Drop your bags, grab a drink, and grab the XP CD—it’s time for the holiday ritual of fixing up your relatives’ computer. Here are some tips and downloads to keep handy while you’re cursing all the auto-starting crapware.

Photo by Justin Marty.

For this guide, we’re going to do a bit of assuming. We’re assuming the relative with the busted computer is running a Windows system, and has an internet connection that works when the computer does. We’re assuming all the physical pieces of the computer work—hard drive, memory, disc drives, and anything else that’s crucial. We’ll also assume the computer’s in one of two states: Failing to boot and needing an OS re-installation, laden with unnecessary system tray/startup applications and/or spy/mal/ad-ware, or just needing a little optimization.

Computer won’t boot, needs a re-install

The problem: Turning on the computer results in a message that states Windows can’t boot because something is missing (a boot loader, an important file, etc.) or something is wrong. There are many variations on this message, but they all say basically the same thing: You will not be getting into Windows.

Quick-fix triage: Load the original XP, Vista, or Windows 7 (Really? Broken already?) CD or DVD in the system and boot the system from there, which might require hitting a key to bring up "boot options" or pressing a key when asked to "Press any key to boot from CD." Wait for the CD to load—it may seem like it’s installing, but it’s just loading a mini-system for installation and, in this case, repair. Follow the prompts to repair an existing installation, or, in the case of Vista or 7, ask it to repair the startup process.

What you’ll need:

• XP, Vista, or Windows 7 installation CD/DVD: It may be from a computer manufacturer and not look like a Microsoft-obtained, holograph-packed disc, so look around a bit. If it’s a "System Restoration" disc, be sure that you can boot from it and install a full copy of Windows from it.
• USB thumb drive: At least 1GB in size.
• External USB drive or blank DVDs: For backing up important files.
• Ubuntu Live CD or Knoppix Live CD: Both are Linux distributions, but we’re just using them because they run on most kinds of hardware without installing, and can transfer the files you need to your backup media. Ubuntu should work; if it doesn’t, give Knoppix a go. You can use the free tool UNetBootin to transfer the ISO you downloaded to a thumb drive, which is necessary if you’re backing up to DVDs, and recommended in any case to speed things up.

  If that doesn’t work, and you really feel this system can boot again except for some silly error, try creating an Ultimate Recovery CD, as detailed at the How-To Geek’s home away from Lifehacker.

  If that worked, hooray! If not, soldier on to the next step.

  Back up the files: Have your USB hard drive or blank DVDs handy, and remove the Windows CD/DVD from the computer if you tried to use that for a fix. Stick your thumb drive with the Ubuntu (or Knoppix) image into a USB slot, then boot up the computer. You may have to hit F12 or another key to boot from USB, or change a setting in the BIOS (which you can access by hitting a key—written in that fast-disappearing text—at boot-up). You’ll be asked to choose a language, then hit the option to "Try Ubuntu without any changes." After some loading, you’ll arrive at an Ubuntu desktop.

  Move your cursor to the "Places" menu, and check to see that your USB drive (MyBook, in my case) or blank DVD is showing up. You should also see the hard drive Windows is running from. On an XP or Vista system, there’s usually just one, but on Windows 7, there are two—a "System Reserved" (fairly small) and a larger, main drive. Check to see that you can open and access those files as well.

  Ask your relatives which files and documents are important to them. When doing my own tech support work, I usually back up the entire "My Documents" folder (with "My Music" and "My Pictures" included), their Outlook or (yes, sometimes) Outlook Express email data (explained here), and their Firefox profile or, more likely, their "Favorites" folder for Internet Explorer (C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Favorites in XP, or C:\Users\Username\Favorites in Vista or 7). In any case, always ask, and make sure there isn’t any software they can’t locate a license for.

  When you’re ready to back up, simply open your USB drive from the Places menu, then open your main Windows drive, and drag files to copy from your Windows system onto the backup medium.

  If you’re burning to DVD, head to the Applications menu in your temporary Ubuntu system, mouse over the Accessories sub-menu, and select "CD/DVD Creator" when it pops up. You’ll get a folder you can drag files you want to burn into, then hit "Write to Disc" to burn them.

  When you’re all done backing up files, head to the menu with the power icon next to it (labeled "Live user," most likely) and select "Shut Down." You’ll eventually be prompted to remove your live CD or USB stick—do so, and swap in the Windows installation CD or DVD. Turn off the system, then turn it back on. Follow the instructions to install Windows on the system, erasing whatever partitions or data exist on there at the moment (assuming you’re sure the important stuff is backed up).

  Clogged with crapware

  The problem: The computer boots up … eventually. Programs open very slowly, the hard drive seems to click and whir endlessly, and messages, reminders, and pop-up windows jump onto the screen every few minutes.

  Quick-fix triage: If you don’t suspect there’s anything actually malicious and infectious on the system—that is, you’re fairly sure they’ve been running and updating an anti-virus and anti-malware client—grab a copy of Revo Uninstaller Portable (direct ZIP file link), and run it off the USB stick you brought with you.

  Click the "Tools" button, choose the Autorun menu on the left, and look through the items on the right. Uncheck the stuff that’s really unnecessary—most of it, really, unless they constantly use a printer/scanner or run an antivirus app—and remind your host to un-check the toolbars and "helper" apps offered when installing things.

  If things are much better now, and you don’t imagine that malware is an issue, you’re all done. Otherwise …

  What you’ll need: Mostly a small batch of software, recommended by this author and the How-To Geek. You can run these once and remove them, or run them off a thumb drive, in some cases. The last download is one you’ll keep installed on the system.

  • Revo Uninstaller Portable: Completely, utterly removes the programs, toolbars, and other junk apps that aren’t needed.
  • SuperAntiSpyware: For cleaning (you guessed it) spyware.
  • Malwarebytes (or its portable version): For the clingy cookies, add-ons, and apps that try and do unauthorized stuff.
  • CCleaner Portable: For freeing up hard drive space and clearing out temp/cache files that bog down the system index.
  • Microsoft Security Essentials or Panda Cloud Antivirus: The former for a system that’s got enough horsepower to be adequate, the latter for a system that’s light on resources.

  The fixing process? It’s nothing special, actually—just run the quick-fix triage in any case, removing the auto-run apps that bog down system resources, and then run these secondary apps, generally in the order they’re listed. Keep Security Essentials or Panda Cloud Antivirus installed (not both!), and, while you’re being helpful, back up this computer’s pictures, music, and important documents.

