If you’re running Windows XP or Windows Vista on your computer you may be interested in upgrading to Windows 7. In some cases the hardware you have now will be able to run Windows 7 well. To begin with, know that Microsoft recommends a 1GHZ processor and 1GB of RAM for Windows 7. This post is being created on an old Dell Dimension 3000 machine with a Pentium 3 GHZ single-core processor with 1 GB of RAM.

Group Policy preferences, introduced with Windows Vista and Server 2008, gave network administrators new ways to use group policy to manage Windows computers.  Preference settings can replace scripts for mapping drives, configuring printers, managing registry settings, files and local users and groups. Some items that are difficult to impossible to set using scripts such as […]

Windows Vista introduced AERO, a desktop experience that had four major elements; Windows Flip, Windows Filmstrip, AERO Glass transparency and fully realized thumbnail views on the Taskbar. Windows 7 added several new features to AERO, including AERO Snap, AERO Shake and AERO Peek. All AERO elements are meant to give Windows more pizzazz and eye […]

We are living in the era of the useful toy. Almost everyone today wants to own the latest smart phone, mp3 player or tablet PC. One of the interesting new features that made Windows Vista different from other releases of Windows was the Gadget Sidebar. The Sidebar was a wide ruler-shaped area on the Vista […]

One of my favorite features of Windows 2000 was its built-in support for smartcards. As Windows has evolved since then, through XP and Server 2003, to Vista and Server 2008, and now with Seven and Server 2008 R2, we have greater and more solid support for smart cards. In this article, I’d like to describe […]

I have a Dell Dimension 3000 with Intel Pentium 4 Processor w/ HT Technology (3GHz, 800 FSB), I GB of RAM with an 80 GB EIDE Hard Drive (7200 RPM). I also have a Gateway Laptop with an Intel Duo Centrino 1.6 GHz Processor with a 160 GB SATA hard drive and 2 GB of RAM. Both machines came […]

Windows 7 has been available for only a short while but is already is proving to be popular with users, including those who were distinctly underwhelmed by Windows Vista.  Windows 7 has a snappier personality than Vista, with faster boot times, better use of memory and a less fussy interface. Yet Windows 7 builds on […]

Security experts generally agree that certificate-based authentication and encryption is far superior to password-based security. Windows operating systems have used certificates of various kinds to secure data communications for years. It was with the introduction of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 that Microsoft began to support many types of smart card certificates.  A Windows […]

I have been living with Windows 7 Ultimate on my labtop for the past month and have been exploring the new features incorporated into this latest version of Windows. My laptop is a Gateway Model MP6954 purchased at a Best Buy in 2006. It had Windows XP Media Center 2005 edition installed and has a […]

Window 7 RTM is now available for download and soon will be appearing on new computers sold at your local Best Buy. The new version of Windows will have a lot of appeal to consumers who will want Windows 7 for their personal use, but what should IT departments know about Windows 7?  Are there […]