Author: jay f

1. This is the second of a series of blogs on Free software that you can use I will be reviewing the software and explain how you can use this software to save money and increase your productivity. In this series I will be covering both Applications and Utilities.

CutePDF Writer- this is a free version of a product that allow you to create PDF files form your computer this install as a printer driver then what ever you print will become a PDF. This is a lightweight solution and gives all users the ability to create PDF files

Can be found here at www.cutepdf.com

Foxit Reader 3.0 PDF this allows you to read PDF files with a SMALL memory footprint of software that will open PDF files. Yes you can get Acrobat reader for but this user less space, and less memory

Can be found here at www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/reader

Reflect Free – Backups are issues for most computer users – they just do not do it! Here a solution that free and make an Image file of your computer so that if you lose your computer you can quickly re-image it and be up in running in minutes not days. You need to make updated Image every time you install new hardware or software then you can just use another backup process to back up the changed data. (Look at my Allway Sync)

Reflect Free can be found here at www.macrium.com

Allway Sync – This is a toll for syncing data file that have changed between two or more computer. However I use this to back up to a USB flash drive or USB Hard drive that way if you keep a Big Flash Drive and once a day or week connect it to your computer it will copy the changed files from your computer to the USB device and you have current backup of your data. Allway Sync can be found here at www.allwaysync.com

This is the third of a series of blogs on Free software that you can use I will be reviewing the software and explain how you can use this software to save money and increase your productivity. In this series I will be covering both Applications and Utilities.

Microsoft Shareview – This is an application that you install to your computer – Then you can invite other to an online Video Meeting where you can share your computer with up to 15 users at the same time. This is a free solution to a live meeting. The interesting part of this software is that it allows user who are part of the meeting to move there mouse and highlight an area of the share screen and point out a question, you can also share control of your computer or a participant can take over the meeting and share their desktop or an application.

Microsoft Sharedview can be found here at www.microsoft.com/shareview

Crossloop Connect – this is a free application that allow you to control another computer connect on the internet. My mom call she is having a computer issue, I have here download this program, I done the same. Then I tell mom to tell me her access code and with her name and access code you can see and control her computer. (Saves lot time as you can see the problem and fix it remotely.

Crossloop Connect can be found here at www.crossloop.com

Live Writer – this program is for all of you blog writers. The easy to use editor allow you to create blogs add pictures and tags. This tool works with all most blogging services including Google Blogger, Typepad, WordPress and Microsoft blogging sites. Some features I like are the ability to open old blogs easily and edit old posted blog articles.

Live Writer can be found here at Download.live.com/writer

This was announced today that Windows 7 will be in stores beginning October 22nd.

Some people may not be able to wait for Windows 7 to arrive before having to order a new PC (like parents who are sending their sons or daughters off to school who need of a PC to take with them). Fortunately, there is no need to wait. Soon, customers will be able to take advantage of the Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program. This program enables participating retailers and OEMs to offer a special deal to upgrade to Windows 7 for customers purchasing a qualifying PC. I’ll be doing another blog post about this program with a date and more details when we get closer to availability.

Obviously, Release To Manufacturing (RTM) is an important milestone on the path to GA. We anticipate that we’ll be able to make the RTM code for Windows 7 available to our partners sometime in the 2^nd half of July. We also expect to be able to make RTM code for Windows Server 2008 R2 available to our partners in this time frame as well.

This is the first  of a series of blogs on Free software that you can use I will be reviewing the software and explain how you can use this software to save money and increase your productivity. In this series I will be covering both Applications and Utilities.

Belarc Advisor – the audit tool for your computer. This tool will look at your computer and tell you what hardware your computer has. This best part is then it looks at Software and shows the same. When it find software it will give you the Product keys that you used to install the products, this includes Windows, and Office. Run this program and print out the report, IF you ever need to reinstall your computer form scotch this is the report you will with you had.

Belarc Advisor can be found here at www.belarc.com

Gparted – This is a Linux boot manger that allows you to resized drives, and move part ions. You can do this in Vista or windows 7 but this tool gives you more flexibility. Gparted can be found here at gparted.sourceforge.net.

Format Factory is an all in one sound, and video converter. This one application will convert almost any video or audio file form one format to another. You pick the source file or director and you can convert to the file type you like. One powerful function is that ability to pick a directory and batch convert

Can be found here at www.formatoz.com

Process Explorer – This is the urber geek tool see what happing in you windows computer. This tool will tell you what running but goes into much more detail buy showing you how much memory, Network and CPU.

Process Explorer can be found here at technet.microsoft.com

A new search engine form Microsoft that answer questions using the phrases as a full search focus go to www.Bing.com

To learn more go to  http://www.decisionengine.com/Default.html

Microsoft on Thursday took the wraps off Bing, the rebuilt search engine formerly code-named  Kumo,  (See past blog on KUMO) designed to replace Live Search. It’s a solid improvement over the previous search product, and it beats Google in important areas. It will help Microsoft gain share in the search business. It’s surprisingly competitive with Google.

Bing isn’t available to the public yet, but you won’t have to wait long. Starting on June 1, some users will get Bing search results from Live Search. On June 3 Bing will be Microsoft’s new default search.

I needed to upgrade a beta computer to RC to keep some apps that I did not have time to reinstall. The steps am show here are not the recommended process form Microsoft BUT do work.

1. Copy your Windows 7 RC DVD to your hard drive.

2. Go to the sources directory.

3. Edit the cversion.ini using notepad.

4. You need to  edit  the MinClient build number to a value  to 7000.

5. Save the file with the same name.

6. Run the Setup and  you can upgrade your version of windows Beta to Windows RC.

Enjoy

Download the Glossary of Job Descriptions for Information Technology.

Prepare for Exam 70-652 (TS: Windows Server Virtualization, Configuring) for Free ($159.99(US) value)

This collection of five 2-hour courses helps you develop the skills necessary for implementing and managing Hyper-V in an IT environment, as well as creating and managing virtual machines and hosts in a virtual environment. Use promo code 9350-Y2W6-3676 to receive your discount. Please note: you must use the link above to take advantage of this offer.

Get Certified Through Exam 70-652 (TS: Windows Server Virtualization, Configuring) with a 25% Discount

Once you’ve taken the preparation course, you can take the certification exam at a reduced price. This exam will test your skills in installing, configuring, and optimizing Hyper-V; and in deploying, managing, and monitoring virtual machines using System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008. Use the promo code USHYPERV at checkout to receive your discount.

FREE E-BOOK: Understanding Microsoft Virtualization Solutions

Understanding Microsoft Virtualization Solutions – Mitch Tullock provides a thorough look at the capabilities, features, and operations of Microsoft virtualization technologies from the desktop to the datacenter, and how to plan, implement, and manage virtual infrastructure solutions.

Do you want to learn and play with Technology in a live setting ?

Quickly evaluate and test Microsoft’s newest server products through a series of guided, hands-on labs you can complete in 90 minutes or less. You can use TechNet Virtual Labs online immediately, free. Start by selecting the lab you’re interested in from the list below.

to try go Here

Mark Your Calendar for July 1, 2009 – Windows 7 Beta Expiration

Heads up! The Windows 7 Beta will expire on August 1, 2009 so be prepared and plan to rebuild your PC with either the Release Candidate (RC) or another valid version of Windows before July 1, 2009. You will receive a warning two weeks prior to July 1; after this date, your PC will begin shutting down every two hours.