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Install the most recent security updates and service packs for all Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint,Publisher, and so on).
Prevent Spyware Infections
Spyware is a general term describing sinister programs that sneak into your computer by tricking you ... Read review
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition is designed to meet the demands of customers who ... more
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E85-05683 Microsoft Windows XP Professional is designed for businesses of all sizes, and ... more
for individuals who demand the most from their computing experience. Windows XP Professional goes beyond the benefits of Windows XP Home with advanced capabilities...
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Windows XP Pro. OEM. SP2 Inc Lic & Manual & Media. OEM Microsoft products can only be ... more
sold (a) for refurbishing of PCs (b) to System Builders (c) additional services for Branded PCs or (d) to Sub-Distributors. Windows XP Professional delivers a relia...
Microsoft Windows XP Professional is the next version of the Windows operating system, ... more
which is designed for businesses of all sizes, and for individuals who demand the most from their computing experience. Windows XP Professional goes beyond the benef...
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Install, configure, and support Windows XP Professional with definitive technical guidance ... more
from the Microsoft Windows team and two industry veterans. This official RESOURCE KIT has been fully updated and revised - with coverage of Windows XP Service
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(+) Faster, good networking with other Windows machine, so far it has not crashed. (-) price, best to do a fresh install which will involve backup & restore of information
Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003 - for PC - English - Quantity: 1 - 5 clients, 20 device CALs, 5 user CALs, 5 device CALs, 20 users CALs - CD-ROM
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP2, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP1, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP1a - for PC - English - Quantity: 1, 3 - 1 user - CD-ROM
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Are you safe when you're online?
Advantages: no more slower machines or hangups or problems! Disadvantages: none....
...and service packs for all Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint,Publisher, and so on).
Prevent Spyware Infections
Spyware is a general term describing sinister programs that sneak into your computer by tricking you into installing them or by hiding in other programs you install. The dangers of spyware are that it can do the following:
Install a "keystroke logging" ... ...on your keyboard (including passwords and credit-card numbers)
Hijack your Internet browser and change its default homepage and/or search engine; track your Internet-surfing habits
Send your private information to hackers who can use it to commit identity theft, or to online marketers who will send you customized pop-up advertisements.
with all that technology and new softwares and websties these days, the chances of us being in danger by various critical online threats is very much increased. I just thought i'd share some important information which would actually help you reduce those chances to almost 95%. Viruses, spyware, hackers, data loss, or theft-these are just some of those dangers your computer faces these days.Protect your hardware and important files by carefully following these few essential tasks on your computer just for your own safety =) oh and btw i couldnt find the right topic for my post so i decided to put it in windows xp's topic because it is meant for XP users basically! and is definetly related to it in every way!
a) Manually Update Windows XP
To protect your computer from sinister digital threats like viruses, worms, spyware, and hackers, you must keep Windows updated with the most recent security patches and service packs. If you have not enabled the automatic-update feature of Windows XP, then you will have to download the patches manually. Follow these steps:
1. Open Internet Explorer. 2. In the address box, type: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com 3. Once the Windows Update website is opened, you might be asked to install a small program that will help the site "talk" to your computer. Depending on your version of Windows, click the Yes button or click the Install button. When this process is finished, the main page of the Windows Update site appears. 4. Depending on your version of Windows, click the Express button or Express install button. 5. The Windows Update website scans your computer to determine which security patches are missing. When the scan is finished, follow the on-screen instructions to download and automatically install the updates. It is recommended that you begin by downloading the service packs, which are critical collections of various patches and fixes. 6. Once the updates are installed, it is likely that you are asked to restart your computer. 7. After your computer reboots, return to the Windows Update website as many times as necessary until all possible security patches and service packs are downloaded and installed. 8. Turn on Windows XP's Automatic Updates feature as explained in the following fix to ensure that you never miss another critical update.
Note :-
Not all security patches, updates, or service packs can be downloaded at the same time. You may need to return to the Windows Update website several times to retrieve all of them.To guarantee that your computer is always updated with the most recent Windows security patches, updates, and service packs, turn on automatic updates.
