Years ago I started a column about sites mentioned in the column from the previous year. It usually runs the first couple of columns in the New Year. By-the-way, as hard as it is for me to believe, today starts my tenth year writing, “Double Click.” Thanks to all of you readers who read it and write me each week! The year in review column was a lark on my part; however, I found that many of you enjoyed it, so here it is for 2010. Have fun remembering, discovering, or rediscovering all the info! If you prefer to click on links and not type all of these, visit the DoubleClicks.info site and click away.

If the site addresses are too long to type I have shortened them with, “bit.ly” which is mentioned below. All of these sites should be free (or have a free version) unless marked “nf”.

Without further ado…here they are in their order of appearance with short descriptions of each.

• Predator (bit.ly/7DicnY) provides notebook security with a thumb drive.
• Portable Apps (portableapps.com) runs full programs from your thumb drive. A minimum of a 1 GB drive is needed but the larger the better.
• Secunia-PSI (bit.ly/bx3f5u) works like Windows Update, but updates ALL of your other programs.
• SuncToy (bit.ly/hf5GRq) a neat, accurate and easy to use file backup utility from Microsoft.
• Data Crow (datacrow.net) media database for CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, books, etc.
• Smart Defrag (iobit.com/iobitsmartdefrag.html) better hard drive defrag program.
• Facebook (facebook.com/DoubleClicks).
• MouseRugs (mouserug.com) interesting little rugs for your mouse.
• Surf Faster & Smarter-IE8 (bit.ly/bJRmBo) my first article for Microsoft.
• Scrabble (bit.ly/965cg3).
• SnagIt (techsmith.com) advanced screenshot application, nf.
• Dropbox (bit.ly/aszzao) automated online file storage.
• Canyon Defense game (bit.ly/cQoWtu).
• Dogfight game (bit.ly/agxQ35).
• Double Wires game (bit.ly/cy0uEj).
• Bit.ly is a free link shortener used a lot by me.
• Country code top-level domain list (bit.ly/a7Vmpo).
• Pixel Toolbox (bit.ly/akeyHA) an app to make your own icons.
• Official US Time (bit.ly/hzMXcv).
• Invisible Hand (getinvisiblehand.com) a Firefox browser add-on to find an item at the cheapest price.
• Mozilla add-ons (addons.mozilla.org) most all Firefox browser add-ons. Search, find and install them from here.
• Soluto (soluto.com) a program that speeds up your computer’s boot time by suggesting programs you don’t need to run when it starts.

Next week we will visit part 2 of last year’s links.

Tags: backup utility, data crow, defrag, Double Click, free version, gb drive, media database, microsoft data, notebook security, predator, previous year, PSI, secunia, thumb drive, windows update, year in review

One of the main things that I believe are of some benefit to your computer is to perform regular defrags on them.  Some geeks believe that a defrag of your hard drive is never needed.  If you are one of the people in my camp I have a couple of suggestions for you.

First an explanation in case you have absolutely no idea what defrag means.  Fragmentation, or fragging occurs each time you open a program or application. Your computer or system puts a picture on your monitor, calculates things, and runs the application, etc.  To make these programs work your system pulls files off of your Hard Drive, usually “C:\”, and puts them to work.  When you close the application(s) it places, or writes all of the files (even basic things like how to draw the window on your screen) back on the hard drive.  Each time you close down that application your computer writes the files to different locations on your drive.

Over time this causes your computer to slow down and not run as quickly or efficiently as it may have in the past.  This is because it has to look all over your hard drive for the files it needs to work.  Defragging moves the files around the drive in a more organized pattern.  When you defrag it places the files that are dependent on each other physically closer together.  When a program needs them it can find and use them faster, which in turn helps increase your system’s speed.

Before starting to defrag your drive you should shutdown all of your applications and plan on not using the computer until it is finished. 

To use the build in defrag component of windows, open “My Computer”, right click on the drive you wish to defrag, choose “Properties”, “Tools” and finally “Defragment Now”.  If you are a Windows 7 user click the “Start orb” and type “defrag.”  When it shows up click it or press your enter key. 

It will automatically select your C:\ Drive.  You may change to another drive; however C:\ is your main drive and almost certainly needs defragging the most.

Follow the simple instructions and you’ll be done in no time.  Well, Okay, if this is the first time you have run defrag in a while it could take a couple of hours.  The time depends on how badly your drive is fragmented and the size of the drive.  I usually run it once a month at night before I go to bed and in the morning it is done. 

Years ago before it was included with Windows you had to pay $90 to get the defrag  application.  Today there are some good ones for free. 

The one that comes with windows does a good job but it is rather clunky. I use Smart Defrag which looks good and is much more user friendly.  They both do the job. 

Happy defragging!

Tags: defrag, fragmentation, hard drive, help, maintenance, microsoft