DS labs desktop

Typical laptop for DirSec engineer using the following:

• CCleaner (freeware cleaner):  http://www.ccleaner.com/

• Registry Mechanic (registry cleaning/backup):   http://www.pctools.com/

• Diskeeper Professional (defragmentation):   http://www.diskeeper.com/

• ZoneAlarm firewall (Antivirus option):  http://www.zonealarm.com

• Spy Sweeper (Antivirus option):  http://www.webroot.com/

• Acronis True Image (Home or Workstation):   http://www.acronis.com/

• Acronis Disk Director (partition management):  http://www.acronis.com/

• VMware Workstation:  http://www.vmware.com/

• AdMuncher (remove web ads/pop-ups):   http://admuncher.com

• WinAxe  (X-windows software):  http://winaxe.com,  http://labf.com

• SnagIt (screen capture/edit):   http://www.techsmith.com

• FastStone Capture (freeware screen capture/edit):  http://faststone.org
  

1. AntiVirus option for both ZoneAlarm and Spy Sweeper have been purchases and successfully used in field.
2. Acronis is BEST bare-metal disk imaging software available.   Symantec has purchased two historically good solutions -- Ghost and PowerQuest Disk Image -- and allowed these solutions to lose their edge.
3. Acronis TrueImage workstation has "universal restore" option that's pretty incredible.  The software has an abtraction layer between installed OS/software and underlying hardware allowing disk images created with TrueImage to be restored on any hardware platform supporting Universal Restore (ie.  no driver issues, etc).
   
4. Comment on M$ Virtual Workstation -- referenced without comment:  http://weblog.infoworld.com/enterprisedesktop/archives/2007/03/why_virtual_pc.html
5. Both SnagIt and FastStone Capture are great.   SnagIt ihas more refined edges of commerical software, but FastStone Capture is very functional (and free).