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Essential Free Software
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02-03-2005 4:42pmHere's a list of favourite free software for windows as submitted by boards users (see the unix forum for a similar thread). If you have software you think should be added to this list, PM me (Khannie), or one of the other mods and we'll edit this thread. Alternatively, post a request in the original thread.
Please do not attempt to reply to this thread. It's locked on purpose
3dMark - Benchmarking tools
7-Zip - compression software (very high compression ratio)
Acrobat Reader - For reading PDF files
Album cover art downloader - download album covers
Ad-Aware - Anti-spyware
AP Guitar Tuner
Apache - Worlds most popular http web server.
AudioGrabber - CD ripper / mp3 creator
Auto GK (Gordion Knot) - foolproof dvd to avi software
Autoruns - See what programs are configured to startup automatically when your system boots
Avast! Antivirus - Antivirus software
Avant - Avant web browser
AVG antivirus - Free antivirus prog
AVG Email scanner plugin for use with Mozilla Thunderbird. Setup instructions here.
Belarc advisor - a snapshot of your system details
BitDefender - Antivirus software
Bloodshed Dev-C++ - Free programming editor
CDBurner XP Pro - great replacement for Nero
CDex - For Ripping CD's (also converts to compressed formats (e.g. MP3))
ClamWin - AV software to use in conjunction with AVG
CPUZ - provides some information on your CPU
cygwin - a Linux-like environment for Windows
Daemon Tools - For mounting ISO (and other) images
Damn NFO Viewer - .nfo file viewer
DBan - securely wipe hard drives
Desktop Sidebar - provides lots of useful system / application information.
DeviantArt - Free wallpapers
DIKO - Free AVI to DVD converter
Diskeeper - Shareware defrag utility
DScaler - best video picture quality from TV card
DU Meter - Upload/Download speed for Internet
DVD Decrypter - needed for AutoGK, also handy for copying single layer dvds
DVD Shrink - DVD Ripping program. Can also burn if you have nero installed.
EAC - For those who demand the highest quality ripping their own music collection
EphPhod - manage your iPod
Eraser - securely wipe files or free space
Ethereal - Packet sniffer
Filezilla - FTP client and server software
FilZip - compression software
Firefox - web browser
FLAC - Lossless (i.e. perfect cd quality) music compression
Flash and shockwave players - For running flash and shockwave stuff inside your browser
Foobar2000 - Audio media player
Foxmail - Mail reader
Fraps - handy for taking screenshots of games and monitoring their performance
FreeReader - RSS and XML reader
G4u - Hard Disk cloning
Gimpshop - gimp with photoshop look and feel.
Godfather - MP3, Ogg, etc. tagging
GoogleBar - Google toolbar for Mozilla / Firefox
Gordion Knot - DVD backup software
GPGShell - Front endd to GPG
Hijackthis - lists all installed browser add-ons, other features
ID3-TagIT - manage your mp3 id3 tags
Incredimail - Email prog add-on (emoticons, etc.)
IrFanView - more graphics software
iso buster - Rescue lost files from a bad or trashed CD or DVD
isorecorder - Tool for burning iso files in XP
iTunes - Apple's itunes music player / purchasing tool
Java JRE - For running applets, or anything else java based.
JCreator LE - Free Java editor
K-Lite codec pack - every video and audio codec you could need (and media player classic)
Kerio Personal Firewall
Lavalys Everest - Gives you lots of system information (like sisoft sandra, but completely free)
Mame32 - Arcade machine emulator
MaxLister - allows you to create virtual images of harddrives, floppy disks, CD-ROMs or other removable media
Microsoft regclean - Cleans your registry. COuldn't find a microsoft.com link. This one is for download.com.
mIrc - IRC (chat) client24
Comments
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mp3tag tag your mp3s
Motherboard Monitor - Shows you lots of information from your motherboard...temperatures, voltage rails, etc.
