If you like CCleaner and Recuva, check Speccy!

CCleaner, Defraggler, Recuva. If you like these excellent well-respected freeware applications from Piriform, you should take a look on the newly release application from them - Speccy. Piriform does not have tons of utilities under development, but each of the titles it has, becomes a small gem for the free software community, competing with commercial applications on all grounds.

What is Speccy for?

Speccy is an advanced System Information tool for your PC. It will give you detailed statistics on every piece of hardware in your computer, including CPU, Motherboard, RAM, Graphics Cards, Hard Disks, Optical Drives, Audio support. Additionally Speccy shows the temperatures of your different internal components, so you can easily see if there's a problem with overheating.

Why do you need Speccy?

1. At first glance, Speccy may seem like software for system administrators and power users. It certainly is, but Speccy can also help normal users in everyday computing life.

2. If you need to add more memory to your system, for example, you can check how many memory slots your computer has and what memory's already installed. Then you can go out and buy the right type of memory to add on or replace what you've already got.

3. If you're going to be selling your PC, you can use Speccy to quickly list out the components. Or, if you're buying a PC, you can use Speccy to check that the computer has what the label says it has.

4. Also, Speccy comes in convenient for support. If you're on the phone with technical support and they want to know what video card you have installed, there's no need to hunt around Windows. Speccy has all the information on one easy-to-understand screen.

Ease of use

To use the program, you do not have to be a computer guru. It is extremely easy to use – as soon as you start the program, it will inspect your hardware in a matter of seconds and give you a summary of all the major components in your computer and the operating system installed.

If you need more information about any of the listed components, click on its link in the left pane and you will see all the information that Speccy has gathered.

You can choose to display or hide the navigation menu and you can also save and load a snapshot of your current computer configuration. The program displays the temperature of your hard drives and your CPU, including the average temperature and the temperature of each core if you have a dual processor. All this information can help you determine if you have any hardware problems, such as non-working CPU fan, and can save you countless online searches that you have to otherwise do in order to find out what make is one or other of your computer components. You can also install and run the program on a computer that you are about to purchase in order to find out if it has the hardware that the seller claims.

Speccy is a freeware and works on Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 2003, Windows Vista and Windows 7.

Installation

Portable version of Speccy does not require installation on your Hard Drive, and you can run it from USB external storage.

Website: http://www.piriform.com/speccy

Download page: http://www.piriform.com/speccy/builds

Screenshot:

Descent Free Replacement for Acrobat Reader - Cool PDF Reader

Cool PDF Reader is a very compact PDF document viewer, actually one of the smallest on the market portable PDF viewer utilities. It is very fast and comes with everything you need to view and print PDF files, including the features, which are not regularly available in most other competitive products, like PDF file conversion to multiple text and image formats, like TXT, BMP, JPG, GIF, PNG, WMF, EMF, EPS.

Main program features:

1. Ability to view and print all versions of the PDF files.
   
2. Conversion option of the PDF files to the popular text and image formatsTXT, BMP, JPG, GIF, PNG, WMF, EMF, EPS.
   
3. Supports file documents in 72 languages.
   
4. Zoom in, zoom out, and display rotation.
   
5. Slide show of the PDF documents on full monitor screen.
   
6. Does not require program installation on the Hard Drive and can be run from the external USB disk.
   
7. Size of the sole executable file is just 650 MB.
   
8. Supports all version of the Windows OS, including Windows 7.
   
9. Highly intuitive and easy to use.
   
10. Software is absolutely free.

Web page: http://www.pdf2exe.com/reader.html

Screenshot:

If you like to have a wide choice of the related programs to choose one which will perfectly fit your needs, you can review the list of 19 Freeware PDF Readers on the RateItAll Rating list: http://www.rateitall.com/t-24911-free-pdf-viewers.aspx

Advanced Search for Files and Folders in Windows

Description

SearchMyFiles is an alternative to the standard "Search for Files and Folders" module of Windows. It allows you to easily search files in your system by wildcard, by last modified/created/last accessed time, by file attributes, by file content (text or binary search), and by the file size. SearchMyFiles allows you to make a very accurate search that cannot be done with Windows search. For Example: You can search all files created in the last 10 minutes with size between 500 and 700 bytes.

