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Download Windows 7 Enterprise Trial 32-bit and 64-bit ISO [Direct Download Links]

2009-10-08T09:45:00.000-07:00

Microsoft is giving away free download of Windows 7 Enterprise edition to interested corporate and business houses as trial evaluation software. Microsoft has made this download free as it’s willing to grab it’s market share as soon as people find this OS more productive and useful for their enterprises. Windows 7 Enterprise free download will come with a pre-installed product key which will be valid for 3 months (90 days). Enterprises need to activate Windows 7 Enterprise trial edition within 10 days after the expiry of trial period, else the computer will shutdown in every one hour.

Windows 7 Enterprise edition needs to be activated via activation methods available for volume licensing channel methods such as KMS host (Key Management Server) or MAK (Multiple Activation Key). Users need to install a clean version of Windows 7 Enterprise in order to enter the product key and activate it, once the trial period gets expired.

Download Windows 7 Enterprise Trial Version

Windows 7 Enterprise 64-Bit (File Transfer manager) (English)

Review: The Pirated Copy of Windows 7 ,I Bought On eBay !!!

2009-10-06T16:33:00.000-07:00

The official release of Windows 7 is only a few weeks away, and if you’re anything like me, you’re probably asking yourself what effect this will have on your lives. Will the gates of Heaven open up and a consort of large breasted angels descend to guide you into computing heaven? Or will it be more of a low key affair, maybe involving the cast of Friends and a degrading video?

So I decided to apply my powerful brain to the problem, and find out what Windows 7 would mean for you, the average user. With only pre-release versions and betas available for download, to get a copy of the actual release version, I had to turn to eBay, where leaked copies have shown up recently. $150 and two days later, a package of bubble wrapped, technological delights arrived on my doorstep. I giddily tore open the packaging to reveal the contents.

Son. Of. A. Bitch.

Also included, but not pictured, was a small note from the seller, making some pretty inflammatory claims about my mental capacity. I took the matter up with eBay Fraud Protection, but they had similarly unkind things to say about my Internet savvy, only they used longer words. So, my attempts to get my money back from UR_a_Ediot67 were at a standstill. Unfortunately, I still had a column to produce, and as “23 Reasons Punching a Wall Really Hurts” didn’t have the sort of broad appeal I normally like to include in my articles, I decided to plow ahead with my original plan. So below I present my review of “Windows 7.”

Installation
Very difficult. The install for Windows 7 comes on four floppy disks, and as my laptop doesn’t have a floppy drive, I was worried I’d have to travel 10 years into the past to find a computer that did. Fortunately, my local Best Buy was offering a USB floppy drive for $80, which, not withstanding certain recent software purchases, struck me as the greatest ripoff the world has ever seen. I’d advise anyone wanting to install Windows 7 on their own machine should make sure their hardware can support it.

After that rocky start, the rest of the installation went relatively smooth, although I had to fiddle with the BIOS settings to get the floppy to boot. I chose to install all the options, including something called Microsoft Fax, simply because it sounded fucking amazing. After the install, the computer rebooted without incident, and I was up and running.

Hardware Support
Terrible. I don’t have any particular exotic hardware on my system, but Windows 7 still struggled to find drivers for basically everything. Screen resolution was limited to 640 x 480, and my external mouse didn’t work because apparently Windows 7 doesn’t have USB support. Bizarre. I’ll spare you the details of what I had to do to get the wireless working, but let’s just say it involved 27 hours of crying.

Finally got the Internet working!

Included Software
Windows 7 comes packaged with Internet Explorer 2.0, which I will admit to being a little disappointed with. It can render text and images however, which if you think about it, is probably the most important 40 percent of the Internet anyways.

The flying Window icon lets you know the Internet is working.

Set Up The Microsoft Network
Right in the desktop was a link to something called “The Microsoft Network” which the instruction manual promised would provide the unheard of ability to use chat rooms or check the weather. Unfortunately, the set up didn’t seem to work–it evidently requires a phone line to work, and I don’t actually have one of those. So be advised that to fully utilize Windows 7, and experience all of its weather checking glory, you’ll require some pretty specialized telecom equipment.

Long File Names
While checking the manual, I noticed that it also promised that Windows 7 would be able to handle long file names. I honestly didn’t know we were limited before, but I guess this isn’t a bad thing.

Long file name

My Briefcase
This is a little synchronization tool that lets you keep files in sync across multiple computers when transferring files by floppy. I don’t have any other computers with a floppy drive, so couldn’t test it out, but I guess this would be a useful tool for the Amish.

Start Button
The classic Windows Start button is back, and it works pretty much the same as you’re used to. You click it, and a list of programs comes up in a branching menu. If you can’t figure that out, no amount of Matthew Perry videos will help you.

Taskbar
The venerable old taskbar is back in Windows 7, looking a little retro, but otherwise in good shape. Definitely a “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it” situation here. Curiously, the useful Quick Launch bar seems to have disappeared. I guess with limited room on the floppies, space had to be made for the popular Microsoft Fax.

Windows Explorer
I was very disappointed with this. The improvements made to the most recent version of Explorer were one of the bright points of the whole Vista debacle. The version on display here in Windows 7 is remarkably spartan, lacking many features users look for, like thumbnail previews or frequently used shortcuts. I think Microsoft definitely crapped the bed on this one.

Multitasking
I was very impressed here. To test performance, I ran a stress test consisting of a word document, two Internet Explorer windows and Minesweeper. Everything worked pretty smoothly.

Stability
Terrible. Possibly related to the previously mentioned hardware difficulties, I found stability to be a real issue with Windows 7. Crashes were frequent, including Blue Screens of Death. Error messages were cryptic and meaningless to me – see below.

Overall
In general I was highly disappointed with Windows 7. Although performance has improved since Vista, major features appear to have been lopped off the OS to meet these performance marks. Additionally, the hardware incompatibility and stability issues that have long plagued Microsoft OS releases appear to back in full force. Unless you’re one of those deviants who always has to have the latest OS, or have very specialized faxing needs, I’d strongly recommend avoiding Windows 7 until at least the first Service Pack is released.

Microsoft Q309: Xbox division loses $31 million, 360 sales up 30%

2009-10-06T13:24:00.000-07:00

Microsoft's third quarter may not have been the hotness, but the company's entertainment and devices division (that's Xbox) can have a very tiny fiesta to celebrate its sales victory. The mega-corp's revenues took a 6% beating, with net income down 32% over the prior year to $2.98 billion. The Xbox's (Zune, etc.) entertainment and devices division lost 31 million this quarter, after achieving a $106 million profit during the same time last year.

On a happier note -- and pretty much the only relevant part for gamers -- the Xbox 360 console sold 1.7 million units during the quarter, an impressive year-over-year increase of 30 percent. The company also claims that the current tie ratio for the console is 8.3 games per owner. The company's chief financial officer said he was happy with the results given that this is the "most difficult economic environment" in the company's history.

Source -- Microsoft's Xbox 360 division loses $31 million
Source -- Microsoft Reports Third-Quarter Results

Microsoft: Avatar clothing changed 150 million times

2009-10-06T13:08:00.000-07:00

Speaking at the First Annual Microsoft Open House in NYC, Robbie Bach, president of the company's entertainment and devices division, was touting the strength of the 360 platform. Along with the impressive news that the results of 425 million games had been crunched for matchmaking, Bach also said that Avatar clothing had been changed more than 150 million times. When you divide that by the 20 million Xbox Live users the company's claiming, that's ... more than 7 changes each. We're a bit worried about some of you.

Gang, please, keep your dignity intact: Set it once -- walk away. It's the only sane thing to do. Of course, Bach also said that 200,000 games of 1 vs. 100 were being played every weekend, so maybe you guys are just trying to get spiffed up for Chris Cashman. We hope it was worth it.

Microsoft Unveils Its Container-Powered Cloud

2009-10-01T09:44:00.000-07:00

A look at one of the double-decker data center containers housed at the massive new Microsoft data center near Chicago. The facility includes both raised-floor space and plug-n-play bays for containers packed with servers.

As the bay door opens at Microsoft’s enormous new Chicago data center, the future backs in on a trailer. Forty-foot long containers packed with servers are unloaded with winches, and stacked two-high onto “air skates” that float on compressed air. Using the air skates, as few as four employees can move the 60-ton stack into place in Microsoft’s “container canyon” in the lower floor of the facility in Noeight hours, the new container is fully installed, hooked up to chilled water, power and a network connection. “These hold 2,000 servers each, and they can be deployed in hours,” said Kevin Timmons, Microsoft’s general manager for data center operations. “That’s an awesome, awesome thing.”

$500 Million Investment
Microsoft opened the doors of its $500 million Chicago facility today, providing media and local officials with a look inside the 700,000 square foot data center. The tour showcased a container-driven design that Microsoft expects to deliver huge benefits in cost, energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.

The new data center, which began operations on July 20, is an unusual hybrid of what Microsoft views as the present and future of data center design, separated by a staircase.

The lower level is a vast space with a high ceiling and diagonal parking spaces for the 40-foot container stacks. Twelve containers are already installed, including 10 double-stacked versions with servers on the bottom and cooling infrastructure above, and two single-story containers.

The first phase can hold up to 56 containers, and a second phase (currently shell space) offers identical capacity. That gives the Chicago facility a total capacity of 112 containers holding 224,000 servers.

“We think of the containers as a revolutionary approach to computing at scale,” said Arne Josefsberg, General Manager of Infrastructure for Microsoft Global Foundation Services. “This is just a massive facility that will allow us to meet the demand for cloud computing at scale.”

Raised-Floor Space on Upper Level
The second floor of the enormous facility features traditional raised-floor data center space using hot and cold aisles. The upstairs area includes space for four 12,000 square foot pods of raised-floor space, enough to support tens of thousands of additional servers to power Microsoft’s “Live” suite of online services.

The raised-floor area is fed by a cooling loop filled with 47-degree chilled water, while the container area is supported by a separate chilled water loop running at 65 degrees. Of the facility’s total 30-megawatt power capacity, about 20 megawatts is dedicated to the container area, with about 10 megawatts for the raised floor pods. The power infrastructure also includes 11 power rooms and 11 diesel generators, each providing 2.8 megawatts of potential backup power that can be called upon in the event of a utility outage.

Focus on Economization
While Microsoft’s new Dublin facility uses air-side economization in its cooling systems, the Chicago site employs water-side economization. Both techniques take advantage of cool outside air to reduce the data center’s reliance upon power-hungry chillers to produce chilled water. Air economizers introduce fresh air into the data center, while water-side economizers use cooling towers to remove waste heat.

The Chicago data center has 12 large chillers on site, but will only use them when the temperature is too warm to use economization.

Josefsberg said that although some in the data center industry might be surprised by Microsoft’s decision to show off its new technology and design, Josefsberg said the company’s focus on sustainability demands it. “We really think it’s important to share what we’ve learned,” he said.

Microsoft's Secret Wii-Killer Natal So Secret That Demos Can't Show Screen

2009-09-28T14:07:00.000-07:00

Microsoft is keeping a tight lid on Project Natal, its forthcoming controler-less gaming interface for the Xbox.

No one knows when the system will be released, what it will cost, or how it will look. But the futuristic interface - Natal will use sensors to track users' movements - has generated a lot of buzz, which is obviously good news for Microsoft.

