CDCheck - CDCheck, an error-checking and data-recovery utility that's free for consumers. The program creates error-checking files for a CD, stores them on your hard drive, and then lets you compare these files with those kept on your backup CD to ensure that the disc is still readable. If CDCheck finds evidence of CD damage or corrupted data, it may be able to recover the lost files.

DiskMon - You can set DiskMon to run as a light in your system tray to show when your hard drive is reading or writing. DiskMon also logs and displays all hard disk activity.

Create a Guinea Pig PC - Play it super-safe by keeping a second Internet-connected PC handy - Jul 23, 2007

Painless Backups to USB Drives - Low-cost USB drives make it easier than ever to back up your data and take it with you - Jul 23, 2007

The Cheapskates Guide to Supercharging Your PC - Overclock your CPU, upgrade your graphics, and swap out your motherboard to give your PC a boost - Jun 14, 2007

DIY Surveillance Protects Your Home or Business - Webcams and IP cameras let you keep an eye on your property while you're away - May 21, 2007

Minimize your Vista Related Hardware Hassles - Ease your move to the new OS with these tips; a fan to help your PC beat the summer heat - Apr 26, 2007

Help Your PC's Graphics Make Vista and XP Sparkle - Upgrade your graphics hardware; download a free network data utility - Mar 22, 2007

Useful Upgrades That Will Outlast Your Aging PC - Plus: Setting up simultaneous audio channels, and a USB/FireWire hub that offers plenty of ports - Jan 24, 2007

Be A PC Crime Fighter: Keep Your Hardware Safe - A variety of products and strategies will protect your PC from theft - Dec 20, 2006

Hardware Tips: Keep Your Notebook PC Safe from the Elements - How to protect against heat, cold, spills, and battering - Nov 22, 2006

Hardware Tips: Make Your Old Computer Ready for its Next Owner - How to prep your PC for giveaway so that you protect yourself in the process. Plus: gadget-friendly clothing, and a better cordless mouse - Oct 23, 2006

Hardware Tips: The Right Hardware Keeps VOIP Calls Loud and Clear - Find out what equipment you need for high-quality VoIP phone calls - Sep 25, 2006

Hardware Tips: Plan Ahead to Extend the Life of Your Hardware - Buy new computer equipment and peripherals with an eye on the future - Aug 21, 2006

Hardware Tips: Find and Eliminate Your Hardware Bottlenecks - Use the tools in Windows' System Monitor utility; a site for downloading hardware manuals - Jul 24, 2006

Hardware Tips: Cheap Notebook Tweaks -- Maximize Your Laptop - Simple laptop component upgrades, mobile peripherals, longer battery life, and more - Jun 20, 2006

Hardware Tips: Make Your Hard Drives Faster and Safer with RAID - Choose the RAID configuration most appropriate for your needs - Apr 21, 2006

Planning Your RAID Setup - How to install a suitable RAID configuration to meet your needs - Apr 21, 2006

Hardware Tips: Improve Your Image With 13 Simple Graphics Tweaks - Some small adjustments to your LCD monitor can make a big difference in picture quality - Mar 17, 2006

Hardware Tips: Free Tools Keep Your Hardware Humming - Third-party utilities provide system information, diagnostics, stress testing, and more - Dec 29, 2005

Hardware Tips: Prepare Your Hardware for a Windows Reinstall - Take these steps to ensure your PC works well following a refresh of the OS - Aug 23, 2005

Hardware Tips: Ten Quick Tips to Keep PC Trouble at Arms Length - From backup strategies to easy maintenance routines, these tips help keep your PC humming along - Jun 17, 2005

Tips & Tweaks: Recycle PCs, Notebooks, and Components - May 11, 2005

Hardware Tips: Salvage the Files You Lost from Your Hard Drive - Use a utility to recover 'permanently' deleted files. Plus: Check your USB port's power demands - Mar 22, 2005

Hardware Tips: Complete PC Preventive Maintenance Guide - Jun 23, 2004

Belarc Advisor - If you're looking for an exquisitely detailed audit of your hardware, this is the download you need--no other hardware utility comes close. It starts with the basics, such as the computer manufacturer, installed RAM, hard-disk size, and processor type and speed. But it also shows you the motherboard maker, hard-disk manufacturer, chassis serial
number, PC service tag, bus type and speed, multimedia devices...the list goes on and on. You'll also find details about your Windows installation, including which security hotfixes you've installed and which you're missing, plus a list of all user accounts on your PC and a lot more.

Active@ Kill Disk Hard Drive Eraser - This program, a powerful (and free!) set of tools uses a variety of data-erasure algorithms (from fast and slightly-risky to slow and suitable for James Bond), it will make sure nothing can recover data from a discarded hard drive.
Whether you're passing an old computer on to a child or co-worker, or tossing it in the trash, this software helps ensure that no data remains.

Pando - Pando is free P2P software that makes downloading, streaming and sharing large media files fast, easy and fun. Need to email large attachments, IM a folder, or publish your downloadable videos to the Web? Maybe you'd just like to watch full-screen HD Internet TV. Meet Pando.

Answer Line: Move Your Data, Settings, and Apps to a New PC - Apr 27, 2004

The 10 Worst Games of All Time

AceMoney Lite - AceMoney Lite makes it easy to manage a checkbook, create and manage
budgets, juggle finances in multiple currencies, track spending habits, record expenses, and even do on-line banking. The account information can be shared or password protected. The program offers an easy to use interface that is straight forward and much easier to use than most commercial packages. Yet it offers everything you need to balance your personal bank account and keep track of where your money is going. The free version is limited to one bank account.

Evernote - Evernote allows you to easily capture information in any environment using whatever device or platform you find most convenient, and makes this information accessible and searchable at any time, from anywhere. You can easily capture, store and quickly access typed
and handwritten memos, webpage excerpts, emails, phone messages,
addresses, passwords, brainstorms, sketches, documents and more!

Customize Folders - CustomizeFolders is freeware application that will help you to change folders icons easy and fast.

Miro - Miro (formerly Democracy Player) is an Internet video player that allows you to choose from a variety of channels, subscribe to video
feeds and view them with the integrated player. The channel guide includes more than 600 channels, mostly podcasts and user submitted video clips, and you can also add your own podcast by entering the URL. The program also includes video search for Google, YouTube and Yahoo Video allowing you to find additional content based on your keywords. Miro integrates BitTorrent and can work as a standalone BitTorrent
client. Other features include a personal media library, video playlists, fullscreen mode, automatic channel downloads and more.

Firefox Showcase - Firefox Showcase is a Firefox add-on that enables you to navigate open
tabs as thumbnail views of the actual website. It can run as a sidebar or in a special Showcase tab. You can configure it in various ways, view zoomed versions of the thumbnails on mouseover, close or activate a tab by clicking on the thumbnail and quickly switch between web pages. The program offers flexible configuration options that allow you to customize everything from thumbnail size, mouseover actions and info display to thumbnail labels and mouse actions. Note: After installing, you need to add the Showcase buttons to the Firefox toolbar.