Recent Posts

751

General Software Discussion / fully free software - Paint.net GIMP Sherrod & Core FTP, ClamWin AV

« Last post by Steven Avery on June 26, 2009, 06:00 AM »

Hi Folks,

Paint.net and GIMP added to image and graphic section.

New anti-virus and malware section - on-demand scanner from ClamWin and PC Tools Spyware Doctor and Anti-Virus tools -- also urls to some discussions.

Sherrod FTP and Core FTP, two fine softwares, added to FileZilla and WinSCP in the FTP section.

Thanks, CMPM, I'll plan on installing TFC at work for a trial.   Thanks 40hz, more expansion coming on network tools list.

PC Tools Firewall Plus -- first firewall on list

NoteTab Lite, TED Notepad and NotePad++ begin Notepad-replace/editor section.

New Database section - starts with MySQL, MySQL Workbench and PostgreSQL.

Angel Writer added to office and word processing, although it could use a contact and/or EULA check.  SystemRescueCD and Installed Program Printer also added.

Shalom,
Steven

752

General Software Discussion / fully free software - remote access

« Last post by Steven Avery on June 25, 2009, 09:47 PM »

Hi Folks,

TFC - Temp File Cleaner - sounds like it might be nice as the complement to CCleaner. Or even, for safer functions and multi-user cleaning, an alternative. However could you quote the license ? Not much info on Geeks-to-go, not much in the way of reviews.

As for the network central cleanup, both are possible, each company is different, so I hope we will consider both sides of the street here.  

Remote Control - Remote Access section begins with :

PuTTY: A Free Telnet/SSH Client
Real VNC - VNC Free Edition 4.1
TightVNC
UltraVNC

A few others to be checked, comments from folks familiar welcome. Afaik Crossloop and Team Viewer may not have fully freeware softwares.  FreeNX, mRemote, SimpleDesktop and WinRemotePC Lite among those needing some check.

And a good fully freeware blog article from 2006.

Windows freeware for commercial use -
http://www.techbits....-for-commercial-use/

Shalom,
Steven

753

General Software Discussion / Re: fully free software utilities for biz use

« Last post by Steven Avery on June 25, 2009, 04:48 PM »

Hi Folks,

Wraith, which AV or trojan software ?  

I've become a bit skeptical of behaviour virus and trojan warnings. With even Online Armor tagging all sorts of excellent programs as potential "keyloggers", simply based on function, and not working too hard to whitelist, telling the users to take such warnings with a grain of salt if you trust the program.  

So the moment a package does some low-level activity (even when they use somebody else's commercial .dll) there is a danger of some type of malware warning.  I ran into a whole rigamarole with Emsi over this stuff. a while back on a program that is a very good task manager.  

==================================

mboot.dll file information
http://www.file.net/...ocess/mboot.dll.html

My conjecture, and it is only a conjecture at this point, is that you will find that this traces down to one legit low-level component (such as a move-on-boot)  being used in the various packages and all being tagged by the tunnel-vision behaviourists.

Granted, we do not know a lot about the company, we do not see forums and discussion, so any follow-up is appreciated.  First would be to know which company triggered the warning, write to GiPo, and do some checking throughout the hinterlands.  On the other hand it looks like their software has been on the better sites like Snapfiles for years without any problems.

Shalom,
Steven

754

General Software Discussion / fully free software - JIT Scheduler - Gibin Software

« Last post by Steven Avery on June 25, 2009, 01:44 PM »

Hi Folks,

Another very good scheduler. (license wording on page 1).

JIT Scheduler 9 - Gibin Software
http://www.gibinsoft.net/

And Gibin has a few other products, especially a database utility, that could use some checking.

Shalom,
Steven

755

General Software Discussion / Re: biz-network BACKUP choices and strategies

« Last post by Steven Avery on June 25, 2009, 09:13 AM »

Hi Shades,

  Thanks, the ones that run on a Linux box as the controller will have to wait a smidgen. BackupPC using zmanda is the one above that looks the easiest (well Bacula looks real nice too) so maybe I will speed up the installation of a Linux PC box at the site.  The Linux box may come in handy for this, and Untangle and maybe Spiceworks, etc. My XP PC is so-so for any of this stuff, having too much multi-use, even other folks in the company mozy over.  

