20 Tools for Trouble-Free Computing
Want to make everyday tasks easier, safer--even more entertaining? These no-hassle utilities do the job right.
Robert Luhn and Kirk Steers
No Money Down: Five Free Tips
You don't need to spend money to make your PC run smoothly. Here are five improvements that won't cost you a penny but will make your life easier.
-
Let the help do it. To deal with programs that lack a
scheduler, Windows' Scheduled Tasks utility lets you automatically run any
program at any predetermined time. Find it in Windows XP under
Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools (Start,
Programs, Accessories, System Tools in Windows Me and Windows
2000).
-
Go easy on the eyes. Preserve your vision with
two free
utilities from Windows XP PowerToys.
Image Resize lets you enlarge a graphic file by right-clicking. Taskbar
Magnifier enlarges whatever is under your cursor and displays it in a small
window on the task bar--great for making small print readable.
-
One click fits all.
Tray Commander
Lite
lets you launch
programs, open oft-used folders, and shut down your PC in two mouse
clicks--very handy for frequent tasks.
-
Make a fresh start. Accelerate your Windows start-up by
disabling programs that automatically start with Windows. Go to
Start, Run, type
msconfig, press
Enter, and select the
Startup tab; uncheck the box for anything you
don't want starting up with Windows. Recheck the box to change it back
again.
-
Listen up! Let your PC read to you.
ReadPlease
2003
is a text-to-speech
utility that enables you to listen to long blocks of text while you work on
something else.
--Kirk Steers
Full Windows 7 coverage
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Focus on Personal Productivitysponsored by Microsoft
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