Windows Vista (EN)

Great Expose Clone for Windows Vista

The market seems to be full of OS X Expose clones, but this is the first one that I’ve found that not only works really well, but has a ton of customization options. It’s called Switcher, and you might already be familiar since it’s been out for a while.
You can switch between the default tiled view that we’re all used to:





Or you can go with the Dock view, which shows the current window in a larger tile, and hitting the tab key will switch between the tiles.





The standard customization screen gives you most of the common options, but you can use the advanced screen to let you change just about anything you want.





The default shortcut key is Win+Tab, which replaces the Flip3D key, but you can customize it if you’d like to use something else.
Hint: If you turn off the animation it’ll even work really well on older computers.


Download Switcher from Insentient.net

Guide to Using Check Disk in Windows Vista

Anytime somebody has hard drive errors, I always recommend that they run chkdsk… what geek wouldn’t? Then I realized that there’s no guide to using check disk on this site, so I decided to write one.
The chkdsk or “Check Disk” utility is used in Windows to scan through your entire hard drive and find problems… it’s like a lot like doing inventory… it’s boring, but it has to be done sometimes. I recommend that you run through a check disk every month or two.
Using CheckDisk the GUI Way
Open up Computer and then right-click on the drive you want to check, and choose Properties.





Then select the Tools tab, and click the “Check Now” button.







A little dialog will pop up to allow you to choose the options you want for the disk check. You should check both options if you want to really check the disk properly, but if you just want to do a quick check you could select only the first one.





The only problem with that is that Windows can’t check a drive that’s being used, such as the system drive, but Windows will let you schedule a disk check for the next reboot.





You should keep in mind that running through a full check disk takes quite a while, sometimes hours depending on how big the drive is and how many files you have.
Cancelling the Scheduled Disk Check
If you had scheduled a disk check but decided you would like to cancel it, you can run a command to
Open up an administrator mode command prompt by right-clicking on the item in the start menu and choosing “Run as Administrator”. Type in the following command, substituting the drive letter if necessary.

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Seems like they could have a better command line output… something like “canceled!” would have even worked… oh well.
How to Tell if a Manual Disk Check is Scheduled
Open an admin mode command prompt, and then type in the following command:

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How to Tell if an Automatic Disk Check is Scheduled
Sometimes if your computer has not shut down correctly, Windows will mark the drive as “dirty” basically as a reminder to itself that the drive probably has filesystem errors and should be checked. When the flag is set, you’ll be told the disk requires checking during the next bootup.
You can easily see the state of this flag by using two different command line options. The first is the same command as above, but you can see the output is different if the drive is set to be automatically checked.

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You could also use this command to just query the dirty bit:

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Using CheckDisk from the Command Line
Open up an administrator mode command prompt, and then type in the following command to do an exhaustive check of your drive. Substitute C: for whatever drive you want to check.

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If the drive is a system drive or has files in use, you’ll be asked to schedule the check for the next reboot:





The above command is the recommended way to perform a disk check, but if you want to do a less exhaustive check, you could remove the /R option from the command.
Here’s the full list of parameters for your geeky enjoyment:

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Hopefully this guide will help somebody!

Help Keep Your PC Protected with Free Tools from Trend Micro

Finding and eliminating Spyware, Viruses, and other forms of Malware on your computer can sometimes seem like an endless battle. Today we take a look at some free tools from Trend Micro that you can add to your anti-malware arsenal.
A few months ago we showed you how Malware can get on your computer. Asian Angel also did a great series on different free applications you can use to combat it all. Trend Micro is a trusted name when it comes to combating malicious software and here we take a look at some of the free tools they offer to detect and eliminate various forms.
HouseCall
If your computer isn’t running right and you suspect there might be malware causing the instability, you can use HouseCall which is an on-demand scanner for identifying and removing it. HouseCall is a stand alone app that doesn’t install on your machine. In fact you can run it from a flash drive. When you kick off the launcher it updates with the latest virus definitions.






The user interface is simple and easy to use and allows the basic functions for detecting and removing viruses and other malware.





Before starting a scan, go into Settings and choose between a Quick, Full, or custom scan.





Progress is shown while the scan takes place showing results, and you can stop it at any time if you need to.





If threats are found you can select what action to take for each one, then click the Fix Now button.