  Tuning up and bomb-proofing

  Maybe everything technically "works," but watching your relatives open emails in Outlook Express and browse on Internet Explorer 6 is just, well, painful. Here are the steps we recommend to get things moving:

  • Run the basics of the "clogged with crapware" section: The one involving Revo Uninstaller and startup programs, under the "quick-fix triage" sub-section, and installing either Microsoft Security Essentials or Panda Cloud Antivirus.
  • Install Firefox and make it the default: Be sure to use the bookmark and setting import from Internet Explorer. You could even go with Google Chrome for even tighter security and speed, if your relatives wouldn’t mind the abrupt shift in look and feel.
  • Set up their email in Gmail: Gmail has made it much easier to import email accounts, whether they’re AOL, cable company, or other defaults that just stuck around. You can make a simple switch in the settings to keep your relatives receiving and sending email from their same address (or multiple addresses). Save their Gmail password in Firefox, but make sure they know it, and they’ll even get some new-fangled email portability.
  • Physically clean the beast: Stop by the local office store, grab a can of compressed air, and clean out the "dust bunnies", especially if you can hear the exhaust fans over the mid-day football.
  • Replace cruddy programs with superior alternatives: Gina’s 2008 recommendations still hold up, but we updated them a bit, and made them super-easy to install in one shot, with our Lifehacker Pack 2009. Or use Ninite for a similar one-click awesomeware package.

  ---

  That is, at least, how one Lifehacker editor is fixing at least one relative’s computer this long holiday weekend. What’s your own 1-2-3 process for being the holiday software savior? Share your success stories in the comments.

  Unless you’re writing "Buy them a Mac." In which case, take your ridiculous disposable income elsewhere, and prepare to get banned.

 

How to Fix Your Relatives’ Terrible Computer [Tech Support]
Kevin Purdy
Thu, 26 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

The Miracle Worker is playing through December 6 at the Ross Valley Players’ Barn Theatre in the San Francisco suburb of Ross. More information here.

Read More at DeafNewsToday.com

Helen Keller Story on Stage
Deaf News Today
Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:19:00 GMT

A new study led by scientists in The Netherlands has revealed the mechanisms through which the brain creates "auditory continuity illusion", where a physically interrupted sound is heard as continuing through background noise; thus when we try to listen to conversation in a noisy room, the brain fills in the gaps between interrupted sound fragments to create what we perceive as a continuous sound.

Auditory Illusion: When Sound Is Fragmented The Brain Fills In The Gaps
(author unknown)
Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:00:00 GMT

A new study from Canada shows that our skin helps us hear speech by sensing the puffs of air that the speaker produces with certain sounds. The study is the first to show that when we are in conversation with another person we don’t just hear their sounds with our ears and use our eyes to interpret facial expressions and other cues (a fact that is already well researched), but we also use our skin to "perceive" their speech.

Our Skin Helps Us "Hear" Speech
(author unknown)
Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:00:00 GMT

Cutting-edge technologies are about to enter the marketplace, thanks to a new partnership between Gestion Univalor, Limited Partnership (Univalor) and Cognitive Sensing Inc. (CSI), a privately owned technology company based in Montreal.

Four University Of Montreal Discoveries To Be Commercialized By Univalor And Cognitive Sensing Inc.
(author unknown)
Fri, 27 Nov 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Whether it’s voluntary or enforced, it seems to be a safe bet that most electric vehicles will eventually break their silence in one way or another to warn nearby pedestrians — especially the blind. Chevrolet looks to be taking a slightly different approach than most with the Volt, however, and it recently tested out its system with a group of visually-impaired folks at its Milford Proving Grounds. Rather than simply making the vehicle sound like a regular car, Chevy has implemented a driver-activated system that emits what’s described as more of an "excuse me" sound than "hey you" sound whenever you want to warn people you’re approaching. Of course, depending on the driver does have its limitations, and Chevy says that future iterations of the Volt are likely to incorporate a more active system that can automatically alert pedestrians. Check it out in action after the break.

Continue reading Chevrolet Volt gets driver-activated warning system for the blind

Chevrolet Volt gets driver-activated warning system for the blind originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 01:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Chevrolet Volt gets driver-activated warning system for the blind
Donald Melanson
Fri, 27 Nov 2009 06:07:00 GMT

This conference will bring together the fields of transportation and emergency management to discuss evacuation planning to accommodate the needs of all people before, during and after a major disaster. Conference topics include addressing the challenges faced by special needs populations during disasters and improvements in evacuation planning and modeling. The conference will take place February 3 – 5, 2010 in New Orleans and online registration is available. For more information about emergency preparedness as it relates to people with disabilities read Effective Emergency Management: Making Improvements for Communities and People with Disabilities.

National Evacuation Conference
(author unknown)
Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:56:12 GMT

Carolyn Quist goes over flash cards with Chandler Garrard Tuesday morning in the West Elementary School autism class.

Parents pleased with school district’s approach to autism
(author unknown)
Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:47:25 GMT

A plan by a video relay service company to buy Viable may not happen after all. Viable’s president, John Yeh, and three other executives have been indicted along with others around the country in a scam to defraud the U.S. government out of millions of dollars. Snap!VRS had agreed to buy Maryland-based Viable back in August but the deal wasn’t finalized when the indictments came out. According to the FBI, the defendants created fraudulent call minutes by making it appear that deaf Americans were engaging in legitimate calls with hearing persons. Viable is also facing lawsuits filed in federal and state courts by more than 100 employees seeking back payment of wages.
John Yeh, a native of Taiwan who immigrated to the U.S. as a teenager, has been a part of organizations such as the National Asian Deaf Congress and National Deaf Business Institute. He served as a trustee of Gallaudet University for more than a decade. Deaf Life, a monthly national magazine, honored Yeh as Deaf Person of the Year.

Read More at DeafNewsToday.com

VRS Deal in Doubt
Deaf News Today
Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Brain images show touch affects what you hear, raising the possibility that one sense could be used as a substitute for another, creating new ways for the deaf to hear. MIT researchers found puffs of air to the back of a hand or their neck helped subjects hear better. Details of the new study have just been released by the journal Nature. Studies of deaf-blind people who learn the Tadoma method (learning to talk and hear by placing a hand on the neck and mouth of a speaker) have already shown the tactile and auditory senses are tied together. Another recent study revealed stretching a person’s facial skin affects hearing which suggests we also hear through the face.

Read More at DeafNewsToday.com

New Ways for Deaf to Hear
Deaf News Today
Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:30:00 GMT

While many of these extensions are next to pointless, there are a few gems that can make your Chrome browsing experience a bit more useful.

5 Must Have Google Chrome Extensions
(author unknown)
Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:30:02 GMT

Windows/Mac/Linux: Nobody told Mozilla’s developers it’s a day off. They’ve just pushed out a fourth beta of Firefox 3.6, with more than 100 fixes from the last beta and more add-on security and compatibility.

