MouseExtender is a small application can be used to start your favorite programs and URLs. Using Drag and drop or the Add function in the File Menu you can add almost any utility, task and web service to the interface.

MouseExtender features:

• Mouse button configuration
• Add items to ME using Drag&Drop!
• Group your items by tabs
• Add Web Address
• Customize item as you want. User can change launch arguments,tool-tips, icons, etc.
• Shutdown/sleep/hibernate with timer
• Automatic updates checking
• Sort Items using Drag&Drop
• Stylized controls
• Enable/Disable option from tray icon context menu
• About information
• Localization
• MouseExtender automatically adds web site icon and title for Web address

Read more here, and download from here: (http://me.krv7.net/)

.Net Framework

MouseExtender is developed on the .net platform and the .net runtime framework is required. Windows 7 users need to do nothing as it comes with the .net already installed.

If you don’t have Windows 7 you need to download and install .net framework (click here).

Enjoy!

Download MouseExtender

Download MouseExtender

Further Reading

• Get Windows 7 Style Taskbar Thumbnail Previews in XP [How To]
• Really Take Control over Your Right-click Context Menu [How To]
• Acer Gridvista Enables Aero Snap Features [Vista and XP]
• Remote Desktop, No Installation Required – Freeware
• Collection of 14 Free Windows Sidebar Gadgets [Chameleon Glass Style]

The best way, sometimes, is using Remote Desktop. But this usually involves getting the already troubled users to download and install a small client of some sort and guide them through that.  And, well… Let’s just say I sometimes hate being the one they call. However…

I’ve come a cross a great tool for the job, which allows me to help without all that hassle – and best of all – it’s free !!

No Setup Problems

I’ve been using a free service from LogMeIn.com – which allows me to take full control over my friends and colleagues’ computers. The drawback is that they need to download and install a small application and register at the LogMeIn Website (with my guidance). The other drawback is that Once they are in my system – they stay there – for better or worse.

I just discovered that LogMeIn have a hidden treasure in their collection called LogMeIn Express that uses Flash. This little tool requires very little from the people in trouble. It is still in Beta, so there aren’t too much features yet but I’m sure there will be pretty soon.

No Download, No Setup, No Registering…

There is nothing to download or setup, only a small utility that the user sharing his/her desktop, need to activate via the website. The (up to 100) other users, only need a 9 digit key provided by the main user.

The Person sharing his desktop can choose which visitor to control his computer (if any). LogMeIn Express also support file-sharing and chat. Which is all you need, really.

Here’s How it works

Surf to: LogMeIn.com. As it’s still in Beta the URL is long, so I have made a short-URL for my own personal use, but feel free to use it: http://shorten.ws/LogMeIn.

Tell your friend in need, to visit the above website and click on Share, then Click Run to allow it. The utility will self-install and display a 9-digit serial number, which he or she need to give you. You type this number into the text field (on the above website) and.. wait for it … you are both online. Remote Desktop the easy way!

The toolbox is very self-explanatory. After all my 11-year-old daughter managed to chat with me after looking at it for  10 seconds, and she doesn’t even read English that well … yet. Anyways this is what it looks like:

The Chat window (shown above) opens automatically when the connection is set up. When you are done helping, just close the window and the application will uninstall itself. It cannot get any easier (or better).

The Session is online as long as the main desktop has the application running. If you need to take a break from the session, the main user may PAUSE the sharing without the need of closing it down. Also, on a dual monitor system the remote desktop will only show the main monitor.

LogMeIn Free

If you require the ability to remote control a desktop without having another user on the other computer to let you in. I recommend that you sign up for the Free Account at www.LogMeIn.com

Further Reading

• MouseExtender is an iPhone-like Menu for Windows
• Acer Gridvista Enables Aero Snap Features [Vista and XP]
• Best Windows Freebies and Guides 18 [September 2009]
• Get Windows 7 Style Taskbar Thumbnail Previews in XP [How To]
• Really Take Control over Your Right-click Context Menu [How To]

Want More Icons?

Check out more icon collections on Mintywhite.com or learn how to use these on a dock in Windows.

