| ESSENTIAL (FREE) WINDOWS TOOLS |
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Most Windows experts have their own personal toolbox of utilities and programs to fix up or add functionality to the PCs that they work on or support. Over the years these tools have migrated from floppy disks to CDs to flash drives and now to web sites. This list is my own personal reference of the most effective freeware programs that perform certain functions along with a plain English description of my assessment of each tool.
If you have any suggestions or comments, you can reach me here.
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| Web browser: Firefox |
This web browser features real anti-spyware security, pop-up blocking, password and form fill out features that actually work, and dozens of features which Internet Explorer simply lacks. Also check the list of recommended upgrades for additional features such as Adblock Plus.
Privacy addons: NoScript, FlashBlock, QuickJava, CookieCutter, RefControl, Tor |
| Web browser: Opera (dn) |
This web browser is similar to Firefox except includes lighting fast browsing and even more features such as mouse gestures, automatic next page processing, zoom features, and a built in bittorrent client. |
| Spyware prevention: IE-SpyAd (dn) |
For those still using Internet Explorer, this application preform a similar function to the browsers above by simply restricting all known spyware sites from loading anything on your computer to begin with. Much more effective than any spyware removal tool. Note that these web sites will continue to load, but will be restricted from running ActiveX controls, Java applets and other scripts, or use cookies. |
| Spyware Removal: HijackThis (dn) |
The primary tool for detecting and removing unwanted programs and spyware. This is an expert's tool and will show all programs that start up with the computer including essential program files. Consult with experts on a forum such as this, or this, or this, or this one if you need free professional help. WinSock XP Fix is also useful were for repairing damaged Internet connectivity problems after certain spy ware is removed. |
| Spyware Scanner: Spyware Terminator (dn) |
Spyware Terminator includes free resident background protection for known and unknown spyware and malware. Free background updates can be configured, and it includes a toolbar/active website scanning. |
| Processes Scanner |
Scans all running Windows processes and programs and produces a report against the process library database. Can identify every single program running in the background of Windows and show what each process does and if it is safe or not. |
| Isolation: Sandboxie |
Runs any program in a completely isolated "sandbox" preventing any data writes to the registry or to any files on your hard drive by isolating that program with full read access. Fantastic for Web browsers or testing unknown software. The modified files can be either written to the hard drive or deleted afterwards. |
| Rootkit Scanner: AVG Anti-Rootkit |
Automated Rootkit Scanner - quickly scans for known rootkits. Panda Anti-Rootkit is another good alternative. |
| Advanced Spyware Detection: RootkitRevealer (dn) |
Detects discrepancies between the Windows API, registry, and raw filesystem data. Results may be benign or may indicate spyware or viruses are hiding their presence from system detection tools. Read all resources especially "Interpreting the Output" before running this tool. Expert use only. |
| Advertising Blocking: MVPS (dn) |
By replacing your Windows hosts file with this 95% of all Internet advertising is completely blocked. Different versions of Windows store the hosts file in different locations so read directions before downloading. With this tool almost all obtrusive cookies are blocked as well. (if you use Firefox, do not install this product. Use AdBlocker Plus instead)
Warning - may slow down boot up time. To resolve in Windows XP, go to start, settings, control panel, administration tools, services. Double Click DNS client, and change automatic to manual. |
| Antivirus: Avast (dn) (reg) |
Fully featured virus scanner with background protection and free invisible background updates. Free home version requires registration once a year. Filters and checks memory, all executed programs, e-mail, instant messages, network access, and also create a virus recovery database that makes it possible to restore virus corrupted files back to their original states.
