Windows Tutorials

Microsoft's Free Spyware Protection Software: Windows Defender

2006-03-22T07:42:00.000-08:00

Microsoft has come out with its Beta2 of its Spyware Removal tool, it has been renamed to Windows Defender (but its still free!).

What will this software do for me?

Windows Defender will find and remove spyware from your computer. The software constantly updates itself so it can combat the latest versions of the spyware, making your internet browsing that much safter.

Other benifits and improvements are:

new scanning engine
multiple language support
support for Windows XP Profoessional x64 Edition
spyware detection is quick and easy
easy to operate and remove infections on your computer
new virus threats are stopped quickly as everyone helps make this software more 'informed'
automatically stays up to date by automatically downloading updates of virus definitions to your computer

Click here to Download Windows Defender.

Microsoft Releases a Malicious Software Removal Tool

2006-03-22T07:29:00.000-08:00

This tool will check to see if your computer has been infected for malicious software (example: Blaster, Sasser and MyDoom). If these malicious software are found on your computer, it will remove it. This tool is constantly updated on the Tuesday of each month so please check back at this link and download the updates.

The Malicious Software Removal tool can be downloaded here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=ad724ae0-e72d-4f54-9ab3-75b8eb148356&displaylang=en

The following Viruses and Worms are removed by the software tool:

Malicious software family
Tool version
Current Severity Rating
Win32/Berbew (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Berbew)
January 2005 (V 1.0)
Low
Win32/Doomjuice (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Doomjuice)
January 2005 (V 1.0)
Low
Win32/Gaobot (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Gaobot)
January 2005 (V 1.0)
Moderate
Win32/MSBlast (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/MSBlast)
January 2005 (V 1.0)
Moderate
Win32/Mydoom (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Mydoom)
January 2005 (V 1.0)
Low
Win32/Nachi (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Nachi)
January 2005 (V 1.0)
Low
Win32/Sasser (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Sasser)
January 2005 (V 1.0)
Low
Win32/Zindos (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Zindos)
January 2005 (V 1.0)
Low
Win32/Korgo (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Korgo)
February 2005 (V 1.1)
Low
Win32/Netsky (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Netsky)
February 2005 (V 1.1)
Moderate
Win32/Randex (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Randex)
February 2005 (V 1.1)
Low
Win32/Zafi (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Zafi)
February 2005 (V 1.1)
Low
Win32/Bagle (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Bagle)
March 2005 (V 1.2)
Moderate
Win32/Bropia (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Bropia)
March 2005 (V 1.2)
Low
Win32/Goweh (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Goweh)
March 2005 (V 1.2)
Low
Win32/Sober (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Sober)
March 2005 (V 1.2)
Low
Win32/Sobig (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Sobig)
March 2005 (V 1.2)
Low
Win32/Hackdef** (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=win32/hackdef)
April 2005 (V 1.3)
Low
Win32/Mimail (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=win32/mimail)
April 2005 (V 1.3)
Low
Win32/Rbot (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=win32/rbot)
April 2005 (V 1.3)
Moderate
Win32/Sdbot (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Sdbot)
May 2005 (V 1.4)
Moderate
WinNT/Ispro (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=WinNT/Ispro)
May 2005 (V 1.4)
Moderate
Win32/Kelvir (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Kelvir)
June 2005 (V 1.5)
Low
Win32/Lovgate (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Lovgate)
June 2005 (V 1.5)
Moderate
Win32/Mytob (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Mytob)
June 2005 (V 1.5)
Moderate
Win32/Spybot (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Spybot)
June 2005 (V 1.5)
Moderate
Win32/Hacty (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Hacty)
July 2005 (V 1.6)
Low
Win32/Optix (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Optix)
July 2005 (V 1.6)
Low
Win32/Optixpro (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Optixpro)
July 2005 (V 1.6)
Low
Win32/Purstiu (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Purstiu)
July 2005 (V 1.6)
Low
Win32/Wootbot (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Wootbot)
July 2005 (V 1.6)
Moderate
Win32/Bagz (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Bagz)
August 2005 (V 1.7)
Low
Win32/Dumaru (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Dumaru)
August 2005 (V 1.7)
Low
Win32/Spyboter (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Spyboter)
August 2005 (V 1.7)
Low
Win32/Zotob.A (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Worm:Win32/Zotob.A)
August 2005 A (V 1.7.1)
Low
Win32/Zotob.B (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Worm:Win32/Zotob.B)
August 2005 A (V 1.7.1)
Low
Win32/Zotob.C (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Worm:Win32/Zotob.C)
August 2005 A (V 1.7.1)
Low
Win32/Zotob.D (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Worm:Win32/Zotob.D)
August 2005 A (V 1.7.1)
Low
Win32/Zotob.E (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Worm:Win32/Zotob.E)
August 2005 A (V 1.7.1)
Low
Win32/Bobax.O (http://www.microsoft.com/security/encyclopedia/details.aspx?name=Win32/Bobax.O@mm)
August 2005 A (V 1.7.1)
Low
Win32/Esbot.A (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Worm:Win32/Esbot.A)
August 2005 A (V 1.7.1)
Low
Win32/Rbot.MA (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=backdoor:Win32/Rbot.MA)
August 2005 A (V 1.7.1)
Low
Win32/Rbot.MB (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=backdoor:Win32/Rbot.MB)
August 2005 A (V 1.7.1)
Low
Win32/Rbot.MC (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=backdoor:Win32/Rbot.MC)
August 2005 A (V 1.7.1)
Low
Win32/Bobax (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Bobax)
September 2005 (V 1.8)
Low
Win32/Esbot (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Esbot)
September 2005 (V 1.8)
Low
Win32/Gael (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Gael)
September 2005 (V 1.8)
Moderate
Win32/Yaha (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Yaha)
September 2005 (V 1.8)
Low
Win32/Zotob (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Zotob)
September 2005 (V 1.8)
Low
Win32/Antinny (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Antinny)
October 2005 (V 1.9)
Moderate
Win32/Gibe (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Gibe)
October 2005 (V 1.9)
Low
Win32/Mywife (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Mywife)
October 2005 (V 1.9)
Low
Win32/Wukill (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Wukill)
October 2005 (V 1.9)
Moderate
Win32/Bugbear (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Bugbear)
November 2005 (V 1.10)
Moderate
Win32/Codbot (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Codbot)
November 2005 (V 1.10)
Moderate
Win32/Mabutu (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Mabutu)
November 2005 (V 1.10)
Moderate
Win32/Opaserv (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Opaserv)
November 2005 (V 1.10)
Low
Win32/Swen (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Swen)
November 2005 (V 1.10)
Low
Win32/IRCBot (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/IRCBot)
December 2005 (V 1.11)
Moderate
Win32/Ryknos (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Ryknos)
December 2005 (V 1.11)
Low
WinNT/F4IRootkit (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=WinNT/F4IRootkit)
December 2005 (V 1.11)
Moderate
Win32/Bofra (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Bofra)
January 2006 (V 1.12)
Low
Win32/Maslan (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Maslan)
January 2006 (V 1.12)
Moderate
Win32/Parite (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Parite)
January 2006 (V 1.12)
Moderate
Win32/Alcan (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Alcan)
February 2006 (V 1.13)
Moderate
Win32/Badtrans (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Badtrans)
February 2006 (V 1.13)
Low
Win32/Eyeveg (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Eyeveg)
February 2006 (V 1.13)
Moderate
Win32/Magistr (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Magistr)
February 2006 (V 1.13)
Low
Win32/Atak (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Atak)
March 2006 (V 1.14)
Moderate
Win32/Torvil (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Torvil)
March 2006 (V 1.14)
Moderate
Win32/Zlob (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37020&name=Win32/Zlob)
March 2006 (V 1.14)
Moderate

