Misc. Utilities

Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 allows multiple operating systems to run concurrently on a single machine. It enables developers to test and debug their software on a number of different platforms, all on one PC. Other uses include training, tech support, legacy application support or any other use that requires access to multiple operating systems. You can easily switch between operating systems without having to log off or reboot.

Hexplorer is a hex editor that offers many features, including 5 color schemes to interpret bytes visually, unlimited Undo operation, find and replace function, pixel viewer, structure viewer, disassembler, Fourier transform and more. It also allows you to export data to C or Assembler, calculates checksums, CRC values, finds patterns and more.

EMCO MoveOnBoot enables you to move, delete or rename files the next time you boot your computer. This can be very useful if the files you need to process are locked, and cannot be renamed, moved or deleted while Windows is running.

Convert is the only unit conversion tool you`ll ever need. It includes fast and simple conversions for distance, temperature, volume, time, speed, mass, power, density, pressure, energy and many others. In addition, you can also add your custom conversions. The program comes as standalone file and does not need to be installed - just unzip and run.

StrokeIt is an advanced mouse gesture recognition engine and command processor, that you can use to perform various actions, using a mouse gesture, rather than a click or keybord input. For example, you can hold down the right mouse button and drag your mouse to the lower left corner to minimize all windows, or drag it to the left while using Internet Explorer to go back to the previous web page. The mouse gestures can be configured on a per-application basis, allowing you to use the same gesture with different actions, depending on the program you are currently using. StrokeIt can currently recognize more than 80 pre-configured mouse gestures and can be easly trained to recognize more.

Polyglot 3000 can automatically identify the language used in a text, phrase, or (sometimes) even a single word. Just paste or type the text into the provided field, or load a text file, and the program will identify it from a database of over 400 languages that it can recognize. The longer the text sample, the better are the odds of proper identification. Worked well with the languages we tested.

ZoomIt is a desktop zoom and annotation tool, that enables you to zoom your desktop with your wheel mouse or the up and down arrow keys on your keyboard. It is activated with a customizable keyboard shortcut, and can also be used to draw on your desktop (with or without zoom), using a customizable color and pen width. ZoomIt is very convenient to use, it does not require any additional windows to open or close, and even includes a customizable break timer that will blank your screen with a countdown when it is activated.

Volumouse is a unique and handy utility, that allows you to adjust your speaker volume by using your mouse wheel. In order to preserve other functionalities of your mouse wheel, the program offers several combinations, so that volume adjusting will only be used when for example an additional keyboard key is pressed. We liked the option best, which would automatically use the mouse wheel for volume adjustment when you move your pointer over the taskbar - anywhere else on the screen, the mousewheel has the standard functionality. There are various combinations available, including an option that will only use the mouse wheel for volume if Media Player is in the foreground.

SundryTools XV is a multi-functional tool that includes a multimedia organizer to catalog your CD/DVD and MP3 collections along with several system utilities and other tools. The media manager enables you to index files that are stored on removable media or local folders and enables easy searching through your entire collection, even if the CDs are not inserted. It also includes features like MP3 tag editing, playlist creation, media playback and more. In addition to the multimedia features SundryTools also includes an (apparently unrelated) arsenal of system utilities that include a task scheduler, system information, process manager, text encryption, personal reminders, and more. An odd but useful collection of utilities.

Unlocker enables you to delete, move or rename files or folders that are locked by other processed (Access is denied, Sharing Violation etc.). It integrates into the Windows right-click menu, and opens a dialog that shows you the processes that are currently locking the file, thereby preventing it from being deleted. You can choose to terminate and unlock the processes, or otherwise delete the file on the next reboot.

LocalCooling s an advanced power management tool that helps you conserve resources by powering down your PC when it is not in use. It offers several advantages over the standard Windows power manager, as well as an overview of your estimated PC power usage, and a statistical report that shows you how much power you have conserved over time. The program can automatically turn off your monitor, shut down or hibernate your PC after X minutes of inactivity, and also offers an option to suspend the shutdown if a certain program is running or if the shutdown would occur before a specific time of day. LocalCooling even includes a community feature that allows you to upload your power saving statistics and compete with other users.

