Windows XP support is ending April 8, 2014

Windows XP support is ending April 8, 2014

WINDOWS Zohaib   13:49:00

\

Microsoft first released Windows XP on October 25, 2001. Support for this operating system ended April 8, 2014, which means that they will no longer be providing any updates, patches, or further software security.

If you are still running Windows XP it will continue to work after this date, but if a security vulnerability is discovered after this date it will not be fixed by Microsoft. However, Microsoft will continue to offer anti-malware support (MSE) for Windows XP until July 14, 2015 and other anti-virus developers also announced extending their support up to a year. While this will offer some protection for your computer it still will not protect against any new vulnerabilities not yet released or discovered.

Some people argue that since Windows XP is such an established operating system that it is not likely that any new security vulnerabilities will be discovered. However, most experts recommend upgrading to a later version of Windows, either Windows 7 or the latest version of Windows, Windows 8.

If your computer is over four years old or does not meet the system requirements of a new versions of Windows we suggest getting a new computer with a more up-to-date version of Windows. Alternatively if you want to keep the older computer and don't need Windows you may also consider switching to Linux distro.

Tip: Microsoft is offering a free data transfer program for users upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 7, 8, or 8.1.

Tip: If your hesitation of upgrading Windows is because you have an older program designed for Windows XP, Windows XP Mode can help older programs run in new versions of Windows.

What if I still want to run and use Windows XP?

If you plan on continuing to use Microsoft Windows XP after April 8, 2014 following the below suggestions.

1. Don't use an administrator account - Use a limited account and not a adminaccount. If you use an account with not enough rights spyware, malware, and other exploits wont work or be much less likely to work.
2. Use an alternative, supported browser - Internet Explorer and Chrome are no longer supported in Windows XP. Instead, use an alternative browser that is still supported and being updated, such as Opera or Firefox.
3. Keep your browser plugins and extensions updated - Plug-ins like Java andFlash are one of the most common methods of attacking a computer. Keep your browser and all of its plug-ins up-to-date. You can find the latest version of all your plug-ins through our system information tool. If you don't use a plug-in that is installed (e.g. Java, uninstall it from the computer.)
4. Keep the computer offline - If this is a work computer that doesn't need to be online keep it offline. Without having access to the Internet the computer cannot be attacked.
5. Follow all the steps on how to protect yourself while online.

Related questions

Can Windows XP still be installed and activated after April 8, 2014?

Yes. You'll still be able to run, install, and activate Windows XP after April 8, 2014.

What about Windows XP Embedded?

Windows XP Embedded support will remain until January 12, 2016.

source : Computerhope

Kids toys are getting more creative with technology.

Kids toys are getting more creative with technology.

WINDOWS Unknown   18:09:00

Sure, kids can pick up a tablet or smartphone, but the true innovative toys are those that combine high tech and simplicity. The Moff band collaboration with Pac-Man is a perfect example of this. Kids wear the Moff band and swing their arms to play Pac-Man through an app — making them physically active while using a smartphone or tablet.

Source : Popsugar

Rif6 Cube

Rif6 Cube

Windows8 Tips Unknown   23:30:00

The RIF6 Cube is an incredible little gadget that allows you to project your mobile phone with a 120″ display. Simply connect your smartphone to the cube, and you’re able to view Netflix, YouTube videos, games, pictures and more right on a nearby wall. Its size and weight make it perfect for travel, and it’s also great for presentations as well. It’s also great at home if you don’t want to tethered to the living room for your TV watching. And, it’s surprisingly bright for its size.

Price: $279.00 (7 percent off MSRP)

Source : Cool Gadgets

3 Ways To Speed Up Windows 7,8 & 10 Shutdown Process

3 Ways To Speed Up Windows 7,8 & 10 Shutdown Process

Windows7 Tips Siddiqui   23:36:00

One of the key improvements of Windows 7 is its lightning fast start-up. Aaron Dietrich of the Windows Client Performance team received a lot of praise for this achievement. However, what the developers apparently failed to optimize and speed up was the shutdown process.

