Recommended Programs

[Jimmy 2004]

advanced windows care.

How good is that program? Looks to me like one of those programs that does a few common tweaks here and there as well as various system maintenence methods, but I'd question how well it can do those...

 

[Deleted member 24505]

here ya go-

i use it all the time.it ok.

 

[Jimmy 2004]

Hmmm... sort of malware scanner with a couple of extras... I hate memory cleaners!!! They do not help IMO!!! Think I'll stick to my current stuff, but thanks for the screenshots.

 

[Slater]

Can you guys get me the version numbers for the ones I missed? Also, Tigger get me the ADvanced Windows Care version num and I'll add it, just so sleepy atm.

 

[zekrahminator]

I'd recommend moving the Firefox version to 2.0, I like it MUCH better then I did 1.5.

 

[Slater]

Great idea

 

[Deleted member 24505]

the advanced windows care version is-2.1.0.653

what about adding tweak ui too slater?.

 

[Jimmy 2004]

Just remembered: SG TCP Optimizer version 2.0.3

Made my connection much more responsive.

 

[Slater]

I'll update it after school today

 

[Chewy]

I think AVG is going pay to use. Thats what I'm getting from mine anyway...

 

[Polaris573]

Are you sure you downloaded the free version? There is a pay to use version too.

 

[Chewy]

humm, it was saying about a Internal virus database update was needed but when I went to try and update it woulden't let me, and broguth me to a page saying somthing about payment and meh.

Well its working atm my Tor program was messing up my net too, maybe that has somthing to do with it... hummm.

 

[Polaris573]

Is your computer's clock set to the correct date and time. That will screw up updates sometimes.

 

[Chewy]

it was off for some reason too... well it said today was the 20th.. I was like whos playing tricks on me... did I sleep all theses days away... its not the 20th I wish it was the 20th cause than my order would be here tomorrow.

 

[Taz100420]

The best Internet Security program I use is Kasperskys Internet Security. Its only about 12MB installed! Talk about full security, it blocks alot of stuff and its not only a virus its a firewall, spyware, etc. Great for me nothing gets through but sadly its not free but if ya know the right people it is.
Oh and Systerac XP Tools is extremely helpful to, again not free

 

[xvi]

Codec packs violate their license agreements and are usually illegal. Just a heads-up.

 

[Alec§taar]

Codec packs violate their license agreements and are usually illegal. Just a heads-up.

Really? Can you tell us more on this??

Curious on this because I asked recently what the BEST overall CODEC pack is that folks have tried/used, because there are several of them out there & I was trying to make a determination of which one was the "best" & most comprehensive (had the most decoders in it for instance)...

APK

 

[xvi]

Really? Can you tell us more on this??

Curious on this because I asked recently what the BEST overall CODEC pack is that folks have tried/used, because there are several of them out there & I was trying to make a determination of which one was the "best" & most comprehensive (had the most decoders in it for instance)...

APK

A little bit of googling came up with the K-Lite Codec Pack being illegal. Not much news on anything else. I heard the K-Lite pack was pretty good, but I'd still rather just download my codecs straight from the makers rather than risk getting an older version.

If you need to find the codec of a movie file, try GSpot. It can direct you to the needed codec rather than just guessing.

 

[Alec§taar]

A little bit of googling came up with the K-Lite Codec Pack being illegal. Not much news on anything else. I heard the K-Lite pack was pretty good, but I'd still rather just download my codecs straight from the makers rather than risk getting an older version.

If you need to find the codec of a movie file, try GSpot. It can direct you to the needed codec rather than just guessing.

Aha!

Thank you VERY much for that, because I agree that installing them ONLY AS NEEDED and 1 @ a time might be a better way/better practice!

The reason I state that is, I have heard "talk" online that CODEC packs are sources of virus/spyware/malware infiltrations, believe-it-or-not: Now, I don't know if that is just "urban legend" or b.s., or what, but if it is TRUE?

Well, I don't want to find out, first-hand!

(Plus, & I might learn a trick or two as well, by doing manual installations of these filters for multimedia...)



* Always have been curious on these things, & did a thread here once asking "what is the best codec pack out there available?" type of thing... because of points on codec packs I have heard tell of in the past, but never seeing any proofs/validations occur making them solid fact!

So, this may provide me a tool in that URL, which made my bookmarks/favs mind you, I can learn by + get a BETTER way of installing them, only as I need/require them!

APK

 

[xvi]

The reason I state that is, I have heard "talk" online that CODEC packs are sources of virus/spyware/malware infiltrations, believe-it-or-not: Now, I don't know if that is just "urban legend" or b.s., or what, but if it is TRUE?

