how can this be fixed?

This problem may occur if the uninstaller for a program incorrectly removes registry entries that are used by Windows and the Add/Remove Programs tool.

For this tip, you will be working in your Registry Editor, so before you begin, make sure you’re comfortable using it. The Registry Editor is not a tool to just play around with. However, following the steps below it will be fine. Moreover, first do it for one pgrogram only and check if it works, before doing it for many more - better safe than sorry.

Now, after having finished the above for one program, one can go through the above procedure again but this time do it for several of the programs one wishes to remove or get the Windows Add/Remove Program buttons back.

Thereafter go back to the Control Panel and look through your list of programs. All of the Change/Remove buttons should be back for you and you can then continue removing all those unnecessary programs from your computer. No more missing buttons.

Download Add - Remove Pro

This is a quick and reliable alternative to standard Windows Add/Remove Program. It’s a fast, secure, and convenient way to remove unneeded applications and improve your computer efficiency. The program can also remove system and hidden applications, programs that could not be removed by Add/Remove Program. The user interface is easy-to-use, modern, and multilingual (more than 15 languages supported).change/remove buttons have disappeared from Add Remove Programs

Things to consider - more help

Stay ahead, register yourself for the newsletter Wincurity (once a month) or get each post via e-mail right here:

We need a tool to fix things in Windows or Windows Vista. One tool I have been using is nCleaner

This tool requires less than 1MB on your hardrive but gives you an advanced system and application cleaner.

Like your apartment that needs cleaning, so does your PC or notebook. Care starts with maintenance and cleanup.

Help that makes you get done with your cleaning chores faster using nCleaner such as:

finding junk left behind by programs the you may have uninstalled,

reg (registry) cleaner,

free space shredder,

tweak manager,

startup manager, and

many more

Just remember, the tool can be used freely for non-commercial use …. not otherwise because as it says:

You are NOT allowed to use nCleaner for any commercial purposes. You are not allowed to use nCleaner to get any kind of profit. If you want to license nCleaner for any commercial purpose please contact us.

Download the program here: nCleaner

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The last couple of weeks we brought you:

CyTRAP Labs quicktip - checking your Windows Vista firewall settings

CyTRAP Labs quicktip - replacing Window Vista firewall - what one should avoid

These posts gave you some tips regarding your Windows Vista firewall as well as which ropes to skip when trying to install a new firewall. Today I explain a few things you may want to consider when installing your firewall.
what not to do

Before you turn off the Windows Vista firewall you need to make sure that you have installed the latest version of Windows Vista on your PC. For instance, I purchased another PC last week from Toshiba and, unfortunately, the latest Windows Vista with SP1 was not installed. In turn, I downloaded the SP 1 fix from here:

check if update is needed SP1 for Windows Vista - March 2008

It will take some time to download this program and make sure that:

- before downloading - please turn off power saving on your notebook - because it will interrupt the download and you will have to start again (imagine you have 40 megabytes and must start anew… tedious).

Once you have updated your Windows Vista you can go ahead and install a firewall. This procedure prevents you from having to uninstall your firewall after having downloaded and installed SP 1 - happened to me - because the firewall had problems to work properly.

FACTS ABOUT Online-Armor

We chose Online-Armor for now because it runs smooth, does not take too many system resources and has a user-interface that makes it easy for you to teach the firewall what you want it to do. Again remember these things and be cautious:

a) your software-based firewall learns - it is wise to be careful and restrictive with telling the firewall to establish a rule…. let it ask you each time so you know which program wants to send infos out from your PC and why

b) if in doubt say no when asked, do it step-by-step and do not rush your decision when the firewall asks you to make a decision

Our choice, including details and where to download it for your PC is listed below.

Yes your new PC has a firewall pre-installed from some software vendor, before activating it might be wise to get rid of it unless it is better than Online-Armor, which will not be the case for 95% of them.

No, nearly all of the firewalls that were pre-installed on your new PC by the manufacturer are not as good as Online-Armor according to various benchmark tests including our own. Most importantly, they require more system resources and, thereby, slow down your PC in those cases were you run several programs at once (e.g., Word, Thunderbird, Firefox, etc.) Worst is that they do many things without asking you first for permission. Big brother watching you….

