Favorite Files

1. Google Chrome for Windows
2. IE Tab
3. IrfanView
4. Opera for Windows
5. Win7codecs
6. x64 Components

Recent Posts

1. 
   Review - The Weather Radar Toolkit

   3.0 (Feb 9, 2010)

   Very interesting application.
   
   At present, it is quite buggy. It may work better on a Win XP machine than my Win 7.
   
   In the 10 minutes I tried to use this application, I discovered that "Run as Administrator" must be checked to install it and must be checked to run it (and, of course to uninstall it). I found that it has an insufficient number of weather stations. The closest to my home was 90 miles away and in an entirely different weather zone ... that is, it was close to sea level while my home is at 6200 feet above sea level. It does, however, allow the user to enter latitude and longitude, but it seems to ignor that. I was not able to successfully get the application to center on my location. It wanted to center, first, on the major city closest to my home, and then, as I zoomed in, on a location about 200 miles northwest of that area. And the application crashed a couple of times. I made no attempt to find out why.
   
   This looks like it may be a very good tool in the future, but, at present, it is obviously still in the "Alpha" stage, certainly not yet ready to be called a "Beta" application. So I have uninstalled it, but will try it again when it is updated.
   
   Good luck to the application author. You have lots of work ahead to make this application useable.

2. 
   Review - Remove Fake Antivirus

   1.61 (Feb 3, 2010)

   AVG, Avir, Avant, and Microsoft Security Essentials are all Free and decent Anti-Virus applications. Use one of them.
   
   Mallwarebytes Anti-Malware will remove the phony AV apps.
   
   I haven't used this app, but in order to give this review, I must rate it. I shall give it a 3 because it isn't necessary.

3. 
   Review - Google Chrome for Windows

   5.0.307.1 Beta (Feb 1, 2010)

   Very fast browser. Seems to render accurately.
   
   I hate the "quiet" or "silent" installation. At least let me know when the installation is complete! As it is, I start the installation and wait for ... well, evidently nothing.
   
   What did they do to this browser to get to version 5? I see virtually no difference with previous versions. You'd think that going from version 4.something to version 5.something would mean major changes. If they are there, I don't see them.
   
   And there is still the problem with the Bookmarks Bar. Unless you hack the shortcut, you have to have the Bar in order to get to your Bookmarks. And even if you have hacked the shortcut (as I have), if you open the browser in some other way than using the shortcut (such as through an email link), the Bookmarks are only available by opening up the Bookmarks Bar.
   
   Regarding downloading using Chrome ... Chrome does not give you the option to change the name of the file prior to download. For example ... the chrome installer, itself, is called "chrome_installer.exe". I want to change it to "Chrome_5.0.307.1.exe" and wish to do it prior to download. The Chrome Browser will not allow the change at that time. It must be done after the file is downloaded. That is inconvenient as it means that I must wait for the download to finish when I may not even be at the computer when it finishes.

4. 
   Review - Eusing Free Registry Cleaner

   2.6 (Jan 27, 2010)

   I'm giving Eusing Free a 5.
   
   I've been installing EFRC on my Win 2000, XP, Vista and Win 7 computers for at least a couple of years and using it periodically (probably every couple of weeks) on each one (I have 6), and I've never had a problem with whatever it removed from the registry. That said, I'm not sure anymore that removing "errors" or bad items from the registry is very important anymore, particularly with the Vista and Win 7 Operating Systems. I suspect that the registry has become so large that subtracting 198 or even 596 out of probably 100s of thousands of items from it will speed up the computer in a noticable way.
   
   But the one thing I really like about Eusing Free can be found on the "File" Menu. On it you will find a "Startup Manager" which is much easier to use than MSCONFIG or a separate software application to manage software startups. Heck, I'd download this software just for the Starup Manager.
   
   Get it. You'll like it. And it is free as long as you are willing to click on the "Skip" button when asked for the "Registration Code".

5. 
   Review - Google Chrome for Windows

   4.0.302.2 Beta (Jan 22, 2010)

   Excellent browser in most ways... but has some areas needing improvement.
   
   I very much dislike the way this browser downloads files. It does not give the user a way to rename the files prior to the download finishing ... and other than a modification to a shortcut, there is no way to eliminate the bookmarks bar and still have direct one click access to bookmarks. And the modification to the shortcut will not work if you start the browser in some other way directly (such as going through an email link or entering a URL directly or through a shortcut).

6. Comment - Legislation would force all new US radios to include digital 'HD'

   4.0.302.2 Beta (Sep 29, 2008 - 8:14 PM)

   Does that mean that I'll be able to get HD radio here in my mountain home? Heck, I can barely get AM and/or FM stations, and they fade in and out. Sometimes, to keep a radio signal readable, I have to hold the radio in my hand and turn it one way or another at different times. It appears the signal is coming from one direction one moment and another the next. Will HD radio do that, too?

7. Comment - Latest Winamp adds access to CBS Radio stations

   4.0.302.2 Beta (Jul 17, 2008 - 2:02 PM)

   What to replace Winamp with? How about Spider? Try it. You'll like it!

8. Comment - Next Patch Tuesday has few security updates, big Vista reliability fix

   4.0.302.2 Beta (Jul 4, 2008 - 2:45 AM)

   I'm running 3 Vista machines, a desktop I built myself (Athlon 64 X2 5000+), a "refurbished" Acer desktop (Athlon 64 X2 4200+), and an Acer Laptop (Core2Duo). I have installed SP1 without problems and all other updates on all three computers and have had none of the problems listed above. Please note that I am also running 3 GB RAM on each and have turned off UAC on each. I am happy with Vista.

9. Comment - One critical patch for Vista en route

   4.0.302.2 Beta (Jan 4, 2008 - 8:07 PM)

   I run Vista on 5 machines and find it very good as long as UAC is turned off. 3 of the machines run 3 GB memory and the other two run 2 GB, which appears to be sufficient. I did try to run one of the machines with only 1 GB and it reminded me of an XP machine with only 256 MB, a bit slow.
   
   Vista seems very stable, but occasionally I find that older software may not run properly on it unless properties are modified.
   
   I recommend Vista. Be sure, however, to purchase a good book on Vista.

10. Comment - Comcast sues NFL to block slanderous emails

    4.0.302.2 Beta (Dec 14, 2007 - 9:58 PM)

    What the heck is the NFL? Do they have a team in a city that matters (like LA)? Who cares?