CDCheck 3.1

Requirements

Windows 95/98/Me/2000/XP/Vista

Author/Supplier
elpros

File Size
1.5MB

File Name
CD-Check.exe

[Click here to Download]

Description
As your CD and DVD collection grows, there are two important problems you face - do your CDs and DVDs still work? What can you do when a CD or DVD starts to have problems? These are crucial questions since the discs are used to store valuable files like email, home movies, photographs, business/tax records and music. The solution is to use a free program like CDCheck. It can scan most CDs in a few minutes to tell you if the data is OK - this way, you don't have to find out the hard way that there is a problem. Plus you can use the time it takes for a scan to complete as indicator of the CD or DVDs overall health - even though files may not be recorded as damaged, slower results normally indicate a CD that is on the way out (expect longer times if there are more files on the CD).

If a CD or DVD is showing files with damage or you can no longer read a file in a drive, CDCheck can be switched to recovery mode and make a full sweep of the CD or DVD, recovering lost files along the way. When parts of a file can't be fully recovered, the program will still recover any salvageable fragments. Many file formats such as Zip, TIFF and JPEG can still be used if incomplete (success of this technique varies, depending on the damage). Most zip tools have a 'repair archive' function, and a standard graphics editor can help repair damage to photographs caused by missing fragments.

Since CDCheck is freeware (free for personal use) and a small download, it is worth getting a copy and occasionally using it on your CD or DVD collection. Note: the authors state that you should request a free license from CDCheck online (you must register as a CDCheck online user, activate your account, login to CDCheck online and request free license).

You are here: CDCheck - Free CD and DVD file recovery and error checking software

Smart Recovery 4.5 (freeware)

Requirements
Windows 98/Me/2000/XP
Supported cards: Compact Flash, Smart Media, Memory stick, Secure Digital Card, Microdrive, Multimedia Card.

Author/Supplier
Convar

File Size
3.8MB

File Name
pci_us_smartrecovery.exe

[Click here to Download]

Description
Digital camera technology makes it easy to erase photos whenever you need. Unfortunately, it can also mean accidentally deleting images you want to keep or transfer. Some cameras can occasionally get confused and reset the card to show 'no images', even though the files are still there. If you act quickly, it is possible to recover lost photographs from most digital memory cards. Smart Recovery can also help reconstruct data files after a card has been formatted. All you do is download and install the program on the computer. Follow the simple steps and - fingers crossed - the photographs can be recovered.

Smart Recovery supports the following picture formats: .jpg, .tiff, .bmp, .gif, Canon .crw, Fuji .raf, Olympus .orf (E-XX), Olympus .orf (C5050), Kodak .dcr, Minolta .mrw, Nikon .nef (D1H/D1X), Nikon .nef (E5000/E5700), Sigma - Foveon .x3f. Plus Video files in .avi, QuickTime .mov format and audio files in .wav or .dss formats.

Most digital card formats are supported including Compact Flash, Smart Media, Memory stick, Secure Digital Card, Microdrive, Multimedia Card and Microsoft pocket. Since Smart Recovery only reads the card, you can try it on card types not listed here. As long as you have a card reader or camera that creates a 'logical drive', it should work. Smart Recovery is free (freeware), so it is worth downloading and keeping for emergencies.

You are here: Smart Recovery 4 - Freeware file recovery for Compact Flash, Smart Media, Memory stick & most digital memory cards.

File Recovery 4 (freeware)

Requirements
Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP

Author/Supplier
Convar

File Size
5.6MB

File Name
pc-file-recovery.exe

[Click here to Download]

Description
We have all had it happen at some stage. Sometimes the wrong answer to a cryptic Windows question has sent files to oblivion. Maybe a program crash or virus wipes files from your system. Suddenly you realise that an important file - or entire directory - has been lost or deleted. Contrary to what you might think, it is possible and quite easy to recover a deleted file (even if the recycle bin has been emptied). However the most important step with any file recovery technique is to avoid using the computer – especially the drive that holds the deleted files. There is a good chance the file is still present but if you use the computer, the possibility of file recovery decreases.

File recovery has many descriptions: you can undelete, recover deleted files or recover a lost file. Regardless of what you call it, the freeware program File Recovery 4 can help get your file back. All you do is download and Install the program on the computer – try to avoid the same drive as the deleted files. Follow the simple steps and fingers-crossed the file can be recovered. It can undelete a lost file from FAT, FAT!6, FAT32 and NTFS file system format. Plus it can finds partitions automatically, even if the boot sector or FAT has been erased or damaged.

