That looks like a spam subject line, but it’s true. And for a small fee … just kidding. There’s this free software called EaseUS. I’ve been using their amazingly fast and easy disk partitioning software for at least a year. But now I’ve just discovered their equally fast and easy disk backup/imaging software. The great thing about it is that you run it right within Windows, you don’t have to create a boot disk and all that. Here’s the link:
http://www.todo-backup.com/products/home/download.htm
Like so many great free software programs, you have to wonder why it’s free. They make their money from people falling in love with the software and upgrading to the paid version for extra features.
From: Steve Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2011
I’m fed up with Mozilla Firefox. I switched to it, but recently, it’s been that I can type faster than the program can put letters on my screen. There’s always [something coming up on] my computer to show something is going on. I go to the Task Manager and all it shows is Firefox. I have to wonder if there’s something monitoring my keystrokes and thus it’s busy. I don’t want to feel I’m just getting paranoid but this weekend, I couldn’t get into my bank account online. I called them up and they said that somebody was trying to get into the account repeatedly and they shut it down because of that. I installed AdAware again and it removed some things, but that didn’t solve the problem.
Actually, this is a test to see if the same thing would happen as I’m in Internet Explorer. It’s keeping up with my typing. So, do you know of another browser to use that’s not Google or some other suspicious organization?
ANSWER:
Internet Explorer is always a good second choice. If you have Vista or Win 7 you can upgrade IE to IE9, but it’s not available for XP. I use Chrome a lot, but I understand your concerns about anything to do with Google. That’s why I tapered off my Chrome usage as well as my Gmail usage. Another good browser that no one seems to be aware of is Opera. Mozilla makes another browser called Sea Monkey, but it might have the same problems as Firefox. Safari for Windows is half-decent. Here’s a list of several alternatives.
As to someone monitoring your keystrokes, it could be true these days. Are you using Malwarebytes? They’re the best, you just have to keep it up to date and do a FULL scan every once in a while (bi-weekly?) and a quick scan weekly if not more often.
Something else you should do is to make regular backups to an external drive and scan that drive regularly for viruses with any antivirus other than Norton or McAfee. ClamWin and Avira aren’t very good, either. Microsoft’s Security Essentials is installed on all of my PCs exclusively, and it’s free. Also, I recommend Acronis backup/imaging software.
Get 15% on Acronis True Image Home 2011 with MJJATIH15 coupon code. Expiration date: 07/18/2011
Apple accused of ripping off student’s iPhone app rejected a year before
I love their products, but they are apparently “less than honorable” as a company. It’s not just this one incident. For years, their factories have been accused of being among the world’s worst polluters.
Transferring your Skype settings to another computer.
Hopefully, this still works six years later.
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This didn’t work transferring to a Windows 7 machine. The thing to do there is do an export/backup first from the old machine, save it somewhere, then import/restore into the new installation.
… and what we do:
Call us at (615) 479-4981
We like to keep things relaxed and friendly. Computer problems are stressful enough. We want you to consider us that “friend who knows computers,” only, we actually know what we’re doing! 
NEW! We will remove viruses for a $65 flat fee! NEWER! Data recovery: $80 flat fee (where we save your data from an unbootable hard drive and copy it to another drive that you provide)
Other services are provided by the hour at VERY reasonable rates. No contract is required. You will earn a $10 credit for every new customer you send us! (customer must spend $50+)
Our goal is happy customers and repeat business. We “get it done” and only recommend things you actually need. That’s where that “friend” thing comes in. Monthly retainers and “overflow support” of any existing IT staff also available. Licensed, certified and experienced.
Other than strictly virus-killing jobs, there is a half-hour minimum plus 33¢ per mile for on-site jobs. Our travel time is NOT charged. Lower rate and no minimum for “remote” or phone support.
Here’s what we do:
- Hardware – install, upgrade, repair or replace (practically anything inside or attached to a PC or network)
- Software – install, upgrade and repair (again, practically anything in Windows, Linux and occasionally Mac)
- Internet – get you connected, create professional websites (using WordPress, usually)
- E-mail and Internet domain registration
For remote service, you might want to download and install Zoho Meeting or Team Viewer first. Call Bill at (615) 479-4981.
Good site showing free software for Windows:
http://www.opensourcewindows.org/
Of course, there’s always download.com and many others.
