Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi all,
Vanilla are planning an update to the site on April 24th (next Wednesday). It is a major PHP8 update which is expected to boost performance across the site. The site will be down from 7pm and it is expected to take about an hour to complete. We appreciate your patience during the update.
Thanks all.

Essential Free Software

  • 02-03-2005 4:42pm
    #1
    Khannie
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 37,485 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    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 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) client


Comments

This discussion has been closed.
Advertisement