KatMouse is a mouse wheel enhancement utility that adds useful functionality to your wheel mouse. First of all it overcomes the requirement that the window must have keyboard focus in order for the scroll wheel to work. In addition, it allows for quick switching between active and inactive windows by simply pressing the wheel button. You can scroll most windows page wise by holding the wheel button over the window and clicking the left (up) or right (down) mouse button. Additional features include custom settings for selected applications or classes and more.

Mobysaurus Thesaurus is an off-line English thesaurus that help you find related and synonymous words for your everyday speaking and writing purposes. It includes a database of over 30,000 root words and phrases and more than 2,500,000 synonyms, all of which can be cross-linked by simply clicking on a word. If you happen to run into a word that is not included in Mobysaurus, you can use the integrated online reference to look up synonyms on Wikipedia, Thesaurus.com, Dictionary.com, MSN Encarta, WordWeb Online and other sites. Other features include wildcard search, clipboard/print support, system wide hotkey, WordWeb integration and more.

True X-Mouse Gizmo is a very handy mouse enhancement that enables you to automatically copy text that you select to the clipboard (as soon as the left button is released), without the need to first right-click on it and select `copy`. You can then paste the copied text with a single middle button click instead of the traditional right-click/paste method. A small X next to the mouse cursor indicates that your selection has been copied to the clipboard. In addition to more efficient copy/paste operations, True X-Mouse Gizmo also allows for easy switching of windows by sending the currently active window to the bottom when you right-click on the title bar. A tray icon allow you to enable/disable the program as needed. Standalone, no installation.

MultiMon Taskbar enables you to have a Windows taskbar on up to 3 monitors. Normally, when using a multi-monitor setup, Windows only maintains a single taskbar that holds all the windows, regardless of which monitor they are running. MultiMon Taskbar changes this and adds a taskbar to each monitor, and keeps the taskbar buttons where they belong. Furthermore, the program adds a handy button to the title bar of each window, that lets you place a window on either the left or right monitor with a single click - this functionality can also be accessed via Ctrl+Shift+ left or right arrow. The additional taskbars are plain (no XP style or theme) but they do the job and include a clock display, as well as an optional clipboard log. If you use 2 or 3 monitors, you should check this out!

WinServices is an enhanced Windows Service Manager, that allows you to start/stop services, and view them by their current status (color coded), as well as sorted by dependency or service type. The program allows you to create a snapshot of the current services, and later compare it with a new configuration, to see which services have been changed, added or removed, and optionally restore the initial state.

Copy2Clip enables you to copy file names from Windows Explorer, by simply selecting one or more files, and selecting Copy2Clip from the right click menu. The program can copy the file names in a variety of different patterns, using the full name with path, just the name, file names with sizes and more. The copied names can also be sorted by size or time, and you can create your own patterns using the provided variables. Copy2Clip can be very useful for creating batch files or to quickly convert file information into specific formats.

Mmm Free allows you to customize the Windows context menu. You can hide selected items, or move them to a `Rarely Used` folder entry that opens a sub-menu in your right-click menu. The program is easy to use and offers a drag and drop interface to move or hide an item. An optional Plus version with additional features is also available (for purchase).

ZipInstaller allows you to install and uninstall applications that do not provide an internal installation program. Many times, a program does not require installation and can simply unzipped and saved to any folder. While there is nothing wrong with that, you mat forget about where you saved the program, or even that you still have it. That`s where ZipInstaller comes in - it extracts all files from the Zip file, copies them to the destination folder you select, creates (optional) shortcuts in the start menu and in your desktop, and adds an uninstall module to allow you to automatically remove the software in the future. Handy tool for frequent downloaders.

Emsa CD Tray Pal is a simple utility runs in the system tray and allows you to conveniently open/close your CD and DVD drive doors. The tray icon color also indicate whether there is a media in the drive, and double-clicking allows you to view details (volume label, size and serial number) for the inserted disk. In addition CD Tray Pal lets you configure hotkeys to open the drive doors and can optionally open the doors if the computer shuts down.

