders. We liked this efficient feature.

Finally, there's a compatibility wizard buried deep within Windows Vista. Most Windows XP applications we loaded performed just fine. Operating under the hood, Windows Vista convinces native Windows XP applications that they're running on Windows XP. Should you need to run an older application, say from Windows 95, the compatibility wizard allows you to tweak the display resolution and emulate Windows 95 for that program. For example, we were able to run a Windows 95-optimized game demo on our Windows Vista test system.

Features
There are too many individual features within Windows Vista Ultimate Edition to call out--seriously. However, our gut feeling is that most of the significant bells and whistles are designed for the Enterprise-level customers, not the home user. Having a large number of features should not be confused with actually providing significant value to all users across the board. We would have preferred fewer features executed extremely well rather than an uneven mix of this and that, a one-size-fits-all operating system. And we disagree with Microsoft's seemingly arbitrary division of features within individual editions.

Common to all editions of Windows Vista are ad hoc backup and recovery, instant Search, Internet Explorer 7 browser, Windows Media Player 11, Windows Mail e-mail client, Windows Calendar, Windows Photo Gallery, performance tuning and self-diagnostics, Internet protocol IPv6 and IPv4 support, Windows ReadyDrive, a maximum of 4GB RAM support on 32-bit editions (up to 128GB RAM on some 64-bit editions), Windows Sync Center for mobile devices, Windows Mobility Center for presentations on the road, User Account Control security protection, Windows Security Center, Windows Defender antispyware, Windows Firewall, Windows Meeting Space for ad hoc wireless meetings, Remote Desktop for working from home, XPS document support for PDF-like files, improved peer-to-peer networking, improved VPN support, and improved power management. Included within certain editions (and thus also included within the Ultimate edition) are Windows Media Center, Windows Tablet PC, Windows Movie Maker, Windows DVD Maker, Parental Controls, Windows SideShow for remote gadgets, domain join for Windows Small Business Server, Group Policy support, Client-side file caching, Roaming User Profiles for remote server access, Windows Fax and Scan, Windows ShadowCopy to create file backups, Windows Rights Management Services to protect documents, Windows BitLocker hard drive encryption, integrated smart card management, and various Windows Ultimate Extras to be named later. Despite many feature changes within Windows Vista, Microsoft has held onto its original marketing promise of providing users with Clear, Confident, and Connected solutions.

For Clear, Microsoft cites its new Aero graphics. Aero is part of the Windows Presentation Foundation, a subgroup of the .Net Foundation Framework, an underlying foundation for developers to build new applications. One applet is the New York Times Times Reader, the first of many products written exclusively for Windows Vista but hardly a compelling reason by itself to upgrade. Though video playback and, yes, even the tiny icons on Windows Vista are now crisp and colorful with Aero, unless you watch YouTube videos all day, you won't really need Aero, nor will you miss the tiny preview windows enabled on your desktop display. Also new is Microsoft's Adobe PDF-like file format called XPS (Extensible Page System); however, any Windows XP SP2 machine can view XPS-created pages with downloads of the .Net 3 Framework Foundation and the Internet Explorer 7 browser.

For Confident, Microsoft touts new security enhancements within Windows Vista. You shouldn't encounter User Account Control (UAC) except when changing system configurations or installing new software, and even then, wouldn't you--in this age of downloadable spyware--prefer to know when an executable file is about to run? While UAC notifies you of pending system changes, it doesn't always require a password. Microsoft's more controversial method to lock down the system kernel, PatchGuard, is only available in the 64-bit editions of Windows Vista; most home users will not run these editions. Another celebrated security feature works only within Windows Mail, which most people are unlikely to use. And finally, the jury is still out on whether Internet Explorer 7 is more secure than, say, Firefox 2. Windows Vista also includes a built-in but limited two-way firewall and free Windows Defender antispyware, which ranked poor in competitive testing done by Download.com.

For Connected, Microsoft points to the new peer-to-peer possibilities, some of which are the result of its acquisition of Groove several years ago. From within Windows Explorer (which displays different toolbar options for exploring documents, photos, or music) you can move any file into a Public Folder and then mark the file or folder for sharing on a network. Within the Business and Ultimate editions you can further mark individual files for remote access.

Performance
Upon installation, Windows Vista rates each system's overall hardware performance, with the final score reflecting your system's lowest individual score. This is handy. For example, if you suspect that everything's running a little slow, you might find that your hard drive is returning the lowest score. Windows Vista will then recommend a faster hard drive or a drive with larger compatibility. Mostly, though, the video card will be the sore spot for most users. There's also an event log viewer to show, for example, after a specific software install your system performance started to degrade, and that uninstalling the software may restore your overall performance.

Under the hood, Microsoft has moved device drivers for DVD burners and printers out of the system kernel; Microsoft says that a majority of system crashes can be traced to improperly installed third-party device drivers. Thus Windows Vista hopes to vanquish the dreaded Blue Screen of Death common to earlier releases of Windows. Indeed, after testing several early builds, we found Windows Vista to be remarkably stable and robust.

Support
Along with the performance monitors, Microsoft has improved the Help section considerably. There is a static FAQ, but it also links to Microsoft online and allows outreach to other users for help, either via a forum or direct PC-to-PC help. Of these, we really like a feature available on some, not all, FAQs that allows you to automate the solution by executing a script. This method doesn't teach you how to do it in the future, but it will accomplish the task at hand. For example, if you choose to update a device driver, Windows Vista will darken the desktop; highlight and open the Start menu, the Control Panel, and the Device Manager; then pause to ask you what device you want to update. It's like having a technician at your desktop, walking you though the process. There's an increasing reliance on user-generated support forums, which leads us to believe that Microsoft is shying away from its own live technical support. At press time, Microsoft's final support policy was unavailable.

Conclusion
Perhaps we're spoiled, but after more than five years of development, there's a definite "Is that all?" feeling about Windows Vista. Like cramming an info-dump into a book report the night before it's due, there certainly are a lot of individual features within the operating system, but the real value lies in their execution--how the user experiences (or doesn't experience) these--and like the info-dump, we came away shaking our heads, disappointed. Compared with Mac OS X 10.4, Windows Vista feels clunky and not very intuitive, almost as though it's still based on DOS (or at least the internal logic that made up DOS). Despite the addition of a system-wide, built-in Search, and various efforts to break away from staidly old directory trees, you still need to drill down one level to even access Search. And there are far too many dependencies on Microsoft products; this is not a very objective operating system, as preference is always given to Microsoft products (of which there are many), from MSN Search to RSS feeds only from Internet Explorer. But is Windows Vista a bad operating system? No. It's just a disappointment for PC users who hoped that Microsoft would deliver something truly exciting to finally leapfrog ahead of Apple. They failed. But stick around; this is just Windows Vista 1.0. Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is due out sometime before the end of the year. Windows Vista SP1 promises to fix what's known to be wrong within Windows Vista and should offer a few concrete reasons to switch.