We advice you to uninstall such programs before installing Online-Armor.

Installing the firewall

As the screeshot below shows, the Online Armor firewall makes it easy for you to follow instructions and install the package. The Safety Check Wizard guides you through the set-up.

Just make sure you have 10 minutes, uninterrupted please…. focus on this job and do it carefully and wisely. Mistakes made will haunt you… Do not rush through it.

The screen below shows what the answers will likely be if you have a new PC and Windows Vista SP 1 installed.

Does not mean you did anything wrong nor that something is amiss, instead you will have to instruct the firewall and tell it what you want it to do in case …. some program like Microsoft Office wants to execute something.

When you proceed from the above screen, Online-Armor than guides you through some question and answer routines. For instance, your hardware manufacturer has set up some programs to start automatically. I had one program called desktop SMS start each time I booted the PC even though I did not want it to.

I instructed Online-Armor not to permit it being started, tested the SMS program once or twice and than just uninstalled it. However, until I did that Online Armor prevented the program to be launched automatically during the boot up of the system.

The above screen makes it easy for you to tell the program what you want it to do. In many cases, you want the firewall to stop certain programs from starting up when you boot the system. They slow down the boot process and use up system resources. So what you do not need for sure each time you start a work session should not be launched that simple.

Incidentally, the above indicates that today’s firewalls are far more than just firewalls but act as intrusion detection systems and help you to take charge over which programs may start and which ones may not on your notebook without your explicit consent.

So take back control with Online Armor, it works (no we neither have shares in the company nor any other business relationship with them )

EVALUATION SHEET ABOUT Online-Armor

The above choice is fine as well we just prefer Online-Armor which we think works a bit faster and has a slightly better user interface.

Get some test results here:

firewall challenge

The above lists one set of tests that might be helpful to you including links to those firewalls that cost. Nevertheless, Online-Armor is in the top 3 in these tests and ours and comes free.

For Windows XP users, see our free firewall choices here:

CT210001: Update 4 - Martina Hingis: Princess of the WTA & Angelina Jolie ==> they are already inside - best ways for using a firewall to protect your PC

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Last week we brought you:

CyTRAP Labs quicktip - checking your Windows Vista firewall settings

That post gave you some tips regarding your Windows Vista firewall. Today I explain a few things you may want to consider BEFORE replacing your Windows Vista firewall - the ropes to skip.

PROBLEM

While Windows Vista has a firewall, it does not stop your programs from reporting back to Redmond. In fact, it allows your PC to report back all kinds of information about your machine and what and how your are using your programs to get your jobs done. For Windows Vista I usually recommend turning off the default firewall, since it can also cause errors with a few of the popular programs you might also have installed on your PC.

Disabling the Disable the Windows Vista firewall is a first step (see last week’s post on how to do it properly). However, before you disable this firewall you have to be sure to have put another solution in place. Otherwise you are exposing your PC to unnecessary risks. I explain some of the questions you have to address beforehand below.

First Defence

The first line of defence is your router. The good thing is that it does not use system resources. Just ensure that the router you are looking for includes NAT firewalling. This basically means that the router ignores anything it did not request from the internet.
The bad thing is that if your PC gets infected by any spyware or malware, any traffic it attempts to send out will most likely be approved. Why? Because such traffic will look like legitimate traffic from your machine, so your router firewall won’t stop it.

SOLUTION

Basd on the above, you need a firewall that advices you about attempts made by outgoing traffic. For instance, you initiated a print job on Word. In return, your firewall asks if it is okay to let your computer contact the networked printer. If you approve, the command will go to the printer and you can pick up your print job in a minute or so at the printer.

Some people do not wish to be asked by the firewall about such outgoing traffic. Naturally, you can have your firewall establish a rule that means such outoing traffic is always approved. However, if you want to know what is happening on your machine and to be safe, don’t let your firewall establish too many rules. Rather click on yes a few times during the day than having to deal with the risk of malware using the same port as your networked printer to reach the internet…

what not to choose

Would you leave a fox to guard your prize chickens? Most certainly not, hence you should refrain from using a service like this one from Microsoft:

Install a good, comprehensive, security program,
such as Windows OneCare, and you’ll not have to
worry about those issues. You can try it FREE
for ninety (90) days. This is a brand new version
and includes a very robust firewall.
http://onecare.live.com/standard/en-us/default.htm–
Carey Frisch, Microsoft MVP, Windows Desktop Experience -Windows Vista Enthusiast

Having all your eggs in one basket is not what I call smart risk management regardless how good the Microsoft products might be.

