Essential Software tools

[Rob Pomeroy]

Essential Software Tools

This is our master list of all the useful (and free!) software and tools that we use and recommend.  Feel free to add to this thread; suitable software will then be incorporated into the main posts.

Note that some software here is only free for personal use, or may be limited in some way.  The majority however is completely free and unfettered. 

Categories
Tip: Use your browser's "find" feature (Ctrl+F) to go to your chosen category quickly.

• Filesystems
• Games
• Graphics
• Hard drive diagnostics
• Hardware
• Internet/Networking
• Inventory/catalogue software
• Multimedia
• Office/Business Software
• OSes, Emulators, Virtualisation
• Security
• System Tools
• Utilities
• Other places to look

Key

recommended (i.e. I use it a lot)new in this issue

Filesystems

Name/LinkDescriptionAnt RenamerClever multiple file renamerEraserSecure total file eraser/shredderJDiskReportDisk/space analysisJkDefrag GUIFront end to an exceptional defraggerFIPSDOS/FAT non-destructive partition resizing toolIsoBusterCD/DVD data recovery toolKillBoxDelete stubborn filesSmart BootManagerBoot from any device, even unsupported CDROMsNTFSDOSAccess NTFS partitions from DOSUltimate Boot CDBoot CD with lots of diagnostic toolsUltimate Boot CD for WindowsAs above, but completely "Windows-ised" version

Games
Note: Of course games are "essential software"! 

Name/LinkDescriptionFlyffOnline RPGLegendsMultiplayer FPS with some innovative featuresNexuizMultiplayer 3D deathmatch FPS a la Quake Unreal Tournament

[Rob Pomeroy]

Graphics

Name/LinkDescriptionThe GimpPhotoshop-rivalling bitmap editorIconShopManage ICL and EXE icon librariesInkscapeOpen Source scalable vector graphics EditorIrfanviewGraphics viewer with HUGE feature setPaint.netPaint Shop Pro-rivalling bitmap editorPicasaPicture album/organiser from Google

Hard drive diagnostics

Name/Link*Testdisk - generic free data recovery tool*FujitsuHitachiMaxtorSamsungSeagateToshibaWestern Digital

Hardware

Name/LinkDescriptionAida32System information, diagnostics and benchmarkingCmosPwdBIOS password recoveryEverest Home EditionSystem inspectionMemtest86Stand-alone memory diagnosticPrime95A program to find prime numbers, commonly used for stress-testingSiSoft SandraInformation & diagnostic utilitySystem Information for WindowsAnd again!  (This one is quite up to date.)

Internet/Networking

Name/LinkDescriptionAngry IP ScannerQuick IP and port scannerejabberdJabber server (instant messaging)ePrompterAuto-check web, POP3 and IMAP emailFirefoxOpen Source tabbed Internet Explorer replacementFileZillaFTP client/server softwareFTP SurferExcellent FTP programHOSTS SecureAutomatically update hosts file to assist in blocking ads etc.HTTrackRecursive website copierKarens WhoIsA useful lookup toolKompoZerWYSIWYG HTML editor derived from NVuLogMeInAnother remote control programNetMeterRealtime bandwidth monitoring toolNetStumblerWireless network discoveryOperaAnother good web browserPeerGuardianBlocks government etc spiesPOPTrayReads POP mail on the serverPsiClient for Jabber (instant messaging)PuTTYTelnet/SSH programSam SpadeComprehensive collection of network tools for WindowsUltraVNCRemote control PC software

[Rob Pomeroy]

Inventory/catalogue software

Name/LinkDescriptioneLibProExcellent book inventory software

Multimedia

Name/LinkDescriptionAudacityAdvanced audio recorder/editor – Cross platformAudioGrabberAudio CD ripper, MP3, WMA, OGG Vorbis encoderCDExAudio CD ripperdBPowerAmpAudio conversion toolHACP Audio CD PlayerTiny, efficient CD player with FreeDB supportKRISTAL Audio EngineMultitrack audio mixer and sequencerMediaCoderConvert between many audio/visual formatsScreenShotAssistantTake screenshots in MS WindowsSUPERAll-format multimedia file converterThe-CodecsAll the codecs you'll ever needVLC Media PlayerExtremely compentent DVD/Audio/Media player and LAN streamer

Office/Business Software

Name/LinkDescriptionFreeMindMind-mapping (idea-linking) softwareKeynotePowerful tree-based notebook/information storeOpenOffice.orgFree MS Office Pro replacement

OSes, Emulators, Virtualisation

Name/LinkDescriptionDOSBoxIntel x86 emulatorFreeDOSMS-DOS compatible OSKnoppixComplete OS on a CD - useful for diagnosticsMicrosoft Virtual PCRun multiple virtual OSes on one machineMicrosoft Virtual ServerRun multiple virtual servers on one machine

Security

Name/LinkDescriptionA² FreeAnti trojan/malware scannerAd-AwareAdware detector/removerAVG FreePersonal anti-virusClam for WindowsFully open source antivirusewidoAnti trojan/malware scannerHijackThisStartup/browser hijack detectorIE-SpyAdBad IP safeguardSpybot Search & DestroyAd/Spy/Foistware detector/removerSpywareBlasterBrowser hijack prevention toolX-Cleaner FreeMalware Detector/Remover Plus

[Rob Pomeroy]

System Tools

Name/LinkDescriptionCCleanerCleans temp folders redundant registry entries etcDial-a-fixEasily fix many problems with 32-bit WindowsWin9x Power ToysTweaks and addons for Windows 9xXP-AntiSpyFixes annoyances and loopholes in XPXP Power ToysVery useful tweaks for XP

Utilities

Name/LinkDescription7ZipArchiverAutoHotKeyMacro scripting/keyboard shortcuts/etc.ConvertUnit conversion programDeepBurnerDVD and CD burning programFoxit ReaderAcrobat Reader replacementNotepad++Notepad replacement/syntax-highlighting programmers' file editorNotepad2Notepad replacementNotetabTabbed notepad replacementPrimoPDFSave from any application to PDFTClockLightEnhance the system tray clockWeather WatcherSystem tray weather forecastZipGeniusUser-friendly zip/archival tool

Other places to look

• Freeware World Team - All freeware
  
• Freshmeat
  
• List Of Lists - Freeware/shareware mix
  
• Mirrors.Org Boot Diskscollection of MS boot disks
  
• Sourceforge
  
• SysInternals
  

With thanks to:

• Backdated (no longer a member)
• Dilbert
  
• GX1_Man
  
• merlin_2
  
• Nitro
  
• panboy
  
• RapedApe
  
• Raptor
  
• unlovedwarrior
  

for their contributions.

FEEL FREE TO POINT OUT ANY ERRORS/OMISSIONS.

[Rob Pomeroy]

Added:

JKDefragGUI
KompoZer
NetStumbler
Opera
SUPER

Removed:

O & O Defrag (in favour of JkDefrag)
SlimBrowser (superseded by other browsers, including IE7)

A lot more to come - watch this space!