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Best Free Software Downloads
These recommended downloads are free. I add an asterisk * to programs I have used, and ** if I still use it. Most can be used 'out of the box', but one or more are labelled with a Geek factor to warn you about programs that require reading instructions, setting options, or even creating batch programs before using. (A 'high' factor is based on clients over 10 years who would not have been able to use the program. RMMV)
| Category | Software Links | |
|---|---|---|
| Web Browsers | Firefox ** mozilla.com
- better security, tabs, addons (OS)
SeaMonkey mozilla.org - combines Firefox, Thunderbird, web page editor, web development tools, and an IRC chat client. (OS) Internet Explorer microsoft.com - Outlook Express mail Maxthon maxthon.com - shell for Internet Explorer, advanced features | |
| ||
| Mailreaders | Thunderbird ** mozilla.com
mail/news/RSS reader, optional addons (OS)
Eudora eudora.com Pegasus pmail.com PocoMail pocosystems.com - detect spam, filters Outlook Express microsoft.com (included with Windows) Microsoft Office microsoft.com "Personal Folders Backup" new command | |
| Newsreaders | Thunderbird ** mozilla.com
WinVN science.ksc.nasa.gov Free Agent * forteinc.com | |
| Feed readers | Windows:
FeedDemon
Awasu
Mac: Newsfire NetNewsWire Web: Bloglines My Yahoo ** Google Reader ** NewsGator Cell/PDA: Freenews Feedreader Other: NewsGator Sharpreader(.NET) | |
| Web Editors (FTP) | KompoZer
- kompozer.net
- WYSIWYG web page editor and publisher. (OS) Tutorial
[Replaces Nvu, no longer maintained] | |
| HTML-Kit - htmlkit.com - specialized HTML development environment with plugins For experienced coders. Internet Explorer required. | ||
| SeaMonkey Composer (Mozilla Composer) - mozilla.com/projects/seamonkey - WYSIWYG web editor part of a suite with browser, IRC Chat, Mail, Newsreader. (OS) | ||
| Amaya - Amaya - Web editor to create and update documents directly on the Web. Browsing integrated with editing. From the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) | ||
| NetObjects Fusion Essentials - netobjects.com/html/essentials.html - WYSIWYG web editor, built-in publishing, tutorials. Free version of NetObjects Fusion 11. | ||
| Firefox Extensions ** - addons.mozilla.com - allow you to create and test HTML with: EditorZilla, Codetch, HTML Validator, IE view | ||
| FTP & Testing | FireFTP ** - fireftp.mozdev.org - Firefox addon (OS) | |
| Filezilla * - sourceforge.net (OS) | ||
| FTP Explorer ftpx.com - just like Windows Explorer (Win9x/ME/2000/NT4) | ||
| Xenu Link Sleuth ** - home.snafu.de - Scan entire website and find bad links, creates report. (review) | ||
| Firewall protection | Comodo Firewall Pro * - personalfirewall.comodo.com - top-rated in 2008 Matousec Firewall Challenge (Geek factor: high) | |
| Online-Armor Free Online-Armor 2008 top-rated in 2008 Matousec Firewall Challenge | ||
| ZoneAlarm * - zonelabs.com - ZA Free - controls outgoing access to the Internet (Windows Firewall doesn't). Easy to use. | ||
| Outpost Firewall Free - free.agnitum.com - easier than Comodo, manual updates and ads in free version | ||
| Sygate - sygate.com | ||
| Anti-Virus & Anti-malware | ||
| Avira AntiVir * free-av.com - auto-updating | AVG Free * - free.avg.com - auto-updating anti-virus (nag screen) | |
| ClamWin - clamwin.com - auto-updates (OS) | ||
| F-Secure Blacklight * - f-secure.com - rootkit monitor | ||
| Microsoft Security Essentials microsoft.com/Security_Essentials - real-time monitor uses few computer resources | ||
| Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware * - malwarebytes.org - (top-rated by WindowsSecrets.com) | ||
| Spybot Search & Destroy * - Spybot.info - scanner | ||
| SpywareBlaster * - javacoolsoftware.com - scanner | ||
| SuperAntispyware * - superantispyware.com - on-demand test only in free version | ||
