Windows Repair and Tech Support Software

Piriform’s CCleaner (short for Crap Cleaner, literally.) cleans up your hard drive as well as your registry and keeps your PC clean.

Description: After achieving over 200 million downloads, you would have to think a software is pretty darn good, right? I have used it on many computers and I’ve never had it crash, freeze, or act unreliably. With the features that it has and how well it functions, I have to say that CCleaner is worthy of the highest honor I can give it on this site. To see how many that is though, you’ll have to read (or skip) to the bottom of the post.

Compatibility: Windows 98, ME, NT4, 2000, XP and XP 64, 2003, Vista 32 and 64

Necessary Info: CCleaner cleans the junk out of your different programs including:

• Internet Explorer - Temporary files, URL history, cookies, Autocomplete form history, index.dat.
• Firefox - Temporary files, URL history, cookies, download history.
• Opera - Temporary files, URL history, cookies.
• Windows - Recycle Bin, Recent Documents, Temporary files and Log files.
• Registry cleaner - Advanced features to remove unused and old entries, including File Extensions, ActiveX Controls, ClassIDs, ProgIDs, Uninstallers, Shared DLLs, Fonts, Help Files, Application Paths, Icons, Invalid Shortcuts and more… also comes with a comprehensive backup feature.
• Third-party applications - Removes temp files and recent file lists (MRUs) from many apps including Media Player, eMule, Kazaa, Google Toolbar, Netscape, MS Office, Nero, Adobe Acrobat, WinRAR, WinAce, WinZip and many more…

PROs: It cleans all the junk listed above and does it for free.

CONs: I haven’t yet figured out which check-box prevents the software from removing my commonly used Start Menu Items. I should probably be more diligent in my search but up till now, I haven’t been. This is pretty minor!

Rating:

CCleaner: Download free software HERE.

Thanks,
The Free Downloadable Software Fan

written by Tim \\ tags: Computer Repair, Registry, Speed Up, Windows 2000, Windows Vista, Windows XP

Daily Cup Of Tech’s DCoT Menu System is a computer repair kit on a flash drive.

Free Computer Repair Software

Description: The DCoT Menu System is a free menu system that enables you to use multiple free software applications. It was created to all you to carry them on your flash drive. It contains applications such as AutoRuns, TweakUI, CCleaner, Process Explorer and many more.

Compatibility: Many of these programs will work with Windows 2000, all will work with Windows XP and some will work with Windows Vista.

Necessary Info: This is a necessity for any computer tech and highly recommended for anyone who considers themselves a computer enthusiast. To use it, just follow these simple instructions.

1. Download it.
2. Unzip the files to a folder on your flash drive.
3. Click on the coffee-bean icon.
4. Choose which app to start with and click on it.

Included Programs: Active@ ISO Burner, AutoCompress, Brute Benchmark, CCleaner, CDmage, DriveImage XML, Double Killer, DTaskManager, encopy, Eraser, ERUNT, explore2fs, File Assassin, Filemon, Hash, HDDScan, ICE ECC, LC ISO Creator, LSASecretsView, NTREGOPT, Patcher, PMMon, ProcessExplorer, ProduKey, Regmon, Restoration, Roadkil’s CommTest, Roadkil’s Disk Image, Rootkit Revealer, SequoiaView, System Information for Windows, TweakUI, Universal Extract, Virtual CD Control Panel, What Changed?, Why Reboot?, WirelessKeyView.

PROs: With this portable software on your flash drive, you can speed up computers, free up extra hard drive space, burn CDs and DVDs, find rootkits, undelete files… The list goes on and on. I think you can see why I always keep this on my flash drive.

CONs: The software is out-dated. The last revision was done in 2006 but most of the programs are still as valid as they were 2 years ago…. Unless you have Vista. Then some of them  (Tweak UI) won’t work.

Rating:

Conclusion: Daily Cup Of Tech’s DCoT Menu System is a must-have software package because it combines a host of great portable computer repair utilities. If only it was updated more often (more than once), it would be perfect!

DCoT Menu System: Download free software HERE.

Thanks,
The Free Downloadable Software Fan

written by Tim \\ tags: 4 Thumbs-Up, Computer Repair, Portable, Speed Up, Tech Support Software, Windows Repair Software

System Restore Point is a small utility to create a system restore point in Windows so that if there is a problem, you can restore your computer to when the restore point was made.

Description: An easy way to create system restore points.

Compatibility: Windows XP.

Necessary Info: When you’re repairing a PC, (especially if it belongs to someone else) it is always a good idea to have a recent system restore point. This so you can revert to it later if there becomes a problem. It does this by taking a snapshot of the computer’s registry. so you can easily revert back to it by booting into safe mode and following the prompts. It doesn’t have the ability to fix anything so please understand that. It just allows you to return to a point when everything worked. And for this program, that is enough.

Rating:

Conclusion: If you are a computer repair professional or just like tinkering with computers, get it. This program will help you have a better outcome if things go wrong.

Download free software: System Restore Point HERE.

The Free Downloadable Software Fan

written by Tim \\ tags: 5 Thumbs-Up, Computer Repair, Free Software, Tech Support Software, Utility, Windows Repair Software, Windows XP

AutoRuns is a free software utility that allows you to control which applications start when you boot up your computer. You can download AutoRuns HERE.

Description: MSConfig on steroids.

Compatibility: Windows 2000 SP4 through Vista

Necessary Info: When I say it shown you the programs that start up, I mean It shows you EVERY single process that starts up. This is great software for solving problems and speeding up your computer.

What AutoRuns does, essentially, is scan the registry in all places where files can be started. It then lists all possible startup programs and allows you to select which startup files to prevent. You have 2 options if you want to prevent a file from starting upon boot up. You can simply click and uncheck the box with the green check mark in it or you can right-click on an entry and choose to delete it. The difference is that, though both options delete the entry, unchecking the box moves the entry to another location in the registry where it will not be run. Simply rechecking it will put the entry back in its original position and upon reboot that process will start again. If you choose to delete the process there is no easy replacement of it. Be careful.

To speed up your computer, start AutoRuns and click on the “LOGON” tab. Then remove the programs that you think aren’t necessary. BE CAREFUL! Clicking on the wrong box with this tool can prevent your computer from booting up.

When used in conjunction with Process Explorer you have much more information available to you. We will discuss process explorer at a later date.

Rating:

Conclusion: I give this program 4 out of 5 thumbs because it is great but dangerous. With great power comes great responsibility. Use this one wisely.

Download Free Software HERE.

Thanks,
The Free Downloadable Software Fan

written by Tim \\ tags: 4 Thumbs-Up, Add new tag, Computer Repair, Free Software, Registry Editor, Tech Support Software, Windows Repair Software