Illustration : Richard down
We all recognize that Windows is far from perfect – and developers may know that full of all . gratefully , they also have the tools to prepare those imperfection and share their ingeniousness with us . When we ’re really lucky , the developers give their software away for complimentary , though some creators do ask for donation . If there ’s a gap or two in your computing tool kit , one of these fabulous freebie might meet it . come home herefor the downloads .
Backing up ai n’t knockout to do : There are many backup programs , but few as elegant and powerful asSyncBackfrom 2BrightSparks . As its name suggests , SyncBack has two elemental function : backing up and bushel data ( copying in one direction ) , and synchronizing folders ( copying in both counsel to make the contents of two folders very ) . you may set up profile for vulgar backup or synchroneity chores and run them mechanically with the program ’s programing feature article ( seeFIGURE 1Figure 1 : fit backup for all occasion and automatize them using SyncBack ’s scheduling feature of speech . ) .
Figure 1: Set backups for all occasions and automate them using SyncBack’s scheduling feature.
SyncBack cultivate with connection crusade , FTP server , and CD or DVD drives ( as long as you preformat the disks using the Universal Disk Format , or UDF , which is a newer way to format CDs and DVDs ) . The program Es - mail you its logarithm file mechanically when your relief is done . It also close down any applications you specialise before beginning , and it can launch applications before or after it finishes . Unlike some backup political program ( include the backup software built into some versions of Windows ) , SyncBack can compact files using the standard .zip data formatting . This lease you easily find and retrieve a single file inside an archive without get to navigate through a backup program . SyncBack ’s elegant design offers light and expert musical mode . The broadcast is a snap to customise , too .
leaflet shortcuts in a hurry : Readers often ask how to produce shortcuts to folder that will make them open where and how the substance abuser desire . Though Windows supply this potentiality , create the shortcuts in Windows may implicate setting up messy bidding - origin switches that are closely unacceptable to think of . To solve the job , either take a refresher course course in the brochure - shortcut tutorial that I provide in my April 2002Windows Tipscolumn , or installSnapFolders 2005 . Right - click any booklet to produce a crosscut via the context carte , or plunge the utility from its own shortcut to see a dialog box seat where you could limit shortcut preferences . SnapFolders puts the crosscut on your Start menu or on a submenu ( seeFIGURE 2Figure 2 : directly produce shortcuts to your favored folders with SnapFolders 2005 . ) . The program does n’t proffer every possible pinch that the bidding - line approaching does , but it saves time and trouble .
Taskbar tweakery : Maybe you do n’t care having the taskbar veil your lovely desktop wallpaper . Or you want every inch of your background for icons and other doodads . One solution is to habituate the taskbar ’s Properties dialog box seat to mechanically obscure the taskbar until your black eye move over its original attitude . Unfortunately , this leaves an unsightly personal line of credit along one sharpness of your screen – and on older systems , the activity is n’t exactly spanking . A duad of freeware developers have found a cure for this pain in the neck . One is AKSoftware’sTransbar , which lets you make the taskbar wholly or partially transparent in 1 percent increment ( seeFIGURE 3Figure 3 : Taskbar too ugly ? allow Transbar make your taskbar transparent . ) . Another isTaskbarHide , which straight off pops the taskbar on or off CRT screen ( minus the ugly line of business , thank you very much ) whenever you move your mouse over or forth from it .
take off from scratch : But what if you want to eliminate your taskbar altogether?GeoShellis a free exposed - source taskbar replacement consisting of modular floating toolbars that you could group and rearrange to your heart ’s content . Your desktop will be neat because its icons go into a menu instead of clutter up your screen ( seeFIGURE 4Figure 4 : Clear off your desktop by placing your picture on a drop-off - down menu . ) . The menu can be more compact than a typical Windows screen background arranging , though some jumble remains . Also , you may not care floating toolbars – personally , I prefer to anchor them to an edge of the desktop . GeoShell ’s skin feature gives you more controller over your desktop ’s look and feel , and you may even download plug - ins to go its features .
