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GNU Ghostscript is an open-source interpreter for the PostScript language and the PDF file format. It is distributed under the 
CutePDF - Create PDF for free, Free PDF Utilities, Edit PDF easily;.
CutePDF - Create PDF for free, Free PDF Utilities, Edit PDF easily;.
The easiest way to get apps.
Ninite runs on Windows XP/Vista/7 and works We install apps with default settings and All we do is install the latest versions of the apps Want to see how it works? Read a step-by-step When it was in private beta, Ninite was called Volery. |  |
Ninite Easy PC Setup and Multiple App Installer - Great For Win7 Upgrades
About a year ago I fired Internet Explorer as my primary browser. Why? Because it crashed on me constantly and took forever at times to transition from one site to another. I've found the Firefox browser much more user friendly, especially given the number of plugins that have been developed for the browser. The ability to customize Firefox with these plug-in extensions is what makes this open-source browser so special.
However, there are so many available options for plugins, it's tough to know what's worth installing and what's will be a complete waste of your time. There are lists of Firefox plugins that have been created citing the best extensions for web developers or for a better YouTube experience.
However, I wanted to create an everyday list of my best choices just for the ordinary online business owner.
SiteProNews: Webmaster News & Resources
The Computer Repair Utility Kit is a combination of all of Technibbles Repair Tools of the Week up to date in one easy pack. The Computer Repair Utility Kit allows you to run all of the repair tools from your portable drive (eg. USB Flash Drive, External Hard Drive, IPod etc.) and comes with an easy to use, right-click menu. A must in any technicians kit.
You can also add your own utilities to the menu and make it so it autoruns when you insert your portable media into the system.
If you are just starting out as a techie and combine this free tool with our Computer Business Kit. You’ll have everything you need to get started.
The Computer Repair Utility Kit Comes with the following applications:
- Dial-a-fix – Fixes many common issues with Internet Explorer and Windows itself
- Autoruns – Shows everything that is set to autorun on a system
- Process Explorer – Shows current running processes in great detail
- Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder – Finds the CDKey/Serial for commonly known software (XP, Office etc..)
- RawCopy – Copy’s contents of one drive to another. Useful when there are corruptions
- Tweak UI – Tweak Windows XPs settings
- SoftPerfect Network Scanner – Network Scanner
- Unlocker – Unlocks files that are locked (eg. files that cannot be moved, deleted, copied etc.)
- Unstoppable Copier – Copy’s files from one location to another, if it hits a locked/corrupt file it will keep on going
- Pocket Killbox – Kill and delete files which are locked. Has a “delete on reboot” option. Useful for removing viruses and malware
- CalmWin Portable Antivirus – A very good, portable antivirus
- Norton Removal Tool – Removes Norton products
- NetStumbler – Searches for Wireless networks with some advanced options
- Double Driver – Backs up your drivers. Handy to use before a format
- CPU-Z – Provides information about your hardware such as CPU speed and voltages
- WirelessKeyView – Shows the current wireless network passwords on the system in plain text
- TreeSize Free – Shows you how much space each folder on a system is taking up
- DriveImage XML – Hard drive imaging program
- PC-Decrapifier – Removes the junk files that mainstream computer manufacturers install on new computers
- Belarc Advisor – Creates a detailed report on a system
- Restoration – Recover accidentally deleted files
- Ethereal – Network packet analyzer
- VistaTweaker – Tweaks Windows Vistas settings
- JkDefrag GUI – An advanced defragging tool
- Unknown Device Identifier – Identifies entries in Device Manager that come up as “Unknown Device”
- GSpot – Provides information about a file such as what codec it was encoded in. Handy for when you cant play a video or audio file because you don’t have the right codec
- Revo Uninstaller – A powerful uninstaller tool
- Runscanner – Malware scanner and removal tool
- PageDefrag – Allows you to defragment the Windows Pagefile (which is typically locked)
- DBXtract – Extracts single emails out of Outlook Expresses .dbx databases
- Hijack This – Malware scanner and removal tool
- ATF Cleaner – Cleans out Windows temp files and browser temp files (IE, Firefox and Opera)
- LSP Fix – Winsock repair utility. Useful for when malware damage is preventing a computer from going online
- AppSnap – Downloads, installs and updates freeware software
- MozBackup – Backs up Firefox and Thunderbird settings and files
- System Information – Displays very details information about the system
To start the toolkit. Extract the zip file to your portable media and run “Launcher.exe”.
