MRGCAV

John L. Galt Actualy I statred in unix systems. I like linux but rarely mess with it now. Too many distobution flavors and poor mainstream support. Feel free to share your work and ideas. Nuhi, How are you ? Whats the news on windows 7 7lite ??? Not much progress here. 18months ago I invented the first method to move the ?:/user folder. See above Now I have to do it for Windows 7 x64. Ohhh the fun of beta testing. MRGCAV@gmail.com

I was looking to do something similar. To partition a blank drive into sevewral partitions prior to installing vista but part of the vista installation process. I am not a programmer. But I suspect a batch file using fdisk or EFdisk could be contained within an autoattend.xml file. It should work but is not an efficient method. also http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=129534 MRGCAV@Gmail.com

Can anyone tell me how and what tools I need to integrate 3rd party apps into Vista? First I will slim vista down using Vlite. THEN I want to add Firefox, Winwar, Vmware, Perfectdisk and Spysweeper etc... to the Windows Installation & ISO installation DVD. MRGCAV@gmail.com

I was reading the vlite history... vLite 1.1.6 beta - SP Slipstream Important notes: - slipstreaming x64 SP from x86 host is not supported, you need x64 host I have searched the forums and found nothing. Has the new vLite 1.2 RC addressed this ? I have Vista X64 Ultimate. I have a Gateway GM5424 x86 machine. What are the current requirements ? Can I use Vlite to dissect and slipstream Vista X64 Ultimate on a x86 machine ? Or do I absolutely need a x64 machine to slipstream a Vista x64. MRGCAV@gmail.com

I have a Intel 945GNT based Server (By DG Systems) I bought used. I have no info on it, except a build sheet. I intend to install Windows Server 2008 on it. It is setup for a SATA RAID array between two drives. i found some info on the Intel website about /raid setup: www.intel.com/.../cs-020811.htm#sysreq and www.intel.com/.../cs-020811.htm#drivers The BIOS is configured for RAID using the Matrix Storage Manager before I got the unit. Problem; The SATA raid array and the hard drives are not detected in the BIOS. BIOS States: "NO HARD DISK DRIVE" So I found this not on the Intel website; "When RAID is enabled, you cannot check which port a drive is connected to in the BIOS. The BIOS will show the individual SATA ports, but all of them will show "Not Connected" even if there are drives connected. You can only check it from the option ROM, the Intel Matrix Storage Console and the board silkscreen.' I am not certain what it means... Does "NO HARD DISK DRIVE" equal "Not Connected" ??? What is the procedure to installing the SATA RAID drivers ? Is it the F6 method ? Also, can anyone supply me with the SATA RAID drivers for Windows 2008 ? Reply to: MRGCAV@gmail.com

I suggest you rearrange the order in which you create a complication. Current order is: 1. Service packs 2. Hotfiixes, Addons & update packs 3. Drivers 4. Remove Components 5. Unattended 6. Options 7. Tweaks 8. Bootable ISO I suggest you install the Drivers last. This way one could create a base copy and use it with different drivers. The base copy would contain all the Service packs, options and tweaks. But the final copy would only contain the necessary drivers. This would reduce complication time significantly. 1. Service packs 2. Hotfiixes, Addons & update packs 3. Tweaks 4. Remove Components 5. Unattended 6. Options 7. Drivers 8. Bootable ISO Also the update packs , or the addons should be its own separate step. Let me know what you think. MRGCAV@Gmail.com

I have a fully working gateway Vista ultimate desktop Computer. I can use Nero to burn DVD'S but nlite will not detect my DVD drive ? When I finish my compilation, the Device and burn speed is grayed our on the "bootable ISO" page. I uninstalled and reinstalled the most recent version nLite v1.4.5. No Change. The only thing I can do is to make an iso file and burn with Nero. Experienced as I am in computers, nero is too complicated with too many options. Anyway please help. I must be doing something wrong. Stumped nLite v1.4.5 works fine on my XP computer. Anyone got any ideas ? MRGCAV@Gmail.com

