New boot disk - What freeware to reinstall (here is my list, for starters)

[Erica Eshoo]

The Vista menu is actually an improvement, and The Win3.1 program
manager was just a disaster.

I don't know anything about Vista.
How are the menus better?

What I do to combat Company-Name-At-The-Top-Level menus is the following
organizational scheme which works perfectly for me (but not as well for my
kids as they have to "buy into" my two-level hierarchy).

So, to simplify, the rule for my kids is "never put anything in a directory
that has spaces in the name". That effectively keeps them out of the
Microsoft-mandated mess in "Program Files", "My Documents", etc.

Then, I use that two-level hierarchy in four places:
a. Menus
b. Programs
c. Installers
d. SendTo

Does Vista help here?
In Vista, are there any directories-with-spaces-in-the-name which Microsoft
and other programs "put stuff"? If so, then they are useless. They will be
filled with crap no sooner than you first start using them.

What we need is a directory tree where only WE put the crap in them.
Then, and only then, will we have a hierarchy that makes sense, to us.

 

[Erica Eshoo]

Total Uninstall 2 does the job pretty well (though the UI isnt too hot)

I researched uninstallers just now and it seems these are the conclusions
(YMMV). Does Vista help with this?

Tentative googling Conclusion 1:
- Most uninstallers need to actively manage the install first.
- The only uninstaller that works after the fact is McAffee (not freeware)
- That means there is no freeware uninstaller that works after the install

Pensive googling Conclusion 2:
- Some recommend only install using the Windows Add/Install Wizard
- Most recommend using the program-supplied uninstall capability
- Then, after the uninstall, clean up the crap with CCleaner freeware or
similar

So, the question then becomes, assuming my googling has been correct:

WHAT are the best two or three (max) freeware registry and file crap
cleaners out there besides ccleaner freeware?

 

[Erica Eshoo]

It isn't free. However, if you have a license for WinZip ...

WinRar and WinZip are not free, but they are widely used.

This has always bothered me from a logical standpoint - but I don't know
enough to answer my own question (sad person that I am)...

May I ask:
What does either WinRar or WinZip payware do that IZArc freeware doesn't?

 

[Erica Eshoo]

Thank you for the mention of DVDFlick, a great piece of software

You're welcome.

DVDFlick ranks with DVDShrink, CCleaner, CutePDF, and IrfanView in my
Windows top-5 easy-to-use-freeware list after the more complex fundamentals
such as Firefox & Thunderbirdare are installed.

Of these top-top-freeware packages, DVD Flick is probably the least known,
mostly due, I would guess, to the infrequency that most non-video-users
would have the need to convert an avi to DVD.

If you convert home movies from tape to DVD, you'll know all about the
problem of converting a large avi file to DVD - and DVDFlick fills the
freeware bill perfectly!

 

[Frank McCoy]

Frank McCoy wrote :




That's the first time I've ever heard that and I can't really believe it. Do you have any evidence to back up that
thought please?

Generally, if you have the licence for either, it's a key-file in a ZIP
or RAR file. While running WinZip or WinRar, you click on either the
key file or the compressed file containing the key file.

If you don't have that key file on your drive somewhere, then you might
not be properly licensed. If you *lost* the key file, then contacting
winrar or winzip will get you a replacement.

(For WinRar, it's rarkey.rar containing rarreg.key)
I presume from that, that WinZip would have zipkey.zip containing
zipreg.key I guess you'd have to try doing one with the other.

 

[pcbuilder98]

The win-all built in installer just links to the uninst file that
comes
with each app. In some cases these do what they say, but often
they dont. You need a proper before and after snapshot uninstaller
if you want to stop your registry becoming a disaster zone. Total
Uninstall 2 does the job pretty well (though the UI isnt too hot)


NT

I agree. The fault lies with the uninstall file provided by the software.
RevoUninstaller is worth trying. I just couldn't resist kicking Vista.
pcbuilder98

 

[pcbuilder98]

I researched uninstallers just now and it seems these are the conclusions
(YMMV). Does Vista help with this?

Tentative googling Conclusion 1:
- Most uninstallers need to actively manage the install first.
- The only uninstaller that works after the fact is McAffee (not freeware)
- That means there is no freeware uninstaller that works after the install

Pensive googling Conclusion 2:
- Some recommend only install using the Windows Add/Install Wizard
- Most recommend using the program-supplied uninstall capability
- Then, after the uninstall, clean up the crap with CCleaner freeware or
similar

So, the question then becomes, assuming my googling has been correct:

WHAT are the best two or three (max) freeware registry and file crap
cleaners out there besides ccleaner freeware?

The best path is to fully research software before you install it and then
only install those programs you are certain you will use and keep. Trying
everything you find is a sure fire way to make your PC a disease infested
flea bag.
pcbuilder98

 

[PeterC]

WinRar and WinZip are not free, but they are widely used.