Repair Tool of the Week Presents: The Computer Repair Utility Kit | Technibble
Introduction
This utility, which has the most comprehensive knowledge of auto-starting locations of any startup monitor, shows you what programs are configured to run during system bootup or login, and shows you the entries in the order Windows processes them. These programs include ones in your startup folder, Run, RunOnce, and other Registry keys. You can configure Autoruns to show other locations, including Explorer shell extensions, toolbars, browser helper objects, Winlogon notifications, auto-start services, and much more. Autoruns goes way beyond the MSConfig utility bundled with Windows Me and XP.
Autoruns' Hide Signed Microsoft Entries option helps you to zoom in on third-party auto-starting images that have been added to your system and it has support for looking at the auto-starting images configured for other accounts configured on a system. Also included in the download package is a command-line equivalent that can output in CSV format, Autorunsc.
You'll probably be surprised at how many executables are launched automatically!
Screenshot
Usage
See the November 2004 issue of Windows IT Pro Magazine for Mark's article that covers advanced usage of Autoruns . If you have questions or problems, visit the Sysinternals Autoruns Forum.
Simply run Autoruns and it shows you the currently configured auto-start applications as well as the full list of Registry and file system locations available for auto-start configuration. Autostart locations displayed by Autoruns include logon entries, Explorer add-ons, Internet Explorer add-ons including Browser Helper Objects (BHOs), Appinit DLLs, image hijacks, boot execute images, Winlogon notification DLLs, Windows Services and Winsock Layered Service Providers. Switch tabs to view autostarts from different categories.
To view the properties of an executable configured to run automatically, select it and use the Properties menu item or toolbar button. If Process Explorer is running and there is an active process executing the selected executable then the Process Explorer menu item in the Entry menu will open the process properties dialog box for the process executing the selected image.
Navigate to the Registry or file system location displayed or the configuration of an auto-start item by selecting the item and using the Jump menu item or toolbar button.
To disable an auto-start entry uncheck its check box. To delete an auto-start configuration entry use the Delete menu item or toolbar button.
Select entries in the User menu to view auto-starting images for different user accounts.
More information on display options and additional information is available in the on-line help.
Autorunsc Usage
Autorunsc is the command-line version of Autoruns. Its usage syntax is:
Usage: autorunsc [-a] | [-c] [-b] [-d] [-e] [-g] [-h] [-i] [-l] [-m] [-n] [-p] [-r] [-s] [-v] [-w] [-x] [user]
| -a | Show all entries. |
| -b | Boot execute. |
| -c | Print output as CSV. |
| -d | Appinit DLLs. |
| -e | Explorer addons. |
| -g | Sidebar gadgets (Vista and higher). |
| -h | Image hijacks. |
| -i | Internet Explorer addons. |
| -l | Logon startups (this is the default). |
| -m | Hide signed Microsoft entries. |
| -n | Winsock protocol and network providers. |
| -p | Printer monitor drivers. |
| -r | LSA providers. |
| -s | Autostart services and non-disabled drivers. |
| -t | Scheduled tasks. |
| -v | Verify digital signatures. |
| -w | Winlogon entries. |
| -x | Print output as XML. |
| user | Specifies the name of the user account for which autorun items will be shown. |
Download Autoruns and Autorunsc
(576 KB)
Run Autoruns now from Live.Sysinternals.com
Autoruns for Windows
About a month ago, we launched v3.0 of the Documents List Data API and promised more features were on the way. Well today, we're releasing two experimental features in the API: OCR and Document Translation.
The first, Optical Character Recognition (OCR), allows your application to create editable Google Documents from high-resolution images containing text (such as faxes or scanned letters). To perform OCR on a .png, .jpg, or .gif upload, add the ocr=true parameter onto your upload request:
POST /feeds/default/private/full?ocr=true HTTP/1.1
OCR will only work well on high-resolution images. The quality of the extracted text isn't perfect yet, but we're busy improving it!