Here we showed you Version 7.1 (beta) and you can still download the legacy version 6.5 which runs in your browser and requires ActiveX or Java. Keep in mind 7.1 doesn’t install on your computer so there is no real-time protection, but if you need a way to quickly scan a system and remove malware it definitely will do the trick.


Download HouseCall


RUBotted
Bots are malicious apps that take over your machine and join in networks called Botnets. They work in unison over the Internet to relay spam, infect other machines, attack web servers, etc. RUBotted installs on your computer and monitors for suspicious activities and regularly updates to identify behavior associated with bots.



It runs quietly in the background, you can access it from the tray, and if a threat is detected it will prompt you to take action.






Download RUBotted




CW Shredder
This utility has been around for several years but still can help you get rid of an annoying CoolWeb, which infects a ton of directories on your PC. When I worked at IT at a community college a few years back, this was a very handy tool. It only works for a CoolWeb infection but if you have had one before you know how much of a pain removing it is.





Download CWShredder




These are some free anti-malware tools that can come in handy especially when fixing someone else’s computer.

Help Troubleshoot the Blue Screen of Death with BlueScreenView

For Windows users it’s probably all too familiar seeing the Blue Screen of Death, especially in XP. Today we take a look at BlueScreenView which is a free utility to display and interpret the data located in the mini dump files after the BSOD occurs.
Blue Screen of Death
The BSOD is actually a protection mechanism that shuts down the system functions before further damage can occur. Many times the BSOD is caused by a hardware driver issue and a reboot can solve it. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case and additional troubleshooting is needed. The problem is that the computer will reboot before you can write down the error message and figure out what is wrong.




BlueScreenView
BlueScreenView is a handy utility that will display the BSOD dump file in an easy to read report so you can see what caused it. When you launch BlueScreenView it scans for minidump files (usually C:\Windows\minidump) created by the crash and displays the information. The dump files are displayed in the top pane and and in the lower pane it highlights the drivers involved that caused the crash.





Double click on the drivers to display an easy to read table showing the various properties of the error.





If you don’t want a lot of clutter you can just show the driver files involved.





Right-click on any of the dump files and send them to an HTML Report, which will be handy if you need to send the information to a technician. The ability to save the reports is also good for identifying reoccurring issues.





Another neat feature is you can have the original BSOD error be displayed.





You can also customize the settings for what you want to make visible.





It’s available in several different languages and works with XP, Vista and Windows 7. With BlueScreenView installed, you’ll no longer have to worry about frantically trying to write down the error message.



Download BlueScreenView (download link toward bottom of the page)

Help Prevent Carpal Tunnel Problems with Workrave

Whether for work or leisure, many of us spend entirely too much time on the computer everyday. This puts us at risk of having or aggravating Carpal Tunnel problems, but thanks to Workrave you can help to divert these problems.
Workrave helps Carpal Tunnel problems by reminding you to get away from your computer periodically. Breaking up your computer time with movement can help alleviate many computer and office related health problems. Workrave helps by reminding you to take short pauses after several minutes of computer use, and longer breaks after continued use. You can also use it to keep from using the computer for too much You time in a day. Since you can change the settings to suit you, this can be a great way to make sure you’re getting the breaks you need.
Install Workrave on Windows
If you’re using Workrave on Windows, download (link below) and install it with the default settings.





One installation setting you may wish to change is the startup. By default Workrave will run automatically when you start your computer; if you don’t want this, you can simply uncheck the box and proceed with the installation.





Once setup is finished, you can run Workrave directly from the installer.





Or you can open it from your start menu by entering “workrave” in the search box.





Install Workrave in Ubuntu
If you wish to use it in Ubuntu, you can install it directly from the Ubuntu Software Center. Click the Applications menu, and select Ubuntu Software Center.





Enter “workrave” into the search box in the top right corner of the Software Center, and it will automatically find it. Click the arrow to proceed to Workrave’s page.





This will give you information about Workrave; simply click Install to install Workrave on your system.





Enter your password when prompted.





Workrave will automatically download and install.





When finished, you can find Workrave in your Applications menu under Universal Access.





Using Workrave
Workrave by default shows a small counter on your desktop, showing the length of time until your next Micro break (30 second break), Rest break (10 minute break), and max amount of computer usage for the day.



When it’s time for a micro break, Workrave will popup a reminder on your desktop.





