Video Tutorial Website Listing at TTC Shelbyville

All bloggers have their sites they visit on a daily basis and one of mine is the TTC Shelbyville – Technical Blog.  TTC Shelbyville is the Tennessee Technology Center at Shelbyville…  Their technical blog is used as a method of communications with their students.

The Tennessee Technology Center at Shelbyville offers a wide variety of programs to meet your needs. With a professional staff and professional curriculum these programs offer you the best opportunity to learn skills used in the workplace today.

As a self-taught, retired Information Technology Specialist, I was quite flattered to learn that the “What’s On My PC…” blog was on their blogroll.  This really made my day to see that a tech school was reading my material and that they had partnered with my blog.

Today, during a visit to their blog, I noticed that the blogmaster had compiled a very nice listing of “Video Tutorial Websites”.  I’m telling you folks, if there is something good out there, a blogger will find it.  I encourage you to visit the TTC Shelbyville – Technical Blog to see what they are up to and to check out the video tutorials.

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The Internet’s Largest Tech Blogroll (?)

When I entered the world of blogging I soon learned that getting your blog name (link) posted on another person’s “blog roll” is an honor and nice gesture. A blogroll is a list of recommended blogs (sites) usually posted on the sidebar of a blog. In my case, here at “What’s On My PC…” , the blogroll is located on the right side of the blog.

Above the blogroll you will notice, what I call, the “Launch Pad” .  The Launch Pad is a launching point to over 150 tech blogs and sites that I visit on a regular basis.  I figured this was an excellent way to share tech sites and make it easy for you to visit those sites.  In a sense it is a blogroll on steroids…

( click here )

Since the inception of the Launch Pad I have been on a mission to visit and collect quality tech related blogs (and sites). Today I am adding an additional (37) blogs to the Launch Pad (see below), bringing the Launch Pad total to 182 sites. This could possibly be the largest “Tech Blogroll” out there…

When you visit the Launch Pad you will notice that some blog and site names are larger than others. Those are blogs that have committed to link exchanges with “What’s On My PC…”.  If you would like to commit to a link exchange, please leave a comment below and I will contact you.

New Additions to the “Launch Pad”

Geeky Tips
TechChee
Help Desk Geek
SuperSite for Windows
Bigblackbear’s Weblog
ZePy
Cnet – The Download Blog
TheFreeWindows
Esoft Web ID
Softonic
The JFB Page
Chrome Story
PCMech
e-Techcheck
Mark’s Technology News
Geeks Are Sexy
Turn Around
Technize.com
techdreams
404 Tech Support
Teck-Line
AKS – Feel The Change
Dedicated 2-Viruses
UK Tech Support
Freeware Download List
Smashing Apps
The Abbey Rose
PCWizKid
TechDirt
Technologizer
World of Vampire
Tech and Life
Freeware Elite’s Blog
Cloud Apps
Great Skills
Hokinabru Tech

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jv16 PowerTools Utility Suite Goes FREEWARE with PowerTools Lite

In the late 90’s I can remember using a freeware program called “RegCleaner”. It was an easy to use utility that I used to manually dump registry entries left behind by software installs, etc… AND to automatically clean the Windows registry. RegCleaner eventually evolved into a powerful suite of utilities called jv16 PowerTools (by Macecraft) and subsequently went commerical. RegCleaner is no longer distributed, due to incompatibilities with the processing speeds of today’s computers. When RegCleaner went commercial with the development of jv16 PowerTools it lost a large following of people.

Today I discovered that the Macecraft, the makers of jv16 PowerTools, has released a freeware “lite” version of their professional grade jv16 PowerTools utility package, called PowerTools Lite. From my testing, it appears that the “lite” package contains only the registry and PC cleaner components from the commercial version.

Given, I was a past dedicated user of RegCleaner, I installed PowerTools Lite. In summary, this utility is a 2-click process of scanning for and cleaning your PC  of unnecessary temp files, registry data, MRU and history data from all major applications.  It also prompts you to make a backup of any changes that the program makes.

If you are looking for a registry cleaner, you may want to give this one try, based on its’ past following of being a good app.  As always, anytime you mess with the registry you are messing with the heart of the operating system; always make sure you have a way back (as in a backup).

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Protecting your PC from a Botnet

Did you know that your PC can secretly become part of a “criminal network”, called a “Botnet”?

Malicious software, dumped onto your PC without your knowledge (called Bots), secretly takes control of your computer and empowers your computer to participate in liaison with other Bots across the internet (and around the world). When multitudes of computers become part of a Botnet the instructions they send and receive work automatically and autonomously (without external control). Botnets are responsible for the distribution and relay of spam; AND, can attack web servers, infect more computers, and perform other illicit activities (such as the distribution of malware that can propagate from one computer to another).

According to TrendMicro, a recognized leader in web security, experts believe that millions of computers have already joined Botnets without the knowledge of their owners. By using remotely-controlled computers, the criminals in charge of the Botnets try to remain anonymous and elude authorities seeking to prosecute them.

During my research of Botnets, I wandered across a security application at TrendMicro, called RUBotted, that monitors your computer for suspicious behavior associated with Bots.

RUBotted installs an icon in your system tray that will monitor for and alert you of potential Bot activity. If a Bot infects your computer, the RUBotted system tray icon changes to alert you.