After you made a search, you can select one or more files, and save the list into text/html/csv/xml file, or copy the list to the clipboard.

SearchMyFiles is portable, and you can use it from a USB flash drive without leaving traces in the Registry of the scanned computer.

System Requirements

This utility works on any version of Windows starting from Windows 2000 and up to Windows 2008.

Using SearchMyFiles

SearchMyFiles doesn't require any installation process or additional DLL files. In order to start using it, simply run the executable file - SearchMyFiles.exe.

After running it, the 'Search Options' dialog-box is displayed. Select the base folders or drives that you want to search, the wildcard, and other search option that you need. After choosing the right search option, click 'Ok' in order to start the search. While in search process, the found files will be displayed in the main window. If you want to stop the search, you can simply click the 'Stop' menu.

After the search is finished, you can select one or more files, and then save the list into text/csv/html/xml file by using the 'Save Selected Items' option. You can also select a single file and open it with the default program by using the 'Open Selected File' option.

Search Options

Here's a small explanation about all available search options:

• Base Folder: Specifies the folder that you want to scan. if 'Scan Subfolders' option is also checked, all subfolders under this folder will also be scanned. You can also specift multiple folders, delimited by semicolon. For example: c:\temp;d:\myfolder;d:\nirsoft
• Excluded Folders: Allows you to specify one or more folders (delimited by semicolon) that you want to exclude from the scan. For example: If you want to scan you entire C: drive, but without C:\Windows and C:\Documents and Settings, you should type 'C:\' in the Base Folder, and 'C:\Windows;C:\Documents and Settings' in the Excluded Folders field.
• Files Wildcard: Specifies the wildcard for scanning the files. You can specify multiple wildcards delimited by semicolon, for example: *.exe;*.dll;*.ocx
• Subfolders Wildcard: Specifies the wildcard for scanning the subfolders. For example, If you want to only scan the subfolders beginning with 'a' letter, you can specify a*.* in this field.
• File Contains: Allows you to search by the content of the files. You can make a text search or binary search. On binary search, you should specify the binary sequence that you want to search in Hex dump format, for example: 'A2 C5 2F 8A 9E AC'.
• File Size: Specifies that you want to search files in specified size range (For example: search all files with size between 238 and 741 bytes).
• Attributes: Specifies that you want to search files with specific attributes. For example: if you want to find all files that are read-only but are not hidden, you should select 'Yes' for Read Only attribute and 'No' for Hidden attribute.
• File Time: Allows you to search files that have been created, modified, or accessed in the specified time range. You can specify an accurate time range (For example: 10/12/2008 12:32:11 - 12/12/2008 13:32:56) or you can specify the last number of seconds/minutes/hours/days. For example, you can search all files that have been modified in the last 10 minutes.
• Search Subfolders: If this option is checked, SearchMyFiles will scan all subfolders under the specified base folders.
• Find Folders: If this option is checked, SearchMyFiles will search for folders according to the other search options. If this options is not selected, SearchMyFiles will only search for files.

Website: http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/search_my_files.html

Download: http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/searchmyfiles.zip

Note that the SearchMyFiles utility is also available in other languages. In order to change the language of SearchMyFiles, download the appropriate language zip file, extract the 'searchmyfiles_lng.ini', and put it in the same folder that you Installed SearchMyFiles utility.

GUI in the following languages is available: Arabic, French, German, Italian, Russian, Chinese, Spanish, Turkish, and Valencian. 

