Replies

” I have always considered classification of “mother’s maiden name” as a JOKE…”
What I’ve done to ‘What is your mother’s maiden name?’ is: Her2468NameIs1357Nameless
Let’s a hacker try to uncover that one. I do have to keep a list of these things somewhere.

When I call financial/… CS, they often ask for my mothers maiden name for acct. verification-
If I was on the road with no access to a long-string name list, I’d be SOL!- I use only 1 complex Maiden name for All, that I can remember. Maybe not as secure?, but I’m not locked out!

Much the same problem holds true with “Trying” to log onto my accts…, from another users computer without the aid of my LastPass PW manager (NOT, unless they also have LastPass installed for Login!?)- I Refuse to use the same PW twice as they may be hacked, and I don’t have an answer to this dilemma???

My security practices!-
1. I use free LastPass to store my passwords/CC#s, and free Zemana AntiLogger to encrypt keystrokes (foils keyloggers).
2. When paying bills/purchases- I Never allow them to store my CC# (1 time purchase…).
3. I Never copy/paste CC#s…, as that info is copied to your insecure Clipboard.

Years ago I read a Security article, that Highly Recommended putting a Pic Freeze on All-3 credit information and information management services! I did as they recommended, for a small fee (they mail you a Secure un-lock PW).

What a Pic Freeze does is Lock Any changes to your Credit info (by 3d parties, other than Banks/CC…), unless you temp un-lock it for a limited time to only a user you allow (a small fee).

If you are applying for a loan/CC/…, you only have to temp unlock 1 agency, and then notify them to check your info….- Then I log on/call & Lock it again!

It surprises me that you Never hear about this Effective Security Service anymore (Google- Pic Freeze !)!?

Have you looked at Navigator Utilities ( http://www.navigatorutilities.com/ ) available for both Word and Excel that provides the menus from Office 2003 that many of us are comfortable with in Office 2010.

I have them installed for over 2 years with no problems.

I looked at the Good Navigator Utilities cnet user reviews, and they appear to be for Power Users…
This review pretty much sums it up (free to try 60days, and $50 to buy)-

“”AWESOME Add-In. But ‘Annual ‘ License Fees are too high”
October 19, 2009 |

Version: Navigator Utilities 3.23

Pros

Easy to use and very powerful and intuitive. Job well done!! It worked as described and is a great tool for auditing, moving to sheets within a workbook, modifying range names and other goodies.

Cons

Way too costly for the ‘annual’ license!!!!

You have to pay over and over and over again EVERY year. And, it’s not cheap! Students are $25/Yr, Home Users $50/Yr, and Business users are $200/Yr.

I gave 2 stars due to license cost.

Summary

Great program, but, way to costly for the license.

Windows 7 & 8 cannot run word 97. It is the operating system that will force office upgrades. Win XP cannot run Office 2013.

I was able to run word 97, on My desktop Win 7 Pro 32-bit, but Not my laptop Win7 Pro 64-bit.
So I upgraded to cheap word 2003, and the 2007 compatibility pack…
I don’t use it’s Outlook email, have KIS2013 AV, so I’m Not too concerned.

BTW- I was able to Right click on the CD/Open/setup.exe…, and install it on All of my computers (also passed MS Security Check).

Scott — Perhaps I’m not understanding your computer problem description accurately, but how is the tower case noise related to the SSD? Ditto for the email client loading problem. Email client loading problems usually originate from incorrect email settings and have nothing to do with the hardware drive. When you substituted another HDD (VelociRaptor), was that a fresh OS install and app install?

Jerry C.

Re: how is the tower case noise related to the SSD?-
Somehow the SSD caused the Harmonics, and never a problem with HDD.

Re: Email client loading problems usually originate from incorrect email settings…-
Hotmail is an online email service, and works good with a HDD.

Re: When you substituted another HDD (VelociRaptor), was that a fresh OS install and app install?-
No, it was from a Macrium Reflect Image backup (USB 3.0 external HDD- Fast!), that I made just prior to my 2nd & Last SSD installation.

BTW!- Samsung SSD Tech Support recommends a fresh OS/app install to see Top speed performance, and Never an HDD Image clone…(only 10% faster than HDD)!

BTW2!- If you use CCleaner… on an SSD?-
Never Wipe MFT free space (default), or Secure Delete (Many over-write passes on both, ruined my old Crucial SSD)!

I recently tried the Samsung 840 Pro 256gig SSD, and it had Several Bad issues for me on a fresh Win7 Pro installation.
I ran their latest Magician config… software, disabled VSS/indexing/Hibernate, before Win Update/Program installation.
It was Fast, but after installing my programs, my Antec desktop tower started Hooting Constantly (Harmonics?). Drove me Nuts!
The last straw was when my outlook.com email (aka Hotmail) email address book, wouldn’t load (IE10/FF)!?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My solution-
I had also upgraded my Slave HDD to a 500gig 10k rpm WD VelociRaptor 64mb cache, and was Very Impressed with how much faster it was than with my old VelociRaptor 32mb cache!
So I reinstalled Win7, on a 250gig VelociRaptor 64mb cache (128 gig C: partition).
My system is now as Fast as the SSD, and No Noise after an advanced Win7 defrag (disable internet/AV, show Hidden Files (indexes…), Run as Admin)

And you might want to consider purchasing a copy of Steve Gibson’s SpinRite utility (http://www.grc.com)–sounds like that HDD is getting to a certain age.