Windows Vista - Which Version Do You Need?

After deciding to shift to a Windows Vista OS, you need to decide on which Windows Vista version you should pick.

After deciding to shift to a Windows Vista OS, you need to decide on which Windows Vista version you should pick. Before you consider shelling out $400 for a Windows Vista Ultimate license, you really should ask yourself exactly what features you need and want so you can decide whether the price is right.

Windows Vista Home Basic

This is the most rudimentary version of Vista available. It has the more secure IE 7, the firewall, the quick search functionality, and easier connectivity. When it comes to the features that distinguish Vista from previous versions of the Windows OS, though, Home Basic is somewhat lacking, though it does offer parental control.

Windows Vista Home Basic is a good choice only if you use your computer solely for web surfing and basic document processing, or if your computer is just barely powerful enough to run Windows Vista.

Windows Vista Home Premium

For an extra $40, you can get much more out of Windows Vista. Aside from including all the features of the Home Basic version, Home Premium offers all of the window-dressing that makes Vista look like Vista. You will have pre-packaged games and Aero interface capability. Aero gives your windows and icons a 3D appearance and smoother transitions, as well as allowing you to add transparency effects to window borders. Home Premium offers tablet PC functionality, document collaboration, and scheduled backups. Home Premium also offers the fully integrated Windows Media Center for all your home entertainment needs, plus a moviemaker which is HD format-capable.

Windows Vista Home Premium is designed for the user who uses the computer for PC and network gaming, since Premium supports DirectX 10, with its advanced graphics technologies incredible graphics rendering. Premium is also designed for watching High Definition movie, editing/making video clips, burning DVD copies, and interfacing with the Xbox 360, which Home Premium edition automatically detects to allow for Video, Audio, and Picture sharing.

Windows Vista Business

Windows Vista Business drops Parental controls, Media Center features, and pre-installed games for obvious reasons. Vista Business does have the rest of the Home Premium features plus support for business applications and business data security (fax, remote desktop connectivity, file encryption, and complete shadow incremental backup). This version of Windows Vista is, as the name implies, strictly for business purposes.

Windows Vista Enterprise

Windows Vista Enterprise adds Microsoft’s BitLocker encryption technology to the feature set found in Windows Vista Business, but this version of Windows is only offered to businesses participating in Microsoft’s Software Assurance program.

Windows Vista Ultimate

This edition has everything that is included in the Home Premium and Business editions. Vista Ultimate also adds Enterprise’s BitLocker encryption technology for the computer’s hard drives, protecting the drives so that only authorized users can boot up the OS or view the files contained in the drives.

Because of its full complement of features, Vista Ultimate is perfect for people who use the PC for fun and business in equal parts, as well as users who want to be protected from data loss and PC theft.

This article may be republished freely as long as this copyright notice and box of resource links are included at the bottom.

Copyright © 2007 MALIBAL, lLc

Windows Vista - Clean Install Tips

There are no secrets here. Everything I cover is published in the windows help files or scattered across the Microsoft website. Perhaps it is compiled in a somewhat more usable form here. At least it will keep you from having to do the searches, from sifting out the chaff, and from sorting the usable data.

Windows Vista - Clean Install Tips

Perform a clean installation of Windows Vista

A couple of weeks ago I released an article entitled ,"9 Tips To Keep Windows XP Running Smooth".

After that I published a lengthy (by necessity) article covering, "Upgrading To Microsoft Windows Vista Tips". I have since received several e-mail requests for pointers on clean Vista installs so I have compiled those conversations and am disseminating them for wider use. This will be much shorter and easier.

There are no secrets here. Everything I cover is published in the windows help files or scattered across the Microsoft website. Perhaps it is compiled in a somewhat more usable form here. At least it will keep you from having to do the searches, from sifting out the chaff, and from sorting the usable data.

Do you remember the PC and MAC ads? You might want to watch this one again http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci2D1ig4df4&mode=related&search=

Don't let it scare you off. Just know there are often major changes in what a computer will have and what Vista requires.

Another warning to run the windows Vista Upgrade Advisor before doing anything else is in order. It is located at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/upgradeadvisor.mspx

First, Please understand that this information pertains to a clean install....It will not work for an upgrade!

If you need upgrade help please refer to my article on upgrading to Vista at http://remotehelpdesk1.com/articles.htm

Second, APPLIES TO THE FOLLOWING VISTA EDITIONS (YOU WILL FIND VERSION COMPARISONS AT http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/choose.mspx )

• Windows Vista Home Basic
• Windows Vista Home Premium
• Windows Vista Ultimate
• Windows Vista Business
• Windows Vista Enterprise
• Windows Vista Starter

Warning:
In a clean installation, existing data is removed - that includes documents, pictures, movies, music, downloads, etc. This data includes personal data and settings. Please back up or make copies of any and all data you wish to keep to another hard drive or computer before proceeding any further.

After you install the Vista operating system, you must also reinstall all programs and restore any data you moved in the previous step. AGAIN!!...Make sure that you back up your personal and business data before you perform a clean installation.

To perform a clean installation of Windows Vista, use one of the following methods only after (I can't say it enough) running the upgrade advisor, it is located at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/upgradeadvisor.mspx

Most people don't read the fine print: There are 23 (count them 23) warnings and exceptions hid behind this little ditty (Some product features are only available in certain editions of Windows Vista and may require advanced or additional hardware) hid at the end of Microsoft's 100 Reasons why you should upgrade to Vista.

RUN THE UPGRADE ADVISOR FIRST !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
O.K....Cleared that hurdle?
Lets get started:

Method 1:

Run the Setup program after you start the computer by using the current operating system

1. Start the computer by using the current operating system.

2. Insert the Windows Vista DVD in the computer's DVD drive.

3. Use one of the following procedures, as appropriate:

• If Windows automatically detects the DVD, the Install now screen appears. Click Install now.

• If Windows does not automatically detect the DVD, follow these steps:
a. Click Start, click Run, type Drive:\setup.exe, and then click OK.

Note Drive is the drive letter of the computer's DVD drive.

b. Click Install now.
4. When you reach the Which type of installation do you want? screen, click Custom (advanced), and then follow the instructions that are displayed on the screen to install Windows Vista.

Method 2:

Run the Setup program after you start the computer by using the Windows Vista DVD

1. Start the computer by using the Windows Vista DVD. To do this, insert the Windows Vista DVD in the computer's DVD drive, and then restart the computer.

Note To start the computer from the Windows Vista DVD, the computer must be configured to start from the DVD drive.
For more information about how to configure the computer to start from the DVD drive, see the documentation that is included with the computer, or contact the computer manufacturer.