When a potential infection occurs, RUBotted will immediatley prompt you to scan and clean your computer, using the existing security software on your PC or you can optionally use TrendMicro’s online scanner “HouseCall” to perform a scan from the internet.

RUBotted is currently in Beta testing and is solely engineered to monitor and detect; not repair. It is engineered to work as a supplement to your existing security software. According to TrendMicro, RUBotted can protect computers running Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows XP, and Microsoft Windows Vista. A working internet connection is required for RUBotted to function properly. If you are interested in trying RUBotted, you can download [ HERE ] .

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Get the last FREE version of FastStone Capture

A screen capture utility is a “must have” on any PC (or flash drive); especially if you are a writer, blogger, graphic designer, desktop publisher, etc… I have tried and tested many of the capture utilities and the one that has set well with me is “FastStone Capture”.  FastStone Capture went commercial after version 5.3; however, the freeware version is still available at various sites around the internet.  This little utility is a well thought out screen capture utility. It  is no wonder the author opted to go commercial with it.

Before I tell you where you can get FastStone Capture (the last freeware version), let me give you some hightlights. The download that I will refer you to is a download for the portable version that can be installed on your flash drive or into a folder of your choice on your PC. This way, if you do not like it, simply delete the folder; but I’m telling you this little app rocks and is very easy to use.

FastStone Capture uses very little screen space and provides (6) different screen capture modes (see below) that can be activated by clicking one of the mode buttons in the application or by using hotkey combinations on your keyboard.

1. Capture Active Window

2. Capture Window /Object

3. Capture Rectangle Region

4. Capture Freehand Region

5. Capture Full Screen

6. Capture Scrolling Window

With FastStone Capture you have the option of sending the captured result to a built in graphic editor, to the clipboard, to a file, to the printer, or to an email (as an attachment).  The output file can be saved to the most common graphic file formats (e.g. gif, png, bmp, jpg, tif) or as a PDF file. Settings are also available that allow you to auto capture to an edge/watermark or to prompt you each time to assign a caption or label to your captured result.  This little app also features a built-in graphic editor, a screen magnifier and a screen color picker.

If you do not have this app, I suggest you get it now…  You can download FastStone Capture (last freeware version) [ HERE ] .  Kudos to the author of FastStone Capture for making such a wonderful application.

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Will Windows 7 be in your Christmas stocking?

According to the “WinInsider” clip below, Windows 7 will be shipped in time for the holiday sales season.  What does this really mean?  It could ship tomorrow and still be in time for the holiday sales season.  Irregardless, as a geekster, I am glad to see the hype about this new operating system.

Tip: For the sake of my friends, family and anyone else who really does not care about any of this, please learn this…  Windows 7 is the next operating system following Vista.  If you are thinking about purchasing a new PC now, you may want to hold out until Windows 7 hits the pavement and is officially released.

Microsoft: Windows 7 in Time for the Holidays [ source: WinInsider ]

It’s official — Microsoft will ship Windows 7 in time for the holiday sales season. That was the main announcement made by Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) officials at the opening keynote of the company’s main developer event — TechEd 2009 in Los Angeles. “We’re doing so well with the RC ["Release Candidate"] that we’ve started logo testing,” Bill Veghte, senior vice president of Windows, told attendees at the conference. Microsoft began public testing of the RC, which is the final testing phase for Windows 7, last week.   [ READ MORE ]

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Geek Squeaks’ of the Week (#10)

Another great round of superbly written and presented articles, by the friends of “What’s On My PC…”, from the past week. I encourage my readers to visit these tech blogs to learn more about information technology, software, tips and tricks, how to’s, and information about the latest security threats.

If you are a tech blogger and are interested in a link exchange with “What’s On My PC…”, please leave a comment below and I will contact you.  Thank you!

OnlineFamily.Norton – AKSHAT

Ultimate iPod Touch/iPhone Games Toolbox: 75+ Free Must-Have Games Of All Time – AllThatsNew

Download Windows Virtual PC Beta and Virtual Windows XP Mode Beta – TTC Shelbyville

Microsoft Office 2010 (Word,Excel,Access,Outlook) Screenshots – Techolar

Firewall Causes Connection Problem – Tech-for Everyone

Download AppRemover – Delete Stubborn Security Applications – Bill Mullins’ Weblog – Tech Thoughts

How to Remove “Warning! Your’re In Danger” Wallpaper – 411-Spyware.com

Evernote – Every Time to Organize Everything – AskBillFirst

The Home Computer Freeware List: Updated 05/08/09 – Confessions of a Freeware Junkie

Recolored: Colorize Black and White Photos – Snakebytez

MyEventViewer – alternative utility for Windows logs – Rarst.net

Jing – Free screen capture solution for blogger by TechSmith – Piyadas World

Google Calendar Integrates Tasks – Lifehacker

Organize and Manage Windows With Screen Utility “MaxTo” – Is You GEEKed Up

Panda Cloud Antivirus Beta – Free – PC Security

Microsoft changes ‘Windows Genuine Advantage’ – Evilfantasy’s Blog

Cool Websites and Tools [May 13'th] – makeuseof.com

Prism – Bringing Cloud Apps To Your Desktop – What’s On My PC…

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