Unlike the Security Essentials, this new tool creates a Bootable USB or DVD that allows you to boot up your computer in a safe mode so that the virus and malware scanning software can run, even on systems which are infected to the point of preventing virus scanning applications from running in Windows. These types of tools are common on paid anti-virus applications and occasionally as standalone tools, but it is good to see Microsoft releasing what looks to be a user-friendly tool.

The Microsoft System Sweeper tool works with Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 for both 32 bit and 64 bit versions. The tool can be used to create a System Sweeper Disk on demand, with the latest definitions so that you are ready to repair your system.

To use the Standalone System Sweeper, prepare the DVD or USB, boot into the tool by putting your USB drive or CD in your computer and follow the prompts. You will likely need to enter the system Bios to change the settings. This can typically be done by pressing one of the Function keys or the Del key while your computer is booting. For specific instructions, search for your notebook name, model and BIOS. From there you will need to use your keyboard to change the boot order.

It is great to see Microsoft stepping up to deliver tools like the Standalone System Sweeper to users that need help cleaning up virus or malware infections on Windows notebooks. To help stop viruses before they start, be sure to install an antivirus application like Microsoft Security Essentials.

Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper Cleans Viruses and Malware is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

The BIOS helps to load Windows from the hard disk or if you are installing Windows 7, it helps to load it from the installation DVD or other medium such as a thumb drive.

How to Change Boot Order in BIOS

Depending on the brand or how your computer is configured, loading the BIOS might be different. In this article, I will show you on a standard configuration.

First, start your computer then press F2 function key as noted on the BIOS screen above, you will have to do this quickly as the BIOS loads very fast. Some BIOS configurations might require a different key combination such as F1, Tab, F12 or F11. Consult the owners manual that came with your computer for instructions or watch the display closely when it starts.

Now we are inside the BIOS, of course yours might look completely different as the interface is not a standard across manufacturers, but the same philosophy is there. The BIOS will list information such as your primary boot device, along with other attached storage and secondary storage devices such as your DVD drive and connected peripherals such as your keyboard and mouse. The above screenshot displays the main page of this BIOS screen.

Navigating your BIOS requires that you use the four way navigation arrow keys, there is no support for using a pointing device such as your mouse. It’s a very simple, as you can see, I am on the Advanced screen of this BIOS, I navigated to it by using the right arrow key.

Here we see the Boot Configuration screen. Yours might vary depending on the Brand and BIOS version. On this screen we can change the first device that is loaded. If your intention is to boot from a device, you will have to change it to be the first one. The above screenshot shows that the first boot device is removable, this can either be a DVD or a thumb drive. If you would like to edit this, look for the instructions on screen.

As you can see in the instructions provided, to move a device up or down, you use the plus and minus keys. devices that have a plus sign beside them mean they have information that can be displayed for additional configuration purposes, pressing ‘Enter’ key will reveal this information.

Using the plus sign on my keyboard to move the CD-ROM Drive at the top to become the first boot device.

I now have my CD-ROM as the first boot device. If you are using a laptop, use the minus key to place each device down one level until the CD-ROM is the first device.

After you have made your changes, the next step is to save the changes you have made. This is normally the F10 function Key, press it and your changes will be confirmed. This option will also be combined with an option to also exit the BIOS.

To  exit the BIOS, you can press the ESC (escape key) on your keyboard or use the navigation key to go to the EXIT menu if one is available and select the appropriate option and press Enter when prompted.

You should be prompted to boot from your desired device.

How To Load BIOS and Change Boot Configuration is a post by Andre from Notebooks.com.

Those people are part of the UEFI Forum which is working on a replacement for BIOS, that screen you see when you first turn on your computer, which among other things should boot your computer into Windows in seconds rather than a minute and a half.

UEFI stands for Unified Extensible Firmware Interface and is a new standard designed to meet the needs of modern computers. Compare this to BIOS which has been the standard for decades.

The idea is that the UEFI boot system will not only bring faster boot times by getting past that 30 seconds of BIOS initialization but also offer better support for USB devices and other connectivity options in the boot environment.

The Telegraph reports that industry experts expect to see UEFI make an impact in computing in 2011, but there’s no word on exactly when we will see consumer devices with the new boot system reach the market. Until then consumers will need to look at SSD options and manufacturer specific solutions to boot up faster.

Image via ryuuji.y

Faster Boot Times on the Way for Notebooks — Bye Bye BIOS is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

According to the Lenovo Connections blog,

This battery firmware update utility fixes an issue where some batteries indicate an incorrect full charge capacity value. Because of this error, the amount of energy available for use is artificially low, decreasing the amount of time the system can be used on battery. The fix is entirely contained in the battery firmware update; there is no need to replace any hardware for this problem.”

The new BIOS and Firmware were released in July and if you are using a machine managed by an IT department for work it may have already been updated but if not you can update the battery and BIOS with ThinkVantage Toolbox, ThinkVantage System Update Tool or by visiting the Lenovo support site.

