BackOffice Server Vulnerability
When you install Microsoft BackOffice, it creates a temporary file containing various IDs and passwords.  This file doesn't get deleted afterwards.  A major security problem, to say the least.  Microsoft has a patch available.
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q217/0/04.asp

Fortify Netscape
Unless you're in the US, you have to use a version of Netscape in which the powerful encryption facility has been disabled.  But a program called Fortify will re-enable it, and it's free.
http://www.fortify.net

QuickView Plus
An incredibly useful Windows-based tool for the support person, QuickView Plus lets you view data files produced by over 200 Windows, Unix, Mac and DOS applications.  Version 5 has just been launched.
http://www.inso.com

CD Labels
So, you've burned your latest set of corporate manuals onto CD-R and now you need to print some decent labels for the discs and the cases.  MediaFace will do what you want, and it's free.
http://www.neato.com

Online Trading
You may not wish to buy trendy clothes from this UK outfit, and we have no intention of suggesting that you do.  But if you want to see one of the first sites created using HP's new e-commerce suite, take a browse.
http://www.fatface.co.uk

Windows 2000 Site
No, not a Microsoft site, but one run by Windows International Magazine that contains a wealth of W2k-related information.  Well worth a look.
http://www.win-2000.com

Pentium III Serial Numbers
The unique serial number built into each Pentium III chip is proving a controversial feature.  This site has an interesting discussion of the subject.
http://www.heise.de/ct/english/99/05/news1/

New from Adobe
Adobe has launched InDesign, a new DTP/page layout package.
http://www.adobe.com/prodindex/indesign/main.html

Mind Manager
You've got a random set of ideas that need jotting down in no particular order, and from which you then want to produce something a little more coherent.  Mind Manager, a new software product for Windows, is what you need.  No really, it is. Trust us.
http://www.mindman.co.uk

Free Y2K Diagnostics
Ontrack has updated its free Year 2000 diagnostic software which checks the dates in PC BIOSes to ensure that they roll over correctly.
http://www.ontrack.com

Novell Upgrade Wizard
Novell has a new version of the Upgrade Wizard, which helps you migrate across the wire from NetWare 3 to either 4 or 5.  It's a useful tool, albeit a 17 MB download.
http://www.novell.com/download/#NetWare/intraNetWare

Norton Mobile Essentials
Symantec has a 30-day trial copy of Norton Mobile Essentials on its Web site.  This is a useful suite of products for the laptop-based user that's well worth issuing to your users before they hit the road.  It'll help them connect back to the office more easily, and assist you in sorting out connectivity problems.
http://www.symantec.com/nme

A World of Connectors
If you've a user who's travelling from country a to country b and needs a telephone adaptor for the laptop or modem, not only can Teleadapt tell you what you'll need but they'll also sell it to you as well.  A superbly useful site.
http://www.teleadapt.com

Cybercafé Directory
So, you have users who are on business trips but don't have laptops.  They'll need to pop into the local Internet café to use one of the public access machines.  This site has details of 2000 such places in over 100 countries.  Remember to check before you leave.
http://www.cybercaptive.com

Intel Power Monitor
Intel has a free Power Monitor utility, which will tell you how much power a laptop PC is using at any time.  If you've a user who's complaining that their machine's battery no longer lasts as long as it did before you upgraded it, here's how to tell where the problem lies.
http://www.intel.com/ial/ipm

Tapes Despooled?
Got an Iomega tape drive that has despooled a tape? Here's how to put it back.
http://www.iomega.com/support/documents/3067.html

PowerPoint Update
Microsoft has released some free PowerPoint updates, including new animation effects and some VBA code samples.
http://support.microsoft.com/support/powerpoint/samples.asp

Word File-Sharing
Microsoft has published some tips on sharing document files between Word 97 and earlier versions.
http://support.microsoft.com/support/word/convert97/default.asp

SMS 2
Microsoft has released version 2 of Systems Management Server.
http://www.microsoft.com/smsmgmt

NT and SQL Server RAM Config Data
Also new from Microsoft, details on the recommended memory configurations for NT and SQL Server.
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q110/9/83.asp

KB via Email
Microsoft KnowledgeBase articles, such as the one listed above, can be retrieved via email.  Send a message to mshelp@microsoft.com and put the KB article number, including the leading Q, in the subject.  Be prepared to wait up to 48 hours for a reply.
mailto:mshelp@microsoft.com

FP PWS Security Patch
A security patch for the FrontPage Personal Web Server, which prevents a possible attack allowing a hacker to gain access to any file on a machine, has been issued by Microsoft.
http://officeupdate.microsoft.com/Articles/PersWeb.htm

NT Security Exploits
A new set of potential NT security problems, complete with details of how to do them (thanks guys) is now available at l0pht's site.
http://www.l0pht.com/advisories.html

I can Sing a Rainbow
The Rainbow Books, so-called because each has a different coloured cover, contain the full specs for various official security levels.  If you ever wondered precisely what C2-compliant means, now you can find out.
http://csrc.nist.gov/cc/

IIS Installation Guide
Looking for a good step-by-step guide to installing Microsoft IIS?  We've found one.
http://www.comnet.be/FreeStuff.htm

Definitive Guides
The official documents containing all the technical information about the Internet that you ever wanted can be found here..
http://www.w3c.org

Network Toolkit
Here's a collection of links to some great tools for network support people.
http://www.networkweek.com/toolkit

CPU News
The Register is an excellent newsletter about processor-related issues.
http://www.theregister.co.uk

Search Web Site Names
Search over 4 million domain names, for a particular string.  Great if you're looking for information on a particular subject.
http://www.netcraft.com
 