Moleskine Helvetica Icon

IconTexto Web 2.0 User

Colourflow : 225 icon set

Wild Wild West

Onebit

The Browser Icons

Cook Icons

Pink Jelly Social Networking Icons

Transparent Glass Social Bookmarking Icons

CoffeeBreak Icon

Developer Library Icon

Glossy eCommerce Icons: 32 Free Icons

iSuite Revoked Animated PNG

2experts

Windows 7 DVD-Box’s

140 Stone Tile Icons

Colourflow : Folders – Blue

Colourflow:lovesamy custom set

Colorflow Unique

MS Office 2007 Icons Pack

Further Reading

• Free Mac/Windows/Linux Icon Packs [Set 16] PNG/ICO
• Free Mac/Windows/Linux Icon Packs [Set 14] PNG/ICO
• Free Mac/Windows/Linux Icon Packs [Set 18] PNG/ICO
• Free Mac/Windows/Linux Icon Packs [Set 15] PNG/ICO
• Free Mac/Windows/Linux Icon Packs [Set 13] PNG/ICO

Zip Tool Alternatives

• 7-Zip
• PeaZip
• TUGZip

7-Zip Features

7-Zip is my compressed-file manager of choice with the following features:

• High compression ratio in new 7z format with LZMA compression
• Supported formats:
  • Packing / unpacking: 7z, ZIP, GZIP, BZIP2 and TAR
  • Unpacking only: ARJ, CAB, CHM, CPIO, DEB, DMG, HFS, ISO, LZH, LZMA, MSI, NSIS, RAR, RPM, UDF, WIM, XAR and Z.
• For ZIP and GZIP formats, 7-Zip provides a compression ratio that is 2-10 % better than the ratio provided by PKZip and WinZip
• Strong AES-256 encryption in 7z and ZIP formats
• Self-extracting capability for 7z format
• Integration with Windows Shell
• Powerful File Manager
• Powerful command line version
• Plugin for FAR Manager
• Localizations for 74 languages

You can compress files in many different formats, add passwords, and more.

7-Zip has a clean interface and is easy to use.

Before downloading, check your PC for errors. Download 7-Zip

PeaZip Features

PeaZip is also popular and comes with the following features:

• create 7Z, ARC, BZ2, GZ, PAQ/LPAQ, PEA, QUAD/BALZ, TAR, UPX, ZIP
• extract 87 archive types: ACE, ARJ, CAB, DMG, ISO, LHA, RAR, UDF and many more…
• discover main features of PeaZip >>

I find the install of PeaZip a little overwhelming with lots of questions that I didn’t really care to answer:

PeaZip has a clean interface:

PeaZip, like 7-Zip and unlike TUGZip, lets you browse .ISO files — which is really useful for me.

Before downloading, check your PC for errors. Download PeaZip

TUGZip Features

TUGZip is the least popular of the other two programs; however, it comes packed with the following features:

• Supports ZIP, 7-ZIP, A, ACE, ARC, ARJ, BH, BZ2, CAB, CPIO, DEB, GCA, GZ, IMP, JAR, LHA (LZH), LIB, RAR, RPM, SQX, TAR, TGZ, TBZ, TAZ, YZ1 and ZOO archives.
• Supports BIN, C2D, IMG, ISO and NRG disc-images.
• Support for external plugins.
• Windows® shell integration, for example drag & drop, shell context menu and drop handlers.
• Create 7-ZIP, BH, BZ2, CAB, JAR, LHA (LZH), SQX, TAR, TGZ, YZ1 and ZIP archives.
• Script support which allows you to make automated backups.
• Basic features like: add, extract, delete, rename, run, view, checkout, install, test, comment, SFX, virus-scanning, disk-spanning and much more.
• Repair corrupted ZIP and SQX archives.
• Can extract multiple archives at once using Multi Extract.
• Encrypt archives using 6 different algorithms. Blowfish (128-bit), DES (56-bit), Triple DES (168-bit) and Rijndael (128-bit, 192-bit and
  256-bit).
• Create self-extracting encrypted archives.
• Automatic updates using the “Web Update” function.

TUGZip lets you pick the interface style; I recommend Explorer view-style

I chose to Enable 32-bit alpha blended icons; however, I don’t feel this is the most important thing to ask a user when installing a program.

