Computing and Networks - home
The Apps in Column one are recommended downloads for new computers
<< Only updated once a year, so go to source for most current Files>>
General Internet tools -
and Utilities links Thunderbird is an excellent email client. A good alternative to Outlook.
Ninite can be used to create an install package of many standard applications all in one action.
Computer Repair
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Test and Scan toolsThese Farbar Tools will each create a .txt file with the computers current status, all software on the computer, and crashes and errors. A good starting point for troubleshooting.
Minitoolbox gives a good .txt file of what is on your computer and what might be a problem.
Scan the .txt file generated by FRST for the word "attention" and see if it highlights something. Note: at times this is identified as malware, so exclude from search if that is a problem. It is standalone so not installed Minitoolbox gives lots of tech info. Farbar service scanner will check various network related features if you are having communications problems.
Malwarebytes suport tool is used for trouble tickets to malwarebytes for stubborn problems. However, if run without a trouble ticket it gives a zip file of very useful info for troubleshooting. Note: read before download and use. "output to your desktop is mbst-grab-results.zip"
Caution Note: Some of the tools on this page will give a false positive as malware because they can be used for hacking. Be mindful of what you are doing.
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Note: Generally Windows Defender and Malwarebytes seem to be all that is needed, with an occasional scan for spybots and adware.Create a restore point on your computer before using any removal tools just to be safe.
<win key>+R then type MRT enter. This will run a windows defender scan, disconnect internet and use the offline mode for complete check. See above youtube video
1.windows media creation tool flash drive create a bootable installation media USB flash drive (need drive letter for flash) 2. download Hirens boot CD plug in second drive, note drive letter Download ISO ISO to USB 3. Also "create recovery drive" in search, and create the recover drive on a 3rd USB Fix your own computer video on Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hWwY8Lo4ag Download TRON script Run RKILL first Virus adware spybot removal toolsThese tools are recommended for troubleshooting slow or infected computers after using Windows Defender and Malwarebytes.
Free - made by Malwarebytes good!
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Anti Beacon software to prevent tracking
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Use of internal solid state (SSD) sata drives for external storage!
Internal SSD sata drives plus a case make a nice cheap 1tb backup drive. Links to amazon as of July 1 2023
Purchased 6 times over the last 3 years, no failures {yet :}
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Solid State Drives
To Upgrade a laptop HDD to a SSD (Solid State Drive) the links below will provide pointers to the tools and procedures. Search on YouTube for a video for your particular laptop to see the internal views and any particulars about disassembly. Don't forget to initialize the new SSD which should be an option under disk management. Amazon has good tools for opening laptops and cellphones for repair.
How to upgrade your laptop's hard drive to an SSD (Laptopmag.com)
How to upgrade your laptop's hard drive to an SSD (Laptopmag.com)
I have used 4 (so far) Silicon Power Ace A55 very low cost 1 TB drives with no problems (yet). Check user comments on the drive you select to see what cautions you should be aware of. Your SSD should have more capacity than the drive you are cloning. Look up "shrink" to shrink a partition to fit.
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I have had good experience with the inateck box shown here, this can also use the partition wizard via USB to clone the drive via computer.
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How to RESET browsers to default:
Chrome
Reset Google Chrome – Windows
Refresh Firefox
Chrome
Reset Google Chrome – Windows
- Click the menu icon ( ) next to the address bar.
- Select Settings toward the bottom of the drop-down menu.
- Choose Reset and clean up on the left side of the Settings page.
- Select Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Click the Reset settings button in the pop-up window
- Open Microsoft Edge, click the More icon (three dots) in the upper right corner, and select Settings.
- Export any settings and bookmarks you may want to keep.
- Turn off sync, log out of your profile
- Click Reset settings.
- Click the > icon next to Restore settings to their default values, and then click Reset when prompted.
Refresh Firefox
- Click the menu button. ...
- Click Refresh Firefox… then Refresh Firefox in the confirmation window that opens. ...
- When finished, a window will list your imported information. ...
- Select whether you want Firefox to restore all or some windows and tabs and click the Let's go!
Benchmark software and online
- Online
- Userbenmch
- Lansweeper
- 21 benchmarks
Cyber Attacks - real time
Most Frequently Used
Does my computer have a virus checker? - Important first step.
Caution! Many of the tools can give a false positive as malware because they can be used as hacking tools. Be mindful of what you are doing and why.
nirsoft tools: https://www.nirsoft.net/
Here's some examples of what you can find in NirSoft Web site:
<< These are almost always identified as Hacker tools since they can be misused, Know what you are doing!>>
- Password Recovery Utilities
- WebBrowserPassView - View the passwords stored by your Web browser (Supports Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Safari, and Opera)
- RouterPassView: Router Password Recovery - Extract passwords and other information from router backup file (For supported routers).