 

Head-to-head comparative reviews

4 Top-of-the-range digital cameras		What Digital Camera (UK), March		mailto:wdc@i.am
5 Fault Tolerant Servers		PC World, March		http://www.pcworld.com
20 17" and 19" monitors and TFTs		Personal Computer World (UK), April		http://www.pcw.co.uk
6 Web database development tools		Personal Computer World (UK), April		http://www.pcw.co.uk
5 Pentium III machines		Personal Computer World (UK), April		http://www.pcw.co.uk
Windows 2000-capable hardware		PC Computing, March		http://www.pccomputing.com
2 Year 2000 Solutions		Software Development, February		http://www.sdmagazine.com
2 Project Estimation Tools		Software Development, February		http://www.sdmagazine.com
20 Power Desktops		PC World, March		http://www.pcworld.com
4 Browser Accelerators		PC World, March		http://www.pcworld.com
5 Modem Bonders		PC World, March		http://www.pcworld.com
High end graphics peripherals		PC Computing, March		http://www.pccomputing.com
6 flat panel displays		Computer Shopper, February		http://computershopper.com
17 Business PCs and notebooks		Windows International, March		http://www.winmag.com
9 shareware PIMs/Organisers		PC Computing, March		http://www.pccomputing.com
6 V.90 Modems		Internet Business (UK), March		http://www.ibmag.co.uk
Web-enabled devices		Web Techniques, March		http://www.webtechniques.com

Digital Photography
The use of digital cameras is growing rapidly, not just in the home but also in corporate environments for everything from Web site design to brochure production.  They're also ideal for creating staff ID cards and personnel records.  What Digital Camera? is a UK-based magazine specialising in digital photography products, techniques, related software reviews and news.  Recommended reading.
mailto:wdc@i.am

Web Access to Database
The March issue of Web Techniques includes a revealing case study of how a company made a large-scale database available over the Web to suitably-authenticated users.  Recommended reading if you're considering doing such a thing yourself.
http://www.webtechniques.com

CSS
The March issue of Web Techniques also includes a highly readable tutorial on CSS, the Cascading Style Sheets which promise to breathe new life into HTML files and thus Web sites.
http://www.webtechniques.com

Defamation
The March issue of Internet Business Magazine (UK), includes a good article on defamation, ie what you can and can't say on your Web site if you wish to stay on the right side of the libel and slander legislation.  The article is specific to UK law but still provides a good backgrounder to show to your marketing people if you're concerned that they're creating Web pages which overtly criticise competing people, products or companies.
http://www.ibmag.co.uk

5000 Animated Gifs.  Free.
So, you've been asked to find some animated GIFs for use on the corporate Web site?  April's issue of Personal Computer World (UK) includes 5000 of them, free, on its cover CD.
http://www.pcw.co.uk

Pentium III
Articles on the Pentium III aren't exactly scarce at the moment, but one of the best we've seen this month is in April's Personal Computer World.  Essential reading if you're considering buying PIII machines or upgrading existing workstations.  Our opinion at PC Alert is that the PIII is great for games  (because that's what the new instructions are optimized for) but as yet there's no real reason why a PIII is necessary for business computing.
http://www.pcw.co.uk

The Web's 10 Biggest Security Risks
March's issue of PC Computing has a useful feature covering the 10 most serious security risks when using the Web, and how to protect your workstations and servers from them.
http://www.pccomputing.com

Keeping PCs Snoop-Proof
March's issue of PC Computing also discusses ways to protect data on a PC, so that colleagues in the same office can't discover the information held on it.
http://www.pccomputing.com

Inside IE5
Windows International, in its March issue, delves into IE5 and explains how to use the new features that are in this about-to-be-launched browser.  Incidentally, the latest rumours from Microsoft are that IE5 will be launched on March 18th and not, as previously thought, at the same time as Office 2000 (which is delayed until June).
http://www.winmag.com

Windows Tips and Tricks
Also in Windows International, March, a good collection of tips and tricks for those who use and support machines running Windows 95, 98 and NT.  Plus a feature on how to speed up Windows 98.
http://www.winmag.com

1000 Tools
With the February issue of the Windows Developer Journal, you'll also find a supplement listing over 1000 software development tools for the Windows environment.  Whatever you're looking for, whether it's a language, a library, a debugger, profiler, a setup kit, a graphics routine, or anything else, you'll find it here.
http://www.wdj.com

Change NT Thread Priority
Microsoft says you can't change the priority at which a program runs.  But Microsoft is, er, mistaken, and WDJ's February issue shows you how to use undocumented calls to do it.
http://www.wdj.com

Back Inside the NT Registry
In March's issue of Windows NT Systems, the second half of an excellent article on the internals of NT's registry.
http://www.ntsystems.com

SQL , Routers and Macs
Also in March's issue of Windows NT Systems, a very thorough look at Microsoft SQL Server 7.0.  Plus, a look at managing and configuring routers for NT, and how to add a Mac to an NT domain.
http://www.ntsystems.com

Server Tuning
In March's issue of Performance Computing, there's a useful look at tuning Unix and NT servers.
http://www.performancecomputing.com

Faster Web Access
March's issue of PC World looks at speeding up Web access, both on users' workstations and from servers.  Plus, a look at bandwidth on demand.
http://www.pcworld.com

PC Card Combos
The 9th March issue of PC Magazine looks at combo PC Cards, ie cards with both network interfaces and modems.
http://www.pcmag.com

Windows CE 2.11
The March issue of Computer Shopper includes a review of version 2.11 of Windows CE, which is about to grace a new generation of portable PCs.
http://computershopper.com
 
 

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