• Every time you download or install a new game, application, or software update, you make changes to your computer. Sometimes that change may make your system unstable. Have you ever wanted to go back to the way it was? With System Restore, you can.
• Total Uninstall monitors any changes that are made to your system during installation of a new software product. The program allow you to perform a complete uninstall without having to rely on the supplied uninstall program which may leave files or changes behind
• SynchPst synchronizes Outlook folders [all types] on two or more computers without the need for Microsoft Exchange
• Have you noticed slow downs, lock ups and blue screens on your new Windows XP computer? There's a good chance that there's nothing wrong with Windows XP or your computer hardware.
• Dealing with spam costs time and money. It's annoying and more likely to contain a virus than an email from someone you know and trust. Frankly, we're sick of it! To keep email usable, we depend on MailWasher Pro to kill the spam before it reaches our inbox.
• New, "more insidious" phishing scam is triggered when unsuspecting users open an E-mail.
• After you install an earlier version of the Windows operating system on a Microsoft Windows Vista-based computer in a dual-boot configuration, you may experience one of the following issues:

• When you start Windows by using a regular startup, several programs start automatically and run in the background. These programs may include third-party antivirus programs and system utility programs. These programs may interfere when you install, run, or use a game or program such as Microsoft Flight Simulator or Microsoft Streets and Trips. If this occurs, you can use a clean boot procedure to prevent these programs from starting automatically. You must be logged on as an administrator or as a member of the Administrators group to complete a clean boot procedure. If the computer is connected to a network, the network policy settings may also prevent you from completing the clean boot procedure.

• Your web browser's built-in privacy functions will not protect you as much information can not be removed manually.
• You can keep private data private on a Windows XP Professional computer by using NTFS permissions.
• You can improve Windows XP performance by disabling unneeded services. But how do you determine which services are needed?
• How to Allow All Users Access to an Installed Program? The problem is that when other users log onto the same computer, they can't find the program in their Start menu!
• If your wonderring how to control who can access files in your personal folders and if you've been wondering how to keep people out of your stuff, then check this out:
• Some Spyware programs often run completely hidden - neither visible in the task list nor the standard startup areas
• The most common type of firewall is the NAT device. NAT stands for Network Address Translation. While firewall 'purists' don't consider NAT devices, in and of themselves, to be true firewalls, these devices do protect your internal network from direct attack from Internet intruders. Most firewalls, whether they are hardware (like SOHO routers and dedicated Internet connection sharing devices) or software (like the Windows XP Internet Connection Services) provide NAT services.
• If you get error messages indicating that the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) service is corrupted, you may not be able to view network or connection properties, view system information or even connect to the Internet. You can force Windows to recreate the WMI repository by performing the following steps.
• When speed counts, the keyboard is still king. Almost all the actions and commands you can perform with a mouse you can perform faster using combinations of keys on your keyboard.
• Ever wonder what's going on under the hood of your network connections? There are a number of arcane, difficult to use command line tools, but who really wants to mess with those?
• If your computer does not belong to a Windows domain, you can do yourself a big favor by creating a password reset disk.
• Windows XP Professional Edition allows you to encrypt files so that no one but you can see the contents of the file.
• If you're running a small network, you can speed up access to shared folders and files on other computers by creating an LMHOSTS file.
• PPPoE (Point to Point Protocol over Ethernet) acts like a dial-up connection over an Ethernet link. ISPs have implemented this protocol to help them meter service.
• You can create a keyboard shortcut to open a much-used program if the program has a shortcut on the desktop and/or in the Start menu. Here's how:
• What is this ~ file? The file appearing on your desktop with the filename ~, commonly known as a tilde, is a backup of your Windows Address Book.
• To run the Ipconfig.exe utility, at a command prompt
• In Windows Vista, the built-in administrator account is disabled by default. In previous versions of Windows, an Administrator account was automatically created during Out-of-Box-Experience (OOBE) with a blank password. An Administrator account with a blank password is a security risk. To better protect the system, the built-in Administrator account is disabled by default in all clean installations and upgrades of Windows Vista.

• The User Account Control feature in Windows Vista has been known to drive some people over the edge with frustration. If you find it annoying, you might be tempted to turn it off. It helps to understand what UAC is actually doing on your behalf and how you can tone down its hard edges without sacrificing its protection.

• How to use Vista’s built-in tools to find and fix the problems that stand between you and an excellent Vista experience

Where IT-Expert on Call shares knowledge and experience, suggestions to solve problems, and compatibility issues.

Where technology problems and/or workarounds are addressed, how to, what to, why to, are provided.

We often give a tip or trick that requires you to edit the Registry. It's always a good idea to back up the registry before making any change. The fastest way to do this is to back up the Registry key to which you're going to make changes.

IT-Expert on Call recommends that you Buy Registry First Aid Platinum [linked for information and purchase], a professional grade Registry editor.

Warning: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. We cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

Special Note: If you are working on a Corporate Desktop - it may be locked due to your corporate security policy -- consequently you may not be able apply many of the Tips, Hints and/or Tweaks found here. Most Corporate Desktops are prevented from making changes of any kind.