  One key question about such softwares is whether they install an agent on each puter or not (in which case, even if the installation is central you likely end up firewall tweaking to allow the installation, or the installation is a download first). One problem I face at the main install is that we are dealing with a network workgroup, so there are various permissions and share and firewall issues that cannot be centrally addressed.  That is one reason why it can be easier to simply install a program like Syncback on each puter that I want to backup and work uphill, with consultation to the user as to what they want to backup on their puter.  Something of a nicety. There are about 15 puters potentially involved, so it is not like the difficulty when you have 100 or 500.  

Shalom,
Steven Avery

PS.
Sidenote
In testing (iSeries plus NT server to the cloud) I noticed that the commercial program Asigra (on a test-drive) was agentless yet somehow seemed to have a good view of the client disks, however I did not take the opportunity to see if it was limited to folders defined as shares, or what. From that experience I wonder if a good agentless software may be possible, which really simplifies the process.  We did not take Asigra, we have eVault, which installs an agent, and it is working very fine to the vault over the net at a modest cost.  However for complex reasons I prefer to only use eVault as Server-->Cloud and iSeries-->Cloud and use one of these other methods in the thread as PC-->Server (and maybe PC-->Cloud or PC-->Server-->Cloud).  Whew.

These other methods are now either:

1) Install Syncback, FBackup, Cobian or Comodo on the puters to backup
2) Dedicate a new administration box, likely Linux, and use network backup software, especially Bacula or BackupPC.

#3 is to use an XP box as an administrator backup, possibly in my case using eVault or Asigra (available to me  at minor incremental cost) or a software to be named later.  We have not hit any capable XP server freeware backups I don't think.  The eVault (now Seagate) and Asigra type solutions are different because you generally are working through a vault vendor for the install, they vary as to how they handle PC-to-server backup but do have the feature available.  Another company is Robobak, Symantec I have managed to not mention till now, although they may have an XP-you-administer product of some note.

Most of this is a bit afield, my main interest is now the four freeware PC products, plus BackupPC especially of the Linux administration tools mentioned by Shades.

756

General Software Discussion / biz-network BACKUP - Syncback, Cobian, FBackup, Comodo -or on Server--> BackupPC

« Last post by Steven Avery on June 24, 2009, 04:19 PM »

Hi Folks

Subject originally:
Re: biz-network BACKUP choices and strategies
(changed to show the main products under discussion)

To backup the important PC files to a server (this can be .pdf or labels or various documents and database files) from a number of PCs, the first choice is whether the backup should be centralized or done PC-by-PC, initiated locally.  Both have advantages, I am not sure if there is a free strong network backup program, and the following are the main choices so far for PC backup.

==================================================================

Cobian Backup Version 9 Amanita http://www.educ.umu....ian/cobianbackup.htm
Forum http://www.cobiansoft.com/forum/

SyncBack Freeware V3.2.19.0  - http://www.2brightsp...re/freeware-hub.html

FBackup http://www.fbackup.com/ Forum http://www.fbackup.com/forum/

Comodo Backup - http://forums.comodo...776.0.html;msg280048

Cobian and Comodo are designed as full products, SyncBack and FBackup (from Backup4all folks) are the Lite versions.  Personally I avoid Comodo for other reasons, however the backup product deserves comparison here.

==================================================================
The Microsoft tool for .pst files may come to play
http://office.micros.../HA010875321033.aspx

Or, you may decide to go to a commercial program on the .pst.  
===================================================================

Certain issues come to play, such as how to schedule a backup when the puter is on and the files are available. (Especially with PST.)

So the first question is this, between the four products above, how do we make the decision, what are the strengths and weaknesses of each.  We can combine our use with various reviews and comments on the .net.  Personally I am on the cusp of choosing one, yet which one ? ? ?

Let's look at a number of issues on backup and see if any of the four stand out.  And how to handle those 10 Gigabyte PSTs.

Also let's decide on a strategy, how do you decide what to backup, do you use inclusions of file types, or exclusion ?  Folks can be running their own specialty programs for sales management or label making or scanning or this or that so how do you decide what to backup and what to ignore ?  (Images are not my consideration, here, we want to hold on to data and config type files for hand restore.)

Here are some issues to consider.