This has always bothered me from a logical standpoint - but I don't know
enough to answer my own question (sad person that I am)...

May I ask:
What does either WinRar or WinZip payware do that IZArc freeware doesn't?

For zips, RARs etc. I use Universal Extractor. It's free and, by
experiment, I've found that it can extract to a sub-directory a working
app. Won't do this for MSI exes, but I'm running several things that were
installers of various sorts but I didn't 'install'. 'Uninstalling' is then,
in most cases, just deleting the directory. Worth checking the Reg. and
Docs and Settings.

 

[Franklin]

Generally, if you have the licence for either, it's a key-file in a
ZIP or RAR file. While running WinZip or WinRar, you click on
either the key file or the compressed file containing the key file.

If you don't have that key file on your drive somewhere, then you
might not be properly licensed. If you *lost* the key file, then
contacting winrar or winzip will get you a replacement.

(For WinRar, it's rarkey.rar containing rarreg.key)
I presume from that, that WinZip would have zipkey.zip containing
zipreg.key I guess you'd have to try doing one with the other.

A very good example of some very poor thinking.

There must be about 10 errors in that short posting.

 

[meow2222]

WinRar and WinZip are not free, but they are widely used.

This has always bothered me from a logical standpoint - but I don't know
enough to answer my own question (sad person that I am)...

May I ask:
What does either WinRar or WinZip payware do that IZArc freeware doesn't?

Winzip was once in common use and is well known, however
freeware like 7-zip does it all, does it better, and with a much
better
UI.


NT

 

[meow2222]

I researched uninstallers just now and it seems these are the conclusions
(YMMV). Does Vista help with this?

Theres no way windows can unless an automated before/after snapshot
system becomes part of win one day.

Tentative googling Conclusion 1:
- Most uninstallers need to actively manage the install first.
- The only uninstaller that works after the fact is McAffee (not freeware)
- That means there is no freeware uninstaller that works after the install

Pensive googling Conclusion 2:
- Some recommend only install using the Windows Add/Install Wizard
- Most recommend using the program-supplied uninstall capability
- Then, after the uninstall, clean up the crap with CCleaner freeware or
similar

So, the question then becomes, assuming my googling has been correct:

Snapshot uninstallers and afterwards uninstallers are 2 quite
different things. To imagine that all software comes with uninstall
utils that really do remove everything woul be wildly optimstic. Once
these 2 points are understood you'll see why there's no possible
way an afterwards only uninstaller of any kind can be safe or
effective.

WHAT are the best two or three (max) freeware registry and file crap
cleaners out there besides ccleaner freeware?

....hence this is a moot question.


NT

 

[bealoid]

@newssvr22.news.prodigy.net:

[snip]

May I ask:
What does either WinRar or WinZip payware do that IZArc freeware doesn't?

I thought that WinRAR was the only software that could create rar archives.
But I could be wrong.

 

[John Fitzsimons]

On Tue, 06 Nov 2007 14:38:37 -0800, (e-mail address removed) wrote:

Winzip was once in common use and is well known, however
freeware like 7-zip does it all, does it better, and with a much
better
UI.

I don't think it does things better. With Winzip I can extract a
compressed file to a folder of the same name. Automatically.

With the GUI 7-zip approach AFAIK one has to manually put
the name of the folder if one wants it to be the same name
as the archive.

IMO tedious, very tedious.

Regards, John.

 

[Anthony Matonak]

John Fitzsimons wrote:
....

With the GUI 7-zip approach AFAIK one has to manually put
the name of the folder if one wants it to be the same name
as the archive.

I used Extract Now and it seems to do the folder thing OK.
http://www.extractnow.com/

Anthony

 

[-Lost]

On Tue, 06 Nov 2007 14:38:37 -0800, (e-mail address removed) wrote:



I don't think it does things better. With Winzip I can extract a
compressed file to a folder of the same name. Automatically.

With the GUI 7-zip approach AFAIK one has to manually put
the name of the folder if one wants it to be the same name
as the archive.

IMO tedious, very tedious.

Regards, John.

Tools > Options > Plugins (tab) > 7-Zip (plug-in) > Options > System
(tab) >
"Extract to <Folder>"

Do you think it does things better now? ; )

 

[-Lost]

@newssvr22.news.prodigy.net:

[snip]

May I ask:
What does either WinRar or WinZip payware do that IZArc freeware
doesn't?

I thought that WinRAR was the only software that could create rar
archives. But I could be wrong.

Nope, you're right.

http://www.zipgenius.it/eng/?page_id=21#9

I would say that there are some that exist, but as the FAQ entry
above hints they are not TRUE RAR/ACE archivers.