b) Disable Unsafe Services
Windows XP has several Internet features that most home users or home-based businesses will never use.To give your computer an extra measure of protection from digital threats, you can disable some unneeded-and potentially unsafe-services. Follow these steps:
1. Click the Start button in the lower-left corner of Windows. 2. Click the Control Panel. 3. If the Control Panel is in category view, click the Performance and Maintenance category, and then click the administrative Tools icon. If the Control Panel is in classic view, simply double-click the Administrative Tools icon. 4. Double-click the Services icon. 5. A window opens. Using the scroll bar, scroll down until you see "Messenger", then double click it. 6. Another window opens. Click the Startup Type drop-down menu,then select Disabled. 7. Click the Apply button. 8. Click the OK button. 9. Return to the Services window, and then repeat the previous steps to disable the following services:
1. IIS Admin (This service is only available in the Professional Edition of Windows XP) 2. NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing 3. Remote Desktop Help Session Manager 4. Remote Registry (This service is only available in the Professional Edition of Windows XP) 5. Telnet (This service is only available in the Professional Edition of Windows XP)
c) Protect Your Computer from Viruses
To prevent infection from digital viruses, create some good habits by following all of these tips:
Do not open e-mail attachments that have a file extension of .exe,.scr, .vbs, or double file extensions like .txt.vbs. Beaware of opening any e-mail attachments or instant-message attachments sent from people you don't know-even if those attachments do not have a dangerous file extension. Do not open spam e-mail (selling products, offering free videos,pictures, or songs, and so on). Perform a virus scan on files before downloading or opening them. Perform a virus scan on e-mail attachments you think are safe to open. Do not install pirated software, because often it contains viruses. Do not download pirated music files or videos, because they too contain viruses. Do not click links sent to you in an instant message.
Antivirus Software
Please read my review on NOD32 anti virus which i have posted earlier on CIAO. It surely is the best anti-virus out there at this moment.
Block Worms from Invading Your Computer
Follow these tips to stop Internet worms from sneaking into your computer and causing chaos:
Most antivirus programs also scan for worms, so install a trusted, respected brand of antivirus software like NOD32 and keep it updated constantly. Download the most recent Windows patches, updates, and service packs. Turn on the Automatic Update feature of Windows to ensure that it automatically downloads and installs the latest Windows security fixes as soon as they are available. Beaware of opening e-mail attachments sent from people to you. Do not install pirated software. Install the most recent security updates and service packs for all Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint,Publisher, and so on).
Prevent Spyware Infections
Spyware is a general term describing sinister programs that sneak into your computer by tricking you into installing them or by hiding in other programs you install. The dangers of spyware are that it can do the following:
Install a "keystroke logging" program that allows a criminal to see everything you type on your keyboard (including passwords and credit-card numbers) Hijack your Internet browser and change its default homepage and/or search engine; track your Internet-surfing habits Send your private information to hackers who can use it to commit identity theft, or to online marketers who will send you customized pop-up advertisements.
How Does Spyware Infect a Computer?
There are numerous ways that spyware can sneak into your computer, including the following:
Internet advertisements:When you click on a malicious pop-up ad, spyware can be downloaded to your computer. File-sharing software: It hides inside programs used for illegally sharing MP3 music files or pirated movies.When you install the software, the spyware is installed at the same time. Pirated software: Illegal copies of software purchased on the street or downloaded from the Internet often contain spyware. Shareware and freeware: It can lurk inside inexpensive or free software available on the Internet from non-reputable vendors or persons. Fake spyware-removal programs: Believe it or not, some antispyware programs actually install spyware.To stay safe from this scam, only install spyware-removal software that has a solid, respected reputation. E-mail attachments: Just like a virus, spyware can be installed on your computer when you open an infected e-mail attachment. Hackers: A hacker who has already found a way into your computer courtesy of a virus, worm, or Trojan horse, can install spyware on your system.
Antispyware Programs
Currently no spyware-removal programs are perfect; all of them catch spyware that the others miss.Your best bet is to install two different programs and use them both to scan for and remove spyware. Antispyware programs fall into two categories:
Reactive and Proactive.
Reactive Antispyware Programs
These programs can remove spyware that already lurks on your computer, but they have little or no capabilities for preventing future infections. Often these programs can be downloaded for free, but give you the option of adding shields by paying a fee or by upgrading to a Pro version. Example softwares that you can use can be downloaded from:
