3.0.0

Sondle's File Recovery Assist can recover deleted and damaged files and other data from fixed and removable hard drives as well as USB drives and even floppies. It supports FAT 16, FAT 32, and NTSB, so it can handle most Windows operating systems still in operation as well as any disks still functioning. File Recovery Assist can find and recover data lost or damaged because of viruses, formatting, hard-drive crashes (but not total failure), and the ever-popular "no apparent reason." As long as the disk still functions and the data hasn't been deliberately overwritten with a … Read more

A failing hard drive or loss of data can be really stressful. If your external backups are missing or giving out, it just adds insult to injury. File Recovery Assist promises to bring those files on your portable drives back if you cough up $29.95. Actually delivering on that promise is hit or miss for this program.

While the installation of File Recovery Assist went rather smooth, we were a bit disappointed with its interface. We feel that developers should have spent more time making it straightforward rather than goofy. Though the program scans external drives quickly, it tends … Read more

Being able to recover files from a failing hard drive is important to any computer user. Data Recovery Assist can bring your lost files back, but you have to fork over around $30 for this software. Even when you do, it sometimes fails to revive your stuff.

This program offers a rather simple interface we feel could be improved by the developers to make it more user-friendly, as it's not really straightforward. Even though Data Recovery Assist reads your external drives quickly, it crashes almost every time you scan a larger drive. We didn't have much luck scanning … Read more

We're not sure we fit into Snapchat's target demographic, because we just didn't get it. It's a social app, which means it works best when you have lots of friends who also use it. The premise is fairly simple: take a picture, scribble a quick message on it, and send it to a friend. But you also have to set a timer for how long your friend can view the picture, which is where it lost us.

Before you start, you have to create a Snapchat account by entering your e-mail address and a password. After … Read more

A useful tool for the multitasker, Virtual Desktop Assistant lets you create multiple virtual desktops on one computer, and can help busy people stay organized.

Virtual Desktop Assistant has an intuitive layout that makes it easy to get started. It sits in the taskbar for quick access and displays the numbers 0 through 3 on the bottom-right corner of the user's window. Zero represents the default system desktop and 1 through 3 represent virtual desktops that can be navigated to simply by pressing the Alt key and the number that represents the virtual desktop you want to switch to.… Read more

Even the best-protected computer can contract a virus, but it goes without saying that an unprotected computer is far more vulnerable. Many users only see the light after spending long hours in the dark, trying to cure an infected PC. Many tools can remove viruses and other malware from your PC, but it's not uncommon for one or two bugs to resist eradication. Reboot, and they're back. Symantec's Norton Power Eraser is a free tool that targets stubborn files and forcibly removes them. Because it cleans aggressively, it can delete critical system files, so it must be … Read more

CheckMySpecs is a free utility that scans your PC, posts its specifications online, and ranks it, letting you compare your machine to other users' PCs. The software claims it doesn't collect or post any personal data, but it does display your PC's name and all your running programs as well as a lot of information about your installed apps, Internet connection, and whether you're using a firewall. If that's not alarming enough, you're basically given no chance to review the data or decide if you want to post it online; as soon as you click … Read more

The last time we had a passport made we ended up with one of those typical unattractive headshots from the local copy place. If you'd rather have a little more control over your passport photo--and we don't blame you, as you'll be stuck with it for a while--you might want to try Free passport photo software.

What you actually get with this program is not just a tool for correctly editing passport photos, but a whole suite of photo tools called CamToPrint. In addition to the passport tool, there are also utilities for creating photo albums, calendars, … Read more

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems span every part of the business process, including personnel, manufacturing, accounting, planning, sales, and service. Once ridiculously expensive, ERP has dropped in price to the point where any business can afford it, since we're assuming "free" is compatible with most budgets. That's the cost of 2BizBox ERP, a freeware ERP suite based around modules and submodules. It can manage engineering, manufacturing, purchasing, sales, inventory, personnel, finance, and much more.

For freeware, 2BizBox is no lightweight, but it's hardly stuffy or bloated. It's Java-based but includes some 60 modules, which … Read more