Essential Software & utilities thread

given2fly · 25th October 2010, 13:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by abhibh

In any terms let it be stock or with plugins its better than winamp when it comes to sound quality. I agree it looks plain jane but does the work right.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mithun

Did you meant that the SQ is good for all formats or for any specific format or for ACD ?

The notable good thing about Foobar is it's smaller memory footprint. Anyway, I'm discussing solely about the SQ and not about the other features.

I love Foobar for the sound quality. It is the best out there, even when it is not updated for a long time. And it plays all formats, barring none. I haven't used WinAmp or WMP or others for a long time and it doesn't matter to me anymore. FooBar, ftw!

R2D2 · 25th October 2010, 23:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by mithun

Foobar2000 is good only for the dinner time!

I've tested it number of times. In stock mode or with any plugins ?

Anyway it looks yuck !

Agreed.

Foobar2000 is prehistoric performance and UI wise. My bro used it till I showed him Winamp. He's a convert now.

Never use DirectSound. Try Winamp thru the waveout-->SPDIF/Coax digital output, FLAC or CD-A and a pair of good headphones & you'll know what I mean.

Even if one doesn't like Winamp, there are other modern options like iTunes, VLC (highly acclaimed by many, and the best after Winamp IMHO) Cowan JetAudio, BS Player Pro & a Winamp look-alike called MediaMonkey.

sanagg1 · 26th October 2010, 07:27

Can we list out all the portals having free and trusted softwares?

Just to start with
1. Brothersoft
2. Filehippo

Pls add on

Cheers

GTO · 26th October 2010, 21:00

Does anyone here recommend registry cleaners? Are they any good, and do they actually improve your PC's performance?

2500cc · 26th October 2010, 21:03

Never use Registry cleaners, they are more of threat than being safe for your system.

Cheers,
Rajesh

Raja · 26th October 2010, 23:04

I use CCleaner. Never had any problems up till now.
Gives you the option to backup whatever registry entries it will delete. Just in case there are issues later on. I normally keep the back up for a few weeks and then delete it.

sanagg1 · 27th October 2010, 10:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO

Does anyone here recommend registry cleaners? Are they any good, and do they actually improve your PC's performance?

"Ccleaner" is having inbuilt registry cleaner. Light and effective
Another trusted regcleaner is "regisrymechanic"

Regcleaner improve the stability and cache management of PC hence improve performance a little.
For better PC performance optimization tuneup utilities are more effective. e.g. Tuneup2010

cheers

GTO · 27th October 2010, 10:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raja

I use CCleaner. Never had any problems up till now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanagg1

"Ccleaner" is having inbuilt registry cleaner. Light and effective

Thanks guys.

Quote:

For better PC performance optimization tuneup utilities are more effective. e.g. Tuneup2010

Will check.

vasudeva · 27th October 2010, 12:33

You would be better served to use ccleaner, Quicksys Defrag, and windows 7 manager. Registry defragger often do more damage, but quicksys has never done anything messy at least in windows 7. Except for windows 7 manager, the other 2 are free.

One way to keep the PC clean would be to make periodic images through Ghost/Paragon/Acronis (windows 7 inbuilt is good when it recognises your backed up image. That is hit and miss and not to be trusted).
Say you make an image on day 1. Make incrementals or full images. Keep updating and doing whatever. Say on day 7, revert to day 1 images, and just install all the updates from day 1-7. Takes 10 mins to revert to image and the same amount to install updates. All the junk during 1-7 goes off c: and you are left with only updated OS. Backup image as day 1.

For windows 7 and non-SSD drives, one can try Perfect Disk pro 11. Great and boot time defrag is very useful.

Raja · 27th October 2010, 14:55

I have also used 'Registry Mechanic' and 'TuneUp'.
Both of them did some heavy registry cleaning which resulted in some programs/system crashing. I stopped using both of them.
CCleaner is not as heavy in cleaning, but has yet to produce a program/system crash.

sanagg1 · 6th November 2010, 08:16

[UNQUOTE]
Can we list out all the portals having free and trusted softwares?

Just to start with
1. Brothersoft
2. Filehippo
Pls add on
[UNQUOTE]

It seems people on TBhp like to share only about their Wheels

I am sure lot of techies are using a loads of free softwares,Come on Guys

Any ways Happy Dipawali and Gujarati New Year !
Cheers

sudev · 6th November 2010, 09:02

One essential software utility for any one using GPS with tracks is GPSBABLE. Converts tracks between almost all formats. Its open source and its free. Available for windows and linux.

ghpk · 6th November 2010, 16:09

For Laptop users i think Battery Bar is a good utility to stay aware of battery condition and charge levels.

