gottahaveit programs

Computer Programs

Name Tray System
/User GDI Rating (1-10) - Comments

Close annoying ads - - - 8 - Closes popup windows from Geocities, Tripod, Angelfire, Free Prohosting, and Hypermart.

CorkBoard Y 2% 2% 5 - Weird personal semi-organizer, a kind of pre-screensaver (I rarely use it, but it's kind of cute)

FreeWheel Y 2% <1% 8 - Compatibility program for MS IntelliMouse. Great for non-MS programs that this aesthetically pleasing mouse doesn't support. My personal favorite is still the Genius NetMouse (it has the more powerful side-click for changing programs). They both have a scrolling wheel/button.

ICMP Interceptor Y 3% 3% 8 - IRC Nuke Protection

ICQ Y 7% 2% 9 - Chat, Messaging, File Transfer utility. Really handy messaging program, but hard to connect since AOL purchased it.

IE4 N 10% 8% 9 - Microsoft's (MS) crash-prone Internet Explorer browser (yet it's the one I mostly use).

Lunar Almanack Y 2% <1% 8 - Moon Phases and Almanac

MS Office Toolbar N 2% 10% 9 - The handy menu-bar that comes with the MS Office Suite

Netscape N 8% 10% 9 - Netscape's Browser. The browser that always works when IE doesn't.

NukeNabber Y 3% <1% 8 - Internet/IRC Nuke Protection. Fairly good monitoring & protection program. Follow the installation instructions carefully (WINSOCK 2.2 mis-installation has reportedly crashed hard drives).

Outlook Express N 7% 6% 9 - IE4's email program.

PGP N - - 10 - Pretty Good™ Privacy, the program for keeping your info secure. Also available comercially.

Rain Y <1% <1% 9 - Heat harms CPU's (this program cools off your CPU about 20° F), but then so does warming (expanding) and cooling (contracting). Check out the comparison charts.

Tray HQ Y 2% 7% 7 - Notes, Calendar, Stopwatch, Address Book, Clipboard saver. This simple multi-function program saves loading several single-purpose programs.

WetSocks Y 2% <1% 8 - Weather Checker for a city near you.

Windows Explorer - 2% 3% 9 - Comes with windows, of course

Y2K - - - 5 - Y2K (Year 2,000) fix for DIR/DATE in win95 from Microsoft. Chances are you don't need this.

Semi-Clean Boot - 85% 98% These are typical Win95 resources free when your computer is first turned on (depending on the programs loaded in your {StartUp} folder).

The above columns headings are:

Tray: Indicates those programs that reside in the taskbar's system tray (under the clock).
System/User: System & User Resources - All loaded programs take a percentage of the resources Windows has available. Since Windows runs poorly (in my experience) when the resources fall much below 35%, you should total the resources used by your programs, and decide which ones are vital. (To check your resource usage, go to Start/Programs/Accessories/SystemTools/ResourceMeter, this will place a box with green lines in your tray; double-click this green-lined box to view.) The System & User resources used by programs are usually similar (that's why only one % is listed in the table above). The percentages were determined in a very unscientific manner, your results may vary.
GDI: This resource usually outlasts the above two.

[Home] [Shortcuts]

Name	Tray	System /User	GDI	Rating (1-10) - Comments
Close annoying ads	-	-	-	8 - Closes popup windows from Geocities, Tripod, Angelfire, Free Prohosting, and Hypermart.
CorkBoard	Y	2%	2%	5 - Weird personal semi-organizer, a kind of pre-screensaver (I rarely use it, but it's kind of cute)
FreeWheel	Y	2%	<1%	8 - Compatibility program for MS IntelliMouse. Great for non-MS programs that this aesthetically pleasing mouse doesn't support. My personal favorite is still the Genius NetMouse (it has the more *powerful* side-click for changing programs). They both have a scrolling wheel/button.
ICMP Interceptor	Y	3%	3%	8 - IRC Nuke Protection
ICQ	Y	7%	2%	9 - Chat, Messaging, File Transfer utility. Really handy messaging program, but hard to connect since AOL purchased it.
IE4	N	10%	8%	9 - Microsoft's (MS) crash-prone Internet Explorer browser (yet it's the one I mostly use).
Lunar Almanack	Y	2%	<1%	8 - Moon Phases and Almanac
MS Office Toolbar	N	2%	10%	9 - The handy menu-bar that comes with the MS Office Suite
Netscape	N	8%	10%	9 - Netscape's Browser. The browser that always works when IE doesn't.
NukeNabber	Y	3%	<1%	8 - Internet/IRC Nuke Protection. Fairly good monitoring & protection program. Follow the installation instructions carefully (WINSOCK 2.2 mis-installation has reportedly crashed hard drives).
Outlook Express	N	7%	6%	9 - IE4's email program.
PGP	N	-	-	10 - Pretty Good™ Privacy, the program for keeping your info secure. Also available comercially.
Rain	Y	<1%	<1%	9 - Heat harms CPU's (this program cools off your CPU about 20° F), but then so does warming (expanding) and cooling (contracting). Check out the comparison charts.
Tray HQ	Y	2%	7%	7 - Notes, Calendar, Stopwatch, Address Book, Clipboard saver. This simple multi-function program saves loading several single-purpose programs.
WetSocks	Y	2%	<1%	8 - Weather Checker for a city near you.
Windows Explorer	-	2%	3%	9 - Comes with windows, of course
Y2K	-	-	-	5 - Y2K (Year 2,000) fix for DIR/DATE in win95 from Microsoft. Chances are you don't need this.
Semi-Clean Boot	-	85%	98%	These are typical Win95 resources free when your computer is first turned on (depending on the programs loaded in your {StartUp} folder).