Welcome
to my site, you
will find some programs created by me, plus a
selection of freeware that I have tested and consider to
be of good quality.
Don't forget to look below for the latest freeware
reviews.
News and reviews -- last updated 26/July/08 
Very
Important Notice (over there >>>>)
Free
online Flash game -- Totem Destroyer.
Totem Destroyer (surely that should be Totem Saver) is a
skill/puzzle game. Your task is to remove the specified
number of blocks, without allowing the totem (the gold
idol) to touch the floor, or fall from a great height.
The game has twentyfive levels of increasing difficulty.
Your progress through the game is saved and you can
return to any level you have unlocked.

There are three types
of blocks, normal, slippery and indestructible. Only the
first two types can be removed, by clicking on them.
The game is entertaining and moderately difficult, with
some levels requiring several attempts, a little puzzling,
some quick clicking and a dash of luck.
Note: You will need Flash enabled in
your browser and loading time is approx ten minutes on a
56K connection.
http://www.onemorelevel.com/game/totem_destroyer
Updated 09/July/08
Free
edition -- Easeus Partition Manager personal v1.6.4
It can be very useful to partition a large hard drive, if
only to reduce the amount of time required by your
antivirus software, to scan everything on your hard drive.
For example I store about 17GB of software, music,
pictures etc. But because I have my drive split into
three partitions, my antivirus only needs to scan my 8.5GB
"C" Windows drive, which is naturally much
faster than scanning the entire 25.5GB of data.
There are other benefits, creating a image of the "C"
drive is quicker and uses less strorage, defragmenting
can be quicker and stored data is safer, if Windows
throws a wobbly.
Easeus Partition Manager is a very good free partition
manager. Amongst other features, it enables you to create,
delete, resize, move and format partitions.

I successfully reduced
the size of partition "E", created a new
logical partition "F", formatted to Fat32. Then
deleted "F" and added the unallocated space
back onto "E".
The software is very easy to use and experienced
partitioners will hardly need the very good help file.
Easeus, reboots the computer to apply changes and then
Windows insists on rebooting every time as well, which
gets a little wearing, but everything does progress
smoothly.
Only Fat and NTFS file systems are recognized, Linux
formats are ignored, but this isn't a great problem, as
most Linux distros come with their own partitioning
software.
A useful feature is the ability to password protect
Easeus, which prevents anyone you share the computer with,
from fiddling with the partitions.
There is also the option to create a bootable floppy, or
CD, which contains a basic version of the partition
manager.
Easeus Partition Manager is very good and easily a match
for Acronis Partition manager, which I usually use. It
doesn't have all the features of the open source software
GParted, but it is a much smaller download and its easy
to use interface and useful range of features, make it a
winner in my opinion.
Free -- Download size 4.53MB -- Win 2000 Pro SP4, XP
http://www.partition-tool.com/
WARNING.
Like all partitioning software, this program can
damage your computer if used incorrectly, do not use it
unless you know what you are doing and have taken
sensible precautions. I take no responsibility for any
damage you may do to your computer.
Update
07/July/08
Web
site -- Fred Langa: What comes next?
Some readers might remember Fred Langas excellent
computer help and advice column, the Langalist.
Sadly, some time ago Fred Langa merged the Langlist with Windows Secrets,
(which isn't a patch on the Langalist) and then seemed to
vanish.
Well I was looking at Windows Secrets the other day and
decided to Google for Fred Langa, as I thought he might
have restarted the Langalist. He hasn't, but he has got
an interesting new blog, covering lots of subjects and
with the odd article about computers.
You can find it here: http://fredlanga.blogspot.com/
Update
05/July/08
Editorial.
It has been almost a month since my last update. I got a
bit bored with the computer and with the nice sunny
summer weather, the web site has been neglected.
Hopefully I will get back into the habit of regularly
adding content again, so don't write off the site as
permantly abandoned just yet.
Rob.

Freeware
game -- Vibrant.
Vibrant is a puzzle platformer. To escape the world of
Vibrant, you must guide your character (a block with legs)
through fifteen varied levels.

