This is a list of "Free" MS Windows software "apps" that I have been known to use at various times, for various tasks.
Some software listed is not specific to MS Windows (Cloud-Based and Multi-Platform (including Mac OS, Linux, etc.).
While this page is specifically intended to be for the MS Windows OS, many of these programs are "Cross Platform", which is to say that they will run on other Operating Systems such as: Linux, Mac OS, and possibly various handheld devices such as the Android OS.
The programs in this list are excellent for General Use (productivity), Maintenance, and even "Repair". This is all fairly basic stuff... even though some of it may look very advanced.
Be sure to check that what you are using matches your Win OS version (Vista, Win-7, Win-8, etc.).
Verify Which Win-OS Version you are using Here.
USER BEWARE!
Be sure to read the fine print. (RTFM)
Be careful what you click on!
And always remember that:
"The Large Print Giveth... and the small print taketh away."
Most of these are "Free"... but is anything ever really free?
TANSTAAFL !!!
If you see "(free?)" in the descriptions below... then "User Beware".
As always: Be careful what you click on!
Some things really are "(free)"... so no question mark usually indicates that it is a fairly safe program.
If it is a reliable source for the program (such as Mozilla.org), and they do not try to sell you the program when you download the install file, then it is probably OK, and really is "Free".... Some really outstanding programs (like Linux, Open Office, GIMP, and Audacity) really and truly are free. Most Open Source projects and GNU type software is typically free, and generally very reliable.
Reading Reviews and information from Trusted Sources is Important!
Here are a few common sources that frequently come up. Many are heavily driven by ads, get use to it (and learn which ones have the least annoying ads).
User driven, so use care, but usually I find this to be spot-on.
If you study-up a bit on the terms introduced here, it will do a lot towards making you feel safer about using "free" software and programs... as well as speed you on your way to some level of "Super Geek" status.
Sites like Wikipedia can be really good resources, but they are user maintained, so be careful.
Even "Trusted Sites" can get hacked and/or have ads that contain PUP's, etc. Always be careful what you click on. Be prepared!
Note:
I am generally pretty careful about what I use, so all of the information listed here should be OK... but the common ploy these days is to piggy-back PUP's (Potentially Unwanted Programs) onto the initial download stream (for the program install file). Be Careful! Some of the records (links) here could be out-of-date. Also: It is generally better to download the program file from the source (company/entity) that created the program. Download services (even those like Download.com) are frequently turning to embedding (and tricking you into installing) PUP's... some of which can even be "harmful" to your system (i.e. at the very least, cause you a lot of grief). But really, it is usually "just business"... these services have to somehow pay for how they provide these "free" programs.
The installation process for "Free" programs is getting more tricky every day. Be Sure to read the instructions carefully! Sometimes a "Decline" button is now offered in the install process, which will allow you to bypass the PUP's that they are offering. Look for other similar clues (such as links or "check-boxes") in the fine print as you go. Usually they will always give you a way out of installing unwanted programs, but it up to you to "RTFM" (read the freaking manual).
If you want to be a bit more sure... then pony up the cash and buy the program. If nothing else, it will support the author/developer, and will better ensure quality updates, help, etc. But nothing is 100% bulletproof. It is ultimately up to you, the end-user, to well educated and informed about what you are attempting to do... even if it is something as simple as surfing the Web on the Internet.
Maintenance & Utility
This is a list of programs frequently used to keep your MS Windows PC running smoothly, and as quick as possible.
Belarc, Inc.... (free?)
This is an exceptionally useful utility, which will detail all the hardware, software, and configuration details of a PC, including:
Hardware details, such as model and serial numbers.
All software in the system, including licence keys and version details.
Network information.
Hardware and software problems such as missing updates.
System Information Software - Windows
Note: Other Platforms (Android) supported.
Identify:
Mainboard (Motherboard)
CPU (Central Processing Unit)
RAM (Random Access Memory)
"Chipsets"
This is extremely useful if you are doing a Memory Upgrade on your system, or if you need to identify the features of your mainboard or CPU.
Piriform Ltd.... (free?)
Tip: Download from the "Piriform" server... Never from "FileHippo".
Always check the "link preview" (on mouse hover, a pop-up typically in the lower-left of your browser window) before clicking the "download" link / button.
Easy to use, and very efficient.
Lots of cleaning "Tools".
The "Cleaner utility not only keeps your Browser and other programs running efficiently, it also includes a Registry Cleaner.
The Registry Cleaner cleaner should always ask if you want to back-up the current registry first, and you should ALWAYS say yes.
