/* Template Name: Archive Index */ Cool Stuff - the freeware review
 
why pay?
the freeware review  

Search

Recent Commenters

Categories

Archives

Cool Stuff

Tftpd32 for Windows – Unleash the PXE BIOS Network Boot Feature Within

Published on June 28th, 2007
Category: Cool Stuff, Rants and Raves, Utilities
32 Comments

Floppy drives are a thing of the past and CD drives seem to be on their way out as well. USB flash drives and higher definition optical disks have replaced them. Today, newer portable data technologies appear faster than ever to satisfy the insatiable cutting edge appetite.

I remember when floppy disks were phasing out in the late 1990s. My friend showed me his new Apple MacBook and how it was so advanced that Apple didn’t even install a floppy disk drive. With the obsoleteness of floppy disks and CDs, how then do we boot our computers nowadays? What if the Windows partition on one of my systems has a freak accident and my partition managing software is on a floppy disk. Well, I could do one of several options.
Read the rest of this entry »

UltraVNC SC – Easier Remote Tech Support with Reverse VNC Configuration

Published on June 28th, 2007
Category: Cool Stuff, Utilities
3 Comments

Being the most computer savvy one in the family is a tough life. Sure, it has its advantages like usually being the smartest one and feeling validated by the fact that your loved ones “need” you. However, that need should only go so far. Friends and family tend to solely rely on the computer guy for their technology needs that they never try to actually do the tasks themselves. Their computer skills stagnate and they turn into technology babies. Did I mention that I hate kids and babies?

Imagine receiving late night phone calls with vague questions like, “Where did my music go?” or “Why can’t I connect to the Internet?” I don’t know how those technical support agents do it, but kudos to them. I am in awe at their patience in diagnosing and fixing problems over the phone without even being on site (or seeing the computer screen for that matter).

Well, I’ve had enough! I just don’t have any time or patience for that. I’m tired of people asking me, “Does this sound like a good deal on eBay?” I’m tired of people requesting me to remotely diagnose their computer problems over the phone. At the very least, I need to see what you are seeing. First, I need a screen!
Read the rest of this entry »

How to Remotely Enable Remote Desktop Connection Access on Windows 200/XP/2003

Published on May 11th, 2007
Category: Cool Stuff, Hacks, Internet
3 Comments

Ever experienced this scenario? You’re helping a friend – or worse, one of your parents – over the phone with his or her computer. And he or she either doesn’t know what you are talking about or is too slow to completely carry out your instructions in this lifetime. Wouldn’t it be great if you could just see what they see and remotely input with your keyboard and mouse?

VNC is nice and all but who wants to walk someone through additional instructions for installing a VNC server? How about that crippled terminal service derivative called Remote Assistance? I’ve used that before and it is pretty limiting. Wouldn’t it be great to actually be able to log on their computer like in Remote Desktop? If your friend is using Windows XP, Vista, or Server for business environments (i.e. not “Home Edition”) you may be in luck. They only problem is actually enabling the Remote Desktop protocol, which, by default, is turned off.
Read the rest of this entry »

« Previous Entries