2. When the "Press any key to boot from CD" message is displayed on the screen, press a key.

3. Follow the instructions that are displayed on the screen to install Windows Vista.

Much more information at http://remotehelpdesk1.com/articles.htm

tmm

Maintain Your PC’s Performance With PC Programs

Over time, even the most sophisticated, memory packed computer can begin to run slow if we don’t do something to prevent it. The reason why has less to do with how computers are made and how they age and more to do with the way we use them. You see, all of the daily tasks that we do on our PC from running programs to downloading and deleting software can make our computer sluggish.

To keep this from happening, you need to understand the reasons why your PC is getting slow...

Over time, even the most sophisticated, memory packed computer can begin to run slow if we don’t do something to prevent it. The reason why has less to do with how computers are made and how they age and more to do with the way we use them. You see, all of the daily tasks that we do on our PC from running programs to downloading and deleting software can make our computer sluggish.

To keep this from happening, you need to understand the reasons why your PC is getting slower and do something to keep your PC running at its best. You can do this through regular maintenance and PC performance optimization programs.

Before we discuss all of the things that could be affecting your PC’s performance, let’s talk a little about what symptoms a slow computer can have.

In addition to being excruciatingly slow when it comes to opening programs or finishing tasks, your PC may also experience data loss, unwanted shutdowns, Windows crashing and Windows hang up. All of these can be very annoying to deal with and are a sure sign that you need to optimize your PC and maintain it.

There are many reasons why your PC is getting slower and not performing quite the way it used to. Any one of them may be just the thing that is holding your PC back. In some cases, there is more than one culprit at work. But there are solutions to keep your computer from being affected by these nuisances, and we will talk about what you can do to maintain your PC and keep it running smoothly if it encounters any of these problems.

When you download and use programs on your PC, sometimes they are set up to start running as soon as you turn on your computer. These programs may be running in the background without you even knowing it and they use up precious memory needed for other tasks.

To see if you have any programs running in the background, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete at the same time.

A list of all of the currently running programs will appear in a pop up window. You can choose to stop the programs by highlighting the program and clicking “end task.” If you want to keep those programs from starting when you turn on your PC, change the individual settings for each program so that they will not automatically be turned on.

Memory is a computer component that allows it to do all of the various tasks that you require of it. When you start to do a task, a segment of memory is assigned to that task. If you don’t have enough memory and you try to do several tasks at once, you may run out of memory and not be able to perform any tasks properly. In order to optimize and maintain memory, you can use a Memory Optimizer program. This program changes the way that Windows manages memory so that you can use it more efficiently.

Your hard drive is like a huge filing cabinet containing all of the files that you need for your computer to perform properly. When you add programs, files are added to this data base. When you delete data or programs, files are removed. This process results in holes or empty spaces in your filing cabinet.

These holes make it harder for your computer to work because it continuously has to search for information over a larger distance and sometimes search for information that is completely out of order. To combat this, you need to defragment your hard drive. You can do this with your Windows system optimization tools or with a Registry Deffrager and Optimizer. These programs eliminate holes and arrange your files in a sensible order.

Just as your PC’s hard drive could be filed improperly, it can also be too full to work at its best. A good rule of thumb is to have at least 2MB to 3MB of space on your hard drive for your PC to function properly. To free up space, simply delete unused programs on the C: drive.

Maintaining your PC’s performance is vital if you want you computer to always complete tasks at its top speed. While Windows has some system tools to help you do this, they do not work on their own. You have to actually go and start the programs to optimize your computer. And they may not be enough. In this case, you may want to opt for optimization software such as PC Programs to help maintain your PC’s performance.

How Hidden Error Can Affect Your PC’s Performance

When you first get a new computer, it seems to run like a dream. With the click of a button you get lighting fast responses without any hesitation from your PC. But after about a month, all of that starts to change. You may experience slow execution times and unwanted shutdowns or glitches.

If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. It is estimated that more than 94% of all new PCs have hidden errors that affect their performance in as little as one month after they are ...

When you first get a new computer, it seems to run like a dream. With the click of a button you get lighting fast responses without any hesitation from your PC. But after about a month, all of that starts to change. You may experience slow execution times and unwanted shutdowns or glitches.

If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. It is estimated that more than 94% of all new PCs have hidden errors that affect their performance in as little as one month after they are purchased and used. Sometimes, there can be as many as 200 or more errors on one PC. Al of these errors affect your computers performance and makes it difficult and annoying for you to perform simple computer tasks.

There are many different problems that hidden error can cause ranging from the mildly annoying to the fatal. Symptoms of hidden error can include crashes, glitches, data loss, error messages during application or at startup, and the dreaded blue screen. In some cases, hidden error can be fatal and can require a complete and expensive system overhaul.

Hidden error occurs when you download programs from the web or install and uninstall software. You see, your hard drive is like a huge filing cabinet with several folders and files needed to perform just one software application or program. When you install and uninstall software, you can affect the way your PC sorts through this information, and these programs can leave unwanted trash that makes it difficult for the right information to be accessed. Unneeded files like old shortcuts to no longer existing programs, redundant files and invalid application paths can make it harder for your PC to perform. Deleting old programs can also result in the deletion of files needed for other computer tasks.

Another way that you can create hidden errors on your PC is by downloading programs and software from the internet that have hidden application files that unknowingly come along with them like adware and spyware.

Adware is advertising software that you download right along with software programs and is most often found with free software programs. Adware works by delivering a stream of pop-up ads to your computer without your consent. While most of the time adware is simply annoying, it can sometimes cause hidden errors such as system anomalies and program incompatibilities that can do damage to your normal PC applications. It can also hijack certain components of your operating software like your start page or toolbar. Once this happens, it is extremely difficult to get things back to the way they used to be.

Spyware are software programs that you download onto your computer along with many other software applications. This software is then used to track your online browsing habits so that you can be “hit” with pop ups that you will be more likely to respond to. Not only is this software an invasion of your privacy, it also can compromise your data and affect your PCs performance.

With all of these things causing hidden error and affecting your PC’s performance, you may wonder if there is anything that you can do to keep your computer running like new. I mean, you can’t stop using programs and installing and uninstalling programs is a part of every computer owner’s routine. So, what can you do to keep hidden error from compromising your PC’s performance?

The answer may be as simple as using doctor software to fix hidden errors and prevent future hidden errors from occurring. This software can fix errors that cause problems; fix corrupted files, prevent hidden files from causing harm, and help you avoid formatting and common reboot errors easily.

Not only will using software like this save you a good deal of headache and hassles, it will also save you time and money. Finding and fixing hidden errors can be time consuming, because they are just that: hidden. In some cases, you can search and search only to never find the culprit. Other times, you find the problem but can’t fix it because it is too complicated or there are programs that will not allow you to delete or change the program.

Dr. software can do all of these things for you with a few clicks of your mouse. And it saves you money because you will avoid having to call an expensive technician. So, if your PC has not been acting like itself lately, do a quick scan with doctor software to search for hidden errors. In most cases, you can scan your system for free, and you can’t beat that.