- Mail PassView - Recover the passwords of popular email clients: Outlook Express, MS Outlook, Eudora, Mozilla Thunderbird , and more...
- Dialupass: Dialup Password Recovery - Recovers the passwords of dialup entries (VPN and Internet connections). Works also under Windows 2000/XP.
- Network Password Recovery - Freeware utility that recovers the network passwords stored by Windows XP (Credentials file).
- BulletsPassView - Reveal the passwords hidden behind asterisk ('****') or bullets characters in standard password text-boxes.
- WirelessKeyView - Recover lost wireless network key stored on Windows
- PstPassword - Recover the password of Outlook PST file.
- Network Monitoring Tools
- WirelessNetView - View the details of all wireless network in your area (SSID, Signal Quality, MAC Address, and more...)
- Wireless Network Watcher - Show who is connected to your wireless network.
- BluetoothView - Monitor the Bluetooth activity around you.
- SmartSniff: TCP/IP Sniffer - Capture TCP/IP packets on your network adapter and view the captured data as sequence of conversations between clients and servers.
- CurrPorts: TCP/IP Connections Viewer - Freeware tool that displays the list of all currently opened TCP and UDP ports on your local computer.
- AdapterWatch - displays useful information about your network adapters: IP addresses, Hardware address, WINS servers, DNS servers, MTU value, Number of bytes received or sent, The current transfer speed, and more...
- DownTester - Test the download speed of your Internet connection.
- Internet Related Utilities
- BrowsingHistoryView: Web Browser History Viewer - View browsing history of your Web browsers (Firefox,Chrome,IE,Edge)
- IPNetInfo - Find all available information about an IP address: The owner of the IP address, the country/state name, IP addresses range, contact information (address, phone, fax, and email), and more.
- MyLastSearch - View your latest searches with Google, Yahoo, and MSN.
- VideoCacheView - Copy video files (.flv and others) from the Web browser cache and temporary folder.
- SiteShoter - Take a screenshot of a Web site.
- DNSDataView - View the DNS records of specified domains.
- IECookiesView: Cookies Viewer/Manager for IE - View/Delete/Modify the cookies that Internet Explorer stores on your computer. Read More >>
- IEHistoryView - View/Delete the URLs that you visited in the last few days.
- WhoisThisDomain - Get information about a registered domain.
- DNSDataView - DNS lookup tool.
- MS-Outlook Tools
- NK2Edit - Edit, delete, add, merge, and repair records in the AutoComplete files (.NK2) of Outlook.
- OutlookAttachView - View and extract attachments of your Outlook mailbox.
- OutlookStatView - Get statistics about your Outlook mailbox.
- OutlookAddressBookView - View or export the address book of Outlook.
- Command-Line Utilities
- NirCmd: Freeware Command-Line Tool - Do some useful tasks from command-line: turn off your monitor, turn off the computer, open/close the door of your cd-rom drive, dial to VPN/Internet connection, change your display settings, and much more !!
- SoundVolumeView - Control the sound volume from command-line or GUI on Windows 10/7/8/2008.
- GUIPropView - hide,show,disable,enable,minimize,maximize,resize windows from command-line.
- Desktop Utilities
- UninstallView - Alternative to the software uninstaller of Windows.
- SearchMyFiles - Alternative to 'Search For Files And Folders' module of Windows and also duplicate files search.
- Volumouse - Control the sound volume with your wheel mouse !!
- FileTypesMan - Alternative to 'File Types' manager of Windows.
- Freeware System Tools
- ProduKey - Recover Office/Windows CD-Key
- ShellExView - Displays the details of shell extensions installed on your computer, and allows you to easily disable and enable each shell extension.
- WhatInStartup - Add, delete, modify or disable programs that run at Windows startup.
- USBDeview - View all installed/connected USB devices on your system.
- DevManView - Alternative to device manager of Windows.
- DriverView - List all device drivers currently loaded on your Windows.
- RegScanner (Registry Scanner) - Scan and find values in the Registry.
- OpenedFilesView - View opened/locked files in your system.
- SysExporter - Grab the data stored in standard list-views, list boxes, and combo boxes from almost any application running on your system, and export it to text, HTML or XML file.
- BlueScreenView - View crash information stored in the MiniDump files created on blue screen of Windows.