The file browser is simple and clean; however, you can’t open .ISO files.

Before downloading, check your PC for errors. Download TUGZip

Conclusion

I usually try and recommend the best program, but in this case, I want you to decide. After using PeaZip and TUGZip exclusively for a week each, I decided to go back to 7-Zip. Which program do you use? Why do you use it? Let us know in the comments.

Further Reading

• MouseExtender is an iPhone-like Menu for Windows
• Remote Desktop, No Installation Required – Freeware
• Get Windows 7 Style Taskbar Thumbnail Previews in XP [How To]
• Free Mac/Windows/Linux Icon Packs [Set 15] PNG/ICO
• Best Windows Freebies and Guides 18 [September 2009]

Want More Icons?

Check out more icon collections on Mintywhite.com or learn how to use these on a dock in Windows.

3D Glossy Black Button Social Networking Icons

Project Icon Set

Credit Cards

Glowing Neon Social Networking Icons

Ultra Glossy Silver Button Social Media Icons

Survival Icons

TextEdit

Tools Icon Set: 8 Free Icons

Boxes

Browsers Compass Icon Pack UD

Web Injection

Islamic Icon

iSuite Revoked

Jacky D Icon

Steampunk Twitter Logo

30 free office Icons

Mini Coke

Blue CD Icon

ColorFlow Art Project Folders

MinIcons

Further Reading

• MouseExtender is an iPhone-like Menu for Windows
• Free Mac/Windows/Linux Icon Packs [Set 14] PNG/ICO
• Best Windows Freebies and Guides 17 [August 2009]
• Best Windows Freebies and Guides 14 [May 2009]
• Free Mac/Windows/Linux Icon Packs [Set 18] PNG/ICO

Recommended Firefox Add-ons

Here are the Firefox Add-ons I use (I’ve omitted some that are developer-specific, that I didn’t feel would be useful for everyone):

Adblock Plus

I’ve recommended this add-on before. Simply put, Adblock plus blocks most advertising online, which gives you a distraction-free, cleaner experience when browsing. I’ve had quite a few disgruntled website owners contact me after writing posts dedicated to blocking ads. I see nothing wrong with this practice. Block them today!

Download AdBlock Plus

DownThemAll!

This add-on is useful if you want to download media, in mass, from a website. I find this useful when I come to a page with multiple links to PDF documents or if my FTP server is not playing nicely and I need all the image files from a page on my site. With DownThemAll!, you can batch download media that is both on a page and linked to from a page.

Download DownThemAll!

Firebug

Although this is a developer tool, you may find it interesting to learn what happens on a webpage when it loads. I use this add-on, Yslow, and Google’s page timer to debug my site and make sure it’s running as efficiently as possible.

Download Firebug

Google Gears

I use this add-on for a few applications: Gmail, Google Calendar, and Wordpress. Gears downloads information to your computer so you can work with less loading time (no need to download the same data all the time) and offline (with Gmail offline mode for example.)

Google Gears can be downloaded from the Wordpress Dashboard, GMail’s Offline feature etc

Greasemonkey

Greasemonkey is a userscript manager, which takes scripts and applies them to a webpage. You can use Greasmonkey to customize your favorite websites by cutting out unnecessary content, changing color schemes, and more. Get userscrips here.

Download Greasemonkey

Html Validator

This is another developer tool I decided to include because I find it very useful. With Html validator, you validate a webpage using a number of different markup checkers. Html validation is often ignored but an important part of web development that ensures, to a degree, your website works across multiple browsers.

Download Html Validator

Personal Menu

Personal menu lets you cut down the bulk on your Firefox menu. I dislike browsers that need more than one line of menu items. When I install Firefox on any machine, the first thing I do is customize the interface to make menu, bookmarks, address bar, and search fit on one line (see below.) I previously recommended Tiny Menu, but this add-on, in my opinion, is even better.

Download Personal Menu

Stumbleupon

Stumbleupon, as you may already know, is a social network, which takes your interests and lets you “stumble” to different pages related to those them. This add-on is the Stumbleupon toolbar (which, when installed, I relocate to the notification bar and make it visible only when I use it &emdash; CTRL+F11.) Sign up with Stumbleupon here.

