https://davescomputertips.com/best-free-clipboard-managers/

Hey Al,

First off, Foxit is from China, not that being from China concerns me all that much. However, it also has a checkered past: some time back the developers started bundling the Ask Toolbar, Open Candy (advertising module) and the browser hijacking-malware Conduit with the installer (all very nasty stuff). Foxit was also caught out transmitting users’ data to remote servers based in China. I believe it has since cleaned up its act but the trust factor remains problematic. I certainly would not recommend it, based on its nefarious history alone.

Yep, nice additions MB. However, HWiNFO is already included in my list, under “Best Free System & Monitoring”.

Cheers mate…. Jim

Aha, the NAS explains a lot.

I’ve toyed with the idea of setting up a NAS but the meagre amount of data I accumulate doesn’t warrant the outlay. A couple of external drives suffices for my requirements.

Thanks for the reply and explanation, appreciated.

Attribute Changer allows modification of file properties, such as various dates, compressed, archive, etc. [https://www.petges.lu/] I use it to fix the Office problem of not creating compressed files on a compressed disk, as well as, modifying dates and the archive flag to force desired backups.

Bulk Rename Utility allows name changes to a group of selected files and folders. The changes can be made by text substitution, regular expressions, case changes, date insertion, and many more edits. It also allows you to save a pattern of changes and recall it later. I have a library of these patterns. [https://www.bulkrenameutility.co.uk/]

There is a free version of FileSeek [https://www.fileseek.ca/Compare/] as well as a “Pro” edition.

I find FreeFileSync invaluable in comparing potentially duplicate folders and consolidating the latest versions in one folder. There is a “donation” version that allows automatic download and installation of updates. [https://freefilesync.org/]

I use SyncBack to automate backups to my NAS device. I started with the free version and later I purchased the SE version, as it contains additional useful features [https://www.2brightsparks.com/syncback/compare.html]

Love the sharing about utilities!

Yours is an interesting list too, if somewhat a little out of mainstream.

Attribute Changer: what do you use that one for, specifically?
Bulk Rename Utility: Again, what do you use that one for, specifically?
Crystal Disk info: Nice addition, nice software
File Seek: doesn’t appear to be freeware
Free File Sync & Sync Back Free: I prefer to simply copy and paste to external drive. I don’t have enough personal data to warrant using these types of tools
Open Shell: As much as I dislike the direction in which the Windows’ native Start menu has taken, I prefer to try and get used to any new UI elements. That said, I do recognize that plenty of users prefer the older (traditional) Start menu style and Open Shell is a very good option
VLC Media Player: Agreed, an excellent free media player

Thanks for your input here., appreciated.

Several freeware applications that I use and enjoy:
* Attribute Changer: https://www.petges.lu/
* Bulk Rename Utility: https://www.bulkrenameutility.co.uk/
* Crystal Disk Info: https://crystalmark.info/en/software/crystaldiskinfo/
* File Seek: https://www.fileseek.ca/
* Free File Sync: https://freefilesync.org/
* Open Shell: https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu
* Sync Back Free: https://www.2brightsparks.com/download-syncbackfree.html

And what list would be complete without:
* VLC Media Player: https://www.2brightsparks.com/download-syncbackfree.html

It is your weekly newsletter, Jim. I appreciate your expertise!

Hey Nicke,

You mean in the weekly newsletter? That’s my fault, I redesigned the intro. Sorry about that, I’ll see what we can do to put that back in.