Windows 7 Upgrade Confusion

The term “upgrade” is used by Microsoft in three
different instances and this seems to be causing a lot of confusion. I will try to clear this up for you.

First, let’s talk about the version of Windows 7 that you
need. Microsoft has four versions of
Windows 7 available and each includes different features. There is Starter, Home Premium, Professional,
and Ultimate editions. The Starter addition is only available preinstalled on
new computers. Now for the confusing
part, each one is available in a full
version and an upgrade version. The upgrade
is substantially less expensive, but you have to currently own Windows XP or
Vista for it to work. Yes I did say XP.
This is where the confusion starts.

Upgrading from Vista is just that, an upgrade. You are able to save all of your current
programs and simply move up to a like version of Windows 7. Upgrading from XP is a different
story. Because of the difference in the
base operating system, upgrading from anything prior to
Vista is not possible. You can, however,
use the upgrade version of Windows 7 at the reduced price. Are you confused yet? Microsoft has allowed
users to skip Vista and go directly from XP to 7 and save money. To do so you have to do a full installation
and then reinstall programs, if they are compatible, after you are done. Microsoft has many resources to check your
programs compatibility prior to deciding if you will move up to Windows 7 and
some versions of 7 also have a compatibility mode which will allow you to run
your older programs in the OS mode they were written for. Another tool provided by Microsoft to ease
your worries is the “Windows Easy Transfer” tool. This tool will copy all of
your settings and files from your XP computer and then after your installation
of 7, load them into the new OS. I still recommend a full backup to prevent
loss, but this tool works very nicely.

To add to the upgrade confusion, all Windows 7
operating systems come with the Anytime Upgrade option. In other words, if
you buy the Home Premium version and later find that you would like to have the
features of the Professional version, all you have to do is purchase a key,
input it into your OS, and you are done. No installation is required.

I hope I didn’t add to the confusion and in some small way
helped you to understand the many meanings of “upgrade.” I know it all
sounds confusing and even scary, but after using Windows 7 for over a year now,
I would have to say that it is all worth it.
In my opinion, Windows 7 is the best and most user friendly OS bar none.
If you are thinking about upgrading, Microsoft is now offering
a “family pack” which makes it more affordable than ever. I am always available to help you with any
questions you may have and even do the “upgrade” for you if you wish.

Mike
Bodenhafer-Your Computer Guy

PMCreation -
Computer Repair and Sales

mailto:mike@pmcreation.us

www.PMCreation.us

Hotmail and other sending random email

I have had many reports of a Hotmail problem and now I
am seeing the same thing in Yahoo accounts.
This leads me to believe that the problem is not isolated and may be
happening to any web based email account.



The problem is that Hotmail is sending out apparently random emails to everyone
in your Hotmail address book or at least everyone that you have included in a
single mailing at one time. The one thing that I am seeing in common is that
the list seems to have been used at one time in the CC field. I say random
because of the timing of these email cannot be pinned to a time or day or even
to a time that the computer is turned on. This tells me that the problem is
most likely not in the computer but is a matter of a hijacked password at the
account level.



The emails only contain a link to one web site and although these sites do not
seem to be promoting any malware or virus, they are trying to sell products. So
far these have been the links that have been reported to me:



• healthwellnessnetwork.com

• pillsiterx.net

• greatwitcheryworld.com

• witcherysource.com

• pillsourcemedsguide.net/Colesburg

Solution:

So far the best solution to this problem is to change
your password. You will also have to change your secret question because
whoever stole the password most likely also got the answer to your question so
they can also get your new password if you do not change both. If the problem does not go away after this fix, please contact me and we can dig deeper. 260-349-3497

Prevent Future Problems:

In almost all cases this problem began after someone
sent out a mass mailing and placed all the names in the To: field or used the
CC: (Carbon Copy) field. If you send out any mass mailings be it a joke, an invitation
or anything else, please make it a habit to use the Bcc: (Blind Carbon Copy)
field for all but one name (you have to have something in the To: field). The
name and address to have in the To: field should be your own. This will not only protect you from this type
of attack but your friends name and address will not be spread around and if
they have privacy concerns they will be respected. Along these same lines, if
you ever forward any jokes or other email, please cut off the past recipients
addresses out of respect. Spammers love to collect names and addresses this
way.

I hope this helped and if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me.

Mike Bodenhafer-Your
Computer Guy

PMCreation- Computer Repair and Sales

mailto:mike@pmcreation.us

www.PMCreation.us
260-349-3497