My Most Used Utility

Ken-L · 07-01-2010, 10:42 AM

I use CCleaner by Piriform at least once every day.

Quote:

CCleaner is a freeware system optimization, privacy and cleaning tool. It removes unused files from your system - allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space. It also cleans traces of your online activities such as your Internet history. Additionally it contains a fully featured registry cleaner.

There are other programs that will do this too, but CCleaner is free, and I have never had a problem with it and what it does.

JDtech · 07-01-2010, 04:40 PM

Good post. here are two of mine:

CloseAll now

Ever find yourself with 15 open browser windows, a few instances of your word processor, a dozen or more Windows Explorer windows, and other open applications cluttering up your taskbar or desktop? Shutting them all down is a chore - unless you have the nifty little Close All Windows utility (Close All Windows - The Easy Way - NTWind Software). Put this little tool on your taskbar, and with one click, you're back to a clean desktop. Why didn't Microsoft think of that?

Quick app launching

How many times a day do you launch your web browser? Your word processor? Your other favorite applications? If the answer is "a lot," you'll wonder how you ever lived without a Windows utility that allows you to assign a Windows key shortcut to the application so that you can fire it up without clicking.

Today, Hotkeyz (HotKeyz) is that application. With this free tool, you can open your browser, Word, Outlook, or any other oft-used tool with the Windows key in combination with any other key on your keyboard. Setup Hotkeyz to start automatically with Windows, and after initial configuration, you won't even remember it's there - but you will appreciate its usefulness.

One tip: on Windows Vista and Windows 7, in order to get Hotkeyz to launch automatically when Windows starts, it may be necessary for you to right-click the Hotkeyz icon in the Start menu, select Properties, choose the Compatibility tab, and place a checkmark in the "Run this program as an administrator box." Once you've done that, simply select "Add Hotkeyz to Windows startup" from the Hotkeyz Settings menu, and you're done.

Ken-L · 07-01-2010, 05:07 PM

I have CloseAll Now installed. I'll give HotKeyz a look!

JDtech · 07-01-2010, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken-L

I have CloseAll Now installed. I'll give HotKeyz a look!

Hotkeyz is one of the first tools I install after installing Windows.

Jon Foster · 07-01-2010, 10:39 PM

My "My Most Used Utility" for Windows would have to be SpiceWorks. It's a great tool to keep track of PC's, printers and other devices on the networks we manage. A fantastic tool to have in your bag of tricks.

I think the two biggest things I use it for are making sure licensing doesn't become a problem and to keep track of the toner use in all the printers. Actually, there is a third thing that really comes in handy from time to time. It's monitoring the drive space use on PC's. It never fails to amaze me at how much drive space certain users can burn up in a short period of time.

Jon.

jcjacob · 07-02-2010, 01:34 PM

In addition to ccleaner, I also use jv16 PowerTools. It's not free, but for only 5.95 the license allows installing on up to 5 PCs, and it includes other useful utilities such as:

Mass rename of files
Find duplicate files
Merge files
Split large files
Wipe files or folders
Manage services
Monitor registry for changes

jv16 PowerTools is provided by Macecraft Software

-John

Ken-L · 07-02-2010, 02:00 PM

PowerTools looks like a handy utility! I just went to the site, and now the basic program is $29.95, but there is a 60-day trial available.

jcjacob · 07-02-2010, 02:11 PM

Sorry about that...I stand corrected, the price is indeed 29.95. I got a free upgrade from my 2009 version and noted the price for the VIP add-on which is 5.95.

Ken-L · 07-02-2010, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcjacob

Sorry about that...I stand corrected, the price is indeed 29.95. I got a free upgrade from my 2009 version and noted the price for the VIP add-on which is 5.95.

I'm using the demo now.....last thing to run is the Duplicate File Finder.
So far I'm impressed with it!

STBear · 07-12-2010, 12:15 AM

CCleaner is great. Use it all the time.

07-01-2010, 05:07 PM	#3
Ken-L Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 150	I have CloseAll Now installed. I'll give HotKeyz a look! __________________ "An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way." - Bukowski

07-02-2010, 01:34 PM	#6
jcjacob Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Doylestown, PA Posts: 159	In addition to ccleaner, I also use jv16 PowerTools. It's not free, but for only 5.95 the license allows installing on up to 5 PCs, and it includes other useful utilities such as: Mass rename of files Find duplicate files Merge files Split large files Wipe files or folders Manage services Monitor registry for changes jv16 PowerTools is provided by Macecraft Software -John

07-02-2010, 02:00 PM	#7
Ken-L Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 150	PowerTools looks like a handy utility! I just went to the site, and now the basic program is $29.95, but there is a 60-day trial available. __________________ "An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way." - Bukowski

07-02-2010, 02:11 PM	#8
jcjacob Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Doylestown, PA Posts: 159	Sorry about that...I stand corrected, the price is indeed 29.95. I got a free upgrade from my 2009 version and noted the price for the VIP add-on which is 5.95. __________________ -John

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07-01-2010, 04:40 PM	#2
JDtech Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 308 Blog Entries: 1	Good post. here are two of mine: CloseAll now Ever find yourself with 15 open browser windows, a few instances of your word processor, a dozen or more Windows Explorer windows, and other open applications cluttering up your taskbar or desktop? Shutting them all down is a chore - unless you have the nifty little Close All Windows utility (Close All Windows - The Easy Way - NTWind Software). Put this little tool on your taskbar, and with one click, you're back to a clean desktop. Why didn't Microsoft think of that? Quick app launching How many times a day do you launch your web browser? Your word processor? Your other favorite applications? If the answer is "a lot," you'll wonder how you ever lived without a Windows utility that allows you to assign a Windows key shortcut to the application so that you can fire it up without clicking. Today, Hotkeyz (HotKeyz) is that application. With this free tool, you can open your browser, Word, Outlook, or any other oft-used tool with the Windows key in combination with any other key on your keyboard. Setup Hotkeyz to start automatically with Windows, and after initial configuration, you won't even remember it's there - but you will appreciate its usefulness. One tip: on Windows Vista and Windows 7, in order to get Hotkeyz to launch automatically when Windows starts, it may be necessary for you to right-click the Hotkeyz icon in the Start menu, select Properties, choose the Compatibility tab, and place a checkmark in the "Run this program as an administrator box." Once you've done that, simply select "Add Hotkeyz to Windows startup" from the Hotkeyz Settings menu, and you're done.

07-01-2010, 10:39 PM	#5
Jon Foster Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: White Lake, MI Posts: 149	My "My Most Used Utility" for Windows would have to be SpiceWorks. It's a great tool to keep track of PC's, printers and other devices on the networks we manage. A fantastic tool to have in your bag of tricks. I think the two biggest things I use it for are making sure licensing doesn't become a problem and to keep track of the toner use in all the printers. Actually, there is a third thing that really comes in handy from time to time. It's monitoring the drive space use on PC's. It never fails to amaze me at how much drive space certain users can burn up in a short period of time. Jon.

07-12-2010, 12:15 AM	#10
STBear Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 26	CCleaner is great. Use it all the time.