PC ZONEZ

The venerable Web browser continues to evolve. No longer just an application for displaying HTML, the Web browser now has to handle JavaScript, PHP, Java, Active X controls, loosely coupled Web services, plug-ins, multimedia, XML, RSS feeds and more. The Web browser has become an integral part of the total computer experience. All of those expectations make choosing a preferred browser more important than many ever thought it would or should be.

Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) and Mozilla Firefox 2 are the latest Web browser contenders for your attention (apologies to fans of Opera and other Web browsers, but these are the two that garner the most attention). Many of us have tried both and made a decision about which is the browser of choice.

If you have chosen Firefox 2, then you may want to uninstall IE7. But this brings up two questions: Can you uninstall IE7 and if you can how do you do it? The answers are: Yes, you can and here’s how.

This blog post is also available in PDF format in a TechRepublic Download.

Uninstall IE7

If your installation of IE7 was successful and uneventful, then uninstalling it is relatively simple process. The following steps will uninstall IE7 and restore IE 6.

• Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
• Click Add or Remove Programs.
• Scroll down to Windows Internet Explorer 7, click it, and then click Change/Remove.

If for some reason Windows Internet Explorer 7 does not appear in the Add or Remove Programs, you should:

• Open Windows Explorer
• Click Tools | Folder Options
• Click the View tab
• Make sure the radio button next to Show hidden files and folders is on
• Click OK
• Click Start, and then click Run
• Type: %windir%\ie7\spuninst\spuninst.exe into the text box and click Enter

Specified user account

In some cases, you may get an error message when you try to uninstall IE7 that says you cannot uninstall from a specified user account. To get around this check you will have to edit the Windows Registry.

Warning: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can cause the Windows operating system to stop functioning completely. This is an advanced operation and you are encouraged to back up the Windows Registry before you attempt any editing of the file. You have been warned.

Bypass the user account check with this Windows Registry edit:

• Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then press ENTER.
• Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer.
• Right-click the Internet Explorer key, click New, and then click DWORD value.
• Type InstalledByUser as the name, and then press ENTER to finish creating the new registry value.
• Try to uninstall Internet Explorer 7 again.

Games in Windows XP such as Solitaire, FreeCell, and Minesweeper are nice distractions — nothing blows off steam like a good round of 3D Pinball for Windows, especially in full screen mode with the volume cranked all the way up!

3D Pinball for Windows has nine rank levels, ranging from Cadet to Fleet Admiral. Complete each mission and advance to the next rank, but you go back to Cadet at the beginning of each game. Here are a few secret codes to get more enjoyment out of 3D Pinball. Note that the 3D Pinball window must be active for these codes to work.

• Regain your old rank from a previous game by starting a new game and immediately typing rmax. Each time you type this secret command, you’ll advance one rank level.
• Get an extra ball while the Awaiting Deployment message displays by typing 1max.
• Activate the Gravity Well by starting a new game and immediately typing gmax.
• Get an unlimited number of balls and essentially play for as long as you like by starting a new game and immediately typing bmax. Each time you lose a ball, a new one will appear. (While playing with an unlimited number of balls, none of the other tricks will work.)
• Control the ball with your mouse by starting a new game and immediately typing hidden test. When you do, you can click the ball with your left mouse button and essentially drag it anywhere you want and rack up an unbelievable number of points.

Keep in mind that there isn’t a text box into which you enter these secret codes — you simply type them.

Note: This tip applies to both Windows XP Home and Windows XP Professional.

If you’ve ever run the Microsoft Windows XP’s Disk Cleanup utility, you probably discovered that your temporary files occupy a significant amount of space. You might select the Temporary Files check box in order to allow the Disk Cleanup utility to delete the files in the Temp folder, but the Disk Cleanup utility will not remove all the files. The reason for this oddity is that the configuration for the Disk Cleanup utility does not allow deletion of files accessed in the last seven days.

Alter the parameters

By altering the LastAccess value in the registry, you can configure the Disk Cleanup utility to delete all the files in the Temp folder regardless of the last accessed date. Here’s how:

1. Launch the Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).
2. Go to

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion
   ExplorerVolumeCachesTemporary Files

3. Locate and double-click the LastAccess value.
4. When you see the Edit DWORD Value dialog box, change the Value Data setting from 7 to 0 and click OK.
5. To complete the operation, close the Registry Editor and restart Windows XP.

Changing the value to 0 will force the Disk Cleanup utility to delete all the files in the Temp folder every time you select the Temporary Files check box.

Notes: Since editing the registry is risky, be sure you have a verified backup before saving any changes. This tip applies to both Windows XP Home and Windows XP Professional.

Computer users consistently use very simplistic logic when creating passwords. For example, many of us choose meaningful words, personal dates, or a word commonly found in the dictionary because it makes the password easy to remember. These common practices cause us to sacrifice the security that passwords are intended to provide.

If you’re really at a loss when it comes to thinking of a strong password, you can let Windows XP create and assign a random password to your account. To let Windows XP generate your password, follow these steps. (Warning: Before you follow these steps, please be sure that you are paying careful attention and are ready to actually use a password that might not be as memorable as you’re accustomed to! Also, you cannot use this tip on a Windows Server domain.)

1. Open a Command Prompt window and type:

   net user username /random (username is your login account name)

2. Press [Enter]. Windows XP will randomly generate a secure password, as well as assign that strong password to your account. Windows XP will also display the strong password so you can remember it.