I'm not going to
describe much of the game features, as it would spoil the
game. But the levels are quite logical (even if they don't
initially seem to be) and clues are often given in the
level comments.
To complete each level, you must touch the purple star,
if there is more than one purple star, you need to touch
the correct one.
Vibrant lacks any presentation, or help file, but it is a
bit different and kept me entertained for ten minutes.
Freeware -- Download size 5.6MB -- Win ME, XP, 2000,
Vista
http://www.yoyogames.com/games/launch/42188
Update
07/June/08
Freeware
game -- Rox v1.4
Rox is a primarily a puzzle game, but does require speed
and dexterity on some levels.
You control a toothy character called Thresher, who
munches his way through levels, looking for unids, once
he has collected all the unids, he can exit the level via
the portal.
Along the way Thresher has to negotiate falling rocks,
explosives, spider like creatures and annoying gnats.
There are also one way conduits, switches, keys and a
discharger.
Thresher does get some help, with a selection of powerups,
invulnerability (my favorite), freeze, missiles and
explosives.

The graphics are
pretty good, with some nice animations and effects,
although I did find everything a bit on the dark side for
my taste and found myself getting closer and closer to
the screen (getting old).
The background music tracks (4 included, more on the web
site) are quite catchy and there is the option to set the
volume.
There are 69 levels in the standard game and there are
hundreds of fan made levels available on the web site,
simply unzip the level file and drop the .clvl file into
the levels folder, then select your new levels using the
"collection" option in the menu.
An easy to use level editor is included with the game, if
you are inspired to try your hand at creating your own
levels.
It takes a while to learn all the features of Rox. But
once you have mastered useful techniques, such as
pressing space and an arrow key to eat a nearby object
without moving, the game becomes very interesting.
There is an excellent help file, which is accessible in-game,
by pressing F1.
Rox is a very polished and entertaining (if somewhat
frustrating) game and with the addition of fan levels
will provide days, weeks (months, years!) of fun.
Freeware -- Download size 11.1MB -- Win 98, ME, 2000, XP.
http://www.bd-fans.com/RoX.html
Update
01/June/08
Free CD/DVD
burning software -- Romeo Lite v2.3.0.71
Romeo Lite is a (very) cut down version of the full Romeo
burning sofware and can only produce data discs. The main
interface is very simple, just drag and drop files, or
folders to the window. Or you can use the file selection
window.

After you have made
your selection, use the burn button to open the burning
window, where you can choose whether to make your disc
multi-session, or add to a previous session. You have the
option to erase (quick, or full) rewritable discs, before
burning.
I liked Romeo Lite, it's quick and fuss free and
maintains the folder structure on burned discs.
There is a downloadable help file for the full program on
the authors web site, which gives information on the data
burning options, but the mouse over hints should provide
enough help for most people.
If like me, almost all your burning is data discs, you
might find Romeo Lite to be a good choice.
Note: A command line version is also
included, for those people who like that sort of thing.
Free -- Download size 2.61MB -- Win 2000, XP, Vista
http://www.romeoburner.com/
Note: You will find the Lite version in
the downloads section
Update
06/May/08
Free CD/DVD
burning software -- ImgBurn v2.4.1.
ImgBurn, as the name suggests, is focused primarily on
creating, reading and burning image files (ISO, BIN etc).
But it can also burn data discs, audio CDs (from a wide
variety of file formats) and DVD video discs.
The initial interface, with just six options is very
simple, but this hides a plethora of options and settings,
which appear on the secondary interfaces.

Note:
To reduce image file size, this is a simplified graphical
representation of the program window.
ImgBurn isn't the easiest burner to use and it doesn't
follow the standard layout of most burning software. But
it is remarkably powerful for its size and offers a lot
of control for keen burners.
There is no built in help file, but there is an online
help forum with comprehensive guides, describing the
various burning features and after some study, I had no
problems performing basic data and audio burns.
However, ImgBurn does not appear to support multi-session
data discs, which limits its appeal for me (I may be
mistaken, but I eventually got fed up of wading through
the reams of information on the forum) and creating audio
discs is a convoluted process.
Overall, ImgBurn is an impressively featured burner, when
working with image files and advanced users will
appreciate the control it gives you.
But for burning standard data and audio discs, there are
simpler and better choices of freeware.
Free - Download size 1.8MB - Win 95, 98, Me, NT4, 2000,
XP, 2003, Vista
http://www.imgburn.com/
Update
30/April/08
Freeware
game -- Block Manoeuvers v2.0
Block Manoeuvers is a puzzle game. Your task is to
complete all fifty levels by collecting the strawberries
(if there are any) and reaching the exit.
To accomplish this task, you can push blocks and boulders
out of the way and use them to bridge water, or as
numbered keys in later levels. There are also pop up
walls, rolling balls of flame and flamethrowers.