True also. A codec pack can be made by anyone with a bit of computer knowhow. Malware would be easy enough to add-in to a codec pack. This only proves the golden rule of free software. "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

I usually stick to Media Player Classic and 3ivx. If you really don't want to worry about downloading and installing codecs and just want one program to do nearly everything, then check out the VLC Media Player. VLC has it's own built-in codecs and can decode almost every popular codec. It is also quite lightweight and is very easy to install.

I'd like to see these three sources on the main "Recommended Programs" list.

 

[Alec§taar]

True also. A codec pack can be made by anyone with a bit of computer knowhow.

Ah, good to know, because complex things in this field take (sometimes) tremendous amounts of study, & that means "burning time" on them. I will look into the 'mechanics' of this, because a little 'know-how', via some 'elbow grease' expenditure never hurts anybody.

Malware would be easy enough to add-in to a codec pack. This only proves the golden rule of free software. "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

Probably true... I have had it happen to me, by my own work, when I wrote up a ware once that did fairly well over time & still does ok (I only put out portions of it now here & there online though - no longer a shareware/freeware author really anymore is why - it does take time & efforts)

Yes, & it had a BIG bug in it, caused some problems, but... not like you might think!

(It was a hosts file I did, & have been building for years in fact to block banners & such + speedup sites... but I put in an IP address wrong, & poof - it was blocking folks from a website & it was a BIG mess! BUT, once I got wind of this? I corrected for it VERY quickly)...

Yes, a bug, but NOT from a program (those are solid in a pack of tools I wrote up & 2 of them are even hosted @ this site which is neat to know/see), but a periphral file!

So, some GOOD came out of that!

Since then, I UNIX-Style commented off those "favorite sites" entries in it I have, so they are NOT active, but provide folks a set of examples on HOW to speedup access to your fav websites (above & beyond adbanner blocks), should the choose to edit it w/ notepad themselves (or another text editor) & activate that portion for superior webbrowsing speeds performances.

Yes, "sheet happens", & often unexpectedly.

Some folks here have that file from me, & like it... lol, now that it is absolutely "SOLID" & documented internally on what to do w/ it for faster online performance & NOT allowing for website IP address changes to hurt anyone.

I usually stick to Media Player Classic and 3ivx.

Oh yea - Media Player Classic's a treat, & an app I am using RIGHT NOW in fact, lol... nice & light, reminds me of sub MediaPlayer7!

If you really don't want to worry about downloading and installing codecs and just want one program to do nearly everything, then check out the VLC Media Player. VLC has it's own built-in codecs and can decode almost every popular codec. It is also quite lightweight and is very easy to install.

You know what? I'm hauling that one in, & it is not only YOU I have heard tell that it is righteous stuff... good enough for me usually, when I hear folks said that a particular program's solid stuff & better than what I use currently @ the time of hearing tell of what a better program is for a particular task.

I never thought I'd leave WinZip for example (been using it since 1991 & Windows 3.x versions), but did for WinRar... I never thought I'd like a browser better than FireFox, (before it was named this, iirc, it was Phoenix) but Opera took its place.

Folks here turned me onto PerfectDisk by Raxco, & I knew some of their support staff from other forums, & the guy SWORE they'd surpass Diskeeper (my fav. for more than a decade in fact for Windows NT-based OS defragging of files)... & you can guess what I use now!

I do take folks' suggestions, often to my surprise & great satisfaction, & this may be yet another one, which IS good!

I'd like to see these three sources on the main "Recommended Programs" list.

Well, sounds good to me @ least... & I am off to haul in this VLC program!



* Thanks, because I am always on the "lookout" for better stuff!

APK

 

[xvi]

7-zip, which is already on the list, is a very fast program that supports native 64-bit and can actually compress a zip file better than WinZip can. That same ultra-compressed zip file can be extracted using plain ol' WinZip, WinRar, or even the Windows Compressed Folder system.

I like 7-zip over WinRar because of it's speed, compression, native 64-bit, and also because it's free. The only con I've found is repeated failure to extract .r00, .r01, .r02, etc files.

Another useful program is one called Driver Cleaner Pro. It can clean out old video card drivers and software and also clean up your driver.cab file.


I would recommend some built-in windows programs, too.

For a collection of different advanced utilities, Right click "My computer" and click "Manage". (If this does not work, go to Start > Run > compmgmt.msc )

If you suspect some windows files have been damaged, you can run the System File Checker. Dust off your Windows XP disk and click Start > Run> sfc /scannow
An alternate option would be to click start > Run> sfc /scanonce (which will check all files on next reboot)

Windows' Remote Desktop feature can be useful to administrate multiple computers all from the lazyness of your very own chair. On the computer you wish to connect to, right click "My Computer" and click "Properties". Click the "Remote" tab and check "Allow users to remotely connect to this computer". On the computer you'll be connecting with, go to Start > Programs > Accessories > Communication > Remote Desktop Connection. (Or go Start > Run > "mstsc.exe" ). Type in the computer name you just set up and click "Connect". You'll be prompted for a log-in box for the remote computer.

