Windows XP SP3 is released for download

Microsoft, in their wisdom, have made Service Pack 3 (SP3) available for download for Windows XP. Many will see this as the last SP for XP, with the eventual removal of retail packs of XP expected at the end of June 2008.

There is no real need to worry though, as the majority of our users buy an OEM version of XP pre-loaded onto their PC, and these will be available for quite a while to come yet.

SP3 includes all previously released XP updates, including security updates and hotfixes. It also includes a small number of new enhancements which will not affect the way most users work at all. These additional updates are really to permit those who have Windows Server 2008 to have some of the new capabilities on their legacy machines (things like Network Access Protection, etc).

Microsoft ensure that they mention that this SP3 will not be bringing new versions of Windows functionality to XP (eg Vista), but they will provide updates for things like IE6 and IE7 according to which you have installed on your PC.

You can easily install SP3 by downloading and installing from:

• Microsoft Download Centre
• Windows Update

Please note:

• SP3 is cumulative, so will deploy on top of SP1 and SP2
• XP SP3 supports the same languages as XP currently does

Normal deployment/installation has been maintained, so just a matter of download & install really.

Well, we have just had an email from Xobni that the beta-version of their Outlook plug-in is now freely available for anyone to download. It was on an invite-only beta release for the past seven months, but this has now been completed.

Xobni is an excellent pice of kit, making the handling of our emails so much better. It boasts the following, and we have found it to be great during our testing period:

• Lightning fast email search
• Email analytics
• Inbox Navigation by ‘people’
• Scheduling functionality
• Threaded conversations
• Quick attachment discovery
• Phone number extraction from emails

The software is only available for Windows XP or Vista, and will only work with Outlook 2003 or 2007. They say that they intend to push this out for other email clients in the near future though, so worth keeping an eye on it.

Their site to read more, or to download the software, is www.xobni.com
(beware though, their servers are likely to be quite busy in the next few days)

It never ceases to amaze me the lack of priority people give to a decent backup routine. The physical numbers who have no backup at all (the

Having heard from a valued customer this morning that he had a break-in at home over the weekend, and his laptop stolen, we wanted to remind all our readers of the need to take some precautionary measures to protect themselves.

Continue reading “Laptop Security”

Well, the long-awaited Vista Service Pack 1 is finally here, and people have been herded into two camps - those who have downloaded it immediately, and those who are waiting to see how it pans out before taking the plunge.

Vista SP1 reportedly includes 551 bug fixes, along with performance, reliability, and compatibility enhancements.

Some of the major brand name test labs in the US have stated that it is safe to use and it will definitely improve performance, but this is a very sweeping and general statement and not what all of our users are finding out.

Continue reading “Microsoft Windows Vista SP1 - Should you install it?”

There are a number of ‘powertoys’ available for Windows XP, which are not on general release, but can help users with some of the little tasks they might have from time to time.

These powertoys are available to download (along with some additional information) from Microsoft HERE.

The toys we find most useful are:

1) Image Resizer

This does exactly what it says on the tin. If you have an image which you need to resize, this tool allows you to right-click the image and resize it easily. There are a few standard size settings, but also a ‘custom’ setting for specific sizes. Useful for those with ecommerce websites, ebay resellers, or even for avatars on forums.

2) RAW Image Thumbnailer and Viewer

This is especially useful for those of us interested in photography. It is another simple tool which allows the user to work with digital RAW files in Windows (much the same as you can with JPEG, etc), allowing thumbnails, previews, printing, etc.

3) HTML Slideshow Wizard

This is a very useful tool, allowing you to create an HTML slideshow of your selected pictures - ready to be placed on your website.

4) ALT-TAB Replacement

This is an excellent little tool, replacing the standard ALT-TAB showing an icon, and allowing you to see a preview of the page with the icon.

Most people will be familiar with AVG Free Anti-Virus software, but not so many seem to be aware that AVG have a full suite of products, with a complete Internet Security package. Version 8.0 of this Internet Security package has been released, and promises to be the best one yet. Download available HERE.

Continue reading “AVG Internet Security 8.0″

We all notice that our battery in our favourite laptop becomes less and less useful as our machine ages. We have compiled a list of 15 tips to help you extend your battery life to its full potential.

Continue reading “Getting the most from your Laptop Battery”

I get the question posed to me on a regular basis…..

“I tried to uninstall Norton, but the normal Add/Remove Programs doesn’t seem to work, what should I do?”

The answer is simple, the only true way to rid yourself of Norton is to download and run the Norton Removal Tool, supplied free online by Symantec themselves.

Download HERE

Ensure you know what version of Norton you have on your PC, and download the version of the tool which applies to you. It is quite a small download, but may take a little while to actually complete the removal task.

We have created a downloadable ‘Desktop PC Buyers Guide‘ in PDF format, which is free to download, and might provide you, the user, with a little guidance prior to making that all-important purchasing decision.

Continue reading “FREE Desktop PC Buyers Guide”