We install hundreds of programs yearly, so we can recommend the best free software for each issue. This also means we must uninstall plenty of programs that aren’t worth recommending – a task we often forget. Thankfully, the brilliant BCUninstaller – or Bulk Crap Uninstaller to give it its full and frank name – makes … Read more
Plenty of tools claim to detect and update outdated drivers but either charge you a hefty fee, come bundled with junk, or install drivers from dubious sources. For these reasons, some tech experts suggest you avoid using driver updaters altogether and rely on Windows Update for the task. However, a few programs work as promised, … Read more
THERE ARE TWO PRINCIPAL REASONS to update your drivers: performance and stability. If you’ve made do with the drivers installed by Windows, then stability is already given—these have undergone rigorous tests in the Windows Hardware Quality Labs to earn WHQL certification, signed by Microsoft itself. However, if you’re looking for better performance or new features, … Read more
Ashampoo Driver Updater – Graham Marriott emailed us to describe a recent worrying experience while trying to install Ashampoo Driver Updater. When he launched the installer, his Eset antivirus software sprang to life, warning that it was trying to place a “potentially unwanted application” on his PC (see screenshot). So is Ashampoo bundling junkware with its … Read more
There are lots of tools for deleting private data, but they usually focus on specific tasks – such as wiping traces of your activities, shredding sensitive files or erasing drives. O&O SafeErase combines all these options and more in a simple, speedy interface. At its most basic level, it deletes temporary Windows and program files and browsing data … Read more
SHOULD YOU RUN… WINDOWS 11 ON AN OLD PC? If your computer can’t upgrade to the full edition of Windows 11, consider an unofficial ‘lite’ edition instead. Daniel Booth explains the pros and cons. What is Tiny11? If you’ve been putting off upgrading to Windows 11 because you fear your old computer isn’t up to the job, consider installing Tiny11 … Read more
You’ve almost certainly come across an ISO file before. They’re typically used to bundle huge amounts of data, such as in Windows installers. ISO is short for International Standards Organisation, which is the Geneva-based body that ensures all countries adhere to common standards on matters like film speeds, currency codes and food safety. It gives … Read more
This seventh release of Ubuntu Unity, version 23.04, was released on 20 April 2023. The middle one of three interim releases leading to the next Long Term Support (LTS) release, this is also its second release as an Ubuntu official flavor. Written by Adam Hunt In terms of how this development cycle is proceeding, the news is all good. Ubuntu Unity seems to … Read more
Adobe Photoshop and GIMP have some very similar features: they’re both raster image editors. Both programs also support virtually every image editing feature you’re ever likely to need, including selection editing, layers, alpha channels, scripting, retouching, resizing, HDR, noise removal, and much more. Photoshop is now a proprietary paid SaaS (software as a service) product. It’s used by millions of professional graphic designers … Read more
PDFgear offers excellent tools at no cost, making it by far the best free PDF software. Is PDFgear safe? Nik Rawlinson reveals its best advanced features. PDFgear (www.pdfgear.com) is our favourite tool for editing PDFs. It’s got a clear, unfussy interface, makes short work of converting Word files to PDF (and vice versa) and – best of all – it’s free. … Read more
My 20-year-old music library is in a mess. In the past I’ve used both MediaMonkey (www.mediamonkey.com) and MusicBee (www.getmusicbee.com) to manage it, but after the arrival of Windows 11 just about everything is duplicated. What can I use to sort this out? Is there any duplicate song remover tools? Hugh Manuel You need a program dedicated to removing … Read more
Partitioning your hard drive lets you make optimum use of its space by storing different types of data in separate sections, but the partition manager in Windows (called Disk Management) is basic and confusing. Macrorit Partition Expert is a more sophisticated alternative, which packs lots of useful features into an easy-to-understand interface. The free version offers everything you need to … Read more