Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Cannot Do Clean Install With Windows 7 Upgrade Media

As shown from Windows 7 Upgrade Option website, you're not entitled to upgrade from an OEM version of Windows Vista to Windows 7 from your local system builders.

Also contrary to report, you won't be able to do a clean install with Windows 7 upgrade media from a retail full/upgrade version of Windows Vista.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Buffalo MediaStation Portable DVD Drive

Since I've 2 netbooks - Acer Aspire One AOA110 and Lenovo IdeaPad S10, I wanted to buy a USB bus powered portable DVD drive without the need for an external power adapter. I tested three such drives - LG GP08 ($133), Panasonic UJ-880A ($125) and Buffalo DVM-P8U2/BW-AP ($80).

LG GP08 was not detected in the BIOS of both AOA110 and S10 so I can't boot from CD/DVD to install any OS but can be used within Windows. Both Panasonic UJ-880A and Buffalo DVM-P8U2 were detected in the BIOS of the netbooks.

In the end, I chose Buffalo DVM-P8U2 because it is cheaper and the pearl white colour matches my S10. The only downside is that it can't read/write DVD-RAM which I don't need.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Microsoft Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program

If you purchase a new PC running Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate from today until January 31, 2010, you're entitled to a upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional or Windows 7 Ultimate respectively.

You can check the following PC manufacturers for more information or visit Microsoft website:
  1. HP
  2. Dell
  3. Lenovo
  4. Acer
  5. Toshiba
  6. Asus

Monday, June 22, 2009

Computer Shopper August 2009

Features
  1. TV Anywhere
  2. Master your word processor
  3. Mean & Green
Cover DVD (Free Paid Full Version)
  1. Encyclopedia Britannica
  2. Humyo (six-month edition)

Friday, June 19, 2009

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

ClamWin Free Antivirus 0.95.1

ClamWin Free Antivirus is portable and works from USB flash drive.

There is only on-demand scan but no on-access scan which means no real-time protection from malware. This is sufficient because I only use it to scan downloaded files. It passed all the anti-malware testfiles.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

CCleaner Portable 2.20.920

You can download the latest version of CCleaner Portable without the need to install.

Now it supports Windows 7 RC and 64-bit processor.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Mozilla Firefox 3.0.11

The latest release fixed several security issues:

MFSA 2009-32 JavaScript chrome privilege escalation

MFSA 2009-31 XUL scripts bypass content-policy checks

MFSA 2009-30 Incorrect principal set for file: resources loaded via location bar

MFSA 2009-29 Arbitrary code execution using event listeners attached to an element whose owner document is null

MFSA 2009-28 Race condition while accessing the private data of a NPObject JS wrapper class object

MFSA 2009-27 SSL tampering via non-200 responses to proxy CONNECT requests

MFSA 2009-26 Arbitrary domain cookie access by local file: resources

MFSA 2009-25 URL spoofing with invalid unicode characters

MFSA 2009-24 Crashes with evidence of memory corruption (rv:1.9.0.11)

Friday, June 12, 2009

Mobile Broadband Actual Speed

The advertised download speeds of M1 and SingTel are 2Mbps and 1Mbps respectively. On the other hand, the advertised upload speeds of M1 and SingTel are 0.512Mbps and 0.384Mbps respectively.

But as shown at the same location, the actual download speeds of M1 and SingTel are 0.66Mbps and 0.52Mbps respectively. Also, the actual upload speeds of M1 and SingTel are 0.32Mbps and 0.34Mbps respectively. There is no benefit in paying more for the higher advertised speed.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Budget Wireless G Router

There is no point in getting a wireless N router if you don't need to transfer huge files between computers. Also, you won't get faster internet access with a wireless N router than a wireless G router .

I tested 2 wireless G routers - Belkin F5D7234ak4 ver 1001ak and D-Link DIR-300 ver 1.04. Both routers cost $39 with lifetime warranty.

I recommend the Belkin F5D7234ak4 because D-Link DIR-300 failed the stealth tests with ports 0 & 672 being closed not stealth whereas Belkin F5D7234ak4 passed all tests. It has all the important features and good to have features as well Wi-Fi b/g certified with WPA2.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Installing 4 OS on Budget Test PC

The procedures are as follows:
  1. Install Windows Vista in a partition with minimum free disk space of 15.4GB
  2. Apply Windows Vista SP1
  3. Apply Windows Vista SP2
  4. Install Windows 7 RC as dual boot in a different partition
  5. Configure BIOS to enable Secure Virtual Machine Mode
  6. Install Windows Virtual PC Beta in Windows 7 RC
  7. Install Windows XP Mode Beta in Windows 7 RC
  8. Install Asus Express Gate in Windows Vista SP2

Monday, June 8, 2009

Building One Budget Test PC with 4 OS

I've decided to build a budget test PC running 4 operating systems - Linux, Windows Vista SP2, Windows 7 RC and Windows XP Professional SP3. If you buy the right Asus motherboard, you can get Linux from Splashtop (instant-on computing). If you install Windows 7 RC, you can get Windows XP Professional SP3 from Windows XP Mode Beta. The main components are as follows:
  1. Asus M2N68-VM HDMI ($105) with support for Asus Express Gate (Splashtop) and hardware virtualization in BIOS
  2. AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 5200+ Processor 2.7GHz with support for virtualization ($93)
You can get any 1GB memory, hard disk and internal DVD writer. The cost will be much higher if you choose Intel instead of AMD processor.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Prepaid Mobile Broadband

In Singapore, M1 and StarHub have already launched their prepaid mobile broadband whereas SingTel has yet to do so.

StarHub's MaxMobile Prepaid
offering is more flexible than M1. If you've a mobile broadband modem, you can get the SIM card for $12. If not, you can pay $99 for Huawei E1550 2Mbps USB stick modem or $149 for Huawei E1750 7.2Mbps USB stick modem. User can choose the download speed between 2Mbps or 7.2Mbps and activate their plan for 1 hour, 1 day, 3 days or 5 consecutive days. The prepaid SIM card can be topped anytime and the balance is valid for 6 months. A fair usage policy of 2GB (daily) is being set for all data plans. Upon reaching the limit, a SMS alert will be sent to your MaxMobile Prepaid number. I've tested the 2Mbps service with Huawei E220 modem and it works well. The setting for APN is shppd.

M1 Prepaid Broadband costs $18 for 3 consecutive days with download speed of up to 7.2Mbps. If you don't have a mobile broadband modem, you can buy a prepaid broadband kit (SIM card + USB stick) at $128. You need to top-up within 90 days. The setting for APN is prepaidbb.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Australian PC Authority July 2009

Features
  1. Best Broadband Deals
  2. HDTV Buyer's Guide

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Australian PC User July 2009

Features
  1. Ultimate PC Buyer's Guide
  2. Free PC Upgrade
Cover DVD (Free Paid Full Version)
  1. Internet Cleaner and Tracks Eraser
  2. Ashampoo Magical Snap 2
  3. QuickBooks 2009/10

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

PC Advisor August 2009

Features
  1. Windows 7: Your Questions Answered
  2. Boost your PC for free
  3. Security Software: Protection or Extortion?
Cover DVD (Free Paid Full Version)
  1. Ashampoo Musical Studio 2009
  2. Serif PhotoPlus 9