NeoTrace Express - visual traceroute
NetStumbler - WiFi diagnostic software
NetTime - NTP client
Nlite - Allows you to customise the install CD for Windows, slipstream patches, drivers etc.
nmap - Network security tool
Object Dock - Customizable Taskbar like in AppleOS
Ogg Vorbis Codec - The new mp3 but free & apparently better (winamp plays ogg files)
OpenOffice.org - Microsoft office replacement
Opera - Web Browser
Outlook Express - Email tool. Nice for managing multiple hotmail accounts.
Password Safe - a password safe
PC Decrapifier - Remove crap off a new OEM PC
PC Inspector File recovery - file recovey, also other free tools on their site
PDF Creator
Plaxo - program for keeping your Outlook (and Outlook express) address book up to date
Portable apps - Suite of portable apps
Power Archiver - Compression utility
Powertab Editor - Best prog out there for tab editing/playback
Prime95 - Stress Tester to check stablility (also a distributed attempt at finding mersenne prime numbers)
Privacy Mantra - "cleans your computer from online and offline tracks"
proexp - Process Explorer - Alternative to task manager
PuTTY - SSH client
RBTray - allows you to minimise any program to the tray area.
Real Alternative - alternative to real player
Real VNC - An implementation of VNC. VNC allows you to control a computers desktop (or "x-windows" session) remotely.
Realplayer alternative
ReactOS - Free OS
Quicktime alternative
Restoration - recover deleted files (better known as rest2514)
Sam Spade - network query tool
SiSoft Sandra - Information Tool for Checking your CPU,BIOS etc.
Skype - VOIP application
SmartClock - Clock tool
Smart FTP - Free for non-commercial use
SpaceMonger - to see what's wasting space
SpyBot Seach and Destroy - Anti Spyware
SpywareGuard
SpywareBlaster
Stinger - McAfee anti virus prog
SUPERAntiSpyware
Switch Off - Put your PC on switch off timer.
Sysinternals apps - Various freeware apps available here
Teamspeak - Talk program. Useful for talking to mates, or gaming.
TestDisk recover lost partitions and/or make non-booting disks bootable again
The Gimp - graphics software
The Open CD - A cd full of open source software for windows.
Thunderbird - email client
TightVNC - VNC client
Total Commander - Windows Explorer replacement
Treesize - For working out whats taking up space on your system
Trillian - multi IM chat client
TrueCrypt - encryption software
TweakUI - Allows you to change your windows UI in lots of ways. Link is for XP version. Google for others, or search microsoft.com
Ultimate Boot CD - Self-burnable CD providing numerous diagnostic and recovery tools. USB compatible.
Various windows cusomisations
VirtualDub - Free video editing tool
virtualdubmod - Virtual Dub alternative. Video editing software.
VLC - Video Player with lots of codec support
Volo View Express - views autocad drawings
WinAmp - Excellent music player
Winbar
Winbond hardware doctor - a basic server hardware monitoring tool which alerts a system administrator if a hardware problem occurs on their SAI2 based server system
Windump - network sniffer
winhttrack - View websites offline
WinRar - (Shareware) Compression software
WinSCP - GUI based SCP client
Winzip - (Shareware) Compression software
WorkRave - RSI recovery software (break reminder with exercise suggestions)
XP Anti Spy - lets you disable some built-in update and authentication features in WindowsXP
Xvid Codec - Free video compressor codec
ZoneAlarm - Security suite0 -
Here's a list of favourite free software for windows as submitted by boards users (see the unix forum for a similar thread). If you have software you think should be added to this list, PM one of the mods and we'll edit this thread. Be aware that there are alse other commercial software that might suit your needs better.
Updated: 11/08/06 by irlrobins: Removed Deadlinks and made additions.
15/08/06 by irlrobins: Added Nlite
22/08/06 by irlrobins: Removed Peer to Peer links
23/10/07 by irlrobins: Added new progs
Thanks to Bedlam for the categorised version. Respect!
