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Microsoft Security Essentials: Free AntiVirus and AntiSpyware Software by Microsoft

Sascha Tayefeh — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:38:44 +0000

Finally, Microsoft has released a free Antivirus and Antispyware Suite. It is running on my notebook with Windows Vista and I am quite confident. Actually, it has replaced the Security Suite I had been using until now.

The Suite can be downloaded for free at:

http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/

BTW, I just learned, that installing Windows Security Essentials will either disable (Vista/Win7) or remove (XP) Windows Defender. Defender is no longer required, because it is being replaced by WSE. However, you really should check if Defender is really disabled/removed. If not, do it.

Resize and limit Shadow Storage of Windows Vista / Windows 7

Sascha Tayefeh — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:18:11 +0000

Windows Shadowstorage is used to store some files, which can usually be removed savely. By default, the maximum size of this storage is unlimited. In case you need/want to save disk space, open cmd.exe in administrator mode and do something like:

vssadmin.exe list shadowstorage

vssadmin.exe resize shadowstorage /on=C: /for=C: /Maxsize=2GB

This limits the storage used for drive C: to 2GB.

The Photosynth Tool by Microsoft

Sascha Tayefeh — Sun, 10 May 2009 00:48:07 +0000

Sascha = passionated photographer and technology geek. Microsoft has invented a really amazing tool called Photosynth. It merges photos allowing interactive walks and zooms through the scene.

Watch the quick video introduction to learn more about photosynth.

I am really thrilled! Watch out for my first work.

How to make ADOBE’s Generic Postscript Printer create Documents in Colour

Sascha Tayefeh — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:58:56 +0000

Adobe’s “Generic Postscript Printer” can be downloaded here. However, by default, it prints text in grey only. This is, because it needs a the postscript colour definitions to be loaded during installation process. In order to do so, start the installer, choose “FILE” as port and after this dialogue you will be asked what printer you want to choose. The only entry you see is “Generic Postscript Printer”. Now download the file defpscol.ppd (mirror of defpscol.ppd) and select it by browsing to the place you put it within the Adobe installer dialogue. Choose it and you’re done.

How to create PDF/A Documents using the free PDF-Creator

Sascha Tayefeh — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 10:19:21 +0000

Creating PDF documents is quite easy. For instance, Open Office is capable of exporting PDF while Adobe^® Acrobate, which is a professional solution by Adobe^® Systems, offers a wide range of additional features. One of the most powerful features is creation of PDF/A documents. This special format creates PDFs which is meant for long-term archiving.

However, there is a very useful free open-source tool called PDFCreator which is also capable of creating PDF/A documents. You only need to download PDFCreator and follow these instructions:

Print any document from any application you like
As the printer, choose PDFCreator
Click on “O.K.” or “Print” or whatever
A dialog pops up. Click on “Properties”
To the left, click on “Program” (if not already chosen)
Click on “Ghostscript” (which is actually the engine that creates PDFs)
Copy and paste the following line into the upper text box (“Additional Ghostscript Parameters”):
-dPDFA|-f|
Click on “Save” and again on “Save”

You are done. A PDF/A document is created. You may want to check this. If you have e.g. Adobe^® Acrobate Reader installed, all you need to do is to open the just created PDF and have a look at small bar to the very left. You should see a small icon which reads “PDF” at its top left and shows the letter “i” at its bottom right. This indicates that there are additional information available. Click on that icon. You should see “Conformance. Standard: PDF/A-1B. ISO Name: ISO 19005-1″. If so, you document is actually a PDF/A one.