Secondly, we have integrated Google Translate into the API. As a result, you can translate a document during upload. Simply add the targetLanguage and sourceLanguage parameters to your upload request:
POST /feeds/default/private/full/?targetLanguage=de&sourceLanguage=en HTTP/1.1
If sourceLanguage is omitted, we'll try to auto detect the document's language. All languages supported by Google Translate (full list here) are supported in the API.
As always, see the documentation for details. There's also a live demo (source will be available soon) up at googlecodesamples.com.
Official Google Data APIs Blog: Import Scans or Go Multilingual
Stop hunting; this handpicked list has the best free software in the world.
Unless specified, programs are available for both Windows and Mac.
Free Software - The best free software for Windows and Mac.
The First 10 Free Apps to Install on a New Windows PC
It’s about that time for me again: my desktop is a couple years part its prime and my laptop just died (no display, no hard drive activity, no wifi, and a recent history of turning off suddenly for no good reason – those are all bad signs, right?), which means the near future holds a new PC for me. Which means a blank slate on which to impose my computer-using will.
Setting up a new computer goes through five stages:
- Denial: I’ve got a new computer. Nothing can go wrong now!
- Anger: No, I don’t want to subscribe to AOL. No, I don’t want Norton updates. No, I don’t want a 60-day trial of Office 2007. There are HOW MANY security updates?!
- Bargaining: I’d do anything to be able to use this thing!
- Depression: I’ve been uninstalling Norton components for 17 hours now. If I have to restart the PC one more time, I swear I’ll kill myself… All I want to do is update Twitter!
- Acceptance: OK, let’s install some good stuff now!
Once you’ve installed all the updates, uninstalled all the crapware, entered your wifi password, and set your screensaver, it’s time to make that shiny new PC do stuff, and for me the doing starts with installing a pretty fixed list of free applications.
The First 10 Free Apps to Install on a New Windows PC - Stepcase Lifehack
It may be the year 2008, but a whole lot of sucktacular software still rears its ugly head on PC's everywhere, even when better-behaved options are freely available. Whether it's molasses-slow bloatware, shameless adware, anemic default apps, or "Your trial period has expired!" nagware, it's time to replace stinky Windows software with its superior (but lesser-known) alternative. Last week we asked what software you should never install on your PC, and over 200 comments later, you compiled quite a list. Today we're going to take a walk down the Crapware Hall of Shame, point and laugh at the worst offenders, and highlight some better choices. Photo by chelseagirl.
Application to Avoid: Adobe Reader
Indictment: Bloatware
Superior Alternative(s): FoxIt Reader or Sumatra PDF
Notes: There are much worse offenders on this list than Adobe Reader, which has gotten more performant over the years. Keep in mind that Adobe deals with some PDF's (like ones with editable form fields) better than FoxIt. If you don't want to ditch Adobe Reader entirely, here's how to tweak Adobe 8 for speed.
Application to Avoid: AOL Instant Messenger 
Indictment: One-trick pony with ads included made by a company that holds its customers hostage. (Speaking of, here's how to cancel your AOL account.)
Superior Alternative(s): Digsby or Pidgin or Miranda or Trillian or Meebo
Notes: The moral of the story is you should avoid anything that comes on six zillion free CDs that swamp your apartment building's mailroom.
Application to Avoid: Browser Toolbars (that you didn't seek out yourself)
Indictment: Notorious for hijacking your browser, phoning home with your online activity, taking up precious real estate, and not offering any features you actually want.
Superior Alternative(s): Your browser's built-in search box and a few good bookmarklets
Notes: Don't get us wrong: Not all toolbars are bad, but do beware when they get tacked onto the end of a totally unrelated software installation and you have to opt OUT of them.
Application to Avoid: Internet Explorer (6 and 7) 
Indictment: Lacks features any self-respecting modern web browser had two versions ago
Superior Alternative(s): Firefox
Notes: Because IE gloms onto the innards of your operating system so inextricably, you can't truly uninstall it. Just set your system's default browser to Firefox to avoid launching IE ever.
Application to Avoid: iTunes
Indictment: Too controlling, gleefully enforces DRM, can't monitor folders for new music
Superior Alternative(s): foobar200 (more on foobar2000), Songbird, or WinAmp
Notes: We—ok, I—actually like and use iTunes, ever since that time Steve Jobs waved that iPhone over my forehead and chanted. These recommendations only for those with particularly sensitive digital music sensibilities.
