From the Mind of Marc... » Microsoft http://mdpblog.mdpsystems.com Advice and insights from a computer authority Wed, 21 Apr 2010 18:47:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 en Windows 7 is (almost) here! [updated] http://mdpblog.mdpsystems.com/2009/10/19/windows-7-is-almost-here/ http://mdpblog.mdpsystems.com/2009/10/19/windows-7-is-almost-here/#comments Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:33:27 +0000 Marc http://mdpblog.mdpsystems.com/?p=126 Microsoft will release Windows 7 on Thursday October 22nd. Are you ready? We’ve been testing 7 from early this year, and we really think it’s a worthwhile upgrade from Vista. You can check your machine to see if the hardware and software you have are compatible using the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor (Beta) here, or you can use the compatibility check on the Windows 7 DVD when it’s released. If you would like advice on whether or not you should upgrade, feel free to contact us.

Update: Microsoft has released the official version of the Upgrade Advisor here.

]]> http://mdpblog.mdpsystems.com/2009/10/19/windows-7-is-almost-here/feed/ Microsoft announces Windows 7 availability http://mdpblog.mdpsystems.com/2009/06/02/microsoft-announces-windows-7-availability/ http://mdpblog.mdpsystems.com/2009/06/02/microsoft-announces-windows-7-availability/#comments Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:44:42 +0000 Marc http://mdpblog.mdpsystems.com/?p=114 Microsoft’s Windows 7 will be available to the general public beginning October 22nd, according to the Wall Street Journal. This should give them a much better foothold with 7 coming out before the holidays than they had with Vista being released at the end of January. Unfortunately, even though Windows 7 is getting rave reviews from most people testing it, Microsoft has kept the convoluted versioning scheme from Vista. There will be 6 different versions of Windows 7; could they make it any more complicated? Here is a quick breakdown of the versions for anyone interested.

]]> http://mdpblog.mdpsystems.com/2009/06/02/microsoft-announces-windows-7-availability/feed/ Service Pack 2 has arrived (for the most part)… http://mdpblog.mdpsystems.com/2009/04/29/service-pack-2-has-arrived-for-the-most-part/ http://mdpblog.mdpsystems.com/2009/04/29/service-pack-2-has-arrived-for-the-most-part/#comments Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:53:03 +0000 Marc http://mdpblog.mdpsystems.com/?p=110 Service Pack 2 is here! Well, Service Pack 2 for Microsoft Office 2007 is here; Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista is on its way. Service packs are large updates that roll together all the little updates that have been released before them, and usually include added security and functionality. You can download Microsoft Office 2007 Service Pack 2 here. Microsoft Windows Vista Service Pack 2 should be available for download soon, hopefully early May, here.

]]> http://mdpblog.mdpsystems.com/2009/04/29/service-pack-2-has-arrived-for-the-most-part/feed/ Free scanning tools http://mdpblog.mdpsystems.com/2008/09/02/free-scanning-tools/ http://mdpblog.mdpsystems.com/2008/09/02/free-scanning-tools/#comments Tue, 02 Sep 2008 23:27:31 +0000 Marc http://mdpblog.mdpsystems.com/?p=41 I was just reading an email from Microsoft promoting a free scanning tool from their OneCare service, so I decided I’d post here about it and also include some links to a couple other scanning tools.

The first time I ran the scanning tool from OneCare, it crashed Internet Explorer. Not a good sign, but it could have something to do with all the other windows I had open at the time. The second time, it finished completely. It took a while to scan, a little over an hour and a half, most likely because it was performing other scans in addition to just a virus and spyware scan (it also scans the registry, temporary files, disk fragmentation, and network security). All in all it seems like a decent tool to use in addition to your existing software. I still wouldn’t reccomend OneCare as your primary security suite because it has gotten very poor reviews; the number one reccomendation is still Norton Internet Security. If you want a full rundown of the latest security suites, check PC Mag’s full review here.

Here are some links to free scanning tools:

TrendMicro’s HouseCall and RUBotted (click on the Free Tools tab)

Panda’s ActiveScan 2.0 (registration required)

Microsoft’s OneCare

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