Personal IT Experiences

Extensive list of blocked websites in a single text file.

http://msmvps.com/blogs/hostsnews/default.aspx

If you’re looking for an open TCP/IP address on the local subnet, this is a useful software tool. Angry IP Scanner is an open-source and cross-platform network scanner designed to be fast and simple to use. It scans TCP/IP addresses and ports. Windows, Macintosh and Linux.

Link: download and view more about it’s features here.

A new (to me) virus/malware scanning utility from Microsoft for 32 or 64-bit Windows workstations if you think your’s has been contaminated and your anti-virus software wasn’t up to date. No registration required and the download works for 10 days.

Chkdsk time improvements, transfer throughput improvements and scalability are just the beginning.

Link: Jose Barreto’s Blog

Step by step instructions on how (including pictures) to establish a portable Virtual Server platform hosting AD, DNS, clustered file servers and a SQL backend. Great instructions. Put the software in that Microsoft Technet Subscription to good use!

Link: Jose Barreto’s Blog

Sysprep works for Windows 2000, XP and Windows 2003. It doesn’t work for 2008 R2 or Windows 7. Steps outlined in the blog post require the Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK) on a working workstation or server to configure settings.

Link: Brian Desmond

The following major computer manufactures sell their warranty returns, buyer’s remorse returns, discontinued inventory or lease return computers with varying degrees of manufacturer warranties to you or me for significant discounts.

A computer is a computer in appearance and it’s a depreciating asset. There is no status in paying for the latest and greatest hardware. I’ve personally purchased a desktop computer from the Dell Outlet store and a Macbook Air laptop from the Apple Store Special Deals area. Each came with full manufacturer warranties just like brand new computers are sold with.

• Lenovo Outlet Store
• Dell Outlet store
• Dell Finance Lease Returns store
• HP Outlet and Refurbished store
• The Apple Store Special Deals
• Acer Outlet store

For Microsoft Windows applications to create or edit business documents, it’s difficult to beat the  Microsoft Office suites. There have been a number of suite versions over the years since 1994.

• Microsoft Office 95
• Microsoft Office 97
• Microsoft Office 2000
• Microsoft Office XP
• Microsoft Office 2003
• Microsoft Office 2007
• Microsoft Office 2010
• Microsoft Office 365

Today’s free alternatives to the Microsoft Office suite versions:

• Zoho applications – requires an Internet connection and Zoho account.
• Google Docs – requires an Internet connection and Google Gmail account.
• OpenOffice – download and install on your workstation. No account required.
• LibreOffice - download and install on your workstation. No account required.

This link leads to a Bing (visual) search query. Learn about 238 Windows PowerShell cmdlets through examples and syntaxes. Click through the visual tiles to expand the PowerShell topic.

For Windows workstations, download the McAfee Stinger utility to remove viruses. This is a clean up utility, not a regular anti-virus product.

How to download and install Stinger here.

McAfee’s anti-virus software is a good, safe home and enterprise-grade product.

If you’re averse to yearly anti-virus subscriptions, these products may help you out: Avira Personal, Microsoft Security Essentials or AVG Free. A complete list of Microsoft Trusted AV partners here.

For Mac workstations, try the Sophos anti-virus product.