There’s no reason not to grab this beta if you’re a bleeding-edge Firefox fan, as it doesn’t seem to remove any features or support (as its predecessor did), and Mozilla notes that more than 70 percent of its add-ons are now compatible with the 3.6 betas.

Firefox 3.6 Beta 4 [via Mozilla Developer Center]

 

Firefox 3.6 Beta 4 Available with Many Fixes [Downloads]
Kevin Purdy
Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:30:00 GMT

A couple of days ago we wrote about a redesign of the Google Search interface, with a new, snazzy sidebar on the left side.

Now, the folks at Gizmodo have found out a way to test this new look out for yourself. However, before you try it, you need to be aware of the following:

To get this trick to work, you must use the international version of Google Search, available at google.com. If you’re redirected to a localized version of the search, try this address: google.com/ncr.

Furthermore, you may not be able to reverse the changes to your Google interface without erasing a specific cookie; if you’re not comfortable messing with individual cookies in your web browser, don’t try it out.

If you still want to do it, the procedure is very simple. Go to google.com, erase everything from your address bar (even the http://google.com) and paste the following code into the address bar.

javascript:void(document.cookie="PREF=ID=20b6e4c2f44943bb:U=4bf292d46faad806:TM=1249677602:LM=1257919388:S=odm0Ys-53ZueXfZG;path=/; domain=.google.com");

Hit enter, refresh (if you’re again redirected to a localized version of Google, click “go to Google.com” or go to google.com/ncr once again). Conduct a search, and enjoy your new sidebar on the left!

If you want to revert to the original Google Search, you need to delete a cookie for Google.com, named PREF and starting with “ID=20b6e4c2f44943bb”. In the screenshot below, taken in Chrome, the cookie you need to remove is highlighted.

---

HOW TO: Try Out The New Google Search Right Now
Stan Schroeder
Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:06:58 GMT

As we prepare to stuff our faces with a bountiful Thanksgiving feast, we turn our Thanksgiving spirit to the gobs of free software we love to say thank you to the developers, and to give our computers a feast of their own.

Earlier this week we asked you to share the free apps you’re most thankful for, and after rounding up thousands of your suggestions, considering our own favorites, and performing a little spreadsheet magic, we’ve cooked up our own cornucopia of excellent free software and webapps we’re extremely thankful for. So whether you’re an American celebrating the season or not, the selection of apps below is like gravy-drenched turkey and mashed potatoes for your computer. Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!

61 Free Desktop Applications, Webapps, and Tools We’re Most Thankful For

1. Firefox (see also: Power User’s Guide to Firefox 3, Top 10 Firefox 3.5 Features)
2. VLC (see also: Master Your Digital Media with VLC, VLC Hits 1.0 with Better Playback and File Support)
3. CCleaner (see also: Five Best Windows Maintenance Tools)
4. Dropbox (see also: Use Dropbox for More Than Just File Syncing, Sync Files and Folders Outside Your My Dropbox Folder)
5. 7-Zip (see also: Five Best File Compression Tools)
6. OpenOffice.org (see also: OpenOffice.org 3.1’s Usability Tweaks, OpenOffice.org Screenshots Preview a Ribbon-Like Toolbar)
7. Google Chrome (see also: The Power User’s Guide to Google Chrome, 2009 Edition)
8. µTorrent (see also: Tweak uTorrent’s Settings for Faster Downloads, Five Best BitTorrent Applications)
9. Notepad++ (see also: Five Best Text Editors, AutoSave Adds Reassurance to Notepad++ Editing)
10. Gmail (see also: Our full Gmail coverage)
11. GIMP (see also: Gimp 2.7 Beta Improves Text Editing, Streamlines Saving)
12. Paint.NET (see also: Paint.NET Releases Big Update, Still a Killer Photoshop Alternative, Paint.NET Plugin Lets You Open Photoshop Files)
13. Microsoft Security Essentials (see also: Microsoft Security Essentials Free Antivirus App Leaves Beta, Stop Paying for Windows Security; Microsoft’s Security Tools Are Good Enough)
14. Revo Uninstaller (see also: Lifehacker Pack 2009: Our List of Essential Free Windows Downloads)
15. Evernote (see also: Evernote 3.5 Beta Brings Tons of Tiny Fixes to Windows, Expand Your Brain with Evernote)
16. Thunderbird (see also: Thunderbird 3 Release Candidate Available for Download)
17. Audacity (see also: Geek to Live: Make a ringtone from any MP3)
18. ImgBurn (see also: Turn Your PC into a DVD Ripping Monster, Five Best CD and DVD Burning Tools)
19. Picasa (see also: Picasa 3.5 Organizes Your Photos with Facial Recognition)
20. Skype (see also: Our full Skype coverage)
21. Pidgin (see also: Ten Must-Have Plug-ins to Power Up Pidgin, Five Best Instant Messengers)
22. Ubuntu (see also: First Look at Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala, Dual-Boot Windows 7 and Ubuntu in Perfect Harmony)
23. iTunes (see also: iTunes 9 Improves Syncing, Network Sharing, More)
24. foobar2000 (see also: Screenshot Tour: The beautiful and varied world of foobar2000, Hack Attack: Roll your own killer audio player with foobar2000)
25. Foxit Reader (see also: Five Best PDF Readers, Lifehacker Pack 2009: Our List of Essential Free Windows Downloads)
26. FileZilla (see also: Five Best FTP Clients, Build a Home FTP Server with FileZilla)
27. VirtualBox (see also: The Beginner’s Guide to Creating Virtual Machines with VirtualBox)
28. TrueCrypt (see also: Geek to Live: Encrypt your data, Five Best Portable Applications)
29. Avast! (see also: Five Best Antivirus Applications)
30. Defraggler (see also: Five Best Disk Defragmenters)
31. KeePass (see also: Eight Best KeePass Plug-Ins to Master Your Passwords, How to Use Dropbox as the Ultimate Password Syncer)
32. Opera (see also: Opera 10.10 with Unite Media Server Released)
33. AVG (see also: AVG 9 Free Now Available for Download)
34. Digsby (see also: Five Best Instant Messengers, Digsby Sees the Light, Removes (Some) Bundled Crapware)
35. Google Reader (see also: Our full Google Reader coverage)
36. Winamp (see also: Win7shell Adds Windows 7 Jump List Support to Winamp)
37. Google Earth (see also: Google Earth 5.1 Speeds Up Your World Browsing)
38. TeraCopy (see also: Five Best Alternative File Copiers)
39. Launchy (see also: Our full Launchy coverage)
40. Transmission (see also: Lifehacker Pack 2009: Our List of Essential Free Mac Downloads)
41. Eclipse IDE
42. SpyBot Search & Destroy (see also: Five Best Malware Removal Tools)
43. Adium (see also: Adium Updates with Security Fixes, Better Facebook Integration)
44. PuTTY (see also: Add Tabs to PuTTY with PuTTY Connection Manager)
45. Songbird (see also: Songbird 1.0 Release Official, Fixes Bugs, Plays iTunes Purchases, Killer Add-ons Make Songbird So Much Better)
46. Sumatra PDF (see also: Sumatra 1.0 is a Blazing Fast Replacement for Adobe Reader)
47. XBMC (see also: Build a Silent, Standalone XBMC Media Center On the Cheap, Customize XBMC with These Five Awesome Skins, Turbo Charge Your New XBMC Installation)
48. Blender (see also: Learn Blender with free e-book)
49. CDBurnerXP (see also: Five Best CD and DVD Burning Tools)
50. Everything (see also: Everything Finds Windows Files As You Type, Top 10 Tiny & Awesome Windows Utilities)
51. HandBrake (see also: HandBrake Updates to 0.9.4 with Over 1,000 Changes, 64-Bit Support)
52. Rainmeter (see also: Rainmeter 1.0 Brings the Enigma Desktop to Everyone)
53. AutoHotkey (see also: Turn Any Action into a Keyboard Shortcut, Hack Attack: Knock down repetitive email with AutoHotKey)
54. Google Calendar (see also: Our full Google Calendar coverage)
55. MediaMonkey (see also: MediaMonkey 3.2 Syncs with More Devices, Adds Auto Folder Watching)
56. Quicksilver (see also: A beginner’s guide to Quicksilver)
57. WinSCP
58. Google Voice (see also: Make Unlimited Free Calls on Your Cellphone with Google Voice, How to Ease Your Transition to Google Voice)
59. Boxee (see also: Build a Cheap But Powerful Boxee Media Center, Boxee to Launch Beta with Loads of New Features)
60. AdBlock Plus (see also: Top 10 Must-Have Firefox Extensions, 2009 Edition)
61. Media Player Classic (see also: Five Best Video Players)