If you continue working, it will disappear at the end of the timer. If you stop, it will start a micro-break which will freeze most on-screen activities until the timer is over. You can click Skip or Postpone if you do not want to take a break right then.





After an hour of work, Workrave will give you a 10 minute rest break. During this it will show you some exercises that can help eliminate eyestrain, muscle tension, and other problems from prolonged computer usage. You can click through the exercises, or can skip or postpone the break if you wish.

Preferences
You can change your Workrave preferences by right-clicking on its icon in your system tray and selecting Preferences.






Here you can customize the time between your breaks, and the length of your breaks. You can also change your daily computer usage limit, and can even turn off the postpone and skip buttons on notifications if you want to make sure you follow Workrave and take your rests!





From the context menu, you can also choose Statistics. This gives you an overview of how many breaks, prompts, and more were shown on a given day. It also shows a total Overdue time, which is the total length of the breaks you skipped or postponed. You can view your Workrave history as well by simply selecting a date on the calendar.





Additionally, the Activity tab in the Statics pane shows more info about your computer usage, including total mouse movement, mouse button clicks, and keystrokes.




Conclusion
Whether you’re suffering with Carpal Tunnel or trying to prevent it, Workrave is a great solution to help remind you to get away from your computer periodically and rest. Of course, since you can simply postpone or skip the prompts, you’ve still got to make an effort to help your own health. But it does give you a great way to remind yourself to get away from the computer, and especially for geeks, this may be something that we really need!


Download Workrave

Help Protect Your Children with Windows Live Family Safety Filter

Protecting children from inappropriate web content can be a daunting task. On one hand you want the children to gain computer technology skills for this modern age, and on the other hand you don't want them to be exposed to things they shouldn't.
Thankfully there are free tools out there like the previously covered Open DNS that we can use to help keep them safe. Today we will take a look at the Family Safety Filter from Microsoft, part of the Windows Live Essentials Pack.
Using Windows Live Family Safe Filter
The first thing to do is sign into your Live account. If you don’t have one yet you can always create a new one.





You can turn this feature off but it will require your Windows Live Password, so make sure it is secure and kept in a safe place.





After turning the filter on or off you will get a message in the notification area indicating the status of the filter.









You control all of the filter settings from within you Live account. You can choose between 3 levels of filtering or use custom settings where you can block specific sites. You can add parent and child accounts and filter them accordingly. Maybe your 14 year old gets more access than say an 8 year old. Of course being the parent …you get complete access!





In the main control panel you can block or allow certain sites, choose who they can or cannot talk with on Messenger, and Live Spaces. Keep in mind you will need to install the Live Family Safety Filter software on all computers in the house that the children use.





When websites are blocked your child will see the following message where they can email a request to you to unblock it.





Another great feature is the activity reports. Here you can check out which sites they are trying to get to or that are able to be accessed that you may not want to be. This way you can add certain sites in manually. Also included in the reports is other application web access. Currently the Family Filter can only block browser content, but does track activity from other programs such as Outlook, Torrent clients, and others so you can make sure the account is not accessing blocked sites through other programs.





Far from perfect for filtering content from the savvy PC user, this is definitely a good tool to help take charge of what your child does or does not see online. This does make administration easy by allowing you to access the Family Safety site from anywhere you have a web connection. So while at work you can keep on eye on what they are doing at home. This does not replace responsible parenting, but is a valuable tool to make it easier.





Download Windows Live Family Safety Filter With Windows Live Essentials

Help Troubleshoot the Blue Screen of Death with BlueScreenView

For Windows users it’s probably all too familiar seeing the Blue Screen of Death, especially in XP. Today we take a look at BlueScreenView which is a free utility to display and interpret the data located in the mini dump files after the BSOD occurs.
Blue Screen of Death
The BSOD is actually a protection mechanism that shuts down the system functions before further damage can occur. Many times the BSOD is caused by a hardware driver issue and a reboot can solve it. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case and additional troubleshooting is needed. The problem is that the computer will reboot before you can write down the error message and figure out what is wrong.




BlueScreenView
BlueScreenView is a handy utility that will display the BSOD dump file in an easy to read report so you can see what caused it. When you launch BlueScreenView it scans for minidump files (usually C:\Windows\minidump) created by the crash and displays the information. The dump files are displayed in the top pane and and in the lower pane it highlights the drivers involved that caused the crash.





