Software News

Hack Attack: Safely install software in a virtual layer

via lifehacker.com

Published March 28, 2006, 12:30 pm, Over one day ago

by Adam Pash

As we've mentioned many times before, we install every piece of software we recommend here at Lifehacker, meaning that if we don't vigorously remove programs we're not using, Windows can start to get a little cranky.

Even though Windows has handled my frequent software installations and sometimes lazy attitude toward uninstalling them with aplomb, I've been looking for a solution that keeps my computer pristine in the face of installation after installation, and I want to do it without running a virtual machine (after all, I'm not testing new operating systems every day!).

Enter Altiris Software Virtualization Solution (SVS). With Altiris SVS, you can install any program to a transparent layer that snags all attempts that the program makes to write to your system, instead saving them inside of the layer. That means no extra .dll's and no permanent registry changes - SVS takes care of all of that.

I'm going to show you how to install a program using Altiris SVS so that you can go into your installation with reckless abandon, without fears of possible incompatibility or buggy software. For the purpose of demonstration, I'll use SVS to do a no-risk install of Firefox 2.0 alpha. Check out the video after the jump.

Now I'll walk you through setting up Altiris SVS step-by-step.

First, download Altiris SVS from PCMag. The download requires a free registration with PCMag (or BugMeNot).

When you run the installer, you'll be asked for a Product key. Click "Get it free!" and accept the license agreement (no need for an email). Include the Software Visualization Admin Tool in your install and finish your installation.

After you've finished installing SVS, it's really easy to get started. In case the video moves too quickly, I'll walk you through installing Firefox Bon Echo Alpha.

1. Download Firefox Bon Echo Alpha
2. Open Altiris SVS Admin. Under File, select "Create New Layer...." Make sure "Install application" is selected and Click Next. I'm naming this layer Firefox Bon Echo Alpha (because I like the way Bon Echo sounds). Select "Single program capture" and Browse for your Bon Echo install package. Click Next, then Finish.
3. From here, everything works pretty much like you'd expect. Install Bon Echo like you normally would install a new program. Despite the fact that this process follows the same flow, your newly-created SVS layer is keeping its eye out for any attempts the installer makes to write to the system and saving it in the layer instead.
4. The little lightning bolt in your system tray will let you know that SVS is doing its thing. When the last program your installer launched ends, SVS will finish capturing the base layer. Any changes you make to the program after this point can always be reset to this original layer by right-clicking on the layer and selecting, "Reset Layer."

That's it! You can now run Bon Echo in place of Firefox. Take a stroll around and test out the new features.

When you've decided that you enjoyed your stay, but you want to go back to the comfort and stability of good ol' 1.5, close out of Bon Echo and go to your SVS Admin. [1] Right-click the Firefox Bon Echo Alpha layer you created and select Deactivate. The Bon Echo install will magically disappear and everything will be back to where it was before you installed Bon Echo.

Although we're using Bon Echo to demonstrate how SVS works, keep in mind that you can follow the same steps to install nearly any software. Altiris SVS is an awesome way to test out software you're not sure about [2], but that's really not all it can do.

If you're interested in learning what else you can do with Altiris SVS, the zip file containing the SVS installer also contains a PDF with comprehensive instructions for using the program (it has several other really cool uses). You may also want to check out PCMag's review for a more in-depth look at some of SVS's finer features.

Have you had a chance to take Altiris SVS for a spin? Let us know what you use it for (or plan to use it for) in the comments or send an email to tips at lifehacker.com.

Adam Pash is an associate editor of Lifehacker. His special feature Hack Attack appears every Tuesday on Lifehacker. Subscribe to the Hack Attack RSS feed to get new installments in your newsreader.

Footnotes:

[1] As it turns out, Bon Echo installs to its own directory and doesn't replace Firefox (it does share the same application data), so there's actually little danger in installing it without SVS (though there's always the possibility of system instability), but I wouldn't necessarily have known that had I not been able to install with abandon using Altiris SVS. [back up]

[2] Keep in mind that Altiris SVS is not intended as a spyware blocker, so if you install spyware, rolling back your layer won't always take care of everything. For more on this, check out PCMag's review. [back up]

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Ask the Readers: Help me move to a new computer?

via lifehacker.com

Published July 6, 2006, 3:00 pm, Over one day ago

Reader Tim writes:

I've got a new job, so I'll be leaving my office Windows XP PC behind when I go in a couple of weeks. Fortunately, as a regular reader of Lifehacker, my employer is happy for me to install almost anything on my PC as long as it doesn't interfere with work. That means I have two years' worth of Firefox extensions, XP powertoys, productivity applications and all the other tiny improvements that Lifehacker et al recommends. Many of them are now so sewn into my daily life I don't know what I have or how I can replicate it on my new office PC (or even at home). Do you have any tips on moving it all over other than copying out my add/remove programmes list and finding them all again manually?