RELIABILITY
SUPPORT including FORUMS
EASE-OF-USE
FLEXIBILITY IN CREATING BACKUP SETS
TARGET DATA TYPES (same as source, .zip, proprietary)
SCHEDULING
FULL RESAVE vs. INCREMENTAL & DIFFERENTIAL

I noticed on the Cobian boards an issue was raised that when the source "deletes" a file Cobian does not want to delete it at the target, and issues like that are :

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

Probably there are a dozen more.  Bring your screenshots and experiences, let the battle begin, which one will be the Iron Backup ?  

Are any of these 4 far more capable or incompetent than the others ?

Shalom,
Steven

757

Living Room / IE8 --> Windows explorer startup glitch - maybe Avira WebGuard involved

« Last post by Steven Avery on June 24, 2009, 01:49 PM »

Hi Folks,

OOPS - I modified and lost the OP, rather than adding this post !  (Anyway the problem was a lockup where the start button and opening programs lock up, even on a very light startup soon after an XP reinstall, and the "solution" was to crash explorer.exe with the Task Manager.  Likely this is IE8, very possibly clashing with Avira.)

=========================

After some stuff, the problem morphed to :

"When you start Internet Explorer 8, it opens and then closes immediately"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/967896

And I am very reluctant to uninstall 8, concerned that it may not play nice with SP3.  (The famous Gates integration of browser and OS). I did try a reinstall over, did nothing.

Well this is a defacto solution for getting rid of IE, so I will wait a while and see if there really is a need for IE, using the Firefox and Opera "we are IE" elements if necessary (hmm.. Windows Update comes to mind).

If necessary, plan B is to either wait for IE9 or to uninstall .. in which case I would probably simply go back to 6, or possibly 7, rather than continually have these IE8 problems.  

Shalom,
Steven

758

LaunchBar Commander / Re: In Search of A Shutdown/Reboot/Hibernate App

« Last post by Steven Avery on June 24, 2009, 06:14 AM »

Hi Folks,

There is a wealth of good programs, one reason I have not put anything yet into the "free for biz" section, trying to sort it out and also some are unclear as to whether they are fully free for biz use, need some checking.  There are about a dozen more freewares that get mentioned, now we have most of note, also Shutdown Monster (open source on SourceForge), Auto Shutdown (recently made open source), another Auto Shutdown by Konrad Papala, Timed Shutdown (strong on cmd line documentation), Shutter, RS Somnifero, MZ Shutdown, Shutdown Machine, Shutdown Scheduler & Shared Notes (network-capable, as is PsShutdown), Quick Shutdown, Simple Shutdown Timer by Shane of CleanMem, System PowerDown in Pristy Utils, AllOff, Sleep Moon Xpress by Reohix, SDS Shutdown Scheduler and Smart Shutdown by Slawdog. Absolute Shutdown simply changes the Windows timer settings, PowerOff (2003) from Jorgen Bosman includes the source code while ShutdownGuard is an open source utility to prevent programs like Windows Update or anything else doing a shutdown without your cnofirmation. And some simply use shutdown.exe along with the windows scheduler.  And RShut has an interesting free internet/Lan wakeup utility - wakeonlan.

I'll try to put these together with the url's for roundup discussion, most are easy to find, if you have a fav not in this list, give a holla.  That will be on a new thread to allow the scripting and programming discussion not to be diverted.

Notice that another consideration is trying to wait for a print job, since apparently that does not show up in CPU measurements.

Oh, is a little article by a small company.

Tip:  Create System Startup / Shutdown and User Logon / Logoff Scripts  - William Stanek
http://technet.micro...gazine/dd630947.aspx

Shalom,
Steven

759

LaunchBar Commander / Re: In Search of A Shutdown/Reboot/Hibernate App

« Last post by Steven Avery on June 24, 2009, 12:14 AM »

Hi Folks,

Keep in mind that anytime you are closing programs you have, as I understand, three different modes of closure, a polite request, a more forceful shakedown, and an absolute kill (which in my experience varies a lot, even the most compelling forced reboot sometimes hangs).

Dimitrios of DTaskmasker and DShutdown discusses these program-close modes some (conceivably you could walk up the ladder as well, starting politely).  Maybe there is a fourth option to simply turn off power rather than kill programs and in that case you run into the question of your OS config options as to whether you might get a restart possibility. Actually, take a look at the Karenware discussion.  Also keep in mind the possibility of auto-signon, Systinternals has an Auto-Logon utility as well as the shutdown utility PsShutdown.  Oh, keep in mind that others can be signed on on the puter with programs running.