Updating Microsoft Windows on your computer

2006-03-20T21:02:00.000-08:00

If you have microsoft windows 98, 2000 or XP you can update your windows by:

Go to

Cleaning your TEMP folder

2006-03-17T12:36:00.000-08:00

To increase your windows operating systems performance, clear your TEMP folder out periodically. The TEMP folder may get very large depending on what % of the computers hard drive will be allocated to it, and as a result your computer may appear to be very slow after some time.

To clear your TEMP directory:

Windows 2000 or XP

Delete all the files in your TEMP folder. The temp folder is located at c:\document and settings\Your_User_Name\Local Settings\Temp (please replace 'Your_User_Name' with your username

Backing Up your Windows Partition

2006-03-16T12:01:00.000-08:00

Backing up your hard drive is vital for those of you who don't want your years of files/data lost. In my previous article I wrote about installing windows on a seperate partition and creating yet another partition for your applications and data. I will now tell you how to easily keep a backup of your second partition (applications + data).

Buy a 2nd hard drive and install it on your computer
using the XCOPY command to copy the files from your 2nd partition to your second hard drive. Example: XCOPY d:\ h:\ /s /y /c /d /r /i /h

D: your 2nd partition drive letter

H: your 2nd hard drive used for backup

/s copies all subdirectories

/y doesn't prompt for overwriting

/c keeps going during an error

/d copies changed files only

/r copies read only files

/i assumes destination must be a directory when it doesn't exist

/h hidden files are also copied

Note: The first time you run this command all files will be backed up and this may take some time depending on how many files there are. On subsequent backups because the the /d switch only the files that have changed will be backed up.

Remember that you computer can become curropted from many sources like viruses, your hard drive gets corrupted etc. Everyone should have a disaster recovery plan for their computers, and with hard drive prices so low you really have no excuse!

Installing Windows XP or 2000

2006-03-16T11:51:00.000-08:00

Here are some suggestions for installing windows XP/ 2000.

The first thing to notice is personally I install the operating system on one partition, while the applications and data on another partition.
create a small partition of about 8 GIGS (FAT32 is ideal if you want to recover from file curroption)
boot your computer from a floppy drive that will give you access to your CD ROM (see: http://www.bootdisk.com/ for a bootdisk with cd-rom drivers)
create a folder on your c: drive called windowsxp
copy the entire windows installation CD over to the folder c:/windowsxp (the dos command to copy the files are: xcopy d:\ c:\windowsxp /s note: d:\ is your cd-rom drive)
once the files are copied, head over to the c:\windowsxp folder and find the i386 install folder and run winnt
follow the onscreen instructions to install windows xp or windows 2000

Windows XP

2006-03-15T17:30:00.000-08:00

Windows XP was codenamed Whistler and shortly was renamed to Microsoft Windows XP. XP comes in 2 major versions:

Home Edition (Full and Upgrade)
Professional (Full and Upgrade)

Windows Operation System Requirements:

Computer:
100% IBM Compatible
Processor:
233 MHz or faster processor
Memory:
64MB RAMRecommend 128MB
Drives:
1.5GB Hard Disk spaceCD-ROM or DVD Drive
Sound:
Sound Card recommended
Video:
SVGA Video Card
Controls:
Keyboard / Mouse