| Trend Micro RUBotted * - trendsecure.com - monitors for Bot infection. | ||
| Computer Security | Microsoft Security updates ** - microsoft.com - free updates to Windows XP, MS-Office, etc. Use the "notify only" mode. LONG updates can be very annoying. | |
| Secunia Personal Software Inspector ** - secunia.com - scans your software for security upgrades. Online tester! (Geek factor: medium) | ||
| LastPass Password Manager * - lastpass.com - securely stores passwords - you remember one password. (Firefox addon "LastPass" fills web forms) (Geek factor: medium) | ||
| Drop My Rights * - msdn2.microsoft.com... - drop administrative privileges while running Internet applications in an "ADMIN" account | ||
| fSekrit ** - f0dder.dcmembers.com - creates stand-alone encrypted text files. Can be stored and read anywhere with complete safety. (Geek factor: medium) | ||
| Spector Pro - spectorsoft.com/products/spectorpro_windows/ - monitors/controls your childrens' online usage (chat, IMs, emails, websites, Facebook/MySpace, searches) | ||
| Startup Control (Boot-Time) | StartUpMonitor ** - mlin.net - asks before installing startup applications | |
| Autoruns ** - technet.microsoft.com - manages existing startup applications | ||
| Start-up List ** - pacs-portal.co.uk - comprehensive list of startup programs (updated frequently) | ||
| Utilities | 7-Zip ** - 7-zip.org - packs 7z, zip, tar; unpacks gzip, rar, cab, iso, arj, lzh. Supports 256-bit encryption (OS) | |
| CCleaner ** - filehippo.com/download_ccleaner - comprehensive system cleaner: deletes unused or unneeded files in the computer, the Registry, and Windows Startup applications. (Geek factor: medium) | ||
| EASEUS Partition Master ** - partition-tool.com/personal.htm - Free program to change hard drive partitions. | ||
| MyDefrag ** - mydefrag.com - disk defragment and optimizing utility for Windows 2000, 2003, XP, Vista, Win7, X64 (also portable) Replaces JkDefrag | ||
| RoboCopy GUI technet.microsoft.com - copy folder/files to another location. Based on RoboCopy, included in Vista/Win7. (Geek factor: medium) | ||
| WinBubbles for Win7/Vista (similar to TweakUI/XP) windowsforus.com - Change Windows settings safely. (Geek factor: medium) | ||
| 1. WipeDisk - gaijin.at - Securely erases a hard drive or partition before donating computers. (Windows 2000, 2003, XP, Vista - no installation) Use to delete only certain files. | ||
| 2. Free Eraser - mareew.com guarantees to erase files completely so they cannot be restored (Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, 2003 Server, Vista) | ||
| UltimateBootCD.com - ultimatebootcd.com - diagnostics and utilities designed for floppy disk are written to a CD. | ||
| DiskCheckup - passmark.com - monitors SMART attributes of an internal disk drive to predict disk reliability. Can send email notification. (Win XP - 7) | ||
| Windows Installer CleanUp Utility - download.cnet.com - cleanup remnants of an incomplete installation. (Removes entries in Windows Registry) | ||
| WizMouse 1.0.0.5 [561 Kb] - antibody-software.com - Solves mouse scrolling problems in Windows Vista/7. Mouse wheel will scroll anywhere under the mouse. | ||
| FileMenu Tools - www.lopesoft.com Set of tools including enable/disable "Context Menu" commands (XP/Vista/7) | ||
| File Types Manager nirsoft.net/utils/file_types_manager.html - change default icons for file extensions (Geek factor: high) | ||
| Java Run-time software - java.com - uninstall old versions before upgrading. Version test | ||
| Ashampoo Burning Studio Free - download.cnet.com - Multi-disc file backup/restore. Rip audio CDs. Create audio, data, ISO, MP3, video DVD, VCD, S-VCD discs, etc. | ||
| Agent Ransack - mythicsoft.com/agentransack - file name search, search file contents, regex option (review) | ||