Hello, I need a little help. I have used Nlite before with limited success. But had to make a customized disk for each machine I have. I am trying to create ONE bootable XP DVD that contains XP SP3, Internet Explorer 8 (or at least IE7), Firefox Addon, Winrar Addon, & AVG Addon, Optional Windows Vista Themes, All updates and all the drivers for all my machines. I particularly have problems with integrating HP drivers using Nlite. The part I need help with is to separate the data types onto separate partitions or physical drives. I know Nlite can specify the "Programs files" partition. But I want to take this to the next level. Put: "My documents" onto its own physical drive, "Program Files" onto its own physical drive, "Temp" & "TMP" Files onto their own physical drive. Specify the Swapfile drive. ETC... ALL during the install. IF this could be done it would save ma allot of time as I have seven machines to maintain. I need an answer XLM file or something. I am starting with a Windows XP Pro Sp1a Disk and a SP2 separate disk. All partitions are FAT32 and created in advance. This is how I setup all my computers; I do this often. Partition 0 C: is my Active booting Partition 500-750MB Partition 1 D: is for TEMP & TMP Files 3.0-4.0GB Partition 2 E: is for OS1 12.0-15.0GB Partition 3 F: is for OS2 (usually a Clone of OS1) 12.0-15.0GB Partition 4 E: is for OS2 (Clone of OS1) 12.0-15.0GB Partition 5 F: is for Program Files 25.0-30.0 GB All OS's Use the same Programs File. Partition 6 G: is For a Swapfle 2-3 times as large as my RAM, 4.10GB max Partition 7 H: is for Documents and Data 80.0 GB separate drive. Partition 8 J: is for downloading into 10.0-12.0 GB Partition 9 K: is to store a backup copy of the DVD and each OS if not identical. 80.0 GB Most people would not do this. But I have found definite benefits and increases in speed and reliability by doing this. I am just stuck and need some ideas on how to accomplish this and create my Universal DVD. Useful suggestions are appreciated. . MRG MRGCAV@gmail.com

I have used Nlite before with limited success. But had to make a customized disk for each machine I have. I am trying to create ONE bootable XP DVD that contains XP SP3, Internet Explorer 8 (or at least IE7), Firefox Addon, Winrar Addon, & AVG Addon, Optional Windows Vista Themes, All updates and all the drivers for all my machines. I particularly have problems with integrating HP drivers using Nlite. The part I need help with is to separate the data types onto separate partitions or physical drives. I know Nlite can specify the "Programs files" partition. But I want to take this to the next level. Put: "My documents" onto its own physical drive, "Program Files" onto its own physical drive, "Temp" & "TMP" Files onto their own physical drive. Specify the Swapfile drive. ETC... ALL during the install. IF this could be done it would save ma allot of time as I have seven machines to maintain. I need an answer XLM file or something. I am starting with a Windows XP Pro Sp1a Disk and a SP2 separate disk. All partitions are FAT32 and created in advance. This is how I setup all my computers; I do this often. Partition 0 C: is my Active booting Partition 500-750MB Partition 1 D: is for TEMP & TMP Files 3.0-4.0GB Partition 2 E: is for OS1 12.0-15.0GB Partition 3 F: is for OS2 (usually a Clone of OS1) 12.0-15.0GB Partition 4 E: is for OS2 (Clone of OS1) 12.0-15.0GB Partition 5 F: is for Program Files 25.0-30.0 GB All OS's Use the same Programs File. Partition 6 G: is For a Swapfle 2-3 times as large as my RAM, 4.10GB max Partition 7 H: is for Documents and Data 80.0 GB separate drive. Partition 8 J: is for downloading into 10.0-12.0 GB Partition 9 K: is to store a backup copy of the DVD and each OS if not identical. 80.0 GB Most people would not do this. But I have found definite benefits and increases in speed and reliability by doing this. I am just stuck and need some ideas on how to accomplish this and create my Universal DVD. Useful suggestions are appreciated. . MRG MRGCAV@gmail.com

I have Windows Vista and Windows XP Machines. I have several Flash drives. I have tried several times and failed. Here is my Autorun INF file. [autorun] OPEN=Q: ICON=\Icon\Flashdrive.ico ACTION=USB Flashdrive IT does not work. I want to: 1. Display my drive icon in “my computer”. (Flashdrive.ico) 2 To have the drive open up. (displaying the flashdrive’s contents) 3. To open the Autoplay dialog box. I am no programmer. Can anyone help me write this Autorun.inf file ? mrgcav@gmail.com

