Free Software Recommendations

Spitfire · Post by **Spitfire** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 10:54 pm

Well, got my computer back after the Mrs managed to crash it and have lost a lot of stuff but, never mind, a chance to start with a clean page again.

So could I request some people give recommendations of what's good/useful/cool and free that they have/rate highly and perhaps say what it does or is for. OK, we can exclude the obvious like Firefox etc.

Might be useful to others as well, not just me, to have some decent ideas.

Something I found and downloaded was the free Advanced SystemCare 3.3.4 diagnosis tool. Pretty good!

Post by **stgrhe** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 7:20 am

I use the ASC Pro and the added advantage compared to the free version is well worth the cost although ASC free is good too.

The same company has also a good defrager software called 'Smart Defrag', which can be downloaded here:

http://download.cnet.com/Smart-Defrag/3 ... 59533.html

I use also Revo Uninstaller, can be downloaded here: http://download.cnet.com/Revo-Uninstall ... 87648.html

as it ensures that much of the 'left overs' that Windows keep, are removed when deleting a software.

Post by **hhfarang** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 12:25 pm

Take a look at:

OpenOffice (If you don't have MS Office)
PDF-XChange Viewer (Instead of Adobe)
CDBurnerXP (Burn CDs and DVDs)
Audacity (music editor)
Exact Audio Copy (Good ripper)
IrfanView (Photo manipulation like Photoshop)

A google search will give you descriptions and download locations. IMO CNET is one of the safest places to download most free stuff.

Post by **buksida** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 1:01 pm

A-Squared is a good all purpose malware and trojan scanner that often catches stuff anti-virus programs miss:
http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/free/

Thunderbird, a great email client for those that are fed up with cranky Outlook:
http://www.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/thunderbird/

Spitfire · Post by **Spitfire** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 3:34 pm

Thanks for those gents, having a look through them, look pretty cool. Any more suggestions from anyone are welcome.

Can someone please comment on this link page, or others like it,

http://www.iobit.com/beta.html

Seems like it's experimental software but doesn't tell you till you read the bottom blurb. So, I guess, if you're ballsy enough to put that on your computer, then you better have a decent restore point before you do.

Post by **hhfarang** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 5:27 pm

Don't know about that particular software from IOBit, but I am always hesitant to use a beta version of anything until it's been out there a while and I can find some user feedback.

I use the free version of their Advanced System Care that you mentioned in the op and have been using it for a while and like it. I used to use the paid version of Norton Systemworks that had a similar "one button" tune/clean up function and I like this one better (and it's free!).

Spitfire · Post by **Spitfire** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 7:14 pm

Yeah HHf, you need to have your tool box, specs, omni-directional problem solving mode switched on, along with an anorak ready if you're going to be a 'test host' for beta software like that, although it does sound good. Maybe not quite finished yet but it's probably close and they're confident, just have to test it in the real world. If you really knew what you were doing then it would be worth getting as it'll probably be expensive when it's finalised and then sold to companies etc.

I'll give that one a miss too though. Talking of that ASC 3.3.4 free or the pro version, the game booster and other stuff to download in the 'Utilities' section are worth having/using.

Post by **redzonerocker** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 7:29 pm

CCLEANER- is a small & simple to use program to clean up temp files etc & also has a registry cleaning option too, free.

FASTSTONE IMAGE EDITOR- is a free & simple to use photo editing program.

REVO UNINSTALLER- as mentioned by stgrhe is a must for removing unwanted programs. the advanced option clears all the registry entries that get left behind by windows add/remove, you would be amazed at the amount of files that get left behind.
i would install this first, then if you download anything you don't like the look of, you can get rid of it without leaving messy loose ends

GMAIL- i've tried most of the other email programs & this one is easy to use & accessible from any pc when you have created your own log in account.

Spitfire · Post by **Spitfire** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 7:54 pm

Cheers Red, got the ccleaner, agree, will be getting the REVO as well, looks good along with GMail.

BTW Buksi, just to check, can I run a protection suite like Kaspersky and have/use the malware+trojan scanner you suggested from A-squared without them having issues or conflicting with each other and causing me dramas?

Post by **The understudy** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 8:47 pm

Good evening Y'all!

if you go to htis website www.dvdvideosoft.com. They have all sorts of free Pograms. Many Programs are such a Gem like the

Free Youtube to MP3 converter.
http://www.dvdvideosoft.com/products/dv ... verter.htm
Free Youtube to IPod & PSP Converter
http://www.dvdvideosoft.com/products/dv ... verter.htm
Free Youtube to iPhone converter.
http://www.dvdvideosoft.com/products/dv ... verter.htm

I use the youtube to MP3 converter very often and I can tell ya their easy to use and works like a charm.

Thank you very much fer the REVO UNISTALLER Software suggestion. I was wanted to change to Kaspersly antiviral Program for sometime but a few dozen registry files from AVG 8.5 still givien me Drama but Thanks to REVO not any more.

Chedk out. www.dvdvideosoft.com for all the details.!!!

Your's The understudy!!!

Post by **buksida** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 9:06 pm

spitfire wrote: BTW Buksi, just to check, can I run a protection suite like Kaspersky and have/use the malware+trojan scanner you suggested from A-squared without them having issues or conflicting with each other and causing me dramas?

Yep, no problems running them both.

Spitfire · Post by **Spitfire** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 12:43 am

Cheers everyone, lots of cool stuff there and in the sites directed to. Anyone with other ideas feel free to suggest away.

Funny, I told the Mrs that I'm going to put the 'parental control' on.

Post by **georgy** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 4:53 am

my suggestion: create a user account for her with limited rights, easy to do and safe too.
also she can have a language bar which you might not need

Post by **SuperTonic** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 6:04 pm

The best free software? Linux. http://www.ubuntu.com you can dual-boot with Windows easy enough. 90% of the software available for it is free, and you just choose it from a list to install it. No viruses, no pirating stuff, no hassle.

Post by **Roel** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 7:57 pm

I ran A-squared recommended by Khun Buksida. It found a few things. Although I understand that with these programs it is never clear if it really found something serious or if it is just showing off how good it does its job.
Anyway. The question is, is there a way to find out WHERE I got infected with the supposed malware, dialer, spyware or whatever? Or is per definition the first thing these evils do erase these traces?? Curious.