Archive for October, 2009

One of the worst things about starting fresh with a new reinstall of Windows (or a new computer) is that you have to hunt down updated installers for the software that you use.  I just stumbled across this great site which streamlines looking for software and installing it into one super quick process.

There’s really not too much to say about it honestly.  You go to their website, put a check mark next to the applications you want to install, hit the “get installer” button and then a small app runs (doesn’t even install itself on your computer)

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This type of error has been popping up more and more frequently with some of our clients.  It’s caused opening multiple attachments in Outlook that have the same file name.  Outlook’s secure temp folder fills up with these files and throws this error when you have 100 files with the same name.  This folder is really difficult to find on your own (it takes digging around in the registry to find it), this tool simplifies the purging and you can even set it up via scheduled tasks to do it automatically.

OutlookTempCleaner has a minimal interface.  Just double click the icon, then press “Clear Folder” and it’s done.  If you want you can also open your secure temp folder before running it just to be sure you’re not going to lose anything.

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Today is the day Windows 7 officially launches!  As an IT person I’ve had access to it for a couple months already and have been running it on my primary system to learn some of the ins-and-outs of it.  If you’re in the market for a new system of purchased one in the last couple months I’d recommend the upgrade (computers purchased since June 26th are eligible for a free upgrade).  Hit the READ MORE link for some tips, tricks and links that will help make Windows 7 a smooth upgrade for you.

New user interface refinements:

If you drag a window to the top of your screen it maximizes, drag it to the left or right it resizes to take up half of the screen, and if you click and hold a window and shake it (no, really) all other open windows minimize.  Repeat to restore all the other windows.

There’s are a host of new keyboard shortcuts built into Windows 7 focused around the unloved little windows key. Hold down windows and press the right or left arrow and the active window snaps to the right or left of the screen.  Hold windows and press 1 through 9 and it will launch the first through ninth application pinned to your taskbar.

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If you’re like me you use the built-in functionality of your web browser to save and manage your passwords to various online sites.  If you’re being careful and protecting your passwords from prying eyes you’re using a master password to protect your password list.  What happens if you forget your master password?  Before now you were kind of stuck.  Your passwords would remain safe but inaccessible, rendering them useless.  Now a recovery tool called FireMaster that can help you recover your passwords.

Before I go any further I’d like to remind everyone that these tools can be used for both good and evil.  Please use this to recover a lost password for yourself or someone that asks you, don’t use this to snoop on someone else’s online business.  These tools are a godsend for tech guys, but if people misuse them it just makes it harder for legitimate users to get their hands on them.

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