I was able to move the Vista Programs file folder with limited success. I have Vista Ultimate 32bit. 1. I removed my Vista hard drive and connected it via USB to my XP machine. 2. I copied all Vista C:\Program files to F:\Program Files using XXCopy. Also burn a copy to a CD. 3. I compared copies for size and content to make sure they were identical. 4. I reinstalled the Vista Hard drive on the Vista machine. 5. I created a restore point. 6. I installed Resplendant registar v5.50 on the vista machine. (You can use regedit too, but its much harder). 7. In safe mode, Using the A-B replace function in I installed Resplendant registar v5.50 I changed the program files drive letter in each instance. 8. Reboot 9. Test Vista and all microsoft Apps including Outlook. I had a problem getting Media player to start. Not sure if it was related as I did alot of other edits in the Vista registry. Please tell me your results. But it does work. 10. If no problems are found then delete the original Vista programs file folder. Note: I have read that this can be done during an unattended install. Which I think is the better way. Will try it soon. I sucessfully moved the entire Users folder to another drive too. Need to figure a way to align XP to Vistas folder structure. XP Docs & Settings to Vistas users folder style structure. So I can have one place for my pictures, oneplace for "my documents" etc... MRGCAV@Gmail.com

How to install Windows Vista on a FAT32 partition http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=14181&st=1700&p=119093entry119093-------------------- Tutorial 3 Edit Tutorial 4 www.WINUSB.de Tutorial 5 Tutorial 6 Tutorial 8 for Windows Vista How to install Vista on a Fat32 partition Author: Dietmar Stolting, 9. August 2006 dietmar.stoelting@t-online.de Germany 1. Install two physical hard drives in your computer. Each at least 40GB in size. Disk0 will be for XP. Disk1 will be for Vista. ( If you have a version of XP on a USB Drive and only one Hard drive then go to step 4.) 2. Format Disk0 into 2 Partitions. FAT32, 18GB Partition0 and a NTFS Partition1 of at least 20GB (for temp storage in step 8) and then install XP. XP can format the Disk as well. 3. Format Disk1 NTFS. Shutdown & Disconnect Disk0 4. Install Vista on Disk1, Formatted NTFS. Don’t install anything else, No drivers, programs or updates in this Vista OS. Because Microsoft then inserts Machine key numbers, that cant be copied with the Explorer (but can be copied with Winhex Ha Ha.. . I also used an IDE hard disk, Disk1 4. Shutdown the Computer. Reconnect Disk0 and boot into XP. 5. Get a copy of XXCopy Pro. It will copy any file Protected or not. XXCOPY Pro is available for a 60-day trial for free without obligation: http://www.xxcopy.com/download/xxcopy.zip. Install it in XP. 6. In folder options, Set all the system files as visible. Note the exact size of all the Vista files and folders. Highlight all Vista Files and right click and select properties. WRITE the size down. Copy all the files and folders from that Vista installation to a folder called Vista32 using XXCopy. Using XP’s Copy function will generate errors and not make a complete copy. DO NOT copy the Vista32 folder on the partition with Vista, Drive1, because this partition/drive is deleted later! Do not copy hiberfil.sys, pagefile.sys & System Volume Information. 7. If you get a message, that a file cant be copied, use the program “Beyond Compare 2” to look, what has happened. You will have to copy or create them manually. When you found that file or folder that cant be copied, build this file or folder by hand and let it empty, (I found 3. for example: "Server") 8. Make a backup of your original Vista installation. I used “Winhex” to create a Byte by Byte cop[y of the installations hard disk including the boot sector to a file called vista32.dat. Acronis True Image and HyperOS should also work. Copy Vista32.dat.to Disk0 NTFS Partition1. Remember, that on a FAT32 partition no single file can be larger than 4.10GB. Vista32.dat can stay on the Vista NTFS partition if you only have one Hard Drive. It is about 20GB in size. I tested this image and it works. 9. Notice the exact size of this partition, before you delete the Vista partition. Use Partition Magic 8 to Delete the Vista Partition. Create build a new FAT32 partition in the same place and the same size as the deleted NTFS Partition. Set this partition to be it “active”. 10. Now copy all the files and folders back from the Vista32 folder to that empty Fat32 partition. Copy the Boot folder first and the Windows folder last. 11. Disconnect your USB XP and/or any other hard disk. Only the hard disk with the new FAT32 partition and the files and folders of Vista on it stays. 12. When you try to start from that hard disk you get a message like no OS found. 13. Put the Vista DVD in and hit any key to boot from DVD. 14. Chose install Vista, but at the next Menu, choose "System Repair". 15. Select a keyboard layout (USA). If asked. 16. Hit CONTROL-ALT-DEL and then choose no. (Means no restart of Vista) 17. Hit "next", and then choose Command Prompt. 18. Type cd and then the letter of your DVD drive that has the Vista DVD in it, For me it is E: . 19. Type there cd E:\boot . 20. Then type there bootsect /nt60 C: A message is shown, that a new boot sector for FAT32 is written! 21. Remove the Vista DVD and shut the computer down. Your next Boot will be Very Long. The hard disk seems to sleep about 2 minutes. But then the boot process begins. There is Vista on a FAT32 Partition. hiberfil.sys, pagefile.sys & System Volume Information have also been now rebuilt build new. 22. Create A restore point. 23. Install your Drivers with a restore point created before each one you install. 24. Create A restore point and download your updates. Good luck Dietmar Improved and translated to English by MRGCAV@Gmail.com PS: Please write, whether you have success with this procedure. It is easy. For all of you who are still searching for the files "ultra.inf", "ultra.cat" and "ultra.sys" download this file: http://www.promise.com/support/file/driver..._driver_b43.zip Vista can run on FAT32, I've made some progress Feb 26 2006 http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?showtopic=10184 Since the EFI can only see Apple and FAT partitions (no NTFS) this means that ultimately we can get vista going without worying about an NTFS driver. The catch is its tricky to get vista onto a FAT32 drive.... -Install Vista normally on a PC in an NTFS formatted drive -Remove the Hard Drive and hook it up to a USB enclosure -Connect the drive to the iMac via USB and copy the contents to a directory in OSX (I personally could not get windows to copy the hard drive contents as I kept getting access denied errors). -Connect the USB Drive to a PC and reformat as FAT32. -Connect the drive back up to the iMac and transfer the files from the directory you put the hard drive contents in back onto the newly formatted FAT32 Drive. -Remove the drive from the enclosure and hook back up to the PC -Startup from the Vista install DVD and run the recovery tools from the main install screen. -Run the repair utility and reboot (you may have to start the DVD again, go to the repair tools, start a console, and run bootsect.exe in the boot dir of the install DVD to fix the bootsector) If all went well you'll have a fully functional vista install on a FAT32 drive which the EFI can see if hooked back up to the imac. Of course tweaking that install to run on the imac is another story... Also I am now at the same point that NAK managed where he could access the Vista boot menu and try and boot into safe mode. Just as in his case I reached the point where crcdisk.sys loads and vista is supposed to boot into the desktop but instead the iMac reboots entirely. I'm gonna try to run sysprep on the vista install and see if that helps any. Attached File(s) DSC02768.JPG ( 545.26K ) Number of downloads: 3860 DSC02769.JPG ( 559.14K ) Number of downloads: 2971 DSC02772.JPG ( 497.76K ) Number of downloads: 1664 DSC02773.JPG ( 505.47K ) Number of downloads: 1832 DSC02774.JPG ( 571.98K ) Number of downloads: 3467

How to relocate the entire USER folder in Vista. http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=192697 Posted April 7, 2007 Comments(36) Here lies my experience moving my entire User Profile folder structure, including Default, Public, and any local users. In my search for a solution, the only two easy ways I found to move the user profile directory locations from the system drive is to 1. Set the User Profile folder during setup using an unattended install file. 2. Move the individual folders inside your user profile, which can be done using explorer (which will update the registry keys HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders and HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders). However, this was not good enough for me, I wanted my actual user profile folder to be moved to a seperate partition/volume, including registry settings. I discovered that it is not actually that hard, provided you’re comfortable with mass replacing registry keys and values. Here is how I moved my user profile location. Please note that I wanted all of the profiles moved, included Public and Default, so some of these steps can be skipped if you do not want that: 1. Make sure you have a complete backup of your system! 2. Copy the original Default Profile directory to the new location (e.g. from C:\Users\Default to D:\Users\Default). 3. Copy the original Public Profile directory to the new location (e.g. from C:\Users\Public to D:\Users\Public). 4. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList. 5. Change the value of the Default key to the new user profile location (e.g. D:\Users\Default). 6. Change the value of the Public key to the new user profile location (e.g. D:\Users\Public). 7. Change the value of the ProfilesDirectory to the new user profile location (e.g. D:\Users). 8. At this point, you need to restart and log back in as a different user that has never logged in before and therefore does not have a profile created. In my case, the Administrator user had never logged in before so I enabled it so that Administrator could log in and used that. You can enable Administrator login by loading Computer Management and then go to User Accounts, edit the properties for Administrator, and then uncheck Disable Login. 9. After logging in for the first time with the new user account, you will see “Creating Desktop” and other things like that while Windows is creating your profile. Note that the new profile should be created in the new location. 10. After logging in, try to close as many applications as possible. This will prevent most files from being locked so that you cannot copy them. 11. Copy the entire original user profiles folder from the original location to the new location (e.g. C:\Users\* to D:\Users\). (See next step after copy starts). 12. There are a few things to note during this copy. There were thousands of .TMP files that were locked and would not copy. I just skipped these files. I held down Alt-S so that I could see all of the skipped files and make sure that there were only .TMP files being skipped. Yes, this took a little while, but at least I was confident that I got all of my files copied. This process could probably be made easier using the command prompt or powershell. 13. If, in your case, there are some files that will not copy, you can run procexp.exe, which is file provided by sysinternals. Then do a Find Handle and search for part of the filename. procexp will tell you which programs are locking the file. As long as you closed as many programs as you could, though, this should not happen. 14. Find and download a program that will do a Search & Replace on the registry. I will not suggest one because I did not find one single program that worked perfectly. I ended up downloading a few different freeware applications and using all of them. 15. Using the Registry Search & Replace program, do a search for the original user profile folder and replace it with the new user profile folder (e.g. search for “C:\Users” and replace with “D:\Users”. Note that some of the applications I used would only change values and not key names. However, the keys that needed to be changed were all related to MuiCache. I do not know if these actually need to be updated. I did just to make sure. 16. Log out. Log back in with the same user. Repeat step 14 until there is nothing left to replace. The reason for this step is that on logout, some programs seem to update the registry using the old user profile path. 17. Run regedit.exe and do a search for the original user profile path and make sure it does not exist. The reason for this step is because (as noted in step 13), I did not trust any of the Registry Search & Replace programs I used. I ended up needing to update about a dozen of the keys and values manually, since the search & replace missed them. 18. So that you can easily find programs that do not use the registry and hard-coded profile paths, rename your original profile folder (e.g. rename C:\Users to C:\~Users). 19. Log out. Log back in as your usual user. Everything should be working correctly except for programs that use a “hardcoded” user profile location. 20. There are two easy methods that can be used to find programs that use a “hardcoded” profile location and are still looking for the original user profile path. You can use the procexp.exe trick mentioned above and search for handles in the original profile location. You can also monitor the oringal profile location to see if any new folders or files were created. For example, in my case, FolderShare created some folders and files in the directory C:\Users\MyUsername\AppData\Local\FolderShare\. So, I updated the FolderShare settings to point to the different path and then deleted the C:\Users directory (note that C:\~Users still existed as a backup). 21. Since you are now confident that all of your data has been moved (right??????), you can deleted the backup of the original user profile location (e.g. C:\~Users). This procedure worked flawlessly for me. Everything user-related is now on a completely different volume, and I can sleep a little better at night! http://joshmouch.wordpress.com/ For step 14: Use Resplendence Registry Manager v5.50 Email me for a copy. Jay MRGCAV@gmail.com