Anti Spyware
Ad-Aware - Anti-spyware
Hijackthis - lists all installed browser add-ons, other features
SpyBot Search and Destroy - Anti Spyware
XP Anti Spy - lets you disable some built-in update and authentication features in WindowsXP
MS Windows Defender
SUPERAntiSpyware
SpywareGuard
SpywareBlaster
Anti Virus
Avast! Antivirus - Antivirus software
AVG antivirus - Free antivirus prog
AVG Email scanner plugin for use with Mozilla Thunderbird.
BitDefender - Antivirus software
ClamWin - AV software to use in conjunction with AVG
Stinger - Small app to scan for most common viruses
Archivers (Compression tools)
7-Zip - compression software (very high compression ratio)
FilZip - compression software
Power Archiver - Compression utility
Audio
EphPhod - manage your iPod
Foobar2000 - Audio media player
CDex - For Ripping CD's (also converts to compressed formats (e.g. MP3))
EAC - For those who demand the highest quality ripping their own music collection
iTunes - Apple's itunes music player / purchasing tool
Godfather - MP3, Ogg, etc. tagging
FLAC - Lossless (i.e. perfect cd quality) music compression
ID3-TagIT - manage your mp3 id3 tags
AudioGrabber - CD ripper / mp3 creator
WinAmp - Excellent music player
Realplayer alternative
Quicktime alternative
Mp3tag tag your mp3s
album cover art downloader - download album covers
Backup
G4u - Hard Disk cloning
MaxLister - allows you to create virtual images of hard drives, floppy disks, CD-ROMs or other removable media
Browsers / RSS Readers
Firefox - web browser
FreeReader - RSS and XML reader
GoogleBar - Google toolbar for Mozilla / Firefox
Opera - Web Browser
Flash Flash plugin for browser
shockwave players - Shockwave Plugin for browser
winhttrack - View websites offline
Burners (CD/DVD)
CDBurner XP Pro - great replacement for Nero
isorecorder - Tool for burning iso files in XP
Chat
mIrc - IRC (chat) client
GAIM - Multi IM Chat Client
XChat - IRC Client for linux and windows
Trillian - multi IM chat client
Skype - VOIP application
Teamspeak - Talk program. Useful for talking to mates, or gaming.
Chatzilla - IRC Plugin for Firefox
Codecs
Xvid Codec - Free video compressor codec
Ogg Vorbis Codec - The new mp3 but free & apparently better (winamp plays ogg files)
K-Lite codec pack - every video and audio codec you could need (and media player classic)
Document Viewers / Creators
Acrobat Reader - For reading PDF files
Damn NFO Viewer - .nfo file viewer
Lavalys Everest - Gives you lots of system information (like sisoft sandra, but completely free)
OpenOffice.org - Microsoft office replacement
PDF Creator
Volo View Express - views autocad drawings
Email
Foxmail - Mail reader
Outlook Express - Email tool. Nice for managing multiple hotmail accounts.
Plaxo - program for keeping your Outlook (and Outlook express) address book up to date
Incredimail - Email prog add-on (emoticons, etc.)
Thunderbird - email client
File Recovery
iso buster - Rescue lost files from a bad or trashed CD or DVD
PC Inspector File recovery - file recovey, also other free tools on their site
TestDisk[/ur] recover lost partitions and/or make non-booting disks bootable again
Firewalls
Kerio Personal Firewall
ZoneAlarm - Security suite
Comodo
Sygate Personal Firewall - V5.6, no longer supported
Graphics
IrFanView - more graphics software
Gimpshop - gimp with photoshop look and feel.
Fraps - handy for taking screenshots of games and monitoring their performance
The Gimp - graphics software
Music
Powertab Editor - Best prog out there for tab editing/playback
AP Guitar Tuner
Networking
Apache - Worlds most popular http web server.
