Double dose of Fred in this week's WindowsSecrets Newsletter

I have 2 separate columns in this week's newsletter rather than the usual one.

The issue's "Top Story:"

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Preparing Windows XP for the long haul

By Fred Langa

Microsoft's support for Windows XP may be fading, but a loyal horde of XP users plans to stick with this venerable OS for as long as possible.

If that's your long-term goal, there are a number of steps you can take now to ensure a finely tuned XP system for months — possibly years — to come.

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The above article runs through the steps you can take  --- some of which may surprise you --- to keep the aging XP operating system running smoothly for as long as you need it to.

My regular Q&A column is also running:

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Tracking down and preventing unwanted reboots

Unwanted restarts can be more than an exercise in frustration and wasted time — they can easily result in lost data.

Fortunately, there are only three main causes of unintended reboots, so finding — and controlling — them is usually not hard.

Plus:

• What to do when DVD drive will not read original discs
• Two techniques for user-proofing Windows
• Pros and cons of 'Search Everything' freeware

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Here's the full issue lineup:

Free content posted on Aug. 12, 2010:

TOP STORY By Fred Langa Preparing Windows XP for the long haul Start with a thorough XP system checkup Review and update your PC's security system Give your computer a thorough file cleaning Use disk imaging to preserve your new setup LOUNGE LIFE By Keely Dolan Dead language becomes dated placeholder WACKY WEB WEEK By Stephanie Small How to make your day at the zoo a blast

 
Paid content (cheap, really! <g>):

LANGALIST PLUS By Fred Langa Tracking down and preventing unwanted reboots Updates: The leading culprits for auto-reboots DVD drive will not read original discs Two techniques for user-proofing Windows Pros and cons of "Search Everything"

BEST SOFTWARE By Lincoln Spector Software organizes your photo collection Use tags to make images easy to search and sort Photo organizer puts your images on the map Organize images with hierarchical tags A new photo gallery for Vista and Windows 7 Image resizer shrinks photos in a flash

PATCH WATCH By Susan Bradley Record number of Windows patches released IE gets numerous fixes in one big patch Adobe Flash and AIR need immediate updating Media files represent a growing security risk Set aside time for new .NET and XML updates Google researcher pushes kernel patching Opening unknown documents makes PCs vulnerable A not-so-critical update for Server Message Block Networking protocol flaw needs a local attacker Tracing Feature patch affects newer Windows

A portion of your support helps children in developing countries Each month, we send a full year of sponsorship to a different child. Your contributions in August are helping us to sponsor Mathias, an 8-year-old boy from Zambia. Children International channels development aid from donors to Mathias and his community. We also sponsor kids through Save the Children and Plan USA. More info

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