MSN Explorer

MSN Explorer is Microsoft's all-in-one software that delivers everything you need to feel at home on the Web. E-mail, instant messaging, Web browsing, and more are integrated in a friendly program that works with your existing Internet connection.

Central to the MSN experience is the MSN Explorer browser that is best described as Internet Explorer on steroids. MSN Explorer is on the PC Format disc and happily installs alongside Internet Explorer - at its most basic level, you could use the MSN Explorer to handle your Hotmail or for chatting within online chat rooms. You can browse the web with MSN Explorer, although you'll find this more of a hindrance than helpful when you want the advanced functionality such as being able to view a status bar or check the source that makes up a web page.

Product Details

Company: Microsoft

Web: www.msn.co.uk/specials/msnexplorer

Price: Full program

Minimum system requirements: Windows XP

Installation

Install MSN Explorer

Access Folders 1.5

Windows' Explorer is a useful tool for navigating the contents of your hard drive, but when it comes to accessing your favourite folders, it can be found wanting. Access Folders is a Windows add-on that integrates fully with the Save As and Open dialogue boxes of all your programs. Using this program you no longer have to drill down through several folders to save or open files from a particular location. If there are folders you use most often you can create 'bookmarks' to allow you to reach them faster.

To add your favourite folders to Access Folders' list, select the Add Folder option from the right click menu of the system tray icon. You can then use the familiar Explorer-style system to select your folders one at a time. To access these folders in the future, simply right click on the question mark icon that appears in all Save As/Open Dialogue boxes and select your desired folder from the menu that appears.

Product Details

Company: Shelltoys Inc

Web: www.shelltoys.com

Price: Full program

Minimum system requirements: Windows 9x, NT, 2000, Me, XP

Installation

Install Access Folders

Windows XP Upgrade Advisor

The Upgrade Advisor is a tool that checks your system hardware and software to see if it is ready for upgrade to Windows XP. If you run Upgrade Advisor while you are connected to the Internet, and if your system needs updates that are available on the Windows Update Web site, Upgrade Advisor will find and install the updates for you.

If your current version of Windows is eligible for upgrade to Windows XP, you can use Upgrade Advisor to make sure your hardware and software are compatible with Windows XP.

You may use Upgrade Advisor to check for upgrade eligibility and compatibility information for Windows XP Home Edition with the following exception: It is not possible to upgrade from Windows NT 4.0 or Windows 2000 Professional to Windows XP Home Edition.

Installation verbiage: The Upgrade Advisor is the same tool that is used to scan your system for compatibility issues before you install Windows XP. For that reason, some of the language in the tool may imply that you are actually installing Windows XP.
Upgrade scenarios: The Upgrade Advisor checks for upgrade eligibility to Windows XP Professional only.

Product Details

Company: Microsoft

Web: www.microsoft.com

Price: Full program

Minimum system requirements: Windows 98, NT, 2000, Me

Installation

Install Windows XP Upgrade Advisor

.NET Passport 2.1 Update

Microsoft have been pushing their .NET strategy to developers, businesses and home users. Home users certainly can benefit from the .NET framework by making use of the .NET Passport technology, integrated within Windows XP. Quite simply, .NET Passport is an online service that makes it possible for you to use your e-mail address and a single password to sign in - securely -to any .NET Passport participating web site or service. Best of all, you can be sure that your kids are browsing safely and securely without you having to overlook their every move.

With Windows XP, you benefit from having .NET Passport built in to the operating system. Simply set up your login name and passport at www.passport.com and then use the .NET technology within Windows XP to automatically remember this information when you reboot your machine. The next time you start your computer and go to a .NET Passport participating site, you'll be able to log in by clicking the .NET Passport logo, displayed on the site.

Product Details

Company: Microsoft

Web: www.passport.com

Price: Full program

Minimum system requirements: Windows XP

Installation

Install .NET Passport Update

Bliss Screensaver

Remember when you were a kid, lying on your back in a big grassy field and watching the clouds roll by? It was pure Bliss. Now you can enjoy the Bliss scenery from your Windows XP desktop background as a screen saver when your computer is idle.

Web: http://www.edensoft.com/

Minimum system requirements: Windows 9x, NT, 2000, Me, XP

Product Details

Company: Microsoft

Web: www.microsoft.com

Price: Full program

Minimum system requirements: Windows XP

Installation

Install Bliss screensaver