If you are going to integrate with existing applications, Karenware's ShowStopper and DShutdown are two to consider. Also Quick Shutdown and Amp WinOff have command line options built-in, and Shutter gets good comments too.

Shalom,
Steven

760

General Software Discussion / Re: fully free software utilities for biz use

« Last post by Steven Avery on June 23, 2009, 11:55 PM »

Hi Folks,

Kewl.. CrystalDiskMark and CrystalDiskInfo placed in the Hardware Troubleshooting section.

Shalom,
Steven

761

General Software Discussion / Re: fully free software utilities for biz use

« Last post by Steven Avery on June 23, 2009, 11:09 PM »

Hi Folks,

Phil, note that in the Cyrstal Dew World licensing there is a note:

Crystal Dew World
http://crystalmark.i...rmation/index-e.html
SysInfo
SysInfo (SysInfo.dll, SysInfoX64.dll, SysInfo.sys, SysInfoX64.sys, SysInfoNT4.sys, SysInfo.vxd) is based on PCI Debug Library for Win32 (ja) [copyright (c) kashiwano masahiro]. Use only for personal or nonprofit.

Is Sysinfo a component of CrystalMark, CrystalCPUID and the others ?

Shalom,
Steven

762

General Software Discussion / fully free software - CCleaner mod by Resource Hacker

« Last post by Steven Avery on June 23, 2009, 10:06 PM »

Hi Folks,

On our list of fully freeware, so far CCleaner is the only dedicated cleaner of things like temp files.  We also  have in the category the specialty JavaRa (which is a hybrid cleaner/uninstaller for old Javas). Gizmo, as often, has a fine article, followed by ace comments at :

Best Free File Cleaner
http://www.techsuppo...e-cleaner.htm?page=3

Clearly CCleaner is the standard, and rightly so. And Gizmo Richards properly mentions a couple of minor weaknesses or concerns. (Aggressive settings in default, too easy to get involved with registry, not cleaning the temp net files of other users.) So I asked on the CCleaner forum about how to prevent registry manipulation by the users, since that is more important in a company environment than at home.

request: option on install or config to disable registry function ?
http://forum.pirifor....php?showtopic=22629

Note the two responses so far.  One is to automate a safe cleanup either on demand or scheduled.  The second involves a product, surprisingly suggested by a Piriform moderator, that we can add to the list.

Resource Hacker
http://www.angusj.com/resourcehacker/
This Resource Hacker software is released as freeware provided that you agree to the following terms and conditions:
   1. This software is not to be distributed via any website domain or any other media without the prior written approval of the copyright owner.
   2. This software is not to be used in any way to illegally modify software.
http://www.angusj.com/resourcehacker/

  Will we find other uses for "Resource Hacker" ?  Maybe our technies know.

  Returning to the cleaning tools, you will find that the other major additions to the category don't really offer anything much to CCleaner and have lacks, like in interface, and/or they are a few years old with no development and/or they are not fully freeware.  And in one case, KCleaner, the author got involved in toolbar shenanigans that was a bit over the top.  The cleaning of other users temp files is one consideration that might lead to an auxiliary tool, or there may be a CCleaner workaround, or it looks like there may be a CCleaner enhancement coming out RSN .. real soon now.  Perhaps Advanced System Care or another one of the free suites has a bit to offer in the cleaning area, however CCleaner ends up standing quite strong, with their vibrant forums being a nice plus.  With a company, Piriform, that tends to do a few things very well and does not go all over the map.

  Microsoft's .pst Outlook backup tool added to the list, just learned about it tonite !

Shalom,
Steven

763

Found Deals and Discounts / Backup4All Professional - Bits Du Jour - 6-29-2009

« Last post by Steven Avery on June 23, 2009, 05:13 AM »

Hi Folks,

Backup4All
http://www.bitsdujou...ftware/backupforall/

A nice program, in some ways the nicest of the standard file-by-file backups, this is the new release so current license holders of Ver 3 (versions seem to last some years) will compare an upgrade price to this special to staying at 3.  Freeware alternatives include Syncback and Cobian and one from the Backup4all people called FBackup (understandably they do these as distinct products) . FBackup has a forum, and Backup4All indicated that they want to that route in the future.