The competing goals of secrecy and good press can lead to some odd results. Consider, for instance, this video, via Joystiq, which demos Project Natal while adhering to the company's ban on showing any screen shots of the system in action:

Windows 7 Upgrade Guide: All Your Questions Answered and Windows 7 Review: XP vs Vista vs 7 in 80+ Benchmarks

2009-09-08T15:28:00.000-07:00

The amount of information pouring out of Redmond these days about Windows 7 is unprecedented, and so is the level of enthusiasm. In a frantic attempt to make sense of it all, Maximum PC has been releasing our ongoing Feature Focus series, which hopefully, has helped you determine wither upgrading to Windows 7 is worth it for you. Once you made that decision however, or buy a new PC that’s upgrade eligible, do you know exactly what you’re getting? Can I upgrade from Windows XP? Do I need to buy the same product edition when upgrading? Can I go from 32 bit to 64 bit? These are just a few of the many questions we seek to answer after the jump

Check out our Windows 7 Buyers Guide here!

The Basics

Release Date: October 22nd 2009

Qualifying OS’s For Upgrade: Windows 2000, XP, Vista

Qualifying OS For In-Place Upgrade: Vista

Upgrade Editions: Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate

System Requirements:

• 1GHz or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
• 1GB RAM (32-bit) / 2GB RAM (64-bit)
• 16GB available disk space (32-bit) / 20GB (64-bit)
• DirectX 9 graphics processor with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver

Can I Buy the Windows 7 Upgrade Edition For Use With Windows XP or 2000?

Yes, but there’s a catch. Only Windows Vista users will be able to do an in-place upgrade. This means that Windows XP or 2000 users will be forced to do a clean install. Maximum PC readers are generally technical enough to know that this is a good idea anyway, but if your planning on upgrading PCs for friends and family, bring a USB hard drive and be prepared to stay awhile.

I Only See One Version of Each Edition. Am I Getting the 32 or 64 Bit Version?

All retail editions of Windows 7 will ship with both the 32 & 64 bit DVDs. This is a huge improvement over Vista where users would need to order additional disks manually from Microsoft. Users who purchase Windows 7 digitally through the Microsoft store will be allowed to choose which version they want prior to starting the download.

How will I know if my Processor Supports the 64 Bit Edition?

Download and run GRC’s SecurAble processor testing application. The download is only about 100k, and like everything from GRC, doesn’t require an install. SecurAble will quickly tell you if your processor supports 64 Bit instructions, and if you will be able to use the coveted XP Mode found in Windows 7 professional. Just make sure it says Yes in the Hardware Virtualization field, and your good to go!

Since I Get a 32 Bit & 64 Bit CD, Can I Install It On Two Machines?

No. Since you are only given one CD key, you can only activate a single version at a time. The good news here is that your CD Key is interchangeable. This means that you can start out with the 32 bit edition if that’s all you need, knowing that you can easily format and change over to 64 bit later on if your requirements change.

Some home users coming from XP might be hoping to cheat the system by calling Microsoft for manual activations on additional machines, but I’m afraid it won’t work this time. Windows is constantly checking in with Microsoft for various reasons (most of which you agreed to in the EULA), and as with Vista, multiple activations are often caught, kicking both copies into non genuine mode. Even though this isn’t as serious as it used to be, it’s still not a good idea, and it’s defiantly illegal.

I Am Running a 32 Bit Edition of Windows Vista. Can I Upgrade to the 64 Bit Version of Windows 7?

Your only option in this scenario will be to perform a clean install. Upgrading a 32 bit edition to 64 bit or downgrading a 64 bit install to 32 bit using the in-place approach is not supported.

I Am Currently Running Windows 7 RC. Can I Upgrade to Windows 7 Retail After Purchase?

If you're using Windows 7 RC right now (as many of us are), you'll have to back up all your personal data and perform a clean install of the retail version of Windows 7. After installation, you'll need to restore your data and reinstall your apps. As stated in the Windows 7 RC download page, Microsoft doesn't recommend that you install RC on a personal or "production" machine. Their stance has always been for users to update beta and RC builds by formatting and reinstalling.

How Does An Upgrade Edition “Clean Install” Differ From Retail Copies of Windows 7?

The full upgrade process still hasn’t been finalized, but here is what we do know. Windows XP upgrade editions were pretty painless. The installer would prompt you to insert a copy of a previous OS for disk verification, and that was pretty much it. Assuming you passed this stage, XP would then prompt you to drop the original install disk back in the tray, and it would push ahead with a clean install.

This approach changed with Windows Vista, and not necessarily for the better. If you followed the official Microsoft approach, you were stuck installing Windows XP each time you wanted to format your PC. Once it verified that a qualifying OS was installed, only then could then upgrade to Vista. This hokey double install process was a terrible waste of time, and seemed like a pointless exercise.

A known workaround now exists that will allow you to bypass this step, and it’s easier than you might think. Simply insert your upgrade DVD, boot into the installer, and when prompted to enter your product key, simply refuse to do so. After you click through all the warnings and pick the version you purchased, it would push ahead with the install. Your product key could then be easily entered later on once you were booted into the OS, and you could then activate using the normal process.

It is still unclear which of the two verification methods Microsoft will choose for Windows 7, but they haven’t given us indication that the newer Vista style approach would be changing. If that’s true, you might want to keep the workaround mentioned in the previous question in mind as it will most likely work in Windows 7 as well. It’s also worth noting that in Vista, the clean install work around also saved your Product Key, allowing thousands of users who were unhappy with Vista to downgrade back to XP.

What Happens to my old CD Key for Windows XP or Vista? Can I use it Somewhere Else?

Based on the terms as they are laid out in the EULA, no. Users who buy and install Windows 7 using the upgrade media should expect to lose access to the product key from their previous OS. While technically this has always been true with Windows upgrades, before XP, this worked on the honor system. With the debuted of product activations in XP, it is now a simple matter for Microsoft to enforce. During a Vista upgrade, the installer would collect your old product key, and send off a cancellation request to the activation server. Simply put, don’t bother upgrading a version of Windows that you will ever need to install somewhere else in the future (this includes dual boots). If you are hoping to make a multi-boot system, you will need to buy the full retail version of Windows 7, or find another spare copy to sacrifice to Redmond.

As mentioned in the previous step, many Vista users were able to use a workaround to get past this restriction by using the upgrade CD to perform a clean install without XP present. Legally you still aren’t allowed to use this version of Windows anymore, but if you ever chose to go back to the older OS instead, at least you would have that option. This is just one more reason (among many) to take the clean install approach.

Do Upgrades from OEM Editions Follow the OEM Activation Rules or Retail?

Online retailers will often sell heavily discounted versions of Windows bearing the OEM badge on the outside of the jewel case. What most people don’t realize, are the restrictions that come along with the discount. OEM editions are permanently tied to the first PC it is activated on, often using unique information gathered from the systems motherboard as an anchor.
Maximum PC readers who like to upgrade often will most likely find this restriction painful to live with, and in the long run, many end up finding it to be more of a hassle than it’s worth. Many Pulitzer Prize worthy stories have been spun in an attempt to get Microsoft to manually activate OEM editions on new hardware, but trust me, they’ve heard them all. In most cases if you simply reassure them it’s only installed on one PC, they will grant your request, but you shouldn’t count on that.

The good news here is that I’ve had no problem moving upgrade versions of Vista to new PCs when using Windows XP OEM product keys. Activations went through without a call to Microsoft, and if the same holds true for Windows 7, you might have finally found a use for an abandoned OEM edition.

As a Windows XP or Vista Home User, Do I Need to Buy Windows 7 Home Premium or can I Spring for Ultimate?

As long as you have a copy of Windows 2000, XP, or Vista, you can buy any upgrade edition you want. It’s important to note however that on the Vista side, this could impact your ability to perform in-place upgrades. For example, don’t expect to be able to do an in-place upgrade of Windows Vista Business to Home Premium, a clean install may be required. You can also upgrade a lower version such as XP Home to Windows 7 Ultimate. The price difference is covered in the upgrade cost.

If I Buy Windows 7 Home Premium, Am I Stuck With It?

Every copy of Windows 7 will have the ability to upgrade electronically to any higher edition. You could start with Home Premium for example, and move up to Professional or Ultimate at any point if you feel the need. The upgrade between versions doesn’t require any reinstall, and in many cases, is instantaneous.

Microsoft has not announced pricing yet on the upgrades, but you should expect to pay a premium on the retail price difference between the edition you purchased, and the one you wish to upgrade to.

With Windows 7 on the Way, Who Cares About Vista?

Windows Vista has matured into a very capable, and reliable OS that unfortunately, will not go down favorably in the history books. For those of you out there who resisted the urge to switch, but are at least a tiny bit curious, did you know if you plan on upgrading to Windows 7 anyway, you can try out the Vista Edition of your choice for around $10? This price tag assumes you missed out on the Windows 7 promotional pricing, which expires on July 11th. Between now and January 2009, any retail copy of Vista purchased from Microsoft will qualify for a free upgrade.

This is an excellent deal to consider if you are in need of a new copy of Windows, but aren’t comfortable with running a pre-release version of Windows 7. You might actually find it’s not all that bad, and the box will make for a great collector's item!

Will All of My Hardware be Compatible With Windows 7?

If it worked in Windows Vista, it will probably work in Windows 7. Many Beta and RC testers of Windows 7 have praised the new OS for its compatibility, but the truth is, if this were being released back in 2007 when Vista debuted, it would have the same problems. With almost 3 years of driver development behind us, Windows 7 will be born into a vastly improved driver ecosystem, and newer hardware will work just fine.

If you’re still not quite sure, feel free to run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. It will let you know if it detects any incompatible hardware or software that might be a problem in the future.

I Just bought 3 Copies of Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade and Now Family Packs Get Revealed? I Got Ripped Off!
If you managed to get in on the promotional pricing, three copies of Windows Home Premium would have only run you $147. The Family Pack license that will be offered by Microsoft will likely cost around $189 ($10 less than Apple), and as a result, you still came out ahead.

For the Windows faithful, it’s been a tough eight years. With the launch of Windows XP in 2001, we thought we were poised on a brink of a new world of NT-based goodness—but two years and uncountable exploits later, the future of Windows was grim. Facing a never-ending torrent of new ‘sploits, worms, and trojans, Microsoft fired back with the single greatest operating system update of all time—Service Pack 2. In the single fell swoop of SP2, Windows XP went from Swiss cheese to secure, and once again we were poised to enter the promised land with… (wait for it)… Vista.

Of course, we all know how Vista turned out. Haunted by poor performance in everything from games to disk access to networking, Vista is widely considered to be Microsoft’s biggest failure. Nonetheless, Vista laid the groundwork for a host of new technologies, all absolutely vital to pushing Windows into the 21st century. Vista’s new, modern driver architecture was designed to move core functionality from the kernel (where any instability can bring down the whole system) to user space—an absolutely necessary development. Likewise, Vista’s proper enforcement of permissions for both users and applications enhanced security, even though UAC remains very annoying. And once vendors fixed their driver flaws and Microsoft squashed some underlying bugs, Vista morphed into an entirely workable operating system, even if we still wouldn’t describe it as “good.”

So, as 2009 draws to a close, we find ourselves testing another new Microsoft OS: Windows 7. Building on the now-mature technologies introduced with Vista, but with a renewed focus on performance and ease-of-use, Windows 7 seems poised to succeed where Vista couldn’t. We’ve finally received a final build of Win7, and have run it through the wringer in both the Lab and in the real-world. Here’s what we found.

New Features

While support for new hardware and improved security are perfectly valid reasons to upgrade your OS, the sexiest benefits of an operating system upgrade are all the new features. Indeed, from a completely revamped user interface to brand-new features designed to make organizing and sharing your files easier, Windows 7 delivers much more than some new wallpaper and a different color Taskbar. (Though there are lots of new wallpapers.)

