TweakHound

Computer stuff...

New Intel SSD Downloads

By

*IMPORTANT UPDATE
Intel has pulled the firmware update. It seems it is cause no shortage of problems for people (thankfully it didn’t bite me. yet…).
See this thread at the Intel forums.

Intel SATA SSD Firmware Update Tool v1.4
This firmware update tool provides the latest firmware for the following Intel SSDs in all capacities:
– Intel® X25-M/X18-M SATA SSD on 50nm (black case) – updates to FW version 8820
– Intel® X25-E SATA SSD on 50nm (black case) – updates to FW version 8850
– Intel® X25-M/X18-M SATA SSD on 34nm (silver case) – updates to FW version 02HA

Intel Solid-State Drive Toolbox v1.1
The Intel® SSD Toolbox provides a set of applications to easily manage the health and optimize the performance of your Intel SSD. The Toolbox includes a powerful set of management, information, and diagnostic tools, and is designed to work best with 34nm Intel® High Performance SSDs.
The Intel SSD Optimizer utilizes the new ATA Data Set Management Command (Trim Attribute) to help maintain performance of the 34nm Intel® High Performance SSD at out-of-the-box levels and is specifically designed to run with Microsoft Windows 7*. Intel SSD Optimizer also works with Windows Vista* and XP* through the use of the Intel SSD Toolbox.

*edit – Anandtech has benchmarks and more info: The SSD Improv: Intel & Indilinx get TRIM, Kingston Brings Intel Down to $115

Windows Access Panel for Windows 7 & Vista

By

HappyAndyK from over at The Windows Club let me know about a new cool tool. It’s called Windows Access Panel for Windows 7 & Vista.

We are pleased to release Access Panel for Windows 7 & Vista. While you can use Control Panel to change settings which control nearly everything about how Windows looks and works, in some cases to access these very controls , or the in-built Windows programs, requires you to engage in multiple clicks or know their names. Windows Access Panel v 1.0 is meant to minimize your trouble in accessing such programs. It has been tested on Windows 7 & Windows Vista…With this program, you have all, or at least most of such programs at your fingertips. The present download is for 32-bit version only; 64-bit version will be added soon.

It looks to be quite a handy tool, I look forward to trying it out once a 64-bit version is released.

Installing Windows 7

By

I’ve completed my guide on Installing Windows 7 . I hope you find it useful.

I have also begun work on the Windows 7 page. I could really use some good links for this page if you have any.

Some you have asked if I’m working on a Windows 7 Tweak Guide. Of course I am. It will be a bit different than previous tweak guides.The first reason for that is that Windows 7 needs far less performance tuning than Vista and XP (but there are some tweaks here and there). The second reason is that there are a ton of new features in Windows 7. While I will show you how to turn some of these off, I hope to explain why these features may just help you get things done faster and to tweak the features to your needs. Writing, researching, testing, and double-checking all this does take a considerable amount of time though. I do not know if it will be ready by the launch date or not (Oct. 22nd) but I’m trying.