Technical and support and comparison discussions welcome, just noticed this coming down the pike.

Shalom,
Steven

764

General Software Discussion / Re: fully free software utilities for biz use

« Last post by Steven Avery on June 22, 2009, 11:45 PM »

Hi Folks,

Image utility section opens up with Imagine and Resize.  Rainlendar joins ToDoList and Task Coach in the ToDo, Reminder, Calendar section.

Crystal a nice find, should mosey in on a soon-update.  Sometimes a good one takes a while to make the list, which has its own dynamic of addition.

Shalom,
Steven

765

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Bits Du Jour - Rainlendar and True Launch Bar - tonite 6-22-2009

« Last post by Steven Avery on June 22, 2009, 10:04 PM »

Hi Folks,

Looks good Cyberdiva.  I see you can do a lot of customization, find the icon quickly, choose command or this or that, have one launchbar or five, put it here or there, in the tray when you are in economy mode. Probably much more, well done the way the sample bar is there for you to use as a first try and as a template.  Is there a way to launch a bunch of programs at once, or do you create a little script and execute it ?  Ok, I'll read the threads in the forums. I noticed that when LBC (accidentally) became a vertical bar above the task bar and then I moved it (to the tray) the main window did not automatically reclaim the space.  More for the forum.

Anyway, this leaves Rainlendar up for consideration.  And the nice $7 saving if it is a good product. Enough for two yerba mate specials at Stardocks (hmm, do they have yerba mate yet ?)

=========================

Ok, looked at Rainlendar, and since it is reasonably strong on categories and "calendars" and locations I think it can be set up to do good overlay function.  The irony is that the three Pro features I see are:

Outlook - not relevant
Network - barely relevant, would it require multiple licenses ?
Google - doubtfully relevant, the idea of using Rainlendar to me is to avoid Web 2.0 calendars, although that could change if I somehow liked the Google calendar app.

So I am convinced to give it a nice shot, and $7 is very, very reasonable, but .. not sure what I would use Pro.

There is a forum, nice.

===========================

Update, the Google sync makes sense, Google is lite to get to, so I went the whole enchilada, the big 7. Also Rainlendar added to the Free For Biz list.  A "personal" network is one license, too.
 
Shalom,
Steven

766

Found Deals and Discounts / Bits Du Jour - Rainlendar and True Launch Bar - tonite 6-22-2009

« Last post by Steven Avery on June 22, 2009, 09:00 PM »

Hi Folks,

Well neither of these is expensive anyway, both are considered good.

Rainlendar Pro ($7 instead of $14)
http://www.bitsdujou...re/rainlendar-2-pro/

True Launch Bar  ($15 summer discount - $10 today)
http://www.bitsdujou...are/true-launch-bar/

Rainlendar seems like it may grow on you.  Being small on the desktop saying "tell me your events and reminders".  Export to iCal for more reports I gather, a little non-elegant yet it may be functional.

True Launch Bar .. does it really help if you already have an ultra-organized start button ?  Maybe a little. Dunno.  Has some plug-ins, would I really use any ?  Dunno.

whaddayathunk ?

Shalom,
Steven

767

General Software Discussion / Re: fully free software utilities for biz use

« Last post by Steven Avery on June 22, 2009, 08:46 PM »

Hi Folks,

I am calling one section "Administration" because it is programs that you will not be installing on many puters but can be used in various ways for every puter in the biz. The starters are:

UBCD4
Double Driver
Untangle

More coming, share your finds ! (Well, you might install Double Driver on each puter, but once you back up the drivers in a functioning PC to some place off the PC you are pretty much done ... well ok, the new monitor comes in and you might want to have it on disk ready for a new install.  Maybe Untangle installs an agent on each puter, but that doesn't really count (some of these programs are agent oriented, some are agent-less, I found that Spiceworks seems to struggle to recognize the puters on our workgroup, possibly being agentless is a factor).