| Search Everything - voidtools.com - file name search takes a few seconds even on large drives. | ||
| Wizmo - grc.com - create icons to shutdown, standby, reboot, hibernate your computer, start screensaver, mute sound, blank screen, etc. (review) | ||
|
Win-XP Utilities |
TweakUI for XP (Windows XP Powertoy) - microsoft.com/windowsxp - changes Windows settings safely. Supplied on Win98 disk Tools\Reskit\Powertoy folder. (Geek factor: medium) | |
| X-Setup Pro - x-setup.net - Windows (95,XP,Vista) system configuration, hundreds of tweaking options, easy restore. Download & Reg.key majorgeeks.com. | ||
| Windows XP Recovery Console - support.microsoft.com/kb/314058 - how to use this on your Install CD (since you are reading this from another computer) | ||
| Xxcopy xxcopy.com - copy or syncronize files in Win98/WinXP only. Command line for batch programs. (Geek factor: high) | ||
| Office Software | Open Office - openoffice.org - office suite for all major platforms except Mac OS X (OS) You can also try online office documents. | |
| SoftMaker Office 2008 - mydigitallife.info - office suite with free licence key. Opens MS-word, Excel, OpenDocument, RTF. | ||
| Gnome Office - gnome.org - free office suite includes Abiword, OpenCalc (OS) | ||
| Foxit Reader ** - foxitsoftware.com - PDF document reader | ||
| Microsoft Office document viewers (microsoft.com/downloads)
Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack (microsoft.com/downloads) - get new Word/Excel/PowerPoint fonts. Office software is not required. | ||
| Google Docs (cloud apps) - docs.google.com - create documents online (free) | ||
| DropBox (cloud storage, sync across computers) - dropbox.com - backup, share and sync documents online (2GB free storage) | ||
| Notetab - notetab.com - ultimate text editor, tabbed files, options for programmers & HTML, clip libraries. (review) | ||
| Skype VOIP client - skype.com - Phone from your computer to another computer running Skype for free or buy service for calling phone numbers (review) | ||
| Photos | Picasa - picasa.google.com - organize photos. Helps locate, edit and share photos. | |
| Windows Live Photo Gallery - gimp.org - graphics editor for Win/Mac/Linux. Replaces Photoshop with tweaks at smashingmagazine.com/... | ||
| Image Resizer - reduce photos for emailing: Win XP Resizer - Windows 7/Vista Resizer clone | ||
| Irfanview Viewer - irfanview.com - viewer for photos, images, documents, multimedia (addons). Basic image editing/conversion. (review) | ||
| Audio Video | Audacity - audacity.sourceforge.net - Sound Editor (OS) | QuickTime Alternative - free-codecs.com - Plays Quicktime movies in websites (OS) | VLC media player - videolan.org/vlc - Plays and converts most audio and video formats |
| Portable Apps | 7-Zip Portable - portableapps.com - zip & archive utility | |
| Autoruns - technet.microsoft.com - manages startup applications | ||
| JkDefrag * - jkdefrag.en.softonic.com - disk defragment. !Replaced by MyDefrag! | ||
| LifeHacker.com: - thumbdrive apps - portable apps | ||
| Minimo - mozilla.org/projects/minimo - web browser for mobile devices (OS) | ||
| OperaTor - archetwist.com/en/opera/operator - portable software to browse the web anonymously using Opera Browser, Tor and Polipo. | ||
| PortableApps.com - Portableapps.com - Mozilla Firefox Portable - Mozilla Thunderbird Portable (OS) | ||
| Pstart - pegtop.net/start - Start menu for portable apps is drive letter independent | ||
| Portable ClamWin - portableapps.com - anti-virus (OS) | ||
| Portable "Open Office" suite - sourceforge.net | portableapps.com (OS) |
* is displayed beside programs I have used. ** denotes a program I STILL use.
Geek factor: {low/medium/high} warns about programs that require a little extra work and expertise to use properly.
(OS) stands for Open Source software.
Most of these programs are free. Our Search engines can help you find more.