Ethereal - Packet sniffer
Filezilla - FTP client and server software
DU Meter - Upload/Download speed for Internet
nmap - Network security tool
PuTTY - SSH client
Real VNC - An implementation of VNC. VNC allows you to control a computers desktop remotely.
Smart FTP - Free for non-commercial use
NeoTrace Express - visual traceroute
NetStumbler - WiFi diagnostic software
WinSCP - GUI based SCP client
TightVNC - VNC client
Windump - network sniffer
Sam Spade - network query tool
UltraVNC - VNC
Operating System
ReactOS - Free OS0 -
Privacy
CCleaner - Cleans computer of temp files and browser history.
TOR - Tor can help you anonymize web browsing and publishing, instant messaging, IRC.
Privoxy - a web proxy with advanced filtering capabilities for protecting privacy, modifying web page content, managing cookies, controlling access, and removing ads
Privacy Mantra -Cleans your computer from online and offline tracks;
Programming
Bloodshed Dev-C++ - Free programming editor
JCreator LE - Free Java editor
Eclipse - Free Java IDE, but also useful for other languages
Netbeans - Free Java IDE
Security
DBan - securely wipe hard drives
Eraser - securely wipe files or free space
GPGShell - Front endd to GPG
Password Safe - a password safe
TrueCrypt - encryption software
System
Diskeeper - Shareware defrag utility
CPUZ - provides some information on your CPU
cygwin - a Linux-like environment for Windows
Daemon Tools - For mounting ISO (and other) images
Autoruns - See what programs are configured to startup automatically when your system boots
Belarc advisor - a snapshot of your system details
Desktop Sidebar - provides lots of useful system / application information.
Sysinternals apps - Various freeware apps available here
Motherboard Monitor - Shows you lots of information from your motherboard...temperatures, voltage rails, etc.
proexp - Process Explorer - Alternative to task manager
RBTray - allows you to minimise any program to the tray area.
Prime95 - Stress Tester to check stablility (also a distributed attempt at finding mersenne prime numbers)
Total Commander - Windows Explorer replacement
Treesize - For working out whats taking up space on your system
TweakUI - Allows you to change your windows UI in lots of ways. Link is for XP version. Google for others, or search microsoft.com
Various windows cusomisations
SiSoft Sandra - Information Tool for Checking your CPU,BIOS etc.
SpaceMonger - to see what's wasting space
Microsoft regclean - Cleans your registry. Couldn't find a microsoft.com link. This one is for download.com.
RegSeeker - Registry Cleaner
Winbar
Object Dock - Customizable Taskbar like in AppleOS
SlimCleaner - Combines the usual ccleaner/defrag apps with others. Has a handy duplicate file tool as well.
Speedfan - monitors voltages, fan speeds and temperatures in computers with hardware monitor chips
Time (NTP)
NetTime - NTP client
SmartClock - Clock tool
Video
DIKO - Free AVI to DVD converter
DVD Shrink - DVD Ripping program. Can also burn if you have nero installed.
Gordion Knot - DVD backup software
AnyDVD - Helps with DVD ripping (21 day trial period)
Auto GK (Gordion Knot) - foolproof dvd to avi software
VirtualDub - Free video editing tool
virtualdubmod - Virtual Dub alternative. Video editing software.
VLC - Video Player with lots of codec support
DScaler - best video picture quality from TV card
Miscellaneous
WorkRave - RSI recovery software (break reminder with exercise suggestions)
3dMark - Benchmarking tools
Mame32 - Arcade machine emulator
DeviantArt - Free wallpapers
Java JRE - For running applets, or anything else java based.
The Open CD - A cd full of open source software for windows.
NLite - Allows you to customise the install CD for Windows, slipstream patches, drivers etc.
Portable apps - Suite of portable apps
Ultimate Boot CD - Self-burnable CD providing numerous diagnostic and recovery tools. USB compatible.
PC Decrapifier - Remove crap off a new OEM PC0
This discussion has been closed.
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