My first bit of advice is to audit your Windows programs using previously-mentioned Belarc Advisor, which will give you a detailed report of what programs you've installed and then some. But there's a lot more to moving to a new computer than getting a list of software, so to get as many perspectives as possible, I'm turning this over to the readers. What suggestions do you have for a seamless and successful move to a new computer? Let us know in the comments or at tips at lifehacker.com. — Adam Pash

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10 ways users mess up their computers (and a few solutions)

via lifehacker.com

Published May 18, 2006, 4:00 pm, Over one day ago

TechRepublic lists 10 "dumb" things people do that can mess up their computers, from plugging in without surge protection to ignoring the need for a backup and recovery plan. Although most Lifehacker readers are probably a bit beyond many of these potential problems, it's a good reminder.

Further, since we've covered solutions to most of these problems at one point or another here on Lifehacker, what better time to solve them? Let's go through a few of them.

If you've gotten into the habit of surfing the 'net without a firewall (#2), you might want to give Lifehacker favorite ZoneAlarm a try. If you "Install and uninstall lots of programs, especially betas" (#4), you can use Altiris SVS to install software you may not keep around in a virtual layer to avoid "gunking up the registry."

#5, "Keep disks full and fragmented," can be solved by setting up your very own self-repairing hard drive, and you can avoid picking the wrong passwords (#9) by choosing a strong and secure password or having one automatically generated for you.

Finally, if you're one of those people who "ignore the need for a backup and recovery plan" (#10), isn't it about time you setup a free, automated backup of your hard drive(s)? If you've got more solutions for any of the 10 dumb things, let's hear 'em in the comments or at tips at lifehacker.com.

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Download of the Day: File Hippo Update Checker (Windows)

via lifehacker.com

Published April 3, 2007, 2:30 pm, Over one day ago

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Ask the Readers: Keep track of and organize applications?

via lifehacker.com

Published December 8, 2006, 5:00 pm, Over one day ago

Reader Shruti writes:

With all the great Mac applications I find on sites like Lifehacker, I often download software that I *may* need in the future, along with software that just sounds cool. However, because of that, my Applications folder has grown quite large, and now I'm at the point where I often forget what some of them are for!

Does anybody have any tips on how to organize or tag software? I've gone back through and created a text file with application names and descriptions, but that's probably not the best way to do it.

For the reasons Shruti describes, I try to prune my Apps folder as much as possible. Even with that prudence, I find that I too have the same trouble, so I'd love to hear what tips our readers have for managing and organizing a whole lot of software, so give us your methods in the comments. Shruti is talking Mac, but if you've got your own Windows tricks, we'd love to hear those, too. — Adam Pash

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Use LogMeIn for remote tech support

via lifehacker.com

Published October 17, 2006, 9:30 am, Over one day ago

If you're like most of us here at Lifehacker, you have a thankless second job as tech support for friends and family. And you know how utterly frustrating it can be to troubleshoot or fix a problem over the phone. It would be so much simpler if you were actually sitting at their PC.

With LogMeIn, you can be. I've used this remote-access utility for months to connect to my own PC while I'm out of the office, but it's also ideal for remote tech support. Just have your friend or family member create a LogMeIn account and install the software (both are free, though the company does sell various paid versions)—preferably before a crisis occurs. When it does, head to the LogMeIn site and sign in using their username and password. In a few seconds you'll see what they see. You'll also gain full control of their PC, so you can investigate, troubleshoot, and (hopefully) fix the problem.

For a more DIY solution to remote access, check out Gina's great Geek to Live feature about controlling your computer from anywhere. — Rick Broida

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Safely test new software with Sandboxie

via lifehacker.com

Published May 7, 2007, 4:30 pm, Over one day ago

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Download of the Day: Software for Starving Students (Win/Mac)

via lifehacker.com

Published January 2, 2007, 11:30 am, Over one day ago

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What products or software are you looking forward to in 2008?

via lifehacker.com

Published December 28, 2007, 9:10 am, Over one day ago

Looking back on 2007, you can't say there was a shortage of new products and services. While the word "beta" became a synonym for "new and free," there were a few projects launched this year—including TV-watching site Hulu, Pownce, GrandCentral, and Joost, to name a few—that remain invite-only, and others, like Google's to-do list, the full Windows Live suite, and third-party iPhone apps, set to drop after the new year.

What productivity tools, web apps, or software are you most looking forward to seeing unveiled or made fully public in 2008? Which products have you gotten in on the ground floor of and are eager to have your friends start using? Give us your predictions, thoughts, and user experiences in the comments.

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Keep Your Software Up-to-Date and Secure with Secunia

via lifehacker.com

Published January 2, 2008, 11:00 pm, Over one day ago

Windows only: Freeware application Secunia Personal Software Inspector is sort of like Windows Update for your installed software, monitoring your installed apps and notifying you of available security updates. When you run your first scan after installing Secunia, you'll be presented with a list of insecure apps that have available updates, "end-of-life" apps that are no longer being supported by the developer, and patched apps that have the latest security updates. Keep in mind that Secunia is not an anti-virus software, but more of a preventative tool for ensuring that your software is secure as it can be. For a less security-focused angle, check out mass-update apps File Hippo Update Checker or UpdateStar. Secunia PSI is freeware, Windows only.

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