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Thursday, September 8, 2011

SoftwareBuzz - Tech Blog (updates)

SoftwareBuzz - Tech Blog (updates)

Link to Freeware Software Free Photoshop Tutorial Windows 7 Tips and Tricks

Top 10 Freeware Tools To Install On Your New Windows PC

Posted: 08 Sep 2011 10:28 AM PDT

Every new Windows computer requires good software to get it running in the best form. Although Windows 7 comes with some good tools but they are not the only tools that your computer needs. So here is a list of top 10 free software that are must have for your new Windows computer. Check them out!

You may like this :


This one is a very useful tool that creates and manages disk partitions on Windows systems. This is a great tool to have even if you are done with creating partitions during the setup process, and have the knowledge of using disk management console to make partitions. This is because it boasts some amazing features like resize, merge or split partitions, converting FAT to NTFS, converting primary partition to logical and the other way around etc.

You can get its personal edition for free but it also has professional and business editions too.



Many branded laptops and desktops come with many useless tools that one should do away with as soon as possible, if you want your computer to run smoothly. So to help you out on this PC Decrapifier is the software you should have. It lets you get rid of all the unwanted and useless software. Check out THIS guide on cleaning up a new PC with PC Decrapifier.



An important thing to do with your computer is to create a system image using the built-in Windows backup and restore center (you are also required to create a system repair disc). As this feature may not be in every edition of Windows, so you should try using a great substitue called Macrium Reflect. It can be used to make an initial system image, and for other things like this when you start using the computer.



This tool is simply awesome as it takes care of all the hassle of "how to install" when you are installing new things on your computer. This is a all-in-one installer lets you choose and install software at once. Click here to check out a guide on batch installation of programs with Ninite



It is a really good tool to clean uninstall apps and software from your PC. It is way better than the default Add/Remove programs tool. You should definitely have this one in your PC. Click here to check out a guide on using Revo Uninstaller to uninstall programs.



CCleaner is my favourite tool when it comes to routine PC maintenance tools. It is the best out there and is extremely handy. It does routine PC maintenance and does away with all the temporary files and data. It is getting better day by day as it gets updated regularly. Click here is check out a guide on using CCleaner.





It is one of the best freeware tool launched by Microsoft. It provides various antivirus vendors, especially those who give fully fledged free versions, a run for their money. It protects your PC from viruses, spyware and malware.

8. Dropbox or Syncback SE


Data backup is one thing that should be done regularly but people tend to dillydally it. This laziness can cause a lot of problems as once the data is lost, it can not be recovered! So tools like Dropbox or Syncback SE come to save the day here. These tools are must have for any PC as they automatically backup your data -- Dropbox backs up online and Syncback keeps data synchronized with an external hard drive.



Sometimes software like CCleaner, Revo Uninstaller and PC Decrapifier etc delete some files that you need or sometimes you just suddenly delete something that you should not have. Well deleted some important files and want to get them back? Then you can do this by using Recuva. It is a free tool to recover deleted files. Definitely a must have! Check out this tutorial on using Recuva.


VLC media player and Chrome and / or Firefox. These are, ofcourse, must haves. You can also install them at once using Ninite, simply tick their names in Ninite before you starting the installation. Click here to check out our posts on Chrome and Firefox.

If we have missed out any software that you think should have been included in this list, then don't forget to share it with us in comments below.

Review: Windows 8 Transformation Pack

Posted: 07 Sep 2011 07:01 PM PDT

Windows 8 is the talk of the tech town now a days because of its amazing features like the Metro UI and Taskbar User Tile etc. If you want to get a taste of Windows 8′s interface and features, then use Windows 8 transformation pack.

You can download this program for free from HERE -- thanks to Windows X Live.

Installing The Windows 8 Transformation Pack:

Windows 8 Transformation Pack is 53 MB in size. It is also advised that you download .NET Framework 4.0 which is 48 MB in size. So this adds up to be 100 MB just for a transformation pack.

Its installation is very easy and safe. All you get is an EXE file which on running presents to you the following dialogue.


If you want to get a great Windows 8 UI experience, then don't forget to check the Metro UI checkbox. And if you want, you can also uncheck the "Set Window X's Live as default homepage" option.

After doing all this simply click the 'Install' button. This would start the installation of the Windows 8 Transformation Pack. After some time your screen would become black and white and the Windows 8-like theme will be applied. You are required to restart your computer in order to let the rest of the modules to complete their installation.

