Firefox. If you haven't heard about this web browser, then you seriously need to go out more
http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/
Thunderbird. Also created by the Mozilla foundation, this app is to MS Outlook what Firefox is to IE. It may not be as strong in PIM or calendar related tasks
http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/
Avast! Home Edition. Free Antivirus Software, at least for home users. There are many free antivirus programs out there
http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html
Ad-Aware Personal. Nice companion to antivirus software, will keep your PC clean as a whistle.
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
Crap-Cleaner. Nice app, not so nice name. Since you decided to go the Windows way, you will also need something to keep your registry error-free and improve system performance.
http://www.ccleaner.com/
CutePDF Writer. It's cute, and it writes PDFs. Will install as a printer, so you can create PDF from any application with printing capabilities. Requires download of Ghostscript (also free) to work.
CutePDF Writer: http://www.cutepdf.com/Products/CutePDF/writer.asp
Ghostscript: http://www.cutepdf.com/download/converter.exe
Zero Assumption Digital Image Recovery. Those images you accidentally erased from your digicam may still be there. Find out with this program.
http://www.z-a-recovery.com/digital-image-recovery.htm
The Gimp."Bring out the gimp". Powerful photo editing program, albeit with a steep learning curve.
http://www.gimp.org/
Open Office. This can replace MS-Office. http://www.openoffice.org/
Google Earth.
http://earth.google.com/
VideoLAN. Although chances are you already have DVD playback software
http://www.videolan.org/
DVD Decrypter – Rip almost any DVD and can burn them as well.
http://www.afterdawn.com/software/vi..._decrypter.cfm
DVD Identifier – Find out who makes your blank DVD to see if they are any good.
http://dvd.identifier.cdfreaks.com/
DVD Shrink – Shrink almost any DVD.
http://www.afterdawn.com/software/vi...dvd_shrink.cfm
Cheetah Audio Converter – Unlike most converters it does .wma at no cost.
http://www.cheetahburner.com/
Exact Audio Copy – High quality CD ripper.
http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/
Quintessential Player – Good audio player. All kinds of options and skins.
http://www.quinnware.com/
Ifranview – Very nice photo viewer. Can do some basic basic photo editing. Also has command line options and plug-ins.
http://www.irfanview.com/
AVG Free – Another good free virus software. Don’t have to register like Avast.
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1
ZoneAlarm – Free version is good and much better than XP’s firewall.
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/conten...eeDownload.jsp
Real Alternative –
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/...lternative.htm
CDBurnerXP - Does the basic stuff well like making Audio and Data CDs, and Data DVDs.
http://www.cdburnerxp.se/
CPU-Z – Gives info on CPU, memory and mainboard.
http://www.cpuid.org/cpuz.php
Everest – Find out what hardware in on your laptop.
http://www.lavalys.com/products/over...?pid=1&lang=en
HD Tune – Great hard drive utility.
http://www.hdtune.com/
Notebook Hardware Control – Controls laptop hardware.
http://www.pbus-167.com/chc.htm
Dead Pixel Buddy – See if you notebook or LCD has any dead or stuck pixels.
http://www.laptopshowcase.co.uk/downloads.php?id=1
RegScrubXP – Keep that registry free of defects.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=2048
MSConfig – Turn off all unwated programs from starting with windows.
Start>Run>MSConfig
Password Corral Great Password Manager
http://www.cygnusproductions.com/freeware/pc.asp
This topic has come up a few times on what to use or what to do if a Dead Pixel shows up. Here are a few sites to reference:
http://www.wikihow.com/Fix-a-Stuck-P...an-LCD-Monitor
http://udpix.free.fr/
http://killdeadpixel.com/
http://www.dataproductservices.com/dpt
http://www.jscreenfix.com/basic.php (Jscreen Basic)
http://www.jscreenfix.com/purchase.p...2b3b8cab08b116 (Jscreen Deluxe)
Retrieve your Windows Product Key with Jelly Bean http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/
or Belarc http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html
http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/
Thunderbird. Also created by the Mozilla foundation, this app is to MS Outlook what Firefox is to IE. It may not be as strong in PIM or calendar related tasks
http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/
Avast! Home Edition. Free Antivirus Software, at least for home users. There are many free antivirus programs out there
http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html
Ad-Aware Personal. Nice companion to antivirus software, will keep your PC clean as a whistle.