System Purification Tool

PureRa is a simple portable tool that does a simple computer maintenance task. However, this program has special features, giving an extra functionality in comparison with other computer cleaning utilities: it removes files from your computer that other cleaning programs tend to oversee. Some of the target files are simply removed to create additional valuable space while other files (that are able to recreate themselves) are removed in an attempt to repair certain system configuration issues.

Targets that are currently removed by PureRa are:

- Config.msi Folder [The Config.msi folder contains backup of that are being installed or updated during an install. Sometimes a Windows Installer package is sloppy and doesn’t automatically remove unpacked setup files and the Config.msi folder can get cluttered with useless files]

- Thumbs.db [when you view the contents of a folder in ’Thumbnail’ or ’Filmstrip’ view a system file called Thumbs.db is generated automatically by Windows XP. Thumbs.db contains a copy of each of the tiny preview images generated for image files in that folder so that they load up quickly the next time you browse that folder. Thumbs.db also stores your settings with regard to thumbnail and filmstrip view. Though they are small they may annoy you because there may be hundreds of them]

- Iconcache.db [The icons used in Windows are saved in an icon cache. These can become corrupted and lead to garbled/fuzzy icons. Deleting the Iconcache.db file will force Windows to re-create itself flawlessly]

- .sqm-files [sqm-files are created by MSN Messenger and Windows Live Messenger. It is rumored that they are created to become the reports that these programs will send if you turn on the option to allow Microsoft to gather information about your use of MSN Live Messenger (read surfing behavior). These reports are still being generated (as sqm-files) but not send]

- Desktop.ini [Desktop.ini is used to tell Windows how to display a folder. For example, enabling Thumbnail view creates a desktop.ini file in that folder which amongst other things, tells Windows to add an extra item to the View menu for that folder. Desktop.ini files are also used when you customize folders, change their icons etc.]

This program is absolutely free for any use; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation.

The utility is small (175 Kb), fast, portable, easy to use, and does not consume significant system resources.

Developers’ website: http://raproducts.org/purera.html

RarmaRadio - listen and record Worldwide Radio Stations

RarmaRadio allows you to listen to and record radio stations from around the world. While listening to your favorite radio station you can record it anytime you want. Browse through the radio stations or just select a random station and enjoy Internet radio!

You have total control over your radio stations allowing you to add or delete a station anytime you want. Need to play a station from another application then just enable global hotkeys and control it anytime.

Program is completely portable and does not require installation. When you run it for the first time, it will create application folder in the same directory, and will write all the settings there.

Key Features

• Listen to and record multiple stations simultaneously
• Create a schedule for automatic recording
• Show cover art and lyrics for each song
• Save tag information to music files
• Ability to add more stations
• Add or update stations in the online database
• Store your favorites online
• Play random station
• Last.fm support
• TV support
• Multi Language support
  

Developers website: http://www.raimersoft.com/rarmaradio.aspx

Direct Downloading Link: http://www.raimersoft.com/downloads/Rarmaradio_setup.exe

Note: When I run it for the first time, some of the menu labels were missing. Fix that easily, choosing again the preferable language from the service menu View >> Languages.

Floola - Freeware Portable iPod Manager

Floola is a freeware application dedicated to the efficient management of your iPod or your Motorola mobile phone (any model supporting iTunes) under Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows Operating systems. Floola application is portable, and it can be used directly from your iPod and needs no installation.

Floola supports all common used iPod features including photos, artwork, podcasts and smart playlists. It automatically converts any incompatible for the mobile device audio or video file, so that you can copy almost any file to it. It even allows adding Youtube and Myspace videos with a single click to the device.

