Reactions around the globe are varied… and passionate on both sides of the coin. Teens who have had their accounts cut off are definitely not happy, even when they fully admit to being guilty of piracy and console modifications. One such banned player, who hails from the UK, told a radio station this morning that he is “gutted” and “distraught” by Microsoft’s decision. He was even noted to be seen crying loudly in public. However, this same person also admits to paying a local electronics shop more than $100.00 to mod his Xbox for him – so he can play pirated games.

While it’s not yet clear how Microsoft knows whose consoles are modded, nor how they came to the conclusions as to who should be banned… I have to give them props. I fail to understand how people (such as the above example) can feel they have been wronged, when in fact they are committing an illegal act. The person in question clearly knew what he was doing was wrong. He knew the games were illegal. He knew he was voiding his warranty – and breaking Microsoft’s EULA – when he took his machine to that shop. Yet he still feels as though he’s an injured party, and that Microsoft should “pay for what they’ve done”?! This makes no sense to me.

Piracy is rampant, and it’s getting worse. The majority of people I see who steal music, movies and software do so simply because they “can”. They feel they prove they are somehow better than others, because they can figure out a way around the rules and laws. They don’t seem to care the impact they are having on the industries themselves… or on those of us who do obtain our things in a legal manner, by purchasing it. They do it for the fun of it.

I had one teen tell me recently in a live chat room that he was pirating games because his parents refuse to buy them for him. They don’t want him gaming for as many hours per day as he does, and they attempt to set limits on him. The kid boasts loudly about the ways he gets around the limitations, and how he steals what it is he wants to play. This is absolutely sad.

What do you think? Is Microsoft right in what they’ve done? Do you feel that banning people who have clearly broken the Terms of Use and/or who have pirated games is the right course of action? It is going to be interesting to watch over the next few weeks, to see how all of this plays out.

Some Windows 7 Beta users are reporting crashes when running Windows Update, or installing third party applications (i.e. Java, Flash, and other MSI-based installers). The third-party Windows .msi installer, or Windows Explorer will crash. Microsoft has identified this may be related to a configuration change in the Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP) client. If you’ve experienced Windows Update or installer crashes with the Windows 7 beta, try the fix below. If you haven’t experienced Windows Update or installer crashes crashes, there’s no need for the fix. Future installations of Windows 7 after the initial beta will not be affected.

Detailed instructions:

1. Select and copy the following to your clipboard:

reg delete HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SQMClient\Windows\DisabledSessions /va /f

2. Click on “Start”, then “All Programs”, then “Accessories”

1. Right click on “Command Prompt”, then click on “Run as administrator”
2. In the UAC prompt, verify that the program’s name is “Windows Command Processor” and then click “Yes”
3. Right click on the “Administrator: Command Prompt” window’s black area, then select “Paste”
4. Press “Enter”, you should see “The operation completed successfully”.

   If you see “ERROR: Access is denied”, please make sure you followed Step 3.

5. Close the “Administrator: Command Prompt window”

This script above simply removes the configuration change, and will prevent future CEIP related crashes. The above fix is permanent, and will only need to be run once.

Why the alarm and concern? There are widespread reports of malware infections (Conficker.B or Downadup) that exploit a recently discovered vulnerability in the Windows Server service (SVCHOST.EXE). You can become infected by simply the act of being connected to a network, the internet, or sharing a removable drive. No action required. Scary stuff.

What if you’re already infected? Microsoft has updated their free malicious software removal tool. From a non-infected computer, simply download it and then run on the infected system. As always, you can also find free malware removal help in our forums.

Is your copy of Windows fully updated? If you’re reading this, chances are it probably is. Great, you’re protected! Now do someone else a favor. Talk about it tomorrow at the water cooler. Check your parents systems, talk to your friends and neighbors. This has the potential to be a very widespread, and serious infection outbreak. It can be avoided by simply running Windows Update.

The full version is intended for IT professionals, and is available only as part of the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack for Software Assurance customers. However, you can download a free-trial as part of the Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset. After downloading this toolset, install it to find an ISO file containing ERD Commander:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset\erd50.iso

An ISO is a special file that when burned to a CD can create a bootable CD. Windows doesn’t support ISO burning without third-party software. ISO Recorder is a very simple, and free program for creating CDs from ISOs. After you’ve burned the CD from the ISO, simply boot the system from the CD you just created to start ERD Commander. If your system doesn’t boot from the CD, you might have to change the BIOS boot settings (boot order).

