(Last updated 31 August, 2014.)
This is the story of my attempt at making a 100% usable freeware Windows XP machine. It has been revised several times since I first published it thanks to feedback and suggestions from readers. I’ve done a lot of research and tried a lot of programs. There are also 2 companion articles: The Windows 7 Freeware Machine, and The Windows 8 Freeware Machine. This is not an exhaustive list of freeware programs but the result of the aforementioned research and installs blended with my own personal preference and opinion. You are free to recommend a FREE program but you must list exactly why you think it is better. i.e. – If you say it uses less resources then provide a concrete example (with stats), if you call it bloatware then show why, etc.
[Read more…] about The Freeware XP Machine
Windows
Tweaking Windows 7, Version 2.0
Tweaking Windows 7 has been updated.
It’s been over 3 years since the first version of this particular guide.
I figured it was time I got off my lazy ass and update it.
I hope you enjoy it!
***Important Note – If you’ve purchased the Tweak Guide in the past, please contact me for your free update. Please include the Name /email info you order it with.
FYI – Up next is a complete revision of all the freeware guides and a Windows 8 edition of same.
Tweaking Windows 7
TweakHound’s
Tweaking Windows 7
A common sense guide to tweak and optimize Windows 7.
by Eric Vaughan
Version 2.0, 23 February, 2013
Time To Run Windows Update
Updates available for XP, 2K3, Vista, 2K8, Seven, Eight, 2K12, Windows RT, Office 2k3-2K13, etc.
Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for February 2013
All TweakHound Windows 8 Articles (so far)
Install Windows 8 – Clean Install With Upgrade Media
Windows 8 – Cleaning Up After You’ve Upgraded
How To Resize Your Windows 8 Partition
Create Windows 8 Recovery Media
Windows 8 – Elevated Command Prompt
How To Fix The Windows Bootloader
All Windows 8 Keyboard Shortcuts
Tweaking Windows 8
After many, many, many hours of research and writing Tweaking Windows 8 is finished!
I hope you find it useful.
Start8 1.1
Start8 1.1 is out (windows 8 start button replacement).
Download & Info
Security Update for Internet Explorer
All you folks that haven’t upgraded Internet Explorer 6-8 have a Security Update for Internet Explorer.
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS13-008 – Critical
This security update is rated Critical for Internet Explorer 6, Internet Explorer 7, and Internet Explorer 8 on Windows clients and Moderate for Internet Explorer 6, Internet Explorer 7, and Internet Explorer 8 on Windows servers. Internet Explorer 9 and Internet Explorer 10 are not affected.
See also: Advance Notification for Update to Address Security Advisory 2794220
Today, we are providing Advance Notification to customers that at approximately 10 a.m. PST on Monday, January 14, 2013, we will release an out-of-band security update to fully address the issue described in Security Advisory 2794220
Bad Tweaks Updated
While working on the upcoming Windows 8 Tweak Guide I found it necessary to update the Bad Tweaks page.
Revision Info
14 January, 2013
– added info about pagefile.
– added section: Bad tweaks specific to Windows 8.
– added section: Bad SSD Tweaks.
Time To Run Windows Update
Updates for all supported Microsoft operating systems and some Office products.
Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for January 2013