Tips Of The Week

Tip 1:

Sometimes, when you open Cryptload, a log window will be seen overlapping the main window. Just left click on the black top border of that log window and press ESC key. Now the log window will disappear and you will be able to see the main window.

Tip 2:

Are you using the NOTIFY ME option for Automatic Updates of Windows, as I have suggested? When you click on the notification icon in the taskbar, among the list of updates, sometimes you will see the SERVICE PACKS for Windows, MSOffice, .NET Framework or even Internet Explorer (spelled as SP1, SP2 etc.,). Don't rush to click the Download button. If you highlight that update, you will see a Microsoft link down below. Go to that page, download the pack, save it in a back up location seperately and then install it manually. It becomes important to store the service packs for back up because, just in case, if you are reinstalling your Windows or Office, you will need them. Otherwise you have to download them again!! Of course, Internet Explorer can be exempted from this rule because it is a small program, easily downloadble again and also because its updates will get incorporated into the main program sooner or later.

Tip 3:

Instead of using the notification icon for Windows Update in the task bar, you can also use the following link.
http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us
After installing the Update Tool in your PC, it will give you two options. If you click on the CUSTOM INSTALL button, a list of available updates will be given after scanning your PC. There are two advantages here. There will be a CLEAR ALL button. First click on it to unselect all and then choose only the updates you want. This CLEAR ALL button will not be available in the notification icon in the task bar. Secondly, that link will show you the total size of all the selected updates and the approximate time to finish the download whereas in the notification icon, only the individual file sizes are given.

Tip 4:

Before downloading any movie torrent, you have to be sure about the complete name and the year of release of that movie. For example, many Django and Zorro movies have been released right from 1930s!! Usually such information is provided in the name of the torrent itself or in the uploader's description. If not, use IMDB's search box and see the popular titles in the search results.

Tip 5:

While you are downloading a movie torrent from http://www.torrentz.com/, if you find two or more different torrents with different file sizes for the same movie, how will you choose the right filesize? There is a simple rule of thumb. Choose 700 MB if the movie is in 16:9 aspect ratio and its duration is around 100 minutes only. If the movie is in 4:3 aspect ratio and its duration is around 150 minutes or more, then 1400 MB will be better. You can apply some intermediate size (around 1 GB) for mixed situations. Before downloading the torrent, look for the information about the aspect ratio and duration of the movie from the uploader's description. If you don't find it there, then visit IMDB.

How To Use Automatic Updates?

Question Of The Week

How To Use Automatic Updates?

Generally, whenever a program is started, it will check with its homesite for updates, provided your internet is open. Some programs might even be running in the background without your knowledge. Are these updates really necessary for the optimal function of any and every software? This question becomes important especially for those having time limits and download limits in their internet connection!!

The answer is Yes. Regular updates are necessary for three softwares in your PC;

1.Your Operating System

2.Your Browser

3.Your Antivirus.

But should we allow full freedom for the Automatic Updates function? Let's start with Windows. Go to Control Panel -> Automatic Updates. You will find four options. Of course, the TURN OFF option is ruled out. But don't rush for the TURN ON option either. I would rather select the NOTIFY ME option, because it gives you an opportunity to view the description of each update and choose whichever you want (through a taskbar tray icon).

Are you wondering why to choose while every other update is important? That is not the case. Many a times you will find updates for something which you are not using at all. For example, even if you have not installed a part of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Access etc.), you will still get updates for those functionalities!! That's why you should avoid the TURN ON option because you will never know what is being downloaded. Apart from utilising your internet bandwidth and wasting your time, it may also consume your hard disk space.

If you are using Internet Explorer, its updates will come along with those of Windows in that notification icon. If you are using Mozilla Firefox, it has a CHECK FOR UPDATES option in the TOOLS tab of its menu bar. But you won't be using it because whenever an update is available, Firefox will notify you and ask your permission to download and install it.

There is no question about your Antivirus software. It has to update the Virus Signature Database everyday and it won't be asking your permission to do it. Since such an update is usually small in size and it concerns the protection of your PC, don't bother about it.

Now, what about the update option for smaller utility programs? If your internet is fast, the software is free and the total size of the program is around 10 to 50 MB only, better to unselect the CHECK FOR UPDATES option while installing itself. Why? You can simply download and install the newer version once in 3 to 6 months!! What will happen if you select the CHECK FOR UPDATES option? Your internet might slow down because every running program will try to communicate with its homesite whenever you open the internet link. Your PC may also slow down if too many programs are running at the same time especially at the START UP of Windows. That's why you should also restrict the number of programs which start running along with Windows (Read my post on CC-Cleaner).

Now, if you have purchased a software or if it is of considerable size (e.g. Nero - 370 MB), you should enable automatic updates, obviously because you can't download the newer versions whenever you want due to the price and size factors.

Lastly, those who are using a pirated software will lose the privilege of Automatic Updates because even if they enable the update option while installing the software, they have to permanently prevent its outgoing communication through personal firewall.

Cryptload

Program Of The Week

Cryptload

If you are looking for a download manager for Rapidshare, this is a good one. It also works for some other file storage sites.

Advantage:

Instead of copying and pasting the download links one at a time in your browser, you can store all of them in a Notepad file and open that file in Cryptload through ADD FILE, and forget it until the job is finished. If it is a single link, just copy it and open it through ADD CLIPBOARD.

Disadvantage:

You can't choose a particular Rapidshare server like you do in your browser from the advanced settings of Rapidshare, because Cryptload simply accepts the default one offered by Rapidshare. Thus you are deprived of the opportunity to choose the fastest Rapidshare server.

IMDB

Website Of The Week

www.imdb.com

This is a informational website on the Dream Factory... I mean the movie world. It provides data and pictures on movies, actors, directors etc., not only from Hollywood, but also includes Europian and Asian. Movies are rated and commented by the users.