Best FREE Software

[[email protected]]

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

[Tyler E]

You forgot Spybot Search and Destroy
http://www.safer-networking.org/index2.html

[Drummer101]

Opera

avast

[Rancit]

http://www.winxpu.info/

[Mazeura]

There's a slight problem concerning XP Ultimate, since it is a project that someone is working on, and all that he is doing is taking windows XP and modifying it, I'm not 100% sure that it is legal.
I've used it before for a little while, and it was cool, I'm just not sure about how legal it is or isn't.

[Rancit]

i wouldnt think its legal unless you got cd keys for one or more of the os used, i still havent tried it yet, but i dont think ill use vista for a while, its just not good for gaming ><

[Jassper]

..., but i dont think ill use vista for a while, its just not good for gaming ><

I have had no issues with it. In fact, some games run better on Vista than they did in XP.

[dwoodward]

All of my games with the exception of some ancient games run better with vista.

[brucereid]

Saves me time, I did not want to load my new PC with pirated software and was looking for the free versions that are of utility, this list is going to solve the purpose of mine. The only problem is I want a good spyware software and the best ones come at a hefty price. Spybot as I heard is good but does not manage to deal complicated problems. At least that is what I have heard. Would love to hear more from u all.

[Zatara214]

Saves me time, I did not want to load my new PC with pirated software and was looking for the free versions that are of utility, this list is going to solve the purpose of mine. The only problem is I want a good spyware software and the best ones come at a hefty price. Spybot as I heard is good but does not manage to deal complicated problems. At least that is what I have heard. Would love to hear more from u all.

AVG Free will protect you from all of the most dangerous stuff. As for pop-ups and whatnot, go with Ad-Aware, it's what I've been using forever. Spybot just doesn't do it for me.

[sheaiiimef]

www.wincustomize.com

This offers many programs to enhance your computer look and experience.

Plus, stay off the porn websites and most of the problems with viruses and spyware go away.

[Zatara214]

Plus, stay off the porn websites and most of the problems with viruses and spyware go away.

Speaking from experience lol

[sheaiiimef]

Yup, I had this friend...........

[Zatara214]

Yup, I had this friend...........

This one time in band camp?......

[robamb2002]

https://www.xoticpcforums.com/node/1906

Smart Defrag

Just a little organization here, this is a free defrag program that has shown its worth to many in the XoticPC community.(powerpack pointed it out and it even convinced Justin to switch over )