In case you’re curious, here’s a broad look at how your votes broke down among the 10 most popular:

The list above represents every application that garnered roughly ten votes or above. The highest vote-earner, Firefox, pulled in a couple hundred. If you’re interested in how the full count went down, you can check out a Google Spreadsheet of the results here. Happy Thanksputering!

61 Free Apps We’re Most Thankful For [Downloads]
Adam Pash
Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:00:00 GMT

The flaw that was reported last week, and rather lazily acknowledged by Microsoft, in Internet Explorer 6 and 7, has been refined and made easier to use by those disposed to cause trouble.

An article in PC World states that, though no verified exploits have been seen, the ‘improvements’ make it much more likely. (Don’t you just love predictions like that?)

Hackers working on the open-source Metasploit project have spiffed up a zero-day attack on Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, making it more reliable — and more likely to be used by criminals.

Security experts have been worried about the flaw since it was first disclosed on the Bugtraq mailing list Friday. But the original demonstration code was unreliable and has not been used in real-world attacks.

“The Metasploit exploit that was released last night will be more reliable against certain attacks than the initial exploit,” said Ben Greenbaum, senior research manager with Symantec, in an interview Wednesday.

As of Wednesday morning, Symantec had not seen the exploit used in Internet-based attacks, but security experts say this type of code is for a very popular hacking technique called a drive-by attack. Victims are tricked into visiting Web sites that contain malicious code where they are then infected via the browser vulnerability. Criminals also place this type of code on hacked Web sites in order to spread their attacks.

On Monday, Microsoft published a Security Advisory on the flaw, offering some workarounds for the issue. It affects IE version 6 and version 7.

I actually thought this might have been quietly patched, as my copies of Windows XP were notified of several updates yesterday. I thought these might have been out-of-band Patch Tuesday fixes.

Apparently not.

Now, a very small, and, as for now, unverified blurb on slashdot states that there is an exploit for Internet Explorer 8, and that Microsoft has known about the exploit for a while.

After this weekend’s report of a dangerous flaw in IE (which Microsoft confirmed today), intrudere points out an exclusive report in The Register on a new hole in IE8 that could allow an attacker to pull off cross-site scripting attacks on Web sites that ought, by rights, to be safe from XSS. This is according to two anonymous sources, who told El Reg that Microsoft had been notified of the vulnerability a few months ago.

This is an amazing run of bad luck for Microsoft, especially if the IE8 flaw turns out to be true. Everyone knows that Microsoft tends to sit on certain flaws, so the fact that it has been known is no big news, just another reason to not use IE8 except when absolutely necessary.

It makes you wonder if the new changes in Internet Explorer 9 will only make for speedier exploits in that browser. After this many years, Microsoft needs to ask, “Why is our browser still the most unsafe?” When they can successfully answer that question, then it might be time to proceed.

§

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Internet Explorer Flaw Further Exploited, Possibility of IE 8 Exploit
the oracle
Thu, 26 Nov 2009 04:20:58 GMT

(That’s why Balabolka is so cool!) it’s time! Click on http://www.cross-plus-a.com/balabolka.htm and download this free text-to-speech software that runs (for free) from a USB drive. No need to install on each computer that you use…just bring the USB key with you, plug into any computer, and-voila! Your text-to-speech program is ready to roll.

It runs from a USB drive!
Susanne Croasdaile
Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:54:38 GMT

The Desktop Desk can benefit individuals with disabilities on many different levels. It does the small things like helping provide individuals with hyperactive and autistic tendencies the means to focus and participate, while also providing students who can’t speak or who have limited motor skills the ability to more independently participate in classes and [...]

Desktop Desk Leveling The Playing Field On Disability
Ziggi
Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:51:58 GMT

The Department of Transportation (DOT) has been asked to eliminate a provision of the Air Carrier Access Act that requires documentation and 48 hours advance notice for users of psychiatric service animals. DOT is now seeking comment on this petition. This document is not a notice of proposed rulemaking. DOT has not decided whether to grant the petition by initiating rulemaking action or to deny the petition and keep the provisions without change. Comments must be received by December 17, 2009.

Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Air Travel–Request for Public Comment
(author unknown)
Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:41:00 GMT

Although they are the least likely group to be infected with 2009 H1N1 flu, people age 65 and older are at higher risk for influenza related complications. Find out more about seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines, antiviral drugs and preventing secondary infections like Pneumococcal disease. Find a flu shot location near you.

People 65 Years and Older & Seasonal Flu and H1N1 Flu
(author unknown)
Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:44:14 GMT

Bobbie Beth Scoggins, president of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), issued a Call to the Conference for the 50th Biennial NAD Conference which will be held at the Philadelphia Marriott – Downtown, July 6-10, 2010 in the heart of America’s original capital, surrounded by rich revolutionary history and culture and located within eight blocks of Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and many restaurants and stores.