You need to have all your ducks in a row when you start fooling with the registry. This program makes it easy for anyone to do it, but you should still do some homework first, so you at least have a clue about what you are working with.
See: Windows Registry on Wikipedia for a description.
Tools
Be prepared for a REALLY long wait!
.... (free?)
It is easier to get a "clean install" for this "free" app "Gadget" if you download from the source.
Be sure to read all the notes here.
In any case... Install this carefully. Take your time, and be sure to "Decline" all the advertising add-on's that it wants to install.
I've successfully used this "Gadget" to monitor the temperature and activity of CPU Cores, and solve overheating problems (by making repairs, changing use habits, room environment, etc.).
Some PC's may already have a CPU Temperature Utility installed.
This is especially true if you installed a Main Board (new or upgrade) yourself, as MB/CPU bundles typically come with a disk full of "Utilities", many of which are junk, you just have to learn how to sort these out (such as trying them, or Web Searching the title, and looking for reviews).
Win-OS Utilities
Reliability and Performance
Start > Programs > Administrative Tools > Computer Management > Reliability and Performance
Available from Control Panel (Administrative Tools), and the Start Menu.
Contains a number of system utilities.
Manage Start-up Programs
System Information
Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Information
Run... msinfo32.exe
XP... Vista... ?
Works in 64-bit OS too
Lists Hardware and Software resources
Hint: Belarc Advisor does this just as well, or better.
System Properties
Windows Key + Pause/Break
Right-click "My Computer" and select Properties.
The My Computer icon is usually available as a Desktop icon (shortcut), or is always available in Windows Explorer.
Quick listing of "Basic Information":
OS version and Licence Key, System Type "bit" version (32 or 64), CPU, RAM, Computer and Workgroup name, etc.
.... (free?)
This IP Network utility is very useful for administrators. Check the various reviews, etc.
Malware Scan
Malware = Malicious Software.
Comprehensive Scanning Packages
The following offer more than just simple Virus Scanning.
See the details of each product for what is provided.
These products run constantly. (They are "Resident" scanners, constantly living in your system memory / RAM.)
This is both good and bad. The good is that you get constant protection, the bad is that they are always using memory and processor resources.
Malware scanners are one of the biggest resource hogs on your system, but you pretty much have to use them if you use the internet, or introduce new files to your system from an outside source (such as a Flash Drive or Optical Disk (CD, DVD, Blu-ray, etc.).
Avast! ... Free
Scan
Windows ... Linux ... Mac OS ... and more
C-Net Review ... Google Search ... Wikipedia
This is the Malware Scanner that I currently use.
Be aware that this product constantly tries to get you to upgrade to the paid version.
Scan
I used this for over a decade. It is a good product.
Be aware that this product constantly tries to get you to upgrade to the paid version.
Microsoft Security Essentials ... Free
Scan
MS Windows Only
I don't usually recommend MS products, but this one is not all that bad.
This product will not pressure you to upgrade to a free version.
It is very simple and basic. As far as I can tell, it provides all the protection that you need.
Run Once and Forget It
The following programs (in their free version) need to be run manually (they do not reside in RAM), which is a good thing in many ways.
You will need to get the latest update each time you run them.
AdwCleaner ... (ref)
Now by "MalwareBytes"
Tip: Download from "toolslib.net".
Always check the "link preview" (on mouse hover, a pop-up typically in the lower-left of your browser window) before clicking the "download" link / button.
Manual Scan. (Does Not reside in system memory / RAM.)
Download link (green arrow on drive icon) is under "Data" description, and includes a "Mirror" (download site) link.
Additional info at: BleepingComputer.com
from: Xplode
This "free" utility helped me Big-Time in getting rid of some very stubborn and exceptionally aggressive "Ad/Spy Ware".
This is a very nice 'no frills" scanner.
I frequently run this program first when I encounter a problem. You need to manually download the latest version each time (day) you need to run it.
Malwarebytes ... (free?)
Manual Scan for the "free" version. (Does Not reside in system memory / RAM.)
Reviews ... Google Search ... Wikipedia
This seems to be very similar to the AdwCleaner. I cannot say if it is more efficient or not. It does seem to find stuff that all the other Malware Scanners listed above seem to miss.
I will likely start running this one after I run AdwCleaner, and a full scan by whatever resident scanner is installed.... As well as a good cleaning by CCleaner (also listed here).
This program will prompt you to install the new version each time you run it and it needs to be updated.