Shalom,
Steven Avery

768

Living Room / Re: XP Reinstall - some thoughts - be prepared

« Last post by Steven Avery on June 21, 2009, 10:59 PM »

Hi Folks,

Right, for the most part you are giving more techie ways to accomplish the same thing. nLite is a bit sophisticated, fSekrit sounds real good, UBCD4 I knew was fine and super-stable for what I want, understood that the Bart/PE tailored stuff  can accomplish more.  (And DriveImageXML works to restore under Bart/PE).  And I happened to have the Dell original CDs and I knew they work good so I ran with them, often you have to go the other ways.  The iso method though is neat.

If you do an image before a new install, are you actually using the config files from an "image" perspective, or are you using the image software as simply another way to accomplish the file-to-file copy ? (The type of copy I did with Free Commander).

My Eudora loaded without a hitch.  With some gigs of mail copied over. That is another reason I don't like image programs .. you are unlikely to have "todays mail" in the image.  I'd prefer to retweak settings than lose a half day's mail. Ok, granted, you are supposed to put the data on another partition.

For fun, before I loaded my Eudora mail back in I did the DriveImageXML, Macrium and Paragon images ... all freebies, after SP3, IE8 and some file manager and browser and very basic installs.  If for some reason I found myself in the same situation in a few weeks, I might try to save a couple of hours with this very early image.  I do not plan to make any more, now I switch to file-by-file of data only.

Shalom,
Steven

769

General Software Discussion / Re: fully free software utilities for biz use

« Last post by Steven Avery on June 21, 2009, 07:12 PM »

Hi Folks,

ManageEngine is actually the one I have liked the most so far, they have a fine knowledgebase on their agent install that helped me understand (Windows Firewall being the main issue) and they have given me tech support during the trial-test-who-knows period.  The limitation of free up to 10 users (on their Desktop Central) is sufficient for many small businesses.  I dunno if we will stay with the software at this client, however they will are kewl and will be included.

Double Driver added to list, after my nice experience using it on XP reinstall.

Shalom,
Steven Avery

770

General Software Discussion / Re: fully free software utilities for biz use

« Last post by Steven Avery on June 21, 2009, 06:24 PM »

Hi Folks,

40hz - yep on the Enterprise stuff.  I have been playing with Spiceworks and other programs, considering Untangle, and also added a database Pyxis that is used for monitoring inventory stuff.  Oh, I always wonder about a good messaging system.  Sure we will have to draw some lines, but all this stuff is in the ballpark.

And I was wondering about quick database ad hoc development tools too -- where the runtime is free or almost free, even if the tool is free or has a relatively modest cost (e.g $100). That would definitely qualify. Maybe a nice combo of MySQL tools are available, maybe that Visual Studio Express thing, maybe others.  This is all enterprise or small biz oriented, the key thing is that you can place the results on 5-10-20 or more desks without hitting $$ considerations.

However for Linux (or Mac or other) suggest do another thread.  I simply cannot (at this time) do it competently on the list, so somebody else has to go to town in adding and subtracting and notating.  I will be all ears, and maybe able to contribute in a few days, but on this thread we would get too cluttered !  And I wouldn't know what to do.

Tomos, I agree on using the stuff that looks good but the license is not definite.  It can even be notated in the list, I simply want to be sure that we make the effort. And if we make the effort and still do not know then the software can be on the list with a little note that the details of licensing are not confirmed. However, I am not at all discouraging such use, a lot of such software has a prima facie "OK".

Nothing added today, mainly due to the XP reinstall taking priority (mentioned in the living room).

Shalom,
Steven Avery

771

Living Room / XP Reinstall - some thoughts - be prepared

« Last post by Steven Avery on June 21, 2009, 06:08 PM »

Hi Folks,

After only a few months I just did another XP reinstall today.  However I look upon it as a good thing.

First, what makes it easy.

a) First, I have the Dell CDs (two especially, one for the reinstall, one for drivers, there is a third unused with some utilities, I think its the crapware and the I-don't-care-ware).  So if you don't know what CDs you will use on a reinstall, figger that out and have them ready, even if it means making them with a utility or purchasing them from your puter maker. So I ended up with a totally clean install.

b) And I had used Double Driver to save the drives into a nice .exe file.  Even though I did not get onto the internet from the initial install, puzzling through the wizards, I simply copied over the double driver .exe from the usb and went to town. It pops up all the drivers, you can uncheck some (I took them all) and then installs. Worked beautifully, probably had some Ethernet driver or something for the Net and I went up right away (behind a router).  My screen control was right too, which is always a little kludgy right after a reinstall. (Shaky scroll bars and such.)

