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Fred Langa
Contributing Writer

E-mail: fred@langa.com
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Fred Langa, in his Langa Letter, examines the end-user side of corporate computing. While checking out the products, practices, tools and technologies that affect us all, he also tries to remember that this stuff was originally intended to make our lives easier. Imagine that! Fred Langa, a former Chief Editor of Byte and Windows Magazine, has been covering computers since the days when 640K was more RAM than anyone could possibly need. Besides writing this column, Fred also publishes an E-newsletter with over 170,000 subscribers, and runs several popular Web sites. See http://www.langa.com for more info.

Fred Langa's Most Recent Articles

Langa Letter: XP's No-Reformat, Nondestructive Total-Rebuild Option
InformationWeek, June 19, 2006
Fred Langa shows you how to completely rebuild, repair, or refresh an existing XP installation without losing data, and without having to reinstall user software, reformat, or otherwise destructively alter the setup.

Langa Letter: The OS Inside The OS
InformationWeek, May 01, 2006
Fred Langa shows how a simple tweak turns XP's low-level Recovery Console into a complete, standalone mini-operating system--in effect, an XP DOS!

Langa Letter: XP's Little-Known 'Rebuild' Command
InformationWeek, April 17, 2006
There's an easy fix for "Missing HAL.DLL," "Invalid Boot.Ini," and several other fatal startup errors, Fred Langa says.

Langa Letter: A Complete Terabyte File Server For About $500
InformationWeek, March 27, 2006
Fred Langa shows you how to get amazing file server capacity at an amazing price.

Langa Letter: How To Safely Add Or Replace A Hard Drive
InformationWeek, March 13, 2006
Want to expand your PC without having to rebuild your operating system? Fred Langa shows you how to do that--and more.

Langa Letter: Another Hidden Gem: The Windows Disk Management Tool
InformationWeek, February 27, 2006
Create, delete, and format partitions; change drive letter assignments and paths; help set up disk mirroring and RAID; and more--all with this free Windows tool.

Langa Letter: Deep-Geek File And Disk Tools
InformationWeek, February 13, 2006
A major brain-fade forces Fred Langa to search for the most powerful recovery tools he could find.

Langa Letter: XP On Your Thumb Drive
InformationWeek, January 23, 2006
Fred Langa offers a step-by-step and illustrated guide on how to boot XP from an ordinary USB drive.

Langa Letter: 5 Essential Steps To PC Security
InformationWeek, January 16, 2006
As the new year begins, Fred Langa says keep these items in mind to help prevent data theft, identity theft, and private information falling into the wrong hands. These steps will give you 365 days of safe computing.

Langa Letter: 10 Critical Factors When Buying A New PC
InformationWeek, January 09, 2006
Fred Langa outlines and explains his top decision points when purchasing new desktop hardware.

Langa Letter: Free Tools For Road Warriors
InformationWeek, December 05, 2005
Not everyone has (or wants) a GPS. These Web-based alternatives Fred Langa searched out make even complex route planning a snap!

Langa Letter: A Complete PC Maintenance Checklist
InformationWeek, November 21, 2005
Fred Langa offers a comprehensive plan for keeping your PC in absolute top-notch condition.

Langa Letter: Readers Rate Desktop Firewalls
InformationWeek, November 07, 2005
Fred asked; you answered. Here are your top recommendations for the best desktop firewalls.

Langa Letter: Testing 10 Windows 'Registry Cleaning' Software Packs
InformationWeek, October 10, 2005
Fred Langa tries to make sense of wildly disparate claims, and rates the best free and commercial products.

Langa Letter: Analyzing New Kinds Of Image-Sharing Services
InformationWeek, September 26, 2005
If videos or photos are part of your work, these new services can help, Fred Langa says.

Langa Letter: GPS Update
InformationWeek, September 12, 2005
Remember when cell phones went from fat, bulky, exotic devices to slim, must-have, everyday tools? That's what's happening to GPS technology right now, Fred Langa says.

