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Guy's Top 10 Free Tools

1) FreePing
2) Network Monitor
3) Xobni
4) PuTTY (UNIX)
5) IP SLA Monitor
6) BgInfo
7) Net-SNMP
8) CatTools 
9) Exchange Monitor
10) WinDiff

Windows Vista Snipping Tool

Windows Vista Snipping Tool

Before Vista, the only built-in Windows graphics program was Paint.  The aptly named snip allows you to take screen shots and save the resulting image to a png, jpeg, gif or even an html file format.

Topics for Vista's Snipping Tool

• Getting Started
• Preparing for the 'Snip'
• Snipping Tool Decisions

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Getting Started

You could almost anticipate how to start Vista's Snipping Tool.

Method 1

Start Orb, Start Search, Snip.  Snipping Tool appears on the menu and double click.

Method 2

Alternatively, you could take the traditional route:

Start Orb, All Programs, Accessories, Snipping Tool

Preparing for the 'Snip'

Making a 'Snip' could not be more intuitive, the desktop goes translucent / grey.  This simultaneously alerts you to copy an area, and allows you enough transparency to see what you are doing.

Once you have made the 'cut', you can highlight areas with a thin pen or a thick marker.  Both tools are found on the small toolbar, see screenshot above.

Snipping Tool Decisions

As with most Windows programs, somewhere there are configuration properties or, in the case of the Snipping Tool, an Option menu. 

For me the two key decisions were:

1. Do you want the Snipping Tool in the Quick Launch area?
2. Which format do you want to save your image?  Jpeg, gif, png or html.

Complimentary Graphics Tools

To take shots of the Snipping Tool itself I used Paint Shop Pro.  In a word a professional graphics package provides sophistication.  However, the advantages of the Vista Snipping tool is that it's built-in and the learning time is zero compared with two weeks for the average graphics package.

Just as many of the current computer generation are not aware of Ctrl +c for copy, so they are oblivious to the Print Screen key for capturing images.  Unfortunately, neither of these techniques work with the Snipping tool, but they do work with Paint Shop Pro.

Guy Recommends:  The Orion Network Performance Monitor (NPM) 9.5

Orion's performance monitor is designed for detecting network outages.  This NPM will guide you through troubleshooting by indicating whether the root cause is a broken link, faulty equipment or resource overload.  Because it produces network-centric views, it is intuitive to navigate, and as result you can see easily what's working and what's not.

Perhaps Orion's best feature is the way it suggests solutions.  Moreover, if problems arise out of the blue, then you can configure Orion NPM 9.5 to notify members of your team what's changed and how to fix it.

If you are interested in testing a professional performance monitor on your network, then I recommend that you take advantage of Solarwinds' offer of a download a free trial of Orion's Network Performance Monitor.

Windows Vista Training

Train Signal have an excellent Windows Vista Training Course.  As an MCT trainer, I am a huge advocate of Train Signal’s products.  What impresses is me is that they demonstrate everything that they teach and they stay away from traditional 'lecture-style' training.  If you are looking for a complete DETAILED coverage of Windows Vista, then I highly recommend that you give this course a try.  I have reviewed their 18 hours of videos myself, and I guarantee that you will not be disappointed!

Watch a Vista Training Video Demo.

Configuring Windows Vista Topics:

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