Infopackets

Infopackets contributor Keith Greenhalf writes:
Is Microsoft spying on you?
The Redmond-based company will soon release a major update to its ‘Windows Genuine Advantage’ (WGA) program. The update will include an alert mechanism that informs users if they are using a pirated copy of Windows software. 1
Once installed, the Windows Genuine Advantage program beams popup notifications directly […]

Infopackets Contributor
Bill Lindner writes:
Earlier this month, Microsoft released a series of critical patches that affect the way that Internet Explorer handles Web pages that use ActiveX controls.
Microsoft’s $521 Million Dollar Patch
To recap: In 2004 Microsoft lost a patent lawsuit on a method for embedding and invoking interactive applications in Web browsers […]

Infopackets Contributor David Andrew writes:
In 2003, a federal court ruled that Microsoft must pay $521 million to a Chicago-based Eolas Technologies company and the University of California. (Source: cnet.com)
Eolas sued Microsoft on the basis that the software giant infringed upon its patent that allows web browsers to embed and execute interactive programs - what we […]

Gazette reader John Doe writes:
Dear Dennis, I found your Web site through Google when searching for eBay and SquareTrade. Question: we are considering buying [HIGHLY DESIRABLE / RIDICULOUSLY LOW-PRICED PRODUCT X] from [COUNTRY Y] through eBay.
The deal sounds too good to be true.
eBay lists the seller with high ratings and there’s plenty of good […]

The world of ‘the Internet’ versus ‘computer users’ (realized as separate entities) is amazing, but I’ve found that attitudes on both sides tend to polarize folks.
For example, you have The Browser Wars: Internet Explorer vs Netscape with Firefox as the latest Mozilla contender and Opera watching from the wings with an aloof cultured shrug; or […]

Infopackets contributor Douglas Godbey writes:
Every once in a while, things pop up in the news - techie types of things - that makes the old crystal ball start glowing.
Recently, I came across an article in which Samsung announced the development of 16 GB (GigaByte) Flash chips. Flash chips are persistent memory devices that can take […]

Gazette reader Windy H. writes:

Dear Dennis,
I keep important information (such as credit card numbers) stored on my PC. The sensitive information, however, is disguised in such a way that if someone were to ‘break in’ to my PC, they would never realize that it is my credit card number.
Question: I always go back to […]

Recall…
Back in August of 2004, Gazette reader Marylin W. inquired about a program capable of reporting any changes to an IP address (see: E-mail IP address change?). Such a utility would be especially useful if your IP address changes frequently and you need to connect to your home computer from a remote location (for example).
Gazette […]

Die-hard Gazette reader Paul B. writes:

Dear Dennis,

I have been a faithful subscriber to your newsletter for a few years now. While I immensely enjoy reading your articles (especially the software reviews), I am constantly second-guessing myself as to which utilities *I* need to keep my system running smoothly.

As a newbie, I would like to know […]

I’ve only been awake for a few hours, and the day just keeps getting better.
At around 10 o’clock in the morning, UPS delivered my 24″ LCD Flat Screen monitor (model 2405FPW) directly from Dell Canada. I’ve been waiting - and waiting! - for it to go on sale. And it was by a complete stroke […]

Gazette reader ‘Joanna’ writes:

Dear Dennis,

I have installed a 120 gigabyte (GB) hard drive in my computer. The 120 gigabyte drive has been split into two entities: the C drive is 15.5 GB large and contains Windows XP plus all my installed programs; the D drive is the remaining 104 GB and contains a few downloaded […]

Gazette reader Mike F. writes:

Dear Dennis,

I have been reading your articles for quite a while and now I have a situation of my own and am hoping that you can help. The problem is that when I click a link to download a file, there are no options for me to choose where I can […]

I am simply overwhelmed from the response to last week’s posting, “Editors Wanted!”
To be quite honest, I was expecting no more than a handful of folks to volunteer their help; to my surprise, however, there were well over 100 volunteer e-mails in my inbox only a few hours after the post was published on […]

Over the weekend I received a handful of interesting comments from readers concerning the ‘controversy‘ over Ashampoo and Magic Defrag.

If I told you that I sat behind a computer and that my job was to pump out 15 articles per week to a quarter million users - all the while receiving a relentless onslaught of joyful comments and questions from my subscribers, would you believe me?
A wishful thought.
Gazette reader ‘Heriberto’ remarks:

Hi, Dennis, no offense […]

Gazette reader ‘Holy Hal’ writes:

Dear Dennis,

I am, at best, an intermediate when it comes to computers - and I certainly do appreciate all the effort you put into your newsletter! With that aside, my question for you today is in regard to backups. I have Windows 2000 Professional, and I would like to back up […]

I’ve just received wind that Acronis has released Disk Director Suite version 10 - the perfect companion to the extremely popular Acronis True Image (disk imaging backup software)!
Who is Acronis, you ask?

Gazette reader Michel S. writes:

Dear Dennis,

First, thank you for this very informative and welcoming Web site. My question today is in regard to a corrupt DVD disc. After having burned some of my favorite downloaded files to DVD disc (using the ‘D-Well’ brand blank DVD), some files appear to be OK, but part of the […]

Gazette reader Jamie T. from the UK writes:

Dear Dennis,

When I hover my mouse pointer over a window, it automatically brings that window to the front. I don’t understand why this happening all of a sudden. I can’t seem to find any settings in the Control Panel where I can stop the mouse from stealing focus. […]

Gazette reader Dan R. writes:

Dear Dennis,

After reviewing yesterday’s article entitled, "Play .JPG on DVD (Picture / Photo CD)?", it prompted me to ask a related question about CD and DVD data recovery.

My situation is this: a little while back I created a CD full of important photos. I lent the disc to a friend who […]