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I'm Thankful for Free Computer Stuff
Nietzche is Dead ^ | 27 Nov 08 | foutsc

Posted on 11/27/2008 9:51:06 AM PST by foutsc

Yes, I am thankful for God, and America and those who defend us, but I'm also thankful for free computer stuff. You don't need to buy an anti-virus program, spyware remover, or other useful utilities. You can get them all free, and legally.

My computer's performance was straining under the detritus and remains of various compilers, database engines and SQL servers and other toys I had played with at one time or another. You can get rid of a program, but some of it always sticks to your computer's innards. My computer had indigestion; it needed a purge. So I blew a perfectly good day off reloading the factory image and setting it all back up again.

"There's gotta be a better way," I thought to myself.

Well, there is. Here's a cool idea that is just hitting the everyday home computer user: disk imaging. You make a complete copy of your computer hard drive that you can use to restore your computer in the event of a catastrophe. The restore disks or partition that come with a new computer essentially do the same thing, but using them wipes out all of the programs and drivers you loaded. Also, after restoring your computer with the factory disks, you have to decrapify your machine all over again, removing all that useless junk the manufacturers, who have a pact with the devil, have larded up your new machine with.

So once you've set up your computer just like you want it, clean out the useless stuff, run defrag and do a virus and adware scan. Then make your restore disk and the disk image. I used a free version of Macrium Reflect. You've now saved your personalized computer settings.

Disk images can be big, so I recommend having an external USB drive to do your backups. The next time your computer is acting sick, don't reach for the factory restore disks, use the rescue disk and image you made. This restores your computer to like new condition without trashing your printer install, your games, and other software you've installed yourself. Be sure to back up your personal files, pictures, etc. Restoring a disk image will wipe everything out! You can find all the free stuff at a trusted site like www.download.com. It is run by CNet, which is a reputable internet and computer web site. Don't look for free stuff via Google or Yahoo. Many downloads purporting to be an antivirus programs or spyware removal tools actually put viruses and spyware on your machine. So start from a trusted source like CNet.

So how does a conservative, free-marketeer enjoy, and even justify free stuff when I know there is no such thing as a free lunch? Easy. Companies give away the stripped down versions, and charge for the luxury models. You will have to put up with scanty help, few bells and whistles and many ambiguous messages trying to scare you into buying the full version.

For free, it's all worth it.


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: freestuff
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1 posted on 11/27/2008 9:51:06 AM PST by foutsc
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To: foutsc
Matt. 6:19-21

19] Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

[20] But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

[21] For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

I know you are being facetious but seriously Christians have much more to look forward to in eternity.

2 posted on 11/27/2008 9:58:32 AM PST by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God).)
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To: foutsc

OR: you could just get a Mac.


3 posted on 11/27/2008 9:58:58 AM PST by yazoo
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To: foutsc

I’m thankfull for free photoshop brushes.


4 posted on 11/27/2008 10:03:50 AM PST by cripplecreek (The poor bastards have us surrounded.)
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To: foutsc

My two favorite Free programs:

AVAST - Anti-virus, uses few resources

Advanced System Care - Great program to keep your computer running smooth.


5 posted on 11/27/2008 10:09:32 AM PST by HalfFull
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To: nmh
I know you are being facetious but seriously Christians have much more to look forward to in eternity.

I agree completely. And the bible verses are very appropriate. The more stuff we collect, the harder it is to hold on to it all, and it can become an obsession.

I hope I didn't come across as making fun of Thanksgiving. I am very thankful for this country and all God has given me. I just thought I would pass on some money saving tips for computer owners

6 posted on 11/27/2008 10:10:14 AM PST by foutsc (Nietzsche is Dead)
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To: nmh

......Sigh


7 posted on 11/27/2008 10:11:24 AM PST by SeeRushToldU_So ( Go Braves! ...............I think the Braves are gone :( But The UGA Bulldawgs are looking good!)
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To: yazoo
OR: you could just get a Mac.

Yeah, I hear that all the time from my coworkers. I just can't bring myself to part with that much money for a computer.

8 posted on 11/27/2008 10:13:08 AM PST by foutsc (Nietzsche is Dead)
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To: foutsc

“I just can’t bring myself to part with that much money for a computer.”

While that is certainly an issue, I switched to Mac about 4 years ago and between the quality of the operating system, the ease of use, and the absence of virus, trojan horses, or adware problems, the money was worth every penny.


9 posted on 11/27/2008 10:15:15 AM PST by yazoo
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To: foutsc

My PC is partitioned with about 30 meg for the OS/programs and the remainder for data.

Whenever I get it to a status I like, I do a clonegenius imaging of the OS partition. Clonegenius creates files of the entire OS partition.

Then, if I need to ‘recover’ from bad program installation, trojans, viruses, etc., I can use clonegenius to return to the last/best working version. And I don’t have to reinstall the software, nor re-set all the settings.

Clonegenius is one program worth considering.

http://www.spotmau.com/products/package/clone_genius.html


10 posted on 11/27/2008 10:15:46 AM PST by TomGuy
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To: foutsc
I really enjoy these threads (tech/computer tips)
Thanks & Happy Thanksgiving to you & yours (:
11 posted on 11/27/2008 10:18:54 AM PST by novemberslady
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To: foutsc

Think of it this way. When I had XP and Vista I would have to restart my computer at least four times a day. ( I work a lot of my computer) I work at least six days a week, so that is about 24 restarts at 5 minutes each. Or, about two hours a week. At the end of a year, I was spending nearly 100 hours a year waiting for my PC to reboot.

Is that worth the price of a Mac?


12 posted on 11/27/2008 10:53:58 AM PST by Vermont Lt (I am not from Vermont. I lived there for four years and that was enough.)
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To: foutsc

BTT


13 posted on 11/27/2008 10:59:22 AM PST by since1868 (It is not Bush's fault.)
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To: foutsc

bump


14 posted on 11/27/2008 11:01:19 AM PST by Captain Beyond (The Hammer of the gods! (Just a cool line from a Led Zep song))
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To: foutsc

Bump for later


15 posted on 11/27/2008 11:22:12 AM PST by clee1 (We use 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 2 to pull a trigger. I'm lazy and I'm tired of smiling.)
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To: foutsc

16 posted on 11/27/2008 11:24:07 AM PST by B Knotts (ConservatismCentral.com)
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To: foutsc
I'm thankful for free computer stuff... You don't need to buy an anti-virus program.

I'm thankful that I had my anti-virus program set to "manual" during the time when the AVG Virus Scanner Accidentally Removed Critical Windows Components, earlier this month. I luckily avoided that disaster.

17 posted on 11/27/2008 12:26:54 PM PST by my_pointy_head_is_sharp (We're living in the Dark Ages.)
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To: my_pointy_head_is_sharp

I use AVG too. And I also don’t let it automatically delete things. That’s one of the hazards of using free stuff


18 posted on 11/27/2008 12:47:42 PM PST by foutsc (Nietzsche is Dead)
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To: clee1

Bump for later x2


19 posted on 11/27/2008 5:24:44 PM PST by Gigantor (Sunni or later, shiite happens...)
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To: yazoo

But Linux is free!


20 posted on 11/27/2008 6:19:13 PM PST by Fichori (I believe in a Woman's right to choose, even if she hasn't been born yet.)
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