The following 2010 ThinkPad Models are included in the update:

• X100e
• L410/L510
• L412/L512
• SL410/SL510
• T410/T410i
• T510,T510i
• W510
• ThinkPad Edge, 13, 14, or 15 inch

Via ThinkPads.com

Bios and Firmware Updates Address Battery Life on 2010 ThinkPads is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

The first step is to find out if your Sony VAIO F or VAIO C series is part of the recall. To do this, look at the frame around your notebook’s display. You should see a model number starting with “PCG”, “VGN” or “VPC”. You can also look on the bottom of your notebook for a sticker that contains the model number, serial number and other information. More details on finding out what Sony VAIO notebook model you have.

The list of Recalled Sony VAIO F and VAIO C Notebooks includes the following specific model numbers:

• VPCF11 Series: VPCF111FD, VPCF111FD/B, VPCF111FX, VPCF111FX/B, VPCF111FX/H, VPCF112FX, VPCF112FX/B, VPCF112FX/H, VPCF113FX, VPCF113FX/B, VPCF113FX/H, VPCF114FX, VPCF114FX/B, VPCF114FX/H, VPCF115FM, VPCF115FM/B, VPCF115FM/BL, VPCF116FX, VPCF116FX/B, VPCF116FX/H, VPCF117FX, VPCF117FX/B, VPCF117FX/B, VPCF117FX/H, VPCF1190X, VPCF119FX, VPCF119GX, VPCF119HX, VPCF11AFX, VPCF11AFX/B, VPCF11BFX, VPCF11BFX/B, VPCF11CGX, VPCF11CGX/B, VPCF11DGX, VPCF11DGX/B, VPCF11EGX, VPCF11EGX/B, VPCF11FGX, VPCF11FGX/B, VPCF11GGX, VPCF11GGX/B, VPCF11HGX, VPCF11HGX/B, VPCF11JFX, VPCF11JFX/B, VPCF11KFX, VPCF11KFX/B, VPCF11KFX/H, VPCF11LFX, VPCF11LFX/B, VPCF11LFX/H, VPCF11MFX, VPCF11MFX/B, VPCF11NFX, VPCF11NFX/B, VPCF11NFX/H, VPCF11PFX, VPCF11PFX/H, VPCF11QFX, VPCF11QFX/B and VPCF11QFX/H
• VPCCW2 Series: VPCCW21FX, VPCCW21FX/B, VPCCW21FX/L, VPCCW21FX/P, VPCCW21FX/R, VPCCW21FX/W, VPCCW22FX, VPCCW22FX/B, VPCCW22FX/L, VPCCW22FX/P, VPCCW22FX/R, VPCCW22FX/W, VPCCW23FX, VPCCW23FX/B, VPCCW23FX/L, VPCCW23FX/P, VPCCW23FX/R, VPCCW23FX/W, VPCCW26FX, VPCCW26FX/B, VPCCW26FX/L, VPCCW26FX/P, VPCCW26FX/R, VPCCW26FX/W, VPCCW27FX, VPCCW27FX/B, VPCCW27FX/L, VPCCW27FX/P, VPCCW27FX/R, VPCCW27FX/W, VPCCW29FX, VPCCW29GX, VPCCW2AFX, VPCCW2AFX/B, VPCCW2BFX, VPCCW2BFX/B, VPCCW2CGX, VPCCW2CGX/B, VPCCW2DGX, VPCCW2DGX/B, VPCCW2EGX, VPCCW2EGX/B, VPCCW2FGX, VPCCW2FGX/B, VPCCW2GGX, VPCCW2GGX/B, VPCCW2HGX, VPCCW2HGX/B, VPCCW2JGX, VPCCW2JGX/B, VPCCW2KGX, VPCCW2KGX/B, VPCCW2LFX, VPCCW2LFX/B, VPCCW2LFX/L, VPCCW2LFX/P, VPCCW2LFX/R, VPCCW2LFX/W, VPCCW2MFX, VPCCW2MFX/PU, VPCCW2MFX/WJ, VPCCW2MGX, VPCCW2MGX/B, VPCCW2NFX, VPCCW2NFX/LU, VPCCW2PFX, VPCCW2PFX/L, VPCCW2PFX/R. VPCCW2PFX/W, VPCCW2QGX, VPCCW2QGX/B, VPCCW2RGX, VPCCW2RGX/B, VPCCW2SGX, VPCCW2SGX/B, VPCCW2TGX, VPCCW2TGX/B, VPCCW2UFX, VPCCW2UFX/B, VPCCW2VFX, and VPCCW2VFX/B

If your Sony VAIO is part of the recall you should download the VAIO F or VAIO C software update and install it immediately to prevent damage to your computer.

To update your Sony VAIO BIOS do take the following steps.

1. Download the file for your Notebook and operating system from the Sony VAIO® F11 and CW2 Series – Firmware Updates page.
2. Save the file to your desktop.
3. Make sure your computer is plugged in so that it has enough power to complete the upgrade process.
4. Double click the downloaded file.
5. Windows will prompt you to allow it to run with a User Account Control popup – Click Yes.
6. When prompted with the BIOS Update window choose Next.
7. Agree to the license agreement.
8. You should see a VAIO BIOS Update Tool box, make sure it has the version R0170Y7.
9. Click Update
10. When you see a box open that is labeled WBFLASH click OK to update your BIOS.
11. After the BIOS is updated click OK to shut down the computer.
12. Wait 30 seconds and then turn the computer back on.
13. You are done.