Call to the 50th Biennial NAD Conference
admin
Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:52:08 GMT

Freedom Scientific has filed another lawsuit, this time against Enhanced Vision, makers of magnifying products. In summary, Freedom Scientific aledges that Enhanced Vision has wrongfully used their name to profit from their business, for instance, by buying the Freedom Scientific keywords on advertising platforms and linking to the Enhanced Vision website. Enhanced Vision has also used Freedom Scientific in their metatags, which are often used by search engines. We’ve obtained the full text of the complaint, which was converted into a text format. Some minor errors may exist, as we did not proofread the OCR output. Below is the full complaint.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

TAMPA DIVISION

FREEDOM SCIENTIFIC, INC., a Delaware corporation,

Plaintiff,

vs.

ENHANCED VISION SYSTEMS, INC., a California corporation,

Defendant.

CASE NO.:

COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AND DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL

Plaintiff, Freedom Scientific, Inc. (the "Plaintiff), sues Defendant, Enhanced

Vision Systems, Inc. (the "Defendant"), and for its causes of action states as follows:

PARTIES, JURISDICTION AND VENUE

1.         This is an action for trademark infringement against Defendant for: (a) infringement of a federally registered mark under 15 U.S.C. §1114(1); (b) infringement of a common law trademark; and (c) unfair competition under 15 U.S.C. §1125. The Court has jurisdiction over this action under 15 U.S.C. §1121 and 28 U.S.C. §1338(a).

2.         The Plaintiff is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business at 11800 31st Court North, in St. Petersburg, Florida 33716.

3.         The Defendant is a California corporation, with an address of 5882 Machine Drive, Huntington Beach, California 92649 and is doing business in Florida via one or more authorized resellers.

1

4.         The Defendant is selling and offering for sale and advertising products in a manner that infringes on Plaintiffs federally-registered trademark and has caused those products to be distributed in the Middle District of Florida, which use is a false designation of origin. The Defendant is accordingly subject to the personal jurisdiction of this Court and this litigation arises out of or relates to the substantial contacts the Defendant has with this state and district.

5.         Venue is proper in the Middle District of Florida pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b)(2) and 1391(c) because the Defendant is subject to personal jurisdiction in the Middle District of Florida and therefore is deemed to reside here for venue purposes.

COMMON ALLEGATIONS

6.         Beginning on May 15, 2000, the Plaintiff adopted the mark "Freedom Scientific" and shortly thereafter used it in interstate commerce for the sale of certain products tailored to blind and low-vision users, including software that translates the Internet and digital information into Braille or audible synthesized speech.

7.         On April 25, 2000, the Plaintiff filed an application for registration of said mark in the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

8.         On December 18, 2001, said mark was registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on the Principal Register under the Act of 1946 covering the use of said mark with the sale of certain products tailored to blind and low-vision users, including software that translates the Internet and digital information into Braille or audible synthesized speech, and reading machines for the blind and visually impaired. A

2

true and correct copy of the registration is attached hereto as Exhibit "A."  Said registration is now outstanding and valid.

9.         The Plaintiff has filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office an affidavit of use of said mark as required by 15 U.S.C. § 1058(a), and said registration is presently valid.

10.       The validity of the registered mark and of the registration of the mark, registrant's ownership of the mark, and the Plaintiffs exclusive right to use said registered mark in commerce for the above mentioned goods are incontestable under 15 U.S.C. §1065 and 15 U.S.C. §1115(b), as the Plaintiff has filed the required affidavit with the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks.

11.       Continuously since May 15, 2000, the Plaintiff has used the mark "Freedom Scientific" to identify its products tailored to blind and low-vision users, including software that translates the Internet and digital information into Braille or audible synthesized speech, and reading machines for the blind and visually impaired, and to distinguish these products from those made or sold by others, by, among other things, prominently displaying the mark "Freedom Scientific" on the products, their containers, the displays, and marketing associated therewith. In addition, the Plaintiff has prominently displayed said mark on various forms of advertising distributed throughout the United States.

12.       The Defendant has infringed the Plaintiffs mark in interstate commerce by using "FreedomScientific," and/or "FreedomScientific.com" on its internet landing page. See Exhibit B.

3

13.       The Defendant has also purchased "FreedomScientific," and/or "FreedomScientific.com" as a keyword, whereby consumers searching for Freedom Scientific and its products are presented with a sponsored advertisement and a link to Defendant's website. See Exhibit C. Said use of said name and mark by the Defendant is without permission or authority of the Plaintiff and said use by the Defendant is likely to cause confusion, to cause mistake, and to deceive.

14.       All conditions precedent to this action have occurred or have been waived by the Defendant.

COUNT I - TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT

15.       Plaintiff repeats and realleges the allegations set forth in Paragraphs 1-14.

16.       The Defendant's heretofore alleged acts of trademark infringement have been committed with the intent to cause confusion, mistake, and to deceive.

17.        Since on or about December 18, 2001, the Plaintiff has given notice that its mark is registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by displaying the mark as used with the letter R enclosed within a circle.

18.       By reason of the Defendant's acts herein, the Plaintiff has and will suffer damage to its business, reputation, and good will, and the loss of sales the Plaintiff would have made but for the Defendant's acts.

19.       The Defendant threatens to continue to do the actions complained of herein, and unless restrained and enjoined, will continue to do so, all to the Plaintiffs irreparable damage. It would be difficult to ascertain the amount of compensation which

4

could afford the Plaintiff adequate relief for such continuing acts, and a multiplicity of judicial proceedings would be required.

20. The Plaintiffs remedy at law is not adequate to compensate it for the injuries threatened.

WHEREFORE the Plaintiff prays:

(a)        That this Court grant a preliminary and permanent injunction pursuant to the powers granted it under 15 U.S.C. §1116, enjoining and restraining the Defendant and its agents, servants, and employees from directly or indirectly using the mark, "Freedom Scientific," on any marketing materials, websites, any internet landing pages, or as a metatag or other keyword to be indexed by an internet search engine, because such use is likely to cause confusion, mistake, or to deceive;

(b)        That this Court, pursuant to the powers granted it under 15U.S.C. §1118, order that all marketing materials, websites, or any internet landing pages, and other materials in the possession of the Defendant bearing the mark "Freedom Scientific" shall be delivered up, altered, and/or destroyed;

(c)        That this Court award the Plaintiff treble the amount of actual damages suffered by the Plaintiff;

(d)        That the costs of this action be awarded to the Plaintiff;

(e)        That this is an exceptional case and that the Plaintiff be awarded its reasonable attorneys' fees; and

(f)        That this Court grant such other and further relief as it shall deem just.

