====== Toolbox ======
This page is a repository of the online and software tools that I use. It is by no means exhaustive or representative of the best offering in its given category. These are the tools I have foundto get the job done in the way I need it done.
===== Hardware =====
  * **Zalman/IODD Virtual Optical Disc Drives** - IODD makes them, but Zalman has the American distribution. You can read my write up on mine [[http://largegeek.com/2014/03/zalman-zm-ve300-drive-enclosure-miracle-worker-review/|HERE]]
    * [[http://iodd.kr/wordpress/product/iodd-2531/|IODD 2531]]
    * [[http://www.zalman.com/na/contents/products/view.html?no=20|Zalman ZM-VE350]]
===== Software =====
  * [[https://www.grc.com/intro.htm|Gibson Research Corp.]]
    - [[https://www.grc.com/sr/spinrite.htm|SpinRite]] - Yes, there are ways to kick a disk into gear with ''dd'' and afew other Unix commands, but sometimes you just need to set it and forget it and get a little feedback from the process.
    - [[https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2|ShieldsUp]]
    - [[https://www.grc.com/passwords.htm|PerfectPasswords]]
    - [[https://www.grc.com/never10.htm|Never10]] - makes the policy changes to forever prevent Windows 10 upgrade
    - [[https://www.grc.com/dns/benchmark.htm|DNS Benchmark]]
  * [[http://www.dslreports.com/tools|DSL Reports: Tools]]
    - [[http://www.dslreports.com/speedtest|SpeedTest]]
    - [[http://www.dslreports.com/whatismyip|MyIP?]]
    - [[http://www.dslreports.com/whois|WhoIs]]
  * [[http://downdetector.com/|DownDetector]]
  * [[http://www.nirsoft.net/|NirSoft]] - This guy pretty much creates all the tools that should be built into Windows and Sysinternals has not addressed. I have use more than the list below, but theses are the ones I use most frequently.
    - [[http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/multiple_ping_tool.html|PingInfoView]]
    - [[http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/network_latency_view.html|NetworkLatencvView]]
    - [[http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/network_traffic_view.html|NetworkTrafficView]]
    - [[http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/blue_screen_view.html|BluScreenView]]
    - [[http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html|ProduKey]]
  * [[http://rufus.akeo.ie/|Rufus Disk Utility]] - No nonsense USB drive formatting tool
  * [[https://windirstat.info/|WinDirStat]] - Probably the oldest tool in my shed and has come back into use trying to keep SSDs svelte.
  * [[http://openhardwaremonitor.org/|Open Hardware Monitor]]
  * [[https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals|Sysinternals]] - All the things that should be built into Windows, so Microsoft bought them.
  * [[http://www.pendrivelinux.com/yumi-multiboot-usb-creator/|YUMI Multiboot]] - I don't use it too much anymore, but have found it to be the best bet on stubborn machines where I need multiple tools still.
  * [[http://keepass.info/|KeePass Password Safe]] - Open-source self-managed password vault. Can sync via FTP or just run from Dropbox.
  * [[https://www.turnkeylinux.org/|Turnkey Linux]] - They have a plethora of turn-key solutions. Makes it so easy to just fire up a VM and see if it is gonna work for you.
  * [[https://mix.office.com/snip|Snip]] - Really nice screen-snipping software from Microsoft Garage. I really want them to replace Snipping Tool with this. Would make snipping stuff on whatever Win10 machine I find myself at completely painless.
  * [[https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=15155|SyncToy]] - File sync/backup tool made by Microsoft. Build you jobs and setup a scheduled task and forget it.
  * [[https://www.gpsoft.com.au/|Directory Opus]] - Excellent Windows File Explorer replacement that is well worth the money. 
  * [[https://www.giuspen.com/cherrytree/|Cherry Tree Notes]] - Winth Microsoft acting-a-fool with OneNote lately I have been searching for alternatives. Cherry Tree is a rather solid one if you have a good syncing solution.
  * [[https://nextcloud.com|Next Cloud]] - My Dropbox was getting rather full with wargame manuals and resources so I went looking for a self-hosted alternative rather than shell out for what is essentially cold storage with the odd 'need it right now' request. I am currently running the [[https://www.hanssonit.se/nextcloud-vm/|VM]] on my HTPC until FreeNAS gets VMs more stable. Working awesome so far! You can map to shares so I have Dropbox-like access to my entire FreeNAS share.