The SysInternals Tools (now part of Microsoft) are an excellent addition to Windows. The tool I use the most is Process Explorer, a much better version of the Windows Task Manager. It let’s you explore the running processes, also to see what process has which file open and see the process tree as a tree.
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I use Vuze as a bit-torrent downloader. I don’t use it’s interface for finding files on the web, I use it solely for downloading stuff that are only available via bittorrent. It’s older interface I thought was better, more minimal when it was called Azureus. It’s current interface is very flashy, tries to nag you into subscribing to some service which I have absolutely no need of, but if you tell it to go away, the nag box doesn’t seem to return and you can still use it like the old days.
SuperCopier2, free software, replaces the Windows file copy. This handy utility lets you continue to copy things when there are failures, or when the destination file already exists.
I find Skype indispensable. Skype has made it possible to live and work just about anywhere. I use it constantly for voice, video, and chatting.
+ Easy to install
+ Usually just works
+ Free for computer-to-computer calls
+ Excellent call quality
– The interface has gotten more and more cluttered
– I have not found a decent way to connect my SIP phone to Skype.
One thing you MUST do before using skype is to modify the privacy settings, or you’ll be inundated by unwanted people trying to contact you for who knows what reason.
1) Options->Privacy
2) Make sure “people in my Contact list only” is checked for the 4 cases:
– Allow Calls From…
– Automatically receive video and screen sharing from…
– Show that I have video to…
– Allow IMs from…
How to get rid of the little adverts that appear in the bottom of Skype:
1) Options->Notifications
2) Click on Alerts & messages
3) Uncheck the two boxes “Help and Skype tips” and “Promotions”.
I also prefer the “Compact view”. From the main menu bar, choose View->Compact View. This splits Skype into different windows. One window for the contacts, and a window for each contact.