A couple of caveats. The trial version of ERD Commander is ERD Commander 2005. The latest version (currently ERD 6.0) is only shipping with the Desktop Optimization Pack. While version 6.0 is Vista compatible, 2005 is not (compatible with Windows NT, 2000, XP, and Server 2003). The  trial period is 30 days. Next time you’re faced with an unbootable Windows XP system, give ERD Commander a try.

To the $6,000 Geeks to Go HP Magic Giveaway contest!

What?

One winner will receive a prize package valued at over $6,000! Including all of the following:

• HP TouchSmart IQ816 AIO Desktop PC
• HP HDX 18 series Premium Notebook PC
• HP Pavilion dv4 series Entertainment Notebook PC
• HP Mini 1000
• HP MediaSmart Connect digital media receiver
• HP Photosmart C6380 Wireless AIO multifunction
• HP 564 Photo Value Pak
• Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate and Home Premium preinstalled
• Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Student Edition
• Microsoft Windows Live
• Corel VideoStudio X2
• Kung Fu Panda (DVD & Blu-ray)

Brought to you by HP, Microsoft, and geekstogo.com.

How?

At Geeks to Go we share the magic. Our tech experts provide free tech help in our forums. We share our technical knowledge with others in need. We get a magical feeling whenever we get a heartfelt thanks from someone we’ve been able to help.

This prize package contains an embarrassment of riches. We’re going to ask our contest winner to share the feeling that comes from giving magic. To enter our contest, simply reply in the comments with what part of the prize package you’d share, and with whom you’d share it (no full names please). The winner will be drawn at random from the qualified entries. So, while there’s no need for a long entry, I and others may enjoy reading them.

The holidays are a time for giving. Many organizations and individuals are in need. We recommend a donation to an organization, not an individual or relative, but the final decision is yours. If requested, we can mail your donation anywhere in the world. We also want to hear your story! If possible, take videos or photos of your recipient, along with a story of the donation. We’d like to publish it, and share your experience of giving magic.

When?

The winner will be drawn from qualified comments posted between December 04, 2008, and December 10, 2008 12PM (noon) CST. Our announcement will be posted shortly after noon (CST) on December 10, 2008 (subscribe to our RSS feed). The winner will also be notified via the email address they used to comment. If 24 hours goes by without a reply, a new winner will be chosen.

Who?

This is an international competition. We will ship the prize package, including any donated portion to anyone worldwide (as permitted by US law). Staff members of this site (including GeekU), previous winners from other sites participating in this contest, and employees of HP, Microsoft, and BuzzCorps are not allowed to enter — bummer.

The Rules

1. Entries accepted as comments in this post only. Entries in any other areas of the site will not be counted.
2. ONE entry per person. Those entering more than once will be disqualified (it’s easy to catch).
3. Contest dates and times. Only comments submitted between 12:01am CDT Dec 04, 2008 and 12:00pm (noon) Dec 10, 2008.
4. Geeks to Go is a family friendly site. Any submissions that break this rule will be disqualified, and removed.
5. This is an international competition. As allowed by US law, everyone is allowed to enter. Not allowed to enter are Geeks to Go staff members, and GeekU members. Nor, employees of HP, Microsoft and Buzzcorps. Previous winners of other HP Magic contests can not win again.
6. You must provide a valid email address with your comment. The winner will be notified using the email address provided. If no response to the notification email is received within 24 hours, a new winner will be chosen.
7. A US winner will receive payment from HP, Microsoft and Buzzcorps to offset the tax liability.
8. Geeks to Go reserves the right to change the rules of this contest as needed.

If you’re new to this site, we share magical moments every day, by providing free tech help. Our magical moments come from helping someone solve a technology problem. It could be as simple as removing the Language Bar, or as complex as removing the latest rootkit that your antivirus missed. If you have some magic to share, or just want to learn more, please visit our forums.