5

COUNT II - COMMON LAW TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT

21.       Plaintiff repeats and realleges the allegations set forth in Paragraphs 1-14.

22.       Plaintiff has generated common law trademark rights through the continuous use and adoption of the mark "Freedom Scientific" to identify products tailored to blind and low-vision users, including software that translates the Internet and digital information into Braille or audible synthesized speech and reading machines for the blind and visually impaired.

23.       Plaintiff uses the "Freedom Scientific" mark to distinguish its products from those made or sold by others, by, among other things, prominently displaying the mark "Freedom Scientific" on the products, their containers, the displays, and marketing associated therewith.

24.       In competition with Plaintiff and in the same trade area, Defendant's use of Plaintiffs mark, "Freedom Scientific," has occurred in a manner that is likely to cause confusion as to the source of the goods among a significant number of persons using ordinary care and prudence in the purchase of goods.

25.       The infringing acts of Defendant, as heretofore alleged, have been without the consent of Plaintiff.

WHEREFORE the Plaintiff prays:

(a) That this Court grant a preliminary and permanent injunction enjoining and restraining the Defendant and its agents, servants, and employees from directly or indirectly using the mark, "Freedom Scientific," on any marketing materials, websites, or any internet landing pages, or as a

6

metatag or other keyword to be indexed by an internet search engine, because such use is likely to cause confusion, mistake, or to deceive;

(b)        That this Court order that all marketing materials, websites, or any internet landing pages, and other materials in the possession of the Defendant bearing the mark "Freedom Scientific" shall be delivered up, altered, or destroyed;

(c)        That the costs of this action be awarded to the Plaintiff;

(d)        That Plaintiff be awarded its reasonable attorneys' fees; and

(e)        That this Court grant such other and further relief as it shall deem just. COUNT m-FALSE DESIGNATION OF ORIGIN UNDER THE LANHAM ACT

26.       Plaintiff repeats and realleges the allegations set forth in Paragraphs 1-14.

27.       The Defendant has caused goods to enter into interstate commerce through the use of Plaintiff s mark, "Freedom Scientific," connected therewith.

28.        Said use of "Freedom Scientific" by Defendants is a false designation of origin which is likely to cause confusion, to cause mistake and to deceive as to the affiliation, connection, or association of the Defendant with the Plaintiff as to the origin, sponsorship, or approval of such goods by the Plaintiff.

29.       In fact, said use by the Defendant has caused actual confusion, mistake, and deception. These acts are in violation of 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a), in that the Defendant has used in connection with goods a false designation of origin, a false or misleading description and representation of fact which is likely to cause confusion, and to cause mistake, and to deceive as to the affiliation, connection, or association of the Defendant

7

with the Plaintiff and as to the origin, sponsorship, and approval of the Defendant's goods and commercial activities by the Plaintiff.

30.        Said use by the Defendant has caused actual confusion, mistake, and deception.

31.       By reason of the Defendant's acts herein, the Plaintiff has and will suffer damage to its business, reputation, and good will, and the loss of sales the Plaintiff would have made but for the Defendant's acts.

32.       The Defendant threatens to continue to do the actions complained of herein, and unless restrained and enjoined, will continue to do so, all to the Plaintiffs irreparable damage. It would be difficult to ascertain the amount of compensation which could afford the Plaintiff adequate relief for such continuing acts, and a multiplicity of judicial proceedings would be required.

33.       The Plaintiffs remedy at law is not adequate to compensate it for the injuries threatened.

WHEREFORE the Plaintiff prays:

(a) That this Court grant a preliminary and permanent injunction enjoining and restraining the Defendant and its agents, servants, and employees from (1) directly or indirectly using the word "Freedom Scientific" or any other mark, word, or name similar to the Plaintiffs mark which is likely to cause confusion and (2) continuing any and all acts of unfair competition as herein alleged;

8

(b)        That the Defendant be required to account to the Plaintiff for any and all profits derived by the Defendant from the sale of its goods and for all damages sustained by the Plaintiff by reason of said acts of unfair competition complained of herein;

(c)        That the costs of this action be awarded to the Plaintiff; and

(d)        That this Court grant such other and further relief as it shall deem just.

DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL Plaintiff demands trial by jury on all issues so triable.

Respectfully submitted,

ichael J. Colitz, III Trial Counsel Florida Bar No. 0164348 Aaron Silberman Florida Bar No. 15722 Gray Robinson, P. A. 201 N. Franklin St., Suite 2200 Tampa, FL 33602 Tel: (813) 273-5000 Fax:(813)273-5145

Email: michael.colitz@gray-robinson.com Email: aaron.silberman@gray-robinson.com

# 1875548 v2

9

EXHIBIT A

United States Patent and Trademark Office

Home | Site Index| Search \ FAQ j Glossary j Guides [ Contacts | ^Business | eBiz alerts [ Mews | Help

Trademarks > Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS)

TESS was last updated on Tue Nov 24 04:02:23 EST 2009

|illilliyilllllllHI!lll.llilllllll|!IM                                                                                                                                                i.i                                            .                                                                            i.                   .           i    r

l^ffiKy Please logout when you are done to release system resources allocated for you.

Record 1 out of 1

w^ns^^mi^^BMM

Browser to return to TESS)

( Use the s*Backf* button of the internet

Typed Drawing

Word Mark     FREEDOM SCIENTIFIC

Goods and    IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Computer access software for use in providing access to the Services        Internet by blind and low vision users; reading machines for the blind and visually impaired, namely, a device that includes a microprocessor which is programmed to convert stored digital information into audible synthesized speech; computer software for use in outputting the contents of the user's computer screen to an audio sound reproducer in the form of audible synthesized speech; reading machines for the blind and visually impaired, namely, a device that converts electronic books and digital text stored on CDs into synthesized speech; program controlled microprocessors for scanning written text and converting the scanned text into synthesized speech; magnification computer hardware and software for use in magnifying the size of text and images displayed on a computer monitor, for use by the visually impaired; computer software for use in altering the way the information on a computer screen is presented, for helping students with learning disabilities or remedial needs in reading, writing, studying, and comprehension; computer software and related hardware for the speech impaired, namely, computer hardware and software for converting icons from a touch screen, text from a keyboard, and text from a digital memory into synthesized speech; personal digital assistants and portable computers for the visually impaired, namely, personal digital assistants and portable computers having a Braille keyboard, and personal digital assistants and portable computers having a conventional keyboard input which produces output in the form of synthetic speech, Braille cell display, or computer text. Braille computer monitors; Braille computer printers and embossers; and Braille keyboards. FIRST USE: 20000515. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20000524

(1) TYPED DRAWING

Mark

Drawing

Code

Serial

Number

Filing Date

Current Filing Basis

Original Filing Basis

Published

for

Opposition

Registration

78005468 April 25, 2000 1A

1B

September 25, 2001

Number

Registration Date

Owner

Assignment Recorded

Attorney of Record

Type of

Mark

Register

Affidavit Text

Live/Dead Indicator

2520226

December 18, 2001

(REGISTRANT) Freedom Scientific Inc. CORPORATION DELAWARE 11800 31st Court North St. Petersburg FLORIDA 337161805

ASSIGNMENT RECORDED

Debra D. Faulk

TRADEMARK

PRINCIPAL

SECT 15. SECT8(6-YR).

