Software: Paragon Backup & Recovery Free Edition

Paragon is offering a free edition of their backup and recovery software for Windows.  Some of the features included are:

• Supports Windows 7
• Any backup destination (including external storage, CD/DVD/Blu-ray discs, network as well as the secured hidden partition (Backup Capsule))
• For a complete feature list

Free Online Image and Photo Editing Services

Are you looking for a free online image or photo editing services? Check out the sites below. All of them allow you to upload and manipulate your images and photos.

• Sumo Paint
• Pixlr
• LunaPic
• Picnik

Web Site: Prezi - Web-based Presentation Application

Prezi is a web-based presentation application and storytelling tool that uses a single canvas instead of traditional slides. Text, images, videos and other presentation objects are placed on the infinite canvas and grouped together in frames.

Change to 'Bios' will make for PCs that boot in seconds

BBC News reports: "New PCs could start in just seconds, thanks to an update to one of the oldest parts of desktop computers.

The upgrade will spell the end for the 25-year-old PC start-up software known as Bios that initialises a machine so its operating system can get going."

Windows 7: Unlocking a File

Is there a file you can't delete because some application has it open, below are some suggestions for unlocking a file.  Be aware that some systems files can be locked down by operating system security or can be locked by a system process.

• Close all open applications.
• Temporarily disable your anti-malware software.
• Temporarily disable file sharing.
• To the available file shares on your system.
• From the Start menu, right-click Computer and select Manage.
• Under Systems Tools, expand Shared Folders
• Expand Shares, from here you can see folders being shared
• Note: Don't delete any default shares.
• Turning off file sharing
• From the Start menu, type "file sharing" in the search field, and then press Enter.
• Under File and printer sharing, select Turn off file and printer sharing.
• Under Public Folder Sharing, select Turn off public folder sharing.
• Press the Save changes button.
• Temporarily disable file indexing
• From the search box under the start menu type "Indexing"
• Use Process Explorer and OpenedFilesView to see if you can identify the application or processing locking the file.
• Run CHKDSK /R (will require reboot).  This checks the MFT (Master File Table) and make makes sure it's not corrupted.  If there is corruption, it will try to repair it.
• Reset file permission on the file.  Under certain circumstances file permissions or ownership information can be altered or corrupted.
• Use caution when using this tip, it requires an understanding of NTFS file permissions and ownership: right-click on the file, select Properties, select the Security tab, press the Advanced button, from here you can try reset file security or file owner.
• Reboot in Safe Mode.  This will disable all third party and non-essential services.
• Press F8 before the Windows load screen, then select "Safe Mode"
• Reboot in System Recovery Command Prompt 
• Press F8 before the Windows load screen, then select "Repair Your Computer"
• You will be prompted for selecting a language and keyboard type
• You will be prompted for a local administrator password
• Select Command Prompt, from here you should be able to delete just about any file without restriction so be careful.

Top free troubleshooting tools for Windows

InfoWorld report: "No computer runs perfectly forever. Somewhere along the line, something will go wrong. While each successive version of Windows has been that much more reliable and self-healing, that's never been an argument to forgo a good collection of software tools."

Top 10 Windows tools for IT pros

InfoWorld report: "To help you make a good first impression and to cement your reputation as a seasoned troubleshooting guru, I offer the following list of my top 10 must-have Windows utilities for PC support professionals. Some you probably already know. Others you may have heard of only in passing. But all deserve your consideration for a place in your PC support and diagnostics toolkit."