The Holiday Magic Prize Package:

• • HP TouchSmart IQ816 PC with Windows
  • HP HDX 18 series Premium Notebook PC with Windows
  • HP MediaSmart Connect
  • HP Pavilion dv4-1145go Entertainment Notebooks with Windows
  • HP Mini 1000 series with Windows
  • HP Photosmart C6380 Wireless AIO
  • HP 564 Series Photo Value Pack
  • Microsoft Office Home & Student 2007
  • Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate / Home Premium
  • Microsoft Windows XP (Mini 1000 units)
  • Microsoft Windows Live
  • Corel VisualStudio X2
  • Kung Fu Panda widescreen DVDs

What’s included? It’s an impressive array HP of hardware. An awesome 25″ touchscreen desktop, a notebook with a huge 18″ screen, a 14″ entertainment notebook, and an ultra small and light, Mini1000 netbook with a 10″ screen. Plus a MediaSmart Connect that makes it easy to share media from a computer with your HDTV (photos, music, even HD video). HP accessories include a wireless All-in-One printer/scanner/copier, and a Photo Value Pak.

Microsoft wraps up the software with Windows Vista Ultimate, Windows Vista Home Premium, and Windows XP (Mini 1000). Microsoft Office Home and Student Edition 2007 (1 DVD w/ 3 licenses), and Microsoft Windows Live. Completing the package is Corel VideoStudio X2, and the movie Kung Fu Panda (2 widescreen DVDs; 1 Blu-ray disc).

Yes, one lucky winner takes it all, and there are 50 chances to win. To see all 50 participating sites, visit the official HP Magic site, or view the complete list after the break…

Each site is free to set their own contest rules, so be sure to check each site, review their contest, and enter to win!

AbsoluteVista
Barb’s Connected World
Bleeping Computer
BostonPocketPC
Carlos Alberto
CíberPrensa
Digital Home Thoughts
Digital Inspiration
Down-to-Earth Mama
Eliax
Gadgetell
Gear Live
GearDiary
Geek News Central
Geek.com
Geeks To Go!
Geeks!
GeeksRoom
Geekzone
Gotta Be Mobile
HackCollege
I Started Something
InfoWester
JK On the Run
La Bitácora de Erwin Ried
Last 100
Liliputing
Living – In Theory
MediaBlab
merlot mom
moosh in indy.
Morningside Mom
Neowin
Notebooks.com
Noticias Tech
One Day, One Job
OSNN
Planet x64
Slashdot Review
SlashGear
Stop, Drop & Blog
Student Bloggers
Study Hacks – Demystifying College Success
Techie Diva
Techmamas
The Digital Lifestyle
The Gadgeteer
Thoughts on poetics & tech
Unión de Bloggers Hispanos
Windows Connected

Windows Home Server, or WHS, is based on Microsoft’s Windows Server 2003 platform, but has been re-packaged to make it much more friendly for the home user. It uses a simple console interface to provide management functions, such as adding users, configuring backups, and managing shared folders. The typical WHS device is a computer that is connected to your home network and managed through another PC on the network. It’s capable of performing a headless boot, meaning there is no requirement for a keyboard, mouse, or monitor. Because it doesn’t require these devices, it can be tucked into a corner and takes up relatively little room. I have mine sitting in my basement, next to my router. Out of sight does not mean out of mind, however; this system is always running, monitoring the health of your network and helping to keep your critical data safe.

How it Works: As mentioned, the WHS resides on your network and is managed through other PCs. This is done through the Home Server Connector software. When this is installed on a PC, it automatically finds the WHS and creates a connection to it. That computer is then identified on the server, which will list the computer name and operating system, as well as it’s backup status.

You can define a schedule for performing backups. WHS defaults to performing backups between 12 am and 6 am, as that’s typically time period in which computers are not being used. When the server connector software is installed, it automatically configures the PC for backups. Backups will occur if the computer is on, even if it’s in sleep or hibernate mode; the computer will wake up, perform the backup, and go back to sleep. If there are multiple PCs, they will back up one at a time. You can also perform manual backups, and define how long WHS keeps the backups.

Like Sugarsync, WHS gives you options that some of the other backup solutions don’t, notably remote access. User accounts can be created on the server, and remote access capability can be allowed for individual accounts. As part of setting up WHS, you can create a domain name, such as myfamily.homeserver.com. From here, you have access to any computer on your network that is configured for remote access, as well as access to and shared folders on the server. The remote computer access is a big plus, as it gives you access to Outlook (or whatever email program you use) and other programs on your PC, whereas Sugarsync only gives you access to any data you sync online.

