Review: Smart Swipe

Firebox has started selling the Smart Swipe card reader that enables users to make secure online payments without having to type in card details. You can read my review of it on Computeractive's website. The product has been sold in Canada for some time, and it's based around NetSecure's Dynamic SSL technology (click the link to read a free white paper about this).

Review: Parallels Desktop Upgrade to Windows 7

Parallels has created an interesting tool to help users upgrade to Windows 7 without tears, and move all their incompatible apps into the bargain by virtualising them. It's a sort of alternative to Windows 7's XP Mode, but with many added bells and whistles. You can read my reviews of Parallels Desktop Upgrade to Windows 7 on IT Reviews, V3.co.uk and Computeractive.

Review: Funkwerk Bintec RS120wu 3G router

I've recently reviewed another model in Funkwerk's excellent RS range of professional routers. You can read about the impressive Bintec RS120wu on IT Reviews and ZDNet UK. It's an 802.11n model with five Gigabit Ethernet ports and an embedded 3G modem.

Intel DH55TC network drivers for Windows Home Server client restore

Windows Home Server is superb, except for one really really annoying aspect. The WinPE-based restore procedure for client PCs doesn't detect the network card on any of my three home PCs, meaning I have to find the driver files and put them on a USB key for WHS to find manually. What's more, the drivers that WHS automatically extracts from the client PCs and stores with each backup image don't work either (not sure why, although the restore CD is based on Vista, whereas all my PCs are Windows 7), and in the case of the Realtek NIC in my Acer Aspire One netbook, even the correct drivers from Acer don't work due to some sort of bug.

I sorted out the Aspire One problem a while ago, thanks to this post on the Microsoft WHS forums, which pointed me to a suitable generic driver on the Realtek website. For the Intel DX48BT2 board in my main desktop PC, it was a little easier, but still a nuisance. And when I built my new media PC with a brand new DH55TC motherboard and onboard Intel Gigagibt NIC, I thought it would surely be supported. Nope.

The problem with Intel NIC drivers is that they are bundled in an installer package, so you can't just download a few versions and try them out. Luckily, the team at DriverPacks.net does this for you, collecting thousands of drivers for every conceivable device. The idea is to use the driver packs for slipstreaming Windows installs, or just to keep everything up to date. I got the latest LAN driver pack, extracted all the Intel driver directories onto a USB key and tried it - success! So if you have a WHS client using this board, here's the step-by-step procedure :

• Download the latest Windows Vista (x86) driver pack for LAN drivers 
• Using 7Zip, open the downloaded file and navigate to the x86/L/Intel directory. 
• Copy the entire contents of the Intel directory to a USB key or CD
• Boot from the WHS Client Restore CD, and when it doesn't find any network drivers, click 'Install Drivers'
• Put the USB key into the PC, then click Scan. After a few moments it should say 'Drivers found...'. Click OK and you should now see that it has detected the Intel Gigabit NIC. Now continue the restore as usual.

Update: As Windows Server 'Vail' (the new version of WHS based on Windows Server 2008) uses a very similar restore procedure, this same procedure should work there too. I tried it successfully with my Aspire One netbook)

Review: One for All Smart Control

Computeractive has published my review of the bargain One For All Smart Control programmable remote (although unfortunately they put in the wrong byline!). It's a great product for the price, and can operate up to 6 devices. I use one myself, and find it comfortable and reliable to use.

Find it on Amazon: