Five Things You Should Know About Upgrading From XP to Windows 7

Now that Windows 7 is here, the three out of four users who have rejected Windows Vista and clung to the tried and true Windows XP can breathe a sigh of relief and consider moving to the new flagship operating system.

Upgrading or switching operating systems often comes with some trials and tribulations and the Windows 7 upgrade is no exception. Microsoft has tried to provide the tools users need to make the transition as easy as possible, but you may hit some snags. Here are five things you should be aware of as you upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7.

1. You can't upgrade directly. Unfortunately, Microsoft has not provided Windows 7 with the capability to upgrade directly from Windows XP. The explanation is that so much has changed between Windows XP and Windows 7 within the operating system kernel itself, the Registry, the drivers, etc. that trying to get from Point A to Point B just won't work.

That isn't as horrible as it sounds. Frankly, although in-place upgrades are convenient, experts always recommend doing a fresh install when moving to a new operating system in order to ensure the best performance and overall experience. Just think of it like Microsoft did you a favor by forcing you to do it the right way. You're welcome.

2. Or can you?? You can't get from Windows XP to Windows 7 directly, but there was a little known operating system that came out between the two. I know you have blocked out that part of your memory to avoid horrible Windows Vista flashbacks, but surely you could make the switch to Windows Vista if its only for an hour or two.

Windows XP users can work around the upgrade issue if they have a copy of Windows Vista. It doesn't even have to be licensed since you won't be activating it and won't have it loaded for more than a few hours-- well within the 30-day trial period. Just upgrade from Windows XP to Windows Vista, then upgrade the Windows Vista system to Windows 7.

I make no assurances that this will go off without a hitch. I will add a disclaimer: refer to the first tip where I reminded you that it is recommended that you do the clean install.

3. Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. If you bought your printer when Clinton was still in office, or your graphics card when Michael Jordan was still ruling the NBA, you might have a hard time finding software updates and drivers to make them work with Windows 7.

Thankfully, Microsoft has an app for that. Microsoft created the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor tool which scans your hardware and software and identifies any known compatibility issues. It provides guidance on how to resolve identified issues, and makes recommendations for what you should do to ensure a satisfying Windows 7 upgrade experience

4. Windows 7 Easy Transfer. Whether you do the clean install or some sort of crazy work-around to upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7, arguably the most important part is making you're your data and personal preferences stay intact. That's where the Windows 7 Easy Transfer tool comes in.

The actual file is migwiz.exe. You can find it on the Windows 7 DVD under Support\Migwiz. First you run it on your existing Windows XP system to migrate your user profile(s) to some external storage. Then, after Windows 7 is installed you run it again to import the user profile(s) to Windows 7.

One small caveat. If you have 32-bit Windows XP and you are taking the opportunity while upgrading to make the switch to 64-bit Windows 7 you might run into some problems. I was unable to transfer user settings from a 32-bit to a 64-bit system using this tool during a previous upgrade.

5. Security software. If you're running Windows XP I assume you have invested in some security software-- antivirus, antispyware, personal firewall, etc. Because of changes that Microsoft has made to protect the operating system kernel, those Windows XP-era security programs will most likely not work in Windows 7.

The good news is that the Windows 7 firewall is significantly better than the Windows XP firewall, and Microsoft provides adequate security protection for free with Windows Defender and the recently released Microsoft Security Essentials antivirus program. You may still want to explore alternatives and install more robust protection, but these tools should provide sufficient protection for the time being without costing you any money.

If you don't want to spend all that time alone, maybe you could throw one of the Windows 7 parties and you and all of your Windows XP friends can have ice cream and cake (or pizza and beer) while you make the transition.

Of course, you might better off to simply invest the extra money and get a whole new system with Windows 7 already installed. If you have held on to your computer hardware as long as you held onto the Windows XP operating system then you are really skewing Moore's Law and its time you upgrade. (Choi)

Sumber : Pcworld.com

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Facebook revamps home page feed

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - Facebook has modified its news feed feature to let members of the world's leading social-networking service catch up on tidbits they may have missed while away from the website.