Download Stumbleupon

Toodledo

I am a GTD fan and I use Toodledo to stay on top of my life with tasks, checklists, notes and more. This add-on lets me add a task to my list with CTRL+ALT+A when I’m browsing. This way, as an idea comes to my mind, I can add it to my list and get back to what I was doing with minimal distraction.

Download Toodledo

Xmarks

Xmarks syncs your bookmarks and passwords between browsers. This is useful because I use multiple computers and want my bookmarks on all machines. Xmarks even syncs with IE, which syncs with my phone, so I have my bookmarks on the go. You can even log in to your account at Xmarks.com and view your bookmarks there too (useful when I’m at work and want to access my links.)

Download Xmarks

Bonus Tip

If you do not need to use an add-on all the time, I recommend you disable it to speed up Firefox. Open the Add-ons screen, click on an Add-on and click Disable. This will make Firefox more responsive and also clean up context menus etc &emdash; making Firefox easier to use.

That rounds up my Firefox add-on suggestions, what add-ons do you use and why? Let us know in the comments.

Further Reading

• MouseExtender is an iPhone-like Menu for Windows
• Acer Gridvista Enables Aero Snap Features [Vista and XP]
• Remote Desktop, No Installation Required – Freeware
• Best Windows Freebies and Guides 18 [September 2009]
• ImgBurn, Free CD/DVD Burning and Backup Tool

Let’s dive straight in and carry on from where we left off.

4a. Change The Genre Icon In MB

This will show you how to add an icon to the genres you see in MB.

All we have to do is mod the ImagesByName folder.

Open up an Explorer Window and navigate to C:\ProgramData\MediaBrowser\ImagesByName.

Create a new folder in ImagesByName called the title of your genre.  Put your genre icon into the folder and name it folder.

Do this for all of your genre titles and it’ll make browsing through genres much more pleasing!

5. Hide The Default Movie Strip

Now we’ve got our Media Browser strip on the start up menu. You can hide the default movie strip. It can often be confusing for visitors to your home to know which one to go for. Also, now we have Media Browser, there’s not a real need for it anyway, it’s just cluttering up the start menu, so lets hide it.

Run the Hide Strips program downloaded from Part 1. Make sure you open up under the Per User tab.

Uncheck Movies and what ever else you want, hit Save. Then move across to the All Users tab.

Uncheck the same options as last time. You’ll notice under All Users your custom strip can be seen. Hit Save & Exit when you’re finished.

6. Change Media Browser Icon in Startup Menu

This is a good one for those of you who aren’t too keen on MB’s default icon.

We’re going to change it to the default movie icon that W7MC displays.  You can of course change the icon to whatever you like.

First up. Find ehres.dll located at C:\Windows\ehome, when you have found it take ownership of it, make a copy of it on the desktop and rename it ehres BACKUP.dll.

Next is to open ehres.dll with restorator, in the left hand pane navigate to RCData\STARTMENU.QUICKLINK.MOVIES.FOCUS.PNG, you should have the same icon as below.

Next, is to right click on STARTMENU.QUICKLINK.MOVIES.FOCUS.PNG, go to Extract… > Extract as “STARTMENU.QUICKLINK.MOVIES.FOCUS.PNG” and save the image to desktop.

Now we have our default movie image extracted and saved to desktop, navigate to C:\Program Files\MediaBrowser\MediaBrowser

Locate the PNG image called Application and rename it Application BACKUP. Drag the extracted default WMC movie icon from the desktop and into C:\Program Files\MediaBrowser\MediaBrowser and rename it Application.

Open up W7MC and behold your new icon :)

• Download this 4-part series as a PDF (Parts 1-4 +Extras)
• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Part 4

Further Reading

• Best Windows Freebies and Guides 18 [September 2009]
• PC Security Handbook Now Available
• Best Windows Freebies and Guides 14 [May 2009]
• MouseExtender is an iPhone-like Menu for Windows
• Remote Desktop, No Installation Required – Freeware

The purpose of this book is not to define the ultimate solution; its purpose is to give you simple, unbiased advice on what I’ve found to be the best options out there. In this handbook, I only give advice and share programs that I’ve used for at least a year. Some programs seem good when you first use them, but quickly annoy you or slow down your PC.

