Ribbon Disabler Permanently Removes the Explorer Ribbon in Windows 8 [Windows Downloads]

 Windows: The ribbon is probably one of the most highly polarizing UI decisions Microsoft has ever made (well, that and the start screen), and whether you love it or hate it, one great thing about the Windows 8 Consumer Preview is that people are already working on tools to tweak the upcoming OS so it works better for them. Ribbon Disabler, a free utility that permanently removes the ribbon from all Explorer windows, is one of those tools.

This is one of those utilities that's aimed at the person who really really hates the Explorer ribbon. It's a simple, portable app that doesn't require an installation, and when you run it you can either remove the ribbon from all Explorer windows, or restore it if you've decided you want to give it another try. Windows 8 by default allows you to show, hide, and customize the ribbon, so if you're not sure whether you like it or not, or think you could get used to it, I wouldn't suggest going all out and removing it with this tool. If you hate the ribbon, have always hated the ribbon, and blame the ribbon for the fall of modern society, it's worth a download.

How do you feel about the ribbon, either in Windows 8 or in other products, like Microsoft Office? Let us know in the comments below.

How to Permanently Delete your Mac Files

Emptying the trash is not enough. Learn how you can permanently erase the deleted files from your Mac hard disk.

When you delete a file on your Mac, it goes to the trash. You empty the trash thinking that all traces of your private files are now completely erased from the Mac’s hard disk but that may not be the case.

Files deleted from the trash in this manner can still be recovered unless the sectors are overwritten by other files. There’s an easy way though. If you would like to permanently remove your deleted files, just remember to use the “secure” option while emptying the trash.

Here’s how. Click and hold the trash icon on your Mac desktop and it will display the “Empty Trash” option. Now press the Command button and the Empty Trash option will change to Secure Empty Trash. Select it and the trashed files will be gone forever.

The concept is similar in Windows though there’s no built-in option in Windows to permanently delete “deleted” files. You can however make use of the free SDelete utility to ensure that deleted files cannot be recovered again.

Emptying the trash, or the recycle bin in Windows, is not enough.

How to Permanently Delete Files from DropboxDelete Files Permanently from your ComputerPrint Files on an Remote Mac via DropboxHow to Open Outlook .MSG Files on a MacDelete Unused Files with Auto DeleteAmit Agarwal is a personal technology columnist at WSJ India, author and founder of Digital Inspiration, a widely-read tech and how-to blog. Send him an email at amit@labnol.org.

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