If you have trouble you can call Sony Technical Support at 1 (866) 496-7669 or ask a question in the comments below.

Sony Vaio Recall: How to Stop Overheating and Find Out if Your Notebook is Recalled is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Phoenix Technologies, notably known for making Bios software, has a new service call FailSafe that helps you track the last place your laptop connected to the internet, retrieve or delete files and even disable the computer completely.

Locating

When it comes to locating your laptop FailSafe provides several ways to track it down, including;

• IP address general location with IP
• GPS
• Webcam
• Wireless SSID Name

The Dell Studio 14z we tested was not equipped with GPS and Dell has not enabled the Webcam feature so we will focus on the other locating and data protection options.

Every time your laptop protected with FailSafe connects to the Internet a great deal of information is logged to help you track it down in the event that it has been lost or stolen.

When you tell FailSafe to locate your laptop you’ll be able to see when it last accessed the internet, its IP address, ISP, general location and if connected via Wifi the name of the wireless network.

If you are simply trying to track down your laptop this may give you a clue as to where you left it.

While you won’t be able to see the exact location of your laptop without GPS, the ability to see the name of the Wireless network it is connected to and the IP address will help you in any recovery attempts you make. Thanks to the IP address college students may be able to ask their network administrator to track down what room a missing laptop is connecting from.

If you prefer not to play detective then FailSafe will coordinate with local law enforcement to track down your lost or stolen laptop for $39.95.

Protecting

On top of locating your laptop FailSafe offers several easy to use protection options to help you keep your private data safe.

Once you’ve logged into the FailSafe dashboard from another computer you can retrieve important files that you don’t have backed up. The “Retrieve Files” option will let you recover files the next time the computer connects to the internet without the thief knowing that you are doing anything.

The retrieval process does have limitations and shouldn’t be used to replace a full-scale backup solution since it can only recover files up to 5 MB and 25MB worth of files at a time. You also need to know the location, file type or name of a file which presents a challenge. You can use wildcards like, *.* to recover all files from a directory or *.doc to recover all documents but you cannot browse contents of the drive.

You can also delete files in a similar manner if you just need to keep a document away from prying eyes. After you select files to delete FailSafe will remove them the next time your computer connects to the Internet.

After deleting and recovering all the files that you need you can also disable the computer so that it is useless to whoever took it. You can customize the message that is shown on screen to tell the individual how to return your stolen laptop. When you are reunited with your laptop you can enter a code and gain full access to your laptop again.

Details

Since the FailSafe service enjoys a close relationship with your notebooks BIOS, its part of it, FailSafe continues to work even if a new hard drive is installed. It will also continue to work if Windows is reinstalled by installing behind the scenes.

The FailSafe service is currently available on Select Dell Notebooks as part of the CompleteCare service package and on the Samsung Go Netbook. After your initial purchase you can extend your subscription to the FailSafe service by paying $39.95 for an additional year or $79.95 for 3 years. You can also purchase support plans in the event you need help with the FailSafe service.

Pros:

• Built into Bios.
• Remotely retrieve or delete files.
• Great deal of information about laptop location.
• Cooperation with Law Enforcement for stolen laptops.

Cons:

• Must know where files are located or what they are named.
• Limited to 25 MB for each file recovery.
• Must purchase with your new computer.
• Bundled with Dell CompleteCare.

Bottom Line

The FailSafe service provides several useful features to safeguard your laptop and the information you keep on it. Even with the limitations on file recovery; FailSafe provides users with useful features and assistance in tracking down a lost or missing laptop.

FailSafe is limited by the fact that you can only purchase it with a new computer and when purchased from Dell, you must purchase it as part of Dell CompleteCare package. But, if you’re already looking for accidental coverage then FailSafe is a strong laptop location and protection service.

Hopefully, in the future, you’ll be able to purchase the FailSafe service direct from Phoenix at any point in your laptop’s life.

Review of Phoenix FailSafe: Track Down Lost Laptops and Data is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

The new technology takes the BIOS boot screen you normally see, which gives you system stats and a little logo, and replaces it with a 1 second boot process getting you to work faster. The demo is running on a Lenovo T400s laptop and a tweaked installation of Windows 7, but it is still a very impressive startup time. All this speed makes me wonder what role “Instant On” software like Hyperspace will play when you can get to Windows 7 in less than 15 seconds.

The new technology works thanks to a UEFI-based BIOS known as SecureCore Tiano which manufacturers will be able to use in their upcoming laptops.

Sure this isn’t a wirelessly charging netbook, a massive breakthrough in battery technology or something similar but it is cool technology that is ready to address one of the biggest complaints mobile users have; slow startup times.

The only thing I can’t figure out is how I’m going to be able to hit F2 for BIOS options in a 1 second window!

via GottaBeMobile.com

Introducing The One Second Boot Screen! (video) is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.