User Interface Enhancements

The most obvious changes from previous versions of Windows to Windows 7 can be found in a redesigned user interface. Sure, much of the interface remains the same, but Microsoft has completely overhauled key elements, starting with the Taskbar.

The New Taskbar

After 14 years of nothing more than cosmetic changes, Microsoft’s redesign of the Taskbar combines the pure window organizing power of the classic Taskbar with the application-launching, multi-purpose convenience of Mac OS X’s Dock. In addition to showing the applications that you currently have open, the new Windows 7 Taskbar also hosts shortcuts to your most commonly used applications. Click a shortcut when the app is running, and it brings the most recently used window to the foreground. Click the same shortcut when the app is closed, and it will launch the app.

But that’s not all. Drag a file onto a shortcut in the Taskbar, and Windows will open the file using that app. Hover your mouse over a running application’s icon, and it expands to show live thumbnail previews of all of that app’s windows, floating just above the Taskbar. Mouse over a thumbnail, and Windows will bring that particular window to the foreground. You can even close individual windows from the thumbnail previews.

For anyone who regularly finds himself with more than 10 windows open, the new Taskbar is a dream come true.

Jump Lists

Another core enhancement to the OS comes in the form of Jump Lists. In short, Jump Lists put frequently used files in a convenient menu that’s a simple click away from the shortcut icon on the Taskbar or on the Start Menu. Apps that support Jump Lists will display the list when you right click on the shortcut, or when you left-click and drag the mouse up away from the Taskbar. Additionally, some apps will automatically populate their Jump List with files you recently opened.

New Shortcuts

Along with the redesigned UI elements comes a whole new world of user-interface shortcuts. There are really too many to get into here, but the best of the new shortcuts allow you to maximize a window by dragging it to the top of the screen, minimize it by dragging it to the bottom, maximize to half your screen by dragging it to either edge, or (our favorite) minimizing all other windows by shaking the one you want to focus on. Furthermore, enhancements to alt+tab let you immediately find lost windows, and you can use the Windows key and numbers 1 through 0 to launch the first ten shortcuts on your Taskbar. And when those apps are already open, you can cycle through multiple windows by pressing the app’s keyboard shortcut again.

Explorer Enhancements

Windows Explorer also receives some much-needed love. The changes since Vista are relatively minor, but they serve to make the left-column of Explorer the quickest way to navigate to any folder on your hard drive, network, or even in the cloud. Furthermore, you can arrange the different categories in any way you want, quickly add special folders to the Favorites section, and even hide sections you don’t use.

The other main place to access the file browser is the shortcut bar on the right column of the Start Menu. In Windows 7, there are more folders that you can choose to display there, including Downloads and Recorded TV. However, you still can’t place any folder you choose in one of those precious slots.

We Hope You Like the Ribbon

The controversial Ribbon, which replaced traditional menus and shortcut bars in Office 2007, is prominently featured in Windows 7. In the applets that ship with the OS, you’ll see the Ribbon featured prominently

Which Version of Windows 7 is Right For Me?

Only you can decide on that one, but check out our handy Buyer’s Guide more information on which edition is right for you.

Here's an excerpt:

There are three Windows 7 editions that will be sold at retail in the US market:

Home Premium
Professional
Ultimate

If you tried out Windows 7 in its public Beta or RC versions, you used a pre-release of the Ultimate edition, although it's possible to tweak the installation process to install other editions. So, what are the major "core" features of these editions of Windows 7?

According to Microsoft's "Which One Is Right for You?" page, here are the common features (many of which we will cover in current or upcoming Feature Focus articles):

Improved GUI and desktop navigation
Windows Search
Internet Explorer 8
Windows Media Center
HomeGroup (Windows 7-specific networking)

Microsoft's list leaves out some significant core features, though, including:

32-bit and 64-bit editions provided in retail/upgrade versions
Windows Aero desktop (with supported graphics cards and drivers)
Improved wireless networking
Improved network management for mixed Windows 7/Vista/XP networks
Improved audio and video codec support
Improved digital TV support
Windows Backup for both files and system image
Devices and Printers management interface
Device Stage enhanced driver support for multifunction devices

Conclusion – In Place Upgrade vs. Clean Start

Hopefully this guide provided you all the information you will need when it comes to selecting a Windows 7 upgrade edition, but assuming you have a version of Vista capable of doing an in-place upgrade, should you? The answer to this is complicated, but it really depends on the user. Maximum PC readers will probably want to do a clean install for their top performing machines, but what about friends and family? The danger of doing a clean install here is that files, settings, applications, and even customizations they forgot they made are easily wiped out, leaving you to support them.

The good news here is that the upgrade process, based on my testing, works exactly as you would expect. Sidebar gadgets will still be on the desktop, applications and browsers will retain their settings, start menu icons will still be present, etc. You will also find that documents, pictures, and music will be properly tagged, and moved to the appropriate location. The only personalization settings you lose are the desktop wallpaper, quick launch settings, and in some cases, the odd application may need to be re-installed.

All things considered, the in-place upgrade works fairly well, but make sure you know the history of the machine before you proceed. If it was upgraded from Windows 98, to ME, to XP, to Vista, and now 7, your pushing your luck. Are you planning on upgrading? If so let us know what your setup is.

Core i7 Up Close

2009-09-08T15:26:00.000-07:00

Core i7 Up Close

Tick tock? More like ding-dong, mutha—shut your mouth. What baby? We’re talkin’ about Core i7.

Our apologies to Isaac Hayes, but if he were alive, we’re almost certain he would have been tapped to hammer out a theme song for Intel’s most significant CPU launch in, well, ever.

Why is this CPU more significant than the 8088, Pentium, or Pentium M? As the second new chip produced after a series of embarrassing losses to archrival AMD, the Core i7 will answer for the world whether Intel is prepared to ride the momentum of its Core 2 launch with another winning chip or if it’s content to rest on its laurels, as it did with the Pentium 4.

Core i7 also represents a major new direction for Intel, which has stubbornly clung to the ancient front-side-bus architecture and discrete memory controller for years. Indeed, with its triple-channel integrated DDR3 memory controller and chip-to-chip interconnect, the block map of a Core i7 looks more like an Athlon 64 than a Core 2 chip.

Intel actually has three quad-core Core i7 CPUs ready: the top-end 3.2GHz Core i7-965 Extreme Edition, the performance-oriented 2.93GHz Core i7-940, and the midrange 2.66GHz Core i7-920. For the most part, all three are exactly the same except for clock speeds, multiplier locking (only the Extreme is unlocked), and QuickPath Interconnect speed. See the chart on page 42 for details.

The bigger issue is how Core i7 performs. To find out, we ran the Extreme 965 against AMD’s fastest proc as well as Intel’s previous top gun in a gauntlet of benchmarks. Read on for the results.

Intel takes a bold approach to processor architecture, multi-core computing

As a buttoned-down company, Intel rarely likes to make sweeping changes, but its upcoming Core i7 CPU is a major break from the past. Gone is the ancient front-side bus that connects all of the current-gen CPU cores. Instead, cores will communicate via a high-speed crossbar switch, and different CPUs will communicate via a high-speed interconnect.

Also on the outs is the need for an external memory controller. Intel, which has relied on gluing two dual-core chips together under the heat spreader to make its quad-core CPUs, is now placing all four cores on a single die.

Even overclocking, which was once verboten to even talk about within 10 miles of Intel’s HQ, is now automatically supported. Intrigued? You should be. Intel’s Core i7 is the most radical new design the company has taken in decades.

An Inside Job

One of Core i7’s most significant changes is the inclusion of an integrated memory controller. Instead of memory accesses going from the CPU across a relatively slow front-side bus to the motherboard chipset and finally to the RAM, an IMC will eliminate the need for a front-side bus and external memory controller. The result is dramatically lower latency than was found in the Core 2 and Pentium 4 CPUs.

Why can’t the memory controller on the motherboard simply be pushed to higher speeds to match an IMC? Remember, when you’re talking about a memory controller residing directly in the core, the signals have to travel mere millimeters across silicon that’s running at several gigahertz. With an external design, the signals have to travel out of the CPU to a memory controller in the chipset an inch or so away. It’s not just distance, either—the data is traveling across a PCB at far, far slower speeds than it would if it were within the CPU. In essence, it’s like having to go from an interstate to an unpaved, bumpy road.

Of course, if you’re an AMD loyalist, you’re probably bristling at the thought of Intel calling an IMC an innovation. After all, AMD did it first. So doesn’t that make AMD the pioneer? We asked Intel the same question. The company’s response: One: An IMC isn’t an AMD invention and, in fact, Intel had both an IMC and graphics core planned for its never-released Timna CPU years before the Athlon 64. Two: If AMD’s IMC design is so great, why does the Core 2 so thoroughly trash it with an external controller design? In short, Intel’s message to the AMD fanboys is nyah, nyah!

Naturally, you’re probably wondering why Intel thinks it needs an IMC now. Intel says the more efficient, faster execution engine of the Core i7 chip benefits from the internal controller more than previous designs. The new design demands boatloads of bandwidth and low latency to keep it from starving as it waits for data.

Memory a Trois

The Core i7 CPU is designed to be a very wide chip capable of executing instructions with far more parallelism than previous designs. But keeping the chip fed requires tons of bandwidth. To achieve that goal, the top-end Core i7 CPUs will feature an integrated tri-channel DDR3 controller. Just as you had to populate both independent channels in a dual-channel motherboard, you’ll have to run three sticks of memory to give the chip the most bandwidth possible. This does present some problems for board vendors though, as standard consumer mobos have limited real estate.

Most performance boards will feature six memory slots jammed onto the PCB, but some will feature only four. On these four-slot boards, you’ll plug in three sticks of RAM and use the fourth only if you absolutely have to, as populating the last slot will actually reduce the bandwidth of the system. Intel, in fact, recommends the fourth slot only for people who need more RAM than bandwidth. With three 2GB DIMMs, though, most enthusiast systems will feature 6GB of RAM as standard.

Although it may change, Core i7 will support DDR3/1066, with higher unofficial speeds supported through overclocking. Folks hoping to reuse DDR2 RAM with Intel’s budget chips next year can forget about it. Intel has no plans to support DDR2 with a Core i7 chip at this point, and with DDR3 prices getting far friendlier to the wallet, we don’t expect the company to change its mind.

Hyper-Threading Revisited

A CPU core can execute only one instruction thread at a time. Since that thread will touch on only some portions of the CPU, resources that are not used sit idle. To address that, Intel introduced consumers to Hyper-Threading with its 3.06GHz Pentium 4 chip. Hyper-Threading, more commonly called simultaneous multi-threading, partitioned the CPU’s resources so that multiple threads could be executed simultaneously. In essence, a single-core Pentium 4 appeared as two CPUs to the OS. Because it was actually just one core dividing its resources, you didn’t get the same performance boost you would receive from adding a second core, but Hyper-Threading did generally smooth out multitasking, and in applications that were optimized for multi-threading, you would see a modest performance advantage.

The 45nm-based Core i7 will pack all four cores on a single die. The cores will communicate via a high-speed crossbar switch. An integrated memory controller and Quick Path Interconnect links to other CPUs also make the Core i7 very AMD-like.

The problem was that very few applications were coded for Hyper-Threading when it was released and performance could actually be hindered. Hyper-Threading went away with the Core 2 series of CPUs, but Intel has dusted off the concept for the new Core i7 series because the transistor cost is minimal and the performance benefits stand to be far better than what the Pentium 4 could ever achieve.

