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I would like to add my suggestion for a few helpful tools, all of which I have used.

First, make sure you have an effective Hosts file, as it can stop visits to unsafe sites. Best to manage it with a decent program – I use Hostsman from http://www.abelhadigital.com/hostsman and, once installed, MVPS Hosts (from the same source) to supply the details of the unsafe sites.

Second, consider running with less rights, that is, not as administrator. This will reduce the opportunity for malware to run. There is a good little program that makes this quite easy called DropMyRights; you can see what it does described at http://news.cnet.com/8301-13554_3-9756656-33.html (or indeed several other sites if you search); there is a download link there as well. Both these suggestions would be good for those average users who persist in clicking every link in sight.

Third, if you have to reload Windows, try doing so via the easy reinstall method suggested by Fred Langa some time ago now, which retains the majority of your settings but replaces those files that need it. He set out the procedure in a step-by-step guide (with pics) available at http://www.informationweek.com/news/189400897?pgno=1 and later mentioned it in a Windows Secrets article. It is certainly better than the “nuclear” method! Bear in mind it may not always work though, depending on the variety of problems.

Hope these might help.

Garth

I too like to keep OS and data apart, and use partitioning.

I also use a system called HyperOS, which enables copying of the OS in a comparatively short period, but in particular allows switching between multiple OSes on different partitions almost instantly. If say I have a problem on my (normal) E drive (C is minimal containing just boot and a few other files, plus the HyperOS files) I can switch to an identical OS on the F drive in about 2 minutes, and then have plenty of time to restore the E drive at my leisure – either from say an identical F drive or an OS copy stored elsewhere. I have used it for years and it is so very flexible, and means potentially there is always a “clean” OS available.

A word of warning though. Several years ago I had a virus (despite all the usual safeguards and controls) which left the C drive intact, but destroyed all the remaining partitions, and thus all of the operating systems AND the data! The data was fine, being backed up the previous week (apart from a Presidential Address I had just composed!) but all the OSes had gone, needing a full reinstall, the first since installing XP. So you can never say never, sooner or later ‘it’ will happen.

I just installed HostsMan, but am uncertain how to use “Update Hosts”. Should I just go with the defaults, which are to install only “MVPD Hosts”, and “Merge with current hosts”? Please tell me what has worked best for you. Thanks

Yes, that’s what I have also used. Seems to do the trick.

Maureen,

I don’t use Adobe except when there is absolutely no alternative, like Flash! The programs are always requiring updating, and some are expensive to start with anyway. For most home users, I don’t believe Adobe is necessary to use and manipulate pdf files

For reading and creating pdf files, I use Tracker software – PDF-XChange PDF Viewer (free) to read pdf files; PDF-XChange Lite 4 to create. I paid for mine originally, but I see they now have an offer that is free to home and academic users. I have had mine for a number of years, and I think in that time have only ever needed to update twice! I can recommend both programs as excellent, and in my view straightforward to use – very easy to tweak the options.

For converting pdf files to Word, I use SolidConverterPDF, again an excellent program which I have had for a long time. It is not free, though, and the current version is quite expensive. There are free equivalents out there – one I see that has good reviews is Free PDF to Word Converter [/FONT]from SmartSoft. If I were starting, I would try that.

Garth

I use a similar program HostsMan which allows easy updating of the Hosts file. I also use Spybot.

Hi Tim,

No, I don’t have a Windows Live ID.

Garth