c) And I had UBCD4 CD at the ready before the install.  XP was not booting, I went into UBCD4 and simply copied most of my files to another drive on the USB using .. Free Commander,  which comes on UBCD (thanks FC).  Very simple.  So I knew nothing was lost, even if I might later puzzle out a couple of locations of data files and config files. Granted, theoretically you should have this saved nightly, but since 95%+ of the lockups are OpSys and only a small % are things like disk crashes (I made up the numbers) most of the time you will simply be able to do a copy. Of course it is good to have at least a recent backup, but no matter what, have the UBCD4 CD ready and you can likely back up right up to the instant.  (e.g. the days email).

These are the secret ingredients that makes for an iron puter chef, imho.  Sure I had some little glitch with the audio that I had to download the driver (so I will do a new double driver) and a minor glitch with a Nividia error which I downloaded the updated driver, but these were relatively trivial, especially once I was on the Net and I could search the error.  (Well I had another puter around to do that too, always handy, but did not need it.)

How much time is spent on an install compared to an early image? (e.g. one you did the day after the last install.)  Very little, if  you are doing other things at the same time.  Maybe an hour.  And the earlier the image, the cleaner you are and the more you can rethink what you want to install and how to lighten the system.  Also you will end up with the current versions of this and that.  And the earliest you can get is a full install.

Personally I think images are overrated.  When your system locks up it is time for a reinstall, not to go back to a cluttered system.  Just have a few tools ready and waiting.

1) UBCD4 for the final saves - if possible
2) Install CDs
3) Driver .exe - saved with Double Driver (superb) or a comparable program

Even things like Firefox extensions, I want to rethink now.  About the only "config" file I really will look for is the NoScript "ok" .. if I reinstall NoScript.  Since that is a big hassle, saying ok to all these pages.  Anti-virus and firewall, no problem at all with a few clicks saying "Trusted".

XP is limited on resources, even in the best world.  My goal now is to have two complementary XP systems (I used to have that) and divide up the activities a bit more.  Also I will be more careful not to put things into the startup groups in the future.  Especially services.  Ok, maybe one will be Windows 7, we shall see.

My main decision is whether I want to concentrate on Chameleon Startup or Startup Manager from Metaproducts for monitoring and changing this startup stuff (while I probably will use WinPatrol too I use that more for other functions).  I really wonder if these have the capability to go from startup folder to registry to no startup very easily and effectively.  And what happens when you tell these services that startup up that you don't want them to start by themselves.  I think that is where a few things lead to troubles.  And startup delays, or manual startups (I would like to be able to load 5-10 programs AFTER the initial bootup in a group, maybe use a script for that) can be a big help.  

Oh, and the only program install where I have to be a little cautious is email (Eudora), since I want to get the downloads happening soon and I have to put the filters and everything in the right place, copying over the full data file structure.  (I could use Zero Zipper ..  and start clean too, but not in this case, since the files are not huge.)  Oh, and I quickly brought over the Linkman .lmd file, since most of my PIM stuff is kept there.

Just thought I would share some thoughts.  An XP reinstall can be surprisingly easy, granted this was round 2 for me so the kinks were largely out.

================================

Adding a 4th component.

Know your installs, your serial numbers (even what release and maybe keep the installer if a paid version) and your passwords.  This can all be in a PIM , depending on your security setup.

And their are utilities that show you all the programs.  My method is to keep it orderly in the Start Menu and in folder names created during the installs (even if I delete the file, I keep the folder name) all of which will be on my backup.  Of course their are nuances with add-ons like browser extensions or if you do a lot on Total Commander, however nothing real difficult. I actually back up with FEBE and/or Mozbackup but that is more for porting to a new puter and can be superfluous since loading extensions up is very quick (unless you have many dozens).

Shalom,
Steven Avery

772

General Software Discussion / fully free software utilities for biz - list additions

« Last post by Steven Avery on June 20, 2009, 08:32 PM »

Hi Folks,

Word processing and office section added with Jarte, Abiword and Open Office to start. TextViewer from SoftViewer could use a check on the license wording.  Also ToDoList added, and Task Coach. And Xinorbis and Pyxis.