A basic WHS configuration includes at least 2 hard drives, which are automatically configured as hot-swappable backups. If one drive fails, the other will still have all the data that has been saved to it. The failed drive can be easily replaced, and WHS will recognize it. Additionally, more storage space can be easily added, which gives a lot of flexibility in expanding your backup space as needed, while also ensuring that your data is safe.

WHS gives several options for recovery. If you only need to recover a folder or files, you can open the appropriate backup and restore it from there. WHS keeps monthly, weekly, and daily backups, and you can choose how long to keep those. It defaults to keeping the monthly for 3 months, the weekly for 3 weeks, and the daily for 3 days, but these can be changed. If you accidentally delete a file today that you need, you can go back to yesterday’s backup and retrieve it. If you realize a month later that you needed something, you can go back to the previous month’s backup and recover it from there.

You can also do a system recovery. If your system files become corrupt or your hard drive crashes, you can boot from the WHS recovery disk and then restore your drive that way. It also saves your drivers in a separate file every time it backs up, so if you ever need drivers, such as during a re-install, you have access to them. Again, this is something that sets WHS apart from other backup solutions, as this is done automatically.

What I Like about WHS: This can easily be a configure-and-forget type of backup system, and the ease of configuring the backups makes it simple. It’s a great solution for a multi-PC household, as each of the PCs can be defined on the server and set to backup automatically. The built-in redundancy adds to the peace of mind you get from knowing your important data is backed up. The fact that you can reach your data remotely is also a plus. Now that I’ve gotten it configured and set up, I don’t have to spend any time managing the server. WHS can download and install updates and reboot as needed, with no intervention from me, and the backups run as scheduled. WHS will monitor the health of your network too, notifying you if a PC hasn’t been backed up as scheduled, checking the health of the hard disks, and monitoring the state of your router configuration to make sure that it is properly configured for remote access.

What I Don’t Like about WHS: I consider myself pretty technical, and I do have experience with Microsoft’s Small Business Server 2003, but I still didn’t find WHS that easy to work with. I installed the OEM software on my own hardware. There is a degree of networking and technical expertise that might put this out of the normal home user’s comfort level, at least during the configuration and troubleshooting stages. Preconfigured options like the HP MediaSmart may be the best option for most people.

This solution is also more of an energy hog; the WHS and all the PCs connected to it must be on in order for the backups to take place, and the best time to run backups is when you’re not using the PCs; this usually means you have to leave all the PCs on when not in use, which is not something I typically do. However, Windows Home Server does offer the option to wake computers up from standby or hibernate to run scheduled backups.

Cost may also be a prohibitive factor for many. If you already have the hardware, the OEM software has a street price of about $150. If you go with the preconfigured hardware and software, I found prices ranging from $450 to $900, depending on the configuration. Finally, this is not a portable solution; if you’re forced to evacuate your house, for example because of fire or flood, you can’t easily pick this up and take it with you. You’d be wise to consider additional off-site backup. While it offers peace of mind as far as recovering from a hard drive failure or accidentally deleting files, it may not be the right disaster recovery solution.

Conclusion: While a Windows Home Server isn’t for everyone, if you have a multi-PC home network, or a home business, this is a robust backup solution. While it can be expensive, the extra features such as remote access and shared folders are added benefits to this choice. We’ll explore all the features of Windows Home Server in another review. If you’re looking for a basic backup strategy without bells and whistles, there are other options that we’ve reviewed that may better suit your needs.

Today the Live Search blog announced Search and Give.

After you sign in you simply select a charity or school. They will receive a donation of one penny each time you search the web. According to my web history, I’ve totaled 20,039 searches this year. Had my searches been through Search and Give, my charity or school would have received $200. Not bad!

http://www.searchandgive.com/

UAC is Microsoft’s User Account Control. It’s a sometimes nagging interface that can help to protect your computer. It has specific rules on what an administrator can and cannot do. When UAC is turned on, the software on your computer is running without administrative permissions. If you or your computer attempts to perform an action that requires administrative privileges, UAC pops up a window asking if you want to elevate to administrator so the action can be completed.

