Essential Software: Network Activity Lights

Sometimes it is nice to know what your network status lights are doing – and not everyone has a switch etc. sitting on their desk and it’s a pain peering around the back of a computer.  So, Network Lights is a tool that gives you the convenience of being able to more easily see your network activity lights, by placing them directly in front of you, using the keyboard’s LEDs.  The network Receive and Send activity is indicated by the Number Lock and Scroll Lock LEDs. 

Essential Software: Unknown File Types

Have you ever downloaded files that you can’t open and suspect that they may have had the extension renamed?  It can be a frustrating exercise trying to track sown the right program from which to open the file in question.. 

Essential Tips & Tricks: Unknown Devices

How often have you installed Windows on a system and come across unknown hardware that remains after you have installed all your available drivers?  This might have been when setting up a client’s PC (with limited driver supply) from scratch, a multipurpose device that requires a few different drivers or simply a case of forgetting about a particular hardware device that you have installed.  Here’s a method of acquiring information on exactly what the device is..

Essential Software: File Splitting And Joining

Here is a program that is not only able to split or join files, but can do so in a timely fashion, and is available for all versions of Windows..

Essential Software: Unsigned Drivers in Vista

You have probably found in the course of using Vista that there is protection from unsigned drivers and system files that prevents one from installing certain software or perhaps, special drivers for older, unsupported devices.  Read on to find out about a method of bypassing this limitation..

Essential Software: Sandboxing Programs

When it comes to surfing the Internet or trying out new software on our systems, there’s always a risk that the software in whatever form may compromise the security of our personal data.  Creating an environment that insulates our operating systems from potentially risky software/situations will reduce the margin for error..

Essential Tips & Tricks: Device Unplug Shortcut

Here’s a tip that may interest those of you using Windows Vista,  forever inserting and ejecting flash drives and other removable media..

Essential Software: CODEC Repair

This is part II of the article series on codecs.  In Part I, we looked at the scenarios where codec-related problems could arise and the way in which Windows handles codecs.  In this part, we’ll examine a piece of software that can make our lives easier by giving us control over the problematic codecs..

Essential Software Tip: Deleting Device Drivers

I remember the times when I’ve been subjected to the spectre of faulty driver installations possessing Windows to ignore my attempts at updating my devices with undamaged versions.  What a nightmare!

Essential Software: Vista x64 TWAIN Drivers

I am currently running the 64-bit edition of Windows Vista Home Premium, and for the most part it has been a trouble-free operating system.. But, when it comes to the compatibility of certain programs and the support of older devices, there is no surprise that one will run into trouble sooner or later.  My personal troubles with applications have normally been resolvable, however, I have had a difficult time locating TWAIN (special imaging driver) drivers for my Canon Canoscan FB 630u scanner.  I have found a solution to the problem though..

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