utilities

In the world of utilities, WinPatrol is something of an anomaly. It's been around forever, as evidenced by its goofy, Windows 95-era interface and hideous, Internet 1.0-era Web site. Yet it's amassed a huge fanbase, with more than 1.6 million downloads from CNET alone.

What makes the program so popular? For starters, it gives Windows tinkerers a robust set of tinker-tools, yet has a footprint of less than 1MB. Also, creator Bill Pytlovany comes across as just a regular guy who wrote a program, not some faceless developer.

Although the free version of WinPatrol offers plenty … Read more

Programs don't have to be fancy to be useful, and Snap Backup is proof of that. Its interface is plain and its features are basic, but we like it because it's an incredibly easy way to back up your files. And when you have a task that's so important -- yet so easy to forget about -- anything that helps you do it on a more regular basis is worth checking out.

Snap Backup has a simple interface that's easy to figure out. First, select the directories you want to back up. Next, select a destination … Read more

Looking to convert a video or audio file into a different kind of video or audio file? Freeware favorite HandBrake can handle some video formats, but it's a bit out-of-date -- and nowhere near as comprehensive as a utility like WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe.

That tool normally sells for $49.95, but from now until tomorrow, April 11, you can download WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe absolutely free. It's available for Windows and Mac; the license codes you need are listed right on the download page.

Update: My apologies! This giveaway is for the Windows version only.… Read more

TuneUp Utilities 2012 presents a wide range of useful system maintenance and optimization tools in one interface. Some tools you'll use to regularly clean your system, while others only need to be run only once in a while or if you have a specific Windows problem. The 2012 version of TuneUp Utilities also includes the Program Deactivator, which disables unused programs until you need them, and Economy Mode, which can help laptop users improve battery life. TuneUp Utilities is free to try for 15 days. A nag screen tracks the trial period.

TuneUp Utilities keeps things simple with its … Read more

Wear and tear slows your computer down over time. With WinSettings Pro, not only can you clean up duplicate, temporary, and junk files, but you can also optimize system settings and remove unnecessary startups, cookies, and associations. What makes WinSettings Pro different from other utilities is that you are always in control. It lets you review and selectively delete individual files and cookies. Plus, it finds and fixes errors, ensures privacy and security protection, and maintains your computer's peak performance and reliability.

Rated 4-stars by CNET, you can save 90% for three days only and get it for just $… Read more

The bottom line: The new owners of Lavasoft have revamped Ad-Aware to the point where it has almost nothing in common with its predecessors besides function. It's a good reboot, but it's not out of the woods yet.

Review: While the name Ad-Aware remains the same as it has for the past 13 years, everything from the user interface to the code powering Ad-Aware 10 is entirely new.

More so than any recent version of Ad-Aware, the suite is usable, lightweight, and worthy of your attention.

Installation The installation is straightforward, although it still does opt you in … Read more

The bottom line: The new owners of Lavasoft have revamped Ad-Aware to the point where it has almost nothing in common with its predecessors besides function. It's a good reboot, but it's not out of the woods yet.

Review: While the name Ad-Aware remains the same as it has for the past 13 years, everything from the user interface to the code powering Ad-Aware 10 is entirely new.

More so than any recent version of Ad-Aware, the suite is usable, lightweight, and worthy of your attention.

Installation The installation is straightforward, although it still does opt you in … Read more

The bottom line: The new owners of Lavasoft have revamped Ad-Aware to the point where it has almost nothing in common with its predecessors besides function. It's a good reboot, but it's not out of the woods yet.

Review: While the name Ad-Aware remains the same as it has for the past 13 years, everything from the user interface to the code powering Ad-Aware 10 is entirely new.

More so than any recent version of Ad-Aware, the suite is usable, lightweight, and worthy of your attention.

Installation The installation is straightforward, although it still does opt you in … Read more

Erasing free disk space is an easy (albeit not quick) way to help prevent the recovery of files you have erased from your system. Conventionally when files are deleted from storage device, the system only removes their entries from the file system's directory, thereby flagging blocks containing the data as being free to use. While this offers a quick way to delete files from the drive, the data is technically still intact on disk and thereby leaves open the possibility for recovery using special software.

To prevent this from happening, one option that Apple has offered in OS X … Read more