Microsoft Security Essentials... fail.

Having worked with MSE for a couple of days, I have decided to return to AVG.  Although it massively improved Windows start up times it slowed down saving items within a browser.  Downloading anything from a website caused the whole system to stop for 10+ seconds.  Doesn't sound like much but soon became very annoying.  It effected Firefox, Explorer and Chrome in the same way, even switching off the automatic scanning of downloaded files (which isn't recommended) didn't effect the delay.  Having removed MSE and installed AVG, the browsers all react normally to save/download requests.

Shame, I really wanted this to work!

AVG 9, Microsoft Security Essentials and PC Tools Threatfire

You may have heard of Microsofts new free anti virus and spyware software, hearing about it is one thing but actually tracking it down is quite another.  Search for AVG and your first hit in Google is AVG's free download link, search for Microsofts free anti virus and its quite another matter, anyway, for those that are interested in trying it, here's the link http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/ You'll need Genuine Advantage on your PC to install it however so for those of you that don't (for whatever reason..) you might want to carry on with AVG for now.

First impressions of MSE are that its pretty good, I've certainly noticed a reduction in boot time.  I haven't suffered with a major viruses (touch wood) for some time now, if that situation changes, I'll let you know and blame MSE!

I've also decided to run PC Tools Threatfire as well, this is supposed to identify suspicious activity on your computer without the need for an up-to-date Malware index.

AVG 9 looks pretty similar to 8.5, just a slightly appleified looking interface.  Upon installation it runs an optimisation scan, the idea behind this is to identify certain "concrete" features of your PC/Laptops harddisk so that it doesn't persistently check it on each virus scan theoretically speeding up scan times.

Upgrading a HDD on a Lenovo T61 and obtaining the XP recovery cd's.

Anyone whose ever owned or used a Thinkpad will probably agree with me that their the best laptops ever made ever!  The only downside with them is their slightly prohibitive cost.  I've had 3 now, unfortunately I've not been in a position to buy a new one so have relied on the generosity of strangers.. or ebay.

I'd been using a T41p for about 4 years when I decided to upgrade to a newer Thinkpad.  I went for the T61.  Apart from the build quality, one of the things I love most about the Thinkpad is the little red nipple (or trackpoint) at the centre of the keyboard.. why don't other laptops have them??  They're so much more accurate to use than a touch pad and much less cumbersome than a mini mouse.

The T61 came with a nifty little finger print recognition device which enables automatic login to windows as well as a number of other security measures that I haven't actually delved too far into yet.  The only thing my T61 doesn't have that my T41 did, is built in bluetooth.  I've ended up using a micro usb bluetooth dongle which isn't too bad but looks a little bit ming mong compared to the rest of the sleek black design.

Having watched a few auctions come and go on ebay I finally went for this one.  Buy it now for £350 or make an offer.  £325 later and I had a nearly new Lenovo T61, not bad considering 12 months earlier it was bought for £1000+. 

It came with a 80gb SATA HDD which I knew I'd need to upgrade.  The only problem was getting the authentic Windows from one hard disk to another.  Lenovo supply a Rescue and Recovery program thats supposed to create recovery disks for occasions such as this.  Upon trying to create the recovery disks I was told "insufficient room in boot sector partition... ".  The laptop didn't come with any recovery disks, a lot of manufactures rely on this small partition on the disk  to hold the Windows installation data as well as all the drivers you'll need.

I prepared for a battle with Lenovo.  Having already checked out obtaining recovery disks online it seemed I'd have to concoct some convoluted story and that it was likely I'd end up paying for them even though the laptop was still in warranty, I gathered all the relevant info I could and phoned Lenovo customer support...

..they were great!  Just explained that I was upgrading the hard disk and that it wouldn't let me make any recovery disks.  Bish bash bosh.. a week later I had the 6 recovery disks in my hand having been delivered by UPS.

So I here I am writing to you from my T61 with a shiny new Windows XP installation and a pack of recovery cd's courtesy of Lenovo.

I guess the moral of this little story is, if you don't ask you don't get!