Windows Tools, Help & Guides

Windows Guides’ Rating	Compatible with	System
4 out of 5

PROS: Provides comprehensive information on the components, software, and changes on your PC. CONS: The interface is a little ugly and the information isn’t helpful for casual users. VERDICT: Use this if a knowledgeable friend is helping you fix your PC or if you want to know and keep tabs on what’s going on with your PC. PRICE: Free VERSION REVIEWED: v2 DOWNLOAD: LookInMyPC

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Batch-Files are small yet powerful tools that you can create to easy your daily chores. Back in the day when Windows was glass covered holes for letting air and light into your house, Batch scripting was an essential and every day tasks. Today, most people don’t even know it exists.

This time we’ll explore how to create a multiple choice menu that can trigger files, website and functions.

Create a multiple choice menu in a batch-file

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Inspired by a comment from one of our readers (Frogman) about a tool from the “good old” DOS days. He told us that he used to convert his batch-files into EXE-files using DOS commands. The good news is that this tool still exists inside your windows. Since then it has been updated with a Windows GUI (windows graphical user interface)

Doing a search on the net, you can find literally hundreds of freeware apps to do this conversion, but in this article I will only use the forgotten Windows Tool which is hidden in the System32 folder:

iEXPRESS 2.0

iExpress is actually a program for creating installation packages. But as it creates standalone Executable files (EXE-files) we can use it to execute almost any runtime script we want.

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Windows Guides’ Rating	Compatible with	System
5 out of 5

jv16 PowerTools is the ultimate Windows optimization and tune-up utility suite. The bottom line is that it keeps your computer running smooth, fast and greatly improves its overall stability. If you’re still (gasp!) using our old RegCleaner program, or an older version of PowerTools, it’s time to wake up and pay attention! PROS: Fast. Lightweight, Easy to Use. CONS:Not Free VERDICT:Overall the most reliable “optimization and tune-up utility suite” I have ever encountered. No matter if you are an experienced user or not – JV16 PowerTools will become your best friend – ensuring your computer a long and healthy life. PRICE: From $29,95 VERSION REVIEWED: 2.0.0.986 DOWNLOAD: JV16 Power Tools 2010

jv16 PowerTools 2010 is here and it’s sweet!

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Microsoft Research have released an Internet Explorer Add-On that lets you play “Spot the difference” with websites.

Diff-IE is a prototype Internet Explorer Add-on that:

• Highlights the changes to a page since the last time you visited it
• Allows you to view – and compare – previously cached versions of a page

When changes are made obvious, especially the subtle and unexpected ones, you get a whole lot more out of the web pages you visit.

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I’ve stopped buying music.

Now hold on, before you jump to any wrong conclusions – I don’t illegally download it either. I rent it … sort of.

These day it seems, the music industry are doing what they can to make it harder for honest people to get the music they want (and according to some, encouraging them to “steal”). Some smart people have come up with a great solution: Legal Streaming. Almost with the industry’s blessing.

There are several online solutions for streaming music legally – but in my book there are only two worth checking out: Spotify and Grooveshark. Both of which give you all the music you can ever listen too, free (ad-supported) and legal. Both also provides a paid service without ads and commercial breaks.

Mini Review.

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