Please Note: Don't panic if Explorer crashes and your computer becomes really slow. Just click on the Cancel buttons several times and everything will get back to normal.

First Impressions:

Now when you will restart your Windows 7, the very first noticeable thing is the startup screen which is still black. This black screen has some designs that makes it look better. It is still unknown if it will be similar in the final release of Windows 8.


Then you will see the login screen, which boasts the Windows 8 Ultimate logo. Same design as you saw in the startup screen will be applied here, and it looks nice too!

The big button of the power options is present at the bottom right of the screen. The mild blue color of the login screen is also very soothing.


After you are done with logging in, you will see a new wallpaper and widgets. A sidebar is also present that has you options like Search, Share and Settings.


The Windows 8-like Metro UI called Zetro is disabled by default and you have to enable it yourself by going to Personalize > Installed Themes and select Zetro UI to activate it. When done, you will notice an interface which is a lot better than the normal UI. You are also provided with functionalities like Aero auto-colorization, user tiles in the taskbar, etc. The Metro UI is looks a lot like Windows Phone 7 Mango.


Even the About window in Windows 7 is changed to look more like as if it's from Windows 8.

Note: You must have .NET Framework 4.0 installed to get these things working.

Other Changes:

The start menu icon changed radically by the Windows 8 transformation pack. The circular windows icon is changed into an awesome looking Windows logo.


A picture tile is also present at the right corner of the taskbar that lets you access the Control Panel, User Account Control, etc quickly.


The close, maximize and minimize buttons present at the top of windows have also been altered.


'My Computer' is also changed by it. Memory bar looks really cool and scrollbars are very prominent in black colour.




Well the most amazing thing about this theme is the fact that things are transparent and you can see through window title bars, the start menu etc.


Conclusion – Is installing the Windows 8 Transformation Pack in Windows 7 worth it?

The Windows 8 transformation pack is a great styling option for Windows users. It has support for all versions of Windows like XP, Vista and 7 and provides you with an amazing Windows 8 experience. Even though it is not clear if all these changes will be the same when Windows 8 is released, but still it is a nice way to begin. The installation and uninstallation is very easy and overall it is great!

Make Windows 7 Resemble Windows 8

Posted: 07 Sep 2011 07:01 PM PDT

Do you want to try the interface and features of Windows 8? Now you can do this if you are using Windows 7, with the help of some 3rd party programs. These programs can make your Windows 7 look like Windows 8. The Windows 8 look by these programs would not be perfect but still very good.

So here are some freeware tools that will make Windows 7 look like Windows 8. Check them out:

Add Windows 8-like Taskbar User Tile in Windows 7

Windows 8 boasts an ameliorated taskbar that displays the image of the current user close to the notification area of the taskbar. When one clicks on it, he/she is taken to options to modify user account settings.


Taskbar User Tile is a tiny program that places the user's image in the Windows 7 taskbar in the same place where it is present in Windows 8. This tile is placed between the date/time area and the show desktop icon in the taskbar's bottom right. If you don't like the user tile or find it buggy, then you can get rid of it simply by right-clicking on the image and selecting 'Close'. Doing this will make the tile disappear.

Get Windows 8 like Metro UI startscreen in Windows 7

Metro UI feature is getting a lot of hype and if you want it in your Windows 7, then you should try using Omnimo. Omnimo is a Rainmeter skin that allows you to have the Metro style widgets to Windows 7.


Simply click Here to download the Rainmeter and then unpack the Omnimo skin. Many other programs are also present out there that let you get the free Metro UI enhancements for Windows 7 but the one with best results is Omnimo.


Aero glass color scheme in Windows 8 alters based on your desktop background or active window icon. If you want this amazing feature in Windows 7 then try Aura. It adds the same feature in Windows 7, and moreover, it allows you to set the Aero color based on the icon of the presently active tab in Internet Explorer 9.


Aura program suggests you to increase the color intensity from 'Appearance and Personalization' settings, in order to make these alterations perceptible.


Windows 8 transformation pack for Windows 7 carries out a lot of changes to make Windows 7 look like Windows 8's interface. It not only changes the start menu and window close buttons, but also adds many other amazing features like Metro UI and user tiles to the taskbar.




Till Windows 8 is launched, a lot of freeware tools would come out that will make Windows 8′s best features available on other Windows editions, Windows 7 and may be even Vista and XP. So don't forget to bookmark this post to stay updated with all the freeware that we will update this post with in the future!
Posted by Computer at 6:05 PM

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