File Recovery 4 can also recover most common files types. Even if part of the file is damaged and beyond recovery, you may be able to get back some useful fragments - recovering half of a lost 10,000 word assignment is better than having nothing at all.

You are here: Freeware file recovery software to undelete files or recover lost files

USB 2.0 on Windows XP and 2000

How to:

• Fix common USB 2.0 problems
• Download files and drivers for USB 2.0

USB 2.0 on Windows XP and 2000

There are many reasons why problems with USB devices can occur. Keep in mind that USB Controllers are small pieces of hardware that allow your computer to operate USB connections. These Controllers need software drivers to operate properly. That's why your first step is to check that you have the latest USB 2.0 drivers on your system.

Start by opening Windows Explorer and right-clicking on My Computer. Click the Hardware tab, followed by the Device Manager Button. Towards the bottom of the list you should see a heading 'Universal Serial Bus Controllers.' Click the small plus sign next to it. This menu will expand to reveal one or more listings. To see if you have USB 2.0, look for a line that says 'USB2 Enhanced Controller.' The exact entry will vary slightly and don't confuse it with other entries that may simply list 'USB Universal Controller'. See the screenshot to the below for an example of how it may look. Note that there are no yellow exclamation points next to the entries - the yellow exclamations,, indicate a problem with the device.

If you do see a yellow exclamation next to any of the USB entries, especially the USB2 Enhanced Controller, then there is a problem affecting the USB 2.0 driver on your system. To fix the problem, right click on the entry and select Properties. Click on the 'Troubleshoot' button and follow the prompts. In most cases this will help find a solution. The alternative is to right-click and select 'Update driver' while your computer is connected to the Internet.

OK, what if you look down the USB list and there is no entry with 'USB2 Enhanced Controller'? This generally means that you do not have the USB 2.0 driver installed. There are two steps you need to follow. Firstly you must ensure that you have installed either Windows XP Service Pack 3 or Windows 2000 Service Pack 4. Technically, XP users only need Windows XP Service Pack 1, but this would be risky as it leaves your system exposed to numerous security threats fixed with Service Pack 2.

If needed, download and install the Service Pack, then restart your system. Go back to the Device Manager - as shown in the first paragraph - and check the status of your USB controllers. If the USB2 Enhanced Controller has appeared without the yellow symbol, you should be ready to use USB 2.0. If not, you will need the specific USB 2.0 driver for your system. There are only six manufacturers of USB 2.0 controllers: Acer Labs, Intel, NEC, SiS, VIA and nVidia (which may appear as 'Standard Controller'), but sometimes they are re-branded by other companies. In this case, you will need to find out which Controller is on your system and visit the manufacturers site for an update or special instructions. For example, if you have the Via USB Controller, you will need the Via USB 2.0 driver (you can download a copy here).

You are here: USB 2.0 - Driver download and troubleshoot USB 2.0 drivers for Windows XP and Windows 2000.

How to create your own free CD autorun for HTML and most file types.

Create your own autorun CD or DVD

It is easy to create an autorun CD or DVD for Windows and all it takes are a few files (which we've supplied for free). The technique can be used to open other file types, but HTML is used for a reason: it is the most commonly supported by Windows (most PCs have a Web browser) and it is flexible. You could use it to open other files, such as a Powerpoint presentation, but it would require the end user to have Powerpoint or the Powerpoint viewer on their system. The autorun zip file we've prepared contains everything you need to autorun a CD and open a HTML file. So download a copy - it's tiny and free - see above for the download link.

So why can't an autorun open a HTML directly? It is because a Windows autorun can only open an application (program) not a data file (eg HTML). You cannot tell an autorun to directly open a HTML file. Try it, and nothing will happen. To get around his problem, we are using a .bat file which Windows will treat as a program. This special file will then open the HTML file.

Assembling the CD
Download and copy the files to your root directory of the CD. These are: autorun.inf, autorun.bat and index.html. You can put all sorts of files on the rest of the CD. They won't affect the autorun. You can test the autorun by burning the three files to the root directory of a test CD-R. Open the CD drive and close it again. Viola, you have just created your own autorun HTML CD. You should change the contents of index.html to whatever you need. The index.html supplied is only a test page.

Changes you can make
The autorun can open any type of file and display any message you want. To make changes, open Windows Notepad (do not use Word, WordPad or other Word processors). Now open the autorun.bat file from within Notepad. The order is important, if you double-click the autorun.bat file, it will try to run. So open NotePad and select File-Open and choose the autorun.bat file. You'll see four lines of code.

