• Stopping the Messenger Service new
• 7 Things to look for in a new desktop PC
• Microsoft to retire Windows 2000 Server
• Test your internet speed.
• Online virus encyclopedia
• Scan your computer for viruses online.

Stopping the Messenger Service

What is the Messenger? -it transmits net send and Alerter service messages between clients and servers.

This is how a lot of pop-up windows start appearing on your desktop.

To remove the ability for anyone in the world to pop up messages on your computer,
you can disable the Messenger service.

1. Click Start->Settings ->Control Panel
2. Click Performance and Maintenance
3. Click Administrative Tools
4. Double click Services
5. Scroll down and highlight "Messenger"
6. Right-click the highlighted line and choose Properties
7. Click the STOP button
8. Select Disable or Manual in the Startup Type scroll bar Click OK

7 things to look for in a new desktop PC

Tech Commands / Kim Komando

Does your old clunker make wheezing noises when it boots up? Has your typing become faster than your computer? Tired of looking at the Windows hourglass for minutes at a time?

Perhaps it's time for a new desktop computer.

Computer manufacturers continue to struggle with weak business. Meanwhile, component manufacturers are making their goods smaller, faster and cheaper. The upshot: You can get a good deal on a muscular machine.

I can't recommend individual machines. They might not be on the market when you read this. Instead, let's go through the components that make up computers. Use these descriptions to decide what you need.

Following are seven points to ponder before you buy:

1. The microprocessor

This is one of the most expensive parts. Microprocessors for Windows machines are made by Intel and AMD. Those for Apples are made by IBM and Motorola. So here's my first piece of advice: Don't worry so much about who makes the chip. All four are good.

For Windows machines, you have a choice of the AMD Athlon XP, the Intel Pentium 4 and the Intel Celeron, an economy chip. The Pentium 4 and Athlon XP are upper end chips. The fastest Pentium 4 runs at 3.2 gigahertz — a very fast speed indeed. It's also very expensive. The comparable AMD chip, the 3200+, is slightly less expensive.

You may need these fire-breathers if you're doing lots of video editing. Ditto if you're working with computer-aided design or playing advanced games. Otherwise, look to chips running at 2.4 GHz to 2.6 GHz (or 2400+ to 2600+, in AMD-powered machines). They're cheaper, and they perform nearly as well as the top-end chips.

Intel's Celeron is a budget chip. If you do typical office duties and surf the Web, you probably wouldn't notice the difference between a top-end Celeron and a Pentium 4 running at the same speed. But you could save some money.

Apple and AMD chips run at lower speeds than those made by Intel. AMD uses the + symbol, as in 3200+, to imply that its chips are faster than comparable Intel microprocessors, despite running more slowly. Indeed, tests often show that to be the case. But those are laboratory tests; you won't notice a significant difference in either one.

Apple claims that its top-end machines are faster than those running Windows. That is a matter of controversy; there are Web sites devoted to debunking Apple's claims. Apple's chips run at much lower speeds, so they are difficult to compare directly. If you're interested in an Apple computer, test one at a store, then test a Windows machine. Apple computers are more expensive than comparable Windows machines.

Both Apple and AMD have 64-bit microprocessors out. They can crunch twice as much data as 32-bit chips. But at this time, there are virtually no programs that take advantage of this power now. That will change in the future, but these expensive new chips don't offer as much value today.

2. The operating system

Windows XP and Apple's OS X are also difficult to compare. But there's really no need. Both are stable and fast. You'll probably be satisfied with either.

Windows XP comes in two flavors: Home and Professional. Windows XP Professional is a superset of Home; it has all of Home's goodies, plus some other stuff. Most of it is networking capability. Professional costs about $100 more.

But it does have some nice features. One is Remote Desktop, which allows you to access one computer from another. For instance, you could sign onto your office computer from home and check your e-mail. It also allows you to encrypt files and folders.

3. Random access memory

You will need a minimum of 256 megabytes of memory. If you can afford it, get 512 MB. I'd go to one gigabyte for demanding applications, such as video editing. Memory is relatively inexpensive, so don't stint.

I have a friend who has an old machine with Windows XP and 128 MB of memory. Microsoft says that will work, and it is right. But it doesn't work very well. She cannot run Microsoft Word on that machine. There just is not enough memory to accommodate both Windows XP and Word. So buy more — again, it is relatively inexpensive.

4. Hard drives are big and bigger

How about hard drives? If you do a lot of video work, you need a big hard drive. Actually, the bigger the better, because video files are huge. Hard drives at 200 to 250 GB are common and relatively inexpensive.