It is interesting how in so many categories excellent or the very best softwares are fully free.

When a program just says "Freeware" it can be included, however I would prefer that there is at least an attempt to find out more, including reading the license with the installer, any notes on the net by the author and most importantly contacting the author.  We simply want to be cautious, look at the ZSoft Uninstaller example where it would be a fine product yet for now the author says "not for commercial use" because of his concerns about his licenses on the other side ! (And while some may prefer to just be quiet about it, to keep some ambiguity, it is our responsibility to at least ask if we want the resulting list to be looked upon with credibility.) While all that is in process the software could be included with a note that more checking is in process or that we are unsure of license nuances.  

Note: generally we are avoiding defunct softwares (figger if there is no forum, no new release, no nuttin for 2-3 years) unless the software really has some significant advantages.  So far I have not seen any that cry out to be included.  A current forum  is a nice plus of course, and when there is one we try to include the forum URL since that tells so much about the software.

We have the DonationCoder wording, which I will include on the front post (since it clearly will qualify for "inexpensive" and easily available for company use) also others who post here (e.g. Veign, are you here?) could make clear their policy.  Even if it is "case-by-case inexpensive" - that would help.

On a lot of the softwares, especially the utilities, it is great to see them on the thread. Many tend to make it to the front post in small packets, I like to check out the genre and alternatives and reputation first.  And a lot of the smaller utilities may be listed in a more condensed fashion.

Since we are covering lots of different multi-computer uses, from personal multi-use to portable apps to businesses with 5 to 25 to more PCs a lot can be included for discussion.  However anything that turns out to be real $$ on a biz install will not make the master list. (Recognizing that $15 per user might be a huge amount for a utility yet pocket change for an office suite or accounting package, the low cost designed for biz stuff might get a little addendum if they show up, or they may just get mentioned en passant like Ace Money and Moneydance and StarOffice.) The thread can still use the info though and a lot of times we have to check out the details.  All assistance and leads and insight appreciated.  

Shalom,
Steven

773

General Software Discussion / Re: fully free software utilities for biz use

« Last post by Steven Avery on June 19, 2009, 10:37 AM »

Hi Folks,

The DC apps are coming.  I simply am less familiar with most, a few are a bit techie, some we have not yet done the category (e.g. Process Tamer, which is a definite).  Screenshot Captor I am putting in as we speak ! Also Clipboard Help+Spell .

So I was largely waiting for folks to write little blurbs :-). Blurbs that fit the context of the discussion and categories.

Also they may (like Nirsoft and Sysinternals) do best in their own special section, while a few of the most universally powerful and obvious are interspersed :-) .

Shalom,
Steven

774

General Software Discussion / Re: fully free software utilities for biz use

« Last post by Steven Avery on June 19, 2009, 10:14 AM »

Hi Folks,

Thanks, good refs.

# BGInfo  
# CD Burner XP  
# JKDefrag

And X-Find.

Added above with others in their categories. And yes, there are some cases where the "last freeware version" can be excellent here.  And I see that SpaceMonger 2.x has some network functions, so let us know about the 1.4 license when the reply comes.

I'm gonna check my notes on Auslogics "last freeware version" of their very pleasant defragger, and maybe skim down that excellent LFV site.  However in most cases we would have to find out the situation by research, reading the license with the install and/or writing the author (as with SpaceMonger).  Keep in mind that they really are likely bound by the license included with the software install although as a courtesy we would tend to defer to whatever is their current expressed view (they own the software, they could go to the effort to change the license).  Also in general we will favor current version, so an LFV alternative will have to have some real strong points.

And I'm already rethinking some of my daily usage, ready to pick up some of these programs that I have not been using.

Shalom,
Steven Avery

775

General Software Discussion / Re: personal favourites start page

« Last post by Steven Avery on June 18, 2009, 12:39 PM »

Hi Folks,

Ok, ok... I will go the startpage HTML home-brew route !

However, in the meantime.

A) The Favorite Start Page - I decided against.  There are things like overlaps and such, doesn't cut it.

B) Linkshelf - good at least temporarily.  Afaik, no HTML-export, since that would undercut their server usage.

C) Cobian Amigo http://www.educ.umu....bian/cobianamigo.htm may have some utility in this type of setup.  Anybody try it out ?

Shalom,
Steven