The first line after @echo (remember the space) will appear as a comment in the autorun launch Window. This comment will be seen very briefly by your end-users. It can be changed to anything you want, but since it only appears for a second or less, don't make it too wordy. If you wanted to say 'The CD is loading now...', the first line of code will look like:

@echo The CD is loading now...

The second line of the code tells the .bat file to open to your index.html file. If want to open a file by another file (eg readme.txt), then it would read:

@start readme.txt

Make sure you leave the last two lines untouched (@cls and @exit) - they must always appear last. Save the changes and you are done. That that's all you need to create your own HTML autorun CD.

You are here: Autorun CD - how to create your own free CD autorun for HTML and most file types.

Maps for Nokia Maps 2.0 (direct download)

Applies to:
Nokia Maps 2.0 and Nokia PC suite running on Windows

Requirements
Nokia Maps 2.0 and Nokia PC suite running on Windows

Author/Supplier
Nokia

Maps for Nokia Maps 2.0 - download by continent:

Africa: 82MB

America (North, Central and South): 1.07GB

Asia (and Middle East): 404MB

Australia and Oceania (and New Zealand): 108MB

Europe: 1.24GB

Description
These are the direct download links for Nokia's worldwide maps - you can download each continent separately. Nokia encourages the use of Map Loader for this process but it has many frustrating issues. Firstly, it is hard to back up and transfer the maps to other computers - a problem in more remote locations or for people with slow internet connections. Also, downloading the Nokia maps directly tends to be quicker as you don't have to wait for the Nokia software to grind its way through the process - this is something you have to restart each time if there is a problem with the transfer.

Importantly, downloading the maps directly can avoid the frustrating error: 'Connection to Storage Medium interrupted. Attach your storage medium and retry.' Also, when you upgrade your Nokia software, often it will wipe the contents of your phone, requiring you to start all over again and download the maps. The total size of all the files is over 3000MB, so it's not something you want to be doing on a regular basis.

Instructions

• Make sure you have an unzipping program on your computer
• Install Nokia Maps and run it while your phone is connected to your computer - this will create some important file structures on your Nokia phone. Exit the Maps application.
• In a temporary folder on your PC, unzip the Nokia map files that you have downloaded and make sure you leave the file structure in tact. These will be a group of 16 folders with names 0, 1, 2, all the way to 9, then a, b, c, d, e, and f.
• Check that your phone is connected and visible in Windows Explorer. Double click on the phone and look for the folder called diskcache. Typically it is [Phone model or Removable Disk]/cities/diskcache (see picture below). This may vary slightly betwen phone models. Open the diskcache folder.
• Copy all the unzipped contents over to the diskcache directory.
• Repeat for each continent.
• Important note: these files are downloaded directly from Nokia's servers.
  
  
  
  The usual location of the Nokia Map files
  on a Nokia phone.

You are here: Download worldwide maps for Nokia Maps 2.0 via direct download - its faster, ideal for backups or offline and will avoid the Nokia Map Loader error: Connection to Storage Medium interrupted, Attach your storage medium and retry.

Flash installation issues

How to:

• Fix the Youtube error message 'Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Macromedia's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player'.
• Check the version of Flash Player installed on your PC
• Fix common Flash Player installation errors
• Download the latest version of Flash Player as a single installation file

Understanding Flash Player

Adobe's Flash Player is needed to access certain types of content on the Web. Generally, you will need the latest version installed on your computer to properly access Flash content, including videos on Youtube.

That's all well and good, but we are guessing the reason you are here is that something has gone wrong. Either Flash seems to install but the content is still not showing, or no matter what you did, Flash wouldn't install on the official Adobe site. Sadly, these are very common issues.

The most frustrating error appears at sites such as Youtube where you see 'Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Macromedia's Flash Player. Get the latest flash player.' In most reports we have seen of this Youtube error, it is nothing to with Javascript being turned off, but the Flash Player itself.

Why does the installation on Adobe's site fail?
Well, it could be a range of issues. Here are some common ones:

• Security software is interfering with the installation
• User rights are not set at the correct level
• There is an unknown bug on the Adobe site
• For some reason, the Flash ActiveX files are not properly registered on the system (common in Internet Explorer 7 and Vista)
• There is some other Windows Vista or Internet Explorer 7 issue
• ActiveX controls or security levels in Internet Explorer are set in a way that prevents the installation
• The protected zone in Windows Vista is causing the problem
• Something is wrong with the existing version of Flash on your computer. It is probably corrupted and this is preventing the proper installation of the latest Flash player.
• For the Youtube error 'Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Macromedia's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player', this is mainly due to a corrupted installation of the Flash Player.

