I bought XP Repair Pro 2006 recently and gave it a workout. Look for my review in my February 12th issue of my Terry”s Computer Tips online newsletter. (subscribe to my email newsletter)

My quick summary: I like it and recommend it. It did a much better and faster job than my previous registry checker / system repair tool, which was part of a multi-tool package from one of the big-name companies.

One caution — be sure to check the “Startup Programs” — XP Repair Pro selected my firewall, antivirus and antispyware for removal as “wasting resources.” I put in a bug report on this issue.

You can get a free download and scan using XP Repair Pro. You”ll have to buy/register the product to actually do the fixes.

A similar tool is ErrorNuker, which similarly allows you to scan for free.

The above are affiliate links — even if you use them to download the trial scanners, please use them for your actual purchase.

I”ve got a real problem here — it”s almost Valentine”s Day and what can I give my wife?

I thought about a new monitor. Maybe a new printer. You know, all those useful computery gifts of love.

But, while poking around on Amazon, I found that they have a special Gift Central section, which has gift guides for Valentine”s Day.

Valentine”s Day Gift Guides for Him and Her

There are gift suggestions for Her, for Him, for friends and family, selections by price, by recipient, by age, by type (LAST MINUTE!).

The joys of the Internet — if the gift isn”t computer-related, at least I can order it with a computer!

This morning I published a Special Edition newsletter to the subscribers of my free email Terry”s Computer Tips Newsletter.

Today”s Special Edition included the following articles:

• Prevention Works - Blackworm Followup
• More New “Unlisted” Web Pages at Terry”s Computer Tips

Subscribers are getting a chance to read the new pages before they go public — before they even get listed on my internal index and my “what”s new” section.

You can subscribe here.

I”ve written several times about how much I like to use Google for searching. It is my primary search tool and almost always turns up the information that I want. Recently, I wrote about Usenet and using Google Groups as a convenient way to search Usenet for information.

However, Google is more than a web search engine and a portal to Usenet. There are the other main headings on the www.google.com page, the Images, Groups, News, Froogle and Local headings. And the rest of the magic, “more”. News, in this case, is current world news. Froogle is a search engine that focuses on the prices of items. Local lets you find items in your city. However, you don”t even have to go to the Local tool to use it, though.

Read more in my article Little Known Google Secrets

Have you ever noticed that Microsoft has a hard time coming up with creative, new names? We have “Outlook” and “Outlook Express” as one example?

You might expect Outlook Express to be a “light” version of Outlook, but you would be wrong. They are two totally different programs with different user interfaces, both happen to do email, each also does other things, and they both have “Outlook” in their name.

The Outlook/Outlook Express naming problem is confusing when someone asks a question about Outlook Express, but misidentifies it as Outlook.

Read more in my article Messenger and Messenger and Other Confusing Program Names

IN THIS WEEK”S E-MAIL ISSUE:

   0.   JUST FOR SUBSCRIBERS — EMAIL ONLY
   0.1   Welcome to New Subscribers
   0.2   SuperBowl Sunday - and GoDaddy.com Ads
   0.3   Still More Gmail Accounts Available
   0.4   Mozilla Seamonkey v1.0 Released
   0.5   My Computer Security Software Recommendations
   0.6   Comments from Readers
   0.7   Recommend my Terry”s Computer Tips Newsletter to Your Friends
   0.8   Can I Put My Subscription on Hold?
   0.9   Changing Your Subscription Address
   0.10   Internet Explorer v7 Preview
   0.11   Send me some email!
   0.12   Links to products and services mentioned above

IN THIS WEEK”S ON-LINE ISSUE OF Terry”s Computer Tips Newsletter:
   1.   More New Web Pages at www.TerrysComputerTips.com
   2.   Updates Last Week
   3.   Outlook 2003 Service Pack 2 - Revisited
   4.   Remote Control of Your PC Via the Web
   5.   Two Firewall Programs at the Same Time
   6.   My Computer Security Software Recommendations
   7.   Winamp Security Warning
   8.   Discoveries with Process Explorer
   9.   Recommend my Terry”s Computer Tips Newsletter to Your Friends