Destroy duplicates : Does your hard disk have twinned file ? I ’m not babble about backups , but rather , useless written matter of the same file that you may have unknowingly downloaded or create multiple time . DoubleKillercan assist you see out . Despite some quirks in its interface ( you ask to start with the second lozenge before you may use the first one , for example ) , the course of study can explore various drives for the data file types you determine , hunting for files of the same name , sizing , date , and/or CRC32 - checksums ( a means of see file contents ; seeFIGURE 5Figure 5 : Are duplicate files neutralize your worthful record quad ? determine and edit them all with DoubleKiller . ) . After completing the hunting , DoubleKiller gives you tools for launch , moving , or deleting the duplicate files it find . And the utility ’s assistant tab key provides a brief instruction manual of arms to get you begin .
Right - away renaming : You just dump 10,000 photos from your digital camera onto your hard drive , including a potpourri of memories from birthday , weddings , vacations , and your personal natural rubber - stria collection . How will you ever keep them straight?Bulk Rename Utilityto the saving ! Launch BRU from its Start computer menu ikon , or right - click the booklet arrest the file you desire to rename . The service program ’s circumstance look a little complicated , but the numbered and highlighted sections suggest the monastic order in which options ( if any ) will be applied . The result of this complexity is a heavy deal of power , not just for searching and replacing or for adding dates or numbers , but also for such features as affix the leaflet name or placing renamed copy in a folder of your choosing . BRU ’s Tip of the Day helps you learn feature gradually . Like most good Indian file utilities , BRU shows you a preview of your new filing cabinet names to avoid unhappy surprise .
Super classify : Now that you ’ve renamed all your photos and other files , do you really require a bazillion of them to occupy the same folder ? One direction to engineer a prominent number of files is to make folder for each alphabetic character of the first rudiment ( that is , a leaflet named ‘ A ’ , another named ‘ B ’ , and so on ) , and move your data file into those folders based on each file cabinet ’s name . regrettably , this process can be tedious . Luckily for you , File Sievewill automatize the work . The program make 27 folders ( one for each alphabetic character of the first principle , plus ‘ # ’ for files starting with numbers and symbolic representation ) in the localization of your pick , and it copies or travel files into the alphabetically right location . Once you ’ve create the folders , you could extend File Sieve to move or replicate additional files , without create the folders anew ( seeFIGURE 6Figure 6 : Why waste fourth dimension orchestrate your files manually ? File Sieve lay them in alphabetic folder . ) .
File - direction muscle : Long ago a Windows program called File Manager showed multiple drives and folders in its parent windowpane so we did n’t have to keep flip-flop between , and manually rearranging , multiple Explorer windows . FileAnttakes us back to this gold age with a powerful yet agile data file - management cock that opens multiple brochure at once ( accessible via check ) and displays two at a time via its tiling option ( seeFIGURE 7Figure 7 : Bring back the golden days of dual - pane file windows with FileAnt . ) . The programme has built - in viewers for previewing files without open separate app program window , as well as its own FTP customer , a pie chart diagram that exhibit the sizing of pamphlet , customs leaflet icons , and folder synchronizing . It even has an MP3 player you may get at from its tray - ikon menu . Prettier file utilities are uncommitted , but few are as hefty as FileAnt . The app is styled “ free donationware , ” meaning that donation are encourage but not required .
Find that file : look for a needle of a Indian file in a hard - drive haystack ? Sometimes Windows ’ built - in search tool but is n’t up to the job . Fortunately , Mythicsoft has given usAgent Ransack , a gratuitous reading of its FileLocator Pro Indian file - search utility . Agent Ransack relies on the common DOS wild cards or on more - racy regular reflexion to search for your file cabinet . Do n’t lie with what a veritable look is ? Just click theSearch Wizardbutton to have the program walk you through the steps for determine the necessary parameters . For even more criterion , check the utility’sExpert Useroption . Agent Ransack even preserve your former hunt criteria and your retiring hunting termination , too . What ’s not to care ?
