essential freeware

ShrinkTo5
ShrinkTo5 is the new, powerful and fast DVD copying engine...ShrinkTo5 can copy movies with an undeniably superior picture quality. No matter if you wish to copy just the main movie or the whole movie DVD, ShrinkTo5 always produces a superb picture quality, since the ShrinkTo5 engine always concentrates on the main movie. No tedious configuration is needed like with other copying tools, ShrinkTo5 will always find the perfect balance automatically.
http://www.shrinkto5.com/

 

if you want a list of everything installed on your computer including programs - patches - software licences - processes - hardware info etc etc then try Parmavex WinAudit - it's very cute.

it lists all the dlls in your system which is a lot! so if you don't particularly want this info goto....view-->options-->system libraries [dll] and uncheck that box before running.

http://www.pxserver.com/WinAudit.htm

 

It means 'Download the zip file.'

George75

 

ClearTweak™
these are two that i can't see on the list so far and always have installed. ClearTweak™ look at the screenshots at the end of the page.
http://www.ioisland.com/cleartweak/

PlacesBar Tweaker™
and PlacesBar Tweaker™ again look at the screenshots down the page. when you save something the PlacesBar is set to - History, Desktop, My Documents, My Computer and My Network Places. you can change the options with this program to what you like.
http://www.ioisland.com/placesbar/

Screamer Radio
i like this radio, you can record the stream you are listening to. it's a standalone too.
http://www.screamer-radio.com/

two great standalone whois tools -
Win32Whois
http://www.gena01.com/win32whois/

IPNetInfo
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/ipnetinfo.html

 

Brilliant freeware standalone program. i'm sure there are other programs that do this simple thing. it creates virtual images of harddrives, floppy disks, CD-ROMs or other removable media. This is useful if you want to keep track of that vast CD collection, a problem that a lot of people come across these days. With MaxLister, you can save any drive or folder to a .MXL-file - a database file - and later browse and search it in a Windows Explorer interface...
i just want it to make lists of all the programs i have installed. after seeing toploader's post about Parmavex WinAudit, i don't think it will record all the standalone programs i have. try this out as it's only a standalone, so you can delete it's folder if you don't like it.

http://www.acc.umu.se/~max/maxlister/index.html

 

Thanks George!

I have fallen behind on this thread! I have a question about file indexer's that may be pretty ignorant. It goes like this. I downloaded and ran Locate32, but it wasn't quite what I imagined. I sort of pictured a product that would be transparent to me, and allow me to use the same search icons that windows built in seach uses.

My main complaints with windows indexing, is that it ruins hard drive performance. I do like the convenience of windows search though. I am have heard that yahoo has something called yahoo desktop search. At first I assumed that this was strictly an internet search, but maybe I should take a look at that?

-HandsOff!

PS - Ice60, you have some nice choices! Another Nirsoft product I like is called OfficeIns. It helps Keep tabs on what Office/Word ad-ins are autoloading and connecting to the internet. Seemed to work, but I decided I did not like Microsoft Office anyways so I am now using a superior product. (not free though)

 

hi, HandsOff. i think i might be misunderstanding your reasoning, so i'll just try to highlight why i think Locate32 is so good.

Locate32 is lighting fast; you define your search, and as your finger is depressing the enter-key or search-button your results are shown. i have never had it not find what i am looking for.

this speed is achieved by using a tiny file which Locate32 uses to store the information of your drive/s. i don't understand how it could be improved upon - perhaps not having to update the file, but that's not such a problem because unless you're searching for something that's only recently been added you don't need to update the data base.

i was thinking today of putting Nirsoft in my sig, the site is excellent.

 

Hi Iceni-


I guess I should look at it again. I didn't like having to update the index. doesn't it just know when a file has been changed?

I pictured it as being used at the o/s level. in other words xp itself would (transparently to me, you understand) just get the results from index32 and display them when I do my search, be it from windows explorer seach icon, start menu search or whatever. The quick search is a benefit, but at the cost of my having to perform extra tasks and change my habits. You can't imagine how it could be better? Can it fly?