jamieo, I respect your opinions. A little about me. I am a Computer engineer (with a masters degree). I have worked on mainfrain systems for the last 25 years. I mess with windows for fun and to correct Microsofts flaws. 6-10 partiotionis not alot. It is better to have more than less partitions on the same physical hard drive. I prefer FAT32 for for data recovery reasons. Vista with its NTFS only partition was VERY STUPID MICROSOFT ! My usual XP partitions are, 1. Booting 400MB 2. OS1 XP Pro SP2 15,000MB 3. OS2 XP Pro SP2 Copy 16,000MB 4. OS3 Vista (Was Windows Media center) 32,000 MB 5. Pagefile 3.5 times your RAM size 6. Temp & TMP Files 6000MB 7. Program files 32000MB 8. Documents. 25,000GB 9. OS backup (I keep daily copies of the existing windows folders) 45,000GB 10. Download. (I download then virus scan this partition) 40,000GB my computers are very fast, Efficent and when an OS fails (BSOD) I just reboot onto a different OS and recopy the backup windows folder to the failin OS drive. Reboot and I am back in business in less then ten minutes with NO DATA LOSS. COOL huh ! I hope this clarifies what I do. Each is done for a very good reason. Each partition serves a specific function. As for Partition size, you need to study and document your Computer habits and adjust the size of your partitions accordingly. Proper Partition planning is essential in a multiboot computer. I have recentally discovered unattend.xml and am eager to try it. Any website you know of for unattend.xml ? Bledd - I am improving preformance, not hurting it. Feel free to email me. legolash2o - I fail to see the humor. You are not multi booting like I am. If you want to put all your eggs in two baskets (partitions) the that is your choice. I will choose not to. Games, Music videos ???? I thought this was forumn for serious users. Hmmmmm iuli_kyle - I agree with you. Both nlite and Vlite need to take the next step in their evolution. What good is a stripped down version of windows if you can not customize it ? Vlite needs the same options as nlite already has. I am confident it will. I was hoping for more helpful suggestions rather than critizism. But people tend to critize what they do not understand. Its human nature. Thank you for your help, to those who helped. NEWS: I have figured our how to subdivide and relocate Windows Vista user folder & Program files to another drive after installing it. Still very beta. MRGCAV@gmail.com