 

[Erica Eshoo]

I think IZArc freeware can create RAR archives.
Its web page says it's the most complete archive utility available today,
freeware or not.

Here is what it says at http://www.izarc.org

IZArc is the ultimate freeware archive utility supporting many
archive formats like: 7-ZIP, A, ACE, ARC, ARJ, B64, BH, BIN, BZ2, BZA,
C2D, CAB, CDI, CPIO, DEB, ENC, GCA, GZ, GZA, HA, IMG, ISO, JAR, LHA, LIB,
LZH, MDF, MBF, MIM, NRG, PAK, PDI, PK3, RAR, RPM, TAR, TAZ, TBZ, TGZ, TZ,
UUE, WAR, XXE, YZ1, Z, ZIP, ZOO. With a modern easy-to-use interface, IZArc
provides support for most compressed and encoded files, as well as access
to many powerful features and tools. It allows you to drag and drop files
from and to Windows Explorer, create and extract archives directly in
Windows Explorer, create multiple archives spanning disks, creating
self-extracting archives, repair damaged zip archives, converting from one
archive type to another, view and write comments and many more. IZArc has
also build-in multilanguage support.

With IZArc you can open CD image files like ISO, BIN, CDI and NRG. It is
also possible to convert such files from one type to another (BIN to ISO,
NRG to ISO).

If you need to send large files to your colleagues, friends or customers
who may not have archiving tool you can easily create self-extracting
archive that can be extracted by simple double click.

IZArc can be configured to run your preferred Anti-Virus scanner when you
open any archives.

IZArc supports 256-bit AES encryption to secure your data.

IZArc is integrated in Windows so you can perform all archiving operations
by using right-click menus in Windows Explorer.

If you have broken archives IZArc can help you to repair them with ease.

IZArc is 100% virus free and it doesn't contain any spyware or adware.

IZArc is the most complete archive utility available today.

 

[Erica Eshoo]

I used Extract Now and it seems to do the folder thing OK.
http://www.extractnow.com/

For the record, IZArc freeware not only extracts the file to a folder of
any name, it chooses the most logical name and location automatically for
you ... and ... not only that - but it opens the resultant folder
automatically for you if you have that option checked.

What could be more convenient?

Certainly not WinZip or WinRAR in my humble experience.

 

[Klaatu]

I don't think it does things better. With Winzip I can extract a
compressed file to a folder of the same name. Automatically.

With the GUI 7-zip approach AFAIK one has to manually put
the name of the folder if one wants it to be the same name
as the archive.

IMO tedious, very tedious.

I can't stand the UI of 7-zip myself. It's been a while since I tried it,
but I could get it to do simple things that were a breeze with WinZip or
IZArc for that matter. I think I wanted to freshen the files in a 7-zip
archive but couldn't see how to do it. I try it now and again but each time
I'm put off by its horrible UI.

 

[-Lost]

I think IZArc freeware can create RAR archives.
Its web page says it's the most complete archive utility available
today, freeware or not.

Here is what it says at http://www.izarc.org

Support for a format does not mean that it can create said format.
Merely that it can extract or read RAR files. I am going to guess by
the site's title that it cannot create RAR files.

"IZArc - The Ultimate Archive Utility - Free Zip, Unzip, Unrar, 7-
Zip, ISO, BIN, compress, archive"

Notice it says "Unrar" and then goes on to use two generic terms,
"compress" and "archive."

Not to mention all the posts on the forum that illustrate that
creating RAR archives is not possible, only the reading of, and the
few I found said that it didn't even read it correctly -- dated as
new as two weeks ago.

And I consider this a lie:

"RAR, ARC, ARJ, ACE, LZH and etc. are older formats that provide both
grouping and compression, like Zip files.

IZArc does not use external programs when working with these files."

Since it has unrar3.dll sitting there -- which is a DLL provided by
RAR Lab.

And if you are still not convinced for some reason, IZArc states as a
matter of fact that it's default archive types are: ZIP, CAB, BH,
BZ2, GZIP, JAR, LHA, 7-ZIP, BGA, TAR, and YZ1.

The final verdict... it can create a file with the extension *.rar,
but it is NOT a real RAR file in the sense that the headers are not
RAR headers, it uses ZIP compression, specifically PKZIP signatures,
and is equivalent to me making a generic ZIP file and renaming it
RAR. Hell, I could rename it TXT if I wanted and a generic ZIP
utility would still be able to open it as long as it had generic ZIP
headers.

Not to mention this is the first compression archiver I have ever
seen that makes a compressed archive that is larger than the original
file and doesn't even include a recovery record, CRC check, et
cetera.

So just to be clear... it cannot create RAR files -- unless you say
it can based on the fact it can name a file with a *.rar extension.