Intel toyed with the idea of redubbing the feature Hyper-Threading 2 but decided against it, as the essential technology is unchanged. So why should we expect Hyper-Threading to be more successful this go around? Intel says it’s due to Core i7’s huge advantage over the Pentium 4 in bandwidth, parallelism, cache sizes, and performance. Depending on the application, the company says you can expect from 10 to 30 percent more performance with Hyper-Threading enabled. Still, Intel doesn’t force it down your throat because it knows many people still have mixed feelings about the feature. The company recommends that you give it a spin with your apps. If you don’t like it, you can just switch it off in the BIOS. Intel’s pretty confident, however, that you’ll leave it on.

Intel's Core i5 Analyzed and Tested (150+ Benchmarks)

2009-09-08T15:24:00.000-07:00

Memory Loss

Enthusiasts will also question the move from tri-channel DDR3 to dual-channel DDR3—why go back if wider is better? Intel’s decision is based on pragmatism and cost. The tri-channel circuitry in the CPU doesn’t add much cost to the processor, but it’s not cheap to implement when building a motherboard. Those added traces from the socket to the RAM slots mean more layers and pricier boards. That’s one of the contributing factors to excessively priced X58 boards this past year.

Should you be concerned about shifting down to dual-channel? Generally, no. For the most part, only the most memory-bandwidth-intensive apps will actually see any performance hit. The fantastic latency and overall bandwidth capacity of the Nehalem design is more than adequate for today’s applications. This doesn’t mean it’s a non-issue. The vast majority of Lynnfield motherboards we’ve seen are opting for four-DIMM slots. That means a maximum of 8GB using affordable 2GB DIMMs (4GB DIMMs are currently cost-prohibitive). The only board we’ve seen with more DIMM slots is Gigabyte’s GA-P55-UD6, which features six, for a total of 12GB, using 2GB DIMMs. The memory controller in Lynnfield tops out at 16GB, while Bloomfield maxes out at 24GB. Realistically, 24GB of RAM is way overkill for 99 percent of us. Our experience has shown us that most apps do not consume that much RAM; 4GB to 6GB is the sweet spot today.

PCI-E at the Core

Another significant change for Lynnfield is that PCI-E comes directly off the CPU core. In X58/Bloomfield, X48/Core 2 Quad, and 790FX/Phenom II, PCI Express is external to the CPU, residing in the north-bridge chipset. Data is pumped out to the chipset where it must then be directed to the PCI-E slots that connect to the GPUs. As you can imagine, the extra hop creates a latency issue—that’s eliminated with Lynnfield. Lower latency is better, right? Yes and no. While latency is better on Lynnfield, the CPUs feature but a single x16 PCI-E 2.0 lane in the chip. That’s fine for a single GPU, but multi-GPU configurations will have to split the bandwidth. That means an SLI or CrossFire X rig will run both cards in x8 mode. Remember, however, that we’re talking x8 at PCI-E 2.0 speeds, which is 8GB/s for each card. From what we’ve seen and from what vendors have told us, only at the highest resolutions with antialiasing do you see any impact.

But, you say, what about tri-SLI? That, too, can be theoretically supported. Even though Lynn-field supports but a single x16 PCI-E 2.0 lane, additional PCI-E lanes are added through the P55 chipset—at the cost of latency. Previous designs that had PCI-E plumbed from both the north bridge and south bridge were dinged for doing just this. Some vendors are working around the lack of bandwidth by adding Nvidia’s nForce 200 chip to their boards. The nForce 200 doesn’t magically add bandwidth but it does manage the available bandwidth across multiple slots. Thus, a board vendor could add three or even four x16 PCI-E slots and have the nForce 200 chip manage the load for multi-GPU configurations. This would eliminate the need to have the GPUs feed off of the higher-latency connection in the chipset.

CrossFire X support is a given in the vast majority of P55 motherboards. And SLI will be as well for the board vendors who pay Nvidia to “certify” that their boards are SLI-ready. Fortunately, the big names are already onboard with that, including Asus, Gigabyte, MSI, EVGA, and even Intel.

If you’re wondering why Intel doesn’t just fix the lack of bandwidth by adding additional PCI-E lanes in the CPU, consider this: Intel would have to add additional traces from the CPU and the socket, and even Intel is loathe to introduce yet another new socket standard so soon. The company also doesn’t think it’s worth it as anyone who truly wants full dual-x16 GPU support should really be buying X58: Remember, folks, Lynnfield and P55 are for the “mainstream.”

The Lynnfield LGA1156 again rejiggers the design of the modern CPU. With the Athlon 64 and the Core i7, the memory controller was moved from the north bridge directly into the CPU core. With Lynnfield, the PCI-Express ports are now handled directly by the CPU as well. Furthermore, relatively low-speed data from the hard drives and USB ports flows though a single DMI link at 2GB/s with Lynnfield.

P55: Downsizing the Chipset

In the old days, new core-logic chipsets were almost as exciting as a new CPU. Not so today. With X58 and Bloomfield, the chipset got fired from its job of managing the memory controller. With Lynnfield, it even loses its responsibilities for managing PCI-E, as both features are now integral to the CPU itself. Today, the chipset is nothing more than a glorified south bridge, managing USB, SATA, PCI, PS/2, and other decidedly unsexy items. The P55 might have been sexier if it had USB 3.0 or SATA 6 functionality, but that won’t appear until next year. And even if it had those features, it’s pretty clear where the P55 stands: Its desk has been moved to the basement and its red Swingline stapler has been confiscated.

Intel’s latest troika of new CPUs brings Nehalem goodness to the masses

2009-09-08T15:18:00.000-07:00

Nehalem for everyone! That simple sentence best explains Intel’s brand-new series of CPUs, which is sure to please budget users everywhere while confounding power users.

Why would a new CPU that gives you the best bang for the buck in town be greeted nervously? Because Intel’s new CPU brings with it a new socket as well as a new infrastructure. This new infrastructure is essentially a fork in the road that forces users to make a difficult choice: Save money today but get locked out of the high-end, or splurge today knowing that the budget CPU is damn near as good as the top-end part.

For the details on Intel’s new budget monster, savor our full report, consume the specs, and then digest the benchmarks to see just which path your next PC should take.

Meet Lynnfield

We normally don’t use a CPU’s code-name once its real name is known, but to help keep your head from popping off over Intel’s confusing naming scheme we’re going to rely on some code-names here for clarity.

Intel’s newest CPU family is code-named Lynnfield. The lineup includes the 2.93GHz Core i7-870, the 2.83GHz Core i7-860, and the 2.66GHz Core i5-750. Lynnfield chips use essentially the same microarchitecture as Intel’s original Core i7 CPUs, which were code-named Bloomfield, but the new CPUs are incompatible with existing Core i7 motherboards. That’s right, you could walk into a store and buy a Core i7 CPU that will not work with the Core i7 motherboard you just bought. Likewise, the Core i7 heatsink cooler you bought may not work with a new Core i7, either.

Despite its smaller size, Intel’s new Lynnfield Core i7/Core i5 CPU (right) actually features an increased transistor count of 774 million and a larger die size of 296 square millimeters, compared with the 731-million-tranny Bloomfield Core i7 (left) and its 263 square-millimeter die.

Socket Switcheroo

The most notable difference in this new crop of Core i7s is the socket. For Lynnfield, Intel is introducing the LGA1156 socket. This socket is, as stated, incompatible with the current LGA1366 motherboards and CPUs. To irk you even more, even the heatsink cooler mounting holes are incompatible, so you probably couldn’t use an LGA1366 cooler, even if you happened to have one. And even more annoying to enthusiasts, LGA775 coolers are also incompatible. Earlier this year, Intel execs told Maximum PC that LGA775 cooler compatibility was being considered for the new chip, but obviously the company has since ruled that out. To break it down: LGA1366 uses a 12cm gap, LGA1156 uses an 11cm gap, and LGA775 uses a 10cm gap. Yes, one centimeter difference and you have to dustbin your pricey high-rise cooler even though it’s capable of handling the thermals of the new chip.

We asked Intel if it was doing this just to piss people off and the company said no, it did it for legitimate engineering reasons. Intel actually lowered the height of the new direct socket load mechanism that clamps the CPU in place, which required moving the mounting holes out. Existing heatsinks capable of the thermal load should work, Intel said, so long as consumers obtain updated mounting brackets from the cooler maker. We have to also note that very new high-end coolers are coming with mounts for LGA1156 too. Still, make sure that if the box says Core i7, support for LGA1156 is included.

Although Intel wouldn’t confirm this, we’ve been told by high-end system builders that certain LGA1366 motherboards and coolers would flex enough to create a gap between cooler and CPU. The new design presumably fixes that problem.

Sockets Compared

Lynnfield Socket

Bloomfield Socket

The new budget Core i5/Core i7 CPUs use a new LGA1156 socket design (top image), which is incompatible with existing LGA1366 Core i7 motherboards and coolers (bottom image). The design eliminates traces for the third memory controller, but builds in wires that will accommodate forthcoming CPUs with integrated graphics cores.

Screenshot gallery: Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard

2009-09-04T15:19:00.000-07:00

Now that we've got hands-on with Apple's new version of OS X, Snow Leopard, we decided it was worth a full gallery of all the screenshots we could muster.

QuickTime X

The dock

Stacks

Exposé

Trimming a video in QuickTime X

20 best new features in OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard

2009-09-04T15:09:00.000-07:00

Many of Snow Leopard's changes are under the hood - new architecture that provides a foundation for the Mac going forward.

But while there's no Spotlight, Time Machine or Quick Look equivalent this time round, Snow Leopard still packs in new user-oriented features, big and small. Here are our favourites.

1. Exchange support
The biggie for corporate types, and word on the street is Snow Leopard's Exchange support works beautifully. It certainly makes Microsoft's Office 2010 announcement ("We'll be doing Exchange things, too!") look a bit sad.

2. Better stacks
Dock stacks viewed as grids now have a scroll bar if there are many items. You can also move up and down the folder hierarchy within the stack.

3. Dock Exposé
Click-hold a Dock app icon and its open windows show in Exposé. Even minimised windows are shown, displayed smaller and under a subtle horizontal line.

4. Minimised window options
To take advantage of Dock Exposé and not clutter the Dock with minimised windows, you can set 'Minimize windows into application icon' in the Dock System Preferences pane.

5. Malware protection
It's early days, but Snow Leopard contains basic malware protection to stop you killing your Mac to death.

6. Revamped eject manager
In Leopard, disks often couldn't be ejected, because a file was in use by an application. Snow Leopard indicates which app is causing the problem.

7. Improved Keyboard Shortcuts management
Keyboard shortcuts now live in a revised Keyboard System Preferences pane, listed by category for ease of editing.

8. Revised Services
The Services menu is now context-sensitive, showing only relevant options on a per-app basis. Services can also be toggled via the Services section of the Keyboard Shortcuts preferences.

9. Smart text select
Preview now selects text intelligently in multi-column documents, rather than selecting across the entire page width.

10. Text replacement
One for the future, once apps support it, but Mac OS X now has system-wide, user-definable text substitution—see the Text tab of Language & Text in System Preferences.

11. Enhanced view options
In Finder, you can now change the file sort order in Column view. Icons can also be displayed in Icon view at a frankly silly 512 x 512 pixels.

12. Better accessibility
The enhanced VoiceOver utility showcases major improvements to assistive technologies within Mac OS X.

13. Recording and trimming in QuickTime
QuickTime X can record from your Mac's camera or screen, and the results can be trimmed and shared to iTunes or YouTube.

14. Date and time in the menu bar
The Clock tab within the Date & Time System Preferences pane finally offers a 'Show date' option, so the time and date can be shown simultaneously in the menu bar.