I guess I expect a lot, or why are programmers so damn lazy?


-HandsOff

 

hi, HandsOff. no it doesn't there are ways around that, i haven't tried them though. open the program and go>Options>Settings>Auto update>Add. there you can select to have it updated. anything from every minute to once a month. there's also the option to do it at startup. you could try that and if you are still happy with your startup time then it could be a solution.

if you want to be able to run it without having to click through alot of things then you can right-click it's shortcut (you might have to put one (shortcut) on your desktop, just while you do this, then it can be deleted) go>Properties, click where it says Shortcut Key and put a combo there.

or you can right-click the Taskbar>Properties and check - Show Quick Launch, and put it there.

maybe pin it to the Start Menu, that's where i have it, by dragging the shortcut to the Start Button, then straight up in the Start Menu.

hey, we all know computers, and their software, can fly. for how long just depends on which floor you have your computer

 

Hi Iceni -

All things considered that was a very nice reply. I guess the main thing is just learning to do something differently. And I really do think, that in order to be useful they should have some sort of monitoring of drive activity and accept some parameters for updating, still I don't want to loose site of the very fast search time. Additionally, you should understand I have many more partions than most people, so manually doing stuff one drive at a time is annoying. How many you ask? Well, I think there are only about 3 letters that are not already taken by my drives.

I suppose the super-geek (you?) could customized different boot configurations so that sometimes it would be auto updating and sometimes not. Actually, there may be a better way...maybe someone else has a suggestion on update32 management

I still haven't got time to read all of these posts but I am pretty excited about a couple new free-ware programs I have begun using. I am still assessing but, and should check if they have already be mentioned, but one is just worth mentioning as a generic group. "Dual-Pane" windows explores. In a sense they do for windows explorer, what locate does for search. Much more efficient. I guess I should say the one I am using is called Xplorer-2. Actually, I think I really can recommend it, since it has strong features it adds to exploring.

-HandsOff

 

i don't think i'd want it to be able to monitor if it ment having another running process.

all i can say about partitions is, i have more than one that i boot into with this XP install, and as long as the partitions can be reached while you're logged in to the account you are using it from, they will be updated by Locate32. but, if you have to boot into them separatly, which sounds like you do, then they won't be updated.

as for dul-paned explorers, i was talking about it at a frewware forum i belong to and xplorer² was the dual-paned one liked best, the one you have.
http://zabkat.com/x2lite.htm

then there was freeCommander
http://www.freecommander.com/index_en.htm

the one i like most isn't dual paned however, it's called Trackerv3
http://www.trackerv3.com/shots.htm
http://www.trackerv3.com/

 

here are some more search tools:
Advanced Find and Replace this looks good
http://www.vknoware.com/afr/

Agent Ransack i use this too
http://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/

Effective File Search
http://www.sowsoft.com/search.htm

Free Find Replace Tool
http://www.k-free.co.uk/find-replace-software.html

InfoRapid Search & Replace this sounds great, i think it's a text search tool. so it will find words written in files.
http://www.inforapid.de/html/searchreplace.htm

ReplaceEm this is another text search tool.
http://www.orbit.org/replace/

Copernic Desktop Search i can't get to the site so here's another link
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/CopernicDesktopSearch.html

i got all those links, but Copernic Desktop Search, from someone's bookmarks. i haven't used them so scan them if you plan to try them. i might try some. there's only two i don't want to try, apart from Agent Ransack because i already have it

 

here's something i found in the early morning

http://www.stegmann.dk/mikkel/porta/

here are a couple of picture albums i made, it's displayed in your browser.

http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/2523/18sq.th.jpg

http://img387.imageshack.us/img387/2456/21hl.th.jpg

the pictures are from one of my wallpaper folders.