At your discretion, you may want to create a Password Reset Disk at this point. This disk will allow you to gain access to your computer in the event you forget your password. Here’s how to create the disk:

1. Open the Control Panel and double-click the User Accounts tool.
2. Click your account icon.
3. Select Prevent A Forgotten Password under Related Tasks.
4. Follow the instructions provided by the wizard.

Note: This tip applies to both Windows XP Home and Windows XP Professional systems in either a standalone or peer-to-peer workgroup configuration.

Another problem with Windows XP Service Pack 3 has reared its ugly head, this time causing headaches for users of Symantec products. Unfotunately, it appears that other users are being affected as well and that the problem appears eerily similar to an issue that Microsoft had with Service Pack 2. The two processes to watch for processor hogging on are fixccs.exe and cscript.exe. The problem can cause Device Manager to appear blank and can also produce thousands of errant registry entries.

Symantec blames Microsoft for XP SP3 registry corruption (Infoworld)

The service pack also appears to have caused issues with Windows Home Server’s remote access feature. Thankfully, there are some people diligently looking out for XP users, even though it appears that Microsoft is being a bit slow to correct the latest problems. All of this is in addition to the initial reports of endless reboot loops on some AMD based machines, an issue that HP blamed on Microsoft.

Users Report More Trouble With Windows XP SP3 (PC World)

Windows XP SP3’s Aches, Pains, and User Complaints (PC World)

Windows XP Service Pack 3 still rocky, reboot loop (Slipperybrick)

I blogged the day after XPSP3 released that I had installed it without error and since then, everything seems to have gone well for the Dell Inspiron laptops that got the install. I was able to image them with LanDesk and get them deployed, where they have been successfully used for their end purpose. Still, it seems like Microsoft should have the resources to get these bugs tested out by the time they call their patches “final.” Have you had issues with SP3?

Chalk this one up to “seizing opportunity.” Microsoft has privately, then publically announced their intent to purchase the Internet giant, Yahoo, for $44.6 Billion dollars. Although Yahoo’s traffic has been fading (content verticals down, search volume down), Microsoft has a very high interest in the company despite this. The question is — who has the upper hand in this deal — and — how will users be affected as the deal matures?

Both companies have their strengths and weaknesses. For one, Yahoo has an awesome Web product line up. Nearly all their products are “sticky” with users, takes advantage of AJAX, and always has a smooth appeal to them. Worthy of also noting, they have decent monetization of their display ads — number one in fact according to comScore. On the other hand, Microsoft has an impressive [traditional] software business with a backing of OEMs to go along with it. Additionally, they have capital. They can do almost any project and fail, and get back up and make more money.

In a perfect world, I think it would be great if this deal meant that Microsoft would become more Web 2.0-like and Yahoo would offer a variety of traditional products and services leading to a bursting of engagement from consumers. However, this isn’t a perfect world, so I expect a lot of important decisions to be made around the products that each of the companies would offer; more than likely, Microsoft products would supersede Yahoo ones. (When you just threw $50 billion at a company, you kind of get to call the shots.)

In a battle between programming and products, Yahoo and Microsoft have different interests. I’m not sure who has the upper hand though. Yahoo has decent programming to go with their products, but a bleeding user base leaving in favor to Google and other portals. Microsoft could rejuvenate itself by loosening up a bit and offering Web-based products on the backs of Yahoo developers. I still don’t associate “programming” with Microsoft. I could see how this deal is mutually beneficial, assuming all the cards are played right.

Financially, investors are probably very giddy because it’s a win-win for both YHOO and MSFT. Worst case, you cash out and you at least have $31/share from Microsoft. However, some investors appear to be slightly unsettled as to the deal as large as this, because it ultimately depends on the execution after the dust settled. Perhaps, the synergies that may result will place Yahoo above Google someday. Then again, some believe synergies are bullshit.

Finally, how will consumers be affected? Well, unlike traditional company buyouts, they are toying with millions of user’s online identities. Because of this, how will they merge the identities into one (or will they)? I believe this will force OpenID to be a realistic, scalable application for users to take their ID with them. Microsoft’s MSNBC will likely fold into Yahoo News, their “Spaces” (blogging) service will probably take the place of Y!’s 360 blogging service, Microsoft’s Search will probably concede to Yahoo’s, ditto for their small business offerings.

2008 is definitely an important year for all the big portals since competition is becoming more aggressive. Google better keep an eye on their rear-view mirror if they want to stay ahead by a large margin.

Windows Vista Ultimate

Windows Vista Home Premium

Windows Vista Home Basic

Windows Vista Business

Windows Vista Enterprise

When troubleshooting driver problems in Windows XP, one of the first places you may look is Device Manager, which provides detailed information about every piece of installed system hardware. However, with devices such as removable USB drives, you may need information about devices that are not currently connected; Device Manager recognizes these as nonpresent devices. Here’s how to get information about those devices:

1. Go to Start, right-click My Computer, and select Properties.
2. In the System Properties dialog box, select the Advanced tab and click the Environment Variables button.
3. In the Environment Variables dialog box, locate the System Variables panel and click New.
4. In the New System Variable dialog box, type DEVMGR_SHOW_NONPRESENT_DEVICES in the Variable Name text box and type 1 in the Variable Value text box.
5. Click OK twice.
6. To view the nonpresent devices, go to Start, right-click My Computer, and select Manage.
7. Click Device Manager, pull down the View menu, and select Show Hidden Devices.

Note: This tip applies to both Windows XP Home and Windows XP Professional.