Benefits Of Remoteaccess Software

No matter whether you are a student, homemaker, scientist, businessman, or other, it is more than likely that you need access to your computer at all times, regardless of where you are in the world. Because of this need, remoteaccess software was created that allows individuals to access their computer from another computer anywhere in the world that has an Internet connection.

The amazing thing about this software is that it allows individuals to access their computer fro...

No matter whether you are a student, homemaker, scientist, businessman, or other, it is more than likely that you need access to your computer at all times, regardless of where you are in the world. Because of this need, remoteaccess software was created that allows individuals to access their computer from another computer anywhere in the world that has an Internet connection.

The amazing thing about this software is that it allows individuals to access their computer from another computer as if they were sitting in front of their very own computer. This is really amazing and has gained significant popularity with many people. The benefits of remoteaccess software are beneficial to individuals, businesses, as well as support teams and help desks.

The reason remoteaccess software is beneficial to individuals is that it allows them access to all of their computers at any time necessary. So, for example, if you are at home and forget something at work you can log on by using the remoteaccess software and get the information you need. The same goes for if you are at work and need something on your home computer. Also, with remoteaccess software you can log onto any computer in your home network via the remoteaccess software. So, now it does not matter where you are because you will be able to access all of your computers and information with this incredible software. In addition to this, if your computer has a problem then you can allow someone to fix it remotely via this software. However, remoteaccess software does not offer benefits to just individuals.

Businesses also can use remoteaccess software to make doing business remotely significantly easier, especially if the company has many offices in different locations. Because of remoteaccess the company employees are able to access different information from computers in other branch offices, which means less traveling and less money spent. Also, if the employee’s need to travel for business purposes they can still log onto their work computers and do work, enter information, or whatever is necessary.

This kind of program is also revolutionary for help desks and support teams because it allows them to enter your computer, upon permission, and check for and repair any problems. This means that when you encounter a problem with your computer the help desk can come in and fix it immediately so you have less downtime and do not have to wait for someone to visit in person. This reduces waiting time and money spent as well, so this software is being widely used.

If you find yourself needing to access information on your computer at home, work, in your network, or when you are traveling, then definitely consider buying a remoteaccess software program that will facilitate your work.

Apple Tiger vs Windows Vista

Microsoft’s next-generation operating system is coming in early 2007, offering improvements that are both impressive and unprecedented in the Windows world. On Apple’s side of the world, Tiger, the 5th incarnation of Apple’s legendary OS X operating system is still up to challenge as to what Vista has to offer, even if it’s already two years old.

Although Vista and Tiger are almost playing in the same field in terms of features and technology, there’s a major difference in...

Microsoft’s next-generation operating system is coming in early 2007, offering improvements that are both impressive and unprecedented in the Windows world. On Apple’s side of the world, Tiger, the 5th incarnation of Apple’s legendary OS X operating system is still up to challenge as to what Vista has to offer, even if it’s already two years old.

Although Vista and Tiger are almost playing in the same field in terms of features and technology, there’s a major difference in the strategy that the two companies made in delivering their next-generation operating systems. Microsoft wanted to bring everything new and shiny to the table all in one big package, while Apple slowly built and perfected a world-class operating system by frequent, less dramatic, major upgrades. This explains why while Windows XP stayed for 5 years without a major upgrade, OS X had 3 major upgrades to its original incarnation in roughly the same time frame.

User Interface

The most noticeable improvements happen here, and rightfully so, since improvements in the user interface are the ones that affect the users first and foremost. Vista seems to have taken many pages from the Tiger book of slick features but also has some features of its own that’s missing from the Apple operating system. I think it’s fair to say that some similarities are really just inevitable end results of improving the current state of the UI in both platforms.

Vista’s icons are now as slick as its Tiger counterparts, supporting icon sizes of up to 256 by 256 pixels. Tiger on the other hand, currently supports only up to 128 by 128 pixel icons. But Vista takes it even further, using what is called as live icons. A live icon visually resembles the actual contents of the document it represent so that a folder’s live icon is shown as a folder icon padded with the thumbnails of the actual files that you’ll see inside the folder. This is very helpful in skimming through your files and folders without opening them. Tiger can only show previews of graphic files.

In Vista, the “My” way of naming user folders such as My Documents, My Music, etc. has been dropped. Now you will only have user folders named Documents, Music and Pictures. Not unlike what Tiger has.

Aero, the user interface of Vista brings to the Windows world lots of transparencies. Application windows in Vista show a translucent border that lets you see through it. This is a feature that OS X once had, but was taken out in Tiger.

Expose, which is perhaps the most innovative UI feature of Tiger, elegantly addressed the window-management problem most users had, especially those who work with lots of windows open. At the touch of a button or at a flick of the mouse, all your windows are miniaturized and smartly tiled across the screen. Vista offers its own take, with a feature called Flip 3D. In Vista’s version, windows are miniaturized and stacked on top of each other, and angled such that you can see enough of each window’s content distinctively, and you use the scroll wheel to go through all the stacked windows. Tiger’s implementation is more usable and convenient than its Vista counterpart.

Widgets vs Gadgets

In Tiger, the days of opening full-blown applications for simple, specific tasks have long been gone. Thanks to Dashboard. With Dashboard, you can install and run mini-applications called widgets that are specially designed (using a relatively easy language) for certain tasks. Widgets include calculator, stocks, dictionary, yellow pages and many others. At the touch of a button, all these can auto-magically appear when you need them, and as quickly, disappear to let you go back to what you’re doing.

Vista sports the same feature, only the mini-applications are called Gadgets, and the Vista version promises more integration with Microsoft’s online service http://Live.com.

Desktop Search

When Vista was first announced many years ago under the code name Longhorn, one of the most impressive promises that Microsoft made about the new operating system is its desktop search capability. However, Apple beat them to the punch in implementing the much needed search technology (and interface).

Tiger’s spotlight search won the hearts of analysts and reviewers when it debuted in October 2004. Both in the main OS’s shell and in the individual applications, Spotlight brought lightning-fast desktop search to the Apple users. The system-wide Spotlight item on Tiger’s menu bar provided a quick way of opening files and applications. With Spotlight, users didn’t need to know exactly where their files are since they can find and open them using a simple and single user interface – the spotlight search field. Vista’s desktop search also promises all the things that Spotlight has, including its integration with Windows Explorer and Control Panel, in the same way that Spotlight integrates with the Finder and the Preferences. In Vista, the desktop search has been placed in the improved Start Menu. Saved searches (in Vista) or Smart Folders (in Tiger) are different implementation of the same kind of innovative feature that both systems have – a way for creating folders that are defined by a certain search criteria, and the contents of which are files that match that certain criteria. Both are live-z.

