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Okay, so DEEJAYKEG has always been a proponent of disabling or eliminating Java on your computer. The current edition of Windows Secrets Newsletter has given me some additional insight and reassurances that the computing world will not come unraveled if I take this plunge. Previously, I have been of a mind to believe that sometimes you just can't avoid it, and Java is just everywhere anyway, right? So why worry. Well, worry, but what are you to do? Break your machine because Oracle can't get their security shit together? Well, in light of these new insights, turns out a lot of my presumptions about the prevalence of Java have been erroneous, and Java may be little more that one big-ass security hole. (I see you over there nodding, Keg. lol ) A couple of things to note when contemplating disabling Java: Java is NOT JavaScript. Two separate things, no worries. That I already knew... Little out there on the web actually needs Java. Some sites do, and if one is mission-critical to you, you're SOL, sort of, but not completely... Java can be disabled on ALL of your browsers, but the Java Runtime Engine (JRE) can still run on your machine for local apps that need it. Local apps like the Eclipse development environment, or more likely, the Open Office (or better, LibreOffice) suite of OpenSource office apps. Java can be easily disabled on individual browsers rather than ALL of them, although the latter is way easier. The exception is Internet Explorer (big surprise, right?!) in which it is worse than multiple root canals to disable Java. Thanks Microsoft. Google Chrome will ALWAYS ask you (by design) if it's okay to run a Java applet if a website makes such a request. I'm on-board now. And I've chosen the path of least resistance to getting it done in the near term - simple checkbox in the Java settings Control Panel applet as illustrated in the newsletter. If something turns up broken, I can switch that check box back on, then disable it in Firefox, and just use Chrome to hit the sites that need Java which will kindly remind me to allow Java to run for those sites. I simply don't use Internet Explorer, and suggest none of the rest of you use it either. Firefox and Chrome are brilliant browsers and, despite arguably personal preference in the way each handles tab management, they are both equally worthy as an IE replacement. Here is the link to this Windows Secrets Newsletter. (please see both Java articles in this edition of the newsletter.) .

You've had more than your fair share of troubled waters, Angel. Be sure to take care of yourself through all of this. It's never easy, but sometimes you just need to let go of the things you have no control over. * Hugs * Prayers, too.

"Stoner Rock," she calls it. Okay... I'm down with that.

Very distressing and stressful. Prayers for acceptance, hope, and recovery.

I'm an Idiot. A pound is a unit measure of weight where I come from. Sometimes it's cake.

What's your budget. Let's start there. No sense trying to recommend something you can't afford. Heck, we all want a dual 3GB SLI configuration, but that doesn't mean we get it. That said, your config will certainly handle this nicely and be one kick-ass system: MSI N680GTX Twin Frozr 4GD5/OC or for a little less, but still kick-ass: MSI NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670 OC 2GB GDDR5 As you can see, I'm a little partial to MSI and to NVIDIA. EVGA is a good company, too, where NVIDIA cards are concerned.

Prayers on the way.... Bittersweet, something like this. He's released from the battle along with all his pain and suffering, which is sweet. But there's the bitter sting of the loss you all must endure. Reflect on the "sweet" so you can find comfort beyond the grief swiftly.