15. Time-zone tracking
The Mac's time zone setting can now automatically update as you move around the world.

16. iCal events inspectors
Edit an event and you can tear off the dialog as a separate inspector. Alternatively, set this as the default via the Advanced preferences - Open events in separate windows.

17. Sandboxed Safari plug-ins
When Flash crashes, Safari doesn't. Worth 25 quid on its own to most people, we'd say.

18. Automatic printer driver updates
Plug in a printer and Snow Leopard makes sure it has the right driver—and it periodically checks for updates and downloads them via Software Update.

19. Faster wake and shut down
We're not sure sleeping and waking our Mac is now twice as fast (as per Apple's claim), but it's damn close.

20. Smaller footprint
OK, so we're adding one 'architecture' feature: install Snow Leopard and you end up with more—not less—space on your Mac. We got back over 20 GB, another install yielded 9GB.

Leaked: BlackBerry Desktop Manager for Mac

2009-09-04T15:05:00.000-07:00

Time to rejoice Mac users, today is your day. That is because the BlackBerry Desktop Manager for Mac has just been leaked. It is important to note this is version 1.0.0 and it's still in the beta phase so you may get some bugs.

For years now Mac users have been left out in the cold when it comes to the BlackBerry Desktop Manager. It really does make you wonder what took RIM so long to develop a compatible Mac version. In the long run it may have paid off because of the amount of time they have had to work and perfect it. The BlackBerry Desktop manager for Mac lets you sync your iTunes playlists, contacts, tasks, apps and more. One thing is for sure Mac owners who previously stayed away from BlackBerry because of this might just be changing their mind.

Download BlackBerry Desktop Manager for Mac

Superior Windows XP64 SXP64F (2009) - Windows XP x64 Ed

2009-05-03T11:49:00.000-07:00

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1024x768.

Created by: YourSuperior Probably the Most EPIC release(final version) of Windows XP 64bit. NOT THE SAME XP64 OS AS THE ONES WITH SIMILAR NAMES RELEASED EARLIER. This one has only been out since the 19th of March 2009. Original release of THIS new version was done here, on h33t and on demonoid. So if you want the actual clean source, get THIS here torrent! And beware of Microsoft marketing drones trying to do everything in their power to talk this OS down (MS no longer markets/sells XP x64 Edition..) ============================================================================= A clean secure thoroughly tested AV/IT-expert's version of Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition. Built on XP Professional x64 Edition retail SP2 English (United States, NT 5.2.3790.3959) but including ALL Languages and Keyboards ! With inline *corporate* Volume License Key; this release passes "Windows Genuine Advantage" checks, and a product key is NOT needed (see AMD64WINNT.SIF on the iso). Have your own legal key? Please change it using TweakUI (which is included). * Although this release is rather complete and sufficient for most users, there is no Outlook or MS Help in the core of SXP64F; This XP-release is intended for those who - like me - prefer a Classic minimal approach, those who prefer OpenOffice, do audio-/video-editing, creative and developing work, and/or those who generally don't share their PC/laptop with other users. If you are the type that feels at home being Administrator *all the time* without ever getting infected by a virus, then this is your Windows OS ! Do your CPU and motherboard support x64? Then this might very well be the FASTEST Desktop/Workstation OS you can find! It is UPDATED to WoW64 standards of March 19 2009, with all OFFICIAL Microsoft fixes and patches integrated. ** Please check the text below prior to installing, so you already know what is removed and what is added to this automated unattended OS install CD. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INSTALL INSTRUCTIONS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Burn the .iso Image-file to CD (or DVD) at 6 X speed or slower, try ImgBurn.com Power on your PC/laptop, press the button for the system to enter BIOS. Change the boot sequence to CD first, then Save and Exit BIOS. Then boot with the burned CD and (Quick)format the desired storage partition. ( You only need to boot from CD once, don't press a key at the next boot! ) -> Don't use this CD to Repair or Upgrade existing copies of Windows! -> Don't take out your CD before installation is finished. -> When installation is done change the Administrator password ! It is set to "x9z0_-" which will be used to automatically login... * Disk storage footprint after installation is only 1.7 GB (minus pagefile), but I recommend to use a partition of at least 18 GB to be prepared for long-term use (installation of Photoshop, SoundForge, Vegas Pro etc.) * Commit Charge (Memory footprint) right after installation is 103 MB, with only 18 processes running. This includes DirectX alive & kicking ! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ADDED ITEMS & FEATURES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I n t e g r a t e d (pre-installed) into this XP64 release : - DirectX 9.0c (64 bit & 32 bit) Note that DirectX 10 for XP64 (plus a 9-10 Switcher tool) can be found via the /Superior/ folder on your Desktop ! - Windows Media Player 11 plus IE6 plugins, extra smooth/safe with tweaks. - Internet Explorer 6 (plus all security updates) I highly recommend downloading and using Mozilla Firefox instead. Trust me, with these Add-ons you're a happier user! * AdBlockPlus * ConfigMania * Stylish * TrackMeNot - JKDefrag64 (replaces the Disk Defragmentation tool from MS) - ERUNT -> Auto-backups state of registry, this crucial tool in essence replaces System Restore, and works a LOT better! Info on using ERUNT: http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/erunt.txt - PSPad (2/26/2009) -> Brilliant freeware Text Editor, replacing Notepad. - PuTTy -> 64 bit SSH client, replacing telnet and hyperterminal. - Autoruns (right-click My Computer) -> Much better than using MSConfig - ALL XP x64 updates released until March 19 2009 integrated! Also: - A silent installer for MS .NET Framework (2.0 SP2, 3.0 SP2, 3.5 SP1) can be found via folder /Post-install Extras/ included with the torrent of this .iso - Some gorgeous unique Desktop Wallpapers included. - Some cool Themes - the Themes service needs to be started first ( Run command: "sc start Themes" for that ! ) - Some great extra fonts and cursors! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- E X C L U D E D from Windows/Microsoft Update were : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - IE 7 (since IE 8 is out and Firefox is still a lot better) - Windows Search 4.0 (don't know anyone who uses it..) - MS Silverlight (Hmmrf..) - Windows File Protection = DISABLED, but most security catalogs still in tact! - Indexing Service = disabled and removed entirely. This Windows x64 release is targeted for use with SSD (NAND/Flash) types of storage; Indexing, Defragmenting and many other disk-polling aspects are not recommended! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following have been REMOVED ( 64-bit owners I know will NOT need these ) : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # Applications # Accessibility Options, Briefcase, ClipBook Viewer Defragmenter (replaced by JKdefrag!) Games, Internet Games, Pinball WordPad () # Old Drivers # ISDN, Modems # Multimedia # AOL ART Image Format Support Images and Backgrounds Music Samples Old CDPlayer and Sound Recorder # Network parts # Some Communication tools Connection Manager Int. Inf. Serv. (IIS), but iis.dll is there for Network Component wizzard! MSN Explorer Outlook Express (see folder /Superior/ on desktop for more OE killing) Peer-to-Peer Windows Messenger # Operating System Options # Administrative Templates Administrator VB scripts Some Command-line tools *** Document Templates DR Watson File and Settings Wizard File System Encryption (try TrueCrypt instead!) Help and Support Manual Install and Upgrade MS Agent Out of Box Experience (OOBE) Private Character Editor Search Assistant (who ever used this?) Security Center (Windows Firewall is still there!) Windows Tour User Account Pictures (use your own) # Services # Alerter, Fax Service, IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service, Messenger, Simple TCP/IP Services, System Restore Service (ERUNT is installed) Telnet (telnet.exe removed as well, try typing putty at Run ;-) ( Check "Last Session.ini" in sxp64 folder for the actual nLite preset.. ) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTEGRATED DRIVERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- XP x64 drivers, among which NVIDIA Forceware 182.08 WHQL XP 64, latest Realtek and Broadcom ethernet, Gigabyte, X45 and X48 Intel chipsets/boards essentials; TEXTMODE S-ATA/AHCI/RAID drivers; Nvidia SATAIDE Driver (v10.3.0.42) WHQL Nvidia SATARAID Driver (v10.3.0.42) WHQL JMicron JMB36X RAID Processor Intel(R) ESB2 SATA AHCI Controller Intel(R) ICH7R/DH SATA AHCI Controller Intel(R) ICH7M/MDH SATA AHCI Controller Intel(R) ICH8R/DH/DO SATA AHCI Controller Intel(R) ICH8M-E/M SATA AHCI Controller Intel(R) ICH9R/DO/DH SATA AHCI Controller Intel(R) ICH9M-E/M SATA AHCI Controller Intel(R) ICH10D/DO SATA AHCI Controller Intel(R) ICH10R SATA AHCI Controller Intel(R) ESB2 SATA RAID Controller Intel(R) ICH7R/DH SATA RAID Controller Intel(R) ICH7MDH SATA RAID Controller Intel(R) ICH8R/ICH9R/ICH10R/DO SATA RAID Controller Intel(R) ICH8M-E/ICH9M-E SATA RAID Controller Except for Windows core drivers and Realtek Media, no extra audio-chipset drivers are included! Only the required drivers for your hardware will be installed. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TWEAKS & PATCHES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This Windows XP x64 is patched for a Superior user experience. - This OS has many sophisticated registered tweaks applied. View the file "X64_2009.REG" in "Superior/handy scripts/Registry Backup/" for details. - Max Half-open Connections limit for TCP has been raised to 8192. - Hibernate = disabled, but still usable. - System is set to CET and Euro usage, but can be changed. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUPPORT -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There is a HUGE worldwide userbase supporting XP Pro x64 Edition, so for further updating, maintenance and advice, do check these: www. ryanvm. net/forum/viewforum.php?f=9 http://msfn.org/board/index.php?showforum=104 http://planetamd64.com/index.php?showforum=84 http://autopatcher.com/forums/index.php?showforum=15 http://www.x64bit.net/site/board/index.php?showforum=65 http://extended64.com http://start64.com http://xp64.ma.cx http://filehippo.com/software/drivers/ http://winaddons.com/top-300-freeware-software/ http://microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/64bit/russel_x64faq.mspx http://support.microsoft.com/ph/8599 Microsoft somehow assumes there aren't enough average users of the XP64 Operating System. It turns out, however, that a wide range of current-day applications, like those for Audio- and Video- editing, encoding, mixing, muxing, BluRay/HD viewing and production, as well as many scientific and no-nonsense apps used by media-professionals and experts, in general, often perform faster and more efficient in XP64 than they do in Vista or Windows 7. ** This Windows version is designed to work with 64-bit processors from AMD and Intel that support the x64 extensions to the x86 architecture. These include the Athlon 64, Athlon 64 FX, Mobile Athlon 64, Turion 64, Opteron processors from AMD, and all Xeon, Pentium 4, Dual and Quad Core Intel CPU's with EM64T. *** Commandline stuff still in there (among others) : arp.exe, at.exe, atsvc.exe, fc.exe, find.exe, findstr.exe, ftp.exe ipconfig.exe, logoff.exe, nbtstat.exe, net.exe, netsh.exe, netshell.exe netstat.exe, nslookup.exe, ntrights.exe, pathping.exe, ping.exe posix.exe, rcp.exe, replace.exe, secfixup.exe, shutdown.exe subst.exe, syskey.exe, taskkill.exe, tracert.exe, tracert6.exe, tskill.exe, ureg.dll, where.exe, xcopy.exe -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MISC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -> Check the folder "Superior" on your desktop for lots of handy URLs to software you should try. -> You might like the All-In-One .NET installer that came with this torrent release ( under folder Post-install Extras ). Simply double-click the batch-file "dotNET-install.bat" when you've booted (as Administrator) in this SXP64 OS. This SuperiorXP64 OS auto-logs on with: username: Administrator password: x9z0_- * Do create your own auto-logon using TweakUI, which can be found in the folder Post-install Extras ( it needs to be installed first. After that: Start Menu > Programs > Powertoys for Windows > etc. ) Enjoy! ~YourSuperior SHA1 of SuperiorXPx64.iso : 82bdc715c19196f616a5cd3f75e3a23e05e0baf7

http://www.gigasize.com/get.php?d=wrnc6krqfxb http://www.gigasize.com/get.php?d=93h32oqo21b http://www.gigasize.com/get.php?d=okspvmd65cd http://www.gigasize.com/get.php?d=7tdcj7x770c http://www.gigasize.com/get.php?d=71splhsfx1b http://www.gigasize.com/get.php?d=5xynnwkb9rc http://www.gigasize.com/get.php?d=43fpsk1mvzb http://www.gigasize.com/get.php?d=m8fy70g12dc http://www.gigasize.com/get.php?d=l6p9c0dj5vc

Microsoft SQL Server

2009-05-03T11:40:00.000-07:00

Microsoft SQL Server

Teach yourself how to design and create SQL Server 2008 databases one step at a time. Work at your own pace through the book s practical, skill-building lessons and the hands-on practice files on CD. You ll begin by learning to install and configure SQL Server 2008, design a model database, and work with tables and indexes.