Security

This is where Tiger has long beaten Windows, but with Vista, Microsoft want to change that, and perhaps even leapfrog what OS X is offering.

In Vista, Internet Explorer (the source of many security headaches) will run in a low rights mode to prevent malicious software entering through the browser from illegally writing files or changing the registry. Vista will also support computers with TPM (Trusted Platform Module) Chips which starts a computer in a secure way such that the hardware and applications are protected from being run by unauthorized users. One of Tiger’s security strengths, the feature that asks for the administrator password when changing critical preferences, has also found its way to Vista. When changing important settings or files, Vista now warns the users and asks for the administrator password. Both Tiger and Vista has support encrypting data on users’ hard disk.

Conclusion

This article tried to compare some of the different aspects of Windows Vista and OS X Tiger, wherever it made sense, since each has its own way of doing things. Tiger has been out for almost two years now, but still holds up its own against Vista. It’s no doubt that some of the features that Vista is promising are better than its Tiger counterpart, but Vista won’t be out until 2007, and by the same time Apple probably would no doubt have at least shown its latest weapon, the upcoming Apple OS X Leopard.

Addictive Windows Mobile Epic Journey Game

There's an adventurer in every one of us. Free yours and enjoy the outstanding experience of playing Arvale II – Ocean of Time 4.0, which will be your gateway to a world of valor and great deeds. Your fate and the fate of the world are in your hands!

PDAMill Arvale II: Ocean of Time Review

There's an adventurer in every one of us. Free yours and enjoy the outstanding experience of playing Arvale II – Ocean of Time 4.0, which will be your gateway to a world of valor and great deeds. Your fate and the fate of the world are in your hands!

There's an adventurer in every one of us. Free yours and enjoy the outstanding experience of playing Arvale II – Ocean of Time 4.0, which will be your gateway to a world of valor and great deeds. Your fate and the fate of the world are in your hands!

No spoiling here, but the plot of this captivating game is Epic from a capital letter, involving powerful gods and goddesses, time travel and, of course, saving the world. The story begins and develops in a vast World of Arvale composed of eight different continents each with its peculiar climate, geographical conditions and settlements. The amazingly beautiful and very detailed world is a true pearl of this Pocket PC game – try not to forget about the actual quest when marveling at the picturesque views!

But the World of Arvale is definitely more than just a beautiful decor. It is a living world with its own stories and riddles. The man you accidentally meet in a village may turn out to be an outcast lord from another continent, and what looks like an ordinary stick may actually be a mage staff lost ages ago and now recovered by you. Interact with more than 500 NPCs and hundreds of objects to get to know the story of this enthralling world. Cut scenes unveiling some parts of the plot will help you find your bearings and decide on what to do next.

The game is tightly packed with action: apart from the main line, there are lots of side quests and additional puzzles. Travel through space and time, engage in various games of destiny and feel the true freedom of an adventure. Your fate depends on the path you choose, and so does the ending of the game. Fighting monsters and villains, rescuing princesses and collecting ancient artifacts – the whole epic hero pack of activities in one game on your PDA!

All the diamonds and pearls of the plot and gameplay are artfully set into a mount of wonderful visual and sound effects. Hear the whistle of the wind in the rich green leaves and enjoy the ambience of the game environment with more than 125 sound effects and a total of 27 soundtracks. The vivid colours of the game and amazing visual effects will make you want to play again and again – luckily, there are three levels of difficulty to choose from.

Compatible with all current Pocket PCs, this version requires a Windows Mobile 2003 or newer device. Thousands of users have already tried the game; join them by downloading a trial version to lift the veil of mystery covering the story and come back for the full version.
An immense world that has its own spirit awaits a hero that will take the challenge and face the evil in the greatest battle of all. This game is definitely worth the 40 hours (or even more) you’ll spend glued to your Pocket PC as well as the money it costs. Arvale II – Ocean of Time 4.0 is truly an ocean of joyful and interesting time.

Compatible devices list
Windows Mobile 6.0, Windows Mobile 5.0, Pocket PC 2003, Pocket PC 2002
ACER: n300 Series, n30, n50, n20 and others
ASUS: A626, A636, A639, P505, P525, P535 and others
Cingular: 8125, 8525
Dell: Axim X3, X5, X50, X50v, X51v and others
Dopod: Dopod 838 Pro, Dopod 686, Dopod 699,  Dopod 828, Dopod 900, Dopod P100, Dopod N800, etc.
Eten: E-Ten G500+, E-Ten M600+, E-TEN Glofiish, Eten M700, etc.
HP: hw68xx series, hw69xx series, hx21xx series, hx24xx series, hx29xx series and others
HTC: TyTN, Wizard, Prophet, Hermes, Artemis, Universal, Herald, P3300, P3600, P4350, P3350, X7500, Athena
IMATE: i-mate JASJAM, i-mate JAMin, i-mate PDA-N, i-mate K-JAM, i-mate JASJAR and others
O2: XDA series
T-Mobile: MDA series
QTek: 9000, 9100, 9600, S100, S110, S200, G100, 2020, 9090
Other Windows Mobile Powered Devices.

A Tale of Two Regeds: Registry editors

Tech support tells me to type 'regedt32' as opposed to 'regedit' to access the registry from the command line (Start > Run). I question the use of 'regedt32,' but he says to do it anyway. Whenever I use the registry editor, I recall this incident and never look up the tale of the two regs... until now.


Tech support tells me to type 'regedt32' as opposed to 'regedit' to access the registry from the command line (Start > Run). I question the use of 'regedt32,' but he says to do it anyway. Whenever I use the registry editor, I recall this incident and never look up the tale of the two regs... until now.

Regedt32.exe is an alternative registry editor available with Windows NT/2000 with features of its own. Regedt32.exe does not support importing and exporting registration entries (.reg) files. Regedit has limitations of its own as quoted here:

"You cannot set the security for registry keys. You cannot view, edit, or search the value data types <>REG_EXPAND_SZ and <>REG_MULTI_SZ. If you try to view a <>REG_EXPAND_SZ value, Regedit.exe displays it as a binary data type. If you try to edit either of these data types, Regedit.exe saves it as <>REG_SZ, and the data type no longer performs its intended function. You cannot save or restore keys as hive files."

Research indicates regedit has:

 
• a better search tool
 
• bookmarking of subkeys
 
• opens to last edited subtree, export and import capabilities
 
• all keys are visible from a window similar to Windows Explorer

Regedt32 (pre-WinXP) can:

 
• run in read-only mode
 
• allows you to edit values longer than 256 characters (who wants to do that???)
 
• displays subtrees in their own windows
 
• modify access permissions to subtrees, keys, and subkeys

In WinXP and Server 2003, the two have been replaced by a new version of regedit that has features from both. Try typing 'regedit' and 'regedt32' to see what happens. They're the same. To prove it, while in 'regedit,' select 'edit' and you'll see 'permissions.' This is a feature that was only available in the old 'regedt32' and not 'regedit.'