Ever since I switched to Windows 7 on my laptop, which had previously shut down within seconds while running on Windows XP, the slow shutdown has been nagging me. If you also happen to be looking for ways to kick-start a Windows 7 slow shutdown, look no further! Here I will introduce you to 3 ways to optimize or speed up the logoff process, so that you can leave the office or get into bed faster.

Prologue

I tested these tips one after the other on my Windows 7 netbook (which shut down significantly faster after upgrading to 2GB RAM). I booted into Windows, started some standard programs, including Skype and Chrome with several different tabs open, waited until they had fully loaded, and then shut down the computer. In its native state, the shutdown took 32 seconds from clicking the ‘Shutdown’ button until the laptop had fully shut down.

Initial shutdown time on test machine: 32 seconds

1. Reduce Timeout To Kill Service Or App

Before Windows shuts down, it attempts to properly close all running processes. If a service doesn’t close immediately, Windows waits for a few seconds, until it prompts the user that the service is not responding to the shutdown request. The amount of this waiting time is defined by registry keys and you can reduce it.

These are two fairly harmless registry hacks. If you follow the steps outlined in this article, it should in no way harm your system. Nevertheless, I have to issue a warning:

Editing the registry can damage your operating system! I or MakeUseOf take no responsibility whatsoever!  Make a backup of your registry before continuing.

For the first hack, click the key combination > [WINDOWS] + [R], type > regedit into the text field, and click > OK to launch the registry editor.

In the registry editor, navigate to this folder:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control

Within that folder (on the right) find and double-click the string > WaitToKillServiceTimeout.

In the > Edit String window, change the > Value data from the default of 12000 (12 seconds) to 2000 (2 seconds). Click > OK to save the change.

For the second hack, navigate to the following location via the registry editor:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop

On the right, find and double-click the string > WaitToKillAppTimeout.

If this entry does not exist, you can create it. Right-click into the folder and click through >New > String Value, and name it > WaitToKillAppTimeout.

Set > Value data to 2000, click > OK.

In the same registry folder, if you see an entry called > AutoEndTasks, set its > Value data to 1, then close the registry editor.

Shutdown time: 27 seconds

2. Create a Fast Shutdown Shortcut

As of Windows 2000, Windows has come with a remote shutdown tool to shut down and restart Windows. You can control this tool through the command line, but a much faster alternative is to create a shortcut.

• Right-click your Windows 7 desktop and select > New > Shortcut.
• Enter > shutdown.exe -s -t 00 -f in the location field, click > Next, give the shortcut a descriptive name, e.g. Shut Down Computer, and click Finish.

The letters (options) added above tell the tool to shut down (-s) with a timeout of zero seconds (-t 00), and to force running applications to close without forewarning the user (-f). Basically, it unites the registry hacks from the first tip in the shutdown process. You can see a full list of options when typing > shutdown.exe into the command prompt, which you can open via > [WINDOWS] + [R] then type > cmd into the text field and click > OK.

You can move this shortcut from the desktop to your quick launch bar or pin it to the taskbar. Double-click the shortcut to instantly shut down the system.

This trick is courtesy of Seven Forums.

Shutdown time: 24 seconds

3. Brute-Force Method

This method is also known as hard boot, as it is typically used to shut down and immediately reboot the computer. It should be used with extreme caution!

If you’re in a hurry and cannot wait for 20 seconds or if your computer responds slowly or even froze, simply hold the power button for several seconds and Windows will shut down immediately. Since this method literally kills not only the operating system, but also the hardware, it should not be used as a routine way of shutting down your computer. In a worst case scenario, it could cause your hard drive to crash.

Shutdown time: 5 seconds

Epilogue

Finally, you may experience an issue that can not be solved with the two hacks above. If you see a message saying “1 program sill needs to close: (Waiting for) Task Host Window”, then you should look into this Hotfix released by Microsoft.

Moreover, a slow logoff can be caused by outdated drivers or antivirus software. Therefore update all your drivers, remove antivirus programs like Norton and McAfee and replace them with a better alternative, such as Avast or Avira AntiVir. Note that fingerprint scanners have been known to cause a particularly slow log-off.