Next, you ll learn techniques to manipulate, maintain, and retrieve data. Finally, you ll learn more-advanced techniques, such as using views, functions, and triggers. As you complete each lesson, you can hone your skills using the practice exercises on the companion CD. Plus, you can review and download code samples illustrating the author s own, professional techniques direct from the companion Web site.

Don’t Forget Download:

Microsoft SQL Server

Windows XP-180 Edition

2009-05-03T11:01:00.000-07:00

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 720x400.

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 720x396.

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 640x480.

http://www.gigasize.com/get.php?d=2yypmkznx2f http://www.gigasize.com/get.php?d=3hcrhoh769f http://www.gigasize.com/get.php?d=909rxy4gxxd http://www.gigasize.com/get.php?d=68lbbk0p6xd http://www.gigasize.com/get.php?d=1k1pyvsk79d http://www.gigasize.com/get.php?d=71dr74pmf5b http://www.gigasize.com/get.php?d=yxy66f2jhhb http://www.gigasize.com/get.php?d=7hbso77po2d

TrainSignal Cisco CCNA Security 640 553 DVD (Including Bonus DVD) [Tutorial]

2009-04-19T02:49:00.000-07:00

TrainSignal Cisco CCNA Security 640 553 DVD (Including Bonus DVD) [Tutorial]

In as little as 13 hours, you'll learn how to Identify, lockdown, & secure Vulnerabilities in a small to medium enterprise branch network... and have the Knowledge necessary to pass the Cisco CCNA Security/IINS 640-553 Exam... Guaranteed!

Cisco CCNA Security Training Course FAQs

"Am I qualified to take this course?"

YES! If you are a network administrator, an aspiring network administrator, or have on-the-job security experience, this course will build a stronger foundation of advanced security concepts.

YES! If you have Cisco CCNA Certification or a basic understanding of Cisco Routers and Switches (without certification), this course is for you.

Note: The prerequisite to take the Cisco CCNA Security exam is Cisco CCNA certification.

Note: If you plan to continue on to the CCSP certification, the Cisco CCNA Security certification is the prerequisite.

"Do I need Cisco equipment to complete this training course?"

NO You do not need any Cisco equipment to watch the videos or to pass the Cisco CCNA Security/IINS 640-553 exam; however, working hands-on with Cisco equipment may enhance your training experience.
"I already have my CCNA. Do I need my Cisco CCNA Security certification?"

YES! The ability to secure a Cisco network is one of the most marketable skills for any Cisco professional and network security has never been more important.

Cisco CCNA Security Course Outline:

Video 1
Hackers – Their Motives and Methods

Learn about Hacker Roles and why they hack. Discover what your Network Security Goals should be, and how to implement Network Security Best Practices to achieve those goals to keep from suffering the consequences of ineffective network security.

* Why Do Hackers Hack?
* General Network Security Goals
* The Consequences of Ineffective Network Security
* Where Network Attacks Originate From
* Social Engineering Attacks
* Trojan Horses and Privilege Escalation Attacks
* Using Ping Sweeps and Port Scans on Your Own Network
* Best Practices

Video 2
Introduction to SDM (Security Device Manager)

Improve productivity, simplify router deployments, and troubleshoot complex connectivity issues using the Security Device Manager. Plus, launch, login, and tour SDM and discover some Real World SDM issues as you learn to manage your router away from the Command Line.

* Cisco's Security Device Manager (SDM)
* Pre-installation Configuration
* Installing SDM
* Launching and Loading SDM
* SDM Settings - User Preferences
* SDM Configure Window
* Additional Tasks Tab
* SDM Monitor Window
* SDM in Internet Explorer Problem

Video 3
Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA)

Learn how Authentication works in AAA, what happens when you specify different devices used for Authentication, and discover commands used in Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting that will be useful in the real world and on the exam. Plus, configure TACAS+ and RADIUS security protocols.

* What is AAA?
* TACAS+ vs. RADIUS
* TACAS+ and RADIUS Configuration
* Authentication Configuration
* No Authentication Option
* Telnet Login Problem
* Real World Not About AAA Lists
* Using AAA for Privileged EXEC Mode and PPP
* Accounting
* Authorization
* Configuring AAA with SDM

Video 4
Layer 2 Security

Learn how to prevent security threats like CAM Overflow attacks by configuring and implementing Port Security, Sticky Addresses, Lightweight Extensible Authentication Protocol (LEAP), and SPAN. Plus, discover the relationship between DHCP Snooping, Dynamic ARP Inspection, and IP Source Guard and learn to configure and operate Root Guard and BPDU Guard.

* Basic L2 Security Features
* Cisco Password Rules Review
* Preventing CAM Overflow Attacks with Port Security
* Port Security
* Configuring Port Security
* Misconfiguring Port Security
* Aging Time for Secure Addresses
* Sticky Addresses
* Configuring MAC Table Event Notification
* Dot1x Port-Based Authentication
* Cisco Lightweight Extensible Authentication Protocol (LEAP)
* Extensible Authentiaction Protocol-Flexible Authentication via Secure Tunneling (EAP-FAST)
* Local SPAN Configuration
* Remote SPAN Configuration
* Filtering Intra-VLAN Traffic
* VLAN Access List (VACL)
* Private VLAN
* DHCP Snooping
* Dynamic ARP Inspection
* IP Source Guard
* MAC Address Flooding Attacks
* VLAN Hopping
* Root Guard
* BPDU Guard

Video 5
Layer 3 Security

This is one of the most important videos in the course because of the volume of detailed information that you will use on the exam and in the real world. Learn about "Salting" your MD5 to make an encrypted password even stronger and discover how Network Time Protocol (NTP) will be important in your security deployment. Plus, learn to configure and use Superviews, Autosecure, Security Audits, and One-Step Lockdown via SDM to thwart ICMP based attacks, IP Spoofing, and Recon Attacks.

* Configuring Enable Password
* Privileged Level Password vs. Privleged Level Secret
* Encrypting Passwords
* Strong Passwords vs. Weak Passwords
* Creating and Testing Minimum Length Password Policy
* ”Salting” your MD5
* Network Time Protocol (NTP)
* Configuring NTP Master Time Source
* Synchronizing System Clocks
* Configuring Peering with NTP Peers Command
* Other Clock Commands
* Telnet and SSH
* Creating Banners
* Different Types of Network Attacks
* Denial of Services (DoS) Attack and SYN Flooding Attack
* TCP Intercept Defense
* ICMP (Ping) Sweep, Port Scan and Port Sweep
* Ping of Death vs. Invite of Death and Ping Floods
* Smurf Attacks
* Availability Attacks: Don't Forget the Physical Layer!
* IP Spoofing
* IP Source Routing
* Packet Sniffers and Queries
* Other Confidentiality Attacks
* Password Attacks
* Salami Attack
* Other Network Attacks Types - Trust Exploitation
* Superviews - Role-Based CLI Views
* AutoSecure
* One-Step Lockdown
* Security Audit
* NTP and SSH in SDM
* Differences Between SDM and AutoSecure
* SNMP
* Logging
* Viruses and Worms
* Cisco IOS Logging Enhancements
* Buffer Overflow
* Cisco IOS Resilient Conofiguration and Login Enhancements
* exec-timeout Command

Video 6
The Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)

Learn the differences between Intrusion Detection (IDS) and Intrusion Prevention (IPS) and how they operate. Plus, discover the different approaches to identifying malicious traffic and learn to use NIPS, HIPS and Honeypots to stop it. We'll also configure your Intrusion Prevention System using the Security Device Manager (SDM) and we'll use the Command Line to verify this IPS configuration.

* Intrusion Detection (IDS) vs. Intrusion Prevention (IPS)
* Signatures and Signature Types
* NIPS and HIPS
* Honeypots
* Configuring IPS in SDM
* Editing IPS Rules
* Editing Global Settings
* SDEE Message Logs
* Viewing Signatures
* Editing and Deleting Signatures
* Verifying Your IPS Configuration

Video 7
Firewalls

Learn to enable a Cisco router to act as a firewall using the Cisco IOS Firewall Set. Plus, discover concepts relatively new to Cisco like Zone-based Firewalls that are meant to phase out CBAC and the “ip inspect” command. We'll also configure and edit a firewall using the Security Device Manager's (SDM) Basic Firewall Wizard and we'll draw distinctions between the Basic Firewall Wizard and SDM's Advanced Firewall Wizard.

* Firewall Basics
* Stateless and Stateful Firewalls
* Application Layer Gateway (ALG)
* The Cisco IOS Firewall Feature Set Components
* Authentication Proxy
* Plan for Firewall Success Then Succeed!
* ACL Review
* Extended ACL Review
* Extended Access Control Lists
* Real-World ACL Success Tips
* Introduction to Turbo ACLs
* CBAC and “ip inspect” command
* Real-World Tips and Best Practices
* TCP and UDP Generic Inspection
* Deep Pocket Inspection (DPI)
* Zone-Based Firewall Configuration
* Class Maps and Policy Maps
* Basic Zone Commands
* Configuring Zone Pairs
* Configuring Firewall with SDM's Basic Firewall Wizard
* Editing Firewall with SDM
* SDM's Advanced Firewall Wizard
* Watch Your Directions - More Tips
* ICMP Inspection
* Final Note

Video 8
Cryptography and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

Learn how Asymetric and Symetric Algorithms can be used to implement Cryptography Techniques that help encrypt clear text passwords. Plus, configure your own IKE policy using the Command Line and get your hands dirty by using the Security Device Manager (SDM) to configure Site-to-Site VPN and Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) over IPsec.

