tool

Microsoft has built into Windows 7 a tool in which users can check the reliability of their Windows 7 installation. The reliability feature uses a graph that a user can use to determine if any problems have been reported and if there is a possible solution. You can start this feature by going to Start [...]

Microsoft is making available Hohm, their energy management tool, today July 6, 2009 at 6:00am PDT. The download, when available, is still in beta form and Microsoft is looking for your feedback. The main purpose of Hohm is  to monitor and help the consumer lower their energy costs by providing suggestions on how to make [...]

Google has previewed a new service known as the Google Wave. The service will provide equal parts of both document and conversation in which people will be able to communicate and work as a team. Included will be the ability to collaborate on using text, maps, videos and a lot more. What is even better [...]

There are some changes that everyone should be aware of before considering an upgrade path to Windows 7. First is that Windows XP users will not be able to upgrade. Windows XP users will need to do a clean install. Only those using Windows Vista can upgrade directly. Which always brings up the following question. [...]

On May 5th, most of you who are interested in trying out the next operating system from Microsoft will hit the servers to get a copy of Windows 7 RC [Release Candidate]. Be patient. There is going to be a huge crowd trying to get the download. Once you get the download and have it [...]

If you see the below screen on a computer than that machine has been Confickered. The payload from the virus is now showing up with a fake anti-virus which wants the user to pay $49.95 to clean their machine. Kaspersky has released the rogue screen as a warning:
 

There is also a removal tool over at [...]

There is a new kid on the block called Hunch. What makes Hunch different is that it is a decision making tool to assist those who join in making decisions. The people who run the site best describe what their site is all about in the following FAQ section. It states that:

What is Hunch?
Hunch is [...]

MVP Ramesh Kumar has developed an Ultimate Windows Tweaker that is designed specifically for Windows Vista. The tweaking software contains some 130 tweaks which are organized into seven specific categories:

Personalization
User Accounts & UAC
System & Performance
Security, Internet Explorer
Network Optimization
Additional Options.

There is also a button to create a restore point which is always a good idea. On [...]

Microsoft is claiming that during their last patch Tuesday, their Malicious Software Removal Tool, which is part of the download package, removed malware from computer systems. The software giant made claim to the fact that MSRT actually cleaned up some one million computers that had become victim to fake software.
In their press release they state [...]

AVG has posted on their site a fix tool for those who might be having problems with their Windows XP machines after a faulty database confirmed a Windows file as a virus. If you are experiencing a problem and use AVG, follow the instructions below to fix your computer:
We have prepared an utility which can [...]

In conjunction with my long running philosophy that free is always good, I gave the software program ‘Vista 4 Experts’ a try. This little gem is a delight to use and easy to manage. Oh yeah. It is free as well. The download was easy, it is a zipper and after the extraction was completed [...]

Symantec has what is known as a Registry Repair Tool to fix problems for those folks who were running Norton 2008, and updated Windows XP to SP3 or Vista to SP1.  The free tool removes errant registry entries that may be hiding after the service pack was installed.
On their site Symantec states:
Numerous registry keys are [...]

Microsoft has released a tool that will block all new service packs from being installed from the Windows Update service. Basically designed for businesses who do not want to upgrade to the next service pack release, this same tool can be used by home users as well.
Why a tool? One only needs to recall the [...]