>>Digital Footprint
Windows and Windows Tutorials
- Lesson 1 - Windows 10 tutorial and basic troubleshooting
Sites to test for specific virus and Malware
- Test for Superfish, a critical security problem (Lenovo mistake!)
- Article discussing Superfish in Lenovo - Why it is a security problem.
- Another superfish test
- How to remove Superfish if installed
Samples set up for weebly.com (where this page is hosted)
- Currentlydown.com
- downdetector.com
- is it down right now? IIDRN.com
- Down analyze
- Website speed test and access: https://tools.pingdom.com/
- Website Server Check: https://sitecheck.sucuri.net/
Internet Status
- Is internet down - Downdetector.com - centurylink
- Centurylink Line troubleshooter
- Google Safe Browse - Substitute site after = sign
Troubleshoot with CMD window
In search bar on computer type CMD to get the cmd prompt, run as administrator
- Netstat netstat [-m] [-n] [-s] [-i | -r] [-f address_family]
- Netstat is designed to identify all connections to your system.
- Ipconfig -a
- Open command with admin privileges:
- 1. Click on Start button.
2. Type Cmd in the Start Search text box.
3. Press Ctrl-Shift-Enter keyboard shortcut to run Command Prompt as Administrator. Allow elevation request. - netsh winsock reset netsh int ip reset tcpip.log
System File Check for corrupt or missing files
How do I run Scannow command?
How to Run SFC from within Windows as an Administrator:
- Click the Start button and in the search bar, type: CMD.
- Right-click CMD.exe and select Run as Administrator.
- Click Yes on the User Account Control (UAC) prompt that appears.
- Once the blinking cursor appears, type: SFC /scannow.
- Press the Enter key.
Look at results. If needed consider DISM. Search on Google for current microsoft instructions for using DISM
- DISM scanhealth
- DISM checkhealth
- DISM restorehealth
and results of useing them to restore corrupt or missing files.
Open an elevated Command Prompt and type DISM /online /cleanup-image /checkhealth . This is a quick scan and will determine if the image is repairable.
Check Health: Open an elevated Command Prompt and type DISM /online /cleanup-image /checkhealth . This is a quick scan and will determine if the image is repairable.
Scan Health: Open an elevated Command Prompt and type DISM /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth . This will check if there are any corruptions detected.
Google safe browsing site to check URL's
http://www.google.com/safebrowsing/diagnostic?site=
DNS Virus
Go to this site to test your computer Click Here
Computer Commands
- Computer Hope
- Ping and other TS commands
- Hub Switch Router
- DYN Internet Guide - replaces your dns with a protected one
- >>> Allows custom filtering of sites which are to be allowed.
- Get custom Domain Name for your IP address (inbound)
- Open DNS
- Monitor activity
- Open DNS Labs
Speed - Packet loss/tracerout tests DNS Propogation Check after changing A records
- DNS Propogation checker
- Random DNS propogation check
- dnschk.com checks multi servers
- Very best propogation checker
Blacklist IP address check:
Shields Up:
Good link to check your firewall
Internet Performance Monitors
- Akamai Real Time Net Performance Monitor
- Internet Traffic Report
- Network Information
- 10 useful free websites
- DSL Reports
Network Tools:
Other Good Sites to check things.....
DNS Virus
Go to this site to test your computer Click Here
Computer Tools
- bluescreenview view cause of blue screens
- Downloads from bleeping computer
Troubleshooting Windows Computers:
If you have computer problems start here:
- Microsoft - Malicious Software Removal Tool Run once/month from site
- Then go to Malwarebytes under Virus and Spyware Tools in Right hand column
Google Safe Browsing Diagnostics:
To use the tool, just append a URL to the end of http://www.google.com/safebrowsing/diagnostic?site=. For example, to test this site, you would
enter http://www.google.com/safebrowsing/diagnostic?site=http://searchengineland.com/.
Google will then return four sets of security information about that page.
http://www.google.com/safebrowsing/diagnostic?site=
Instructions: Click on the above link, your browser will return an error, however, it leaves the link in the URL window. Just type the site in question after the = sign and it will check the site for you.
