All this software is absolutely 100% freeware, unless otherwise
listed, or unless it was JUST recently changed and I was not aware of
it. If you find any of this software to not be free, broken links or
etc. please PM or email me and let me know so I can correct it. If
you know of any other software that is free and you recommend, please
let me know or post it below and I will add it to the list!
Graphics Software
GIMP for Windows GIMP is a free graphics creating/editing software,
comperable to Photoshop or other expensive graphics manipulation
software. It is free and open source, this version is for Windows
IrfanView The best freeware graphics viewer, convertor, with basic
editing functions
Audio Software
AudioGrabber Free CD Ripping Software. Allows you to rip an audio CD
and convert it to MP3s.
CDBurner XP Pro Freeware CD Burning Software
winLAME Converts WAV files into MP3s
GX Transcoder Converts just about any audio format into any other
format
Nero Plugins plugins for Nero that allow you to burn most all audio
types as an audio CD without having to convert them
Audacity Audio Editor
Audio/Video Playback Software
WinAmp The standard for audio players
VideoLan Movie/Video Player with built in Codec functionality
Media Player Classic Great Freeware Alternative to bloatware WMP
BSPlayer Another good movie/media player with lots of options
Commercial Audio/Video Playback Software:
The following are free versions of commercial movie playing software.
Although you should be able to use the alternatives to them, under
some circumstances you will need to them to view content
Apple Quicktime
RealPlayer
Microsoft Windows Media Player
Office/Document Software
OpenOffice Freeware alternative to Microsoft Office. Comes with a
Document editor, HTML editor, Email Program, HTML editor, Spreadsheet
program and more.
PrimoPDF Freeware PDF Creator
FoxIt PDF Reader Free alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader
Microsoft Office Viewers & Convertors Allows people who don't own MS
Office to view or convert Office files (ie: Excel Spreadsheets,
Powerpoint, etc)
CutePDF Writer Free PDF Writer & Viewer
Adobe Acrobat Reader the original
System Utilities
Crap Cleaner Cookie and System Cleaner, also includes registry
cleaner
TugZip Comp/Decompression Utility, Supports most archive types
ALZIP Same as above
EasyCleaner Registry Cleanup Tool
Cacheman System Optimization Tool, and memory cleaner
Windows 98 Unofficial SP If you're still using Windows98, this will
install all the necessary updates and patches to keep your system
working flawlessly
Windows Update from Microsoft. Run frequently, or turn on auto update
to keep your system up to date with the latest security patches.
Office Update from Microsoft. Keeps your Office software up to date
DirectX Multimedia functionality booster, works with games and
audio/video drivers to improve performance
Anti-Spyware/Anti-Virus Software
SpyBot Search & Destroy Cleans your system of harmful adware and
spyware. Also includes a system startup editor, hosts editor, spyware
immunizer, file shredder and more!
Lavasoft Adaware Another great spyware cleaner
Microsoft Anti-Spyware former Giant Anti-Spyware. Includes background
fulltime protection against spyware, along with auto updates and
scheduled scans.
CWS (Cool Web Search) Shredder If you become infected with CWS, this
tool will completely remove it from your system.
AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition The free version of AVG Anti-Virus, with
auto updates, email scanning, and more
avast! Home Edition avast software's free anti-virus
SpywareBlaster Installs blocking protection into your browser to keep
you safe from spyware and adware. Needs to be updated frequently and
manually.
Script Sentry Will keep you from accidentally clicking on potentially
harmful files which can contain viruses or other system exploits
XP Anti-Spy Allows for removal MSN messenger, and disables
information being sent back to Microsoft and protects your privacy
through various background settings
Software Firewalls - Only Install One of These!
Kerio Personal Firewall Free Edition
SyGate Personal Firewall
ZoneAlarm Free Edition
If you are using Windows XP SP2 firewall, it should work fine, unless
you want more protection, disable it and use one of the above.
Download Tools
Free Download Manager Download Manager, queues files for download and
makes multiple connections to speed up downloads. Supports pausing
and resuming. Great for dialup users, and even works great for
DSL/Cable if you're having trouble downloading a large file
DeluxeFTP Freeware FTP Client
FileZilla Same as Above
Email Clients and Tools
Eudora E-Mail Client Paid, Ad Supported and Free versions of email
client. One of the oldest out there.
ThunderBird The Mozilla foundation's free email client. This is what
I use. Nuff said.
Pegasus E-Mail Client Freeware Email Client
SpamFighter for Outlook and Express Addon for Outlook and OE which
works as a spam p2p community to block spams from your inbox
Spamihilator Freeware Spam Blocker, learns a series of rules based on
your settings to block spam
Browsers and Tools
Mozilla Suite The full Mozilla Suite with a browser, email client,
HTML composer, IRC client and more
FireFox Mozilla's very popular stand alone browser
Opera Free Ad-Supported Browser
Avant Browser Another good free browser alternative to IE
Maxthon (formerly myIE2) Kind of like a shrunken IE with a tabbed
browsing interface
Google Toolbar for IE. Allows you to search Google with IE and block
popups. Great toolbar!
Java JRE Plugin so you can view Java applets from within your browser
Macromedia Flash Player to view flash movies within your browser
Macromedia Shockwave Player allows you to watch and play Shockwave
based games and movies from within your browser
The EFF's TOR Proxy System A free proxy system that works similar to
a P2P network, whereby you connect to multiple users to spread your
IP address out and be invisible on the internet
HTML & Website Creators
I have not used or tried either of these, as I do my webmaster work
in DreamWeaver, notepad and CuteFTP.
