Increase Security by Disabling unnessary Services in your XP and if you are unfamiliar with adjusting services, first, please refer to this following guide:

Start > Run > Type – services.msc

Security Settings

1. Messenger – Home/Pro = Disable
Have you ever been surfing the net and all of the sudden you get a pop-up with a “Messenger   Service” listing in the title bar? If so, disable this service.

2. NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing – Home/Pro = Disable
This creates the ability for someone to remotely access your computer through NetMeeting. This is not good! If you don’t use NetMeeting or not that often, disable this service.

3. Protected Storage – Home/Pro = Disable
This service will store your passwords as well as enable the auto-complete function within  Internet Explorer (auto-complete is where you type – for e.g. – tweakxp and then hit Ctrl + Enter to allow IE to fill in the WWW and .Com for you).

4. Remote Desktop Help Session Manager – Home/Pro = Disable
This service provides support for Remote Assistance sessions. Again, if this service is not something you use or use rarely, disable until required.

5. Remote Registry Service – Pro = Disable
If you don’t require the assistance of someone to remotely have access to editing your registry settings, then disable this service. Your systems registry isn’t something you want to surrender easily to a remote computer.

6. Routing and Remote Access – Home/Pro = Disable
This service enables remote computers dial-in routing to your computer. That surely doesn’t sound like something I would want set to “automatic”.

7. Security Accounts Manager – Home/Pro = Disable
This service works just as Protected Storage collecting secure user information. For XP Pro users, you will not be able to run the Group Policy Editor with this service disabled (the Group Policy Editor is unavailable for XP Home users).

As with anything that may be questionable, create a system restore or backup your system with an image utility such as DriveImage 2002. As a precautionary measure, you may as well, take note of the default state of the service before you adjust it. It wouldn’t take up too much storage place for a simple Note Pad file holding the defaults for 7 services.

Posted by checkitout46 at 8:50 PM EDT

Updated: Wednesday, 14 March 2007 9:00 PM EDT

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How to Completely Remove "index.dat" - Index.dat files are files impossible to delete under windows, and it stores all the information of your surfing history, you can be followed through these dangerous files. and even if you delete your cookies and your history, these index.dat files remain there and become bigger and bigger, their original size is 16kb but they can reach up until 600kb.

To protect your privacy online, I found a way to delete them.. it's impossible to do in windows thus you have to reboot your computer then press F8 or F5 for advanced boot options; then choose "
safe mode with command prompt; log in as administrator and then from there you can delete them freely without windows preventing it.

Just go to the root (c:\) by typing CD\

then type del index.dat /s then enter

and all the files names index dat in your computer will be deleted permanently.

For more security; also in command prompt mode; go and completely delete your cookies folder to be completely sure all your internet cache and history is gone forever. (well until you start browsing again; as soon as you boot up normally windows will automatic recreate them.. But with zero recording of your web surf habbit)

thank you for reading

Posted by checkitout46 at 8:40 PM EST

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Prevent Viruses From Disabling Your Protection

Restore your PC's antivirus defenses and ensure that they aren't blocked again.

Some viruses protect themselves by blocking security Web sites, antivirus programs, and other tools that could be used against them, including Windows' System Configuration utility (Msconfig) and Registry Editor (Regedit). They cleverly block antivirus Web sites by altering your Hosts file--a text file with no extension that individual programs use to assign a specific IP address to a Web page. In Windows XP, this file is in the C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc folder; in Windows 2000, it resides in C:\WINNT\system32\drivers\etc; and in Windows 98 and Me, it inhabits C:\Windows. To correct the problem, double-click the Hosts file and choose Notepad or another text editor to open it. Delete any line in the file that refers to an antivirus Web site. Or simply delete the Hosts file; Windows re-creates it automatically with zero entries.

Now browse to an online virus scanner to check your hard drive and (we hope) remove the virus. A good one is Panda Software's ActiveScan (e-mail registration required). It uses an ActiveX control to check your system, so you have to use Internet Explorer.

To keep your system's defenses unblocked, change the extension of any utility's executable file from .exe to .com (which, like .exe, is executable). Thus, for instance, if a virus won't let you edit your Registry, select Start, Run, type command, and press Enter. At the prompt, type ren c:\windows\regedit.exe regedt.com and press Enter. Now the command regedt will launch the Registry Editor.

Change the System Configuration utility's executable file from 'msconfig.exe' to msconfig.com. In XP, this file is in the C:\windows\pchealth\helpctr\binaries folder. In Me and 98, it's in C:\windows\system. (Windows 2000 lacks this utility.)

Posted by checkitout46 at 8:29 PM EST

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So you just got a new PC with Microsoft's Windows Vista, or upgraded your old machine with the new operating system...and every-thing is different. Here are a few quick tips to be-come familiar with Microsoft's Windows Vista fast.

1. Add a Gadget to your Sidebar
Tired of the boring Gadgets, like the standard CPU meter, sitting on the right side of your screen? Just download new ones.

Surf to gallery.microsoft.com/sidebar/vista.as px for a list of the most popular Gadgets to add to your desktop. These include App Launcher, which gives you instant access to your favourite programs like that Battlefield 2142 game.

2. Search for a programme
The Start menu in Windows Vista is slightly different from Windows XP in that icons are so tightly packed together as to seem rather messy.

It could be that Microsoft is forcing users to go about firing up programs the new way — by using Vista's fast search feature. This means you type "Photoshop", instead of scrolling through the men-us for the photo-editing program. Takes a little getting used to, but the new way is actually faster.

3. Using Google as default search engine
Instead of using the Microsoft-prescribed search engine in Internet Explorer (MSN), you can specify Google or Yahoo.