Facebook now lets members switch between getting real time streams of news or activities taking place, and highlights of what friends have shared online in the preceding 24 hours, according to Raylene Yung at the California firm.

"You will be able to catch up on what you may have missed while you were away from Facebook and then easily switch to the real-time stream when you want to see posts as soon as they're shared," the engineer said in a blog post.

News Feed picks re-cap stories based on factors including how many friends have liked and commented on them.

The Live Feed option funnels updates and news about online friends' activities to Facebook home pages as the information surfaces.

"Some of you may ask why we are changing the home page again," Yung said.

"We know it can be disruptive when things are moved around, but we hope that these changes make Facebook a more valuable experience for you." (Choi)

Sumber : Yahoo.com

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Microsoft results top expectations, shares jump

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Microsoft Corp's (MSFT.O) results smashed Wall Street expectations on Friday, sending its shares up 7 percent, as the PC market improved and sales of its Windows software and Halo video game were stronger than expected.

The results top a big week for the world's largest software company, which launched its Windows 7 operating system to positive reviews on Thursday, as it looks to regain leadership in the technology sector from rivals Apple Inc (AAPL.O) and Google Inc (GOOG.O).

"Microsoft is back. They are able to succeed despite heightened competition from Apple's share gain and Google's great brand," said Katherine Egbert, an analyst with Jefferies & Co. "The numbers were unbelievable. An absolutely blowout."

With their biggest one-day jump since April, Microsoft's shares hit their highest level since June 2008, helping the Nasdaq pare losses. The results follow better-than-expected earnings from technology bellwethers IBM (IBM.N), Intel Corp (INTC.O), Google and Apple.

Fiscal first-quarter profit fell 18 percent to $3.57 billion, or 40 cents per share, compared with $4.37 billion, or 48 cents per share, in the year-ago quarter.

Wall Street had expected much worse, calling for profit of 32 cents per share, on average, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Sales fell 14 percent to $12.92 billion, partly reduced by a deferral of $1.47 billion in revenue to future quarters related to Microsoft's free upgrade to Windows 7 for recent buyers of the predecessor Vista system.

That beat analysts' average forecast of $12.31 billion, the first time the software maker had done so in a year.

Microsoft's results are closely tied to sales of PCs, which rose in the latest quarter by about 2 percent after two quarters of declines.

The company did not include any pre-sales of Windows 7 in its latest results, offering the hope that the current quarter will show a boost in sales from the new system.

"You are seeing some of the benefit of the improvement in PCs that we have heard about," said Brendan Barnicle at Pacific Crest Securities. "This is a trend. They've got some good momentum behind them and it's just going to get accelerated now that you have Windows 7 out in the market.

The Redmond, Washington-based company played down hopes for a quick recovery from the worst recession in decades, sticking with a characteristically cautious outlook.

"The fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 (which ended June 30) may well have been the bottom of the economic reset," said Chief Financial Officer Christopher Liddell on a conference call on Friday.

He repeated his view that technology spending should recover gradually in 2010. "We are not seeing a large rebound, but we'd like to think, certainly as we go into next calendar year, we'll start to see businesses spending again," he said.

The company, which is tightening its belt in the economic slowdown, also cut its outlook for operating expenses for the full fiscal year to $26.2 billion from its previous target of $26.5 billion.

Quarterly profit fell in Microsoft's main units, producing the Windows operating system and Office suite of applications. Profit rose in its server unit and its entertainment and devices unit, which makes the Xbox console and Halo video game series. Its loss-making online services unit, which includes the new Bing search engine, reported a wider loss than a year ago.

Microsoft shares were up 7.6 percent, or $1.99, at $28.58 on Nasdaq. They have risen 92 percent since hitting a more-than 10 year low in March. (Choi)

Sumber : Yahoo.com

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Icahn resigns from Yahoo! board

NEW YORK (AFP) - Billionaire investor Carl Icahn resigned from his position on the Yahoo! board, saying the US Internet giant no longer needed an "activist" director like him.