Langa Letter: Software Suites Versus Standalone Tools
InformationWeek, August 22, 2005
The new version of ZoneAlarm illustrates both sides of the debate, Fred Langa says.

Langa Letter: A Must-Have Repair And Recovery Tool
InformationWeek, August 08, 2005
If you ever have to recover files from an unbootable drive or try to bring a dead PC back to life, here's a free, zero-footprint tool you shouldn't be without, Fred Langa says.

Langa Letter: Converting Audio Files? Let 'Er Rip!
InformationWeek, July 25, 2005
Readers suggest more MP3 and audio-file tools than you can shake a memory stick at!

Langa Letter: How To Build Better Passwords
InformationWeek, June 20, 2005
Stronger passwords don't have to be hard to create or use, Fred Langa says. Here are tools and tips that can help.

Langa Letter: How To Ensure Remote-Control Security With XP
InformationWeek, June 06, 2005
XP's built-in Remote Desktop, Remote Desktop Web Connection, and Remote Assistance are great tools, Fred Langa says, but only if you carefully manage their security implications.

Langa Letter: Laptop Setup Secrets
InformationWeek, May 23, 2005
You can gain space, security, and performance with these time-tested tricks for setting up a portable PC, Fred Langa says.

Langa Letter: Google's New Tools: Proceed With Caution
InformationWeek, May 09, 2005
Before you embrace all of Google's new technologies, consider the privacy implications. Google's stuff is great, Fred Langa says, but don't get carried away with the novelty of it all.

Fact, Fiction, And Firefox Security
InformationWeek, April 18, 2005
Firefox is a good browser, says Fred Langa, but it's a long way from bulletproof--and mass-market success may teach open-source software fans some hard lessons about real-world security

Langa Letter: The Pros And Cons Of Firefox
InformationWeek, April 18, 2005
Firefox is a good browser but not the panacea its most ardent fans think it is. While Microsoft's IE gets most of the attention for its security vulnerabilities, the reality is that Firefox (like other open-source products) has security flaws of its own of that readers need to be aware of, Fred Langa notes.

Langa Letter: How To Test And Tune Your Online Connection
InformationWeek, April 11, 2005
From simple tune-ups to total overhauls, here's information from Fred Langa to help you get the most from your network, cable, DSL, or dial-up connection.

Langa Letter: Little-Known Options For Syncing Files In Windows
InformationWeek, March 28, 2005
Do you work on files in more than one location or on more than one PC? Fred Langa offers an overview of tools built right into Windows that can help.

Langa Letter: Rust Never Sleeps: How To Deal With Moisture And Corrosion In Your PC
InformationWeek, March 14, 2005
PCs in non-air-conditioned spaces may need special care. Fred Langa offers a series of options for providing that care and ensuring the longevity of your PC.

Langa Letter: Getting The Grunge Out Of Your PC
InformationWeek, February 28, 2005
Fred Langa cleans the dirtiest PC he can find, and along the way shows you how you can easily tackle yours.

Langa Letter: Curing Laptop Overheating
InformationWeek, February 14, 2005
Sometimes, Fred Langa says, fixing a too-hot laptop/notebook computer is as simple as "Whooosh!"

Langa Letter: Speed And Security Via A RAM Drive
InformationWeek, January 31, 2005
While it's not a panacea, judicious use of a RAM drive can make your PC faster and safer, Fred Langa says.

Langa Letter: Make The Most Of That New PC
InformationWeek, January 17, 2005
Here's the info you need to ensure long, safe, trouble-free computing whether you're starting the year with a brand-new PC, or with an older, used PC that's new to you.

Langa Letter: Year-End PC Tasks
InformationWeek, December 20, 2004
A little simple maintenance now can help prevent many headaches next year, Fred Langa says.

Langa Letter: Norton Antivirus And The Single-Layer Defense Fallacy
InformationWeek, December 06, 2004
A simple hack can disable Norton's script blocker. Fred Langa's solution not only works around that problem, but many others as well.

