Got A Favorite FREE Computer/Windows Utility Program?

[JoeProBono]

What is it?

Where is it?

What's it do?

ZoneAlarm Firewall

[paulycy]

I *just* found it two days ago. It is very fast, stable, handles at least 12,000+ files without a hiccup. Good support on the author’s forum. I’m really impressed. Saves a lot of time over rolling your own and more powerful than anything I’ve so far found on win. :0)

[Still Thinking]

Yes, but knowing which items to drop..that is the question. drop the wrong items and you might find your net connection tanks, or xp won’t boot.

Very unlikely. With most of these startup configuration managers, you just uncheck something you think you don't need. If you find you needed it after all, just check it back on and reboot. It doesn't actually get removed till you do another step. Plus, most of that stuff is configuration related, so it's unlikely it would keep windows from booting, but even if it did, you should be able to log into Safe Mode and check it back on and you'll be fine.

[Still Thinking]

Hey, it’s a Vaio. The iron’s probably a better mouse than it deserves.

[Calvinist_Dark_Lord]

My favorite was pre-Windows.

It was MASM (Microsoft ASseMbler) under DOS 1.25, and later DOS 3.2 on a Tandy Laptop.

i understand that MASM is still going strong, proof that Microsoft is CAPABLE of producing a quality product, even if not necessarily willing to do so.

[killermosquito]

I’ve spent the last 20 years learning Microsoft Access and now that I’m out of work I discover that not many companies need my skills. So, I’m thinking of learning a new language. I could go the .Net route and might not be too far behind but I’ve wondered if I should instead invest my time in learning PHP or Java or Ruby.

Would you have any advice that you can give?

[cynwoody]

I’ve spent the last 20 years learning Microsoft Access and now that I’m out of work I discover that not many companies need my skills. So, I’m thinking of learning a new language. I could go the .Net route and might not be too far behind but I’ve wondered if I should instead invest my time in learning PHP or Java or Ruby.

My guess is anything used to create web applications would be most widely useful to improve employment prospects. Ruby, Java, Python, PHP, Perl, SQL, HTML, JavaScript, CSS, XML, XSL, familiarity with the Unix environment and networking and a solid understanding of how all the pieces fit together.

Interesting blog entry on finding programmers

[Richard Kimball]

Not if you buy a new computer every 18 months.

[MHGinTN]

I really dislike the ‘next generation’ program crap. I purchased a drawing program from Broderbund which worked fine on my Windows 98 computer. Now, with a Windows Vista Home Premium laptop I cannot open the files carried over because it requires a ‘d3drm.dll’ file which is not included in Vista. And I can’t find a way to acquire said file so I can use my paid for files! Same thing with a wireless mouse and keyboard, Vista won’t recognize it and it is a Microsoft product!

[Daffynition]

I just can't keep up with all this technology stuff.

[Still Thinking]

I think it’s asking what you want your password TO BE.

[Señor Zorro]

Cygwin. It makes Windows usable.

[JoeProBono]

http://www.d3drmdll.com/

[JoeProBono]

I happen to know someone willing and able to assist you gratis.

[GOPJ]

Thanks for the ping.

[Daffynition]

[dubie]

http://www.dban.org/ Boot and Nuke - drive wiping

http://www.truecrypt.org/ awesome encryption software

http://eraser.heidi.ie/ ERASER (erase old deleted data from free space on your drive)

http://www.revouninstaller.com/ awesome free uninstaller and trace remover

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/combofix/how-to-use-combofix combofix.exe for malware and spyware removal...

[dubie]

PORTABLE APPS - Portable software for USB drives No need to install... run right from your USB drive. http://portableapps.com/

[LearnsFromMistakes]

Stumbled across your post, looking for a decent xp backup...and then restore to a new computer. Any suggestions, or will this do it?

[antiRepublicrat]

CCleaner is an old-time favorite.

ZSoft Uninstaller is necessary if you add and remove programs a lot.

7Zip is the best zip program.

[Still Thinking]

Don’t really understand how a ZIP program can distinguish itself. Windows does ZIP’s directly now. The file manager I recommended, EF Commander, does them. I also use WinRAR for generating RAR’s and occasionally use it to open a ZIP. They all get the files out; they all put files in. Other than speed or compression ratio (which is immaterial on all but enormous files), what’s better about one than another?