Freeware discussion


SmartClose

SmartClose is a freeware alternative to EndItAll2  (still available for free download at the time of printing) that allows you to close all currently running programs - to minimize conflicts and to avoid replacing in-use files. This can be a tedious task when performed manually with ctrl-alt-del, and usually requires a restart to get all your programs back up and running.
With SmartClose however, the entire process is simplified and automatic as it stores the running program information in a system snapshot, and not only closes all applications for you but also restarts/restores them later. The program can be customized in various aspects, and a quick wizard also allows you to exclude programs from being closed or restored. It will automatically skip applications that are required for the Windows system to run. In addition, it supports services, as well as Explorer and Internet Explorer windows and saves their current location, so they can be restored properly.

While offering essentially the same features as EndItAll it is immensely slower and, while it permits restoration of the system state without rebooting, it does not appear to restore all running programs. On my PC it does not restore the desktop search, Copernic, or the antivirus, Avast, icon to the system tray. Checking through Process Explorer revealed that both of these programs were, in fact, running. I was able to scan files by right clicking, and I could show the Copernic toolbar on my desktop, but  no longer had direct access to either program. This issue is one of the negative aspects discussed in the user forum at http://www.snapfiles.com/opinions/SmartClose/SmartClose.html
My own peace of mind requires that I restart anyway, so I see no advantage in the restore function. Try it for yourself.

TerryB

How to directly boot into Windows XP, without logging-in or entering passwords:

       1. Click Start > Run

       2. Type ‘cmd‘, hit enter

       3. At the command prompt type: control userpasswords2

       4. A Windows-2000 looking window will popup, and under the Users tab uncheck the option selected,
             “Users Must Enter A User Name And Password To Use This Computer”

       5. Click OK

       6. Enter the username and password of the account you would like Windows to automatically log into after booting up

       7. Close, reboot windows to test it out.

Booklet macro for Microsoft Word

It is often desirable to produce a document in other than conventional A4 format, and many PC users employ programs like FinePrint to print professional A5 size booklets with correct page numbering automatically and painlessly. But many users cannot justify the expenditure on this fine program when they only need to print the occasional booklet.
Microsoft have addressed this issue and provide a macro for their
Word 2002 word processor that has the built-in ability to print booklets with automatically numbered pages, and is available for free download from http://word.mvps.org/FAQS/MacrosVBA/BookletMacro.htm


Changing the "registered owner" in Windows

Does Windows think your name is "Satisfied Dell Customer"? When you install new programs, do they want to send a confirmation e-mail to "OEM User"? Or when you first installed Windows, did you misspell your own name?

A rose by any other name

When you first install Windows, the installer prompts you to type in your name and organization. If you bought your computer with Windows pre-installed, you probably had an opportunity to type your name and organization too, although the computer manufacturer may have filled it in for you. (Thus, the ubiquitous "Satisfied Dell Customer".)
You might think the name and organization live somewhere deep inside your PC, chiselled in stone on some super-secret security chip. Not so. In fact, they're both stored in the Windows Registry - and they're very easy to change, if you know where to look.

Tweaking the Registry safely

Many people believe that demons and monsters lurk inside the Registry; one wrong step and your system's toast, never to boot again.

Guess what? They're right.

If you bang around the Registry, you may well succeed in reducing your PC to a lump of quivering dissociated electrons. But if you're reasonably good at following instructions - say, on a par with the "Apply, lather, rinse, repeat" directions on a shampoo bottle - there's no reason in the world why you can't go in and change your registered owner name, and live to tell the tale.

Finding RegisteredOwner in the Registry

First, do a "System Restore". 

To dig into the Registry, you need a program called the Registry Editor. It's easy to find: click Start, Run, type regedit and press Enter.

On the left side of the Registry Editor window, double-click HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, then double-click SOFTWARE, then double-click Microsoft, then double-click Windows NT (yes, it's Windows NT, even if you're using Windows XP), then double-click CurrentVersion.

On the right, you should see a list of Registry values, with columns labelled Name, Type, and Data. The two names we're concerned about: RegisteredOwner and RegisteredOrganization. If you don't see those names in the right pane, you're in the wrong place, so click File, Exit to get out of the Registry Editor, and start all over again.

Changing Windows' owner and organization

To change the registered owner, double-click the name RegisteredOwner. In the box marked Value Data, type in whatever name you want to appear as the Registered Owner (such as William Gates III). When you have the name right, click OK.

