Windows Tools, Help & Guides

Windows Guides’ Rating	Compatible with	System
4 out of 5

PROS: Simple, clean access to your files, providing comparable features to Dropbox and SkyDrive web interfaces. Seamless access to your local and online files provides the advantage of local file storage without filling your Solid State or Hard Disk Drive. CONS: Very limited file manipulation functionality leaves you wanting to jump out to Windows Explorer to manage local files. VERDICT: I anticipate the inclusion of more features as this application matures; however, if you’re using a Windows 8 laptop or tablet with limited storage space, you’ll be sure to find this application a great tool for tying together your cloud and local files. PRICE: Free DOWNLOAD: All My Storage

Read the rest of this entry »

Windows Guides’ Rating	Compatible with	System
4.5 out of 5

PROS: Simple interface and easy to use. Portable. Consumes low memory. CONS: No minimize option—you can close it to the system tray (or minimize all windows with Winkey+D) but you’ll have to show it in your system tray if you’re using Windows 7 or 8. VERDICT: This is part of my default toolkit and I highly recommend it if you’re tired of copying, saving, and trying to find snippets of text all the time. PRICE: Free VERSION REVIEWED: 0.3 Beta 1 DOWNLOAD: ClipCube Image by maxumipsum70

Read the rest of this entry »

Windows 7 includes a basic sticky notes feature  that you can use to post sticky notes on your desktop. But if you want better looking sticky notes and much more control over the sticky notes, then you can try the free 7 Sticky Notes. It is a free desktop notes application for Windows 7. It has a great looking sticky note appearance with superior features. It includes a sticky notes manager which lists all the sticky notes you have created and lets you edit, delete or restore them. You can even integrate it with your online storage accounts like Microsoft SkyDrive, DropBox or Google Drive etc. and share the same sticky notes across various computers.

Read the rest of this entry »

We’ve all been there. You need to reinstall your software – but you forgot to write down the serial number or you simply lost the paper where you wrote it down.

What do you do?

As long as you haven’t removed the program or deleted your hard drive – there are several options, one being hacking your registry as in Rich’s recent post: Crack Windows Password [How To]. Here’s another solution.

Read the rest of this entry »

Everybody knows how to start applications in Microsoft Windows through the Start Menu. You can click on the Start Menu button, grapple with the sub-menus until you find the program you wanted to launch and then you can run it. Using the Start Menu in Windows to run an application is not only cumbersome but also a tad slow for most of us. If you have ever wished for a quicker and neater looking method to launch programs, then the open-source program Launchy can make those wishes come true.

Launchy is an open-source cross-platform application that can be used to quickly launch desired programs with only a few keystrokes. It stays inactive in the background until you invoke it using the Alt + Space keyboard combination. This would pop up a tiny Launchy window where you can type in the name of a program or shortcut present in your Start Menu, a program or file in specified folders or a website name present in your Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox bookmarks. Launchy quickly displays possible targets in the drop-down list. When you see the program or website you want to launch, select it using arrow keys on your keyboard and then just hit Enter and it would start that application.

Read the rest of this entry »

Windows Guides’ Rating	Compatible with	System
5 out of 5

PROS: A simple application that lets you control multiple PCs with one keyboard and mouse. The concept isn’t new but the execution is clean and simple and simple file drag and drop as well as seamless copy/paste make this a great tool. CONS: None VERDICT: This is even easier to use than Synergy and InputDirector. If you want a no-frills solution to a virtual KVM (minus the video switching), this application will almost certainly satisfy. PRICE: Free VERSION REVIEWED: 2.1.0.9 DOWNLOAD: Mouse without Borders

Read the rest of this entry »