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Re-activateIf you're not inclined to plunk down $100 or more for Windows Vista, you can give your XP-based system an overhaul easily and without spending a penny:
Download Internet Explorer 7. This version of Microsoft's browser adds tabs to your searches. More importantly, it addresses several security issues with features like a phishing filter and malware protection. You can pick it up free here.
Grab the latest Windows Media Player. Vista places a lot of emphasis on creating, storing and organizing your photos, videos, TV shows, and music. You can set up a simplified media library with Version 11 of Windows Media Player. Download it free from here.
Knock out spyware. Windows Defender comes with Vista, but you can download it free for XP and IE7. It will scan for and remove spyware; Microsoft also claims if provides real-time spyware protection, meaning it looks for certain behaviors and modifications of your system that could be caused by spyware. Here's where you can download Windows Defender.
Get gadgets and a sidebar. Vista adds a sidebar to your Desktop, where you can organize gadgets (applets like weather reports, newsfeeds, clocks, live Webcams, and more). You can create a similar set-up using Google Desktop or Yahoo Widgets.
Do universal searches. You can search your e-mails, call up a Control Panel application by typing a keyword in a search box, find an item on your Desktop, and perform a variety of other searches all from one search box in Vista. You get much the same functionality using Google Desktop.
— Donna Tapellini
—Jeffrey Fox
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