Windows Vista - Backup pleasseeeee....

Even though Windows Vista is much more secure than XP (if UAC is enabled), people still allow many programs from dubious resources (p2p resources/crack-hacksites) and run/install it. Yes, people love to click the "OK" button even though it's not OK.
That was a bad idea.. wasn't it? So I hope you'll read the notifications/messages next time....
Anyway, if you indeed managed to install malware and the malware already compromised your system where it also damaged a lot - then the fastest and especially safest solution is a format and reinstall.
I actually do not really recommend a format and reinstall anyway, but in some cases, you really have no other option if you want to trust your system ever again..
Unfortunately, nowadays malware is more advanced and nastier than a couple of years ago.
After all, it would be irresponsible of me if I proceed with giving instructions for manual removal and tell the user afterwards his/her system is clean - because it is NOT! So in such cases, I always make the user aware of with what s(he) is dealing and let them decide what to do - a format and reinstall or manual removal. If they choose for the manual removal, then I will assist them, but make them aware that they may never trust this system anymore, it's compromised and many issues may still appear afterwards.

And that's where the problems start...
"Sorry, I can't do a format/reinstall, because I have so many important documents, pictures etc present that I don't want to lose"
And in most cases, the malware present already damaged so much > result > computer won't even boot anymore. Ofcourse there are still a lot of methods to access your important files in such cases anyway to back them up...

And that's why Windows Vista made it a lot easier for you.... By default, it contains the option to backup your important files. So if it's present by default? Why not use it? No need to install additional tools for this, just run the backup wizard.
Start orb > Control Panel > System and Maintenance > Back up your computer.
There you can select to create a backup of your files and folders and store them wherever you want.
Easy huh? So why don't you backup right now? Because you never know what the future may bring. After all, not only malware, but a corrupted program install/updates may cause a system unstable/unbootable as well.

MEDION AKOYA MD 96630 Premium - I'm impressed

I was already looking for a new laptop since last year, but couldn't decide which one to buy.
My current laptop Fujitsu siemens Amilo M1425 XP SP2 installed is great, but I needed an extra one with Windows Vista installed, because it's easier for me to properly troubleshoot Windows Vista issues when I have the operating system in front of me. I actually already had Windows Vista installed in a Virtual machine (Vmware), but since it needs so much resources, you can imagine that it was really crawling and I actually could have a cup of coffee while Vista was loading in Vmware.
I also could have a dual boot - one with XP, one with Vista, but then again, I'm a bit lazy and don't like to switch everytime :)

So, that's why I decided to buy a new laptop.....

Since the public release of Vista, many laptops were already preinstalled with Vista and there were still many incompatibility issues with other hardware and software installed. Most software - at that time - were not "vista ready" yet, so that's why I decided to wait a bit longer.

Nowadays, most software/hardware should be Vista compatible, so I've waited long enough, time to get myself a new OS, new laptop.

I was actually going to wait until april/may this year for the new laptop, this to make sure everything was REALLY Vista compatible (hardware related).
But I've changed my mind when I received a mail with this. Hmm Medion, I've heard some weird things about it....

Anyway,
699 euro.. I thought they were joking. So, I went to Aldi and bought it anyway, and guess what - it was no joke. I've uninstalled the preinstalled Bullguard and some other "goodies", reinstalled my "own" programs and everything works great and incredibly fast - even faster than my Fujitsu siemens Amilo M1425! (what do you expect with 3GB of ram) :)

So medion isn't so bad after all - on the contrary....

Vista and the Instant Search Box - useful but.. be careful

People who are using Vista are already familiar with the embedded Instant Search box via the Start Menu.
Basically, you can run almost every application from there. Just type the name of the exe in the Search Box and hit enter.
If UAC is enabled, you'll get an extra warning first, where you have to allow the application to run.
If you want to run the application with administrator rights, then type the name of the application in the Instant Search box, but instead of enter, use CTRL-SHIFT-ENTER

Easy huh?

The only, although important issue I see here is the fact that the embedded box is called Search, but you can actually run applications from it.

Scenario:

A user gets infected...
UAC was not enabled in the first place.
Even in case if UAC was enabled - malware may disable it again.
User follows some online instructions where it is explained what files to delete.
Starts Taskmanager to end the badfile.exe process in case if it's running.
Then via the start > types the badfile.exe in the embedded Search Box and hits enter...


Whoops! It's running again and downloads everything again that was deleted previously (this in case if it's a bundled installer)

Yes, the Search Feature has much improved in Vista, but imho, as it says: "Search", it should search only, not execute if you hit enter.