* Cryptography Techniques
* Asymmetric and Symmetric Algorithms
* RSA Algorithm
* Diffie-Hellman (DH)
* A Word or Two About SHA
* What is VPN?
* VPN Terminology and Theory
* Introduction to PKI and the Certificate of Authority
* Public Key Cryptography Standards (PKCS)
* Internet Key Exchange (IKE)
* Steps to Configure Site-to-Site VPN
* Configuring IKE Policy Using Command Line
* Policy Match Criteria
* Crypto ACLs
* Mirror Configuration
* Creating Crypto Map
* Using SDM to Configure Site-to-Site VPN
* Generating Mirror in SDM
* Testing Our Configuration
* Verifying SDM Configuration Using Command Line
* The Return of Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) Over IPSec
* Using SDM to Configure GRE over IPSec

Video 9
Introduction to Voice and SAN Security

You do not need to be an expert in Voice Networking or Storage Area Networking (SAN) to learn how to keep these types of networks secure. Learn the differences between FCAP and FCPAP, discover the details of LUN and LUN Masking, and delve deeper into VoIP (Voice Over IP). Whatever your experience level may be, this detailed overview of Voice and SAN Networking will provide you the insight you need to get into one of the fastest growing areas in the IT field.

* Voice Over IP Overview
* Gateways and Gatekeepers
* VoIP Protocols
* Typical VoIP Attacks and Precautions
* Introduction to Storage Area Networking (SAN)
* SAN Transport Technologies and Protocols
* SAN Security - LUNS and LUN Masking
* SAN Zones
* Virtual SANs (VSANs)
* FCAP and FCPAP

Video 10
Introduction to Cisco Network Solutions

Cisco Packet Tracer 5.0

2009-04-19T02:48:00.001-07:00

Info:

The Packet Tracer 5.0 will bring many new brilliant features. Just to mention some of them:

1. PT5.0 will be multi-user. It means you will be able to run multiple instances of PT5.0 on one or more computers and then connect them together trough IP sockets. With this feature you will be able to create one big topology, distributed across computers on your classroom and each student will work on his small part of the big picture. It can lead to network games, challenge labs, etc.

2. Open Devel API PT5.0 will offer an open development API for Flash Action Script and C . You will be able to write your own PT addons, features, etc. One of the great addon could be a plugin which connects the virtual PT5.0 devices to a real devices!

And at last, but not least, some new protocol support:

IPv6

Multi-Area OSPF

Route Redistribution

Multilayer Switch (3560)

SSH

RSTP

Frame Relay update

Interface range

Different grades for different commands in labs

Possibility for locking PT to the student's name

Download:

CODE: SELECT ALL: http://uploading.com/files/0YDN4CB1/Cisco_Packet_Tracer_5.0.rar.html

Cisco Network Magic Professional 5.1

2009-04-19T02:45:00.000-07:00


Download	Provider	Quality
Direct Download-Cisco Network Magic Professional 5.1	LD
Fast Download-Cisco Network Magic Professional 5.1	SW

Cisco Network Magic Professional 5.1 | 28Mb

Code:

Having trouble connecting your devices together and to the Internet or printing from any computer? With Network Magic Pro 5.1, you can skip the tech support phone calls, online forums and expensive on-site consultants. Network Magic Pro provides do-it-yourself tools to help you set up, manage and secure your network like an IT professional. With point-and-click ease, you can: * Connect your devices together in minutes * Share Internet connections, printers and files * Protect your network with enhanced WPA security capabilities and status alerts * Repair your network and Internet connections to stay online and productive * Control access to the Internet and track online activity with remote desktop screenshots  Features: - Easy to Use- No IT Expertise Needed - Perform tasks from centralized location - Connect to the network - Add a Device - Wireless Connection Manager - NAS Support - Share Folders & Printers - New Security Enhancements(encryption support for WPA) - Monitor and Control - New Parental Monitoring - Network Reports - Web sites visited, software application used, and devices added or removed - Manage and Troubleshoot - Internet Speed Test - Health and Security Alerts - Proactively monitors networkï¿½s activity and health - Internet Connection Repair - Create a seamless network across Windows, XP, Vista and Mac

Code:

http://uploading.com/files/729PUI24/Network_Magic_Pro_5.1.8354.0.rar.html

Cisco Network Magic Pro 5.0.8282

2009-04-19T02:42:00.000-07:00

Info:
Set up, manage and secure your network with point and click ease
With Network Magic Pro 5.0, you can skip the tech support phone calls, online forums and expensive on-site consultants. Network Magic Pro provides do-it-yourself tools to help you set up, manage and secure your network like an IT professional.

With point-and-click ease, you can:
* Connect your devices together in minutes
* Share Internet connections, printers and files
* Protect your network with enhanced WPA security capabilities and status alerts
* Repair your network and Internet connections to stay online and productive
* Control access to the Internet and track online activity with remote desktop screenshots

Key Features
* Easy to Use- No IT Expertise Needed
o Perform tasks from centralized location
An enhanced interface plus new in-product wizards streamline networking tasks, taking the guesswork and effort out of getting connected, monitoring activity and repairing your network
* Connect to the network
o Add a Device
Easily connects all of the devices you use in your daily life; computers, printers, cameras and game consoles to your wireless or broadband network
o Wireless Connection Manager
Helps you connect to a secure network
o NAS Support
Connect Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices to your network, allowing you to easily back up your data
* Share Folders & Printers
o Share Printers and Files
Eliminate the need to email yourself to get access to files or print documents from different computers
* Protect
o New Security Enhancements
Add protection to your network with wireless protection (encryption support for WPA), enabling you to lock out intruders.
* Monitor and Control
o New Parental Monitoring
Gives parents the ability to monitor their kids' online activity. Restrict Internet access plus take real-time desktop screenshots to track web sites visited and programs used, providing peace of mind and a safer online experience
o Network Reports
View detailed activity reports for each computer on your network; informing you of web sites visited, software application used, and devices added or removed
* Manage and Troubleshoot
o Internet Speed Test
Test your Internet speed so you can be aware of service or performance issues
o Health and Security Alerts
Proactively monitors and informs you of your network\'s activity and health, giving you advice on how to resolve issues and improve your online experience.
o Internet Connection Repair
Quickly troubleshoot, pinpoint, and repair Internet connection problems
* Cross-platform Support
o Integrate Macs and PCs
Create a seamless network across Windows, XP, Vista and Mac so you can easily share printers and files across all of your computers.
o Integrate Macs and PCs into one network. (sold separately)
* Online Backup
o 6 Months of Online Backup from Carbonite
Automatically back up everything on your computer so you don\'t lose your valuable files. Our partner, Carbonite, makes it simple by providing unlimited, always on, backup so you don\'t have to make decisions about what or when to back-up.

Download:

CODE: SELECT ALL: http://uploading.com/files/HC6U59KZ/Cisco_Network_Magic_Pro_5.0.8282.rar.html

CODE: SELECT ALL: http://rapidshare.com/files/222759919/Cisco_Network_Magic_Pro_5.0.8282.rar

Top

USB Drive Antivirus 2.3

2009-04-15T13:14:00.000-07:00

One Antivirus Software is Not Enough

USB thumb drives and removable hard disk are now common throughout the workplace. They offer a compact storage solution for carting around work projects, personal documents. However, they also bring new problems which common antivirus can not solve:

1.Data leakage: account information, bids, contracts and much more commercial confidentiality data can easily be downloaded onto any removable media devices- from a memory stick to ipod . And once it leaves your computer, the integrity of that sensitive data is at risk.

2.Virus infection: more and more viruses,worms and trojans infect computer via USB drives, once an infected USB drives is plugged into computer,the virus in it will spread through the whole system.
Most of major antivirus products such as Kaspersky,Norton can't detect or remove this new type of virus.

USB Drive Antivirus provides fully USB security solutions , it not only allows you to prevent data leak from usb port, but also provides 100% protection against any malicious programs trying to attack via USB storage.

Today, you need two antiviruses to protect your computer completely:
one is common antivirus, the other one is USB Drive Antivirus which can make up the shortage of common antivirus when using USB storage devices.

Product Highlights

Prevent data leakage via USB removable devices
You can set the USB port status to Read only or Readable/Writable on the machine, also you can disable usage of any usb storage devices to prevent data leaks across USB flash drives. more information

100% protection against any virus via USB drives
USB Drive Antivirus uses innovative technology to block any threats via USB drive,any USB drives inserted into computer, USB Drive Antivirus will automatically scan it and remove threats. The majority of anti virus software are unable even to guarantee 50% protection.

Remove USB virus in your infected system
USB Drive Antivirus also has the ability to detect and remove usb/autorun virus in your computer. What you need to do is clicking the scan button,and waiting for virus scan to complete.

The best solution to protect offline computer
Other antivirus software should update signature database regularly, and they can not effectively protect offline computer that is not connected to the Internet. When new viruses, worms and other malicious attacks strike, traditional signatures are insufficient. USB Drive Antivirus uses advanced detection techniques, it doesn't mainly rely on virus signature, so it can protect offline computer from usb virus effectively without updating frequently.

The world's fastest and smallest antivirus software
With USB Drive Antivirus, it’s not necessary to sacrifice speed for detection and scanning. Compare with other antivirus software and you'll discover that USB Drive Antivirus installer is just 1 MB. The program utilizes approximately 6 to 8 MB of RAM.

100% compatible with other antivirus
Incompatibility between antivirus programs is an issue. In the vast majority of cases, installing two antivirus programs from different vendors on one machine (for increased protection) is technically impossible. However, USB Drive Antivirus is 100% compatible with all other security products in fully testing, including Norton,Nod32,Bitdefender,Kaspersky,etc.

Easy to use
USB Drive Antivirus has been specifically designed to perform effectively regardless of the user’s level of computer expertise.
Just install and forget it.

Pay once and get it all
Other antivirus products should be paid for updates every year. The USB Drive Antivirus keys are lifetime. You receive all future program updates free of charge.

Support all kinds of USB removable media

Pen Drives
iPods and iPhones
USB Flash cards
USB MP3 players
USB Audio players

External hard drives
Pocket PCs
Mobile phones
Other USB mass storage enabled devices

more info @http://www.usbantivirus.net

download link

http://rapidshare.com/files/221639113/USB_Drive_Antivirus_2.3.rar

Windows 7 Activation

2009-04-15T13:11:00.000-07:00

Wind0ws 7 Activation with OEM Information the program for activation, and also selection of keys to Windows 7 and Vista and definitions OEM of a code of a product. By selection of keys, the program activates your system. very powerful program, works with all versions 7 and Vista, result as has shown experience, on all of 100 %.

http://rapidshare.com/files/219313964/Windows.7.OEM_cyberexito.softarchive.net.rar

Microsoft Windows 7 Build 7068 x86

2009-04-06T02:52:00.000-07:00

Microsoft Windows 7 Build 7068 (x86)

Product keys (same as build 7000 and all other previous builds):

TQ32R-WFBDM-GFHD2-QGVMH-3P9GC
6JKV2-QPB8H-RQ893-FW7TM-PBJ73
QXV7B-K78W2-QGPR6-9FWH9-KGMM7
4HJRK-X6Q28-HWRFY-WDYHJ-K8HDH
GG4MQ-MGK72-HVXFW-KHCRF-KW6KY

Note: These keys will only work if you install the "Ultimate" edition!

How to use:
Burn and mount, boot from it (if you're not yet on Win 7).
If you're already using Win 7, extract the .iso contents
and run setup.exe to upgrade your installation (and grab
a pot of coffee, it will take some hours).
It's not possible to upgrade from x86 to x64 or vice versa!