Technically, regedt32 is a small program that runs regedit. So when typing 'regedt32,' it takes you to 'regedit.' The destination is the same either way. So type whichever is easier for you to remember. Regedit is easier for me - I had to play with the spelling of the other version until I got it right.

Now I remember that tech support was checking to see if the permissions were properly set and that was why we used 'regedt32.' However, someone forgot to update the script or tell him that it didn't matter anymore when a user had WinXP. Tech support always asks what operating system at the beginning of the call, so he knew.

More registry editor resources: Microsoft has a knowledgebase article on the differences between the two. Windows IT Library has a feature comparison chart dated 2000, so it's way old, but it will satisfy curiosity. Here's a list of registry editor alternatives for those who wish to try something different. For tweaks, tricks, and hacks, check out WinGuides' Registry Guide for Windows.

mencegah copy cut

Mencegah Copy atau Cut File Dari Komputer ke Flashdisk
Posted by admin

Disini saya memberikan sebuah tips untuk mencegah pengambilan data dari komputer anda ke flashdisk dalam arti seseorang tidak akan bisa mengambil data dari komputer anda untuk dimasukkan ke flashdisk orang tersebut, tetapi anda tetap bisa mengambil data dari flashdisk untuk dimasukkan ke komputer anda.

Berikut langkah-langkahnya :
1. Masuk ke Regedit ( Tekan Tombol Windows+R lalu ketik regedit)
2. Masuk ke HKEY_LOCALMACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\
3. Klik kanan pada folder Control pilih New?>Key
4. Beri nama folder baru itu dengan ?StorageDevicePolicies?
5. Lalu klik kanan di folder dengan nama ?StorageDevicePolicies?, lalu pilih New?>Dword
6. Beri nama ?WriteProtect?
7. Klik 2x Dword dengan nama ?WriteProtect? tersebut, lalu ganti Value Data menjadi 1
8. Restart Komputer anda

Berikut pesan yang tampil jika ada seseorang mencoba copy/cut data dari komputer anda untuk dimasukkan di flashdisk

*. Untuk mengembalikan seperti semula anda tinggal mengganti Value Data dari key ?WriteProtect? menjadi 0

Sumber : finderonly.com

memberi password folder xp

Cara Mengunci Folder di Windows XP
Posted by admin
Ada banyak Freeware dan Shareware alat bantu untuk melindungi folder Anda di Windows. Dibawah Ini adalah tips alternatif jika anda mengunci folder tanpa menginstal software apapun.

Ikuti langkah-langkah sederhana di bawah ini untuk mengunci folder di windows XP tanpa menginstall software apapun.

Sebagai contoh, Anda membuat folder bernama D: \ TestFolder

2. Go to Start -> All Program -> Accessories dan pilih Notepad
Copy dan paste perintah di bawah ini ke notepad

ren TestFolder TestFolder. (21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D)

dan Save the file sebagai LockFolder.bat

3. Buat lagi file baru di notepad
Copy dan paste perintah di bawah ini ke notepad

ren TestFolder. (21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D) TestFolder

Simpan ini sebagai OpenLockFolder.bat

4. Sekarang Anda memiliki dua file batch. Klik dua kali folder LockFolder.bat dan Anda akan berubah menjadi Control Panel dan isinya tidak dapat dilihat.

5. Untuk membuka folder klik double sebagai OpenLockFolder.bat dan Anda kembali folder asli Anda.


note: Anda harus menjalankan batch file di partisi yang sama atau drive dimana folder yang ingin Anda kunci

perbedaan windown dan linux

Melihat Perbedaan Linux dan Windows

Posted by admin

Ada banyak persamaan dan ada pula banyak perbedaan antara Linux dan Windows. Mari kita lihat beberapa perbedaan yang ada di Linux dan Windows.

User Interface
Di Windows, Anda tidak banyak memiliki pilihan user interface. Sebagai misal, di Windows 95/98 Anda hanya mengenal user interface bawaan Windows 95/98. Anda sedikit lebih beruntung jika menggunakan Windows XP, karena Anda bisa berpindah dari interface milik Windows XP ke Windows 98 yang lebih ringan.

Di Linux, Anda bisa menemukan banyak macam user interface. Dan biasanya pilihan user interface ini dapat Anda sesuaikan dengan spesifikasi komputer atau lingkungan kerja Anda. Sebagai misal, pada komputer yang lambat Anda bisa menggunakan user interface yang ringan, seperti XFCE atau Fluxbox.

Atau jika Anda menyukai gaya Mac, Anda bisa memilih desktop model GNOME atau menggunakan utility Docker. Dan jika Anda terbiasa di Windows dan memiliki komputer yang cukup cepat, Anda bisa memilih desktop KDE.

Dengan KDE, Anda masih bisa memilih untuk menggunakan gaya Windows XP ataupun Windows Vista. Pilihan dan variasinya sangat banyak di Linux, Anda bisa mengatur sesuai dengan favorit Anda.

Sekuriti dan Virus
Salah satu masalah utama di Windows yang paling sering Anda temukan adalah virus dan spyware. Dari tahun ke tahun permasalahan ini bukan semakin mengecil tetapi malah semakin membesar. Ini semua terjadi karena banyak lubang keamanan di Windows yang bisa dieksploitasi oleh orang-orang yang tidak bertanggungjawab.

Linux diturunkan dari sistem operasi Unix yang memiliki tingkat sekuriti lebih kuat. Itu sebabnya tidak ada banyak virus di Linux dan kalaupun ada tidak bisa berkembang biak dengan pesat dan biasanya tidak mampu membawa kerusakan yang besar.

Sekalipun tidak sepenting di Windows, Anda tetap bisa menemukan program-program anti virus di Linux, seperti ClamAV dan F-Prot. PCLinux telah menyediakan anti virus ClamAV yang bisa ditemukan pada menu Start > Applications > FileTools > KlamAV.

Spyware
Spyware adalah suatu masalah yang cukup umum di dunia Windows. Biasanya program spyware mengamati, mengumpulkan dan mengirimkan data Anda ke suatu server. Untuk hal yang lebih positif, program ini biasanya dipergunakan untuk keperluan marketing.
Sayangnya, ada juga yang berniat buruk yaitu dengan mencuri identitas, kartu kredit, dan tindakan negatif lainnya.

Tidak banyak program spyware yang menginfeksi Linux mengingat cara kerja Linux yang lebih susah untuk ditembus. PCLinux telah menyediakan pre-instal Firewall untuk melindungi sistem Anda dan bisa diaktifkan melalui PCLinux Control Panel.

Instalasi dan Kelengkapan Program
Windows adalah sistem operasi, itu sebabnya Windows tidak menyediakan banyak program setelah diinstal. Kalaupun ada mungkin Anda hanya akan menemukan Internet Explorer, Media Player, Notepad, dan beberapa program kecil lainnya.