I installed 8 pro 64bit on my laptop, a fully configured, 6 year old Dell XPS M1210(http://www.cnet.com/...7-31899187.html) It failed and rolled back to 7 pro 64bit. Followed all the commonly available advice about uninstalling things in the upgrade advisor report, running a registry cleaner (CCleaner) and other such nonsense. No joy. Contacted Microsoft Tech Support. They were able to get it running by disabling the NVIDIA display driver and RealTech HD Audio driver. That lasted till the first re-start when the machine started going to a blank screen when attempting to launch anything. Mouse pointer was still there and working, and the screen would dim and eventually turn off as if Windows and the screen saver were alive behind the blank screen and mouse pointer. This initiated a 2nd round of tech support with Microsoft. Problem is that they have made it impossible to get into Safe Mode if your computer isn't booting properly. Ironically, you can initiate a safe boot if you're already up and running, but cannot if your not able to boot. Totally Bass-Akwards. And no, F8 doesn't work anymore, or is reported to be sporadically successful, if at all. For me it was not. In a total EPIC FAIL for Microsoft Tech Support, their guy could not tell me how to get into Safe Mode. It is possible, but requires jumping through absurd hoops. While the guy was with me on the phone (on hold mostly,) I looked up a very cryptic bcdedit command on, of all places, about.com. (http://pcsupport.abo...ode-windows.htm) That got me into Safe Mode. Once in Safe Mode, he connected remotely and tried to turn services off through msconfig to troubleshoot the problem, but his strategy was illogical and erratic. I had to direct his troubleshooting actions and spoon feed him the appropriate logic behind my direction. All the while I was looking up additional information and had come to the conclusion WAY before he did that the problem was in a particular Locitech service associated with the integrated laptop webcam. So it's running now. But, btw, if you want to get apps from the Microsoft Apps Store, you're going to have to connect with an email account rather than a "local" account. I don't get that. The last thing I want to do is enter an email address and password to log into Windows. It forces me to dumb down my password (that would otherwise be something massively cryptic, like Y6k009Bz7%$9JcitRX*ODZdr, for instance) to something that can be easily remembered and entered without much effort. But what if you want to purchase a paid app from the store? Well, I guess you have to put a credit card behind that email account with its dummed-down password. Is this a good idea? Well, lets see... Google has adopted a 2-step verification process to enhance security on your accounts with them (if you opt to use it; I do) because of all the new email scams and hacks out there, so I'm thinking NO, it's not a good idea. Case in point, an old Yahoo! email address of mine was recently used to look up a phone number from some dip-shit service, and I received a welcome email from that service noting the $0.45 charge for that report and my enrollment in some monitoring service they offer on a 15-day trial. That was followed in that inbox by a password change request notification from Yahoo! So the hacker didn't actually obtain access to my email account, and there is no credit card on file behind the Yahoo! account, so no real damage. I changed the password myself on the account to preclude further hacking attempts (maybe.) Point is, Microsoft's login by email account is just a real bad idea! The interface flattening from the elegantly 3D look of Win7 back to flat, bland 2D in Win8 feels like such a retro move. Even Windows 3.11 for Workgroups looked better than Windows 8. All the bright colored tiles just seem gaudy. There are some cool things about it, don't get me wrong. And I am typically very accepting of Microsoft's newest Windows versions. I actually loved Vista when it came out, and Windows 7 is a MASTERPIECE for Microsoft. Windows 8? Not so much so far, and that feels like a radical departure for me, and quite telling, I think. Microsoft has a long, hard road ahead with Windows 8. A little aside... I will be installing Ubuntu Linux on my old XP Pro box, a Dell Dimension 8300. Installation will be to its own drive (dev/sdb) and the BIOS will be told to boot from that drive so the GRUB2 Boot Loader can provide the Windows or Ubuntu boot menu. We'll soon see what all the buzz is about Linux/Ubuntu. This is a new foray for me. I've been a Windows-only guy for a really long time. Stay tuned... .

Way to go Pinglo!

Happy Birthday, Chili ! ,

Boys, you know you want this...

Happy Birthday! Have a great one!

Who turned him on in the first place?

Continued hopes and prayers for healing for your family, Angel.

Fuck ! I didn't think one guy could be full of so much shit !!!

Elmer's Glue on wood.

Qball's brain matter spattered all over the map when I "clink" him?

The 69. Ironically, we did own one back in '69 when I was just a kid. Not as tricked out as that one, I don't think, but it was red with a white vinyl top.

Welcome Crazy! See you in VNFT. I'll either have your back or be shooting at your front - you know how that goes... vs

Way to go Sniper. See you in the maps! :2guns:

Happy Birthday, Yoburt !! Always enjoy meeting you in battle.

I'd still try the eset online scanner I mentioned. eset is extremely well regarded in the malware/rootkit/virus area. Also, before a forced delete of MS Office, if that's what it's looking like, you might want to try IOBit's Advanced Uninstaller: <LINK REMOVED> EDIT: Link to IOBit's Advanced Uninstaller removed. May install a malicious browser extension. DO NOT USE IOBIT PRODUCTS !!! Sorry for the earlier recommendation. I was just trying to find a decent advanced uninstaller that will do a more through job when Microsoft's own uninstaller gets confused about how to uninstall a program. Back to my original suggestion, which was sound - just delete the program's folder and use CCleaner to clean up the registry issues.

A riding snowblower is hardly a long shot of the imagination...

Yeah Baby - throw that white shit over to the next town!

Oh, and when all is said and done, install Microsoft Security Essentials (if you don't already use it): http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/security-essentials-download Special Pricing for Idiots: FREE