Don't know if this has been mentioned before but I've been getting sick and tired of adverts on the websites I go to... Some of the Telegraph ones even expand outwards so you cannot see your teams!!!

So I found Adblock Plus for FireFox and with a few tweaks after installation the pages load much quicker and I can actually read what I want without being distracted.

A really handy add-on to Firefox is PicLens.

It's been around for a while and I'm sure a lot of you already use it but I thought I'd mention it here.

The latest version now lets you browse Youtube in 3D. Which is nice.

Linky

I'm going to have to wait until I upgrade my 2-D monitor to one of these new fangled 3-D ones.

Very extensive system info provider(just click below 'free downloads from'):

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download181.html

Downloaded and using TuneUp 2009 program, absolutely brilliant!

For those that like using Notepad as it's quick, try NotePad Plus http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net. It has a lot more features and formatting options.

Inkscape is an excellent vector graphics tool http://www.inkscape.org and GIMP (someone has already mentioned) is a great substitute for users who don't use some of the more advanced features of Photoshop and want a free raster graphics tool.

I find there are plenty of great software titles at SourceForge http://sourceforge.net/index.php and a lot of good Windows utilities are listed at The Free Country http://www.thefreecountry.com/. Most are freeware.

I also find PortableApps http://portableapps.com really useful to carry around on a USB stick for using PC's in Internet cafe's and Libraries that don't have some of the software I'm used to using.

Great recommendation this. Gave me 15% extra space and PC is a lot quicker now - keys for the full version are about if you know where to look

There is a possibility that surfing the places where such keys can be found and downloading and opening said keys can be the cause of your computer being slow in the first place.

15% extra space and 50% less blame for each of you if anything goes wrong as I am installing after your 2 recommendations.....

You sure this program is legit. Its not taking your data and sending over the internet rather than compressing it.

Well, if it is im f**ked!

Had it over the month long trial and nothing dodgey gone on yet.

I think it is actually adding to my data

I reckon there are a couple of unecessary extra digits in all my FF league placings

Same murf same

Funny as well, ive had it installed ever since the latest transfer windows

Downloaded the months trial version for tuneup 09 20 days ago, does anyone know what happens when the trial ends? I've read Flyman`s earlier posts about the 2007 version and was thinking that he probably ended up un-installing it.

potentially - though I've also been lazy over the last 3 years since I bought the PC and so have finally done a spring clean with it!

Hi, giggs, It's been a while, but as I recall, it just took longer and longer to load the programme after the trial ended (built in to the software as an incentive to buy it, not 'cos my PC was effed! ) .... but then I only used it the once, mebee twice, after the 'free' date expired, iIrc - but that was some time back.

I've used the '08 & '09 versions to service others' 'puters and have nothing but praise for this freebie - Shogun, if you are that sceptical, run the software while offline!
Chuffed some of you like it.


Big 'Yo!' to all me old matey's in FISOland.

right back at ya!

Have used and can recommend a free program called MailWasher.

It allows you to preview and delete emails before you download them and it can bounce spam & email viruses back to the sender.


Some FAQs from website:

Q: How does MailWasher work?

A: MailWasher works directly with your email server, exactly like your email program does. But there is one important difference: you can tell MailWasher to delete a message at the server, without downloading it - or you can bounce an email back to the sender so that it looks as though your address is not valid.


Q: How do I start using MailWasher?

A: To set up MailWasher you'll need:
* Email server settings (pop3, smtp)
* Username
* Password

To check email, don't open your email client first. Instead, just start MailWasher by double clicking on the desktop icon, or going to Start menu, Programs, then MailWasher.

The MailWasher program will then start and will tell you what messages you have waiting for you on the email server. In the check boxes, select whether to Delete the messages (if nothing is checked, the emails will simply be downloaded to your email client as normal), and then select process mail. Processing mail will remove the emails you have selected. Your email client will open and you can download the remaining emails as you normally do.


Q: How does MailWasher bounce messages?

A: MailWasher uses an algorithm to determine the best route to send the bounced message back (from, reply to, return path) and actually sends the bounce back via your ISP's postmaster, so it looks exactly like it has come from your ISP and not from you at your address. If the spammer has used a fake address, then your bounce message will itself be bounced back to the postmaster and you won't receive the bounced bounce email.


Q: Who is behind MailWasher?
A: Nick Bolton, a New Zealander.

To download and use, click on the link below:
http://www.mailwasher.net/download.php
or to find out more information go to
http://www.mailwasher.net/


Would like to add I installed Mailwasher over five years ago; am happy to try and answer initial queries on usage.

Cheers Flyman. Got to agree, its a top program.
Speeded my laptop up considerably so I'm thinking of buying the full product.

You can use this Firefox addon to preview Fiso last posts and profiles amongst other things:
http://www.coolpreviews.com/index.php

I have been using this now since this was posted but I've just disabled it.
It was pissing me off a lot more than it was proving useful.

I have two computers and hated having two mice and two keyboards.

http://code.google.com/p/synergy-plus/

Using Synergy+ I can make the mouse cursor travel between the two computers as though they were one. i.e. out of one screen and into the other. This enables me to have two computers but one keyboard and mouse on my desk.