Ini sangat berbeda dengan Linux. Sekalipun Linux juga suatu sistem operasi, tetapi Linux disertai dengan banyak program didalamnya. Setelah diinstal, Anda akan menemui banyak program dari hampir semua kategori program. Sebut saja kategori Office Suite, Multimedia (Sound, Video, Graphics), Internet (Browser, Email, Chat, Downloader, Messenger, Torrent, News), 3D, Games, Utility, dll.

Dengan waktu instalasi yang hampir sama, Anda bukan hanya mendapatkan suatu sistem operasi tetapi juga semua program yang diperlukan untuk kegiatan sehari-hari di Linux.

Konfigurasi Sistem
Anda mungkin sering mendengar di Linux Anda perlu menyunting file secara manual melalui command line. Sebagian berita ini benar, tetapi dengan PCLINUX Control Center konfigurasi sistem bisa Anda lakukan semudah point n click. PCLINUX memiliki deteksi perangkat keras yang baik sehingga hampir semuanya berjalan secara otomatis. Dan hampir semua program di PCLINUX disertai dengan konfigurasi yang sudah siap pakai. Sebagai contoh, browser Internet telah disertai dengan sejumlah plug-ins. Tidak perlu men-download dan menginstal plug-ins flash ataupun yang lainnya.

Hardware Support
Anda sering mendengar suatu hardware tidak bekerja di Linux. Hal ini terjadi karena pembuat hardware tidak menyediakan driver versi Linux. Untungnya, belakangan ini cukup banyak vendor yang sudah memberikan dukungan driver Linux. Dan pengenalan Linux akan hardware semakin lama semakin meningkat sehingga mulai jarang terdengar permasalahan hardware di Linux.

Menangani Crash
Linux secara umum terlihat sebagai sistem operasi yang stabil. Dan jika Anda membandingkan Linux dengan Windows 95/98/ME, Linux jauh lebih stabil. Windows XP – jika Anda mengikuti petunjuk sistemnya dengan baik – akan cukup stabil.

Dan seperti halnya dengan Windows, suatu saat Anda juga akan menemui masalah di Linux. Sekalipun jarang, tetapi program yang crash atau hang bisa saja terjadi. Ini adalah suatu fakta dari kehidupan di dunia komputer.

Sekalipun demikian ada beberapa perbedaan di Windows dan Linux. Unix dan Linux mempunyai sifat multi-user. Linux menjalankan aplikasi secara berbeda dengan Windows. Ketika suatu aplikasi terkunci, Anda dapat mematikannya dengan mudah. Cukup menekan kombinasi tombol Ctrl + Esc, dan Anda dapat memilih aplikasi (atau proses) mana yang bermasalah.

Dan jika sistem grafis yang terkunci, Anda bisa berpindah ke command-prompt (dengan menekan Ctrl+Alt+F1) dan membunuh proses software secara manual. Anda juga mempunyai pilihan untuk merestart desktop saja dengan menekan Ctrl+Alt+Backspace. Ini berarti Anda tidak harus melakukan reboot sekalipun sistem Linux sedang mengalami masalah.

Partisi Harddisk
Linux tidak mengenal penamaan drive C: untuk suatu partisi. Semua drive disatukan dalam suatu sistem penyimpanan yang besar. Folder /mnt merupakan tempat untuk Anda mengakses semua media yang ada di komputer, baik partisi lain, CD-ROM, Floppy, ataupun FlashDisk.

Belakangan KDE telah memperudah akses ke media dengan menyediakan sistem Storage Media yang dapat diakses melalui My Computer ataupun file manager Konqueror.

Penamaan File
Linux menggunakan “/” untuk memisahkan folder dan bukannya “\” yang biasa digunakan DOS/Windows. Linux bersifat case-sensitive, ini berarti file “Hello.txt” berbeda dengan file “hello.txt”. Linux juga tidak terlalu memperhatikan ekstensi file. Jika Anda mengubah nama file “Hello.txt” menjadi “Hello”, Linux masih tetap mengetahui bahwa file ini adalah suatu teks. Dan ketika Anda mengklik file “Hello”, Linux secara otomatis tetap akan membuka program editor teks.

Kemudahan dan Keamanan
Anda mungkin sudah mengetahui, bahwa sebagai user biasa (bukan Root) Anda tidak bisa menulis file di sembarang folder. User biasa hanya memiliki akses tulis di folder home mereka. Sebagai user biasa, Anda tidak akan bisa mengubah bagian penting dari sistem Linux. Ini memang terkesan terlalu membatasi dan merepotkan, tetapi cara ini jauh lebih aman, karena hanya orang tertentu yang mempunyai akses Root saja yang bisa menyentuh sistem. Bahkan viruspun tidak bisa dengan mudah menyentuh sistem Linux. Itu sebabnya Anda tidak banyak mendengar adanya virus di Linux.

PENTING !!! PENTING !!! PENTING !!!
Itu sebabnya di Linux, Anda tidak disarankan menggunakan user Root untuk keperluan sehari-hari. Buatlah minimal 1 user untuk setiap komputer dan hanya pergunakan Root untuk keperluan administrasi sistem.

Hal ini berbeda jauh dengan Windows yang sangat rentan dengan virus. Ini terjadi karena user biasa di Windows juga sekaligus mempunyai hak sebagai administrator. Kebanyakan pemakai Windows tidak mengetahui hal ini, sehingga sistem mereka sangat rentan dengan serangan virus. Windows Vista sekarang telah mengadopsi sistem sekuriti Linux ini.

Defragment
Di Linux Anda tidak akan menemukan program untuk men-defrag harddisk. Anda tidak perlu melakukan defragment di harddisk Linux! Sistem file Linux yang menangani ini secara otomatis. Namun jika harddisk Anda sudah terisi sampai 99% Anda akan mendapatkan masalah kecepatan. Pastikan Anda memiliki cukup ruang supaya Linux menangani sistemnya dan Anda tidak akan pernah mendapatkan masalah deframentasi.

Sistem File
Windows mempunyai dua sistem file. FAT (dari DOS dan Windows 9x) dan NTFS (dari Windows NT/2000/XP). Anda bisa membaca dan bahkan menyimpan file di sistem FAT dan NTFS milik Windows. Hal ini tidak berlaku sebaliknya, Windows tidak akan bisa membaca atau menyimpan file di sistem Linux.