As well, there are numorous software-based firewall programs available. Unfortunately, only a few are truly free.For instance, some like the Comodo Firewall that is touted as being free.

Unfortunately, if you try to download this not so free program, you are served a browser window looking like this on to the left.

Comodo Firewall

Bottom line

Last week’s post showed you how to de-activate the Windows Vista firewall. This post focused on the ropes to skip or why it is smart not letting the scout troop provide security at Fort Knox for a weekend.

In one of the upcoming posts I provide you with a FREE firewall option that we have tested and that runs smoothly with Windows Vista - the link is given below - will work when story is being released on the blog, of course:

CyTRAP Labs choice - free tool - replacing Window Vista firewall

Click on Start > Control Panel > click on the logo as shown to the left.

If you click on this than you will get the large screenshot as listed below.

Therafter you are given the option to either de-activate or activate your Windows Vista firewall. Please remember, your Windows Vista firewall is activated by default.

If you click on off (circeled red) or Change Setting (highlighted with yellow) than you get the smaller screenshot.

Here, click the option called - off - that has the red button and x mark attached. This will to turn off the firewall.

Why would one turn off the Windows Vista firewall?

What is provided by Microsoft is a basic, simple, old fashion, traditional packet blocking, port-based firewall. Similar to other firewalls, users can create rules for applications, ports, interfaces and IP Address rules as well. Hence, the user can create a rule that restrics access by IP address and port to a particular service.

Unfortunately, the firewall does not inspect the packets sent and received by your computer. However, it does recognize various protocols, such as, IGMP, GRE, and ESP.

You can go to start and type in the word firewall (search space - type the word firewall)

Doing this will show you the more hidden advanced version of the Windows Vista firewall as shown below.

When clicking on Outbound Rules you can see a whole set of rules and so forth. If you take the time, you can set them to fit your needs.

It is obvious that if you play with the “hidden” second firewall choice smartly, you might just be able to avoid having to use third-party software for your firewall. Unfortunately, this will require some technical skills and time - something most people may not have.

Hence, we will show you which free firewall you may want to install on your Windows Vista powered PC to:

- simplify things for you while, most importantly,

- protecting your data better and

- stopping Microsoft programs from calling home to Redmond if you do not wish this to happen - remember ET calling home….

We tell you how to get a handle on this nice and easy next week here:

CyTRAP Labs choice - free tool - replacing Window Vista firewall

PS. don’t shut off your Windows Vista firewall until you have installed a third-party firewall AND rebooted your PC to activate and make the new firewall run. So wait until next week when we tell you what works best for us and likely you as well.

While users can try to convince the Twitter geeks to give one a second chance, it can happen that you loose all followers and much more.

Why back up your followers

How about getting a program that helps you backup your followers, stores them in your Twitter safe and, as importantly, allows you to download your followers as a cvs file. As we know, this file can be imported into Open Office or Excel.

In case your Twitter account is lost, you can then just open a new Twitter account and get in touch with your followers

How TwitterSafe works

Login with your Twitter username and password since the TwitterSafe tool uses the Twitter API.

Click on Run Back button, download the CSV file it creates to your hard drive. Important buy viagra order cialis order viagra professional buy cialis professional is to repeat this procedure at regular intervals in order to keep your backup current.

Better do it now before you will be sorry when it might just happen that you experience a disaster using Twitter.

backup your followers with TwitterSafe

This vulnerabilities exposes you to a risk that we rate as follows:

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Just wait until you stop working once you shut down your machine that will suffice to get them installed.

This vulnerabilities exposes you to a risk that we rate as follows:

More information that you should check out regarding Microsoft vulnerabilities and patches can be found here:

Please stay abreast the latest developments:

Sign up it is free:
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CASEScontact follow us on Twitter	What is Twitter good for