Essential software for a PC running on windows XP

First software I would ever install would be MS Office 2007. I have used few office packages, but MS Office 2007 is unparalleled. Especially I find Onenote very useful for me.

Second software would be Mozilla Firefox. Nothing much to say. Simply it is the best. With add-ons you can do virtually anything with it.

Third is a pdf reader. If possible a pdf creater as well. Adobe is the best. Foxit reader is good as well.

Then I would go for a good text editor; ie a notepad replacement. Ultra edit is the best text editor I have ever used. Column mode, enhanced search facilities and the ability to handle very large files are specialties of UE. JEdit and Crimson editor are good free alternatives for UE.

Then it is the time for a good file manager. File manager is an enhanced version of inbuilt my computer or windows exlorer. Most file managers support two frames and tabs. Two frames helps you to perform copy and paste operartions easily and tabs give you less clutter when working with many folders. FileAnt and Explorer2 are very good user friendly free file managers.

A good compression utility is essenstial as well. 7zip, winzip and Winrar are good compression utilities. I personally prefer 7zip

Test from scribefire

Found this. Let's give a try.

It is working.

Now this text is typed off line. Let's save this. Done

When
I open it back... I can find the saved note. Also I can preview my blog
in an environment similar to blogspot. That means offline preview!
Wonderful.

Ok let's try to publish this.

Yea it is working :-)

Login to Linux without password as root

This is a very interesting fact. There is a method to log in to any Linux OS as root (super user) without a password. Further it is possible to change root password as well. Here is how to do it.

1. When you get the Grub boot loader screen select the linux OS
2. Press 'e'
3. You will be directed to another screen which is similar to Grub boot menu. Locate the entry having the word 'kernal'.
4. Press 'e' again.
5. You will be directed to a screen where you can edit the line having linux os. Type a space and single there.
6. Hit enter. Now you will come back to the Grub screen. Note that Linux Os line now has single attached to it.
7. Press 'b'

Now you will be logged in as root in to a shell.

Type passwd and hit enter. Now you can give a new root password. Enjoy...

7 easy ways to remove virus

1. If you have an antivirus program, update it.

2. If you do not have a one, install a one. I recommend Avast.

3. Right click on my computer -> properties -> system restore tab -> tick turn off system restore for all drives. This prevents virus pulling your pc to an infected state even after the virus scan

4. Reboot in safe mode

5. Run the virus scan

6. If your current virus scan is unable to destroy virus, install a new anti virus (recommend Avast, AVG). Note Uninstall the previous anti virus as running 2 anti virus programs in 1 PC may be troublesome

7. Repeat the step again with the new anti virus

Vista and XP Dual boot

In today's market; if you are buying a laptop or pc, there is a high likelihood that windows vista starter would come pre-installed. What to do with it? Here is Zyger's hints...

Understanding Vista Starter

Vista starter is somewhat a demo version of Vista. It has many limitations. To list a few.

1. Maximum memory support is 1GB
2. Cannot open more than 3 programs simultaneously
3. Has networking constraints eg. Ad hoc networking
4. It does not have aero theme which is synonymous with Vista
   

With these restrictions (especially 3 simultaneous programs max); Vista starter is not a fully fledged OS as windows xp. So we suggest to have a dual boot system with windows xp, if you really need to keep Vista with you (You have paid for it, by the way)

Here is how to have a dual boot with xp when vista is preinstalled

1. Install windows xp in a separate partition
2. Once the installation is complete, your PC will be able to boot in only windows xp. This is because; still the boot loader is not configured yet.
3. Download VistaBootPRO software
4. Install it (Note you need .net 2 framework for this)
5. Open VistaBootPRO, ignore the prompt to backup your BCD. Go to the System Bootloader tab, select "Windows Vista Bootloader" in the first section and "All Drives" in the second section and then click Install Bootloader . Next, go to the Diagnostics item on the menu bar and select "Run Diagnostics". VistaBootPRO will default back to the Manage OS Entries page and you will see that you now have entries there for "Earlier versions of Windows" as well as "Microsoft Windows Vista".

Now you got a dual boot with xp and vista. while booting the system you can select which OS to be used.

Got a new PC

Ok now you are happy. You bought a new PC with much power than your old PC. Now a new issue is on your head. How can I get all the functionality which my OLD PC had to my new PC.

Few hints....

You cannot transfer operating systems between computers. The OS while installing gets lot of details of the computer and customizes itself to suit the particular machine. So you will have to install the OS in a fresh way to suit your new PC.

You can copy all your documents and other data like photos, videos from your old PC to new PC. I suggest using a flash (pen) drive or external hard disk or re-writable CD / DVD for the operation. It is possible to fix your old hard disk to your new PC and transfer data.

Remember I told you that you can transfer your data. But I'm afraid most of the programs; especially big ones; will not be transferable from one PC to another. MS-Office is a such program. You have to install then in the new PC. Most simple programs such as Abi-word can be transferred.


So my advice is

1. Use only one Windows XP
2. Transfer your data files to your new PC
3. Install computer programs which you need to use in the new PC

Then you can forget your old PC.

Web browsers

What is the best web browser? This is a question in many people's mind. what it seems to me is that it is an issue of your personal preferences and the work you are going perform on internet.

In this blog I'm not going tell you which one is the best browser. But I would like to write down some thoughts and memories of web browsers I have played around.

Internet explorer was the first web browser I ever used. Then it was version 5 or 6. The biggest issue I ever faced was that only one page could be open per window. So while you are browsing, the desktop gets highly unmanageable after opening 4-5 web pages.

Then I came across mozilla web browser. I repeat mozilla web browser not mozilla firefox. This carried a logo of a some monster like animal (I guess it is mozilla). Mozilla was the place I came across tabbed browsing.

Then I enbraced my personal favourite mozilla firefox. Firefox has a big advantage that you can customize it with add ons as you like.

Opera is another browser I have worked. I found 2 fascinating features in it. One is it has quick dial pad. That is you can store thumbnails of web pages you frequently visit and with one click you can access them. Second one is once you open the opera window, previous tabs are open automatically.

I recently started trying google chrome. It gives you a huge space to view the web page as its various bars (addess, status, menu, tool) are minimized