Windows 8 and Live USBs & CDs at logger Heads!!

1.  One feature of Windows 8 launched recently has been disabling the option to boot from a Live CD/DVD or a USB right at the beginning.....recently got hold of a Windows 8 laptop of a friend and being in the habit of recommending opensource software's I tried showing him a live DVD of Ubuntu 13.04 but was surprised that every time it booted I could never see the option of selecting option of where to boot from?...that was it...i had no option but to Google and got the answer....the option to boot any windows PC with a live DVD is passe with Windows 8....now the user has to be specific of selection of boot device only once he is inside the OS interface.Bad...Bad...Bad......that's SECURE BOOT by terminology of Microsoft

2.   Dedicated Linux users and communities are the once who immediately start getting irritating owing to this feature that has no choice as on date.The purpose of Secure Boot is to put an end to computer viruses that sneak between the hardware and the operating system. These bootkits work by getting themselves before the OS is loadde, then they make changes to the operating system while it lies defenseless on disk, and then they load the now defenseless operating system and have their way with it. Secure Boot counters the bootkit by ensuring the hardware verifies the identity and authenticity of the software that sits between the hardware and the operating system - the bootloader, and also the software embedded in hardware devices like network and graphics adapters.Although going by the past threats Secure Boot sounds like a smart solution to the bootkit problem but this would be a problem for the majority of users in long run who rely solely on pirated copies of Windows OS.!!!!

3.  This is because today most of the vendors dealing in piracy or the users using pirated DVDs of OS have a option of formatting the PC and then reloading a new OS if the present OS has some issues....and this was possible since he/she would simply choos the BOOT FROM DVD option in the beginning...but now what?If some thing goes awry with your Windows 8 OS,there is no way to access your windows or at the best you need to run to your MS maintenance site.....so there is one good aspect that it is certainly going to curb piracy....but what about the security professionals ???

4. No denying the fact that a LIVE DVD is one of the prized possession of every IT security professional that has a plethora of advantages...so does windows 8 mean an end to all those advantages!!!!its a land lock situation for windows users.I am sure this is not going to last long...may be by windows 8.1 they do something about it!!!!

Nehru Place : The hub

1. Not so long back I adverted about the “Software Lelooooooooo” thing in Nehru Place,Delhi vide http://anupriti.blogspot.com/2009/01/software-leloooosoftware-leloooooout-3.htmlNehru Place is the hub, the google, the god ,the solution for any computer hardware software freak where every thing related to hardware/software is available at ease at dirt cheap prices.

2. Today morning I got an opportunity window of 3 hours to be in Nehru Place exploring the shops selling these computer accessories. Any time I have been to Nehru Place earlier ,I have always found something new. Few things that evoked my interest this time are as follows:

a. USB to Lan Socket(with driver CD)[means NIC card is over???]

b. USB to Audio Video.[means Sound Card is over???]

c. SVGA to Audio Video(without power)

d. USB to blue tooth(…I had seen this one earlier)

e. USB vacuum cleaner(enough to handle dust in mother board)

f. USB to table lamp with stand.

g. USB cooler fans in various designs

h. Windows 7 software(they install if u have laptop along with drivers from net available on WiF hotspot!!!!!!!!!!!)………..truly amazing……….Bill…r u listening? Pics of such sellers In-Set.

3. Plebeian Point about all these items mentioned is that these all are Chinese items,all are available in a bracket of Rs 100-200 and most importantly no no no Guarantee or Warranty from the moment you leave the shop .If u can, test at the shop.

4. Last time I did not mention about the ink filling procedure being practiced with loads of success for the sellers at least. As shown in the picture in set. That setup is enough for one to get an ink refilled in the cartridge for Rs 50/-(fifty only) with the help of disposed syringes that they arrange from the local medical clinics… …..shocking or surprised? In fact to stop this ,HP and Canon like companies who deal with printers should start reporting matter to the concerned IT departments to ban and stop this.

5. I m putting up a scanned copy of visiting card of one of these software sellers, not meant to motivate you to buy from him,but to show you how piracy has made professionals in this field. Why is the IT act 2001 in a state of quiescency here???