You need an Internet connection for this to work.
This has been around quite a long time, but I've only recently started using it.
On-line Scanning... (G-ref)
This can be handy if you need a quick check, from an outside source.
HouseCall ... by: Trend Micro
Win 32 or 64 ... or Mac
There is an installation that you need to run, but this can be a real lifesaver if you get in a jam and need a quick Malware check
This IS NOT a continuous scanning product... It is only good for spot-checks.
Browser
This Browser is especially useful if you have a Google Account (i.e. e-mail address).
I use Firefox as my "Default Browser"
v12.x (hunt for it) looks and feels more like pre-"Speed Dial" type interfaces (v17+).
Wikipedia ... G-Search ... C-Net Review
v12.x has some unusual features, but once you get used to that, it is a really slick browser.
v17+ has fewer settings and options (so it is simpler in that respect), but it works just fine.
The biggest SNAFU with Opera is that it is not well supported for a lot of things, such as Google Drive... but as an auxiliary browser, it is an excellent choice.
Wikipedia ... G-Search ... C-Net Review
Primarily a Mac OS browser, but there is a Windows version.
Safari 5.1.7 is the last version available for Windows.
I really like this browser, but I've had problems with it routinely crashing on a MSW-Vista-Biz-64 system.
Browser Add-On's and Support
The following "Plug-Ins", especially Java and Flash, are often needed for higher level functions in Web Browsing... especially for Banking, and Ordering On-Line. It is absolutely essential to be sure that these are completely up-to-date.
In all the examples below... as you install them... read carefully at each screen, and be sure to un-check the options for additional software like McAfee and the Ask Toolbar.
Documents
A Word Processor is typically any program that will allow advanced formatting in the creation of Text Documents. Examples of Word Processors are: Open Office, MS Word, Google Drive (Docs, Sheets, and Slides), Google Apps for Work, etc.
Simple Text Editors do only that: Edit Text, with no formatting tools of any kind.
Any ASCII Text Editor (like MS Notepad) is really handy for stripping out extra formatting during Copy/Paste functions.
Pasting a section copied from a heavily formatted webpage for example, will automatically cut-out all the HTML formatting, Images, etc., and ONLY leave you with the text content. This works on text copied from Word Processors too, striping out any formatting like Font type, Bold, Italic, Underline, etc.
The MS Windows program that is similar to this is called (simply) "Notepad"... and is very light-weight compared to TED Notepad... but it works fine if you do not want to be bothered with this installation (though it is very easy).
ASCII Text Editor
This is a very feature-rich text editor. It has a lot of handy tools for manipulating the text that you are working on, such as:
Change Case
Unwrap Paragraphs
etc.
G-Suite ... a.k.a. "Google Apps for Work"
(ref)
Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides
etc.
This is a "cloud-based" Office Suite product, competitive to MS Office 365, which you typically need to pay for ($50 per user per year).
However... You can get the same products "for free" as an individual (for now anyway, 2015), if you register for a Google Account. You still get the same connectivity (such as collaboration on G-Drive Docs, and use of Google Hangouts for example), just not all under the same Domain name (for your business or organization) as you would with the G-Apps bundle.
The further good news is that you may be able to qualify for the whole "Apps for Work" bundle for free if you have a 501(c)(3) organization, etc.
Wikipedia ... G-Search ... C-Net Review
Office Suite competitive to MS Office... and FREE!
This really is a free product... and one of the best ones out there.
Will run on Linux, Mac, or Windows.
This is basically a knock-off ("splinter") of Open Office
This is likely a better choice over Open Office (especially for Linux)... but if you have trouble installing it (especially on MS Windows), feel free to install Open Office.
WordPad ... (Microsoft)
A very basic Word Processor. Comes with MS Windows.
Especially handy for creating or viewing .RTF files.
RTF (rich text format) files are often all that you need for most Word Processor documents.
There is no Spellchecker, but it does allow Bold, Italic, Underline, Bullets, Choices in Fonts, etc.
RTF files have several significant advantages:
Probably every Word Processor in existence has the capability of reading and writing RTF files.... So they can easily read by anyone using any platform (Linux, Mac, Windows, etc.).
Files are relatively simple, small, and compact (compared to MS Word for example).
They cannot contain scripts, etc., so there is no chance that they can transmit malware.
Image - Graphic - Photo
Paint.NET ... (free)
This can be a tricky download to identify... try this direct link... the download link is typically in the upper-right corner. Be careful that you are not clicking on an advertisement.