 

Thank you for this iceni60
I am constantly looking for a web album generator and this one does look good.
I have looked at so many each promising to be easy but have yet to find one I really like and could work with. This is a brand new one for me to look at now - thank you

 

i was using a couple of different registry editors alot, Registrar Lite and RegAlyzer, until i found this, Registry Jumper, which works with regedit.

i even noticed, if you make a slight mistake, it will correct it for you, i'd cut and paste a key and left a full stop (period)(.) or something similar at the end, and it deleted it and went to the right place. it also remembers past searches if you want it to.
http://www.eolsoft.com/freeware/registry_jumper/
http://www.eolsoft.com/download/

this is something i've started to use more and more, it's called TreePad™ Lite. it's great for keeping notes. you can either have a tree, with afew main headings, like it's instruction manual. or just have one main heading, like To Do with a big list under it. or just have single notes e.g. Go to WU

http://images.webattack.com/screenfiles/thumbs/t_treepad.gif

 

Nice Ice! BTW, what Opera skin is that?

 

i've never used any other, this seems fairly easy though, you tell it where the pictures are, it makes the album in the picture's directory. then when you want to see it displayed with Porta, you go into the directory, then into the album and click on index.html. i tried it with IE and Firefox and it didn't look as good with the way i have them setup and theme i have with Firefox. if it doesn't open in the browser you want it to, right-click index.html and select Open With, then pick the browser you want to see it displayed in.

BTW this is the Opera skin i am using, at the top of the page, MeGuiDdo:
http://my.opera.com/community/customize/skins/author.dml?id=Kazu Spara

 

i editted it into my last post, i went and got a load of skins when i got Opera and have been using that skin because it goes with the theme i've been using, the Vista one.

 

that's really good, i always find that between Everest and PC Wizard i can work out most things i need to, they do all the work, all i have to do is click my mouse button afew times. i used them both the other day to help try and fix my broken CD drive, it's a hardware fault though so i'm going to get a new one. i think just for hardware and especially driver updates Everest is better, plus it's a standalone. but, PC Wizard does alot of other things.

PC Wizard has a great GUI and as well as helping with hardware and driver updates it can tell you your startups, everything about your OS, IE, it can show you all the fonts you have, updates too, installed software, DirectX, Services, associated file extensions, it has afew benchmarking tests. that's not even half of it. has to be seen to be believed
http://www.cpuid.org/pcwizard.php

 

Thanks!

 

it's great to have been some help. i was looking through Porta's pages and they mention XibitMaker, have you tried it? it looks to have abit more to it, but be that bit harder to configure. it looks very good.
http://www.klingebiel.com/tempest/hd/Xibit.htm
http://www.klingebiel.com/tempest/hd/XibitMaker.htm
http://www.klingebiel.com/tempest/hd/Xibit_Albums.htm

 

I have just been to the first link and went the one of the albums but when I view one picture there are no back and forward to next.

I noticed the bit about basic mode but when I clicked on it

I was in Opera

I am definitely going to read about both programs as I really do need one which works with my site. I wouldn't even mind a paid for one if I could find one which has all the bits I like one has one bit and the other another bit lol
I loved the way the first one worked and looked but need to use it to see if the backgrounds can be editted etc
This one will be on my list of never ending album generators - they all look so easy but ......

Just used one called EGG - for my guest book. I think it works in much the same way although very limited and no ongoing development. It is great to see what you have created with the tools - thank you. I gave up on finding a real guest book - another minefield especially if you don't want Bravenet stuff!

Have to laugh your Opera skin is dark and mine is almost invisible!

 

One thing that irked me a bit about it was that the default configuration shows just a few of the available tool bar buttons. "The one's most user's would want." I guess I'd be surprised if most users would even try it if they did not want to use most of the other one's too.

I upgraded to the professional version...They got me! It is quite fun, though, so I don't mind. The free version is good, but I have always dreamed of being able to do what the pro version can do.


-HandsOff

 

Just about everything on this site is essential...and free

http://www.systeminternals.com/

Especially... http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/ProcessExplorer.html

 

Robyn, later today i'll have alook to see if i can find any good album programs for you

HandsOff, i'm in shock, you bought a program and told us about it in this freeware thread. i think i'll have a cold shower to calm myself. i don't use it anymore, but it's a great program all the same