3 Utilities Optimizing PC Startup Algorithm

 Many customers complain that their computers are slow and unresponsive. However, the computer startup might be considered as a separate issue, even thou the similar appearance is observed. When Windows loads its Startup file, it attempts to load every program activated to start up with Operating Systems altogether at the same time. Therefore if you have quite a lot of programs starting when Windows starts, each program will try to grab required CPU and Disk time so that it can load properly.

This fight for resources causes computer slowdown due to the computer limited resources, trying to accommodate all requests at the same time - your CPU is trying to help all the programs to load, and your hard disk accessing multiple files. It is especially noticeable for the slightly older systems with no performed periodic system maintenance.

1. Startup Delayer

Free utility, Startup Delayer, gives you the power to optimize your Startup Process by delaying applications from starting up as soon as you log into your computer. By delaying the applications and optimizing their launch during start up, your computer becomes operational much faster.  Thus, startup Delayer allows you add some order to this process by determining the best time to launch your Applications. You can choose to do this based on how idle your computer is, or you can set an arbitrary time.

Web site: http://www.r2.com.au/page/products/show/startdelay

Downloading page: http://www.r2.com.au/page/products/download/startup-delayer/

2. My Startup Delayer

My Startup Delayer is a free portable utility, but it is not strictly speaking freeware. It is donationware. Sometimes a popup window (asking for a donation) may open when launching the software. If you donate, that window will not appear anymore. If you do not donate, the software will not stop working and will not use its functionality, but you will have to live with occasional pop-ups.

Web site: http://www.myportablesoftware.com/mystartupdelayer.aspx

Download: http://www.myportablesoftware.com/my_startup_delayer.zip

3. Launch Later

Open source LaunchLater allows you to defer the launch of applications that run at Windows login. This lets Windows focus on booting itself first, then subsequently running a list of configured startup apps using a schedule that you control. The freeware does require that you have .NET Framework (ver.4.0) installed.

LaunchLater is very simple: you add the applications you want to delay and specify the delay in seconds. But the simplicity also entails a bit of work, because you have to manually browse to the executable of the application you want to delay the launch for.

Web site: http://launchlater.codeplex.com/

Download: http://launchlater.codeplex.com/downloads/get/275739#

Pazera Free Audio Extractor

Pazera Free Audio Extractor is an ultimate freeware software utility, which is able to perform professional extraction of any audio tracks from video clips without loss of sound quality and subsequent conversion to one of the popular audio formats, like MP3, AAC, AC3, WMA, FLAC, or WAV.

The application supports all major video formats (AVI, FLV, MP4, MPG, MOV, RM, 3GP, WMV, VOB, ...) and, in addition, allows the quality conversion of audio files from one format to another, so it can be considered as a universal audio converter.

The program has a number of predefined settings (profiles), conveniently designed for novice users. However, more experienced users have the opportunity to customize audio encoding parameters used by encoder: audio bit rate, sampling frequency, audio channels, and audio volume. The application allows extracting and converting or full audio track or just selected part of it only.

The most important features:
- Extracting audio tracks from video files without loss of sound quality.
- Video conversion: Source video formats - AVI, DivX, XviD, MPEG, MPG, WMV, ASF, MOV, QT, FLV, SWF, MP4, M4V, 3GP, 3G2, RM, RMVB, MKV, VOB, VCD DAT, OGM, AMV - to the following audio formats - MP3, AAC, AC3, WMA, FLAC or WAV.
- Audio conversion: Source audio formats - WAV, MP3, AC3, AAC, M4A, MPC, MPA, MP2, WMA, FLAC, SHN, APE, OGG, WV, AMR – to the following audio formats - MP3, AAC, AC3, WMA, FLAC or WAV.
- Many predefined profiles.

- The users can create custom profiles.
- Software does not need any installation. Just extract ZIP archive and click AudioExtractor.exe file. The program is absolutely portable, it doesn't use system registry and can be run from portable devices. All settings are written to INI file.
- Supported languages: English, Polish.
- The utility is 100% freeware!  It can be used for both private and commercial purposes. There are no limitations, adware, spyware, etc.
- Pazera Free Audio Extractor uses free, fast and high quality open source video encoder - FFmpeg.

Screenshots:

Website: http://www.pazera-software.com/products/audio-extractor/

Direct download: http://www.pazera-download.com/audio_multimedia/Pazera_Free_Audio_Extractor_PORTABLE.zip

Advanced Tracking for your Portable Computer Devices

The amount of the portable computer devices and computerized gadgets you own is growing up. So, at the same proportion grows the risk that one day your laptop, netbook, or tablet will be lost or stolen. While the gadget may be quite expensive by itself, losing the data may be the bigger disaster. What can you do now to get the disappeared device back?

Would not be nice, if you could track it on a map, or lock it down remotely, or turn on the webcam to find out where it is now located, and may be spy on a alleged thief?

Prey is a free awesome program that allows you to do all that and more. You just download Prey and register your device for free on the Prey website. If the laptop ever goes missing, you can notify Prey online and use the Prey control panel to geo-locate it, set off an alarm to hear if it's nearby, and lock down the device to prevent anyone else from using it.

Yes, free version of the utility has certain limitations, like limit on the amount of devices you may track (three), or limit on amount of the monthly reports. If these limitations are deal stopper for you, you can always choose one of the commercial PRO accounts, but for most private users the free account will suite the basic security needs.

The software is available for multiple platforms:

* Windows

* MAC

* Ubuntu

* Linux

* Android

* iOS

Developer’s website: http://preyproject.com/

Downloads web page: http://preyproject.com/download

Free tool to split and merge PDF documents

In many cases, both in business and personal operations, you may need to use text file format, which cannot be altered without leaving an electronic footprint. A PDF file is exactly what you need.  Furthermore, the PDF file will appear on the reader’s computer exactly as you wanted it to be with no relation to the hardware or software.  Free Adobe Acrobat Reader is an integral part of each Operating System.

However, PDF has its own drawbacks and complications to edit without additional utilities. The following free open source utility will help you to manipulate the PDF files easily.

PDFsam Basic is a simple tool designed to split and merge PDF files. It’s very simple, stable and completely free. It should cover most of your needs.

With its simple and intuitive interface you can:

* Split your PDF documents (into chapters, single pages, etc.).

* Merge many PDF documents or subsections of them.

* Extract sections of your document into a single PDF document.

* Mix alternate pages taken from two PDF documents in straight or reverse order into a single document.

* Rotate pages of the selected PDF documents.

* Visually reorder pages of a selected PDF document.

* Visually compose a document dragging pages from selected PDF documents.

Developers’ website: http://www.pdfsam.org/?page_id=10

Direct download page (use Windows Installer for Windows OS): http://www.pdfsam.org/?page_id=32