Main features:

• Works on any Windows (from Windows98 to Windows Vista), any Mac and any Linux distribution with GTK installed.
• Do not require installation, and can be executed directly from iPod or any PC.
• Copy, add and extract songs to and from iPod.
• Easily manage, import and export playlists (m3u, pls).
• Works with podcasts and Last.fm.
• Add video files to iPod just copying the page URL address.
• Multilanguage support.
• Lyric support iPods (3G and above).
• Easily find duplicated and lost songs on iPod.
• Add artwork to your songs.
• Convert audio and video incompatible formats.
• Create HTML files containing list of your iPod files.
• Add pictures to your iPod, and much more…
  

Website: http://www.floola.com/home/

Direct download (iPod): http://www.floola.com/home/download_win

Direct download (Windows): http://www.floola.com/home/download_desktopwin

Recovering Corrupted MS Word Files

One of the worst nightmares of the modern computer user is the situation, when the backup files cannot be opened. Some common error messages which can prevent user from proper opening a Microsoft Word document include:

• "The document name or path is not valid. Try these suggestions. Check the file permissions for the document or drive. Use the File Open dialog box to locate the document."
• "Word cannot open the document."
• "Word cannot open the document: user does not have access privileges."
• When you attempt to open a Microsoft Word 97 document into Microsoft Word version 6.x or 7.x, the document contains garbage characters.

Repair My Word is a data recovery program designed, as you might see according to the name, particularly for Microsoft Word documents recovery. It can restore text from damaged or corrupt Word files (.doc files) that cannot be opened through the normal procedure. The recovered text can then be saved as an error free Microsoft Word document. Note that the text file restoration approach determines saving it in rich-text format, therefore, the original document formatting will be removed. Graphics, tables, numbering/bullets and text formatting is lost during the recovery process. But, you do not need to recreate the text again, which can cause a lot of complications.

Repair My Word can be used successfully for the following software versions: Microsoft Word 6.0, Word 95, 97, 2000, XP, and 2003 for Windows. It is completely portable, and a single executable file can run from any small USB stick. Operation is extremely simple: open the corrupt file, preview, and save it again with easy recognizable name a repaired file.

Did I forget to mention that the utility is unconditional freeware?

Developer Web Site: http://www.repairmyword.com/

Direct Downloading Link: http://download.getdata.com/WordRepair.exe

Revo Uninstaller - Secure and Effective Applications Removal

I like trying different software (definitely, freeware) utilities. Most of them, I will never use again, and just few become the part of my software tool-box. So, unneeded software should be uninstalled without leaving any traces on the computer. Unfortunately, it does not work like that. Program developers care a lot about clean and proper program installation, but they care much less, on how the software will be removed from your computer. Sometimes, it does not work at all, giving you notification that the un-installation file is missing. Sometimes, it does not produce any error messages, but still leaves behind abandoned drivers, orphan application files, empty data directories, else. For example, standard uninstaller, built in the Windows Operation Systems, cannot entirely remove all traces of AOL software, no matter what.

Definitely, it is good to use portable software, whenever possible, and I would consider non-portable programs just in the exceptional cases, when portable versions do not exist, and there is no competitive freeware product, offering portability.

In this post, I want to present a free portable solution for clean programs removal from your computer. Revo Uninstaller is able to completely uninstall unwanted programs from your PC even if you cannot uninstall them from "Windows Add or Remove Programs" control panel applet. Revo Uninstaller is also much faster and more powerful alternative to the Windows un-installer. With its advanced algorithm, it can analyze through a deep scan application’s data before and after application removal to make sure, no traces left. Even if you have a broken installation, Revo Uninstaller scans for an application’s data on your hard disk drives and in the Windows registry and shows all found files, folders and registry keys so you can delete them. This doesn’t just recover space on your HDD - it speeds up your computer as well.

On top of the main un-installer utility, Revo gives you another bonus - 8 handy and powerful tools to clean up your system: Auto Start Manager, Windows Tools Manager, Junk Files Cleaner, Browsers History Cleaner, Office History Cleaner, Windows History Cleaner, Unrecoverable Delete Tool, Evidence Remover.

A portable software version of the problem can be downloaded from the authors Web Site: http://www.revouninstaller.com/revouninstaller.zip