1. Ad-Aware Free Version (http://www.lavasoftusa.com) 2. Spybot Search and Destroy (http://www.safernetworking.
Proactive Antispyware Programs
Along with removing spyware, a proactive program can prevent most spyware from sneaking into your computer by placing virtual shields over it. These shields can halt spyware installations, protect your Internet browser's homepage from being hijacked, prevent new bookmarks/favorites from being added to your Internet browser without your permission, block third-party tracking cookies, and much more. These proactive programs must be purchased from an Internet e-merchant or from a brick-and-mortar retail store:
Phishing (pronounced "fishing") is a scam that tricks people into revealing their private, personal information (like credit-card numbers and passwords). Originally, phishing was an e-mail scam in which criminals sent a fake "urgent" message that appeared to be from a respected company or financial institution. The message asked its recipients to verify or update their account information by clicking a link in the e-mail and visiting a special website. When the victims followed the instructions, the information they entered on the fake website was captured by the criminals and used to commit identity theft. In recent years, this crime has produced several sinister spin-offs. Now, phishing is used more as a term to refer to data-mining scams in general.Here are some tips to avoid phishing:
Don't respond to e-mail asking for private information, Instead, be proactive and call the bank or company and ask them whether they are trying to get in touch with you. Most financial institutions have toll-free phone numbers you can call (usually the numbers are listed on the back of your credit cards). Don't click on links in strange or unexpected e-mail: This is especially true of those that appear to be from financial institutions. Read your e-mail offline (disconnected from the Internet): This will prevent hostile code from being downloaded to your computer if you accidentally click a phishing link in an e-mail. For dial-up users, this is easy: simply log-off your internet service. For users of always-on, high-speed cable/DSL connections, you will need to turn on the "lock" feature of your software firewall to halt all inbound and outbound Internet activity. Don't click links inside Instant Messages: This is true regardless of whether or not the link was sent to you from someone on your "buddy" list of contacts. Never send your personal or financial information in an e-mail or instant message: Like credit-card numbers, social security numbers, bank-account numbers, passwords, user names, and so on. A normal e-mail or instant message does not have encryption protection, which means it could be intercepted by a criminal who could use your private information to commit identity theft. If you need to give important information to someone, call him or her on the telephone but only use a landline, because cell-phone calls can also be intercepted. Beware of telephone phishing: Do not respond to voicemails from companies asking you to call a special phone number to clear up information about your account. This could be phone phishing. Instead, call their central phone number and find out whether or not they really need to speak with you. Also, be suspicious of companies who call you out of the blue and ask you to verify information like your account number, password, PIN number, mother's maiden name, social-security number, age, home address, and so on. Don't tell them anything. Instead, hang up and call their central phone number. Install an anti-phishing toolbar: A few companies offer free software toolbars that can be added to your Internet browser to protect you from accidentally visiting phishing websites. Here are a few:
Computer cookies are small text files that store information about the websites you have visited and the things you did on those sites. Cookies come in two flavors: trustworthy-which assist and support your Internet usage and tracking which are used by Internet marketers to show you customized advertisements.To control the cookies that are placed on your computer, do the following:
1. Open Internet Explorer. 2. Click the Tools drop-down menu. 3. Select Internet Options. 4. A window opens. Click the Privacy tab. 5. Click the Advanced button. 6. Put a checkmark in the Override Automatic Cookie Handling box. 7. Under the First-party Cookies heading, click the Block button. 8. Put a checkmark in the Always Allow Session Cookies box. This allows websites to place a cookie on your computer that expires the moment you exit the site (which means the cookie cannot be used to track you). 9. Under the Third-party Cookies heading, click the Block button. 10. Click the OK button. 11. Now you should be back at the Privacy screen. Click the Sites button. 12. A window opens. In the Address of Web Site box, type the address of trustworthy websites that need cookies to function properly (Web e-mail services such as Hotmail, financial institutions such as your bank or credit-card company, e-merchants such as Amazon.com and eBay, and so on), and then click the Allow button. 13. Type the address of any websites you do not want to receive cookies from (online advertisers like doubleclick.net, gambling sites, and so on), and then click the Block button. 14. If you change your mind about a website and want to remove it from this list, simply highlight its name, click the Remove button, and then click OK. 15. When you are finished adding or removing websites to the list, click the OK button.
f) Delete Tracking Cookies
To protect your privacy, you should delete the tracking cookies lurking on your computer. Because it can be difficult to identify which cookies are tracking and which are trustworthy, the easiest thing to do is simply to wipe the plate clean by erasing all of your cookies at once. Follow these steps:
1. Open Internet Explorer. 2. Click the Tools drop-down menu. 3. Select Internet Options. 4. A window opens. Under the General tab, look for Temporary Internet Files. Underneath this, click the Delete Cookies button. 5. A message pops up and asks, "Delete all cookies in the Temporary Internet Files folder?" 6. Click the OK button. 7. If other users have a Windows account on your computer, have each of them log on to their account and repeat these steps.
g) Delete Index Files
Even if you cover your Internet tracks by deleting tracking cookies, some information related to them can be left behind in special indexes that have the file extension .dat.To scrub these index files clean, do the following:
1. Delete all of the cookies on your computer by following the steps in the previous menu "Delete Tracking Cookies." 2. Shut down your computer and restart it. After doing so, immediately press the F8 key on your keyboard several times untill the Windows Advanced Options Menu screen appears. 3. Use the up or down arrow on your keyboard to select Safe Mode with Command Prompt, and then press the Enter key. 4. The next screen displays Please Select the Operating System to Start. Assuming you only have Windows XP installed on your system, press the Enter key. If you have more than one operating system installed,use the up or down arrow on your keyboard to select Windows XP,and then press the Enter key. 5. Windows loads some software, which could take a minute or two. Depending on how your version of Windows is configured, a login screen or the Welcome Screen appears. If you see the login screen, type your account name and password (if you have one), and then press the Enter key. If you see the Welcome Screen, click the icon for the account labeled Administrator or an account that has administrative privileges, and then enter your password (if you have one). 6. A command prompt appears.Type CD\ and then press the Enter key. 7. Type del index.dat/s and then press the Enter key. 8. Windows will delete all of your .dat files, which could take a minute or two. 9. You are returned to the command prompt.Type shutdown -r to force your computer to automatically shut down and restart.
h) Create Strong Passwords
To keep Internet intruders from breaking into your computer, you must create strong passwords that are nearly impossible to crack. Here are some guidelines:
If you have a simple one-word password like computer, a high-tech thief could crack it in mere minutes. If you make the password more robust by adding numbers-like computer33-it might take the thief an extra 10 minutes to crack it. If your password is even more complex-like comPut3r55@$-the thief would have to work around the clock for days on end before he could come close to cracking it. Your password should have a minimum of six digits, with at least three of the following: lowercase letters, uppercase letters, numbers, and special characters. The easiest way to create a strong password is to develop a pass-phrase, which is a sentence you can easily remember. Use the first letter of each word in the pass-phrase to create a password. For example, the pass-phrase "Honk if you like computer geeks" becomes the password hiylcg.To make it even stronger, use a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters that look like actual letters. For example, hiylcg can be changed into h1yLcen stronger protection. Also change your passwords every six months.
This much should be enough for bringing down the chances of you getting owned by any of those online threats by almost 95%. I hope this review would be helpful for someone out there!
reviewme 25.09.2007 (25.09.2007)
Ciao members have rated this review on average:
very helpful
Review of Microsoft Windows XP Professional w/SP2 Complete package
Advantages: Easy booting, less crashes, much faster and yes user friendly Disadvantages: Dual boot becomes a problem
Windows XP Prfessional is an OS which works equally well for novices, enthusiasts and corporate users. True it has got a bit high system requirements like a Pentium II-300 or upper, at least 1.5 GB free HD space and a RAM of 128MB or up word yet I would say it is a necessary upgrade from Windows 95/98 or even for that matter from NT/2000.
It’s far more reliable much faster, safer and when you get used to it, very user friendly. Installation is easier ... ...requirements. The best part is that you have whole range of features which are really very help full.I really liked the fact that my digital camera can be directly hooked up into it, the expirence is worth the time spent even the movie maker, for that matter with it own movies can be created with video clips from the handy cam and to top it all the OS is very software friendly.
Even system crashes is far less frequent with Windows XP Professional. ...
roktimdutta 27.05.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Microsoft Windows XP Professional w/SP2 Complete package
Advantages: supports networks Disadvantages: bit slow on boot
windows xp has made alot of change to the world today as we know it it is used by over 7million people worldwide and about 18 million buisneses worldwide if you are are self employed or just want that little bit more kick to your computer the xp pro with sp2 is the one for you it includes features such as secure login core admin accounts and most of all easy to use and also because of its stability and power it also has the ability to run on servers ... ...not for home use unless for business there is no law against it but if you want something for home then i reccomend you read my review on xp home not this one this one is aimed at business people who need more that home computing i am purticualy proud of the security features xp pro has to offer such as making the computer forget your name at logon so if say your computer was stolen the name wouldn't show up you would have to type it in it also has ...
techieboy66 15.02.2009
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Microsoft Windows XP Professional w/SP2 Complete package
Advantages: Easy to Use Disadvantages: IIS not installed with OS, security holes
I have been using Microsoft Windows XP Professional since I got my new computer in 2002. I got the OEM version with my computer but that did not work when I tried to install it so I had to buy a new copy.
Personally, I think the price that is charged for it is a complete rip off. It has many security holes which are exploitable by hackers and the Automatic u[dates in which it insists on having enabled drive me crazy!
The layout is very good and ... ...If you want to use Microsoft Windows XP Pro on a server computer you have to manually install IIS [Internet Information Services] as it is not installed when the Operating system is.
