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Tech Help
Help Desk & Tips
Anand Tech reviews, news
Annoyances.org Windows tips including quick fixes for many of Windows annoying habits.
Annoyances.org information assembled by actual users of Microsoft Windows.
Black Viper Windows 2000/XP service configuration, which ones you need and which ones to disable for faster computing
Brian's Buzz Windows Tips Search Engine, windows tips
Bug Me Not log on information for many sites. Generic account names and passwords allow you to log on to many sites without having to register and give out personal information. Changes frequently.
Internet FAQ Archives the name pretty much says it all
Internet Traffic Report up-to-the-minute internet traffic world-wide
Device Drivers
Software Downloads
FileHippo is the best organized file download site for repetitive downloads.
Version Tracker thousands of patches, especially good for shareware
Lost Passwords lost password recovery tools. Is nothing secure? Probably not if someone has $350 and a desire to crack your password.
Find.pcworld.com and enter a five digit number
PortableApps.com for free programs that will run on a thumb drive
Do It Yourself Organizer downloadable forms
Bug Fixes
Viruses
AVAST great free anti-virus program with lots of options.
Avira igh
AVG Grisoft Anti Virus free virus scan, and virus removal tool. Free for personal use. Highly recommended.
McAfee one of the best known anti-virus programs. The site has many additional free features.
Symantec, Symantec free virus scan
Trend Micro. Trend Micro virus map interactive virus map. Online virus scan will remove some infections.
Virus Test File Eicar (European Institute for Computer Anti-Virus Research) offers a free small file that verifies that your anti-virus software is working. It is not a virus but the software makers have all incorporated it into their virus definitions.
General information about viruses from About.com
Firewalls
Comodo can be preconfigured for existing benign programs, unlike the free version of Zonealarm.
Spyware
AdAware from Lavasoft is one of the original and still one of the best ad-ware and spy-ware removal tools. Catches some spy-ware that spybot misses.
N.B. there is a similar site www.ada-ware.com which is not the Lavasoft site
Spybot This is a multi-faceted tool for removing ad-ware. In addition to checking for problems to remove existing ad-ware, also use the immunize feature to block new pernicious downloads and also instal the "bad download blocker" for Internet Explorer ( if you still use that old browser). In the tools section there are more utilities including one to add ad site to your Hosts file.
Spy Sweeper free scan-only
Spyware Doctor free scan-only
Help if you are infected
bleepingcomputer You have to sign up for an account but it is free. Useful discussions.
Pest Patrol spyware and adware info, online scan for pests. You have to sign up for an account but it is free. Useful discussions.
The Counter Exploitation Organization has dummy files for enabling ad-ware dependant software, privacy tools.
Steve Bass's Favorite Malware Stoppers
Electronic Privacy Information Center Links to privacy tools including the EPIC Online Guide
to Practical Privacy Tools
Symantec Security Checker scans your system for weaknesses
Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/tools/mbsahome.mspx
checks Windows 2000 and up for system misconfigurayions, also checks Office
"As part of Microsoft's Strategic Technology Protection Program, and in response to direct customer need for a streamlined method of identifying common security misconfigurations, Microsoft has developed the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA)."
"MBSA Version 1.2 includes a graphical and command line interface that can perform local or remote scans of Windows systems. MBSA runs on Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 systems and will scan for common system misconfigurations in the following products: Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Internet Information Server (IIS), SQL Server, Internet Explorer, and Office. MBSA 1.2 will also scan for missing security updates for the following products: Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, IIS, SQL Server, IE, Exchange Server, Windows Media Player, Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC), MSXML, Microsoft Virtual Machine, Commerce Server, Content Management Server, BizTalk Server, Host Integration Server, and Office".
Hardware
Synaptec Batteries, MouseBall, Logic boards, etc. 800 617 7865
Dell
Apple
support.hp.com
Hewlett Packard Printers tech support
800 752-0900
208 323-2551
Linux
Ubuntu distribution "Ubuntu is a community developed, linux-based operating system that is perfect for laptops, desktops and servers. It contains all the applications you need - a web browser, presentation, document and spreadsheet software, instant messaging and much more."
*****
http://www.komando.com/
You should look so good and have your own radio show. The Tips Archive has some valuable tips but it's organized by very broad categories.
http://www.mdgx.com/98-4.htm#COSW
www.arstechnica.com
primers, tweaks
Photoshop tutorials
www.russellbrown.com
ww.macfixit.com
“troubleshooting solutions for the macintosh”
tutorials and utilities
samspade.org
many tools for internet sleuthing
Scams
www.museumofhoaxes.com
Museum of Hoaxes
catalogs hoaxes
on the lighter side
www.baseballl.com
baseball statistics
www.filmaffinity.com
rate films and get movie recommendations
www.warr.org
Wilson& Alroy’s Record Reviewrecord reviews from the 60s to the 90s
www.archive.com
InternetArchive
www.overstock.com
Overstock
www.allmusic.com
search by artist,album,song, style, even by label for most current albums
www.musicmoz.org
music metasearch
nap.edu
3,000 books from the national academy of science
http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/
pretty good, but maybe not the best, math and sciece reference site.
Microsoft Security
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/cd/order.asp
microsoft order free CD
http://www.microsoft.com/security/
microsoft security site
Virus Scans
gorilla
Cell phone "field test mode" for some phones.