"I don't believe that it is necessary at this time to have an activist on the board of Yahoo! and currently, my attention is focused on other matters," Icahn, one of the company's largest shareholders, wrote in a resignation letter to the board, a copy of which was provided by his office.

"As a result, I do not presently have the time that is necessary to devote to the business and affairs of Yahoo! required if a board member is to fulfill his fiduciary duties to the shareholders," he added.

A spokeswoman for the investor, Susan Gordon, said in a statement that Icahn "indicated that there are a number of other companies on which he is currently focused."

Icahn -- a financier who has developed a reputation as a corporate raider -- on Monday offered a six-billion-dollar loan to ailing lending giant CIT Group.

In late August Icahn sold 12.7 million shares in Yahoo!, cutting his stake in the company a month after it formed an Internet search partnership with software giant Microsoft.

Last November, following the decision of Yahoo! co-founder Jerry Yang to step down as head of the Internet firm, Icahn increased his stake in Yahoo! to 5.4 percent, up from the 5.0 percent he owned previously.

Icahn and Yang were involved in a very public dispute last year when Yang rejected a 47-billion-dollar takeover bid by Microsoft for the company he founded with a Stanford University classmate in 1995.

Icahn headed a shareholder revolt to oust Yahoo! leaders for bungling the Microsoft deal.

Yahoo! last year avoided an ugly show-down with Icahn, whose campaign to overthrow the board was ended by a truce that assured him three seats.

"Icahn was there to drive the sale to Microsoft," said analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group in Silicon Valley.

"Microsoft doesn't really want to buy Yahoo! and Yahoo! isn't interested in being acquired. So, what's he going to do? He probably figures his time is better spent elsewhere."

Icahn's sale of Yahoo! stock came a month after the company agreed to a Web search and advertising partnership with Microsoft.

"Carl has been an important member of the board and has helped us through some significant transitions," Yahoo! said Friday in a release.

"We are all grateful for his active role shaping the future of Yahoo! and wish him well in all of his endeavors."

In his resignation letter he also praised Yahoo!'s new chief executive Carol Bartz, who took over after Yang's departure.

"Carol is doing a great job and I believe the Microsoft transaction will provide great long term benefits, the potential of which many still do not understand."

In 2008, Icahn's net worth was estimated to stand at 14 billion dollars, but this year, following the stock market slump, Forbes magazine recalculated his net worth as nine billion dollars. (Choi)

Sumber : Yahoo.com

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Gelombang Serangan Cyber China Hantam AS

Washington - Amerika Serikat terus dilanda kekhawatiran dengan makin kuatnya kapabilitas serangan cyber China. Dalam laporan terbaru, China dituding tak henti melakukan serangan cyber terkoordinasi pada sistem komputer pemerintah dan pihak swasta di negeri Paman Sam itu.

Dalam laporan untuk US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, bukti bukti kuat menunjukkan bahwa serangan canggih China ditujukan untuk mencuri informasi-informasi penting, utamanya data soal pertahanan dan kebijakan politik.

"Operasi dilakukan dengan disiplin, teknik muthakir, akses pada sumber software high end, pengetahuan yang dalam terhadap target serangan dan kadangkala dilakukan dalam periode bulanan."

China dilaporkan telah membangun strategi kapablitas cyber dalam 10 tahun terakhir. Sedangkan lembaga di AS yang jadi target serangan termasuk Departemen Luar Negeri, White House, NASA dan Departemen Pertahanan. Beberapa serangan pun berbuah kesuksesan.

Serangan-serangan tersebut mengarah pada keterlibatan pemerintah China secara langsung. Sedangkan kapabilitas serangan cyber China dikendalikan oleh angkatan bersenjata setempat, People's Liberation Army (PLA).

Masih menurut laporan ini, PLA disinyalir merekrut orang-orang sipil yang memiliki kemampuan tinggi melakukan serangan. China sepertinya memandang bahwa dalam situasi konflik, mereka bisa langsung memberdayakan kemampuan serangan cybernya untuk membantu melumpuhkan lawan. (Choi)

Sumber : Detikinet.com

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