Download:

CODE

Windows_7_Build_7068.part01.rar
Windows_7_Build_7068.part02.rar
Windows_7_Build_7068.part03.rar
Windows_7_Build_7068.part04.rar
Windows_7_Build_7068.part05.rar
Windows_7_Build_7068.part06.rar
Windows_7_Build_7068.part07.rar
Windows_7_Build_7068.part08.rar
Windows_7_Build_7068.part09.rar
Windows_7_Build_7068.part10.rar
Windows_7_Build_7068.part11.rar
Windows_7_Build_7068.part12.rar
Windows_7_Build_7068.part13.rar
Windows_7_Build_7068.part14.rar

Mirror:

CODE

Autodesk Maya 2009 Unlimited Mac OS X

2009-04-05T14:44:00.000-07:00

Autodesk Maya 2009 Unlimited Mac OS X

Autodesk Maya 2009 Unlimited Mac OS X
The award-winning Autodesk® Maya® software is a powerful, integrated 3D modeling, animation, visual effects, and rendering solution. Because Maya is based on an open architecture, all your work can be scripted or programmed using a well-documented and comprehensive API (application programming interface) or one of two embedded scripting languages, the Maya Embedded Language (MEL) or Python®. This level of openness, combined with an industry-leading suite of 3D visual effects, computer graphics, and character animation tools, enables you to realize your creative vision for your film, television, game development, and design projects.

Download

CODE

AM09U_highdefw.part1.rar
AM09U_highdefw.part2.rar
AM09U_highdefw.part3.rar
AM09U_highdefw.part4.rar
AM09U_highdefw.part5.rar

CRACK (ONLY)

CODE

AM09K_highdefw.zip

Mozilla Firefox 3.0.8 FOR MAC

2009-04-05T14:43:00.000-07:00

The Web is all about innovation, and this web browser sets the pace with dozens of new features, including the smart location bar, one-click bookmarking and blindingly fast performance. Firefox has security, speed and new features that will change the way you use the Web. Dont settle for anything less.

Whats New in this Version
- Fixed two security issues.

System Requirements

* Mac OS X 10.4 or later
* 256MB of RAM or higher recommended
* 200MB hard disk space

CODE

Firefox_203.0.8.dmg

Adobe Flash Player 10.0.22.87 FOR MAC

2009-04-05T14:42:00.000-07:00

Adobe Flash Player 10.0.22.87 FOR MAC

The standard for delivering high-impact, rich web content. Designs, animation and application user interfaces are deployed immediately across all browsers and platforms, attracting and engaging users with a rich web experience.

Adobe Flash Player
System Requirements

* Mac OS X 10.1 or later
* 500MHz PowerPC G3 processor or higher
* Firefox, Safari, and Opera

CODE

install_flash_player_osx_ub.dmg.zip

Adobe Reader 9.1 FOR MAC

2009-04-05T14:41:00.000-07:00

Adobe Reader 9.1 FOR MAC / RAPIDSHARE LINK
POST BY AUTHOR FAISALABG

Adobe Reader is free software that lets you view and print Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files on a variety of hardware and operating system platforms. This new version of the familiar Adobe Acrobat Reader provides a host of rich features that enable you to:

* Submit Adobe PDF forms that are created with fillable form fields in such applications as Adobe Acrobat Professional and Adobe Form Designer
* Play back a variety of embedded multimedia content, such as QuickTime and MP3 files
* Read and organize high-fidelity eBooks
* Activate search and accessibility capabilities built into your PDF files
* Display Adobe Photoshop? Album slide shows and electronic cards and export images for online photo processing (online photo services vary regionally)

What's new in this version:
Addresses a number of customer workflow issues and a critical security vulnerability while providing more stability.

System requirements

" PowerPC® G4 or G5 or Intel® processor
" Mac OS X v10.4.1110.5.6
" 128MB of RAM (256MB recommended)
" 405MB of available hard-disk space
" Safari 2.0.4 or later

CODE

AdbeRdr910_en_US_i386.pkg.zip

Netscape Navigator 9.0.0.6 FOR MAC

2009-04-05T14:38:00.000-07:00

Netscape Navigator 9.0.0.6 is a browser-only release. It does not contain an e-mail client, newsgroup reader, or HTML composer. Users of the Netscape 7.x suite may choose not to install Netscape Navigator 9 to avoid the loss of these features. You can have the best of both worlds by keeping Netscape 7.x installed for mail and news and installing Navigator 9 for browsing the Web.

What's new in this version:

* Security fixes included in Mozilla Firefox 2.0.0.12 have been included in Netscape Navigator 9.0.0.6.
* An add-on has been included in this version to help users migrate to either Flock or Firefox
* The WeatherBug add-on has been removed from this version of Navigator.

Operating System Requirements:

This product is designed to run on the following operating systems:

* Mac OS X 10.5 Intel
* Mac OS X 10.5 PPC
* Mac OS X 10.4 Intel
* Mac OS X 10.4 PPC
* Mac OS X 10.3.9
* Mac OS X 10.3
* Mac OS X 10.2

Additional Requirements:

* Mac OS X 10.4 PPC
* Mac OS X 10.3.9
* Mac OS X 10.4 Intel
* Mac OS X 10.0
* Mac OS X 10.1
* Mac OS X 10.5 PPC
* Mac OS X 10.2
* Mac OS X 10.5 Intel
* Mac OS X 10.3
* Mac OS Classic

CODE

netscape-navigator-9.0.0.6.dmg

MacOSX 10.5.6

2009-04-05T14:36:00.000-07:00

MacOSX 10.5.6

iPC MacOSX 10.5.6 for ordinary PC
Release Notes
Please make sure to read these notes very carefully!
We cannot be held responsible if you do not read the requirements.

MacOSX 10.5.6

iPC MacOSX 10.5.6 for ordinary PC
Release Notes
Please make sure to read these notes very carefully!
We cannot be held responsible if you do not read the requirements.

1. Choose only what your system has and nothing else
2. DO NOT select more than one driver of the same type!!
For example, do not select 2 SMBIOS kexts and do not select 2 AppleHDA audio drivers, etc.
This will in many cases cause the install to fail
3. If you kernel panic on startup then try doing a bare install with only the essentials (no extra drivers)
4. If you get a kernel panic screen and want to see what caused it, please boot in verbose mode (-v boot flag at the F8 boot prompt)
5. Default bootloader installed is PC_EFI v9, other bootloaders are available under "Alternate Bootloaders"
6. Default kernel installed is 9.6.0 Vanilla kernel
7. IF YOU ARE NOT INSTALLING VANILLA, PLEASE REMEMBER TO PICK A CHIPSET DRIVER TO AVOID GETTING "STILL WAITING FOR ROOT DEVICE"
8. If you are nForce owners, need to pick one of the nForce chipset drivers, recommend trying the "AppleNForceATA Test" first!
9. IF YOU INSTALL VOODOO 9.5.0 KERNEL YOU MUST INSTALL 9.5.0 (10.5.5) SEATBELT.KEXT
10. If you are on an AMD or SSE2 System you MUST choose the Voodoo 9.5.0 kernel under Kernels.
11. Voodoo kernel has a built in opt-code patcher so no binary patching is required
12. On the first boot make sure to boot with the -f boot flag!
Do this to make sure that all installed kexts are loaded properly. It is only required once.
13. If you installed the Chameleon with Boot Image support bootloader, and you want to activate the iPC OSx86 boot image,
then boot your system and run the following command in Terminal:
Code:

sudo /BootPicture/SetupBootPicture 1024 768

14. If your system's sound does not work even after installing the proper sound drivers there may be an issue with the System Preferences.
Go to System Preferences >> Sound >> Output >> and make sure that "Internal Speakers" is chosen and not Headphones or something else.
15. If you are using an NVIDIA video card older than the 6xxx series (e.g. FX5500),
you may not be able to boot with an injector installed (-v will show the boot process hang after the injector probes the card).
You will then need to install the "NVkush Complete Package" to get video working, this contains working kexts for these cards from 10.5.5.
Even then, though, there may be graphics glitches (issues with older cards).
16. DO NOT install the iPC OSx86 Base System over an existing Base System!
This may cause the install to fail while installing boot.efi. Its always best to do a fresh install.

Download code:

100 Free Useful Mac Applications (Part I)

2009-04-04T22:53:00.000-07:00

Gabtastik

Gabtastik lets you keep chat sessions open on your OS X desktop outside of your regular web browser, using minimal screen real estate and system memory.

Messenger

Think of it as Mac’s MSN Messenger.

Skype

Skype for Mac.

100 Free Useful Mac Applications (Part I)

2009-04-04T22:50:00.000-07:00

S MARTReporter

Application that can warn you of some hard disk drive failures before they actually happen.

SuperDocker

Tweak your Mac’s dock.

Chat Clients

Adium

Free instant messaging application for Mac OS X that can connect to AIM, MSN, Jabber, Yahoo, and more.

100 Free Useful Mac Applications (Part II)

2009-04-04T22:49:00.000-07:00

Serverskine

Have instant access to all of your web server, domain name, and hosting accounts. Serverskine allows you to keep everything straight in a way that’s intuitive, easy and useful.

SvnX

Allows you to browse your working copies, spot changes and operate on them but also to browse logs and revisions of your repositories !

Transmission

Transmission is a fast, easy, and free multi-platform BitTorrent client.

100 Free Useful Mac Applications (Part I)

2009-04-04T22:48:00.000-07:00

OnyX

Allows you to verify the Startup Disk and the structure of its System files, run miscellaneous tasks of system maintenance, configure some hidden parameters of the Finder, Dock, Dashboard, Exposé, Safari, Login window.

Monolingual

A program for removing unnecessary language resources from Mac OS X, in order to reclaim several hundred megabytes of disk space.

PresentYourApps

Lets you hide the Dock and menu bar for every Cocoa application you choose.

100 Free Useful Mac Applications (Part I)

2009-04-04T22:47:00.000-07:00

Loginox

Easily customize your Mac’s login screen.

MacLoc

After clicking on MacLoc, it will appear that you’ve logged out, however upon entering your username and password, all open documents and applications will be right where you left them.

Mactracker

Provides detailed information on every Apple Macintosh computer ever made, including items such as processor speed, memory, optical drives, graphic cards, supported Mac OS versions, and expansion options.

100 Free Useful Mac Applications (Part I)

2009-04-04T22:46:00.001-07:00

EverSave

Allows you to save all of your documents in a specific time interval or by changing the frontmost application.

Growl

Growl lets Mac OS X applications unintrusively tell you when things happen.

IStat Pro

Highly configurable widget that lets you monitor every aspect of your Mac, including CPU, memory, disks, network, battery, temperatures, fans, load & uptime and processes.

100 Free Useful Mac Applications (Part II)

2009-04-04T22:44:00.000-07:00

KissMac

Open-source and free stumbler/scanner application for Mac OS X

MAMP

MAMP stands for Mac, Apache, MySQL and PHP. It’s a one-click-install application to setup a PHP webserver.

Remote Desktop Connection

Mac application to quickly, simply and securely connect to Windows-based PCs to access Windows-based files, applications, devices, and networks from your Mac.

100 Free Useful Mac Applications (Part II)

2009-04-04T22:43:00.000-07:00

IStumbler

Wireless discovery tool for Mac OS X, providing plugins for finding AirPort networks, Bluetooth devices and Bonjour services with your Mac.

JollysFastVNC

Secure ARD and VNC client.

Juice

Podcast receiver that lets you create your own custom online audio anytime, anywhere.

100 Free Useful Mac Applications (Part II)

2009-04-04T22:42:00.000-07:00

FileZilla

Perhaps one of the most famouse FTP/SFTP around.

Firefox Browser

A no brainer must-have for those who enjoys surfing web with open standards.

Flock

A Social Web Browser

100 Free Useful Mac Applications (Part I)

2009-04-04T22:41:00.001-07:00

Caffeine

Caffeine is a tiny program that puts an icon in the right side of your menu bar. Click it to prevent your Mac from automatically going to sleep, dimming the screen or starting screen savers. Click it again to go back. Hold down the Command key while clicking to show the menu.