Application to Avoid: Java Runtime Environment
Indictment: You ugly and yo' Mama dresses you funny
Superior Alternative(s): None.
Notes: If you want to run a Java app, without the runtime you're SOL. Java, we love the idea of you. Just not the coffee cup staring at us from the system tray.
Application to Avoid: Limewire
Indictment: Where do we start? Haven't launched Limewire since our college days, and don't plan to ever look back
Superior Alternative(s): Frostwire
Notes: Bonus: Frostwire does BitTorrent, too.
Application to Avoid: MSN Messenger
Indictment: Little ugly non-faces with a red X over them plant themselves in your system tray with no obvious way to uninstall or quit it
Superior Alternative(s): Digsby or Pidgin or Miranda or Trillian or Meebo
Notes: Uninstall MSN Messenger by going to the "Add/Remove Windows Components" area in Control Panel's "Add/Remove Programs" area.
Application to Avoid: Nero Suite
Indictment: Costly
Superior Alternative(s): CDBurnerXP
Notes: The free CDBurnerXP may not do everything Nero does, but for the price it does a whole lot.
Application to Avoid: McAfee/Norton/Symantec Anti-Virus 
Indictment: Naggy subscription costs after the free trial on your new PC runs out
Superior Alternative(s): AVG or Avast
Notes: See why many readers have ditched their AV software.
Application to Avoid: QuickTime
Indictment: Plants itself in your startup and system tray
Superior Alternative(s): QuickTime Alternative
Notes: While QuickTime doesn't annoy us THAT much, it still annoys us a little—especially since it comes with Apple's Software Update. (See Safari's Honorable Mention, below.)
Application to Avoid: RealPlayer
Indictment: We're still so traumatized about RealPlayer's repeated takeover of our PC back in 2004 we're seeing a special doctor that's killing that part of our memory
Superior Alternative(s): Real Alternative
Application to Avoid: Windows Media Player
Indictment: WTF interface, chokes on clips in common formats
Superior Alternative(s): VLC
Application to Avoid: WinZip
Indictment: Cost
Superior Alternative(s): 7-Zip or ALZip
Honorable mention: While Apple's Safari web browser for Windows itself is not crappy, Apple's Software Update trying to push it on you completely sucks. Here's how to opt out of installing Safari and stop the nag.
What crappy apps or better alternatives did we miss? Did we wrongly accuse one of your favorites? Let us know in the comments.
Gina Trapani, the editor of Lifehacker, still hasn't forgiven RealPlayer. Her weekly feature, Geek to Live, appears every Monday on Lifehacker. Subscribe to the Geek to Live feed to get new installments in your newsreader.
Lifehacker - Superior Alternatives to Crappy Windows Software - Downloads
DiskDigger can recover files from any type of media that your computer can read. This includes USB flash drives, memory cards (SD, CompactFlash, Memory Stick, etc), and of course your hard drive. The types of files that it recovers include photos, videos, music, documents, and many other formats.
DiskDigger can even scan reformatted or badly formatted disks (disks to which Windows can’t assign a drive letter), and even disks with bad sectors. It bypasses the Windows file system drivers and scans your disk directly. It has its own built-in support for the following file systems: FAT12 (floppy disks), FAT16 (older memory cards), FAT32 (newer memory cards and hard disks), NTFS (newer hard disks), and exFAT (Microsoft’s new successor to FAT32).
DiskDigger is also very compact and portable. The entire program is a single executable file that you can run from anywhere. There’s nothing to “install,” and the program doesn’t leave any trace of having been run.
You may find DiskDigger useful if…
- you deleted one or more photos from a memory card by accident, and want them restored.
- you deleted one or more photos from a memory card on purpose, but now want them restored.
- you deleted some documents from your USB flash drive, and want to recover them.
- you came across an old hard drive of yours (or someone else’s) that’s been reformatted, and would like to see what its previous contents were.
- you’ve “securely wiped” your media, and want to make sure that your media has actually been wiped correctly.
- you’re just curious about what old deleted files are still present on your memory cards or hard drives.
DiskDigger is also a work in progress. This means that new features will be added very frequently, including support for more file formats, more configuration options, etc., so check back for updates.
DiskDigger - free data recovery made easy | DmitryBrant.com
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