SMAC lets you modify your MAC address for wireless adapters.
FEBE saves your extensions and user preferences for transfering to other PCs.
Allpeers sets up folders for file sharing. The easiest way to share files of any type with anyone.
http://www.google.com/search?as_q=+&num=10&hl=en&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&lr=&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=&safe=on
You can change safe=on to safe =off if you like.
enable right clicking if disabled
javascript:void(document.oncontextmenu=null)
Zonealarm
AVG or Avast anti virus
Firefox
Thunderbird
Spybot
Adaware
Google Toolbar
Google Desktop
Fresh UI
Microsoft Power Tools
Tweak and tune
Tech Help
Data Doctors Answers to computer problems sorted by categories.
SpeedGuide.net good FAQ on all internet speed issues.
Internet tweaker speedguide.net
Security
AntiOnline offers free accounts for security discussions, downloadable programs and security related text files
Computer Security Response Center has Automatted Security System Evaluation Tool (ASSET)
Dave Dittrick is a Senior Security Engineer for the University of Washington. He has many links to high level security topics
Hacker Whacker runs a security scan on your computer (with your permission, but you must send them a valid email address), seems similar to, but more extensive than Gibson Research's scan.
http://antivirus.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.filext.com/
http://www.computergripes.com/
This web site is devoted to what stinks about computer products (hardware, software, web sites)
My Help Desk Some free, some fee based computer support help.
SMARKA Free Tech Help! Tips on all makes of Copiers, Fax, and Printers. Technician's Bulletin Board
Library of Answers That Work
Major Geeks Message Board http://www.majorgeeks.com/vb/
Sam Spade.org offers network tools, tutorials and help files about the internet, e.g. Reverse DNS, Whois, Traceroute. http://www.samspade.org
Rob's security & Privacy Page
http://robertpanderson.homestead.com/files/security1.html
Driver Guide.com user name drivers, p*ssword all
PC Magazine great utility downloads. Now a pay site
PC World more utilities, reviews, top ten lists
Large collection of relevant, PC-oriented software updates
http://updates.zdnet.com/
Reallybig.com Web building download site
www.bigfix.com automates the endless patching of Microsoft's Swiss cheese. Use it in conjunction with Internet Explorer's Windows Update (Tools, Windows Update)
Memory tester http://www.memtest86.com/
xteq systems X-Setup
Viruses
The File Extension Source, a searchable database of file
extensions and programs that use them.
Gibson Research www.grc.com
www.extremetech.com
browsercheck.qualys.com
www.symanted.com/securitycheck
Spychecker
Check before you download: Spychecker is a database that indexes almost a thousand software titles using spyware or adware.
Bugnosis
A free utility from the Privacy Foundation that detects "web bugs," code that can
be attached to "invisible" web graphics on a web page and used to track your
browsing activity.
SpywareInfo Articles, links, resources and other useful information to protect yourself from
spyware or remove it if your computer is already infected.
Cyberguys good stuff cheap, mouse balls, tyvek sleeves, $2.00 mice
1 800 234-1490
Dell Disk Diagnostics Ctrl - Alt - D
Additional Dell Links
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ask Dudley! @ [ http://support.dell.com/us/en/askdudley/index.asp?ecourtesy ]
__ Get instant answers to technical support and customer service questions.
Fix-It @ [ http://support.dell.com/us/en/fix_it.asp ]
__ Applications designed to help you diagnose and solve technical issues with your Dell system.
Customer Services @ [ http://support.dell.com/us/en/customer_services.asp ]
__ Get non-technical assistance with your order or account.
Learn @ [ http://support.dell.com/us/en/learn.asp ]
__ Explore information from Research & Development to technical specifications.
Gigabuys.Com @ [ http://gigabuys.us.dell.com ]
__ Gigabuys by DellÆ. Gigabuys has thousands of products from today's favorite manufacturers.
@ [ http://WWW.PCGUIDE.COM ]
OS X
Version Tracker
http://www.versiontracker.com/macosx/
OS9
Version Tracker
http://www.versiontracker.com/macos/
APPLE
Direct Education Support 800 800 2775
1 800 APL CARE
Mac OSX support top support questions, list of latest updates
An Introduction to Mac OS X Security
http://www.info.apple.com/siteindex.taf
http://www.info.apple.com/support/manuals.html
***
OSX Help
MAC OSX Management and Software Tips excellent set of How To's ... on setting up netboot and restore images
Seacoast Mac Our friends in New Hampshire have a great list of apple sites, help sites, troubleshooting sites.
OSX Basics compiled by Sasha Harris-Cronin Some good basic information including "Where is it now?"
Stamford University upgrade guide
Stamford University upgrade considerations
SMB (Server Message Block)or CIFS (Common Internet File System)
a lightweight protocol designed to allow the sharing of files and printers in a small network.
What Process is running? from Westwind (thanks Bill M.)
OSXFAQ Lots of updates and links including an OSX Tutorial
Adobe Acrobat minimum secure versions 6.0.6, 7.0.9, 8
Unix software
Freshmeat is Unix software, not what you might be expecting, honest.
Find.pcworld.com and enter a five digit number
OBD On Board Diagnostic codes for 1996 and after automobiles
MVRHS
01/06/2006