Seperti halnya Windows, Linux memiliki beberapa macam file sistem, diantaranya ReiserFS atau Ext3. Sistem ini dalam beberapa hal lebih bagus dari FAT atau NTFS milik Windows karena mengimplementasikan suatu tehnik yang disebut journaling. Jurnal ini menyimpan catatan tentang sistem file. Saat sistem Linux crash, kegiatan jurnal akan diselesaikan setelah proses reboot dan semua file di harddisk akan tetap berjalan lancar.

linux mirip windows

Distro Linux Mirip Windows OS

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Seperti yang kita tahu, image Linux yang susah untuk pengoperasiannya sudah mulai luntur. Walau masih banyak yang masih kolot dengan persepsi, “Hey, linux itu sulit.”
Tak salah juga sih, kalau memang masih banyak yang berkomentar seperti itu. Toh, karena memang banyak aplikasi Linux yang harus butuh konsentrasi tingkat tinggi. Begitu juga dengan OS lain semisal Mac ataupun Windows.
Tapi untuk pengoperasian Linux secara umum, sebenarnya tidaklah sesulit yang dibayangkan. Linux sudah mengadaptasikan dirinya sehingga mudah dalam pengoperasiannya. Sama seperti OS lain seperti Windows dan Mac.
Ngomong-ngomong tentang Mac dan Windows, sebenarnya sudah ada Distro linux yang mempunyai interface yang mirip dengan kedua OS tersebut. Jadi kesan kalau linux itu susah… sepertinya harus dibuang jauh-jauh.

DreamLinux

Distro ini adalah Distro yang memang Mac banget deh. Anda bisa liat kan dock yang biasanya ada di Mac. Apalagi didukung wallpaper yang beautiful banget. Sehingga mempunyai kesan ekslusif. “Salah satu cara menipu teman anda, Hey saya menggunakan Mac lho.”
Dreamlinux adalah distro linux yang gratis (hampir semua distro linux gratis), modern dan bisa dijalankan melalui media seperti CD/DVD bahkan flashdisk. Juga bisa diinstal di berbagai tipe hardisk seperti IDE, SCSI, SATA, PATA dan USB drives.
Bahkan diklaim oleh pihak developer, sudah pantas untuk dijadikan OS keseharian anda.
Berbasiskan Debian, Dreamlinux di bundle dengan beragam aplikasi untuk mendukung kerja anda. Aplikasi pengolah kata, grafik, media player, browsing internet dan lainnya.
Openoffice, Gimp, Inkscape, Firefox, Thunderbird, Pidgin, Evince, Gthumb, Xsane, Avant-Window-Navigator, Engage, Rhythmbox, SoundJuicer, SoundConverter, Totem Media Player, Avidemux, EasyTag, Brasero dan masih banyak lagi.

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gOS, (Good OS)

Atau mungkin bisa juga disebut Google pada “g” di depan “OS”. Distro ini mengandalkan kecantikan tampilan desktop dan juga aplikasi Google seperti Picasa, Google gadget, Google mail, spreadsheet, calender, desktop dan aplikasi google lainnya. Untuk aplikasi pengolah dokumen, gOS mem-bundle OpenOffice dan Mozilla Firefox untuk berselancar di internet.
Untuk anda yang memang mempunyai koneksi internet dan memang sudah mempunyai akun di Google apps.

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Elive

Distro ini diklaim mampu untuk bisa di install di MacBook. Tampilan yang memang sangat cantik dan kloningan Mac. Sama halnya dengan Dreamlinux yang berbasiskan debian, namun Elive memberikan CD bonus, yang merupakan kumpulan aplikasi yang compatible di install oleh Elive itu sendiri.

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MacPup

Distro ini yang paling banyak pilihan untuk kita dalam hal tema, aplikasi dan ukuran.
Distro ini berbasiskan Puppy (salah satu distro Linux). Tampilannya benar-benar Mac. Ketika mengginstallnya di komputer anda, teman anda mungkin bisa salah mengira kalau komputer anda adalah Macintosh.

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Linux-XP

adalah distro linux yang benar-benar mirip dengan Windows Vista. Dari desain interface toolbar hingga logon yang benar-benar mirip. Pengguna windows tentu tidak akan kesulitan untuk pengoperasiannya. Namun satu hal yang menjadi masalah adalah terkait dengan lisensinya. Linux-XP tidaklah gratis, melainkan berbayar. Masa trial diberikan selama 30 hari. Setelah itu anda diharuskan untuk melakukan registrasi namun sebelumnya mengeluarkan sejumlah uang.

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Vixta

linux yang mirip sekali dengan Windows Vista dari segi tampilan. Tapi tidak seperti linux-xp yang mengharuskan anda untuk mengeluarkan kocek, Vixta diberikan secara gratis. Anda bisa mendapatkannya melalui download. Dan untuk menggunakannya, jangan lupa untuk mem-burn nya ke media seperti CD atau DVD. Sehingga memungkinkan PC untuk melakukan booting. Tersedia juga untuk versi LiveCD nya

pengertian OS

Pengertian Sistem Operasi Komputer (operating system)

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Sistem operasi Komputer adalah perangkat lunak komputer atau software yang bertugas untuk melakukan kontrol dan manajemen perangkat keras dan juga operasi-operasi dasar sistem, termasuk menjalankan software aplikasi seperti program-program pengolah data yang bisa digunakan untuk mempermudah kegiatan manusia. Sistem Operasi dalam bahasa Inggrisnya disebut Operating System, atau biasa di singkat dengan OS.

Sistem Operasi komputer merupakan software pada lapisan pertama yang diletakkan pada memori komputer, (memori komputer dalam hal ini ada Hardisk, bukan memory ram) pada saat komputer dinyalakan. Sedangkan software-software lainnya dijalankan setelah Sistem Operasi Komputer berjalan, dan Sistem Operasi akan melakukan layanan inti umum untuk software-software itu. Layanan inti umum tersebut seperti akses ke disk, manajemen memori, skeduling task, dan antar-muka user. Sehingga masing-masing software tidak perlu lagi melakukan tugas-tugas inti umum tersebut, karena dapat dilayani dan dilakukan oleh Sistem Operasi. Bagian kode yang melakukan tugas-tugas inti dan umum tersebut dinamakan dengan kernel suatu Sistem Operasi.

Sistem Operasi berfungsi sebagai penghubung antara lapisan hardware dan lapisan software. selain itu, Sistem Operasi komputer juga melakukan semua perintah perintah penting dalam komputer, serta menjamin aplikasi-aplikasi yang berbeda fungsinya dapat berjalan lancar secara bersamaan tanpa hambatan. Sistem Operasi Komputer menjamin aplikasi perangkat lunak lainnya bisa memakai memori, melakukan input serta output terhadap peralatan lain, dan mempunya akses kepada sistem file. Jika beberapa aplikasi berjalan secara bersamaan, maka Sistem Operasi Komputer akan mengatur jadwal yang tepat, sehingga sebisa mungkin semua proses pada komputer yang berjalan mendapatkan waktu yang cukup untuk menggunakan CPU dan tidak saling mengganggu dengan perangkat yang lain.

Contoh-contoh dari Sistem operasi Komputer misalnya adalah Windows, Linux, MacOS, dan lain lain