Completely free disk cloning software that actually works

You know the drill, you've just replaced an old HDD with an SSD drive (or M.2 etc), and for some reason you want to clone the existing drive and keep everything the same. Even though you know a fresh install of Windows is a much better idea. 

Anyway, if you're lucky the new SSD drive will come with some cloning software. However, a lot of the time it won't. So you download some free cloning software (like AOMEI Backupper) only to find that to clone the drive fully you have to pay... 

Fear not, there is completely free software out there (for personal use), from Macrium Reflect

Check it out here: https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree (scroll to home/free)

It totally works, and is totally free, you just need to give them your email address, and then they send you a download link. 

Free DVD writing software that actually works...

So, if you want to convert mp4 or other video files into a DVD, for free, without any kind of watermark on the DVD, then you should definitely use FreeMake Video Converter. It actually works, and you can do a custom install so that you don't have to install any rubbish additional software.

Who bothers with CDs these days?

If you have a netbook or a small laptop or "ultrabook" then most likely it wont have an optical drive... then if you need to reinstall Windows (or whatever) then the smart way to do it is to use a USB pen drive. To do this use:

WinToFlash to transfer your install CD/DVD to your USB pendrive (it also makes it bootable).
PLUS Virtual CloneDrive (Freeware) IF you have the Windows/Install CD/DVD stored as an ISO or IMG on your PC.

And before you know it... Bob's your uncle. Fanny's your aunt. And you're one confused but happy little camper.

100% Old Skool, £3 Tesco Techno

This was £3 in Tesco, CD 3 is unbelievably good.

Featuring:
Disc 3

1. SL2 - On A Ragga Tip
2. Altern 8 - Evapor-8
3. Urban Hype - Trip To Trumpton "Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble & Grubb!".
4. Jonny L - Hurt You So
5. Kicks Like A Mule - The Bouncer
6. Marradonna - Out Of My Head
7. Gordon Edge - Compnded (Edge*1)
8. Praga Khan - Injected With A Poison
9. Manix - Feel Reel Good
10. Xenophobia - Rushing The House
11. The Scientist - The Exorcist
12. 4 Hero - Mr. Kirk's Nightmare CD Version (youtube), Version I remember? (youtube)
13. Acen - Trip II The Moon Part 2
14. Energise - Report To The Dancefloor (the weakest track on this CD?)
15. CLS - Can You Feel It?

http://www.play.com/Music/CD/4-/9151576/100-Old-Skool/Product.html

and here's Sesame Treet (by Smart E's) feat. Phil on keyboards. Altern 8 - Frequency.

Disc 4:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5LW07FTJbI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8q1zM1sXj-U

Acid Relief - Free CD*

* Feel free to donate money for charity.

But you don't have to if you don't want to, but I'd highly recommend it if you enjoy the music. It's a full on Acid House, Techno, Electric phat beat / bass (bit like puffboy) album with 16 tracks, 1 hour 30 minutes, and SO worth the download, even if you have to spend all weekend downloading it over 3G on your mobile phone. (Like I did!)

Link here: http://balkanvinyl.bandcamp.com/album/acid-relief?autoplay=true

Also blogger have a new dashboard, and posting style, very minimalist, with stats and things, much more like a copy of wordpress but slightly more basic looking. (if you're interested). Oh and it looks like me posting this has applied a different template to the blog. (so there).

2010... The Year We Make Contact, but with what?

Best of 2010:

Photos: National Geographic

"Most Significant" Gadgets: Wired.com - Apparently! 3 of them were phones, 2 were tablets (3 if you include the kindle), others: Macbook Air, MS Xbox Kinect, a Canon Powershot S95, and you know, something actually important / significant, that can actually change people's lives: the bionic legs that help people WALK again.

Best Tech of 2010: By Pogue

The year in tech lunacy: on the register.

Gaffes: (Mistakes made by important or TV people) Gaffes of the Year | Guardian.co.uk. (You should / could also add the Times paywall to this list...)

will add more if / when I find them...

Related / Previous Posts / Years:
2009 In Review by Yahoo/Flickr Photos
2008 Best and Worst of 2008
2007 Best Freeware of 2007
2004 Best and Worst
2004 MP3 Players were expensive!
2003 Good stuff about 2003
2003 Top 5 Websites or Things
2003 B3ta best of 2003.

Want to (semi) automatically find album art for all your mp3s?

Then why not try:

"Album Cover Art Downloader" (unrealvoodoo)

This one seems the most automatic, and will just get on with it when you "select all" and then click "download missing..." but has less sources (walmart, best buy, yahoo, but not amazon), and seems slower.

"Album Art Downloader" (sourceforge.net)

This one likes you to select and double click the image you want to be your album art, and seems quicker (but also depends on you responding to the prompts) and possibly more up to date than the top program, it also has more sources for album art including google images. You can also click "auto download and select artwork" which speeds up the process. It also lets you know how many albums you have without artwork, and then you can select them, and find artwork for them. Good stuff.

tidying up on line

I've been tidying up on line and deleted a couple of blogs, being a blogger seams so retro now? (Where's the spell check button?) But more to the point who reads blogs these days any way?

I was amused to see that Dad is still doing seti, and is well over half way to catching me up.

There we go thats a post

Tools that might help fix your infected PC?

Anti virus software (Completely free)
http://www.avast.com
http://free.avg.com AVG
http://www.free-av.com/ Avira AntiVir

Online anti virus software:
http://www.cloudantivirus.com/en/ Panda Cloud Anti-virus

Standalone scanner
http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/

AV and Anti-spyware?
Windows Defender http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/defender/default.mspx
Microsoft Security Essentials http://www.microsoft.com/Security_essentials/ "Microsoft Security Essentials provides real-time protection for your home PC that guards against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software."

Anti-spyware tools
http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/free/ A-squared / Anti-Malware Free edition
http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-2008/3000-8022_4-10045910.html?tag=lst-1&cdlPid=10844457 ad-aware
http://download.cnet.com/Spybot-Search-amp-Destroy/3000-8022_4-10122137.html Spybot

Lots more links and information here: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/free-anti-virus-software

I know this blog is kind of dead...

But this is flipping awesome. ignore the fact that they call it a "podcast" when in fact it's a Rave mix by Moby stored as an mp3... because it's quite frankly awesome and should be downloaded anyway. (via boingboing)

 

Tonight's Moon which also occulted The Pleiades at 1830 hours.

This is a test of the Nokia N97 as a blogging device

Note that Im having to use Opera Mini because the built in web browser is so crap that it crashes every time I try and post something on blogger.

The keyboard is a little poor. Space bar is in the wrong place. The keyboard works a little better and quicker when you use it liked a crackberry and type with your opposable thumbs (holding the phone rather than putting it down on the desk) but the spacing feels a little too wide when compared to a blackberry and the feeling is very ZX81. Where is the Psion 5 keyboard when you need it?

The screen seems much more responsive than the Sony Satio and is usable with just your fingers.

I guess its not too bad - perhaps quicker and more usable than having to use a normal phone - but nothing yet has convinced me that any phone is a suitable (perfect) blogging tool. The only thing they are really good at is photo blogging and posting short twitter style updates.

The Simpsons 10 Best Episodes Ever (by the BBC)

10 classic episodes: The BBC
20 best episodes ever: here at nelsoncolne

Would be interesting to compare the results, but I don't have time now. (Maybe later)

year 2009 in review (by yahoo flickr)

lots of nice photos, plus more things at yahoo.