Windows Tools, Help & Guides

Because there is more to the internet outside Windows Guides, we have prepared a selection of the best technology posts of this week.

Do you like Google Chrome?, Do you know that you can use it to play? Read the following post by Saikat Basu on MakeUseOf about Google’s browser:

10 Extensions for Playing Fun Games on Google Chrome

Are you planning on making a video of what happens in your PC? Do you know Microsoft has a free utility that you will love? Read the article by Armit Agarwal on Digital Inspiration:

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Knowing which drivers (and versions) are installed on your computer is necessary when you want to keep them updated. But how do you know which versions (and which drivers) are installed on your system ?

Let me show you …

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If you receive errors when using Windows Update (see the errors in the table below), the System Update Readiness Tool will check for inconsistencies and fix them so you can continue to update your computer through Windows Update. The System Update Readiness Tool is used for:

• Windows Vista-based computers
• Windows Server 2008-based computers
• Windows Server 2008 R2-based computers
• Windows 7-based computers

This update should download automatically; however, if you are still receiving errors, you should download and run the System Update Readiness Tool manually. Learn, in this guide, more about the tool, where to get it, and how to run it.

Please note: Just to reiterate the above, you should only manually download and install this update if you are experiencing unresolved errors (listed below) with Windows Update.

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We all need different passwords now and then. Thinking up new and secure passwords can give anyone a headache. It’s hard enough to think of a 8 digit pass code, but what about a 160-bit, 256-bit or a 504-bit even ?

I did a piece on creating safer passwords (Read here), but if you need something more secure than that – then I have just the online tool you need.

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A friend called me and told me their laptop took “forever” to load. I asked them some basic questions to help determine the problem and put it down to too many applications loading at startup. Rather than instruct them to run msconfig, I thought I’d show them the Troubleshooting tools so they could run them again, themselves, in the future.

If you’re someone who assists others with their computer problems, this could be a great tool in your belt. Or if you’re having performance problems with Windows 7, you can use the Troubleshooting tools that come bundled with the operating system. These tools will scan your computer’s configuration for known settings that cause issues.

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Do you leave notes to yourself on your computer ? I do. At times my desktop is filled with “important” text files, containing some information of sorts that I need to remember. It can be anything from the grocery-list, a new movie I’d like to check out… etc. etc.

I love a tidy desktop, and a problem with these note-files, is that they tend to pile up, overcrowding my desktop. After A while they either get deleted, or moved into a dark, gloomy folder somewhere, to never be seen again.

I have come a cross a great solution – Now I can Samurize …

Windows Guides’ Rating	Compatible with	System
4 out of 5

Samurize is not actually designed to work on Vista or Windows 7,  I have tested it on my Windows 7 computer running it in “Windows XP compatibility mode”, without any problems what so ever. [update: It seems it’s only the installer that has compatibility issues. The program it self runs perfectly without any settings, once installed]

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