NOTE ... v4.x is for Win-7 and up. If you are using Vista, try this link (ref).
Windows ONLY
Wikipedia ... G-Search ... C-Net Review
This Image Editor is very useful, especially for quick edits on individual files. It is totally dependent on the Microsoft .Net Framework, so it is available only for the MS Windows OS. It loads pretty quick however, and runs well too.
It has some limitations though. For example: When adding text to the image, once you exit the initial editor, that is it, you cannot go back and change it. Still, for quick jobs, it is hard to beat.
GIMP ... (free)
GNU Image Manipulation Program
Wikipedia ... G-Search ... C-Net Review
This is an extremely powerful and feature rich program. So: Consequently, it is fairly complicated. You have a LOT of control in the creation and editing process however.
I highly recommend this program for photo, image, and graphics editing.
It can take a while for this to load (every time you open it), but once you are in, it works really smoothly.
Try this guys Tutorials. Just search the web for more GIMP Tutorials.
InkScape ... (free / open-source)
Reviews ... Google Search ... Wikipedia
This is new to me, but looks pretty good.
One thing it seems to do more easily is Put Text On a Path. (That Guy is prolific, and makes some pretty decent tutorials... on GIMP especially.)
FastStone Photo Resizer ... (free?)
.... Google Search ... C-Net Review
You can quickly Re-size and Rename Images with this powerful utility.
"Batch Mode" capability!
This program is indispensable for converting Hi-Rez images from a camera for easy and efficient use in e-mail or on websites.
FastStone Image Viewer ... (free?)
Wikipedia ... G-Search ... C-Net Review
This is a nifty photo and image file viewer.
FTP and HTML
All of the following run locally (i.e. they install to your hard-disk-drive / HDD).
FileZilla ... (free)
Install the Client
Wikipedia ... G-Search ... C-Net Review
FTP Client. Excellent program for transferring files with the Internet.
KompoZer ... (free)
Wikipedia ... G-Search ... C-Net Review
A very simple but effective HTML editor, which allows good WYSIWYG use, and it is an Open Source Software project.
HTML Editor / Site Builder
Wikipedia ... Google Search ... Reviews
New and untested to me, but looks very promising.
HTML Editor / Site Builder
Kind of out-of-date now, though it can still work great (but maybe not on Win-10, or Win-8, not tested there by me).
Wikipedia ... Google Search ... Reviews
It does what it does very well.
This is an older version, no longer supported, but it still works (on Vista anyway).
NOTE ... Installations on Windows can be a bit complicated... you need to program the shortcut to "Run As Administrator" for this to work every time!
A bit of a learning curve (like everything else), but is very handy once you get the hang of it.
The Following HTML (website) Builders and Content Management Systems (CMS list) run off the web / Internet.
These are all "Free" and/or "Open-Source".
This is an incredibly easy system to use (IMHO).
I suggest using the "New Google Sites" (introduced June-2016)
This is by far the simplest and most trouble free web builder I have ever used.
CMS - Very popular!
You can run it (free hosting?) from their site, or install it to your Web Host and use your own Domain Name (recommended).
You still need to do a lot of maintenance on it however, and choosing the right "plugins" and.or "extensions" can be da daunting task.
CMS - I consider this very advanced.
Install it to your Web Host and use your own Domain Name.
CMS - I consider this advanced.
Install it to your Web Host and use your own Domain Name.
Data Storage, Management, and Transfer
CDBurnerXP .... (free?)
Win 32 & 64-bit
Wikipedia ... G-Search ... C-Net Review
This is a very handy and useful CD and DVD Burner utility.
Read each screen carefully, to avoid installing unwanted software.
Media, Sound, and Entertainment
Wikipedia ... G-Search ... C-Net Review
Audio Capture and Edit
Download Page ... look down the page for: "Lame_v3.xx_for_Windows.exe"
Needed to export MP3 files... from MS Windows
Windows Media Player
iTunes
Media Player Classic
SMPlayer
Spotify
Chat Clients
Google "Hangouts"
Quirky name, but this is an excellent chat interface!
Cross platform web interface (works between any popular OS).
You need a "Google Account" (e-mail address).
Google Talk (obsolete?)
YIM - Yahoo! Instant Messenger
Skype
Other Communication & Sharing
TeamViewer ... (ref)
Allows remote control of one PC by another.
Works cross platform... Linux, Mac-OS, Windows
i.e. You can even connect-with / work-on a Win-Pc from a Linux-PC, for example.
Allows free use if "non-commercial".
:-)