Microsoft has confirmed that Photo Gallery, Windows Mail and Movie Maker will be ditched in Windows 7. Instead users will be able to download the equivalent software from the free Windows Live service.

Some people, like myself, might not know that there’s a better way to transfer CDs and DVDs across the internet, rather than the traditional method of burning ISO images.  By using some free software, which acts as a virtual drive on your PC, you can mount an ISO image to run much faster and efficiently. 

You may already have all the PC or Mac you need, but the lure of a Media Center PC always draws you in.  What to do?  Use some free software and some slight hardware changes to transform practically any machine into a full-functioning Media Center.  It may be easier than you think.

The internet raises undeniable privacy concerns on several fronts, from malware and spyware to trojan horses and key loggers, no one is truly safe from the harm we put ourselves in while surfing the net.  Some free downloads for both XP and Vista can protect you and your computer from such harm, if you know where to find them that is.

For those that are frustrated that Vista won’t do what you want it to do, don’t write it off just yet.  With some simple system tweaks and some free software downloads, you can change almost every aspect of your OS to better suit your needs. 

Avanquest connection management software for Windows has dropped its $29.95 price tag to be offered free-O-charge to frustrated Windows users that are tired of struggling with connection settings every time they move locations or connection type.

Icons that sit on the desktop are mostly shortcuts to programs but Microsoft decided to make the shortcut arrows larger and more obvious in Windows Vista.  In addition to (optionally) hiding the icons you can also remove those unsightly shortcut arrows to make your desktop look just a little better.

For those of you staying true to Windows Vista, there are a few good alternatives available in the way of instant messaging clients. Yahoo!, maker of a popular instant messaging client among other things, has just released a new beta for Windows Vista, and there are a couple new perks that should entice instant messaging addicts everywhere.

Having used several iterations of Windows which goes all the way back to a limited understand of Windows 3.1 but I didn’t really start using it until Windows 95, I’ve been around the block.  There is lots of freeware out there and sure we have a list of 30 freeware applications on this very site which presents you with several options if you want that but maybe you don’t, maybe you want to know what’s the very best.

Windows Vista 64-bit is an entirely different animal from its 32-bit counterpart; some of the software you have become accustomed to using may have to be tossed out the window (no pun intended) and replaced with something else.

Ok, ok, we can all laugh and joke about some of the rather humorous ends eBay has gone to in the interest of protecting its customers, but there’s a real chance that the latest caper moves from lighthearted humor to rather arguable controversy.  Ebay has removed a laptop that contains an attack code used to crack Vista in the interesting of its buyers’ “safety.” 

The list of users who are experiencing more than a little difficulty with the new Service Pack 1 grows longer every day; it seems more and more users who boot multiple operating systems are experiencing grief as well.  Before installing Vista Service Pack 1, be sure to check out the boot systems you’re currently using if you use Windows Vista Enterprise or Vista Ultimate, otherwise your PC might end up the victim of a faulty SP1 install.

Many Vista users are justifiably a bit skittish when talk drifts to service pack 1, recently released by Microsoft; though home installations aren’t particularly difficult (though they could make you a nervous nelly), many larger companies will doubtless spend a good chunk of cash on IT help to ease the transition.  Microsoft has an answer for all those businesses who are looking for something a bit more streamlined, and it is a toolkit that should expedite the process quite nicely. 

Windows Vista have you down or experiencing problems?  Time to reinstall it.  But before you do, you’ll either have to manually hunt down the drivers for your system or install them from a disc the manufacturer provided.  Either way it will take longer than having a single utility install all your drivers automatically for you.

There are ways of improving system performance; those looking for a one click solution might want to turn towards this free program.  Glary utilities is an all-in-one system maintenance utility.