SeaTools Ouick Hard Drive Diagnostic tool is free, and works on all Brand HD’s.

http://www.seagate.com/support/downloads/

-ATI is a Buggy Resource Hog!-
Full Image sys backups sometimes wouldn’t Restore (even when so-called Verified).
Other times, it would sometimes corrupt the Boot partition (emergency Boot CD), and had to be rebuilt… (Win Repair CD 3-times…).
ATI is Hard to Completely uninstall (using their download tool), and Explorer has to be temp disabled (pre-disable your AV/3d party firewall too!).

-Win 7’s Backup and Restore was OK for full Restores Only– Virtually Impossible to find individual Files/Folders…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My Solution was Macrium Reflect Free!-
http://download.cnet.com/Macrium-Reflect-Free/3000-2242_4-10845728.html
Backs up my 19gig C: drive in < 3min, and easy to find individual Files/Folders with Explorer… (see their Tutorial…!).

I deleted Windows Live Essentials because of a problem with some of the programs it installed (no problem with Mail). I then reinstalled it and now WLE isn’t listed in control panel and the mail program has stopped working. Windows Live Mail still appears in the statup menu, clicking on it does not help.

The file name for the installation was: wlsetup-web.exe.

I need help getting the installation correct and help starting Windows Live Mail.

Gloria

I agree with Ted that something is probably corrupted, but don’t like to use Revo Uninstaller as it plays Havoc with programs that have an uninstall.isu… (properly deletes files/registry on reboot).
I’d use CC/reboot twice (wait 8min before/after).
~~~~~~~~~
My solution to WLM2011 bloatware, and their Awful GUI!-
I went back to WLM2009 (I only use POP3), and their user friendly GUI (much the same as XP’s Outlook Express).
You can download WLM2009, and program options are much the same as 2011 (I just do WLM).
To download WLM2009-
In your Google… search box enter ” Window Live Mail 2009 filehippo ” (no quotes).
In the upper Right you will see WLM2009, then click view more… under it for the download link…[/COLOR]

When you install any version WLM-
Wait 15min for this Huge program to finish installation, then reboot & wait 15min before first use.
Also if your AV does a definition update pop-up while using WLM, wait 5min before resuming or you may get “Stopped Working” crash.

Tech Tips-
I never run “anything” on a cold startup!-
Especially a defrag or Win Update!
Browsers will also be slow, and Windows Live Mail (POP3) will often Stop Working (also soon after an AV definition update/ wait 5min to resume…)!
Solution- I wait 12min on a cold startup, and reboot then wait 8min for Win to completely load before… (15min for a defrag, so temp files… can finish their auto-delete…).
A $5 digital kitchen timer from Wally World…, is a Must!

CC… will not even run properly until you clean/no-activity reboot (I wait 8min/run, wait 8min and reboot (twice, if you reg clean!).

I also 8min reboot before/after All installs/uninstalls (especially if they have kernel level drivers!).
~~~~~~~
Free Defraggler defrag (filehippo.com), gives me the best system performance (replace Win defrag install option, Run as Admin, and whitelist .exe Process in your AV)!

No matter what 3d party defrag you use (All Systems)!- Open Win defrag, and Disable Schedule!
Also set Win defrag to Manual in Services.msc, so layout.ini keeps updating (unless your defrag has it’s own layout, then Disable)…

Cawdy55

1. I reinstalled windows from oem disk that came with my own laptop so should be ok- healthwise. I think they restrict the number of reinstalls you can perform from this but I think I may have two left.

My Solution to OEM CD’s limited uses!- I Copy the OEM CD’s using excellent/free CDBURNERXP (compatible with all win & ISO’s too), and be sure to tick Finalize… (so they can’t write # of uses on it…). I save (don’t use) my original, just in case…
Download cdbxp 32 or 64 from eiklien’s favorite cnet :^_^: http://download.cnet.com/1770-20_4-0.html?query=cdburnerxp&platformSelect=Windows&platformSelect=Mobile&platformSelect=Webware&tag=srch&searchtype=downloads&filterName=platform%3DWindows%2CMobile%2CWebware&filter=platform%3DWindows%2CMobile%2CWebware

5. Her Acer 5536 did have a partition (D but after reinsatallation now only shows C:

Did you try shrinking C:/reboot, and then creating D: (also using Manage…, per instructions in my earlier post)?

Scott

:confused:

But enough Prattling and onto the issue at hand.