Displays capacity
Displays time remaining
Displays time needed for full charge
Displays battery wear
Displays nice floating bar.

Essential Software & utilities thread-batterybar.jpg

HammerHead · 14th November 2010, 11:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by mithun

You are wrong. Winamp is having better sound quality than WMP(in stock).

Quote:

Originally Posted by abhibh

foobar2000 eats WINAMP for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

Well I gave away all my old/creepy headphones and bought Sennheiser HD 202. Installed Foobar and I must say its much better then Windows Media Player which I thought is the best!!

sanagg1 · 16th November 2010, 08:07

The following are useful utilities
1. Dropbox www.dropbox.com
After installing it works as folder but remains in Cloud so no need of pendrives.

2. Xmarks Xmarks | Bookmark Sync and Search
This help in ease of access at new location/system of all your Fav links

Cheers

26th October 2010, 07:27	#78
sanagg1 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: HIMALYAS Posts: 279 Thanked: 6 Times	Can we list out all the portals having free and trusted softwares? Just to start with 1. Brothersoft 2. Filehippo Pls add on Cheers
	() Thanks

26th October 2010, 21:00	#79
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,519 Thanked: 300,708 Times View My Garage	Does anyone here recommend registry cleaners? Are they any good, and do they actually improve your PC's performance?
	() Thanks

26th October 2010, 21:03	#80
2500cc BHPian Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 734 Thanked: 349 Times	Never use Registry cleaners, they are more of threat than being safe for your system. Cheers, Rajesh
	() Thanks

26th October 2010, 23:04	#81
Raja BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Pune Posts: 419 Thanked: 69 Times	I use CCleaner. Never had any problems up till now. Gives you the option to backup whatever registry entries it will delete. Just in case there are issues later on. I normally keep the back up for a few weeks and then delete it.
	() Thanks

27th October 2010, 12:33	#84
vasudeva Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 2,221 Thanked: 212 Times	You would be better served to use ccleaner, Quicksys Defrag, and windows 7 manager. Registry defragger often do more damage, but quicksys has never done anything messy at least in windows 7. Except for windows 7 manager, the other 2 are free. One way to keep the PC clean would be to make periodic images through Ghost/Paragon/Acronis (windows 7 inbuilt is good when it recognises your backed up image. That is hit and miss and not to be trusted). Say you make an image on day 1. Make incrementals or full images. Keep updating and doing whatever. Say on day 7, revert to day 1 images, and just install all the updates from day 1-7. Takes 10 mins to revert to image and the same amount to install updates. All the junk during 1-7 goes off c: and you are left with only updated OS. Backup image as day 1. For windows 7 and non-SSD drives, one can try Perfect Disk pro 11. Great and boot time defrag is very useful. Last edited by vasudeva : 27th October 2010 at 12:35.
	() Thanks

27th October 2010, 14:55	#85
Raja BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Pune Posts: 419 Thanked: 69 Times	I have also used 'Registry Mechanic' and 'TuneUp'. Both of them did some heavy registry cleaning which resulted in some programs/system crashing. I stopped using both of them. CCleaner is not as heavy in cleaning, but has yet to produce a program/system crash.
	() Thanks

6th November 2010, 08:16	#86
sanagg1 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: HIMALYAS Posts: 279 Thanked: 6 Times	[UNQUOTE] Can we list out all the portals having free and trusted softwares? Just to start with 1. Brothersoft 2. Filehippo Pls add on [UNQUOTE] It seems people on TBhp like to share only about their Wheels I am sure lot of techies are using a loads of free softwares,Come on Guys Any ways Happy Dipawali and Gujarati New Year ! Cheers Last edited by sanagg1 : 6th November 2010 at 08:18.
	() Thanks

6th November 2010, 09:02	#87
sudev Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,838 Thanked: 3,179 Times	One essential software utility for any one using GPS with tracks is GPSBABLE. Converts tracks between almost all formats. Its open source and its free. Available for windows and linux.
	() Thanks

6th November 2010, 16:09	#88
ghpk BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ghaziabad Posts: 870 Thanked: 211 Times	For Laptop users i think Battery Bar is a good utility to stay aware of battery condition and charge levels. Displays capacity Displays time remaining Displays time needed for full charge Displays battery wear Displays nice floating bar.
	() Thanks

16th November 2010, 08:07	#90
sanagg1 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: HIMALYAS Posts: 279 Thanked: 6 Times	The following are useful utilities 1. Dropbox www.dropbox.com After installing it works as folder but remains in Cloud so no need of pendrives. 2. Xmarks Xmarks \| Bookmark Sync and Search This help in ease of access at new location/system of all your Fav links Cheers
	() Thanks