LIVE

\MQME \ SITE INDEXj SEARCH | eBUSINESS | HELP \ PRIVACY POLICY

EXHIBIT B

^3l aw«uiii6 jUf«g,�»,o  piuuuvw      Uttii   2>UUIt-C

^ For yp close, reading, and distance viewing

-> 7 viewing modes

3 Troe mirror Image for self-viewing

^ 17/?iror221lLCD

P 7 viewing modes

% 24 to 77x adjustable magnification

§ MEW! High Definition Imag

® NEW! Freeze frame

4> 3»5x - 14x adjustable

magnification

or CLICK HERE and we will send yoy Information* on low vision prodocts.

Regain Yoyr Visual Independence!

Please feel free to explore our products by clicking here,

Enhanced Vision Home Page |  Privacy Statement [ Terms of Use

©Copynght 2009, Enhanced Vision, All rights reserved*

>fl

11/17/2009 10 58 AM

EXHIBIT C

Web   images  Videos  Maps   News  Shopping   Gmatl   more ▼                                         Search sellings j Sign m

GOr *Qi£    freectomscierittfic.com                                               *   Search   Advanced search

Web       Show options..              Results 1 -10 of about 154,000 for freedomscientifiexom (0.11 seconds)

Electronic Magnify inn Aid                                                                                                      Sponsored Link

enhancedvision com      No obligation home demo Call us at 888-811-3161

Freedom Scientific - Products for the Visually Impaired Developer of JAWS for Windows Screen Reader, MAGic Screen Magnification software, the PAC Mate accessible Pocket PC, and WYNN literacy software, www.freedomscientlfic.conV - Cached - Similar

Downloads                      Support

Products                         Training

Contact Us                      Low Vision Products

Free Demo Software      AboutJJg

More results from freedomscientific com»

Freedom Scientific - JAWS for Windows Screen Reading Software For more information on our products, call 1-800-444-4443 ©2009 Freedom Scientific, Inc. All rights reserved. Web Site Comments www.freedomscientific.com/products/fs/jaws-product-page.asp - Similar

Freedom Scientific

Assistive and adaptive technology for people who are blind or have low vision or learning disabilities. Our products include screen reading software for the ... safes.freedomscientific.com/ - Cached - Similar

JAWS Standard - Screen Reading Software - Freedom Scientific Assistive and adaptive technology for people who are blind or have low vision or learning disabilities. Our products include screen reading software for the ... sales.freedomscientific.com/productinfo.aspx?productid=340G14. . - Cached

Show more results from sales freedomscientific com

Activation Media Image Creator

If the computer you are installing your Freedom Scientific software on is not connected to

the Internet, this Web page provides you with an alternate method ...

https.Z/secure freedomscientiric.com/RNBO/Home/AMIC.dsp - Cached - Similar

Number of Keys Currently Available

number from the About box of your Freedom Scientific product and choose ... Go to the Freedom Scientific BLV Home page for JAWS and MAGic information... https://secure freedomscientific.com/. /lnstalls_View2.asp - Cached - Similar

OPEN BOOK: Ruby Edition from Arkensfone, Inc., a division of,., FreedomScientific.com This manual was written and edited by Arkenstone, Inc., a nonprofit maker of information access tools for people with visual and ... mail freedomscientffic.com/fs_support/.../OPENBook4Rubyed.txt - Cached

11/19/2009 10:21 AM

Post a comment

Accessible Event lets everyone equally participate in meetings and webinars

Share: | Twitter, Facebook, del.icio.us, Digg, Yahoo

Freedom Scientific Sues Enhanced Vision for Trademark Infringement, We’ve Got the Full Complaint

(author unknown)

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:19:05 GMT

SEO scam uses popular holiday search terms to spread malware.

Thanksgiving Links Latest Recipe for Malware
(author unknown)
Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:54:18 GMT

Autism Spectrum Disorder looks scary if you’re unfamiliar with the Autistic behavior.

Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder Symptoms: Sing-song Voice,…
(author unknown)
Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:22:07 GMT

Firefox only: If you’ve already started using the Firefox 3.6 Beta release, you’re going to need more than the old checkCompatibility trick to get your extensions working again.

To stop everyone from simply ignoring the compatibility checks and using problematic add-ons that haven’t been updated in a while, Mozilla removed the ability to turn off extension compatibility checking entirely and now are forcing users to add a separate about:config entry for the specific version they are using.

So instead of adding a new entry called extensions.checkCompatibility, you’ll need to add the Firefox version to the preference name, followed by "a" or "b" if you are using alpha or beta versions, respectively. For the current Firefox 3.6 Beta release, you will need to add a boolean key with the following name, and a value of false:

extensions.checkCompatibility.3.6b

If you aren’t already an about:config expert or just want some hand-holding, hit the link for the full walk-through to make your extensions compatible. Readers will probably note that you can also use the Nightly Tester Tools extension, but for those of us that would rather not install another bulky extension, this tweak works perfectly.

How To Force Extension Compatibility with Firefox 3.6+ [How-To Geek]

 

Make Your Extensions Work with Firefox 3.6 [Firefox]
The How-To Geek
Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:00:00 GMT

Updates to NVDA, the free, open-source screen reader are being posted quite often, but they sometimes include bugs and are not recommended for a commercial environment. Now, the latest stable release brings many of the latest improvements to a wider audience. NVDA 2009.1 offers official support for 64-bit operating systems, Windows 7, and the UAC security screens as well as improved support for Adobe and Internet Explorer. Learn more from the link on this post.

