Backing Up the Windows Registry

Did you know that Windows depends on a “database” to function? It is called the “Windows Registry…” I call it the “heart and soul” to the Windows Operation System. Mess with it and the whole house will come down and the operating system will crash. The registry (database) contains the information and settings for all of the hardware, software, users and preferences on your PC once your PC boots into the Windows environment. When you install software or make a hardware change to your computer, the settings (or preferences) are automatically written to the registry.

The registry has been a good thing; BUT, it is also an avenue for trouble. Often when malware infiltrates or damages a computer system (without your consent) it will register (or write) itself into the registry to cause harm and ultimately take over your computer. The registry can also be edited  or modified by the computer user using the “regedit.exe” command which in itself can spell trouble if you do not know what your are doing. I have actually seen people tremble and decline from making edits to the registry, knowing that one error can cause havoc. Really though, a good tech knows that making registry edits comes with the territory and is no big deal; especially when you know how to backup and restore the registry.

A really great utility to automatically backup (and restore) the registry on your computer is called “ERUNT” (Emergency Recovery Utility NT). I am a tester of software and prior to testing any software application on my system I will use ERUNT to make a backup of the registry. I have come to depend on ERUNT more so than the Windows restore (rollback) function. In the event the software I am testing does not set well with my computer, I will use ERUNT to restore the registry (and ultimately my computer) to its’ original state, prior to the software install. I also include ERUNT in my weekly backup routines of my computer. ERUNT has been around for years and is avalaible as a full install or portable application. There is nothing attractive (in appearance) with ERUNT, but it is one of those “save your butt” utilities that should have been built into the Windows operating system.

[ GET IT HERE ]

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A FREE Supercharged Screen Capture Utility

I do a lot of Powerpoint slide graphic creation and design for my church and training presentations for my work. I would be at a loss if I did not have in my toolbox a good “all round” screen capture utility that allowed me to manipulate screen captures, pick colors, edit images, etc.  Many of the screen capture apps that are multi-functional are often found at a price.

One screen capture app that I have been closely monitoring is called PicPick Tools.  This little application can be installed on your PC or used as a portable app on your flash drive.  Most recently I have noticed that PicPick development has picked up with additional features being added.  My experience with this app is that it is closing in on some of the commercial apps that are out there’; AND for me personally, PicPick is becoming a mainstay application on my PC that I use to compliment my blogging and Powerpoint slide building.

If you do not have a screen capture utility installed on your PC, I suggest you give this one try – [ GET IT HERE ] .

Publisher’s Description

PicPick is an all-in-one software for software developers, graphic designers and home user.

It has an intuitive interface and simple, elegant operation. After starting the software, you simply select one of the tool from the PicPick Tools trayicon menu when you want.

It features a powerful capture tool, image editor, color picker, color palette, pixel ruler, protractor, crosshair, whiteboard and etc. You can use all these tools freely.
PicPick is portable ware, so you don’t need any installation.
And, this is distributed as Freeware. So you may use this software on any number of computers for as long as you like.

Features

• Captures
  - Full Screen (Support for Dual Monitors)
  - Active Window
  - Window Control (Scroll a page automatically)
  - Region, Fixed Region
  - FreeHand
  - Repeat Last Capture
• Image Editor
  - It’s very similar to Microsoft Paint, but you can do more.
  - It provides an effect like selection opacity, blur, sharpen, brightness, contrast, hue, saturation, flip, rotate and etc.
• Color Picker
• Color Palette
• Pixel Ruler
• Screen Protractor
• Crosshair
• Screen Whiteboard

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A Godzilla Collection of Portable Apps

Today I’m going to tell you about a new application that is the “Godzilla” of portable application suites; BUT, before I do, I know there are many readers out there that visit my blog who do not know what a portable software application is (aka: portable app). If you own a flash drive and you have not placed any software on it, you do not know what you are missing.

In order for a software application to be labeled as portable application, that can be run directly from your flash drive, the application must meet the following criteria:

1. Does not require any kind of formal installation onto a computer’s permanent storage device to be executed, and can be stored on a removable storage device such as USB flash drive, enabling it to be used on multiple computers.
2. Settings are stored with, and can be carried around with, the software (i.e., they are written to the USB drive). If the registry is used to store settings, the application’s configuration isn’t portable, and must be set up on every PC it is used on
3. Leaves a zero (or near-zero) “footprint” on any PC it’s run on after being used. i.e., All temporary files/registry settings should be removed once the program has exited, and files created by the user can be saved directly to the same removable media as the application is stored on.

In a nutshell, portable applications are applications that you copy (or install) to your flash drive that can be  used on  just about any Windows based computer and will leave no traces (or footprints) on the computer from which you use the flash drive.

If you are like me, my flash drive has become a repository in a sense for portable applications that I can’t live without.  It has taken me considerable time to research, test run and compile my collection of applications.

