(yellol)

I’m sure that even novices know that their computer starts too slow down over time. However, most people don’t know how to fix it and those that do often use the one that comes with Windows. However, the defragmenter in XP makes the computer unusable during the process and the Vista one doesn’t seem too effective.

Let me explain why a PC would slow down in the first place. Data fragmentation occurs when a piece of data in memory is broken up into many pieces that are not close together. (Quoted from Wikipedia) Basically, a disk defragmenter would correct that problem by bring relevant files together to increase performance. If you want more insight, read an article about defragmentation here.

What has been missing on the market for a while has been a free yet quality defragmenter. Smart Defrag fills in that void. It is a great defragmenter for any Windows operating system and it offers superiority to the Windows preinstalled versions. Not only does it work great at its job, it stay low-key like the one found in Vista. Smart Defrag works silently in the background, with low CPU and RAM usage. It makes maintaining computer performance as easy as 1-2-3!

What are you waiting for? Download Smart Defrag from CNET Download.

Courtesy of CNET Download.

I’ve written a previous post about Woot! a while back. To sum it up, it’s a great site that sells one product a day, at a low price. So what am I getting to today? Well, I’m sure there’s that morning that you forgot to check Woot!, only to visit in the afternoon to see a ridiculously cheap product sold out.

That won’t ever happen again with wootSnoop. It is an application that alerts you of Woot! items the moment they are available! It also features a price comparison that allows you to compare the same item with other online retailers. The software is available in Windows, OS X, and Linux!

It’s free, so give wootSnoop a go! Screenshot below.

This is the our first freebie package ever and it’s featuring six different free applications today! Not all the good things in life cost money and sometimes, open source and other free software are just as good! These applications can come in quite handy sometimes. By the way, these are listed in no particular order.

1. CCleaner: This software is more important than you may think. I don’t know how much times I’ve used it but as you probably figured, it cleans your computer. It deletes away “garbage” that slow down PC performance. You’ll be surprised at how much trash can be your computer after just 6 months. The first clean I’ve ever done with this software yielded a hefty 15GB of extra load on my computer! It’s clean interface makes it great for the computer newb too. Remember to clean the registry too as there usually is a lot of unused stuff there as well. Visit CCleaner.com here.
2. CrossLoop: CroosLoop is a great way to remote control a PC. Right behind LogMeIn’s Remote Control Software, it does a great job. If you need technical help, there are lots of people offering services there as well! By the way, I provide free troubleshooting for Yellol! readers too. Just give me an email through the contact page. Visit CrossLoop.com here.
3. LogMeIn: This is my favorite remote control application. You automatically get a 30-day free trial and it offers tons of features! The only downside is that once the initial 30-days are over, speeds begin to lag and the premium features aren’t available. At 70 bucks a month, the premium service is quite worthwhile! If you would like to start your own business fixing PCs, LogMeIn Rescue is a great option, although priced at an expensive 99 bucks a month. They also offer wide varieties of other services that are definitely worth checking out! Visit LogMeIn.com here.
4. Revo Uninstaller: Did you know that when you uninstall programs, most still leave a trace behind. Revo Uninstaller is a great option to make sure that your registry remains clean and that no files are left behind! Visit RevoUninstaller.com here.
5. Mozilla Firefox: All right, most people probably know about it but I definitely think it’s worth mentioning. Firefox 3 is probably the best browser available right now with hundreds of add-ons for maximum flexibility and optimization. Give it a try and you’ll know what I’m talking about. Visit Mozilla here.
6. Recuva: Did you just delete that file with important data in it? Well, you’re not alone. I feel your pain. However, did you know that your files are not really deleted and will probably stay on the disk until it is overwritten. Now, recovering that valueless file is made easy with Recuva. This is my #1 recommended software for the job! Visit Recuva here.

Do you know any good programs? Feel free to enlighten us!

I don’t really need this…but some people might find this software come in handy!

Have you ever wondered if it’s possible to wake up your system from a Stand-by mode or Hibernation programmatically? The answer is yes, it’s possible. This simple utility will do it for you. Once activated it resides in the system and wakes it up at predefined time, runs a file and if necessary sends it into Stand-by mode, hibernates it or shuts it down. It can also be used to run scheduled operations every day, or on specific day(s).

Features

• Can restore almost every Windows-based operating system from a Stand-by mode (and some from hibernation) that support ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) (For support check computer’s BIOS as well as Control Panel -> Power Options);
• Can run a file or open a web page at a predetermined time after a wake-up event, during normal operation, or before performing power operation;
• Can send system back to Stand-by mode (hibernate it, shut it down, or log off user) after a certain time interval;
• Can detect if Stand-by mode (or hibernation) is supported by your system;
• Can turn the monitor on and hold off screen-saver during the waiting time;
• Can repair local area network and high-speed Internet connection upon waking up from a suspended state;
• Can send system into Stand-by mode or hibernate it with more options than available through Operating System;
• Can be incorporated into an in-car (entertainment) PC system to speed up booting time & save battery
• Can be run from the Windows Command Line without user interaction;
• Can be saved as a batch file for later use.

Download WakeUpOnStandBy.

Source: via [DennisBabkin]