In the browser window, click on the search tool-bar and select "More providers". This lets you select Google and Yahoo as the default search engine.

4. Sort pictures by tags
You can cope with the hundreds or thou-sands of pictures on your computer by tagging them with meaningful data in Vista. For example, you can tag a group of pictures of that Bali holiday under "Bali" and quickly retrieve them with a search for the term "Bali". Or search by date.

5. Move songs and pictures into another disk
If you have two hard disks, you can keep your songs and pictures on the second hard disk.

To do this, drag the default Pictures and Music folders onto your second hard disk. When prompted, agree to copy the files over. You can also right click on the designated folders and select Location. Choose a folder on the second hard disk.

Posted by checkitout46 at 8:14 PM EST

Updated: Thursday, 8 March 2007 8:52 PM EST

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The written letter may not be dead just yet. But these days, Internet video calls are the new way to communicate – especially among the young.

High-speed broadband links to homes have made it easy to stay connected with loved ones. And you can now talk face to face despite being thousands of miles apart. To log on, you will need:

• The free Skype software. It supports Windows, Mac OS X and even Linux. Download from www.skype.com .
• A webcam and microphone. You can get a webcam for under $40. Micro-phones cost less than $20 and are available from any computer hardware store.

Step 1: Install your webcam
If your computer or laptop came with a webcam built in, you can skip this step. Otherwise, most external webcams connect using an USB port. Plug it in and follow the steps detailed in your cam-era's manual to get your camera up and running on your computer.

Step 2: Install your microphone
Microphones require no special software drivers to work. On the front or rear of your computer, there should be a micro-phone port. It typically carries an icon of an arrow pointing either into a circle or a set of round brackets. Plug your micro-phone in.

Step 3: Download and install Skype
Once you have downloaded Skype, run the installer. Select your language, tick the checkbox numbered 2 and click Install.

Skype will also offer to install an ex-tension for your browser, which allows you to dial phone numbers directly from websites. Be aware that calling to an actual land line or mobile phone number instead of a computer incurs a charge.

Finally, click Start Skype and you are up and running.

Step 4: Configure your account
To call with Skype, you will need a Skype account. When you first run Skype, the software will offer to set up an account for you.

The Full Name field is optional – you can choose not to fill it in.

In the Choose Skype Name field, en-ter a preferred username for all your future logins. Then fill in the password fields, tick the box and hit Next.

The next screen will prompt you enter your e-mail address. You may want to uncheck the box for the Skype news and special offers if you don't want to receive e-mail from Skype.

The Country and City fields are, again, optional – leave them blank if you want to. Now, click Sign In. Congratulations, you're done with the setup.

Step 5: Add your loved ones
You are now at the main screen of Skype itself. Click the Add Contact button. Now, enter the e-mail address or Skype Name of the person you want to add, and click Find.

A list of names will come up if you did not enter the exact Skype Name. Choose the right person and click Add Skype Contact.

Your friend will have to approve the process before you can see him online. On the next screen, leave a message saying who you are and click Ok.

Step 6: Call, call, call
Now for the big payoff. Your contact is online and it's time to chat. Select his name and hit the big green button at the bottom of the screen. Skype will automatically recognise your webcam if it is plugged in. Now, chat for free!

Posted by checkitout46 at 12:01 AM EST

Updated: Thursday, 8 March 2007 8:53 PM EST

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So you have your shiny new computer fresh out of the box, and are ready to take it online.

Stop right there.

The average computer will survive no longer than a matter of minutes online before being infected by a virus.

Here are some things you should do before connecting your computer to the Internet.

Check that your firewall is on

Windows comes with a built-in firewall to protect you from intruders. So make sure you use it.

In Windows XP with Service Pack 2, click Start, then Run. Type in "firewall.cpl" without the quotes and hit Ok.
You can turn on the built-in Windows firewall from there.

In Windows Vista, click Start, then Control Panel, then double-click Windows Firewall. The firewall panel will pop up and you can check if it is on.

Install security software

Many computer manufacturers offer bundled deals with their systems — you can get a discount on anti-virus and firewall software if you buy it together with your computer.

At the very minimum, your computer should have anti-virus, fire-wall and malware protection in-stalled before it has to deal with the Internet.

Check that the computer is exactly what you ordered

With so many computers sold at the show, there is a small chance that your manufacturer may have made a mistake in configuring the parts of your system.

Click Start, then Run, then type in "dxdiag" without the quotes.

A diagnostic tool that tells you the specifications of your system will pop up.

On the System tab, check your processor speed and RAM under the Processor and Memory entries.

The Display tab will indicate any graphics cards if you have them.

Make sure your browser is configured correctly

If you opt to use Internet Explorer, which comes with Windows, make sure its security options are configured to keep you safe.

Click Tools and select Internet Options. Then, set your browser to remember less of your browsing history, protecting your privacy.

You should also turn off the feature to save your Web passwords — always key in your password your-self. The same rules apply if you choose to use an alternative browser, such as Mozilla Firefox (www.firefox.com) or Opera (www.opera.com).

Posted by checkitout46 at 7:56 PM EST

Updated: Thursday, 8 March 2007 8:54 PM EST

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• Computer Tips and Tweaks - Increase Security by Disabling Services
• Computer Tips and Tweaks - How to Completely Remove "index.dat"
• Computer Tips and Tweaks - Prevent Viruses From Disabling Your Protection
• Computer Tips and Tweaks - Five ways to live with Windows Vista
• Computer Tips and Tweaks - How to Video Call with Skype
• Computer Tips and Tweaks - Make sure your PC is secure

Posted by checkitout46 at 8:33 PM EST

Updated: Wednesday, 14 March 2007 9:07 PM EDT

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