That's pretty nifty but what is even better is that you can also carry your windows buffer (cut paste) from one screen on one computer to the screen on the other. This is really useful for copying urls or large bits of text - or for say surfing in one and writing mail from the other. The keyboard become active in whichever screen the mouse is active.

Yes its effectively a KVM (keyboard video mouse) solution but the copy\paste is the killer extra. Even now, seasoned IT folk are amazed when I run my mouse cursor in and out of the 8 screens in a line in our server lab

You can link up as many computers as you like in this way. You just tell Synergy+ that moving out of the right hand side of the window should make it appear in the left side of the other computer screen. Obviously they must be on the network as that it how it is done.

I am currently using an Acer Aspire 150 netbook. It's a cracking wee machine weighing just 1Kg, so perfect for my travels. However;

1) It does not have a cd or dvd rom drive ....

2) Also, being so far from home, I can't send any large files I have to friends or my laptop (which I left in Bristol) by email (too big) or by disc (no burner) .....

3) And sometimes it just isn't safe to walk the streets with my computer - or enter sensitive passwords onto hotel or internet cafe machines in case of keyloggers, password capture, and such worries .....

I've managed to get around each problem with the following 3 pieces of free software:

1) Daemon Tools Lite: This little gem, when installed, emulates 4 DVD drives on your machine!

Having no optical drive on my netbook meant that I couldn't play dvds or run games that require the master disc to be in the drive, but by making an ISO of those discs on my (optical drive equipped) laptop before I left the UK, and transferring them on my hard drive via wi-fi or stick drive, I can now Run them using any one of the 4 emulated drives!

If you are a habitual gamer who gets sick of forever swapping discs over, or if your optical drive is old and iffy, you might find this a boon, too.

2) Dropbox: Basic, free Dropbox is a great way of storing files off line and/or transferring them from one machine to another at any distance.
The free version is limited to 2 Gbs of storage, but this can be increased with the upgraded, bought versions.

It works like this: You (or you and a friend) register an account and install Dropbox on as many machines as you wish. You then create folders, put files in them and upload those files to Dropbox's remote storage, then you either invite others to share that folder, or simply log on to your second computer (say, at work), Run Dropbox and sign in - you'll find the stored files in the folder you created, waiting to be downloaded onto whatever machine you are now using!

For instance, I can send up to 2 Gbs of photos to a particular folder I share with a pal in Bristol from where ever I am - Vietnam, currently, by uploading them to that folder.
I then email him to say, "Please stick these on my laptop."
Once he's logged on and downloaded them he deletes them from the Dropbox Folder. I get a message from Dropbox telling me they've been deleted and Bingo!, I can wipe them from my netbook's HD, freeing up space here (as I now have a copy in England), and I've got my 2 Gigs of free space back on Dropbox ready for the next batch I want to send - or receive!

Conversely, a mate in the Hebrides has recently sent me several 'Have I Got News For You's and 'In the Thick of It' episodes he captured as VLC files via 'Get-iPlayer' (see earlier post), so I can enjoy some great British comedy while abroad. Fanbloodytastic!

**** Hot News! Dropbox are offering 250Mbs extra free space to new users invited by old users! I.E. If I invite people we both get another 250 Mbs free on top of the basic 2 Gigs, up to a total of 3 Gbs. Please see my note at the bottom of this post!

3) Roboform2Go: Download and stick this baby on a stick drive, chose one Master Password, then enter up to 10 of your most used, most important passwords/log ins (more in the paid version), and make any number of notes in 'Safe Notes'.

All info is encrypted so that without that one Master Password, no one else can access your info!

What is more, when you plug your stick drive into any computer and go to a site you've stored a Log in for, it asks for your Master Password (once per session - or each time if you want) then, if that's entered correctly, it automatically fills in your log in details.

Not only is this easy, it means that you aren't tapping out your sensitive details onto a keyboard which could be spiked with a keylogger (allowing a 3rd party to retrieve your passwords later!).

When you've finished surfing just click 'Exit'. Roboform2go will run a quick clean, wiping your passwords and log ins from the computer's memory before switching itself off.
Brilliant!

I use the 'Safe Notes' facility to store log ins and passwords for the less security sensitive sites I visit, keeping the 10 free 'Log in' places for banks, eBay, FISO, FPL - the important stuff in life.

**** Dropbox Free Space Offer If you fancy using Dropbox why not allow me to Invite you? That way we both get extra free storage space!
Just PM me with your email addy, mention Dropbox, and I'll send you an invite as soon as I'm able.

Another nice freebie:

http://www.dvdvideosoft.com/guides/dvd/ ... ouTube.htm

This software allows you to download streamed video from YouTube onto your hard drive to keep. Very useful as stuff frequently gets removed from YT due to copyright infringement.

They also offer more free software, mainly audio/video conversion programmes. No spyware or adware, either.

Whisper 32
A simple, free password manager. I have over 150 web application passwords stored on mine, have used it for years, and don't know how I'd live without it.

There's a built in screen capture facility on the Mac... but since I've been taking quite a few for the side games I run, I found this..

Capture Me

A freebie that gives you more options, like where to save and what format.

A program that gives a detailed list of your PC's hardware and other info :
THE LINK

http://toolbarcleaner.com/
A simple selective remover of all those toolbar addons that you gather.Lists them simply next to each browser name and you'd often have more than you think.