Windows Repair and Tech Support Software

I just want to let you, my readers, know that for the next couple weeks (maybe longer), I will not be posting as much as I have been. I have decided to do a series of posts that require a good amount of testing.

I am going to test a series of Spyware Blockers to see which Spyware Blocker program really blocks the most spyware. These must be Real-Time spyware blocking programs. Simple removal tools are NOT being tested here.

I am going to test freeware applications but I am also going to test paid and commercial spyware blocking packages in this test because I really want to see which one is the best and see how much spyware the freeware blockers are able to block in comparison to the commercial programs. I especially want to see if the freeware and commercial versions of the same program fare differently!

Methodology: To test these spyware blockers, I am going to use my test Windows Vista PC (fully patched) in an Administrator’s login with UAC and Windows Defender turned off. I will use Microsoft Internet Explorer and it will be set to accept all cookies as well as pop-ups the security tab will be as low as I can go (medium). I will create a complete system backup so that I can refresh it to the same settings after each test. I am then going to install a single spyware blocking program and search around the web for spyware. I am then going to use a series of spyware removal programs to see what I was infected with. By comparing which programs found which spyware on my system, I will be able to see which blockers fared best. I am going to do this with as many spyware blocking programs as I can find. I am going to use the same websites in the same order to get infected and I am going to use the same spyware removal programs in the same order to see how infected my computer becomes.

Programs: I am going to test Spybot S&D with TeaTimer, Avira AntiVir Premium, AVG, MalwareBytes Anti Malware Professional, SuperAntiSpyware Professional, Spyware Terminator, and PC Tools Spyware Doctor, Windows Defender. I will add more to this list as I think of them or become aware of them.

Submission: If you have a real-time spyware blocker that is not yet on the list, please share it with me by leaving a comment HERE.

Once I have completed the test with each software I will post a short review (with screenshots). When I have concluded my tests, I will put together a monster post to compare the PROs and CONs of each program.

I can’t wait to see the results!

Thanks,
Tim, the Free Downloadable Software Fan

written by Tim \\ tags: AntiSpyware, Spyware Blockers

CrossLoop is a popular free free program for doing remote computer repair.

Description: CrossLoop is a great way to perform screen sharing for computer training and remote desktop services for computer repair over the internet.

Compatibility: Windows XP, Vista and Apple OS X

Necessary Info: CrossLoop is a free software that MAY allow you to get free remote computer repair service. Some of the members do it for fun but others charge for their services. If your friend or neighbor is a computer guru, he will probably do it for free. Just tell him to get the free software. I have been using it for a number of months and I have to say that it really is great free software.

PROs:

• The CrossLoop software is extremely intuitive. The person receiving help gives the person providing help a 12 digit access code and they both click connect. Then after a few confirmations by the person receiving help and they are sharing their screen.
• The features are here and there are still more coming. You can easily transfer files from 1 PC to the other, chat with the other person, and it keeps track of how long your session was.
• The CrossLoop team is constantly working to make CrossLoop better and better. The updates are often on the server side and therefore you don’t have to upgrade your software every time there is a change. But when an upgrade is necessary, they will let you know.
• If you don’t have your own computer Guru, their Marketplace can point you to one that as the skills to solve your specific issue.

CONs:

• On occasion I have had the service become extremely slow and even crash. It is kind of like a cell phone, you are at the mercy of the service provider (the ISP, not CrossLoop) for your connection quality.

Rating:

Conclusion: I have used CrossLoop many times and I highly recommend it to everyone.

CrossLoop: Download free software HERE.

Thanks,
The Free Downloadable Software Fan

written by Tim \\ tags: Computer Repair, Free Software, OS X, Remote Desktop, Speed Up, Tech Support Software, Windows Repair Software, 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

Hello everyone,

Today I am going to do something a little different. Since I am really into blogging and building my blog, I want to help everyone else to create the best and most profitable blog that you can. But I am not going to go step by step on how to build a blog. I want to give you my list of best and most essential blog building tools.  I hope this list is as helpful to you as it has been to me. All of this hinges no the fact that you know how to use Wordpress. Feel free to comment where you have questions or suggestions. And to use these tools, you’ll need a hosted WordPress account. Here is a Great WordPress Web Host. They are the ones I use for all 3 of my blogs.

Please note that this list is in no specific order.

1)  WordPress. Here is WordPress in their own words… “WordPress is a state-of-the-art publishing platform with a focus on aesthetics, web standards, and usability. WordPress is both free and priceless at the same time.” it is the publishing platform that I currently use. I used to use another one but it limited me in what I could do with my site so I switched and I don’t see any reason to ever go back. Download the free software HERE.

Create your own blog. Start by getting your domain name now.

2)  All In One SEO Pack. The All In One SEO Pack is an essential WordPress plugin for doing your own SEO. It allows you to create titles for your blog posts, as well as create descriptions and input the keywords that you want to be ranked for. A great tool that is quite easy to use. Download the free software HERE.

3)  DoFollow. “In case you’re not familiar with the basics, so-called “search engine optimizers” are out there to get their customers’ web sites on the first page of search engine results. And one thing that counts according to Google and its kin is the popularity of web sites, which is measured as the number of links to the web site.” Quoted from Semiologic.com. In essence, WordPress automatically inserts the rel=nofollow attribute. This means that your links and your comment links carry almost no weight with SEO. Fix that easily with the WordPress DoFollow plugin. Download the free software HERE. Yes, free-software-review.com is a DoFollow WordPress blog.  =)

4)  Google Analytics for WordPress. Google Analytics for WordPress is a WordPress plugin that enables Google to track your page and show you how much traffic you’re getting, where it is coming from, what keywords people are finding you for… In short, it tells you how people get to your page so you can optimize it to bring in more of them. Download the free software HERE.

5)  Sociable. Sociable is a WordPress plugin that easily enables you to put links on your blog to all of the popular social bookmarking sites. This includes but certainly isn’t limited to Digg, Del.icio.us, Technorati, Twitter, Mixx, and Google Bookmarks. If you want your readers to tell other people about you, this is the way to do it. Download the free software HERE.

6)  Wordpress Automatic Upgrade. When WordPress creates an update to their software, this WordPress plugin will alert you to that fact as well as give you an ultra easy way of upgrading. You simply choose to upgrade and follow the prompts. It will even back up your database and all of your posts. Get it. It will save you a lot of headache. Download the free software HERE.

There it is… My short list of the most important blogging tools. I hope it helps you to get your blog going and making more money.

Rating:

Thanks,
The Free Downloadable Software Fan

written by Tim \\ tags: 5 Thumbs-Up, Blogging Tool, Free Software, WordPress Plugin

On November 14th, we will be featured in a blog carnival. There will be other free software download and review review blogs posting there for your entertainment and information.

To check out the blog carnival and learn about other free software review blogs just click your way over to Free Utilities Evaluation and Reviews.

Thanks,
The Free Downloadable Software Fan

written by Tim \\ tags: Blogging Tool