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ROMs are files that emulate and save data from read-only memory (ROM) devices such as video game cartridges, and most are just that: software images of old-time, old-school video arcade games, Atari games, and other obsolete gaming system cartridges that many gamers collect like trading cards. They use MAME (multiple arcade machine emulator) software to recreate the original software environment for realistic play and preservation. ROMs can pile up on your hard drive quickly. ClrMamePro is a free ROM management tool that makes it easy to keep your game collection up-to-date with each new release and every deleted set. It'… Read more

Spam is so pervasive that many think the lunch meat was named after the e-mail and not the other way around. Spam's annoying, but viruses are deadly to your PC, and when they come in tandem, it's double trouble. The right tools can help you stay one step ahead of the problem. PCPrivacy's Spam Sweeper can stop spam and kill viruses before they have a chance to enter your system through your e-mail client. Spam Sweeper doesn't download the entire message, just enough to tell what it is, a simple scheme that's quicker than ordinary … Read more

Apple may be in the process of removing "overtly sexual" content from its App Store, according to a TechCrunch report.

The developer behind "Wobble iBoobs," an adult-themed application, told TechCrunch that his application has been taken down. Apple reportedly told the developer in a letter that the decision to remove the app is part of a larger plan to remove sexual content from the store.

"Your application, Wobble iBoobs (Premium Uncensored), contains content that we had originally believed to be suitable for distribution," Apple's letter to the developer read, according to TechCrunch. "… Read more

E-mail scanning and a tiered level of rootkit removal come to Ad-Aware in Monday's update to version 8.2. Ad-Aware Free, Ad-Aware Plus, and Ad-Aware Pro now come with e-mail scanning for Microsoft Outlook users, as well as expand the Ad-Aware Live system to block malicious files from downloading, and introduce a tiered rootkit removal system that increases in efficacy as you upgrade Ad-Aware.

The new features are part of the recent expansive approach that Lavasoft has been pushing in Ad-Aware, looking beyond antispyware as the company tries to keep the program relevant. The tiered rootkit removal is the … Read more

Duplicate File Eraser is a simple program that ostensibly finds and removes duplicate files. Although it's easy enough to find duplicates with the program, deleting them is another matter.

The program's interface is extremely plain, with all of the program's functions in view. Users first select the directory or directories that they want to search, then set a handful of other options, including whether or not they want to search subdirectories or include hidden files. The results appear in a separate tab, where users can select the files that they wish to delete. Actually deleting the files … Read more

When it's time to get rid of old computers, many people think erasing and reformatting a hard drive is sufficient to keep private information out of others' hands. But to keep your private data safe from others, you really need a more thorough tool and EAST-Tec's DisposeSecure fits the bill. This hard-disk and network sanitizing utility can completely eliminate data beyond the possibility of recovery. It uses Department of Defense standards for data destruction, but users can configure custom security levels too.

DisposeSecure is a powerful and competent tool, and its interface and features reflect that, once you … Read more

AppRemover will find and uninstall any security applications on your system, such as virus protection programs and spybot removers. Sometimes antivirus programs do not uninstall completely, so if you're replacing one security application with another, AppRemover can help you remove the old program so you can start fresh with the new one.

AppRemover sports a clean, well-designed interface. When the program starts, it asks if you want to look for security applications on your computer or clean up a failed software uninstall. We selected the first option, and AppRemover found all of the virus and spyware protection programs on … Read more

This program, like many others, promises to clean your Registry, make your computer run faster, and, if you're lucky, do your dishes, too. At least when it comes to cleaning your Registry, Advanced Registry Optimizer seems to do a pretty good job.

The scan process was easy to initiate and was done in about 3 minutes, although don't forget that the scan time depends on the computer system. A smart-looking row of five tabs and their labels makes navigating the program options stress-free, and the lack of lag on the system was much appreciated. The user interface has … Read more

Like many people who work for a company that's located hundreds of miles from their home, I rely on remote-access programs, specifically the Remote Desktop Connection utility built into Windows. I recently encountered a relatively common bug in the program: in the midst of a remote session, I lost the ability to copy and paste.

Closing and restarting the remote connection fixed the problem temporarily. A more permanent solution is described by Pinal Dave on the SQL Authority blog. Press Ctrl-Alt-Delete and click Start Task Manager. Choose the Processes tab, select rdpclip.exe, click End Process, and close Task … Read more