Today I happened across a FREE application called “LiberKey”, that will save you a considerable amount of time in getting your flash drive up and running.  LiberKey is an “already prepared” collection of numerous portable apps  that can be installed onto your flash drive (or your computer’s hard drive) “in one fell swoop”, menu and all. If you notice in the screen shot below, the menu is categorized; and, under each of those categories are sub-categories containing numerous portable apps. I have tried and tested many of the portable app suites and this one I have to say this is probably the best one I have yet to experience. The features that stands with me is that you can update the LiberKey package directly from the internet to keep all your portable apps up-to-date AND you can add/remove any applications at your discretion. I find LiberKey to be a very impressive application…

LiberKey is available in (3)-three different packages:

LiberKey Ultimate (202 packages)

LiberKey Standard (106 packages)

LiberKey Basic (28 packages)

Main Assets of LiberKey

• 100% mobility with portable software

• A rigorous selection among more than 1800 software
• Updates of LiberKey directly by Internet
• You can temporarily associate files extensions (.avi, .jpg, doc.,…) with LiberKey software
• Optimization of launching and installed size
• And, it is free, without virus, spyware, adware, popup, etc.

[ LiberKey Home Page ]

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Pimp Your Profile with Photofunia

My friends over at Technize.com recently posted an article (see web clip below) about a cloud application, called Photofunia, that I had not yet experienced. What caught my eye in the article, was a pic of a baby. It’s not everyday you see a a baby on a tech blog, unless it is about the animated “Dancing Baby” (Ooga Chaka Ooga Ooga! …) from several years ago.

[ CLICK HERE TO REMINISCENCE ]

Technize did a great job explaining how Photofunia works, using the baby as the example. I encourage you to visit Technize.com to see how the baby was transitioned into works of art using the online Photofunia photo effects service.

PhotoFunia is an online photo editing tool that gives you a fun filled experience. You upload any photo and just wait to see the magic. Their proprietary technology automatically identifies the face in the photo and let’s you add cool photo effects and create funny face photo montages. PhotoFunia is free and very easy to use. Just select an effect you like from over 100 different effects, upload your photo, and PhotoFunia will handle the rest for you.

A  “What’s On My PC…” Web  Clip!

Make Your Photographs Artistic

Chiranjib on June 10th, 2009

Have you ever dreamed, your photo in a big banner in street or building. If yes then you can create it by using Adobe Photoshop.

It is a difficult job and takes a long time. But you can do it online in few seconds.

Just click on the link below and choose an effect. Next browse for your photograph.

It will create your photograph in the selected effect. Then click on save to disk. That you have done.

I created the following photographs from the original one:

Original one is:

Visit “Technize.com” to see the end results!

[ Source: Technize.com ]

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The Demise of Microsoft Money (1991-2009)

According to the Official Microsoft Money website [ HERE ], Microsoft Money Plus will not be available for purchase after June 30, 2009.  Microsoft Money, introduced in 1991 (for $69.95), has been Microsoft’s mainstay personal finance software. Microsoft cited the reasoning behind the discontinuation of Money is that consumer needs for managing personal finances is being met by the full service options that are now available through the banks and brokerage firms.

If you are a current Microsoft Money user, I recommend that you review the “Frequently Asked Questions about the Microsoft Money end of sales” [ HERE ] to determine your future strategy.

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FREE – Quick Reference Cheat Sheets for Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office

CustomGuide, a company that specializes in customizable Online Learning, Courseware and Skills Assessments has available on their site, FREE (downloadable) “Quick Reference” (cheat sheets) for numerous software products that we use everyday [ click here ] . The “Quick Reference” sheets are in the Adobe PDF format that ultimately can be printed. There is a nice selection of Quick Reference Sheets for the Microsoft Windows and the Microsoft Office Products (see listing below). The Quick Reference sheets are excellent training and reference resource tools. I personally have printed and laminated these sheets to handout to users as a learning resource.

SAMPLE LISTING

[ CLICK HERE ]
to visit site and download.

SAMPLE

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Geek Squeaks’ of the Week (#14)

Here is this week’s roundup of articles from the blogs that are on the “What’s On My PC…” blogroll!  If you currently maintain a Tech blog and desire to exchange links; please comment below and I will contact you.  Thank you!

PayPalSucks – Plato On-Line

GADGET: Is the Palm Pre an iPhone Killer? – Tux in the Midwest

Change Task Manager – Technize.com

Convert Audio/Video file Online for FREE – AKS – Feel The Change!

Rescue a hard drive, partition or reset a password using PING – TTC Shelbyville

Google Squared Organizes Search Results In Spreadsheet Form – AllThatsNew

Safari 4 Shows a great start as it goes Public – Tech~Line

How to Remove YOUR – DAD – NAKED – hahahaha . pif – 411-Spyware.com

Fix a Noisy Laptop – AskBillFirst

Troubleshooting Installing Programs On Win 7 – Tech-for Everyone

40+ awesome free Windows apps from Downloadsquad.com – Carol’s Vault

How Risky is Peer to Peer (P2P) File Sharing? – Tech Thoughts

ArchView – Firefox Add-on – Evilfantasy’s Blog

Outlook stuck in a loop trying to receive mail – Sugarloaf Tech

PC Tools Firewall Plus Version 5 – Free – Free PC Security

Three kinds of software I totally don’t get – Rarst.net

Palm Pre Multitasking and Speed Test Video Demonstration – Is You GEEKed UP

6 Free lifesaver utility for Windows User to stop hair loss – Piyada’s World

Five Best Alternative File Copiers – Lifehacker

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