May interfere with certain spam filters and bittorrent clients, solvable by disabling or modifying P2P / E-mail shields. If you turn off "test memory during application startup," found by right clicking and going to program settings, this program will perform lightning fast on older machines. |
| Antivirus: AVG |
AVG has improved significantly from previous versions in all aspects. It is similarly completely free like Avast but does not require yearly reregistration. Has somewhat fewer protection services then Avast and the update mechanism breaks frequently for some types of users. Somewhat slows down older machines - use Avast instead if you experience any performance hits. |
| Online Scan: Trend Micro Housecall |
Java-based online virus scanner which can scan individual files or your whole computer. No substitute for a background memory resident antivirus guard such as Avast or AVG. |
| Single File Scan: Jotti |
Scan a single file with 16 different Virus/Trojan/Malware programs. Very effective for checking suspicious downloads. |
| Office: OpenOffice (dn) |
Freeware replacement for Microsoft Office (100 MB download) with full support for all Microsoft office formatted files. Familiar interface, includes replacements for Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and Publisher. |
| Cleanup: CCleaner (dn) |
Erase all unnecessary files and registry entries. Free up hard drive space, make your computer run faster, and keep your privacy. Very fast and very thorough. Cleans out quite a few program histories and caches as well, not just Windows. MAKE SURE you uncheck the installation option for the yahoo browser |
| Graphics Editing: GIMP (dn) |
The GNU Image Manipulation Program is an excellent freeware graphics editor with features for retouching photographs and creating images. A simple icon driven interface is surprisingly clock full of features. Download first the runtime environment for your version of Windows, and then download the installer. |
| 3D Graphics: Blender |
3D Graphics editing, animation, rendering. |
| E-Mail Service: Gmail |
Google Mail provides very simple to access webmail that can be also retrieved from clients such as Outlook Express and Thunderlink. Requires a mobile phone to sign up for the service, but features 2 GB of storage and your e-mail address will never again change when switching to another Internet service provider. |
| E-mail: Thunderbird |
Simple secure e-maill client which protects against most viruses, phishing schemes, and can use advanced spam filtering. |
| E-Mail Notification: ePrompter (dn) |
Taskbar icon e-mail notification program which will show you at a glance unread messages in any number of e-mail accounts. Features sound notification and can also reply, forward, and compose new messages without loading on a separate e-mail program. |
Spam Filtering: spampal (dn)
Outlook/Outlook Express: Spamfighter (dn) |
Filters spam based on actual logged spam lists instead of unreliable Bayesian filtering that must be trained over time. Can be difficult to configure for most e-mail programs, easier to integrate into Thunderbird which has direct support for it. No spam filter is perfect, and many good alternative ones exist, using many different methods with varying degrees of success. Do not attempt to set up this program unless you are very comfortable with computers and have lots of time to tweak and customize it.
Spamfighter works great for Outlook and Outlook Express users. No disabled features except for a tagline added to all outgoing messages unless you register it for $20 a year. |
| Spam Reporting: Spamcop |
Spammers have gotten intelligent. Reduce the spam you receive by reporting it and being added to the spammers own blacklist. . It is recommended to go to reporting preferences and change "Spam Munging" to "Leave spam copies intact," however spammers are still able to decode your e-mail address even if you do not change this setting. |
| Backup: Mozy |
Mozy provides 2 GB of online backup storage space was an intelligent backup software package which can selectively backup your critical data files, remind you when they need to be backed up, and easily recover selective files when you need them. |
| File Compression: 7-zip (dn) |
Simple interface with no ads and no clutter, support for extracting just about all known formats. |
| Compression and conversion: IZArc (dn) |
Supports all major archive formats and also supports creating, converting, and extracting CD image formats. |
| PDF Reader: Foxit Reader (dn) |
Adobe Acrobat reader is a standard download for most users who run into PDF documents from time to time. Unfortunately the Adobe reader is bloatware of the worst type, takes forever to download and even longer to load PDF files. This alternative is free, incredibly fast and feature field, and less then one tenth the size. |
| PDF Creation: PrimoPDF |
Runs as a print driver, can create PDF files from just about all applications. |
| Registry Backup: ERUNT (dn) |
When Windows crashes most of the time it is simply due to a corrupt registry and nothing else. Windows XP does not back up your registry except with the clumsy and infrequently run system restore feature. This program will backup your registry daily, make system restore superfluous, almost completely remove the necessity to ever reinstall Windows, and if Windows is restored, prevents the necessity of reinstalling most programs. Must be set up to backup the registry before problems occur, not after. Runs quickly and invisibly once a day at every boot up. |
| Firewall: Comodo (dn) |
A good, free firewall is essential for maintaining security against spyware and hacks attempting to connect your machine through your network or a tempting to transmit personal data from your machine elsewhere. A good hardware firewall implemented in a modern router can be a moderately good substitute for preventing dangerous inbound connections, but nothing can replace a good customizable firewall that can be configured to allow good applications to pass and stop everything else both inbound and outbound. This is absolutely essential if you plan to install a lot of programs from the Internet on your machine (which may contain backdoors) or you keep valuable information on your machine which you do not want to get out under any circumstance. Note that firewall programs are responsible for many connectivity problems and should be set up by experts. Often internal network filesharing or network printing will simply be blocked without any prompting at all. |
| Firewall: Ghostwall (dn) |
GhostWall is an extremely simple and low latency firewall which doesn't slow downor impact online games. 64-bit compatible, simple rule-based restrictions and completely devoid of pop-ups. |
| TCP optimizer |
Optimize your Internet broadband speed (advanced users) |
| DNS lookups: OpenDNS |
OpenDNS replaces your normal Internet service provider's name server lookup feature with one which is slightly to significantly faster. Web sites load quicker, simple spelling mistakes in your web browser's address bar are corrected automatically, and phishing site notifications are made. Requires absolutely no software installation.