What’s in the Handbook?

Here’s an overview of the book:

• Introduction
  • Notational Conventions
  • Security 101
• How to Avoid Malware
• Keep Your Computer up to Date
• Keep Your Browser up to Date
  • Internet Explorer
  • Mozilla Firefox
• Install Good Antimalware
  • AVG Internet Security
    • What Do I Get If I Use the Coupon?
  • ESET Smart Security
    • System Scanning
    • Scheduled Protection
    • Harm Prevention
    • Harm Protection
    • Resource Usage
    • Real-time Status
    • In Conclusion
  • Put Your Antimalware to the Test
    • AVG
    • ESET
• Backup Your Data Online
  • Online Data Backup
  • MozyHome Features
  • Download Mozy for Free

Feedback is always welcome!

PC Security Handbook Protect your PC form malware and keep your files safe with this free 14-page eBook. Download the PC Security Handbook (PDF 1.5MB)

Further Reading

• PC Maintenance Handbook Now Available
• MouseExtender is an iPhone-like Menu for Windows
• Acer Gridvista Enables Aero Snap Features [Vista and XP]
• Remote Desktop, No Installation Required – Freeware
• Nitro PDF Professional: An Affordable PDF Suite Packed with Features ($99)

IE Collection

Some copies of IE may not be compatible with your operating system as shown in the screenshot below:

I barely remember IE looking like this; this is how Windows Guides looks in IE 1.5. hopefully not many people are viewing this site right now and it’s browser because it looks really bad!

I started using the Internet in 1996; this is when both IE 1.5 and 2.0 were used:

Before downloading, check your PC for errors. Download IE Collection

Further Reading

• Remote Desktop, No Installation Required – Freeware
• [Update] Essential Firefox Add-ons Collection
• PC Security Handbook Now Available
• 8 Reasons Why You Should Download IE8
• Stop Seeing Ads While You Surf the Internet [How To]

Enjoy the overview of stuff you shouldn’t have missed in June 2009

[Image Credit]

Desktop Wallpapers (More Wallpapers)

Icon Packs (More Icon Packs)

The Last Order Plus

AlumiGlax 2, Special Folders

avXicons

Monsters

Blue whales 2006

Snowe Doc 2

Azenis IP

Black glamour

“ecqlipse” PNG

Movie Icons

Elegant icon set

Arzo Icons Vol.2

Hiddenmx Win

Leomx Win

Antares Complete Pack

Browsers Compass Icon Pack UD

CSSEdit Black Icons

Life Saver

Miscellaneous

Exempli Gratia

FRESH Add-on

UMI Icons

Blueset Icons

Scrap Icons

Mini Pixel Icons

Old School Icon Set

Hand Drawn Doodle

Archigraphs Porcelain Icons

Coquette Icons

The Graphs

Turqua 3d Isometric Vector Icon Pack

Free Glossy Blogging Icons Set for Bloggers

Function Free Icon Set

Web Browsers Icon Set

Web 2.0rigami

Phuzion Icons

Web 2 Icons

Feed Me Animals (RSS)

Practika Icon Set

Nice ‘n’ Simple Subscribe Badges

Fonts (More Fonts)

Dirty and Classic

Jellyka Castles Queen

Als Script

Arab Dances

Argor Got Scaqh

Bastarda K

Badonk a Donk

Manga Speak

Rzrarti

Sweeet

Reflet Electrik

Shellhead

Sliced Juice

Detroit Ghetto

Vandalism

Urban

Tutorials & Guides (More Guides: XP | Vista | Windows 7)

• Screen Goes Black After Changing the Resolution
• Open Old Document Formats [How To]
• Restore Quick Launch Shortcut Icons in Windows Vista [How To]

THE END

Further Reading

• Best Windows Freebies and Guides 17 [August 2009]
• Best Windows Freebies and Guides 14 [May 2009]
• MouseExtender is an iPhone-like Menu for Windows
• Best Windows Freebies and Guides 18 [September 2009]
• Free Mac/Windows/Linux Icon Packs [Set 16] PNG/ICO