Double click on the drivers to display an easy to read table showing the various properties of the error.





If you don’t want a lot of clutter you can just show the driver files involved.





Right-click on any of the dump files and send them to an HTML Report, which will be handy if you need to send the information to a technician. The ability to save the reports is also good for identifying reoccurring issues.





Another neat feature is you can have the original BSOD error be displayed.







You can also customize the settings for what you want to make visible.





It’s available in several different languages and works with XP, Vista and Windows 7. With BlueScreenView installed, you’ll no longer have to worry about frantically trying to write down the error message.



Download BlueScreenView

Help Troubleshoot Your PC with ESET’s SysInspector

When your troubleshooting a computer it is always nice to have a systems diagnostic tool at the ready. Today we take a look at ESET’s SysInspector, which is an extremely detailed diagnostic tool for Windows that helps technicians diagnose problems.
There is no installation needed with SysInspector as it is a single file executable that you can run from a flash drive if you want. You will need to scroll all the way to the bottom of the EULA and agree to begin using it.





After clicking I Agree it will start to scan your system.





SysInspector generates a detailed real-time snapshot of your current system. In fact this will tell you what processes are running behind svchost.exe which is always handy.





It captures details such as running processes, registry content, startup items, network connections and a lot more. It has the ability to discover rootkits in the Master Boot Record, registry, services, and even drivers. It also includes a handy search feature that will allow you to quickly find specific information.





The menu bar on the left lets you access history, change views, access different features, compare logs, and search online for different data found.





You have the option to save the logs which can come in handy when keeping track of multiple computers.





SysInspector is bundled with NOD32 Antivirus and Smart Security version 4. It is a tool to aimed to help aid IT and Tech Support teams diagnose issues with the computer but can also be used by experienced computer geeks. It can also be downloaded from their site as a free stand alone app for XP , Vista and Windows 7 32 & 64 bit versions.






Download ESET SysInspector

Hidden Trick to Close Windows Explorer in Windows 7 or Vista

If you want to test an explorer shell plugin or registry hack without having to log off, more technical users will usually just kill the explorer.exe process in Task Manager. Windows Vista has another way to do the same thing that you might not be aware of.
This tip was sent in by Justin, one of our most active forum members.
Alternate Close Explorer Method
Open the Start menu and then hold down the Ctrl and Shift keys at the same time. Right-click on an empty area of the menu, and you’ll see a new option called “Exit Explorer”





The taskbar should completely disappear, and any open folder windows if you are using default explorer settings.
Classic Close Explorer Method
Pull up Task Manager with Ctrl+Shift+Esc and then right-click on explorer.exe in the process list, and choose End Process.






Restart Explorer
Use Ctrl+Shift+Esc to bring up Task Manager, and then go to File \ Run and type in explorer into the run box.





The start menu will re-appear, but you might notice a few tray icons will be missing until you log off and back on. (or restart those applications)

Hide Desktop Icon Text on Windows 7 or Vista

Some icons are just obvious enough that nobody should need text below them to tell them what the icon is for. A good example of this is the icon for Internet Explorer. We’re all really used to it by now, and the text just makes it ugly.
Just right-click on the shortcut, and choose Rename. Now hold down the Alt key and type in 255 on the keypad to the right of the keyboard. You can’t use the number keys right above the keyboard, they won’t work. If you have a laptop, you can turn on numlock and then use the little number keys next to the regular letters. (You know you always wondered what they were for)





For the first shortcut on the desktop, a simple Alt+255 will do. For the next shortcut, you’ll have to enter the combination twice (Alt+255, Alt+255). For the third, 3 times… you get the idea.
The way this works is that the Alt+255 character is blank, so the shortcut filename is actually just named with a character that is completely blank. Since you can’t have two shortcuts or files named the exact same thing, the second shortcut will have to be named with two blank characters.
Now we have a sweet looking icon on the desktop, with no bothersome text beneath it.





This tip should actually work on any version of Windows, but it works a lot better on Win7 or Vista, because they have beautiful icons.
If you use this tip to rename a folder, you will not be able to rename the folder back using the right-click rename. I’m not sure why this is. What you’ll have to do is open a command prompt and change directory into the containing folder (For instance, the desktop folder), and run this command:

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You will need to actually type the Alt+255 characters where illustrated in the command. It will appear as a space.