Solution to all of the above: get the standalone Flash Player installation file (links are at the top of this page). There are two types: one for Internet Explorer, the other is for Mozilla/Firefox/Netscape.


Something seems to have gone wrong
Okay, you downloaded the standalone installation and the Flash Player is still not working properly. Did you run the installation file you downloaded and close all open windows - including your Web browser? Silly as it may seem, some people forget these steps. Otherwise, it may be an older or corrupt version of Flash that is causing the issue.

Solution: Adobe - and many of our visitors - advise you to use the Flash Player uninstall tool (see the top of this page). Restart your computer and try running the standalone installation file again.


Determining what version of Flash is on your system
A highly frustrating aspect of Flash is that sometimes you think you have installed one version, yet you are being told something different on various web sites. You need to cross check two things. Most issues relate to Internet Explorer, so we'll deal with it here. This is going to be a marathon - stay in there...

Start Internet Explorer and from the menu click Tools-Internet Options. Click the General Tab, followed by the Settings button about half-way down the window on the right. Now click the View Objects button. You should see an option called 'Shockwave Flash Object'. Right-click on the file and choose Properties. Finally, click the Version tab. Now go to Adobe's version check (this link opens in a new window). Do the two version numbers match and are they the latest version? If yes, you should be OK to view content. If not - or there is still a problem - use the Flash Player uninstall tool (see the top of this page) and try reinstalling the player.

You are here: Flash install problems - how to fix Flash player installation problems such as the Youtube error: Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Macromedia's Flash Player.

Windows won't let you delete a file?

How to delete a file when: Windows says 'file access denied'. 'File in use' error. Can't delete a file (insert cryptic reason). Rebooting doesn't help delete the file. Can't delete a file in Windows? Here's what to do... Despite all its quirks, Windows does do some things for a good reason. Some files need to be locked down when they are in use, otherwise you risk damaging the file or harming the Operating System. Unfortunately Windows XP seems to be plagued by files that cannot be deleted. These are frequently simple files like videos (AVI), MP3s or other seemingly harmless files. You try to delete the file, Windows waits a few seconds before announcing that access is denied, the file is currently in use and cannot be deleted. However, you know it's not in use and you just want it deleted. If you have encountered this problem, here is a step-by-step process for trying to purge the files you can't delete. It starts with the basics for Windows XP and moves on to more involved tricks. The process will work for all recent Windows releases, but Windows XP has been causing the most the problems, so we will focus on it. Please note: we are assuming that the file is not crucial to the operation of Windows - deleting important system files can cause havoc.

1. Is the file in use? It sounds obvious but it happens. If it is being used or open, close the file and the application that opened it. For example, if it is a Word document, close Microsoft Word.
2. If the file was opened in an application (and subsequently closed), but the program is still running, try quitting the program. Windows will lock a file because the application hasn't yet released it. This is not always Windows fault and can be the fault of the program.
3. If the file is an AVI, in particular a DivX AVI, try renaming it and then deleting it. DivX files don't get on very well with Windows XP and sometimes renaming the file can trick Windows into releasing it.
4. Reboot your PC and don't start any programs. Go directly to the file and delete it.
5. In Windows Explorer, switch to View-Details and then select View-Choose Details. Uncheck everything except the file name. This stops Windows XP trying to read the file - this problem affects many video, audio and graphics files.
6. Still no luck? OK, here is the best trick of all. Most sites give you cryptic Windows registry and DOS commands to remove a file, but the answer is so much simpler. Get a copy of MoveOnBoot. It's free and this simple tool allows you to Move, Copy or Delete files before Windows can lock or alter the files. The changes are made to your hard drive before Windows starts, hence it requires a restart of your system after you give MoveOnBoot its instructions. There are no messy boot or DOS commands, just a simple 3-step process.
   
   Step 1: Locate the name of the file that is causing your problems.
   
   Step 2: Decide if you want to copy, move or delete the file.
   
   Step 3. Choose a destination for moving the file, or a new file name for the rename option (this option won't appear if you are deleting a file).
   
   Click OK to confirm you want to process. The nice thing is that the program doesn't make you reboot straight away. It's a good idea to reboot ASAP, but if you are in the middle of something and want to wait, the program will simply run next time you start Windows.
   
