Check my new site – www.ietips.net

I’ve launched a new website on Internet Explorer. You will find lots of articles, tips, tricks, tweaks, easy to use utilities, tutorials, and updates on the latest version of IE. Even though my intention is to provide the latest information on IE8, I will be adding up information related to the previous versions also.

Visit the website, and leave your valuable feedback.

Keep your mails safe using Gmail Backup

Gmail Backup – the ultimate one-click solution for doing backups of your GMail account.

Using this easy to use handy tool, you can backup all your mails in the gmail account as .eml files in to a local folder. The latest version is GMail Backup 0.107, which can be downloaded from the Gmail Backup website.

You can also perform an incrimental backup, which only backs up the mails from the given date.

Nice tool

Close a specific tab

A new option…  IE 8 has a new option with closing Tabs. When you click the X button in Internet Explorer, now IE 8 will prompt you with an option to close either “all the tabs” or “Current tab”.

IE8 Close tabs

However, in IE 7 it displays only “Close tabs” option.

IE 7 Close Tabs

InPrivate Browsing Experience with IE8

InPrivate Browsing is a new feature that I find another intresting and good option in Internet Explorer 8. Netizens now need no worry, while using public computers as this option will not store any kind of user data. It prevents Internet Explorer from storing data about your browsing session, which includes cookies, temporary Internet files, history, and other data.

Any toolbars, or extensions that are enabled will be disabled with this option. I wasn’t able to use Shift, Ctrl, P to capture a screen shot using my sniping software, as the extension is disabled quite intresting..

You can either enable, completely disable or choose the sites using the InPrivate Filtering options from the Safety menu button.

Watch out the Viewlet that I’ve created to know how to open a browser in InPrivate mode. [Link]

 To put off this option, simply close the browser.

Unable to change IE8 Homepage

I’ve updated my IE version recently to 8 and find a couple of issues. The first thing, I’ve done is updating the home page. IE 8 has inherited the home page settings from the previous version and haven’t allowed me to change it to any other after the upgade. I was able to change the same by updating the registry keys.

If you also experience the same problem, download the Registry fix that I’ve created. Ensure to take backup of the registry, and disable the AntiVirus software before executing this fix.

Also, close IE8 before you execute this fix.

Conficker – A worm that kills your PC

Becareful with this new version of worm. There are 4 variants which affected lot of computers and is targeted to affect most PCs on April 1st.

- Win32/Conficker.A was reported to Microsoft on November 21, 2008.
- Win32/Conficker.B was reported to Microsoft on December 29, 2008.
- Win32/Conficker.C was reported to Microsoft on February 20, 2009.
- Win32/Conficker.D was reported to Microsoft on March 4, 2009.

To know more about this virus, visit:

http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/viruses/worms/conficker.mspx

More detailed information is available at:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iIviwBzilECaCi-uweVTx2KeXagAD979ADVO0

Remember the milk :)

Wondering what this is? While browsing the net, I found this interesting web site (which is similar to your facebook). However, the good part is you can add your tasks and RTM can remind you via an email, SMS, Gtalk, Y!, AIM and so on.  You can even add the tasks just by sending email even when you are on the go. No need to login to the website for adding up tasks. Apart from just adding the tasks, you can do so many.. check it out

To signup, visit – http://www.rememberthemilk.com/

Enable checkbox selection option in Windows Explorer

Holding Ctrl or Alt key may cause lot of issues and some times creates lots of duplicate copies of your files, when you hold the keys improperly. To avoid this issue, I recommend enabling the Checkboxes option using which you can select the files/folder that you require.

View the Viewlet (an executable that shows the procedure) that I’ve created that explains you the procedure to enable the option.

Download the Viewlet

Windows PowerShell 1.0 delivered with Vista updates

I was looking at the list of Windows updates that were downloading and find the Windows PowerShell as a part of the download.

As per MS, in their FAQs on PowerShell (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/powershell-faq.aspx), I find some interesting facts:

Windows PowerShell is a new command line shell and task-based scripting technology that provides information technology (IT) administrators comprehensive control and automation of system administration tasks, increasing administrator productivity. Windows PowerShell includes numerous system administration utilities, consistent syntax and naming conventions, and improved navigation of common management data such as the registry, certificate store, or Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI). Windows PowerShell also includes an intuitive scripting language specifically designed for IT administration.

However, I  wonder why I need Powershell, if I am not a geek Anyways, if you wish to download it, you can also manually do it at :

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/results.aspx?pocId=&freetext=powershell&DisplayLang=en

Also, check the blogs at:

http://blogs.msdn.com/powershell/archive/2007/03/09/installing-powershell-on-vista-longhorn-server-faq.aspx

Snipping Tool – A hidden tool in Vista

Taking screenshots is more easy in Vista now..

Wondering how? Yes, it is possible with the inbuilt “Snipping Tool” program.

“Snipping Tool” is a nice utility which can be used to capture screen shots, or active content on your desktop. You may end up using Freeware or Licensed versions and get most of the features now with this in-built tool.

Adding “Snipping Tool” to Quick Launch bar:

Vista will prompt you to add the “Snipping Tool” to Quick Launch bar when you first launch it. However, if you just want to add and try the tool later, perform the following:

1. Click Start, Enter “Snipping Tool” in the search bar.
2. You will be prompted to add it to Quick launch bar.
3. Select Yes.

NOTE: Some of the existing Quick Launch icons may be hided with this operation. You can click the >> icon to view the same.

To know more about the “Snipping Tool”, visit:

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-IN/help/1337cdba-52a2-4704-ad4d-2d7bace605b41033.mspx