Post a comment

Accessible Event lets everyone equally participate in meetings and webinars

Share: | Twitter, Facebook, del.icio.us, Digg, Yahoo

NVDA Screen Reader Releases Stable Major Update
(author unknown)
Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:25:17 GMT

A few months ago Apple updated their movie trailers site. This update restricts the viewing of Apple Trailers on non-approved systems. Unfortunately, as Linux users, we fall into the category. Thankfully with the use of a FireFox plug-in known as "User Agent Switcher" and a little know how we can still enjoy these trailers and decide what movies we would like to see at the theater.

read more

 

Tech Tip: View Apple Movie Trailers with Firefox on Linux
Kristofer Occhipinti
Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:46:40 GMT

Warnings:

• This upgrade path is for the Main and Universal Edition only, from a Mint 7 Gloria system to a Mint 8 Helena system.
• There is no guarantee that it will work for you. In fact this is quite a risky process. If you’re experienced and if you know how to troubleshoot and solve common Linux problems (in particular X11, kernel modules and APT problems) then you’re probably OK. If you’re a novice user we recommend you perform a fresh installation of Linux Mint 8 instead.
• You should make backups of all your data before upgrading.

Upgrading vs a fresh install:

The recommended way to install Linux Mint 8 is to download and burn the liveCD. Another alternative is to upgrade your existing system as detailed in this blog post. Note that we do not recommend you to do this and we insist on the fact that you know the pros and cons associated with it and the risks involved in doing so.

Pros:

• With an upgrade, you keep the software you previously installed, you don’t need to reinstall it again as you would after a fresh installation of Linux Mint.
• With an upgrade, you keep your settings and your documents, you don’t need to restore them from a backup. Note that you can also do this with a fresh installation by using a dedicated home partition and that no matter which way you’re upgrading or performing a fresh installation, you should ALWAYS make a backup of your personal data.

Cons:

• Upgrading is slow, because you need to download the new versions of all the packages. In comparison, the liveCD contains about 2.5GB of compressed data in a single download of less than 700MB and the fresh installation takes between 10 and 15 minutes. Consequently, it’s much faster to perform a fresh installation of Linux Mint than upgrading your existing one.
• Depending on what’s installed in your system, package upgrades can trigger complicated conflicts. If you’re experienced with APT you’ll probably know how to solve the problem. If you’re not, you could end up half-way between Mint 7 and Mint 8, and if you’re unlucky even with an unusable system.
• There’s a code-freeze before Ubuntu gets released, and then testing goes on. The same happens with the Linux Mint release, and so what you end up running when you perform a fresh installation is a system that is known to us for its statibility and which has been thouroughly tested. An upgrade applies all available package updates no matter how unsafe they are, from level 1 to level 5, so if there are regressions in these updates you’ll get your system impacted by them.
• With every new kernel, there are differences related to hardware support. To know if your hardware is fully recognized by the new Linux Mint release you should try out the liveCD and check that things work before making the decision to install or to update your system. There are have been numerous people saying that their wireless cards, their sound device or some other part of their system was recognized with the prior version of Linux Mint or Ubuntu and didn’t work as expected anymore. For some people, the latest release isn’t necessarily the right one. It’s better to be safe than sorry, so if you’re going to download the liveCD to check your hardware support anyway, you may as well go for a fresh install and avoid downloading things twice.

Comparison with Ubuntu:

• Upgrading Ubuntu is not safer than upgrading Linux Mint. It’s equally risky.
• Ubuntu doesn’t mention the risks involved in package and release upgrades. Their policy is to fix whatever gets broken and to assume that the regressions caused on your system will get solved by future upgrades.
• Linux Mint insists on these risks and recommends a prudent approach to upgrades. Our policy is to avoid possible regressions by being selective on the updates we recommend to you.
• Upgrading Ubuntu is easy, and easier than upgrading Linux Mint. It shouldn’t be though, and if there’s any risk involved in you braking your system, then the least we can do is to write a long boring post about it, to make you think twice about doing it, and to throw warning signs at you before you click on the shiny button

Upgrading graphically (easier):

• Open a terminal and type the following commands: “apt update” and “apt install mint-upgrade-tool-main”
• Open mintMenu and run “Menu->Administration->Upgrade to Linux Mint 8″
• Follow the instructions.
• If asked, always choose “Replace”.
• If asked, always choose “I”.
• Ignore errors related to broken packages (in particular with mint-artwork packages)
• When finished, reboot the computer.
• Change your wallpaper to “Fresh” and your theme to “Shiki-Wise”
• Run the upgrade tool from the menu again, ignore errors related to broken packages and let the upgrade tool finish all the way to the end.

Upgrading from the command line (faster):

Open a terminal and type the following commands:

• gksu gedit /etc/apt/sources.list (Change all occurrences of “gloria” to “helena”, and all occurences of “jaunty” to “karmic”, remove the lines for the Community section of the Linux Mint repository, then save the file and close the editor)
• apt update
• apt install mint-info-main (choose “Y” or “I” to install the package maintainer’s version)
• apt install mint-meta-main(choose “Y” or “I” to install the package maintainer’s version)

In the terminal, repeat the following commands until both upgrade commands show no upgrades available:

• apt upgrade
• apt dist-upgrade
• apt install mint-meta-main

Give us your feedback:

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.

Troubleshooting:

Firefox:

If after the upgrade your Firefox installation stills shows up as “Shiretoko” or if the search engines aren’t working, try the following commands:

• apt remove firefox-3.0 firefox-3.0-branding
• apt remove firefox-3.5
• apt clean
• apt install moonlight-plugin-mozilla
• apt install mint-meta-main

mintMenu:

If the menu is empty and you can’t see any applications, right click on the menu button in the panel and select “Reload plugins”.

How to upgrade Linux Mint 7 Gloria to Linux Mint 8 Helena (main and universal editions only)
Clem
Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:07:04 GMT

Redmond turned red-faced upon learning that an automatically installed Microsoft Windows Presentation Foundation plug-in for Firefox opened a major security hole. Following Microsoft’s disclosure of the bug, Mozilla blocked the plug-in. According to Mozilla, Microsoft agreed with the move, even though it had released a patch to close the underlying flaw.

Firefox Squashes a Buggy Microsoft Plug-In
(author unknown)
Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:51:09 GMT

With version 10.10, Opera (Opera) has taken its biggest step into the unknown so far, marrying the web browser with the web server.

 

Opera 10.10: Web Browser and Web Server In One
(author unknown)
Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:10:02 GMT

Web browser aficionados welcomed last week’s release of Camino 2.0, a Mac-only browser based on the Firefox codebase. While missing the extensibility of Firefox, Camino is a much more Mac-like browser that some people prefer to Apple’s own Safari. Over the past few years, Camino had fallen far behind Safari and Firefox in terms of features; indeed, I switched back to Safari a couple years ago. However, version 2.0, which adds a new Tab Overview feature, along with more phishing and malware protection, improved tabbed browsing, Growl support, better ad blocking, and an updated rendering engine, has some Mac users giving Camino another shot.

App syncs cookies between Safari, Camino
(Dan Frakes)
Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:39:00 GMT