The good – if left on, UAC can be an extremely effective defense against many infections. Most recently proven in a paper by AV-Test.org when they tried to infect a Windows Vista test system with rootkits. Rootkits are the nastiest of infections that work by installing a system driver that hides other infections as they steal your information or ruin your operating system. With UAC turned on, AV-Test couldn’t get any of the rootkits to install. In order to install the rootkits, they had to disable UAC.

The bad – it’s sometimes annoying. Really annoying. Especially when initially setting up a computer. When you install a program, change network settings, and reconfigure many system settings, UAC will always pop up the window, sometimes multiple times, asking for permission.

There are a lot of things that Microsoft can do to improve UAC for your typical consumer. First, rethink what things require administrative permissions. Many things that UAC asks for permission for should not require those permissions. Next, place a time limit on the elevated privileges. Right now UAC promotes the user until the action is over, thus making it necessary to ask multiple times if the first action initiates a second or third action that requires the elevated privileges. Finally, grant the ability to set a timeframe for elevated privileges. If a user is going to be testing network settings or installing a bunch of software, they should be able to tell UAC to promote them for the next fifteen minutes, or half hour.

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 made improvements to reduce the number of UAC prompts. After initial setup, UAC prompts average fewer than two per session. If you’ve had UAC disabled on your system(s) it’s a good time to reconsider. If you decide to enable UAC, tell us about your experience in the comments.

With all things considered, Windows Vista UAC is certainly a step in the right direction. Sure, it can be annoying, and Microsoft can do some things to make it more user friendly. However, it’s far less annoying, and far less costly than getting your computer infected with a nasty rootkit. The results from AV-Test show just how effective UAC can be when left on, even against the nastiest of nasty infections. Is it worth it to click “Continue” every now and then?

I have used the Streets & Trips family of software for a few years now. I like the software. It’s always been easy to navigate, had good directions, some great features, and is easily configurable. Older versions of S&T were real heavy and burdensome on the system, but the more recent versions are lighter and run with a smaller footprint.

The Microsoft GPS is a small USB device. It plugs into any USB 1.0+ port on the computer, where it acquires the power it needs. It comes with a USB extension cord that has a suction cup attached so you can hang the unit from the windshield or you can stick it on the dashboard.

In testing, the GPS performed better than I had expected. When I noticed the suction cup on the USB cord, I thought the reciever would have to be hanging from the windshield. I decided to test this. Regardless of where I placed the receiver in the vehicle, it never lost signal. I tried it under the seat, in the glove compartment, in the center console, and even in the trunk. This wasn’t as much fun to test as I initially thought it would be, especially stopping every few miles to try another spot. Regardless, I was surprised by the results.

The operation of S&T is really simple. Start the program, start the GPS, enter a destination, and click Go. S&T does the rest. It configures a route based on your system settings from where you are currently to where you want to go.

During the trip, S&T tells you how much time you should have left. Unfortunately it doesn’t recalculate this time based on your current position. It’s based on where you start from, and how long it should take you to get to your destination. During my tests, I arrived at my destination as much as 15 minutes earlier than the stated arrival time. If you go off course and force it to recalculate a new path, it will recalculate the time. You can help get closer on your estimated time by setting your average driving speeds in the program.

As you drive, S&T gives you turn by turn audio directions. It warns you of impending course corrections, tells you how long you have to stay on the road you just turned on, informs you when you miss a turn or make an unexpected course change, and tells you when you arrive at your destination.

During my testing I purposefully made unplanned course changes and missed turns to see how S&T would react. Each time the computer audibly warned me of my mistake and told me that it was going to recalculate my route. S&T then automatically recalculated the route from where I was to the destination. This process usually took 15-45 seconds depending on the location. At times, the recalculations were merely instructions to go around the next block to get back on the original course. Other times it found completely new routes to the destination.

The only real drawback to using S&T as a GPS is that it relies on your laptop. If your laptop is slow or has bad audio or video you won’t get great results from the software. The audio on my laptop leaves something to be desired. In order to hear the voice tell me directions I had to have the radio turned down or off. Alternatively, if your notebook is large or heavy and your car is small, you may have a problem.

Overall Microsoft Streets and Trips 2008 with GPS Locator is well worth the money I paid for it. It’s simple to use, accurate, full of features, and reliable. If you are like me and you are going to take your laptop with you anyway, you might as well save the money and purchase this GPS versus going out and buying another piece of hardware.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars