Tools and Utilities I use

BgInfo

BgInfo writes up all the specs and configs of your computer and publishes it as your background on your desktop.  Why, you may ask.  Well if you have multiple computers, knowing the IP address and other core info at a glance really helps.  As I found out recently you can even use a bit of script to get things like the computers serial number out of the BIOS.  If you’re really good you could get this to run every time you boot your computer(s) so it is always up to date.

Get it here:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897557.aspx

ImgBurn

ImgBurn will write an image file (like an .iso) to a CD or DVD.  It’s a very lightweight and focused little program, so you don’t have to run AShampoo every time.  I think you can get it to build the .iso file from your choice of data files too, so it could be more powerful than what I’ve used it for.

Get it here:

http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=download

SIW

You want to know everything about your computer?  Sysinfo not good enough.  SIW – System Information for Windows – will tell all.  Even stuff you don’t want to know.

Get it here:

http://www.gtopala.com/siw-download.html

SysInternals

If you need hardcore computing tools, then look no further than SysInternals.  I’m not going to list them all.  SysInternals used to be a handful of little tools, but since they have been bought out by MS I see there are about 70!  You can do things like see hierarchy of processes, and bytes on disks, and defrag your pagefile, and kill processes, and.... scary stuff.  You need to know this exists, because one day you might need it.  Er, BgInfo is actually one of the SysInternals suite, but it’s special and the one I use regularly.

Get them here:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb842062.aspx

Taskbar Shuffle

Move your programs around on your taskbar with Taskbar Shuffle.  You want Outlook first, then your browser, then any explorer windows, then any documents.  But if you just open these programs, they will be on your taskbar in the order you opened them.  Open as you like, then reorder with Taskbar Shuffle.

Get it here:

http://download.cnet.com/Taskbar-Shuffle/3000-2072_4-10531265.html?tag=mncol;lst

WinDirStat

Windows Directory Statistics – find out exactly which folders are taking up space on your computer.   WinDirStat will tell you how much space each folder is taking up, and makes nice colourful blocks of every file / folder.

Get it here:

http://windirstat.info/  (about halfway down the page)

XP PowerToys

The PowerToys are little programs the Windows developers released after XP as little add-ins.  There are more than a few of them, and it probably warrants it own separate post.  I’m only going to tell you about a few of them though.  Synctoy : sync folders.  Useful for backups to your USB drive.  TweakUI : change some of the Windows UI features.  Image Resizer : right-click a jpg to resize it before emailing, for example.  Very quick and easy. 

Get them here:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/Downloads/powertoys/Xppowertoys.mspx

Programs I use for computer security

AVG Antivirus

AVG started out as a reasonable competitor to Norton Antivirus and the others back in the 90’s, and it was free.  Then they monetised.  You really had to hunt to find their free edition.  Nowadays, I don’t think the free edition is even on their main website.  When you do find it (at the link below), they will really try punt their paid-for offerings, so read the screen and make sure you get the free one.  The only difference is when you get their updates.  Unless you are surfing dodgy websites all day as part of your job, you’ll be fine with this free edition.  Personally, I turn off the daily scan of the computer and rather let it protect the perimeter.  

Get it here:

http://free.avg.com/download-avg-anti-virus-free-edition

TrueCrypt

Some files you need to encrypt.  Files that contain your bank details or passwords for example.  What?  You don’t write this stuff down?  You’re getting geriatric you know.  You’re going to forget...

TrueCrypt comes very highly recommended, and is about as secure as you can get.  It’s not hard to use and there is good documentation.  You can install it, but it will also run standalone, so it will fit nicely on your USB flash drive.

Get it here:

http://www.truecrypt.org/downloads

ZoneAlarm

I admit I’ve resorted to Windows firewall, but if I was in an environment where I wanted something more secure or where I could have more control, then ZoneAlarm would be my choice of personal firewall.  This type of firewall runs on your computer and is more focused on outgoing nasties than perhaps incoming ones, since you’re probably behind a firewall on your router anyway.  Usually with ZoneAlarm. You install the trial of the full package, and then when the free bit expires, it downgrades itself to a basic firewall, which is all you need most of the time anyway.

Get it here:

 http://www.zonealarm.com/security/en-us/anti-virus-spyware-free-download.htm

SpyBot and AdAware

If your computer is running like a lame pig in monsoon season, you’ve probably got spyware hogging you down.  I suggest running both of the suggested programs here, as one will not cover all bases.  It’s been a while since I’ve used these, so I’m not sure about their latest versions.

Get them here:

Spybot: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

AdAware: http://www.lavasoft.com/single/trialpay.php

Programs and tools I use for Media

Audacity

Audacity is PhotoShop for audio – you can manage and manipulate audio files.  If you need to save in MP3 format you need to add another little module called LAME, but it’s not difficult, and the Audacity program itself is as good as you’ll need.

Get it here:

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/

KLite Codecs

Codecs are the “translators” of the various media file formats – MP3, AVI, MPEG, Quicktime, etc, and there are tons of different format and sub-formats.  Windows doesn’t always ship with all the codecs needed for you to play all the video and audio media that out there today, so you install the KLite Codec MegaPack and get it over and done with.  KLite also nicely enables the old Windows Media Player (v8 I think) without all the frills for you playback pleasure.  It’s much simpler to use than the heavy current versions.

Get it here:

http://www.codecguide.com/download_kl.htm  (get the “Full” or “Mega” editions to cover all your bases.)

VideoLan

AKA VLC, VideoLan is a media player that can also stream media.  I first encountered it one day when I realised I wanted to watch a DVD on Computer A, but Computer A didn’t have a DVD drive.  So I installed VLC on Computer A and Computer B and not much later, Computer B was pushing the movie over the network to Computer A and I was sipping my beer.  Regarding DVD playback, you can also get quite specific as to which track on the DVD you want to play.

Get it here:

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

Internet software I use

FileZilla

Sometimes you need to set up an FTP server to transfer a few files to a buddy.  FileZilla is an opensource FTP server which seems quite solid and feature-rich.  They have an FTP client too.  Personally I wouldn’t leave an FTP server running – just set it up when you need it then turn it off again.

Get it here:

http://filezilla-project.org/download.php?type=server 

Firefox Portable

Sometimes you need a browser on a foreign computer that you can have full control of.  Here’s FireFox Portable which you can run from your USB flash drive, assuming you have permissions on the machine to execute such programs.

Get it here:

http://portableapps.com/apps/internet/firefox_portable

Google Chrome

Last year Google released their own browser and I started using it from day one.  I much prefer it to IE (although I still use IE for work stuff), and FF makes me barf.  It’s quick and it has some neat features that IE8 only now seems to be implementing.

Get it here:

http://www.google.co.uk/chrome

Skype

Does Skype need any introduction?

Get it here:

http://www.skype.com/intl/en-gb/download/skype/windows/

uTorrent

Shhh – we’re not supposed to do filesharing.  Anyway, if you need to get a torrent, then uTorrent is a great little – as in small footprint – tool to do just that.  You can throttle the bandwidth it uses and schedule times etc.  

Get it here:

http://www.utorrent.com/downloads

Free software I use: Applications Part II

Last post I started a list of the programs I use.  Here’s the next instalment.

Applications Part II

OpenOffice

Don’t feel like paying for Microsoft Office, then OpenOffice is the answer.  It has all the features on MS-Office, but free.  Ok, it doesn’t have Outlook, but if you’re such a freetard you use gmail anyway.  OpenOffice can read MS-Office files, and when you set it up, make sure you set the option to always save as MS-Office .doc or .xls otherwise your files will be in their format, and they just confuses things.  I’ve used OO quite comfortably for years on my home computers.  It competes well with the heavyweight.

Get it here:

http://download.openoffice.org/

JRuler

Sometimes you need to know how many pixels something is on your screen.  JRuler does that.    There is an install program, but I think you can just run the jruler.exe without installing, which means you can put it on your USB flash drive.

Get it here:

http://www.spadixbd.com/freetools/?referrer=JRulerUser

PrintScreen

Bit more advanced than hitting PrntScrn on button and pasting into Paint.  If you have this PrintScreen program loaded, it will give you options like where and how to save the capture, and so on.

Get it here:

http://www.gadwin.com/download/index.htm#PrintScreen

SharePod

Don’t like iTunes?  SharePod will read and write to your iPod.   It might not replace iTunes for their Shop and ripping functions, but if you just want to move files (like podcasts or audiobooks) to and from your iPod, then this does the trick.

Get it here:

http://www.getsharepod.com/download/

Thunderbird

If you’re not using MS-Office, and you want an email client something like Outlook then Thunderbird from the makers of FireFox might be the answer.  It’s probably the best, free non-Outlook email client available for Windows, but it doesn’t come close to Outlook in ruggedness or breadth or features.  Still, it works and there are various plugins for it.  I’ve only recently semi-gone back to Outlook.

Get it here:

http://www.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/thunderbird/

WeatherWatcher

Want to know the weather for the next for days, or hours.  You could look on the BBC website, but this app sits in your systray and is perhaps a little more feature rich.  Get Current, Hourly, or Daily weather in just about any spot on earth.  Also will display metrological maps – you can even set it to update the map directly on your desktop background.  Automatically gets weather updates form the web (weather.com or theweatherchannel I think) every x-minutes.  Don’t get WeatherWatcher LIVE though – just get the standard edition.  Compare WW against BBC – if they are wildly different, take your wellies!

Get it here:

http://www.singerscreations.com/Weather-Watcher.asp

Next time – Internet: programs to use on the “Information Super-Highway”

Mostly freeware programs I use, which you might find useful too

Over the years I’ve used several programs to do things Windows doesn’t do, or doesn’t do well.  I’m a scrooge, so I’ve always looked for the cheapest, um, free option.   Some I use frequently, other’s less so, and there will probably be one or two I don’t use anymore but would still recommend.

I’ve put them into categories otherwise this could be a very long post.  The categories are: Applications, Drivers, Internet, Media, Photo, Security and Tools.  For each program, I’ll describe it briefly, and point you to where you can get it, as best I know.

Without much more ado...

Applications – Part I

Ashampoo Burning Studio

Software suite to burn CDs and DVDs.  It does it all, as good as Nero or similar, but it’s free.   I think I originally got it off a computer magazine cover disk. You do get adverts and a bit of spam, but that’s controllable.  It will burn or rip anything – audio CDs, ISOs... as you like.  The free version, is a version or two behind the retail one, but I’m not bothered about that.  I burn so few disks, I just want something quick and easy to use.

Find out more here:

http://www.ashampoo.com 

Or get it here:

http://download.cnet.com/Ashampoo-Burning-Studio-Free/3000-2646_4-10776287.html

Convert

Convert just about any measurement.  Density (ounce per gallon to milligram per cubic metre).  Distance (miles to centimetres). Energy (gigajoule to BTU).  Flow.  Force.  Light.  Mass.  Power.  Acceleration.  Amount of Substance.  Angle.  Area.  Computer (Exabytes to nibbles).  Concentration (moles).  Pressure.  Speed.  Temperature.  Time.  Torque.  Volume.

There is no install process.  It’s just a little .exe file, so you could keep this on your USB flash drive and run it anywhere when you need to know how many litres there are to a bushel.  (35.23907!)

Get it here:

http://www.joshmadison.com/software 

Foxit PDF Reader

There was a time when Adobe Reader just got too big and was painfully slow.  Foxit PDF Reader was the answer.  I’m not sure if it’s still the answer, but it’s worth keeping in mind.

Get it here:

http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/reader/

FreeMind

Draw mind maps quickly and easily.  This is a small, Java based program that allows you to enter your thoughts on a mind map.  You’ll need the Java runtime installed, but look in their Wiki / Asked Questions / Installation section how to do that if you don’t already know.

Find out more here:

http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

Get it here:

http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Download  (look in the list for “Windows Installer Max”)

GIMP

GIMP is an image manipulation program, very much like PhotoShop.  Except it’s built on free-ness.  It does pretty much all that PhotoShop does, although it’s slower and some things need workarounds.  But GIMP is free, and PhotoShop costs hundreds of pounds.  It will probably do everything you need to do quite comfortably.  It also needs Java runtime.

Find out more here:

http://www.gimp.org/

Get it here:

http://www.gimp.org/downloads/  (you don’t want the source – just the Windows installer)

Juice

If you listen to podcasts, but don’t have an iPod – or don’t like iTunes – then Juice will download and manage your Podcasts for you.  Once it’s set up to download, it just carries on in the background.  When you want your podcasts, just go get them from the download folder.  Easy.  No heavy overhead of iTunes.

Get it here:

http://juicereceiver.sourceforge.net/

Notepad2

If you do a bit of lightweight programming, or perhaps use Notepad more frequently than most, then Notepad2 might be for you.  It runs as a standalone program, so no installation necessary.  Put it on your USB flash drive.  It has far more editing functions than you could imagine.  And it shows line numbers, which is probably the most useful feature to me.

Get it here:

http://www.flos-freeware.ch/notepad2.html

(edit: Sorry about the links not working.  Don't know what happened there.)