It comes with some excellent features however so don't let the above criticisms put you off. Internet Explorer is installed with it and this is a good browser. Outlook Express is also installed and that is good for any type of e-mail server [pop3, exchange, imap etc] ...
xsamix 27.10.2006
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Microsoft Windows XP Professional w/SP2 Complete package
Advantages: simple, fast, reliable, easy to install on hard drive, easy to install another compatible software Disadvantages: XP haven't a good boot manager, like Ubuntu Linux has.It is vulnerable on the Internet ( viruses).
...for multimedia, editing documents( with Microsoft Office or a free software like Open Office, Abi Word etc),Internet surfing, playing games. OK,XP it is not for cooking or something like that, but it is 100 % an operating system. Windows XP it is very simple to install. After boot sequence, I was directed step by step and the process was relatively short(40 minutes, because my PC wasn't so quick, I had a Pentium III).One simple problem-I used dual ... ...good boot manager, it was not possible to recognise Linux.I was forced to install first Windows XP, after that Ubuntu, because Linux has a very useful boot manager(which recognise Windows). The instructions are OK, it's very simple to use them when you have a problem.Generally speaking, you will not have problems wit XP. Windows XP is fast , intuitive and very easy to use. The user interface is very clear structured and very simple. I used , of course, ...
loveandroses 24.05.2009
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Microsoft Windows XP Professional w/SP2 Complete package
Advantages: Fast and stable Disadvantages: required more resource
Since Microsoft makes the operating system labeled Windows, I always use for my computer. Made before the windows version 3.1 I use a DOS (Disk Operating System) as my computer operating system. I always follow the developments and updated version. After the Windows version 3.1, Microsoft makes the Windows version 3.1.1, which supports the network (Local Area Network). Stations windows version 3.1.1, Microsoft created a new version of a more sophisticated ... ...Now I am using Microsoft made the Microsoft Windows XP Professional w/SP2 Complete package for my computer operating system. This operating system is very stable and feature many more perfect than the previous version. Support the network and network security is very good. Although the resource requires a more sophisticated version of the windows before, but this version is very fast in the work. Windows is designed to support business activities ...
rotz 29.11.2008
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Microsoft Windows XP Professional w/SP2 Complete package
Product Information for "Microsoft Windows XP Professional w/SP2 Complete package" »
Operating system
License Type
Complete package
License Qty
1 user
License Pricing
Standard
Media
CD-ROM
Package Type
Retail
System requirements
Min Processor Type
Intel Pentium - 233 MHz
Min RAM Size
64 MB
Min Hard Drive Space
1.5 GB
Peripheral / Interface Devices
Mouse or compatible device, CD-ROM, SVGA monitor
Manufacturer's product description
Microsoft Windows XP Professional is the next version of the Windows operating system, which is designed for businesses of all sizes, and for individuals who demand the most from their computing experience. Windows XP Professional goes beyond the benefits of Windows XP Home Edition with advanced capabilities designed specifically to optimize productivity using the latest advancements in the digital world. Built on the solid foundation of Windows 2000, Windows XP Professional provides improved reliability, security, performance and ease of use, setting the new standard in efficient and dependable computing.Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) provides an enhanced security infrastructure that defends against viruses, worms, and hackers, along with increased manageability and control for IT professionals and an improved experience for users. By alerting you to potentially unsafe attachments, Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) helps guard your computer from viruses that can spread through Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, and Windows Messenger. SP2 helps protect your private information by applying the security settings that guard your PC to the files and content downloaded using Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer download monitoring and the Internet Explorer Information Bar warn you about potentially harmful downloads and give you the option to block files that could be malicious. Internet Explorer Pop-Up Blocker makes browsing the Internet more enjoyable by helping you reduce the unwanted ads and content that pop up when you're browsing the Web. The powerful, built-in Windows Firewall is now turned on by default. This helps protect Windows XP against viruses and worms that can spread over the Internet. The new Windows Security Center allows you to easily view your security status and manage key security settings in one convenient place. With SP2 you can get the latest updates easily. Enhancements to Windows XP's Automatic Updates feature make it even easier to access Windows updates. Plus, new technology has been added to help dial-up customers download updates more efficiently. Improvements to Outlook Express help reduce unwanted e-mail by limiting the possibility of your e-mail address being validated by potential spammers. The new Add-On Manager in Internet Explorer lets you easily view and control add-ons to reduce the potential for crashes and enjoy a more trouble-free browsing experience. SP2 improves wireless support and simplifies the process of discovering and connecting to wireless networks in your home or on the road.
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