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  • Update Drivers Automatically
    By skid on January 25, 2010 @ 9:00 AM in Windows XP | No Comments  Comments
    The Silicon Kid Archive

    Can you recommend a free program that scans and updates all drivers on a system. Searching Google returns many utilities which perform this function, with varying degrees of success, but they all require payment to download and update the drivers. (more…)

  • Dock Expose
    By skid on January 18, 2010 @ 9:01 AM in Tip of the Week | No Comments  Comments
    Tip of the Week

    Users of Mac OS X Snow Leopard may have noticed a new feature called Dock Expose. If you click and hold on an active icon in the Dock that will trigger Expose on just that one application, showing all the application’s active windows together with special options such as Quit and Hide. This can be very handy if you are dealing with a lot of open windows for one application.

  • Antivirus Software
    By skid on January 18, 2010 @ 9:00 AM in Security and malware | No Comments  Comments
    The Silicon Kid Archive

    Some years ago I was provided with a computer running CA eTrust antivirus. Having been alerted that the antivirus software was no longer current, presumably because the subscription has expired. I decided to uninstall CA eTrust and install McAfee Virus Scan. However, even after uninstalling eTrust the McAfee product refused to install as it detected a remaining component of eTrust on the computer. Furthermore, even after obtaining technical support from both CA and McAfee I have been unable to install McAfee Anti Virus. As such, I have now sought a refund from McAfee. However, there is now no antivirus protection on the computer. What should I do? (more…)

  • AVG Free
    By skid on January 18, 2010 @ 9:00 AM in Security and malware | No Comments  Comments
    The Silicon Kid Archive

    On several occasions I have noticed that you express a preference for the free version of AVG as an antivirus program. Some 18 months ago, after I became disenchanted with the problems and complexities of another bloated antivirus product, my computer maintenance person convinced me to have the paid version of AVG installed. I am very satisfied with both its simplicity and its performance. However, given that there is a free version, am I wasting money or are there significant protection benefits to be had with the paid version? The computer is running Windows XP SP3. (more…)

  • LuComServer_3_4.EXE
    By skid on January 18, 2010 @ 9:00 AM in Security and malware | No Comments  Comments
    The Silicon Kid Archive

    Intermittently I have found the LuComServer_3_4.EXE process running on the computer and chews up a lot of CPU resources. As a result this slows down everything on the computer, often at a rather inconvenient time. What does this process do and how can I stop it from being such a resource hog? The computer is running Windows XP SP3. (more…)