I was contacted a few weeks back by Laplink. They gave me a free license of their PC Mover to try out.

Usually, I throw these requests away, but I have used various utilities from Laplink since the early 90s (Anyone remember those Laplink cables!?), and I really like this company. Still…it is a risk sending me something, since if I think it is crap I will say so (Especially since they sell remote control products that compete with ours!).

Essentially the software allows you to move your applications, settings, and user accounts from one computer to another. The cool part is you can move your XP system to your brand spanking new Windows 7 machine.

I did not have the time to try it out when they sent me the license, so I fired off an email to my friend Brett, and told him to report back.

He told me: “Works great, but it did have trouble moving my printers and secured content”

This is totally expected. It can move your apps and settings from XP to Windows 7, but it is not magic. If you have apps or drivers that are not Windows 7 compatible, it is still not going to work when you make the move. In addition, copy protected movies, music and files are going to stop working too. With applications like iTunes, you can easily fix this by re-authorizing the content for the new machine.

I wanted to do a writeup to talk about what Brett found, so I needed to do my own test and take some screen shots at the same time. Laplink was kind enough to give me an additional license to test.

This week is Thanksgiving here in the states, it was a perfect time to move my Dad’s computer from XP, to his new Windows 7 laptop.

Overall, the process is very simple. You first start with the new computer. It takes a snapshot to figure out what it does not need to move

It will scan through your registry, and create a snapshot file to be read by the old computer.

On the old computer, you can decide what user accounts to move to the new machine

And the applications you want to transfer

It has quite a few options for the way you move the settings:

In my case, I just used the storage option, since I had a large external hard drive connected to the PC.

It spent 20 or 30 minutes doing its business, and completed with a moving van file.

I brought the file over to the new machine, and about 30 minutes later it had all the settings and applications moved over.

Now again, it was not perfect. But this is really a compatibility issue with drivers and applications. I still had to go out and find the proper printer drivers. I suggest you uncheck any printer support applications when you make your transfer….those act real funky when the driver is missing.

All in all it saved me a ton of time, I was able to transfer a boat load of apps, without the pain of re-installing. After a few tweaks to the printer drivers, and removing a few old programs that no longer worked – the machine was working great.

Take a look at it at http://www.laplink.com/pcmover

W32/Magania.AZHA Trojan Known Files » olhrwef.exe, ej10fkdo.bat

W32/Magania.AZHA is a trojan. The trojan will infect Windows systems.
This Trojan Copies its file(s) to Windows\System32 and root of windows installed folder as hidden files or active non-hidden files.

W32/Magania.AZHA Trojan information updated on October 17, 2009.
Other names of W32/Magania.AZHA Trojan:
W32/Magania.AZHA Trojan is also known as Trojan-GameThief.Win32.Magania.azha, Worm.Taterf.AGL, Worm:Win32/Taterf.B.
Download Registry, Taskmanager and Folder Options Repair Tool

W32/Magania.AZHA Trojan Manual Removal Instructions

Recommended Removal from Windows Safe Mode:
How to Start Windows in Safe Mode:
Restart your Computer, Press F8 Repeatedly, when your Screen turns on, Select Safe mode, press enter.

The Infected Files Can be Seen in these folders and names also Running in Tasks
End the Following Active Process Before Removal
[ Kill the Process, Use Killbox if your Access Denied ]

Download W32/Magania.AZHA Trojan Known File Removal Tool
[In Windows Vista Run As Administrator, After Execution System Will Restart ]

%Windows\System32\olhrwef.ex
%Root of windows installed drive\ej10fkdo.bat

[ No Exact Information about Files, search above related files in Program files Folder ]
If you have any of these files in running process from task manger, end the process before removal.
Note: if task manager is disabled, Download the following file, Download - Enable Registry.reg
[ Right Click - Save Target As/Linked Content As ]
Open it with Regedit.exe [%system32\regedit.exe], then it Confirms Add to registry Yes or No, Confirm Yes, then click Ok.