Langa Letter: Why Freeware's A Solution, Not A Problem
InformationWeek, November 22, 2004
Open-source, GPL, and other forms of freeware sometimes run afoul of myopic company licensing standards. But any organization that's cutting itself off from GPL and other legitimate forms of licensed freeware is seriously hurting its own business, Fred Langa says.

Why Is 'Free' So Frightening?
InformationWeek, November 19, 2004
Any organization that cuts itself off from GPL and other legitimate forms of licensed freeware is seriously hurting its own business, Fred Langa says.

Langa Letter: A New Way To Slim Down Windows XP, Including SP2
InformationWeek, November 08, 2004
A classic tweaking tool that began life as the freeware 98 Lite gets updated to work with XP SP2. In tests, it helped slim down a Windows XP installation by more than 50%.

Langa Letter: Favorite Tools, Utilities, And Add-Ons
InformationWeek, October 18, 2004
What ''must have'' software do you install on your PC? Here's Fred Langa's list of his personal favorites.

Langa Letter: GPS Advances
InformationWeek, October 04, 2004
A lot has changed in the year since Fred Langa last looked at Global Positioning System--GPS--technology. There's much to like, and many new features to take advantage of.

Langa Letter: How To Save An Hour (Or More) On XP Installs
InformationWeek, September 20, 2004
Prepatch your XP Setup CD once, and never have to install SP2 again. Fred Langa walks you through a 16-step process.

Langa Letter: Real-Life Experiences With XP's SP2
InformationWeek, September 06, 2004
Forget the ivory-tower pundits--here are first-hand reports from the trenches, relayed by your peers who've already installed the new Service Pack.

Langa Letter: Solving USB Boot Problems
InformationWeek, August 16, 2004
Sometimes, getting a PC to boot from a USB device can seem like black magic. Here's help!

Langa Letter: The Promise--And Problems--Of The New Windows Update
InformationWeek, July 12, 2004
XP and Windows 2000 users soon will get a new version of Windows Update. Here's the full story, and remember, this is beta software, so be careful, Fred Langa says.

Langa Letter: What's Behind The USB Drive Revolution
InformationWeek, June 21, 2004
These small drives can generate huge payoffs in convenience, maintenance, and security. Fred Langa examines the various types and their strengths and weaknesses. He finds there's much to like.

Langa Letter: Cool And Quiet: Warm-Weather Follow-Up
InformationWeek, June 07, 2004
After detailing multiple approaches to keep your PC cool and quiet, Fred Langa goes a step further, testing a water-cooling system and seeking to address warm weather and high-stress applications with a thermostatic power supply.

Langa Letter: Follow-Up To Linux's Achilles' Heel Column
InformationWeek, May 17, 2004
Fred Langa addresses the most-voiced criticisms of his recent review of Linux problems, including claims that sound isn't that important in business computing. He also posits that high-priced commercial Linux vendors are on a suicidal course, unless they lower prices to accentuate their advantages over Windows.

Langa Letter: How To Safely Store And Manage Passwords
InformationWeek, May 03, 2004
We all struggle with keeping and securing passwords for the various accounts and systems we access. Here are 17 reader-recommended free and low-cost password-storage solutions, plus two more from Fred Langa.

Langa Letter: Linux's Achilles' Heel
InformationWeek, April 19, 2004
New Linux distros still fail a task that Windows 95 -- yes, 95! -- easily handles, namely working with mainstream sound cards. That sends the cost of commercial, paid versions of Linux dramatically higher.

Langa Letter: Virtual Excellence: Microsoft's 'Virtual PC' Is Too Good Not To Check Out
InformationWeek, April 05, 2004
In this introduction to the technology, Fred Langa says Microsoft Virtual PC provides a viable alternative to dual booting and should be a solid choice for software testing, evaluation, and support.

Langa Letter: Cool and Quiet, Part III
InformationWeek, March 22, 2004
Fred Langa wraps up his exploration of the causes--and cures--of noisy PCs. His step-by-step process, including successes and failures, ensures you won't make mistakes as you work to make your PC cool and quiet.