Did you do your Windows 8 Upgrade homework, didn't think so.

Remember when that kid in school beat you up and demanded your Windows key. Well, maybe it didn't go quite like that but it will now.

Microsoft has a very enticing off with the new Windows 8 Upgrade coming at the end of October.
http://www.winsupersite.com/article/windows8/windows-8-tip-upgrade-previous-windows-version-143574

You will be able to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $40 as well as get the media center for free (another $30 savings). The Win 8 Pro will retail about $200 when this promotion ends.

You will need your old windows key (not that stolen key, the real deal). Dammit.

Well if your like me you have computers everywhere. Kids, media machines, God knows what and where. Also if your like me you built your own computers from parts you stole out of the HP dumpster. No wait, that was Steve Jobs. Anyways you have either upgrade keys for windows 7 or vista or XP. You probably have different versions of just about everything. It is time to panic because like that homework you didn't do you didn't organize either. Ok I'm sure your intentions are good and I'm sure you can find what ever you need when you need it but for the other 99% of us you have no hope.

Well just like that nerd getting beat up I'm going to do that homework for you. Ok maybe not but these guys will.


SIW (System Information for Windows) Portable

the link appears to be a moving target

http://www.gtopala.net/download/oc/siw-setup.exe
This link has a toolbar that I would avoid at all costs. Just don't choose the express option. Besides when has the express option been a good idea after about 1998 when installing anything. They always hide bad stuff in the express option. I remember Nvdia and ATI dumping links to world of warcraft or other games.
Express should imply that it won't install anything that you wouldn't need /want to make a choice on.

I had a free treminal emulator that about 300,000 people downloaded. I never got a donation. I guess the internet won't be free for long if people don't know how let go of a few dollars now and then.

Oh, No, a lecture. I admit I'm guilty of the same thing (This is High Tech on a Budget after all)
Besides when people hide this kind of thing they don't desrve our money.

This software will let you pull your Windows key.

The system information is divided into few major categories:
 •Software Inventory: Operating System, Installed Software and Hotfixes, Processes, Services, Users, Open Files, System Uptime, Installed Codecs, Software Licenses (Product Keys / Serial Numbers / CD Key), Passwords Recovery.
 •Hardware Inventory: Motherboard, CPU, Sensors, BIOS, chipset, PCI/AGP, USB and ISA/PnP Devices, Memory, Video Card, Monitor, Disk Drives, CD/DVD Devices, SCSI Devices, S.M.A.R.T., Ports, Printers.
 •Network Information: Network Cards, Network Shares, currently active Network Connections, Open Ports.
 •Network Tools: MAC Address Changer, Neighborhood Scan, Ping, Trace, Statistics
 •Miscellaneous Tools: Eureka! (Reveal lost passwords hidden behind asterisks), Monitor Test, Shutdown / Restart.
 •Real-time monitors: CPU, Memory, Page File usage and Network Traffic.

Look both ways before Backing Up, Time to stop playing with Toys

http://www.gfi.com/downloads/mirrors.aspx?pid=bkupf


I was recently working with SYNC TOYwhere I had Visual Studio files stored in a directory the Visual Studio application created for me when I started the project. I tried to used sync toy, a backup utility also from Microsoft that simply synchronizes or echos files from one directory to another. The problem was I had a project folder with the same name as the subfolder with the same project. SYNC TOY would only dump the contents of the second branch of the tree into the first branch. This made a real mess that I couldn't clean up and I wanted the project to maintain the same file and folder structure as the original project because if things go wrong I want to put it back the way it was before the failure.

I found a free utility that seems to work out well. It creates a full tree and ultimately folders containing files from what ever branch of the tree you select. You can also create backup projects and add the individual backups to a single project to back up with one click. If you want to speed things up and you only have one folder needing backing up then you can run the backup for just that folder.

http://www.gfi.com/downloads/mirrors.aspx?pid=bkupf

The backups can be batched together as shown below with the task group VS Projects.

You can do a large backup or simply synchronize files.

You select the first location then where you want it to end up and the method to get it there so you have a choice of date or date and CRC. You can also tell it which way to echo or to synchronize.

Finally you can put this on a schedule.



This is a full featured backup / files sync utility.

Rename Files - Another fine mess

http://www.bulkrenameutility.co.uk/Main_Intro.php

Don't think you are going to use DOS because you are as old as these guys and know what you are doing. If you need to rename files and the file extensions are tied up in your mess you will either have to do a copy then wait and hope you did it right or try bulkrenameutility



The utility has a interface that is more confusing than programming in FORTRAN.

So what.

Select the files you want to rename. In the RegEX(1) box put what you want to match on, extension and all.

In the Repl (3) box put what you want it to be. Extension and all.
















You can explore other options but I would read the PDF manual first. Don't be a STOOGE.

New Exterminator for those Windows bugs

Everyone has those little crashes or annoying little bugs that we deal with over time. The problem is most of us can't hunt those buggers down and eliminate them. I hate to say it even a Phd in computer science doesn't have much of a chance without the right tools.

I try to provide links and post to many tools and solutions to help you get to the root cause of your problem. In this case I'm going to leave this arsenal to the experts.

Debugging Tools for Windows - Overview

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/devtools/debugging/default.mspx

This link has the tools, how-to's, and the resources to get you started covering all of the current and past Windows operating systems.

Starbucks and Tmobile are too COLD for my blood

Free Wireless Hot Spots - what you need to know before you hit the road.
Starbucks make some damm good coffee but they make some good money as well. I pay enough for the coffee so how about some free WiFi. Starbucks is partnered with Tmobile providing WiFi for the Insane, I mean insanely rich, I mean at insanely high prices. The only thing good for you and your wallet at Starbucks is the water (from the tap), everything else will cost you in one way or another.

When your out of town make it a bit more of an adventure. Look at it like finding that hidden treasure and try something that you don't do everyday at home. This is your opportunity.

My favorite:
http://www.wififreespot.com/
You just add the state code like shown below for NC.
http://www.wififreespot.com/nc.html

The site is easy to follow providing links to the shops offering the free service where available.


Jwire has it all.
http://www.jiwire.com/

Free Offline and Online tools:
http://www.jiwire.com/jiwire-downloads.htm

With JiWire Hotspot Helper for Windows XP adds security, email help, and Hotspot locations that you can lookup without being connected.

Wi-Fi Hotspot finder works with XP and Mobile devices, including the IPHONE.

ToolBars and Widgets add support for the MAC and Support for SKYPE.
_________________________

WiFi Zones
http://www.wi-fi-zones.com/

HotSpot Haven
http://www.hotspothaven.com/

MSN
http://hotspot.msn.com/web/SearchView.aspx

http://www.wifinder.com/

____________________

Here is a eweek article with more listings:
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1611879,00.asp