I messed around with encryption in Windows XP. I encypted some music files and now I can't access them cause I formatted the C: drive and I failed to save a copy of the certificate. Is there a way to get my files back, I just have to believe that MS would not be stupid enough to make a program that did not have a back way or something. Any help will be appreciated, I don't care about the means as long as I can get my files back. thanx.

I consider myself very knowledgeable when it comes to computers, but I admit I am no expert. I can fix most average problems and explain to people some average things. But when it comes to specifics in hardware and software I still have a lot to learn. I have this problem when it comes to memory and was hoping to put an end to it here today. I have made a list of hardware that I would like to buy to build, what I consider, my ultimate PC. I hope to do it before the end of the year but am n...

I have a friend offering me a 10 GB slim hard drive for $75. Here in Puerto Rico these drives are not in stores, not something that has caught on yet. The hard drive has no name brand but he claims the internal drive is from IBM. I have been searching the internet for slim hard drives with similar storage and usb connections and somehow am not having any luck finding any at all. I can't seem to figure out the correct words to google in order to find these types of drives. Was hoping someone c...

I need a freware software (or shareware, it's just fo 1 photo) that will allow me to make a mirror image of a photo. Kinda like what you do when making iron-on print-outs. I have to install it on a PC with restrictions to install, I can install somethings as long as it doesn't have toregister anything. Any ideas?

I’m a big fan of Logitech. I’m also a big fan of wireless keyboards and mousse. While I don’t play many PC games, I have not seen any reason not to use wireless keyboard and mousse except maybe batteries. I currently have a Logitech Cordless Elite Duo, the best thing I had so far, except the mouse is not rechargeable and when there are no batteries around at the moment, it can be a pain. This is why I ask for opinions about the Logitech DiNovo. I saw it a while back and it caught my a...

This is the funniest thing I have read in a while. Check out this link Link and see just how ignorant and stupid some people can be when it comes to computers. I don't think everyone who knows very little or nothing about computers is stupid just computer illiterate , this guy however deserves a medal for it. Check it out.

I found this on the Microsoft site and was wondering what do you guys think? Windows Live Link What is Windows Live? Your online world gets better when everything works simply and effortlessly together. That's the basic idea behind Windows Live. So the things you care about—your friends, the latest information, your e-mails, powerful search, your PC files, everything—comes together in one place. This is a brand new Internet experience designed to put you in control. And this is just...

I am curious about something. I plan on having more than one PC in my house someday and would like to network them together to share files. Would having a sever with Linux be a good idea while the rest of the PCs have Windows? I figure if Linux is a pretty safe system and is widely used on servers would that be a good idea?

I have a good question for you Linux users and for those who don't use it as well. I have often heard that if Linux becomes mainstream (in other words what Windows in today) that it, too, will become another OS with hundreds of vulnerabilities found all the time. That it being an OS found on 90% of the computers in the world, that hackers will be working their butts off to hack it just like they do with Windows today. If this were to happen and Linux could be in the same place Windows is n...

I got the chance to get a taste of most of Stardocks software once. Everything from CursorXP to Bootskin to the infamous Windowsblind. All great programs that give you the ability, not only to change the look of your PC totally from the choices of skins that come with each software but also from those made by other users and of your own design. Just pic a theme of your choice and your PC can go from a computer panel on any Star Trek ship (with all the bells and whistles), to your taskbar, sta...

This will be about a link on Thoma's article posted by another JU user about a guy, who claims to have 20 years of PC experience, who posted an article about the review that extremetech.com gave on Windows Vista. The review from extremetech.com gave props to Microsoft on the changes being made to the entire structure of Windows in order to create a more stable and secure OS. The review from desktoplinux.com gave a very bias opinion on what the guys from extremetech.com had to say about Window...

I read an interesting article by one of our comrades of JU, Thomas, which spoke of the New Microsoft, soon to be released, Windows Vista. Previously called Longhorn, Windows new OS seems to have a lot of improvements over previous Windows OS’s. While XP is the latest and best out at the moment, it’s not the safest OS out there when it comes to security from hackers, viruses, Trojans, spyware and all other types of malware that can be installed in your PC. Your other alternatives? Linux, UNIX,...

Hey All. I own a 128 MB Lexar Jumpdrive. I used it at my job where it worked fine when I first bought it. Now all of a sudden none of the PCs will except my jumpdrive and I get an error saying I don't have admin privileges to install it. Why would it suddenly stop working, could it have been the people who work on the PCs here might have somehow blocked all Lexar jumpdrives from working on their PCs? There were some people who were not able to use their Jumpdrives before but mine worked fine. ...