General Internet Links - Interesting
- Top Tools to use:
Trend Micro
- Anti Hijack
- House Call
- RUboted
Webmaster Tools from Google
Web Page Link Checkers
- Firefox addons - go to addons in firefox
- Check Page Links
- Pinger
- Sitemaps
TraceRoute DNS Links
Best DNS tools March 2012 DNS Tools DNS Propogation Check
- DNS Propogation checker
- Random DNS propogation check
- dnschk.com checks multi servers
- Very best propogation checker
Wi-Fi Tools:
Great Network Tools
- CommView Network Pkt Snfr
- AppareNet Network Test tool
- Network Activity Sniffer
- SNMP Trap Watcher
- Network Sniffer ?? eval
- Ping & Traceroute
- ping
- Network Tools
- Map net
- Internet Tools Summary
- Web based Traceroute
Security Tools
Test Download Speeds:
Maps, GIS,and GPS
- Tiger Map Service
- Yahoo Maps
- Maps -- Blast -- Quest -- Tiger (includes lat/lon)
- USA City Link
- Geophysical Information
- Windows Kernal Toys Download
- DNS Lookup
- HTML Links
- Java and HTML
Anti-Virus Links
Free Virus Checkers and tools:
Anti-Virus Links
- Trend Micro Hijack This-tool
- Trend Micro House call
- Free Virus Checker - Comodo
- Networking IT toolbox
- Check for Spy Bots
Windows and Network Information
- About Netbios
- Info from MAC Address
- Various Windows Commands
- ipconfig /all
- netstat -a
- ping
- tracert
- arp -a
- net send netbiosname ""
- nbtstat -A ip
- nslookup
nslookup in a cmd line
>server 8.8.8.8
>set debug
>set d2
>set query
Tools for Wireless and wired networks
- Get your IP, check ip
- Dynamic DNS
- Network Monitoring Best Practices
- cacti Network Monitoring Graphs
- Smoke Ping - latency monitoring tool
- Network Monitoring tool
- Check to see if port 80 is open
- Test DNS of DynDns
- Good reference page
- VPN Software
- Remote control
- DNS Quiry tool - Great Test report DNS Cog
Internet Service Providers - Seattle Area
- Drizzle Internet - small provider good!
- Voice over IP - Internet service provider
- Voip wireless router / modem Zoomx6v
- Phone / Internet package
Tools for recovery and Virus Detection/elimination
Different Links
Wireless IP cameras:
- Panasonic
- Astac
- Astac cheap
- Dell
- Internet eye
- Blue Jay 512 2.5g and 3g
Access links Questions
Solutions Pro Email setup:
- Online address: http://www.cityemail.com
- Online SPAM filter:
- View click the spam folder lower case spam
- Can whitelist domains at: click on antispam settings lower left
- Outgoing server: mail.spro.net
- Port:587
- Incoming Server: mail.spro.net
- Port:110
- Special Setup Instructions
- Outgoing mail server requires authentication.
- Account name is full email address.
Web Page Development Links
- Stars HTML Pages
- Project Cool HTML Primer
- Cynthia Page Tester
- x
DHTML Links
- DHTML Tutorials
- DHTML Resource links
- DHTML Zone
- Dynamic Drive (samples)
Web Test Pages
Web Page Related:
Useful Technology
- Link Sluth
- HTML Validation
- Security Test(s)
- http://www.dead-links.com/
- Check Links in Firefox
Space Test Page
Network Viewer
Network View - version 1.20
The syntax of this command is:
NetView.exe [/NTW] [/NTS] [/PDC] [/BDC] [/PRINT] [/RAS] [/SQL] [/TIME] [/TS]
[/9x] [/HEX:0xXXXXXXXX] [/DOMAIN:domain] [/T] [/B] [/TABS]
Multiple switches can be specified, separate each with a space.
/NTW will include NT/2000/XP workstations.
/NTS will include NT/2000/.NET servers.
/PDC will include NT/2000/.NET primary domain controllers.
/BDC will include NT backup domain controllers.
/PRINT will include Print queue servers.
/RAS will include Remote Access Servers.
/SQL will include Microsoft SQL Servers.
/TIME will include all Time sources.
/TS will include all Terminal Servers.
/9x will include Windows 95/98/ME systems. (Only if sharing has been enabled.)
/HEX: allows you to specify your own bit mask. Use /HEX: /? for more details.
/DOMAIN: allows you to specify a different domain or workgroup.
/T also displays the primary machine type (Server, Workstation, PDC, etc.)
/B displays the output in bare format (useful when scripting)
/TABS separates columns with tabs instead of spaces (useful when importing)
An argument of /? or -? displays this syntax and always returns 1.
A successful completion will return 0.
Web Hosting at Office 365
Domain text record: ms=ms32535436
Name Servers:
ns1.bdm.microsoftonline.com
ns2.bdm.microsoftonline.com
Routers:
- Asus
- Netgear
- AmpedWireless