Why did you install that?

I can't tell you how many emails I receive from those who have installed programs meant to PROTECT their PC's... but instead they wind up with more problems.

These so-called all-in-one, or 5-in-one security programs get so entwined with your registry, you can't do anything. Be careful of those programs that claim they can handle viruses, malware and spyware for one price.

I still recommend the following programs for their ease of use and continued support by their creators.

Avast - anti-virus free home version
Spybot-Search & Destroy - anti-spyware
Ad-aware - anti-spyware

I continue to review a variety of other security programs and will update my recommendations as needed.

Windows 7

Will Windows 7 get everone to let go of Windows XP?

Maybe... there are plenty of physical similarities between the two that give you a sort of "comfortable" feeling about it.

As we all know, Vista as an upgrade has been a nightmare. And for those who got it on their new PC, many are unhappy with how it operates.

Windows XP had that "Microsoft" touch, following, Windows 95, 98 & ME... but Vista is a bit strange and takes some getting used to.

In comparison, I've found the Mac OS X much easier to use than Vista.

Microsoft has released an OFFICIAL Beta version of Windows 7. But it is not a good idea to install it on a PC with important information. That's because there could be conflicts with your PC and you risk losing everything. So if you want to try it, put it on a PC without data you couldn't afford to lose - just in case.

Microsoft's official page on Windows 7 can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/default.aspx

BUYING A NEW COMPUTER

It's that time of year when you may be purchasing a computer as a holiday gift for someone.

And the question always comes up, what specs should I look for. So here's a rundown of the important components you want:

Laptops -

• Centrino 2 chipset technology
• 15" screen size
• at least 2GB of RAM
• Video card memory of 256MB

Desktops -

• Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD Athlon 64 X2 or Turion X2
• 64-bit Vista OS
• at least a 17" Widescreen flat panel
• at least 2GB of RAM
• Video card memory of 256MB

As far as hard drives, get as large a drive as you can afford. Nowadays, it's easy to fill 250GB.

64-bit versions of Vista operating system allows your PC to recognize 4GB of RAM or more. But beware that the 64-bit version may not be compatible with older programs and peripherals. If that's a concern, go with the 32-bit version.

If you are a high-end user, you may need a real workhorse, which means more RAM, more video card memory and faster chipset.

That should be enough to point you in the right direction.

INFO ON OLD PC's

From time to time, I get questions about how to find information on an old PC, such as a Dell.

The best way to go about this is to SEARCH on the net using the model name... for example, a Dell Optiplex 740 Specifications...

Then check through the results to find specs on the PC... this works well for especially old PC's...

If you have a newer PC, you should be able to find everything you need at the manufacturer's website.

Mac Viruses Found!

I've heard from friends with Macs that they do not use anti-virus programs for their computers.

So when I purchased a Mac book, I didn't give it much of a thought.

Fast forward 6 months later. I decide to install an anti-virus program on it.

And guess what? It found 3 viruses and several errors.

So don't believe everything you here. If you are on the Internet, someone is trying to get into your computer.

iTunes is Difficult!

Is it me?

I do not own an iPod, but I do want to use iTunes on my PC.

It seemed simple at first, but when I tried to add my own songs things got a little wierd. Library, playlist, smart playlist - what does all this mean?

I decided to consult some online tutorials. That's when things became a little clearer. I have to say, it is a remarkable program. There are lots of ways to organize your music, and play it back.

And there's a nifty MP3 converter built-in for non-copyrighted audio files.

Check it out!

IDENTITY THEFT

Most of us think about identity theft as someone stealing our credit card number or social security number when we write it on a piece of paper.

But how many realize this information could be on our computers? And it may be accessible to hackers.

This week I spoke with Todd Feinman, CEO of Identity Finder. His program looks on your PC for your personal information and shows you where it is. You then have the opportunity to SHRED it, or SECURE it from prying eyes.

You can try Identity Finder as a trial download. Check it out at www.IdentityFinder.com