Similarly, to change the Registered Organization, double-click RegisteredOrganization and type the new organization name in the Value Data box.

When you're done, click File, Exit to get out of the Registry Editor and back into reality. Make sure you got it right by clicking Start, right-clicking My Computer, and choosing Properties.

Baillie McKenny


PopTray

PopTray is a freeware mail notifier similar to Mailwasher, and FrontGate. Each of these utilities has its particular presentation and features, and consequently its devotees. Unlike some other mail clients Poptray has plugin support for protocols other than the common POP3, including IMAP4, POP3SSL, Hotmail, etc.

PopTray integrates with all popular mail clients such as Microsoft Outlook Express, Eudora, and Mozilla Thunderbird, and permits an unlimited number of accounts. Each of these is allocated its own tab. Messages can be quickly previewed without downloading. You’ll be able to see who the email is from, the subject, and the attachment. This will enable you to decide if you want to delete the email, mark it as spam, or keep it. A great way to stop viruses or large attachments.

Spam management includes creating rules and using white/black lists for control. Rules identify a message according to your criteria then carry out the action you specify, like deleting from the server or marking as spam. The white list is used to specify friends you would want to receive messages from.  If someone is listed in the white list, any email from him would not be deleted even when a rule attempts to delete the message. The black list is email addresses that you do not want to receive any mail from.  If the address is listed here any message from that address will be deleted every time you check the server. 

Creating new mail will open your default email client  ready to send a message. Clicking the Reply button will open your default email client and create a message ready to reply. When the "MAPI instead of mailto:" option is checked, the reply will use your default MAPI client. When using MAPI your complete body will be quoted in the reply message. Using "mailto:" limited the reply body to 2000 characters.

With the prevalence of spam and malicious emails like phishing scams, it is almost essential to have a facility for previewing your mail. Mailwasher and FrontGate have been around for a long time. This newcomer to the field may be what you need.  

TerryB


Windows XP Chkdsk

Recently, I used the Windows disk checking and repair utility (in anger) and successfully. Again I realised that this procedure was relatively unknown, and by those who, perhaps, should have known. This utility should be one of the first steps in troubleshooting a failing hard drive...
It can also be useful if you cannot boot into Windows, but can get to the DOS prompt (Using F8 on boot)

In Windows XP you can perform error checking on hard drives by using the chkdsk.exe command line utility. Chkdsk will verify and repair (optionally) the integrity of the file system on any chosen volume. You should run this utility (yes, another one) on a regular basis (at least once a month?).

Windows XP Chkdsk - How To Use The Command Line...

When Windows XP encounters a problem and has to shut down - perhaps there is a power cut, a motherboard problem etc.. the operating system will "flag" the volume as "dirty" and attempt to check it on reboot.

NB - You can manually check the state of the dirty flag for your C: drive.

To do this at the Command Prompt type : fsutil dirty query c:

The response should be Volume - c: is NOT Dirty

However, you can manually run the chkdsk command.

To do this:

Step One: Click Start, select Run

Step Two: In the box, type cmd

Step Three: Click OK

Step Four: Run the chkdsk utility by typing in the following command: chkdsk c:

..or chkdsk c: /f /r

NOTE: The /f command automatically fixes any errors encountered; the /r command locates bad sectors and recovers readable information.(Assuming the drive you wish to check is the C: drive.)

Step Five: A reboot is normally required for the chkdsk program to run correctly, so simply restart the computer and chkdsk will run automatically. When it's finished, (this process can take quite a while depending on the size of your disk, etc.), it will boot back to normal Windows.

On Rebooting the PC you will see the disk being checked as in the screenshot below:

This process can take up to an hour!

Windows XP Chkdsk - How To Use The Graphical Version...

In addition to the command line utility detailed above, it is possible to access a graphical version of the Windows XP chkdsk.

To do this:

Step One: Open "My Computer", RIGHT click on the C drive icon, choose "Properties".

Step Two: When that loads, click on the "Tools" tab, then click on the "Check Now" button in the "Error Checking" section.

Step Three: When that little window loads, place a CHECK in BOTH boxes, then click on "Start Now".

Step Four:  A message will pop up saying that Error Checking will run after you restart the computer, so... restart the computer.

Error Checking will run automatically after the restart and it locks you out until it's finished.

It takes some time to perform the task - it will restart into Windows automatically.

Baillie McKenny
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