One way of [trying] to keep a PC clean is to use a program similar to “Toolwiz Timefreeze” (this a FREE program) which can be found at the following link:
http://www.toolwiz.com
hen go to downloads and select Time Freeze

This, in effect, runs the PCuser in a “VIRTUAL” environment. I have used it myself (handy when doing Internet banking or buying online and card details are entered) There is NO noticeable lag in the operation of the PC. The program works with all versions of windows from XP through to 8) When the PC is rebooted any and all changes made to the OS are discarded meaning that any infections are alos discarded . Any files you download and save to a separate drivepartition are not affected and will still be there when you restart the PC.If you can get your granddaughter to run this it will save you a lot of hassle.

Edited to correct link.
Ernie

:confused: I don’t understand how toolwiz would protect you for doing financial… (good for program evaluation… though!)?
It seems to me if rootkits/keyloggers/malware are already installed on your original system- They could still capture your info… on the virtual system too?
http://www.davescomputertips.com/2011/12/timefreeze-easily-create-a-secure-virtual-environment/

I surf 99% in easy virtual Free sandboxie, and Close/Delete All before doing financial…
http://sandboxie.com/

Scott

:rolleyes:

scottls, I believe you meant to say the many of your older programs didn’t work with Win7 64bit. The way you expressed it sounds like something was “wrong” with the 64-bit version; IMHO nothing could be further from the truth. Having said that I have to disclose that I am NOT a “Microsoft fan boy”, rather to the contrary.

It’s been a couple of month’s since I had 64 Home, but the biggest deal breaker was that it said my old Adobe Photoshop 4.01LE “is Not compatible with this version”.
I tried installing in XP & 98 mode too. I mostly use Photoshop for simple Twain scanning/editing, and don’t want to pay Big Buck$ for CS…!
Installed just fine with 32 Pro.

scottls, this sounds a lot like you never have tried and directly compared MS Security Essentials. It is fast, FREE and has on many occasions (last time yesterday!) found and removed trojans that AVG2012 had ignored. Having said that I have to disclose that for me Emsisoft’s AntiMalware was and still is a go-to tool if I need a good, portable on-demand cleaner.

Re:”scottls, this sounds a lot like you never have tried and directly compared MS Security Essentials”-
Yes I did try MSE, Avast, Avira, and AVG. All of their restrictive/pesky… Web Guards drove me Nuts (EAM’s too, and was easily permanently disabled).
Not being able to easily access MSE’s common options from taskbar (still in the dark ages…)- Was Really was a Hassle!

Re: “It is fast”-
MSE’s full scan took forever.
With EAM’s Web Guard disabled, I feel that their 30sec daily C: scan is a Must. EAM’s Full scan of my 450gig sys, takes 2min.
I’m going to give to give http://www.toolwiz.com a looksee, for when I’m paying biils…

Re: “found and removed trojans that AVG2012 had ignored”-
http://www.av-comparatives.org/en/comparativesreviews/detection-test MSE’s on-demand detection rate was Last place with 92.1%, and their Retrospective (in the wild/behavior) was next 8th of 10 with 92.1%. MSE was last place in rootkit detection test (4 of 13). For that matter AVG/Avast didn’t fare much better.
-In Q1-Q3 2011 tests- EAM was in first place with 100% across the board http://www.anti-malware-reviews.com/ .

BTW- Give EAM Full a free trial, & I doubt you’ll ever look back (I didn’t)…

And then you top it off by recommending Cnet downloads. Have you never heard of their pesky downloader? I consider this downloader to be a typical PUP.

I Fully agree with you about cnets iffy downloads, that are often corrupted/out-of-date…! Their EAM download version is an Old v5, and current is v6+ (download Only from EAM site).
I meant just to buy your $40 EAM key at cnet download page- for only $20 (one at a time!), and paste key on install.

G’Day

I had the exact same problem, and came up with a better solution (I created a Visitor User Acct, with NO Admin privileges, and PW protected Admin)-

1. If you have Win 7 (get 32 bit, as 64 didn’t work with Many of my older programs/net…!), after you have done Another reinstall (create a D: … partition/Advanced option… & C: needs 60-100gig).

I temp disable my AV until Restart for all of A.-
A. Type in Search box “Backup and Restore” (I disabled Auto Schedule- about 3gig for my 22gig C:), and
1. Create & Emergency CD boot disk.
2. Create a fully protected system image, and teach her how to do it…
3. If she has a laptop… and already uses full C: drive/ no slave drive…)-
a. Reboot, & Right click on My Computer/Properties/Manage/Disk Management.
b. Right click on C: partition, and shrink to 50-100gig, Reboot & go into Disk Management & create D: (I do slower Full Reformat to wipe…).

B. Quit messing with the slow/problematic freebie AV’s, with their dismal protection rates, and get Fast #1/97% Emsisoft AntiMalware (only $20/Renewals- here too…, at Cnet downloads…). I Hated their pesky pop-up… Surf Guard, and disabled it.
1. 30 second daily auto C: scans (after 1 full scan/remembers…, Direct Disk Access/File extension Filter ), and Easy (after learning-curve) whitelist (under Scan…).