As stated in a recent article from Maximum PC,

If it’s too good to be true, if it looks strange, or if it’s completely unknown to you, don’t run it.  Don’t install it.  Don’t accept it, don’t hit “yes” to it, and don’t let it get anywhere near your system.  Google, or Bing, or Yahoo is your friend: Find more information about a given situation or software before you agree to let it do anything on your system.  Don’t surf the Internet blindly and assume that everything on a Web site is safe for your system to digest.

First, make sure you follow the steps I’ve outlined here.  Remember to keep your internet browser updated, as well as running Microsoft Update, assuming you’re running a Windows operating system.

As the title of this article states, here is also a list of free utilities I use to prevent and fight malware from my own systems, as well as the systems of clients.

• Microsoft Security Essentials
• MVPS Hosts File
• CCLeaner
• Rkill
• Malwarebytes

Again, these utilities are for computers running some version of Windows.  I won’t go into a how-to for each of these utilities, as the utilities’ authors have provided this information on each of their sites.  Some of these utilities offer a paid “premium” version, and they may ask if you want to try the premium version for a limited time during the install process and periodically during use of the free version.  I always stick with the free version and decline any trials for their premium software, but that choice is up to you.

For example, you could create a new folder and name it

GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

or

Ultimate Control Panel.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

You can use the GodMode Control Panel to perform the tasks under the following sections:

• Action Center
• Administrative Tools
• AutoPlay
• Backup and Restore
• BitLocker Drive Encryption
• Color Management
• Credential Manager
• Date and Time
• Default Programs
• Desktop Gadgets
• Device Manager
• Devices and Printers
• Display
• Ease of Access Center
• Folder Options
• Fonts
• Getting Started
• HomeGroup
• Indexing Options
• Internet Options
• Keyboard
• Location and Other Sensors
• Mouse
• Network and Sharing Center
• Notification Area Icons
• Parental Controls
• Performance Information and Tools
• Personalization
• Phone and Modem
• Power Options
• Programs and Features
• Recovery
• Region and Language
• RemoteApp and Desktop Connections
• Sound
• Speech Recognition
• Sync Center
• System
• Taskbar and Start Menu
• Troubleshooting
• User Accounts
• Windows CardSpace
• Windows Defender
• Windows Firewall
• Windows Update

In any event, I took my Windows 7 Professional Upgrade DVD and started the process of installation on a fresh drive. Upon the first appearance of the activation window, I entered my product key and tried activation. Windows responded that the key was invalid. No matter, this actually happened the first time I installed my copy of Windows 7 back in October, so I knew I could bypass this screen by deleting the product key and pressing enter. I would have 30 days to reenter my product key and activate Windows.

A few days later after reinstalling all my programs and getting the system configured, I tried activating again. And again. And again. I tried other methods to no success after being on hold with Microsoft phone support for longer than I cared.

That’s when I stumbled onto this method of activating Windows 7 that I had not seen before. I don’t know the original source, but I obtained the below instructions from mydigitallife.info.

Clean Install and Activate Windows 7 with MediaBootInstall Registry Hack

1. After booting up, ensure that no Windows Updates pending task which requires a system reboot to finish installing.Tip: Normally, an orange-colored shield icon will be displayed next to Shutdown button in the Start Menu Power Button or at notification tray area if a restart is required. If reboot is required, restart the computer to allow any pending updates is installed.
2. Run Registry Editor (RegEdit).
3. Navigate to the following registry key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup\OOBE
4. In the right pane, change the value data for MediaBootInstall from 1 to 0. Leave the base as Hexadecimal.
5. Open an elevated command prompt as administrator.
6. Run the command below to reset Windows 7 activation status:
   slmgr.vbs -rearm
7. Reboot the computer.
8. Run the Activate Windows utility (accessible from bottom section of Control Panel -> System and Security -> System, or type Activate Windows into Start Search), type in the upgrade product key and activate Windows.

The author of this site has created a free utility that will unlock the standard speed of your video chipset.  I say the “standard” speed because these netbooks are assembled with the video chipset underclocked.  I installed the software on my ASUS Eeepc 1000HE netbook and it improved the video capabilities noticeably.

Be sure to check if the software for your video chipset is available for download, and consider donating to the author so he can develop further GMABooster software for other GMA chipsets.

ZoneAlarm Fix

Microsoft Update KB951748 is known to cause loss of internet access for ZoneAlarm users on Windows XP/2000. Windows Vista users are not affected.

Microsoft Update KB951748 – Workaround to Sudden Loss of Internet Access Problem

If you are not interested to read the full article, here’s how to fix this issue.

1. Stop ZoneAlarm by right clicking the system tray icon and selecting “Shutdown ZoneAlarm”
2. Download and install the latest free version here. If you don’t use the free version, please visit ZoneAlarm.com and download the appropriate software.
3. Restart your computer when prompted and your internet connection should be fixed.

MP4Cam2AVI

MP4Cam2AVI is MPEG4/MJPEG to AVI converter/joiner for MPEG-4 camcorders and digital photo cameras. It makes MPEG-4 camera clips DivX/XviD compatible and playable with any DVD-MPEG4 player like regular MPEG-4 movie.

MP4Cam2AVI – MPEG4/MJPEG to .AVI converter/joiner for digital cameras