Level
29 completed, that was a lot of block pushing.
The graphics are very
basic and a bit too small for my tastes, but they do the
job. Sound effects are minimal, which is sensible with a
puzzle game and the background music tracks are quite
good (you get more tracks, as you progress through the
game).
The help file is very basic, but there are additional
comments as new objects are introduced. Your progress is
auto saved and you can skip levels by pressing "S".
The games learning curve is perhaps a little too long and
the puzzles don't become taxing until around the
twentieth level (depends how good you are at puzzles).
But the later levels are varied and challenging and gave
the grey cells a good workout.
Freeware -- Download size 3.02MB -- Win 2000, XP, Vista
http://www.geocities.com/shooeymooey/index.html
Update 23/April/08
Freeware
antimalware software -- Spybot Search & Destroy v1.5.2
I was updating the entry for AVG Anti-Spyware (formerly
Ewido), when I realised that I don't list Spybot S&D,
which is odd, because I have used it for years, so I
thought that I'd better give it a review.
Spybot S&D is one of the longest established anti-spyware
programs. It has two modes, default and advanced and I
would advise using advanced mode, as it has lots of
useful extras.
The main feature is a manual drive scanner which scans
for and (hopefully) fixes spyware problems. The results
window can be split in two, so that the right hand pane
shows additional information on any possible threats.

The immunize feature
adds potentially dangerous web sites, to the restricted
zone in Internet Explorer, preventing them from running
possibly malicious code, through IE. Known tracking
cookies are also blocked. Immunize also helps to protect
the Opera browser, from bad plugins and cookies.
Spybot has a good selection of tools, the most useful
being the Secure Shredder and System Startup, which lists
all the programs that start with Windows. System Startup
often gives a description of the program, but I would
advise double checking an item using Google, before
disabling or deleting it.
Spybot has some real time (resident) protection, in the
form of SDHelper for Internet Explorer, which blocks bad
downloads and TeaTimer which monitors the processes that
your computer runs and keeps a watch over some sections
of the registry.
I use SDHelper, but not TeaTimer, as RegProt protects my
registry and I'm not convinced that continuously
monitoring running processes for spyware is necessary (depends
how paranoid you are ).
Updating is straightforward and you can select which
items you wish to download. Note that if you update the
immunize database, you have to manually immunize again,
never really understood why it isn't automatic.
Spybot used to have a problem with updates failing, but
since its recent major overhaul, it seems to be better
and I've had no recent problems. If the update does fail,
just select a different update location and try again.
Spybot is my favorite antispyware software and the only
antispyware application that I always keep on my computer.
Its reliability, reasonably accurate detections, useful
selection of tools and comprehensive help file, combine
to make it an excellent program.
Freeware -- Win 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, 2003, Vista.
Note: Spybot also has an "easter
egg" (a good one for a change), you can read about
it here: misc.htm
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html
Recent items from my homepage --- Homepage
archive
If you have some freeware, a web site link, or
computer news that you wish to see included on this page,
please contact me using the link below.
Note: All content must be family friendly.
Contact
Me: As an anti-spam
measure I use an image for my email address, to use it
click on the address panel below and your email program
should open, then you will have to enter my address in by
hand, my apologies for any inconvenience .

Rob Goldfish Web Site

Ritz Cameras
|

Very Important Notice.
I'm upgrading my internet connection to broadband on
Wednesday the 30th of July.
This means, that I will then be with Virgin media, rather
than NTLWorld (same company, new name and address), so my
free web space will move address.
I'm hoping that I will be able to swap my current
subscription dialup, to pay as you go and keep this web
space, but that might not be possible, in which case it
is highly likely that this site will vanish, within the
next thirty days.
Make a note of this address:
http://robgoldfish.freehostia.com/index.htm
That is my FreeHostia web site, if this site suddenly
vanishes, pop along there for information about where I
have gone.
I'm not sure exactly what I will do yet, but I will keep
you posted about any developments.
Rob.
EcoGeek.
Using technology to
try and save the planet.
ecogeek.org/
Giveaway of
the day
Everyday this site gives away two pieces of commercial
software for free. One game and one utility.
Games page
Utilities page
Freecycle.
A great way to recycle unwanted items, or find a needed
item, while helping to save the planet.
Freecycle.org
Computer
Active forum.
A friendly forum, providing help and advice on computer
problems.
CA forum
Recent items from my homepage.
Homepage
archive |