The web link provides step-by-step instructions on how to change your machine's DNS servers. (208.67.222.222, 208.67.220.220) |
| Text Readability: ClearType |
Most people do not have perfect vision and can not read text on the computer screen as easily as they could read a book. As an incredible as it seems, this simple utility can customize the Windows screen font to drastically improve text readability for virtually everyone. Also perfect for those who sit back from their monitor or use high resolution screen sizes. One of the Microsoft Power Toys. |
| FTP: Filezilla |
Excellent software for transferring files to FTP servers. |
| Weather: Weatherbug (dn) |
Free constant temperature and weather updates on your taskbar plus weather alerts. Adware supported and survey pushing but does not strictly qualify as spyware except for being difficult to uninstall in its entirety (browser toolbar) |
| Microsoft Office Update |
(ONLY WORKS IN INTERNET EXPLORER) Similar to Windows Update, this useful web site detects and find all patches available for your particular collection of Microsoft Office products and lets you download and install them automatically. Requires the original office CDs for almost all updates and requires plenty of reboots, but virtually no office users seem to know this web site. Needless to say, you should always try to keep all drivers current by searching the manufacturers web sites such as Creative Labs updates. |
| Virtual CDs: PowerISO (dn) |
PowerISO is a combination of two programs, a free and very powerful virtual drive manager which can mount up to eight virtual CDs or DVDs. The ISO creation program is crippled to 300 megs or less. To create image files, use ISO Recorder or any modern CD/DVD recording software.. |
| Create ISO Files: ISO recorder |
Freeware ISO file creator which integrates directly into the Windows shell. Right-click on a CD-ROM, DVD, or collection of files to create an ISO image. |
| Codecs: K-Lite Pack (dn) |
Collection of the most common video and audio codecs necessary to play 99% of the material available on the Internet. Frequently updated. (standard or full version recommended) |
| Real Alternative |
Play Realaudio files without the bloatwere and adware. |
| Quicktime Alternative |
Play QuickTime audio files without the bugs and nagging of Apple's player. |
| Audio Editing: Audacity |
Audio recording/editing/splicing/conversion |
| Remote Contol: TightVNC (dn) |
Free open-source remote control software. Often requires router and firewall configuration at the host side. |
| Videophone: SightSpeed (dn) (reg) |
A very nicely featured free Web cam software package for handling videophone calls. To set up this program, see this site for enabling port forwarding on your router. |
| Street Maps: Google Maps |
Excellent street details, scrolling features, terrain details, and very fast. |
| Alarms: Clock |
Set multiple alarms to deliver messages, play sounds, or execute programs at certain times. Also features a snooze button and can also set daily alarms and repeated countdown alarms. |
| File Conversion: Zamzar |
Free online file conversion capable of converting just about every document/ image/ music/ video format from one type to another. Converted file is e-mailed to your e-mail address directly. Not very feasible for multiple files. |
| Music Conversion: dbPowerAMP |
Free music conversion program was no ad ware, pop-ups, or limitations. Download codecs for additional formats you wish to use. |
| Hex Editing: xvi32 (dn) |
Incredibly powerful free hex editor with incredibly useful features such as wildcard searches and character substitutions. |
| Notepad: Notepad++ (dn) |
An invaluable tool for both programmers and non-programmers alike, Notepad plus offers tabbed file viewing, persistent files (great for to do lists or notes), syntax highlighting, macros, bookmarks, and much more. Also make sure to check out the many plug-ins. |
| Undelete: Recuva (dn) |
Scans for and "recovers" deleted files already removed from the recycle bin or erased by viruses. Works on all storage devices including memory cards. |
| File Migration: Ycopy (dn) |
Copies large collections of files without ever pausing or canceling. If any errors or corrupt files occurs, it makes note of them for you and continues. |
| Windows PowerToys |
Numerous free and invaluable tweaks for windows. |
| XP Registry tweaks |
Fixes, modifications, utilities, and cosmetic enhancements to Windows XP |
| Snaptools |
Another huge indexed collection of freeware on the Internet. |
| XCopy32 |
An older and somewhat outdated (2004) but huge collection of extremely useful tools |
| Sysinternals |
Collection of extremely powerful windows tools for debugging. |