   
7. If the file reappears again (check its creation date to ensure it is being recreated) and you can't make it budge, you may have trouble with spyware or a virus on your system (don't overlook the possibility it may also be an important system file). In this case you should get a good spyware removal program to scan your system.

You are here: Can't delete a file in Windows XP? Here's the simple way to delete the file and remove the access denied error.

Photoshop CS2 9.0.1 patch

Applies to:
Adobe Photoshop CS2, Adobe Illustrator CS2 software or Adobe Creative Suite 2

Requirements
Adobe Photoshop CS2 (also known as Adobe Photoshop 9)
Windows XP and 2000

File Size
10MB

File Name
PSCS2_Updater.exe

Author/Supplier
Adobe

[Click here to Download]

Description
The Adobe Photoshop CS2 9.0.1 update patch fixes numerous bugs discovered since the release of the program including:

• Photoshop no longer hangs for several seconds when using painting tools with quick strokes.
• A runtime error that could appear when mousing over a high-res document with the Brush tool has been fixed.
• Documents containing a large number of text layers now open quicker.
• Problems related to palettes (slow redraw, palettes go white, possible crash) have been addressed.
• TIFF files from certain scanners can now be opened correctly.
• After editing an image in Photoshop CS2 via the TouchUp tool in Adobe Acrobat software, the image no longer gets repositioned.
• XMP metadata from AI and PDF files is now retained in Photoshop.
• Slow performance when toggling layer visibility has been fixed.
• Info palette numbers are now displayed and updated when moving a curve point in Curves via the cursor keys.
• Problems opening certain TIFF and PSB files greater than 2GB have been resolved.
• The Merge to HDR command now functions properly when using high-ASCII characters in user login.

You are here: Download the Adobe Photoshop CS2 9.0.1 patch

Microsoft UAA Bus problems

How to:

Fix common Microsoft UAA Bus problems

Fix HD audio problems due to UAA Bus errors.

Download files and drivers for Microsoft UAA Bus driver

Checking the installation of Microsoft's UAA Bus driver on Windows
The 'Microsoft UAA Bus driver for High Definition Audio' must be correctly installed or you will not be able to use your PC's High Definition audio feature. To find out if it is working correctly, open the Device Manager. Start by opening Windows Explorer and right-clicking on My Computer. Click the Hardware tab, followed by the Device Manager button. About half-way down the list you should see a heading 'System devices.' Click the small plus sign next to it. This menu will expand to reveal one or more listings. To see if you have the Microsoft UAA Bus driver, look for a line that says 'Microsoft UAA Bus driver for High Definition Audio'. See the screenshot below for an example of how it may look.

If you see a yellow exclamation mark, , next to the 'Microsoft UAA Bus driver for High Definition Audio' listing, then there is a problem affecting the UAA Bus driver on your system. To fix the issue, there are three steps to follow. 1. If you are using XP, installing Windows XP Service Pack 3 can frequently fix the problem. 2. If installing Windows XP SP3 didn't correct the issue, or you are using Windows XP Service Pack 1 or 2, Windows 2000 or Windows Server 2003, then you will need to download a special Microsoft UAA Bus driver update (see related links, above, for the download link) and restart your system.

After installing the patch, go back to the Device Manager and check the status of your Microsoft UAA Bus Driver. If the Microsoft UAA Bus driver has appeared without the yellow symbol (pictured right), you should now be ready for the next step: installing the High Definition audio driver.

There are different manufacturers of High Definition audio controllers (sound cards) and you will need to determine which controller is on your system, then visit the manufacturer's site for an update or special instructions. By far, the most common is Realtek's High Definition Audio controller, and you can download this driver by following the link at the top of this page. To check the status of the audio driver on your system, open the Device Manager again and click on the heading 'Sound Video and Game controllers.' Once again, a yellow exclamation mark means there is a problem and it's time to hit the Troubleshoot button or download a new driver.

3. Finally, if downloading the drivers didn't help (remember to restart your computer), go back to the Device Manager, right click on the 'Microsoft UAA Bus driver for High Definition Audio' entry and select Properties. Click on the 'Troubleshoot' button and follow the prompts. In most cases this will help find a solution. Alternatively, right-click and select 'Update driver' while your computer is connected to the Internet.





You are here: Microsoft UAA Bus driver download and troubleshooting guide for Microsoft UAA Bus Driver High Definition Audio drivers for Windows.