Namu Web Site Creation Software
LoGraf HTML Editor
Instant Messenger/Chat Software
Trillian Freeware chat client with the ability to access AIM, Yahoo
IM, MSN IM, ICQ, and IRC all in one
AOL Instant Messanger with AdBlocker and Spyware/Junk Remover and AIM
Encryption for secure conversations
Yahoo! Messenger
Mirabilis ICQ
MSN Messenger
Jabber
mIRC Internet Relay Chat Client
Weather & Misc Software
Weather Watcher Freeware tool to check the weather from your system
tray
Dimension 4 For those of you who don't have or don't use Windows XP's
built in time service, D4 will automatically update your computer's
clock for you
P2P Clients
Fasttrack - The Fasttrack Network is home to Kazaa, Grokster, and
iMesh. All these clients have major spyware and adware with them, so
below are some clean versions. Although this network is probably the
most popular, it has become increasingly filled with fake files, and
been the main target of RIAA and MPAA lawsuits recently.
Kazaa Lite Resurrection
iMesh Lite
OpenFT - OpenFT, is the reverse engineered protocol of FastTrack.
Although there are less users overall, it is probably safer and has
less fake files.
KCeasy Connects to OpenFT and Gnutella
Gnutella - Gnutella is one of the older P2P clients. It was developed
by Justin Frankel, of Winamp fame, as an answer to the centralization
of Napster and the problems it faced. It is a decentralized network,
and operates with peers and nodes, making it somewhat slow. However,
the open source operation has advanced the protocol, but there have
been some conflicts between developers about it. For more
information, see this Gnutella Article on Wikipedia
Shareaza Connects to Gnutella, Gnutella2, ED2K, and supports
Bittorrent
LimeWire Basic
BearShare Lite
Ares
AresGalaxy might contain adware
eDonkey/ed2k/Overnet - eDonkey is a centralized network, but servers
are operated by individuals, similar to OpenNap. Newer eDonkey
clients, and eMule come with their own decentralized networks
installed alongside the regular eDonkey client/server connections.
Both eMule and eMule Plus are open source versions of the original
eDonkey client, and both clients have their pros and cons. This
network is best suited for large files. I use eMule Plus.
eMule
eDonkey Connects to ed2k and Overnet
eMule Plus
MP2P - The Manolito P2P is a relatively new network, and only
supports audio file transfers. It is not that widely used, but the
client is pretty good for single songs.
Piolet Has ads, but no spyware last time I checked
BitTorrent/Exeem - Slyck's Guide to BT & Wikipedia Article on P2P. I
have never personally used or know anything about BT, so I cannot
comment on it or any of these clients. They should be free of any
type of ads or spyware, however.
Exeem Lite
Exeem
Bit Tornado
TorrentStorm
Azureus
DirectConnect - DC is a network based around large hubs, which you
connect to and browse for files, in a similar fashion to an FTP, but
you can also chat with the users like an IRC network. Most hubs
require sharing or exchange inorder to download.
DC++ Open Source DC client
OpenNap - OpenNap, like OpenFT, is the Napster servers reverse
engineered. WinMX is one of the only clients that still connect to
this network. It also has it's own internal network for sharing. It
has been quite large in the past, and has a lot of files available.
WinMX
NapMX Not a client, but a program to add a recent list of OpenNap
servers to WinMX
SoulSeek - This network is mostly for hard to find or rare files. It
has increadibly long queue times, and they encourage you to pay to
increase your queue time.
SoulSeek
Other P2P Utilities
MP3Shield Scans your songs while you're downloading them to determine
whether or not they are corrupt or fake
DietK If you're using regular Kazaa, you will want to install this
addon to remove all the spyware from it. It also improves search
results, and adds a lot of other nice features to Kazaa. Most of the
same can be accomplished by using Kazaa Lite
BlockList Manager Downloads fresh IP blocklists to ensure that you
will be protected against the RIAA/MPAA and other enemies of P2P
PeerGuardian Blocks inbound and outbound TCP connections to known bad
IPs. Has it's own IP list or can be used with the Blocklist Manager
ProtoWall Blocks ALL inbound and outbound connections to known bad
IPs. Has it's own IP list or can be used with the Blocklist Manager
Big Free Software Sites
Free Serif Software Includes free software for Desktop Publishing,
Photo and Image Editing, Website Design and Publishing, Graphic
Design and Vector Drawing, and 3D Animation and Modeling. I have not
used or downloaded any of these, but they claim them to be "100%
free".
TheOpenCD Links to many free software utilities, some of which are
already listed here.
Final Builds Site (formally Kazaa Lite) Includes free software such
as the K-Lite Codec Packs, Real Player and Quicktime Alternatives
with the bloat removed, TMPEnc, Nero CD-DVD Speed, FFDShow, McAfee
Anti-Virus, NOD32 Anti-Virus, WinRAR, WinAce, and much more
Kool Lite Tools List of completely free software, some of which is
already listed here.
AXCEL216's Max Speed Windows Tips & Tricks Tips, tricks, tools, hacks
and addons for all versions of Windows. For those who like to tweak
and play with their system settings, this is the site for you.
Gibson Research Includes tools to disable unpatched Windows flaws
like UPNP, Windows Messenger, the DCOM service, and more (although
most of these have been patched by SP2). Also hosts ShieldsUP! which
will test your system to see if you have open ports or services,
which can leave you vulnerable to hackers and attacks.
Finally, there is also download.com and tucows.com which have huge
listings of software of all types.
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