Have you tried Windows 7′s on screen keyboard? It functions great for simple input, but beyond that, it’s ho-hum.  I’ll still use the regular input devices! But for those who want something really snazzy, Hot Virtual Keyboard 5.0 will handily titillate those who demand the full Windows 7 touch experience. This amazing app deserves the appellation  Hot Virtual Keyboard because it gives more than  an on-screen keyboard. Continue Reading »
Hot Virtual Keyboard for Windows 7

Bill Gates deserves all the fees and royalties from the release of Windows7. Come on guys. This is one superb operating system- far overshadowing even the venerable XP. And I must admit, Windows 7 gives me an even bigger hard on than Snow Leopard of the MacOS.

But I doubt Bill will get all that’s due him. As you well know, Windows7 had been cracked with Bios level activators even before release. It’s a fool proof scheme that fools the OS into thinking the system is activated because the machine it runs on is OEM. That was bad enough for Microsoft. Now there’s even worse news. Hackers have created another mode of defeating Windows- this time attacking the Windows Activation Technology (WAT) itself. Continue Reading »
RemoveWat – Windows7 Foiled Again!

Windows 7 is one dandy OS, but there are some utilities out there that can enhance your operating system. I found three from Gibson Research which don’t cost a Penny.

SECURABLE

SecurAble probes the system’s processor to determine the presence, absence and operational status of three modern processor features:

* 64-bit instruction extensions,
* Hardware support for detecting and preventing
the execution of code in program data areas, … and
* Hardware support for system resource “virtualization.”

You want this utility so you can discern the capacities of your processor. For instance, it tells you whether the PC can support XP mode or a 64-Bit OS. That saves you money from buying the wrong software apps later on. Continue Reading »
Three Great (FREE) Utilities for Windows 7

Windows 7 is touted as fastest and the most secure windows ever. I believethe fast part. Windows 7 definitely trumps Windows XP and Windows Vista in all speed tests.

But secure? I doubt that. Even barely before the launch of the operating system, there already exists Win7 activation toolkits. This time it’s combined two hacker’s exploits (Orbit30 And Hazar’s) into one crack. Run the cracks and presto! Windows 7 is activated and considered genuine for life.

The cracks in particular work Windows 7 RTM Ultimate- the most expensive version of Windows. It had been tested as working on both x86 and x64. And amazingly, the cracks also works in Virtual Environment. Continue Reading »
Windows 7: Hacked Even Before Launch!

A handful of my friends on XP and Vista have been hoping that the latest iteration of the Windows operating system will finally support 4GB of RAM. Many of them already have 4GB to 8GB thanks to those plummettng prices. It’s a far cry from 1999 when 1GB cost $150.

Yesteraday, I dashed their hopes. Windows 7 32 bit would report the actual memory installed but declined to use more than 3GB. That went for any PC, branded or not.

The problem, you see, lay not with the OS, but the architecture. To fully use more than 3GB, a 64 bit machine with a corresponding 64 bit OS was necessary. My friends don’t want to shift to 64Bit given then limited software and driver support for the platform. Too bad

What about you? Are you willing to go 64Bit just to take advantage of more memory?

It’s now exactly 2 years since I’ve installed Eset Smart Security 3.0 and 4.0 on 8 out of 10 PCs at our little home office . The security software ran quietly, rarely intruding on business and alarming only when some nasties came in- or attempted to do so.  The suite truly was a pleasure to use.

Today, I just realized that the PCs guarded by Eset smart security have never required a general disc format or OS reinstall. The protected computers are clean. Blazing fast. And just like new. That’s a rarity in today’s virus-ridden computing environment!

I can’t say the same for the other PC that relies on AVG Free for its sole antivirus  protection (ran out of cash for extra licenses). Twice, the system required reformating when a demonic virus came in. AVG didn’t stop it.  And annoyingly,  it’s heavily infected with spyware that Spybot has to regularly clean.

The other non-Eset protected PC relies on Norton Antivirus which likewise staggered quite a bit under the blows of viruses and malware. The worst episode came when my colleague discovered that a hacker recruited it to a massive botnet.  The poor PC required a general overhaul to scrape away all the digital crud. But its clean now. Continue Reading »
Eset Smart Security 4.0: Unparalleled

One of Windows 7′s much touted feature is the Aero Shake- something I bet their Engineers took inspiration from the MacOS. Aero-Shake allows the user to grasp a foreground window, shake it vigorously with the mouse and thereby zap all other background windows out of sight.  It makes for good eyecandy. Computing also gets to be more intuitive. But did you know you can have Aero shake even without Windows 7?

Try out the feature with the third party aero shake app.  It’s rough around the edges but does the job well. There’s no performance hit either.

The free windows 7 ride is finally over. No trial download anymore. I’m glad I got to trial the most recent release candidate. In a sentence, I can describe my experience with Windows 7 this way:

Windows 7 has the speed of XP Home and the iron clad security of Vista.

In other words, it’s the closest Microsoft will ever get to the Apple OS (Leopard).

Am I buying? Definitely. Will I upgrade my existing Vista? YOU BET!

Finally. Microsoft did it.