Also, a fun way to reboot your computer is to use the shutdown command. Start > Run > "shutdown -r -t 30" will reboot your computer in 30 seconds. This will give you the exact same box associated with the MSBLAST/Blaster virus. When dealing with a computer infected with the virus (and are facing a shutdown in 1 minute and counting), calmly click Start > Run > "Shutdown -a" to abort the shutdown. The shutdown command can also be used to shutdown networked computers (assuming you have access privileges). In a domained environment, you can set a friend's computer to shutdown from across the network, then abort it at the last second. You can even add custom text. Click Start > Run > "Shutdown -i" for an easy-to-use GUI style box.

Feel free to ask me a question! I might just remember something I've forgotten.

 

[Alec§taar]

7-zip, which is already on the list, is a very fast program that supports native 64-bit and can actually compress a zip file better than WinZip can. That same ultra-compressed zip file can be extracted using plain ol' WinZip, WinRar, or even the Windows Compressed Folder system.

Sound good to me, I will try it out, but imo? WinRar, especially its latest multithreaded build? IS going to be TOUGH to beat out, here @ my system @ least!

Another useful program is one called Driver Cleaner Pro. It can clean out old video card drivers and software and also clean up your driver.cab file.

This I may take a peek @, but I usually do those tasks manually & don't mind it much, but it never hurts to have an 'automator' of drudgery type tasks because after all? Computers?? They're awesome for that.

For a collection of different advanced utilities, Right click "My computer" and click "Manage". (If this does not work, go to Start > Run > compmgmt.msc )

Some "FYI", if you like that one? You can run MMC.EXE & create you OWN CUSTOMIZED MODEL OF IT... above & beyond that std. one given you.

Try it sometime, & use this reference to do it:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/230263

* THAT is truly "Good Stuff" to know about it, imo @ least, about it being customizable & extensible (because there are a TON of those .msc extension MMC snapins you probably may not be aware of in %WinDir%\system32 that you may like a lot & just have not tried).

If you suspect some windows files have been damaged, you can run the System File Checker. Dust off your Windows XP disk and click Start > Run> sfc /scannow
An alternate option would be to click start > Run> sfc /scanonce (which will check all files on next reboot)

Yea, it is a GOOD solid trick to know... especially to avoid DLL hell & other messes that may have occurred after software installs, etc., & I have had to pull that one before, plenty of times lol. BUT, it works, 9/10 times very well in combination w/ Windows System & File protection.

Windows' Remote Desktop feature can be useful to administrate multiple computers all from the lazyness of your very own chair.

LOL!

Now, this one? I use it 4-5 days of the working week in fact, & have before on the job prior to the one I am in now, 1 day a week of 5.

Great stuff!

I worked in Atlanta Ga. in 1996 for BellSouth during the Olympics, setting up & having their staff using RAS (remote access) to do that, for their workforce to avoid traffic during the Olympics... & back then, it was "big stuff"!

Slow though, it was 56k dialup oriented. I learned about it though & kept using it on jobs up to 1998 in fact, when cablemodem appeared for me.

It was considered a "look @ the office of the future" back then, & now, FINALLY? It is reality for many folks, including myself!

APK

 

[Alec§taar]

You guys here @ these forums are MOSTLY "FireFox fiends" from what I have noted... & I am SURPRISED nobody put this up for it:

FireTune!

http://www.totalidea.com/content/firetune/firetune-down.php

Get it right there, from the 'horses mouth' (oem of the software).



* Was just updated too... works on latest/greatest FireFox 2.0.0.1 too (I use that here as an alternate browser to my fav, in Opera's latest, & IE7 too)

(Enjoy, because it makes tuning/tweaking FireFox, a cakewalk easy affair - 2 checkbox clicks (1 to backup your current setup files, & 1 to apply tuning to your browser + connection type match!)).

APK

 

[Alec§taar]

Microsoft Extensible Performance Counters Control Tool



* Part of the Microsoft Windows Reskits for NT-based OS... download it here:

http://download.microsoft.com/downl...xctrlst/1.00.0.1/nt5/en-us/exctrlst_setup.exe

APK

P.S.=> It turns off the generation of performance counters, & if you DO NOT MONITOR THEM?

WELL - Why generate them in the first place, wasting CPU & other forms of I/O cycles in the doing of it??

You can also turn them back on, as needed, individually too of course if you wish, by using it, instead of them ALL, WHOLESALE, as they are by default, & trust me - you don't need to always be logging ALL of that stuff ALWAYS/ALL THE TIME!

(I don't any, unless I needed to)... apk