Fingerprint calculates hash values of every file during the first selection unlike many other tools that simply report file size or file date modifications. This way might take a bit longer but it ensures that every modification can be noticed as the program compares the hash values and not data that can be easily modified.

Some aspects of a directory scan can be configured during setup. It is for instance possible to include or exclude files from the scan, switch from hash generation to file size, date and time records or schedule scans for the profile.

The Windows Task Scheduler is used to schedule file comparisons at a later time or on a regular basis. File changes will be written to a log file that is automatically displayed in the default web browser of the computer system. Fingerprint is a small program for the Windows operating system that can be downloaded from the developer’s website.

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A way to manage the context menu entries would be to edit them right in the Windows Registry. A more secure solution is by the use of software like Shell Menu View by NirSoft. The portable software displays a list of all registered shell extensions of a Windows operating system with information like the menu name, the file extensions or the path of the application.

The tables can be sorted in various ways and there is a search to find that one extension that you want to edit right now. A right-click on any row in the software program opens a context menu that provides options to disable or enable an extension, open the Registry key of that extension or print a list of all or selected items.

ShellExView is a portable application that runs on most Windows operating systems but works best in Windows XP and Windows 2000 because they can make use of the disable feature.

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Attribute Changer is a lightweight software for Windows that can manage file attributes and dates. It integrates itself nicely in the right-click context menu and can change the settings for multiple files and folders including subfolders.

One application for Attribute Changer would be to change the read-only flag of files that have been copied of a CD or DVD to a computer system. Attribute Changer offers extensive filtering options to apply the changes only to files with specific attributes including creation time, size or existing attributes.

Exceptions can be defined as well in the program interface. Attribute Changer is a small unobtrusive application that might come in handy in a few situations.

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Questions that arise could be if the file is really needed on the system and if it is safe to delete it. Deleting a file without knowing what it does can have impacts on other applications that are installed on the computer. Executing the file could be the solution but also a security risk.

A better solution to get file information is to use a program that can display additional information without having to execute the file on the computer. Karen’s Version Browser is just one application that can do it.

The software has to be installed on the computer system. Once executed it provides an Windows Explorer like interface that the user can use to browse to the directory that contains the files that he wants to identify. Several filters can be used to display only files of a certain type like executables or dynamic link libraries.

The files that match the filters are displayed in a short box in the program’s interface. Three buttons below that interface can be used to gather the file information. View opens a new window entitled Version Information which displays all kind of information about the selected file.

Some of the more important file information that are displayed are the Product Name, Company Name and File Description. Some information are not displayed depending on the type of file that has been selected.

Those information can give a clue about the file and may aid the user in the decision making process. The other two buttons are used to print or export the file information. Karen’s Version Browser can be added to the right-click context menu so that it can be used from within Windows Explorer instead.

Experienced users would probably perform a search on the Internet if they cannot identify a file on their computer system. Most file information should be available online which means that some users might think that Karen’s Version Browser is unnecessary. It can still be used to check the exact version of a file which can provide important information.

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The following method might be useful for experienced users who like to access those programs faster. I’m going to list the filenames of many system tools. All you would have to do is to hit Windows + R and type the name of the file to open it. This might be faster on some occasions. By knowing the names you could also create some shortcuts on your desktop if you need one or more of those programs on a daily basis.

Backup or Restore Wizard – ntbackup.exe
Clean up Drive – cleanmgr.exe
Command Line – cmd.exe
Computer Management – compmgmt.msc
Create a shared folder – shrpubw.exe
Device Manager – devmgmt.msc
Disk Defragmenter – dfrg.msc
Disk Management – diskmgmt.msc
Event Viewer – eventvwr.msc
File Signature Verification – sigverif.exe
Group Policy – gpedit.msc
Local Security Settings – secpol.msc
Memory Usage – mem
Performance – perfmon.msc
Securing the Windows XP Account Database – syskey.exe
Services – services.msc
Shared Folders – fsmgmt.msc
System Configuration Editor – sysedit
System Configuration Utility – msconfig.exe
User Accounts – lusrmgr.msc
Windows Management Infrastructure – wmimgmt.msc

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