Otherwise, the gargantuan drives common today far outstrip the customer's needs. Even low-end machines today have 40 GB hard drives. You are unlikely to fill that. I recommend putting your extra money elsewhere.

5. The video system

The video system sends the picture to the monitor. Many inexpensive computers use the main-system RAM to run video. The video processor is built into the motherboard (the main circuit board). This works, but is less desirable.

Better computers have a separate circuit board, called a video card. This includes the video processor and memory. For video cards, 64 MB of RAM is pretty standard. That's more than enough for day-to-day computing.

However, if you are doing video work or playing advanced games, get a card with 128 MB of RAM. Truly hardcore gamers can get cards with 256 MB of RAM.

6. The monitor

Do you need to buy a monitor? Most people get one without thinking. But monitors don't necessarily come with computers. Often, you can lower your cost by refusing the monitor. Why would you do that? If you're satisfied with your current monitor, it should work OK with your new computer.

There are two basic types of monitor, as mentioned above: CRTs and flat-panels. CRTs are much less expensive: You can find 19-inchers for around $200 on sale. That is a good, big screen. I would not buy a CRT monitor that was less than 17 inches. Keep in mind that that measurement is diagonal, and includes a portion of the screen hidden behind the bezel. A 17-inch CRT will have a visible screen size of 16 inches or less.

Flat-panel monitors are far more expensive than CRTs. They come in two flavors: analog and digital. Digital signals are produced natively by the computer; they do not need to be converted. Analog signals are converted from digital by the video system. Some consider digital signals clearer. (For more tips on buying flat-panel monitors, see this article.)

7. CDs and DVDs

All computers come with optical drives — either CD or DVD. All but the very cheapest have burners. ("Burning" is the process of making a CD or DVD.) CD-RW burners are still the most common, but DVD burners are available on more expensive machines.

DVD is wildly popular, but remains troubled by incompatible standards. You're likely to see DVD+R/RW or DVD-R/RW on a computer. They are incompatible, but most players can handle R discs made on either. R means a disc can be recorded once. RW stands for rewriteable, meaning a disc can be recorded numerous times. DVD burners can also make CDs.

I recommend that you spring for a CD-RW, at least.

One final point: I hear from so many people on my national radio show who wonder when is the best time to buy a computer. There will always be something faster, better, hotter, cooler, bigger or smaller coming. If you need a computer, buy one now.

Want more tech tips for your business? Subscribe to Kim's free weekly e-mail newsletter by sending an e-mail. And listen to The Kim Komando Show each week. See this page to find Kim on the radio station nearest you.

Microsoft to Retire Windows 2000 Server
Products will be phased out gradually, software giant says.

Joris Evers, IDG News Service
Thursday, December 18, 2003

Microsoft will gradually phase out its Windows 2000 Server family, the company says. Effective April 1, 2006, the products will no longer be available.

The retirement announcement comes eight months after the introduction of Windows Server 2003, the successor to Windows 2000 Server, and almost four years after the Windows 2000 Server launch on February 17, 2000.

Retirement of Windows 2000 Server will be spread out over a two-year period starting on April 1, 2004. From that date, Windows 2000 Server and Windows 2000 Advanced Server will no longer be available through the retail channel or through Microsoft's volume licensing programs, the Redmond, Washington-based software maker says in a posting on its Web site.

Products Pulled
On November 1, 2004, Windows 2000 Server, Windows 2000 Advanced Server, and Windows 2000 Datacenter will be pulled from the direct OEM channel, Microsoft says. This means the products will no longer be available from vendors such as Hewlett-Packard that have direct license agreements with Microsoft.

A year later, on November 1, 2005, system builders--smaller, local companies that build servers from the ground up for customers--will stop selling the Windows 2000 Server products, Microsoft says

Although products will no longer be sold, users in need of Windows 2000 Server disk sets will be able to get those by buying a Windows Server 2003 license and exercising their downgrade rights. Microsoft will have Windows 2000 Server disk sets available until April 1, 2006, the company says.

The phase-out schedule does not change support plans for Windows Server 2000. Microsoft will end mainstream support on March 31, 2005 and extended support on March 31, 2007, the company says.

The retirement schedule for the Windows 2000 Professional desktop product had been announced earlier. OEM and retail availability of that product is scheduled to end on March 31, 2004. System builders can deliver the product until March 31, 2005. Mainstream support for the desktop product is set to end on March 31, 2005 and extended support on March 31, 2007, according to Microsoft's product lifecycle Web page.