Nuhi, You are doing a great job with nlite and now vlite. Where can I get a step by step document on both nlite and vlite ? Vlite suggestions: I like to partition my computers (laptop HP DV6000t) onto 6-10 partitions and seperate my programs from my documents, temp files, Page file, Backup, OS1,OS2,OS3 etc... so when windows crashes I can just recopy my windows folder from my backup partition to my OS partition. Anything you can do to help with creating the multipul partitions during installation would be great. 1. Include a "add/remove programs" shortcut. 2. Ability to unpack/extract compresses drivers. Like the HP SP3xxxx drivers. 3. Better instructions on how to add 3rd party apps. 4. Default details view. 5. Default show quick launch. Thanks MRGCAV@gmail.com

Thank you for your help. I was not sure what the correct topic was so I repeated my post. sorry. What is the "Windows Post installer" ? Where can I read about it ? UPDATE I got Windows XPSP2 To load on the the laptop by going into the BIOS and disabling the native SATA Drivers and I read in another post. I am not sure how this affects my SATA 7200rpm drive's preformance. Any Ideas ? Any Suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated. MRGCAV@Gmail.com

I bought a new HP DV6000 Laptop. It came with windows Vista. I can not stand Windows vista. The laptop had one SATA Drive and no floppy. It is capable of booting from a USB Flash or a USB hard drive. I have a Gateway Windows Vista 32 bit desktop to do my work on. I am very computer literate but have no experience loading SATA drivers and no experience Slipstreaming a CD. Never needed to. I downloaded the HP file for th XP SATA Driver called "Intel SATA AHCI Controller Driver sp32478 XP setup.exe" I have Nlite too. What do I do next ? P.S. I also want to replace IE6 with IE7 before installing. MRGCAV@GMAIL.com

Go to Download.com. Find Getdataback. their is a Fat and a NTFS version. If you have not overwritten your data it will recover it. Contact for more info and a license. MRGCAV@hotmail.com

Hello, I am a computer engineer and security expert. Sorry to tell you but while your idea it secure your computer is good, you are going about it the wrong way. If you need yo use the internet... 1. Get a hardware router with a hardware based firewall. Lynksys is a good brand. 2. Spoof your IP address. No one will be able to find you when online unless you tell them . 3. Use FireFox browser Stop using IE. Use IE only for updates. 4. Get all updates for your OS. 5. Set all user accounts with a password. 6. Create a seperate DATA partition or even better, get a external USB or hot swappable IDE hard drive. Do not store sensitive Data on your, take it with you. 7. Encrypt your data. Use Advanced Encode-Decode Tools setup.exe or Folder Security Personal 2.50 setup.exe 8. Store your data on a hidden partition. 9. Store your data in a obscure foreign language or code before encrypting. 10. Maintian several anonomous free email accounts. Hotmail, Gmail etc... Do not download you email. Copy, cut and paste it into MS word instead. 11. also use a software based firewall like Zonealarm. I suspect your need is not for financial information but rather for storing some data related to some illegal activity you are involved in. Noone will bother you. MRGCAV@hotmail.com

Hello Newbie, You learned a hard lesson. Do not do if you are not sure. Ask first. I would not recomment using IE at all/ It attracks to many viruses and spyware. Also if someone offers you a "FREE" program. DO not accept it. It probally contains a Virus. Go to www.Download.Com. Type "Firefox" into the search box. Download Mozilla's FireFox browser to your desktop. Rename the file you Download "FireFox Browser v1.0.2 setup.exe". Install the FireFox browser you downloaded. It is also a great idea to create a folder within your programs files folder to contain all your setup installation programs. Name it somthing like "Installation setup Programs" Move the "FireFox Browser v1.0.2 setup.exe". to this new folder. Keep your files neat and organized ! Also I suggest for any newbie to upgrade to XP Pro, Not home. It is easier to use than 98SE. However you need to see if your computer can handle XP. Check what CPU and how much memory you have by right clicking "My Compter" > "Properties" If your interested, I can help you get a affordable copy of XP Pro. MRGCAV@hotmail.com