The Back to Basics series looks at common tasks and problems that Windows users might encounter on a daily basis and explains solutions and ways to do those “things”. To kickoff this new article series I’m going to look at ways to backup the Windows Registry.

The Windows Registry is the core of the Windows system and malware likes to use it to spread its disease throughout the whole system. A good way to be on the safe side is to backup the Windows Registry regularly so that it can be restored when needed.

Most of the time there is a Microsoft way to do things and an easier one provided by third party developers and their applications.

continue reading "Back To Basics: Backup Registry"

Since my previous favorite software to mount images on my computer Daemon Tools Lite has been banned in my country I had to check a few application to find another one that would do the job. One candidate was Virtual CloneDrive (via Elite Freeware) from SlySloft, the makers of AnyDVD which is also banned in my country.

Virtual CloneDrive is a software that emulates up to eight virtual CD and DVD drives on the system. Each appears in Windows Explorer with its own drive letter and the user can perform the usual operations such as installing software from or exploring the CD or DVD that has been mounted.

The software works by adding two new entries to the right-click context menu in Windows Explorer that only appear when right-clicking a virtual CD drive. That makes mounting and unmounting new images overly complicated. I liked how Daemon Tools provided a system tray icon that could be used to mount and unmount images easily.

continue reading "Virtual CD Drive Software"

One thing that most users would like to see in the next Microsoft operating system is an option to create bookmarks for windows folders. Opening a folder in Windows Explorer currently means to click your way through the parent folders until you reach it. Shortcuts are a temporary solution but they are only accessible where they have been placed. Application Launchers could be a solution but most users would probably prefer a integrated Windows Explorer solution.

Folder Guide (via Download Squad) provides quick access to Windows folders that have been added to the software program. It acts pretty much like a new entry to the right-click context menu which becomes available on the Desktop, in Windows Explorer and Open/Save/Browse dialog windows.

The Windows folders that have been added that way can be opened with only two clicks no matter where they are located on the hard drive. One benefit of Folder Guide is that the application itself is only running during configuration of the Windows folders that are added to it which means it does not add another icon to the system tray or use up valuable computer memory.

continue reading "Access Windows Folders Quickly"

Webmasters have to take care of the links that they place on their websites. Keeping an overview of the links that have been posted and the status of the website that they link to is essential to make the visitors of the website happy and ensure that search engine rankings do not get penalized because of to many broken links.

Websites with thousands of pages make it impossible to manually check links on each and every page. That’s where software programs like Xenu’s Link Sleuth come into play. The software is able to check all links on all pages of a website for broken links and reports them accordingly.

It naturally takes time to check thousands of pages and all the links that point from the to internal and external pages. The software takes good care of everything and offers enough options to configure the link checking process.

continue reading "Check For Broken Links on Websites"

Microsoft has renewed its Office Ultimate Steal Offer. The Ultimate Steal is an offer for college students to get a copy of Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007 for 91% off. College Students can grab it for $59.95 instead of the usual $519.99 it is sold for at Amazon and other retailers.

Currently only students from the United States, Australia, Mexico and Taiwan are eligible. They also need a valid email address from the educational institute and be able to provide proof of enrollment if requested. Office Ultimate 2007 contains all Office 2007 applications in one package, including the obvious Word 2007, Excel 2007, Powerpoint 2007 but also rather exotic or lesser known applications like InfoPath 2007 or Groove 2007.

The interesting aspect of this new offer is that there are three additional products that will be available from September 8 on. Those are Windows Vista Ultimate Upgrade for $64.95, Office Language Packs 2007 for $9.95 and Office Visio Professional 2007 for $55.95.

continue reading "Microsoft Renews Office Ultimate Steal Offer"