Photoshop CS2 9.0.2 update

Applies to:
Photoshop CS2 (full version)

Requirements
Windows 2000/XP
Photoshop CS2

File Size
12MB

File Name
ps902.exe

Author/Supplier
Adobe

[Click here to Download]

Description
According to Adobe: 'The Photoshop 9.0.2 update includes all the fixes contained in the earlier Photoshop 9.0.1 update. Therefore, it is not necessary to apply the 9.0.1 update prior to running the 9.0.2 update on Photoshop CS2.' Which is a blessing, particularly when you consider that Acrobat requires numerous patches applied in the correct order - OK, back to the Photoshop. The update includes the following fixes:

• Menus now respond correctly after a single click.
• Undo/Redo work properly when multiple documents are open.
• Photoshop no longer produces a program error when encountering unsupported file types through the Acrobat Touchup workflow.
• Supported files that incorrectly produced an "unsupported color space" message now open as expected.
• TIFF files with layer data greater than 2GB now open correctly.
• Photoshop no longer hangs for several seconds when using painting tools with quick strokes.
• A runtime error that could appear when mousing over a high-res doc with the Brush Tool has been fixed.
• Documents containing a large number of text layers now open more quickly.
• Problems related to palettes (slow redraw, palettes go white, possible crash) have been addressed.
• TIFF files from certain scanners can now be opened correctly.
• After editing an image in Photoshop CS2 via Acrobat Touchup, the image no longer gets repositioned.
• XMP metadata from AI and PDF files is now retained in Photoshop.
• Slow performance when toggling layer visibility has been fixed.
• Info palette numbers now display and update when moving a curve point in Curves via the cursor keys.
• Problems opening certain TIFF and PSB files greater than 2GB have been resolved.
• The Merge to HDR command now functions properly when using high-ASCII characters in the user login.

You are here: Download the free Photoshop CS2 9.0.2 update

Photoshop CS3 10.0.1 patch

Applies to:
Adobe Photoshop CS3, Adobe Illustrator CS3 software or Adobe Creative Suite 3

Requirements
Adobe Photoshop CS3 (also known as Adobe Photoshop 10)
Windows XP and Vista

File Size
73MB

File Name
ps1001.zip

Author/Supplier
Adobe

[Click here to Download]

Description
The Adobe Photoshop CS3 10.0.1 update patch fixes numerous bugs discovered since the release of the program including:

• A crash that could occur when Microsoft Intellipoint software is installed has been fixed.
• The speed of moving objects contained within multiple layer sets has been improved.
• The speed of closing large documents has been improved.
• Converting images to CMYK using certain profiles no longer results in black files.
• A crash that could occur when saving a 4-bit BMP file with 16 or fewer colors has been fixed.
• The Save for Web feature now includes an option to "Include XMP" (metadata) in the settings menu within the main Save for Web interface, making the existing capability easier to access.
• When using Save For Web with "Include XMP" enabled, all XMP data is now included in the optimized file.
• A problem that could cause the incorrect printer to appear within the print dialog box has been corrected.
• Images no longer print with odd-sized margins on various Epson printers, or print smaller and off-centered.
• Printer settings in Windows are saved with a document while that document is open. If a document has not had Page Setup settings applied to it, the document will get the previous page setup used during the current session of Photoshop.
• Photoshop now turns off Windows ICM (system color management) when "Photoshop Manages Colors."
• Print color matching has been improved.
• A problem that caused certain laser printers to show distortions when printing to a nonsquare resolution has been fixed.

You are here: Download the Adobe Photoshop CS3 10.0.1 patch

Adobe Photoshop CS4 11.0.1 update

Applies to:
Photoshop CS4

Requirements
Windows XP/Vista
Photoshop CS4

File Size
33MB

File Name
Photoshop_11.0.1_mul_AdobeUpdate.zip

Author/Supplier
Adobe

[Click here to Download]

Description
The Adobe Photoshop CS4 11.0.1 update provides fixes to known issues in Photoshop including:

• A number of issues that could cause slow performance have been addressed.
• Pen barrel rotation with Wacom tablets now works correctly.
• Photoshop now correctly recognizes 3D textures edited by a plug-in.
• The quality of the results of Auto-Blend Layers (Stack Images) has been improved.
• A problem that could result in a crash when pasting formatted text has been fixed.
• A crash that could result from a corrupt font no longer occurs.

