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Steve Bass's Weekly Newsletter
TechBite's columnist Steve Bass writes weekly commentary on the technology products he loves, the strategies for getting the most out of them, and the gotchas that can cause computing misery.
Free Super Sites and Tools to Test Your PC
In This Issue
PC Pitstop: The Best of the Best
Want More? Other Tests to Try
Fix Those Test Site Problems
Tool of the Week: What's Running
Time Wasters
Testing, 1-2-3
Are you sure your PC's healthy? Think back to when you heard that kerchunk sound coming from your hard drive. Or the last time your Internet connection was down -- and I don't mean just suffering from the blues. My advice: Check inside your computer's case with these free diagnostic tools and see if anything's amiss before disaster strikes.
PC Pitstop: The Best of the Best
There are lots of testing sites around, but if you want to visit just one site to test your PC, I'd recommend PC Pitstop.
I'm enamored with PC Pitstop's bunch of diagnostic tests (the one to start with is the free "Full Test"). That's because you get a comprehensive hardware report as well as an indication of an assortment of problems that could be harming performance. (Full disclosure: PC Pitstop pumps up my numbers by reprinting the newsletter on their site. Even if they didn't, I'd still feel compelled to tell you about them.)
I run my machine through PC Pitstop's series of tests every few weeks. The last time I did, it recommended eight fixes; today I'm down to four things that need attention. The site gave me a how-to-fix short tutorial on each of the items.
PC Pitstop shows me my computer's problems.
Each tab (in the green circle) provides comprehensive details.
The report gave me a 35-count list of system specs, an even longer list of installed hardware, told me what drivers I needed to upgrade, and tallied almost 40 performance results. It also compared my computer's ratings with over a zillion other computers that PC Pitstop has tested.
PC Pitstop gives me details on my PC's security settings.
I encourage you to create a free account so you can save the reports, refer back to them, and compare current results with a previous test.
One last thing: PC Pitstop runs lots of ActiveX applets, so it's best to use Internet Explorer for the testing; you can read the results in Firefox. [top]
Want More? Other Tests to Try
I know you'll get a little crazed if I don't mention your favorite diagnostic program or service. (I see the e-mails starting to roll in already.) Here are three freebies.
SIW - System Information for Windows: This is my favorite, with literally volumes of data and specs about your PC. SIW is a stand-alone utility that you don't need to install; it'll run directly from a USB flash drive, a floppy (if you still have one), a burned rescue CD, or a network drive.
Belarc Advisor: It does the job, but not nearly as well as SIW. It's here just so you won't kvetch that I missed it.
DSLReports has been around since the horse and buggy days. DSLReports gives you enough online speed tests to keep you busy all day. The Speed Test has a cool car-dashboard-like interface that watches your upload and download speeds. You can test your speed by using any of six servers in different locations. You'll obtain a good average by testing with two; try one close to home and another across the country.
I know, there are other diagnostic tool, but these should give you more than you'll ever need to know about your PC. [top]
Fix Those Test Site Problems
If any of these online tests don't work, give me a call (you have my home number, right?). If you get my answering machine, do the next best thing:
If you have a pop-up or ad blocker, disable it before starting the tests.
Make sure you have the current version of Adobe Flash Player; if not, download and install it.
While you're fiddling, you might as well check to see if you have the latest version of Java, an applet many sites require if you want to run, well, Web-based Java things. The version you need is based on the operating system you're using. Start on the Java site, click the "Free Java Download link, and choose "Windows XP/Vista/2000/2003/2008." If that's confusing, click this link and it'll tell you the version you need.
Be careful: During the installation, make sure to deselect the Yahoo toolbar option. [top]
Unless you want the Yahoo Toolbar
(you probably don't),
deselect it when installing Java.
Tool of the Week: What's Running
You might need to see all the processes running on your system, or maybe you're curious about the drivers that are loaded. The cleverly named What's Running is a lovely tool, a freebie that goes beyond what most programs tell you about your PC's live activities. Unfortunately, it's only for XP. [top]
Want to see your system's processes -- or the active modules, drivers, or services?
What's Running tells you everything.
Time Wasters
You need to get the mummy to capture the flag. So click and drag your mouse to draw a path; use your arrow keys to get the mummy moving. It's doable, sure, until you start moving up the levels.
Your assignment: Figure out what to do with the big, medium, and small black circles. Don't like that one? Click number 3 on the site and go into entropy. [Thanks, Teddy.]
The question is, "Why did Mom faint at the play?" The reason is in this video.
A few newsletters ago I told you to try Line Rider. It's a simple game -- just draw a line for your cyclist to ride on. My buddy Andrew Kantor said, "I am but a poser when it comes to Line Rider. Others... well, they have the knack. (Watch the video) Warning! You will feel insignificant after watching this, at least Line-Rider-wise." No lie...
There are weird things in this world. Here's a collection of
21 images of things you don't see everyday.
Oh, Captain -- I think we should have parallel parked...
Texans always claim to have the biggest, baddest, whatevers; in this case, they're right. Watch the Bad-Ass Texas Rabbit and let me know if you agree. (And you know the rabbit's going to win this one.)
Can you believe this guy's relationship with these lions? It's as if he's one of them. It's a definite OMG video. Then again, it could all be CGI... [Thanks to Paul Corning.]
So you say you want to live in a lighthouse? Sure, but remember to bring along rain gear and batten down the hatches.
Testing, 1-2-3
Yes, it's me, testing you for loyalty, by asking you again to pop this newsletter off in an e-mail to your friends, your friend's friends, and the clerk at PetSmart. Here's the link in case you don't want to forward the newsletter: http://www.techbite.com. By the way, if you're enjoying this newsletter and getting something out of it, become a TechBite member by sending us some financial support using PayPal. I promise, good things will come your way... [top]
Steve Bass is the publisher and self-appointed Chief Content Officer at TechBite; he continues to experience the cool feeling of having his own newsletter. Send him your feedback at TechBite. To sign up for TechBite's free Steve Bass Technology newsletter, head for our signup page.
Steve's also the author of "PC Annoyances, 2nd Edition: How to Fix the Most Annoying Things About Your Personal Computer," available on Amazon. You haven't purchased your copy today yet, have you? Don't wait, supplies are limited...
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