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
Crap-Cleaner. Nice app, not so nice name. Since you decided to go the Windows way, you will also need something to keep your registry error-free and improve system performance.
http://www.ccleaner.com/
CutePDF Writer. It's cute, and it writes PDFs. Will install as a printer, so you can create PDF from any application with printing capabilities. Requires download of Ghostscript (also free) to work.
CutePDF Writer: http://www.cutepdf.com/Products/CutePDF/writer.asp
Ghostscript: http://www.cutepdf.com/download/converter.exe
Zero Assumption Digital Image Recovery. Those images you accidentally erased from your digicam may still be there. Find out with this program.
http://www.z-a-recovery.com/digital-image-recovery.htm
The Gimp."Bring out the gimp". Powerful photo editing program, albeit with a steep learning curve.
http://www.gimp.org/
Open Office. This can replace MS-Office. http://www.openoffice.org/
Google Earth.
http://earth.google.com/
VideoLAN. Although chances are you already have DVD playback software
http://www.videolan.org/
DVD Decrypter – Rip almost any DVD and can burn them as well.
http://www.afterdawn.com/software/vi..._decrypter.cfm
DVD Identifier – Find out who makes your blank DVD to see if they are any good.
http://dvd.identifier.cdfreaks.com/
DVD Shrink – Shrink almost any DVD.
http://www.afterdawn.com/software/vi...dvd_shrink.cfm
Cheetah Audio Converter – Unlike most converters it does .wma at no cost.
http://www.cheetahburner.com/
Exact Audio Copy – High quality CD ripper.
http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/
Quintessential Player – Good audio player. All kinds of options and skins.
http://www.quinnware.com/
Ifranview – Very nice photo viewer. Can do some basic basic photo editing. Also has command line options and plug-ins.
http://www.irfanview.com/
AVG Free – Another good free virus software. Don’t have to register like Avast.
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1
ZoneAlarm – Free version is good and much better than XP’s firewall.
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/conten...eeDownload.jsp
Real Alternative –
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/...lternative.htm
CDBurnerXP - Does the basic stuff well like making Audio and Data CDs, and Data DVDs.
http://www.cdburnerxp.se/
CPU-Z – Gives info on CPU, memory and mainboard.
http://www.cpuid.org/cpuz.php
Everest – Find out what hardware in on your laptop.
http://www.lavalys.com/products/over...?pid=1&lang=en
HD Tune – Great hard drive utility.
http://www.hdtune.com/
Notebook Hardware Control – Controls laptop hardware.
http://www.pbus-167.com/chc.htm
Dead Pixel Buddy – See if you notebook or LCD has any dead or stuck pixels.
http://www.laptopshowcase.co.uk/downloads.php?id=1
RegScrubXP – Keep that registry free of defects.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=2048
MSConfig – Turn off all unwated programs from starting with windows.
Start>Run>MSConfig
Password Corral Great Password Manager
http://www.cygnusproductions.com/freeware/pc.asp
This topic has come up a few times on what to use or what to do if a Dead Pixel shows up. Here are a few sites to reference:
http://www.wikihow.com/Fix-a-Stuck-P...an-LCD-Monitor
http://udpix.free.fr/
http://killdeadpixel.com/
http://www.dataproductservices.com/dpt
http://www.jscreenfix.com/basic.php (Jscreen Basic)
http://www.jscreenfix.com/purchase.p...2b3b8cab08b116 (Jscreen Deluxe)
Retrieve your Windows Product Key with Jelly Bean http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/
or Belarc http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html
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