You are here: Download the free Adobe Photoshop CS4 11.0.1 update

Age of Empires 3 update 1.12 (includes The Unknown map)

Applies to: Age of Empires 3 Requirements Age of Empires 3 (full version) running on Windows, including Windows Vista File Size 19MB File Name aoe3-112-english.exe Author/Supplier Microsoft [Click here to Download*]

Description
The Microsoft Age of Empires 3 update 1.12 will fix the following bugs in the game:

• Support for Windows Vista with fixes for various capability issues
• Added a new random map, The Unknown
• Added ability to see if a friend on ESO is playing a game
• After each game players will now be granted bonus experience, meaning all Home Cities will now level up faster
• Players on your pest list will not be able to join your game if you are the host
• The experience requirement to level up Home Cities that are level 100 or higher has decreased
• New avatars available on ESO
• Moderators now have blue chat in chat channels
• Added Power Rating to ESO
• Added Stand ground to the game
• Attack move button and hotkey added
• Hispaniola, a new random map has been added
• Recorded game playback improved significantly
• Added Option for minimized multiplayer chat
• Added games list filtering options
• Added Option to save games list filter settings
• Refresh/Resume buttons added
• Exploit fixes
• Numerous balance changes
• Fixed an issue where a game would be cancelled and all players given a 'Failed to join' message when two routers that could not communicate joined the same game.
• New hotkey editor added to the game
• New large map set.
• Five new large versions of popular maps have been added.
• Fixed a sound crash issue.
• Fixed a bug with sound being choppy
• Fixed some performance issues with boat battles.
• Fixed a D3D initialization error when launching the game.
• Sound effects (and sometimes music) stopped playing
• Tweaks to movement code to improve the responsiveness of units
• Changed formations so that unit types keep their setting even when grouped with different types
• Postgame screen that allowed players' names to be edited
• All players would hear the selection sound for HC cards played
• ESO connection problem dialog box wouldn't close
• Command manager caused slow performance when CPAIs were in the game

You are here: Download the Age of Empires 3 update 1.12

Age of Empires II update 2.0a

Applies to:
Age of Empires II

Requirements
Age of Empires II (full version)
Windows 95/98

File Size
2.3MB

File Name
Age2upA.exe

Author/Supplier
Microsoft

[Click here to Download*]

Description
The Microsoft Age of Empires II update 2.0a to fix a number of issues with the game. These updates include:

• Town Center changes.
• Improved performance of single player campaign games.
• Improved overall stability.
• You can no longer use a fishing ship to build buildings other than a fish trap.
• The cooperative farming bug has been fixed.
• A number of computer player and scenario editor bugs have also been fixed.

This patch includes the previous AI update which addresse the issue where the computer player resigns after a few minutes of play. It does not affect multiplayer, meaning players with the update can play with players who do not have the update.

You are here: Download the Age of Empires II update 2.0a

Age of Empires Update v1.0c

Applies to:
Age of Empires I

Requirements
Age of Empires 1.0, 1.0a or 1.0b (full version)
Windows 95/98

File Size
4.5MB

File Name
AOEPATCH.exe

Author/Supplier
Microsoft

[Click here to Download*]

Description
Microsoft Age of Empires Update 1.0c is an upgrade of Age of Empires 1.0 that includes the 1.0a and 1.0b patches, along with several enhancements and gameplay fixes. These changes include:

• Idle Villager Key - Pressing the period ( . ) key selects and centers the view on a villager or fishing boat that is not assigned a task. Pressing ( . ) cycles though all idle villagers and boats in the game. This is a keyboard-only command; there is no on-screen control for it.
• Shang Food Cost - The cost of a Shang villager was reduced to 40 food. The amount of food the Shang player starts with was reduced by 40.
• Phoenician Woodcutting Bonus - Phoenician villagers now work 15% faster. In previous versions of Age of Empires, they worked 54% percent faster.

You are here: Download the Age of Empires Update v1.0c

Microsoft Word XP Security Update KB887978 (April 2005)

Applies to:
Microsoft Office XP (Office 2002) with Microsoft Word installed

Requirements
Microsoft Office XP (Office 2002) with Microsoft Word installed
XP Service Pack 3

File Size
5.1MB

File Name
office2002-kb887978-fullfile-enu.exe

Author/Supplier
Microsoft

[Click here to Download]

Description
This security update for Microsoft Word 2002 (Word XP) is best described as a mini service pack. It features 38 fixes for Word XP, plus it addresses two important security issues. These security holes could allow a hacker or virus to get onto your system (for the technically minded, the problem lies in two buffer underrun errors that could lead to remote code execution). For more details about the fixes, see the Microsoft support document KB887978. You will need to download Word XP Service Pack 3 before installing this update.

Note: there are three names for this version of Word. They are Word 2002, Word XP and Word 10.

