Blat, the mass mailer

Often you need to send large number of solicited emails to recipients on individual basis. Instead of sending emails one-by-one to every recipient, there are mass mailers which can save your valuable time. Blat v2.6.2 is one such Win32 console utility which is useful for sending large number of emails. It can also be used in scripts so that emails are send automatically. In order to use Blat you must have access to a SMTP server via TCP-IP protocol. Some of the features Blat offers are as follows.

• Various profiles can be created.
• Default settings can be stored in the registry.
• Input can be provided from the disk file as well as from the console (STDIN).
• Carbon Copy and Blind Carbon Copy are supported.
• Binary and Text attachments are supported

blat262.full.zip file available for download contains program documentation and binaries. The program is very easy to use.

Technorati Tags: Blat,Mass mailer,Email

System Information for Windows

System Information for Windows 2010 freeware version, aka, SIW by Gabriel Topala is very good tool to gather information about your Windows based machine. The SIW freeware version cannot be used for commercial purpose.

SIW classifies system information into Software, Hardware, and Network. In each of these categories, the information is further classified into number of sub-categories.

1. Software
   • Operating System
   • System Directories
   • System Files
   • Installed Programs
   • Applications
   • Security
   • Licenses
   • Accessibility
   • Environment
   • Regional Settings
   • File Associations
   • Running Processes
   • Loaded DLLs
   • Drivers
   • NT Services
   • NT Pipes
   • Autorun
   • Browser Helper Objects
   • Scheduled Tasks
   • Databases
   • Audio and Video Codecs
   • Shared DLLs
   • ActiveX
   • Shell Extensions
   • Open Files
   • Group and Users
   • Protected Files
   • Event Viewer
   • Passwords
2. Hardware
   • System Summary
   • Motherboard
   • BIOS
   • CPU Info
   • Memory
   • Sensors
   • Devices
   • PCI
   • System Slots
   • Network Adapters
   • Video
   • Sound Device
   • Storage Devices
   • Logical Disks
   • Ports
   • Power Policy
   • Battery
   • Printers
   • Resources
3. Network
   • Network Information
   • Neighborhood Scan
   • Open Ports
   • Shares
   • RAS Connections
   • Network
   • Search Network Neighborhood

Macrium Reflect – Free disk imaging solution

Macrium Reflect Free Edition from Paramount Software UK Ltd. is a tool which can be used to create an exact image of partitions on your hard disk for easy hard disk upgrade or complete/partial system recovery.  The image can be used to restore the entire disk, partition or select files/folders in the event of system loss. Images can be stored on local or network drives, CD/DVD, and removable drives connected using USB/Firewire.

For example, if you want to create image of C: partition, then select it in the list of partitions.

Right click and select Create Image of ‘1 - <NO NAME> (C:)’

Select the backup destination, then click on Next button.

Click on Advanced button.

Select High as compression level to save disk space.

Click on File Size in the left pane and select Automatic. Click on OK button.

Check on Run this backup now and click on OK button.

This creates a disk partition image of C: partition.It is better to move this disk partition image on another disk/media and keep it at safe place.

In the event of catastrophe, the system can be recovered using the Reflect recovery CD, which is either a compact version of the Linux operating system or a BartPE CD prepared using PE-Builder*. It is highly recommended that you create  the Reflect recovery CD immediately after installing the Macrium Reflect software.

* PE-Builder from Bart Lagerweij is a free software that is used to create BartPE CD which is a Windows live CD.

Technorati Tags: Macrium Reflect,Disk imaging,Disk cloning