W32/Magania.AZHA Trojan Entries Manual Removal From Registry
Click Start, Run,Type regedit,Click OK.
Note: If the registry editor fails to open the threat may have modified the registry to prevent access to the registry editor.
Download UnHookExec.inf,
[ Right Click - Save Target As/Linked Content As ]
Save it to your Windows desktop.
Do not run it at this time, download it only.
After booting into the Safe Mode or VGA Mode
Right-click the UnHookExec.inf file and click Install.
[This is a small file. It does not display any notice or boxes when you run it.]
Or Download Regfile to enable Registry editor
Download Registry Enabler [ Right click - Save Target As ]
Open it with Registry editor

W32/Magania.AZHA Trojan modifies registry at the following locations to ensure its automatic execution at every system Startup:
Delete The Entries

HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-XXXXXXXXXX-XXXXXXXXXX-XXXXXXXXX-XXXX\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Delete file entries from right side, look up file entries listed above
Search Registry For W32/Magania.AZHA Trojan File Names listed above to remove completely,
Edit Menu - Find, enter Keyword and remove all value that find in search.

Exit the Registry Editor,
Restart your Computer.

Recommended Removal Tools:
Kaspersky Antivirus or Internet Security [ Shareware ]
Spyware Doctor [ Shareware ]
AVG Antivirus [ Freeware ]
Killbox [ Freeware ]

For once, Microsoft has focused on putting the user in control.

1. THE TASKBAR RELOADED: Windows 7’s version of the Taskbar is less cluttered than Vista’s, and it handles both running and nonrunning apps with equal aplomb.

2. SLICKER, QUICKER TASKBAR PREVIEWS: Now they show you all of an application’s open windows, all at once.

3.THE CONVENIENCE OF JUMP LISTS: These context-sensitive Taskbar menus let you start accomplishing things in applications before you even open them.

4. A SYSTEM TRAY YOU CAN LOVE: New controls prevent the System Tray from overflowing with unwanted apps and distracting you with unhelpful, irrelevant messages.

5. A MORE MEDIA-SAVVY WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER: Love Apple’s iTunes Store but hate iTunes? New file-format support enables Windows Media Player 12 to play back unprotected audio and video from Apple’s online store

6. ALERTS VIA ACTION CENTER: Windows 7’s version of Vista’s Security Center queues up system messages so that you can respond to them on your schedule—not when Windows feels like interrupting you.

7. USER ACCOUNT CONTROL THAT YOU CONTROL: If you’re okay with this security feature’s raison d’être but can’t stand the rapid-fire prompts in Vista, take heart: You can tune Windows 7’s versions to make them less paranoid and intrusive.

8. LIBRARY PRIVILEGES: You can bundle folders from locations all across your hard drive into Libraries designed to provide one-click access from the left pane of Windows Explorer to related files.

9. REASONABLE HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS: Historically, new versions of Windows have gobbled up twice the amount of CPU power and RAM that their predecessors did. But Windows 7 runs a bit better than Vista on the same system; it’s even tolerable on a netbook.

10. THE POTENTIAL OF TOUCH: Windows 7’s support for multitouch input doesn’t change anything overnight—but it does lay necessary groundwork for thirdparty developers to build their own software. If they build killer touch apps, Windows 7 deserves some of the credit.

Source of Information : PC World November 2009

Software giant, Microsoft, gives out free templates for its users in the forms of certificates, brochures etc. in order to enable work at home or at work. These templates are basically to help the users in having a greater control and knowledge of its various products. This article will be based on Microsoft Office help tips manual in order to give the users a deeper insight into Microsoff Office 2007 features and versions.

The templates help a user to look for a specific template in order to simplify his work process and they are all categorized for easier use. They support all the major Microsoft Office programs like Microsoft Excel, Word etc. While these programs can be used for most of the versions of Microsoft Office, there are some which can only be enabled in the newer versions.

A user can search for a template by right-clicking on the site and once the relevant template is found, simply click to download it and then open the following with the relevant Microsoft Office program. Then changing, editing and customizing the documents follow suit and the work can be saved as a document or a template.

A personalized template can shared for use with other users once it has been submitted on the appropriate site. There is also a provision to view the newly created template by making a suggestion for the same. Microsoft has enabled a lot of help services in its Microsoft Office help area for the templates. One can even participate in a discussion forum for using or creating these templates. Visit Microsoft Office Help for more resources.