You are here: Download the Microsoft Word XP Security Update KB887978 (April 2005)

Office XP Service Pack 3 (Office XP SP3)

Applies to: Microsoft Office XP (Microsoft Office 10) Requirements Microsoft Office XP Premium Edition, Professional Edition, Standard Edition, Small Business Edition or Developer Edition Windows 95/98/Me/NT4/2000/XP File Size 55MB File Name OfficeXpSp3-kb832671-fullfile-enu.exe Author/Supplier Microsoft [Click here to Download]

Description
Some of the fixes included with SP3 have been previously released as separate updates. This service pack combines them into one update. New fixes included in this service pack:

• Unsafe Functions in Office Web Components (Q328130)
• Flaw in Word Fields and Excel External Updates Could Lead to Information Disclosure (Q330008)
• E-mail Header Processing Flaw Could Cause Outlook 2002 to Fail (331866)
• Flaw in how Outlook 2002 handles V1 Exchange Server Security Certificates could lead to Information Disclosure (812262)
• Flaw in Microsoft Word Could Enable Macros to Run Automatically (827653)
• Buffer Overrun in WordPerfect Converter Could Allow Code Execution (827103)
• Flaw in Visual Basic for Applications Could Allow Arbitrary Code Execution (822715)
• Unchecked buffer in Microsoft Access Snapshot Viewer Could Allow Code Execution (827104)
• Vulnerability in Microsoft Outlook Could Allow Code Execution (828040)

Service pack 3 also includes all the fixes from the following earlier service packs and updates:

• Office XP Update: Service Pack 1 (SP1)
• Office XP Update: Service Pack 2 (SP2)
• Excel 2002 Update: October 16, 2002
• Word 2002 Update: October 16, 2002
• Outlook 2002 Update: December 4, 2002
• Outlook 2002 Update: January 22, 2003
• Office XP Italian Grammar Tools Update: KB813682
• Office XP Security Patch: KB822036
• Access 2002 Snapshot Viewer Security Patch: KB826293
• Office XP WordPerfect 5.x Converter Security Patch: KB824938
• Word 2002 Security Patch: KB824934
• Excel 2002 Security Patch: KB830350
• Word 2002 Security Patch: KB830346

Important note: some anti-spam vendors report that this service pack may 'break' their program. The issue is a result of the improved security in Outlook's contacts/address book. If it happens to you, be sure to go to your anti-spam vendor's Web site for an update or help.

You are here: Download the Office XP Service Pack 3 (Office XP SP3) - full download package

Office XP Service Pack 2 (Office XP SP2)

Applies to:
Microsoft Office XP (Microsoft Office 10)

Requirements
Microsoft Office XP Premium Edition, Professional Edition, Standard Edition,
Small Business Edition or Developer Edition
Office XP Service Pack 1
Windows 95/98/Me/NT4/2000/XP

File Size
15MB

File Name
oxpsp2.exe

Author/Supplier
Microsoft

[Click here to Download]

Description
Some of the fixes included with SP2 have been previously released as separate updates. This service pack combines them into one update. This service pack also includes all updates released since Office XP Service Pack 1 (SP1):

• Office XP Speller Update: April 25, 2002
• Word 2002 Update: April 25, 2002
• Excel 2002 Update: June 19, 2002
• Office XP Clip Organizer Update: June 19, 2002
• Word 2002 Update: June 19, 2002

You should install SP1 before applying this update.

Important Any future Office XP updates released after Office XP SP2 will require you to have SP2 installed before they can be applied.

For more details, see this technical document at Microsoft. Also see Office XP Service Pack 1

You are here: Download Office XP Service Pack 2 (Office XP SP2)

Office XP Service Pack 1 (Office XP SP1)

Applies to:

Microsoft Office XP (Microsoft Office 10)

Requirements
Microsoft Office XP Premium Edition, Professional Edition, Standard Edition, Small Business Edition or Developer Edition
Windows 95/98/Me/NT4/2000/XP

File Size
17MB

File Name
oxpsp1.exe

Author/Supplier
Microsoft

[Click here to Download]

Description
Microsoft Office XP Service Pack 1 (also called Office XP SP1 and Office 10 SP-1) provides the latest updates to Microsoft Office XP. SP-1 contains significant security enhancements and stability and performance improvements. Some of the fixes included with SP-1 have been previously released as separate updates. This service pack combines them into one integrated package, and it includes a number of other changes designed to improve the reliability and performance of Office XP programs.

For more details, see this technical document at Microsoft

You are here: Download Office XP Service Pack 1 (Office XP SP1)