Browsers: Identify Resource-Hogging Add-ons

Extensions and add-ons, can both enhance and cripple your browser. The right ones can extend the functionality of the browser, but too many bog it down.

To help identify resource-hogging extensions Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome include built-in utilities for troubleshooting these add-ons.

Depending on the browser you're using, type the following command into the address bar:

• Mozilla Firefox 
• about:addons-memory 
• Google Chrome 
• chrome://memory-redirect/

Windows 8: File History

Have you ever accidentally deleted or over-written a file that contained important information?  Windows 8 has a feature called "File History" that automatically saves older versions of your files so that they can be restore later.

Unfortunately, this feature is not enabled by default.  To turn it on you have to open the System and Security control panel.  This feature does require a second drive (such as an: internal, external or a network drive) in order to use it.  Open Advanced settings, set how often you would like the system to back up your files and how long it should keep them.

After the feature is enabled, Windows will backup the files in the background.  If you need to recover a file, open the File History control panel click the Restore personal files link then select the file from the list.

Internet: How fast is your ISP (Netflix ISP Speed Index)

Have you ever wondered how fast your ISP really is compared to others? Check out Netflix's ISP Speed Index to find out.

There probably are other sites that offer this information (to be honest I didn't really care to check), but Netflix is one of the few sources I think can give impartial and accurate information.

So if you want to see how well your current ISP rates compared to others.  Or, if you're looking to find or change ISPs, I would check out this site.

Windows 8: Downloading the Windows 8 ISO File

Windows 8 was the first version of Windows that I upgraded and I didn't preform a clean install.  I utilized Microsoft's online upgrade offer that allowed you to install the upgraded version of the OS over the Internet.

The only problem with this option was I didn't get a copy of the media. I at least wanted a copy of the ISO file (a file that contains a image of the CD or DVD that can be burned to a physical disk with the right optical drive and media) so I can make a DVD if I need to.

If you want to download the Windows ISO, go to the following page (Upgrade to Windows 8 with only a product key).  Press the Install Windows 8 button on the web page, and download the Installer.

Make sure to have your Windows 8 product key ready, enter the information into the field and then press the Next button.  The application will display the version of Windows that your eligible to download, and press the Next button.

After a few minutes of downloading and processing files, the installer will ask you how you want to install the OS.  Select the Install by creating media option, and then press the Next button.  Select the ISO file option, and then press the Save button.