W32/Agent.CGPR Trojan Known Files » ld10.exe

W32/Agent.CGPR is a trojan. The trojan will infect Windows systems.
This Trojan Copies its file(s) to Windows folder as hidden files or active non-hidden files.

W32/Agent.CGPR Trojan information updated on October 16, 2009.
Other names of W32/Agent.CGPR Trojan:
W32/Agent.CGPR Trojan is also known as Worm/Koobface.C, Trojan-Downloader.Win32.Agent.cgpr, Trojan.DL.Agent.LZEY.

Download Registry, Taskmanager and Folder Options Repair Tool

W32/Agent.CGPR Trojan Manual Removal Instructions

Recommended Removal from Windows Safe Mode:
How to Start Windows in Safe Mode:
Restart your Computer, Press F8 Repeatedly, when your Screen turns on, Select Safe mode, press enter.

The Infected Files Can be Seen in these folders and names also Running in Tasks
End the Following Active Process Before Removal
[ Kill the Process, Use Killbox if your Access Denied ]

Download W32/Agent.CGPR Trojan Known File Removal Tool
[In Windows Vista Run As Administrator, After Execution System Will Restart ]

%Windows\ld10.exe

[ No Exact Information about Files, search above related files in Program files Folder ]
If you have any of these files in running process from task manger, end the process before removal.
Note: if task manager is disabled, Download the following file, Download - Enable Registry.reg
[ Right Click - Save Target As/Linked Content As ]
Open it with Regedit.exe [%system32\regedit.exe], then it Confirms Add to registry Yes or No, Confirm Yes, then click Ok.

W32/Agent.CGPR Trojan Entries Manual Removal From Registry
Click Start, Run,Type regedit,Click OK.
Note: If the registry editor fails to open the threat may have modified the registry to prevent access to the registry editor.
Download UnHookExec.inf,
[ Right Click - Save Target As/Linked Content As ]
Save it to your Windows desktop.
Do not run it at this time, download it only.
After booting into the Safe Mode or VGA Mode
Right-click the UnHookExec.inf file and click Install.
[This is a small file. It does not display any notice or boxes when you run it.]
Or Download Regfile to enable Registry editor
Download Registry Enabler [ Right click - Save Target As ]
Open it with Registry editor

W32/Agent.CGPR Trojan modifies registry at the following locations to ensure its automatic execution at every system Startup:
Delete The Entries

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Delete file entries from right side, look up file entries listed above
Search Registry For W32/Agent.CGPR Trojan File Names listed above to remove completely,
Edit Menu - Find, enter Keyword and remove all value that find in search.

Exit the Registry Editor,
Restart your Computer.

Recommended Removal Tools:
Kaspersky Antivirus or Internet Security [ Shareware ]
Spyware Doctor [ Shareware ]
AVG Antivirus [ Freeware ]
Killbox [ Freeware ]

Want to avoid the mad rush to the malls this weekend? You can shop right from home this holiday season at the online Microsoft Store.

The Microsoft Store has some smoking hot deals that they will be unveiling starting this Friday (the day after Thanksgiving). However they are letting me exclusively reveal some of their deals for you today! Here are just some of the deals they will be featuring during this holiday season:

• Free Lenovo S10 netbook when you buy a Lenovo T400 or X301 notebook, or A600 All-in-one desktop PC.
• Free shipping on everything for a limited time.
• Get an amazing deal on Office Home & Student—just $79.99.  That’s a savings of $70!  Or save almost $80 on Office Small Business Edition.
• Free 3-month subscription to Xbox LIVE when you buy an Xbox Elite Console—or get 30% off selected Xbox accessories.
• Get $50 off an HP Photosmart Printer.
• Save $50 when you buy an Xbox Premium Console and Beatles Rock Band together.
• 30% off select headsets for that gamer on your list.
• Save $50 on any monitor when you buy any desktop or laptop in the store (Netbooks not included).

Click here to go to the Microsoft Store for complete details, and remember that these deals are just for a limited time.

It’s going to be a season full of bargains, so make sure you don’t miss out.