WinRoll allows you to roll-up your windows by right-clicking on the title bar. Another right click restores the original height. You can also choose to rollup or unroll all visible windows, apply transparency, and minimize or maximize all . Great for powerusers that tend to keep many windows open.

Dirkey is a small folder bookmarking utility for Windows. You can define a bookmark for the current active folder in an Explorer or File Open/Save window using a shortcut key on your keyboard and then go back to that folder in the same or another window by using the defined shortcut key, rather than navigating there. Easy to use, great time saver!

MR Tech Systray is a multi-functional system and Internet utility with a wide variety of features. The program will not only quickly shut down, restart or log off from Windows, it can help keep your hard disk a little cleaner, organize your MP3 files, edit the ID3 tag, text sorting, reboot logging and system tune-up. It includes a complete MP3 Renamer/Tag Editor, enhanced system information (like exact IE version etc.), Hard disk info, save or print screenshot, change wallpaper, minimize all, delete cookies, cache and more. Several options are also directly available via right-click menu in your system tray. Mr Tech also offers a tweak, that allows you to increase the download speed in IE by setting a higher value for simultaneous download threads and provides a Quick Uninstall feature that loads a lot faster than the default Add/Remove applet. A ton of tools and shortcuts in a compact interface - well worth to check out.

Global Audio Control is a very handy utility that will turn any keyboard into a multimedia keyboard. It allows you to control your audio volume settings through keyboard shortcuts rather than fiddeling with the Windows volume controls. You can choose any keyboard shortcut you want (e.g Ctrl+UpArrow or WinKey+U or F10 etc.).The volume adjustment can optionally be shown as an on-screen display. If you are using WinAmp, Global Audio Control even allows you to fast forward, skip tracks, rewind and more.

SendTo is a simple tool which places itself in your Windows SendTo right-click menu. Once installed, you will be able to right click on any file, select Send to, followed by Any Folder. In addition, you can choose to copy or move the file as well as add frequently used locations permanently to the SendTo menu, for quick access in the future. You can also send files and folders to FTP servers and applications on your computer and create zip files.

Sound Control allows you to easily increase and decrease the sound volume of any combination of mixers using defineable hot keys with an optional onscreen display. You can also chose to adjust any mixer if you have no corresponding control on your amplifier or if it is in a difficult to reach position. The program supports multiple Sound Cards/Devices and can synchronize with external sound mixers. Additional features include WinAmp support, application hotkeys, CD player support, default sound levels, customizable On Screen Display and a lot more.

FreeSnap allows you to quickly move windows to a specific screen edge by just using your keyboard. It uses the Windows key along with either the arrow button or keys on the number pad to move the topmost window to the desired screen location. In addition, you can change the screen resolution of the window by pushing the + and - keys . FreeSnap can be a handy tool, that takes a little getting used to, but can really speed things up if you find yourself moving and resizing windows a lot. No user interface.

CCCalc is a desktop calculator that supports four basic arithmetic operations and allows you to input calculations from your keyboard while displaying all the lines of your expression on a virtual printout. You can edit the calculation by simply editing the typed characters in the same way you would edit text in Notepad - the changes will be recalculated instantly. Other features include support for copy and paste, automatic rounding (customizable), memory operations and more.

FlyingBit Hash Calculator integrates with the Windows Explorer and enables you to calculate and verify hash sums for any file from the right-click menu. It supports 9 different algorithms including MD5, CRC32, SHA1 and TIGER. All sums are generated at the same time and you can choose which one to copy to the clipboard, or save them all as a .hash file. The program can also create a GNU .md5 check file containing the .md5 signature of a file and later compare it to the original.

Versaverter is a unit conversion software that enables you to convert between a wide array of units, including area, density, energy, force, length, mass, power, pressure, speed, temperature, volume, time and more.

FizzBoost is a companion application for FaceBook users, that runs in the system tray and alerts you of new events like friend invites, unread mail, wall posts, unread shares and more. It can check for changes every X minutes, and you can choose which notifications to include. Furthermore, the program provides a tray icon menu that allows quick access to important pages in your FaceBook account.