Free Windows Software Tools


This page contains links to many free software tools. The software has been grouped according to their primary purpose. A short description of the software is included. None of them should have any spyware.

For a list of free portable applications, see this web page.


Internet


Free Browsers and Tools

  • Internet explorer v7 browser is latest release of Microsoft's browser. It added tabbing, phish site detection, and other features. It replaces Internet explorer v6 upon installation and requires windows XP or Vista.
  • Opera browser is very secure and contains many time saving features.
  • Firefox browser is very secure and is more compatible with sites than Opera.
  • LYNX is text browser that allows you to review how websites content looks to search spiders.
  • LinkaGoGo is an on line book manager with the ability to Synchronizing your on line bookmarks with your favorite browser. It works great for copying copy bookmarks between browsers and PC's. A subscription to the site is required by it does not require any installation. I have seen used by I-Phone owners to keep their bookmarks.
  • AM-Deadlink checks for duplicate and dead favorites/bookmarks. It works great for cleaning up old dead links.

Optimizing Internet Connection

  • TCP Optimizer - Optimizes network card settings providing the fastest Internet connection. It is very easy to use.
  • DNS site that claims to speed up access and protect against phishing sites. I have not used it yet.
  • HOST file -  Adding sites to the HOST is supposed to speed up access but my results have not been positive enough to do this. Instead, I keep going back to my original empty file.

Free Spyware Protection

Spyware Scanner/Removal

Block sites and secure settings

  • Spyware Blaster (free) - protects from spyare by making IE and Firefix browsers more secure from spyware.  You any need to run it when it is updated. 
  • Search & Destroy (free) - has many settings that make IE, Firefix, and Opera browsers more secure. PLus it has an excellant spyware scanner.
  • IE-SPYAD (free) has a long list of sites that should be blocked. It has not been updated it in a while and on works for IE.

Free Anti-virus

  • AVG anti virus (free version) - very popular - V8 added Spware protection
  • Avast (free version) - is being recommended instead of AVG V8.
  • ThreatFire AntiVirus - Behavioral Virus and Spyware Protection. Provided by the makers of Spyware Doctor PcTools. It takes a different approach to detecting virus. It does not rely on virus signatures, instead it look for virus like behavior. Using such an approach it can detect recently released viruses and not so well known viruses.  I tried this on an old PC and it took up to much CPU and I had to uninstall it.

Free Firewall

  • Zone Alarm (free version) - the first firewall installed by many. Easy to configure and use. 
  • PC Tools Firewall Plus (free)- free personal firewall for Windows provided by the makers of Spyware Doctor.
  • The matousec.com site compares many firewalls on how secure they are. It does not compare them on how easy they are to use or how compatible they are on different Hardware/Software. Many of the firewalls tested are free.

Monitor Auto-Startup Changes

  • WinPatrol (free) - monitors changes in auto startup for your PC.

    Spyware and many other products love having their programs started when you log onto the PC. This tool allows you to decide which software can be added to your windows startup.  You decide whether not a program should be added. If a program is constantly pestering to be added. You can add it and then disable it using this tool. I do this for RealPlayer and Adobe.

    It also monitors for changes in file associations such as your default player for MP3 files allowing you to prevent the change.


Free Website Hosts and Tools

Free Web Host sites

  • 110MB is the best free web host site I have found. It is ad free, spam free, and has many free features. With others feature availble for a small one-time fee.
  • Yahoo geocities provides free websites with a small amount of Yahoo advertisement.
  • Free Webspace and Free Web Hosting Services  conatins an exhasutive list of of free web host which relies on users reviews to rate services.

Free Website Editors

  • KompoZer is the easiest website  editor I've found. It is the unofficial patched version of NVU. You do not install it. Instead, you download it and unzip it. Then put a short cut on your desktop or quick launch pad. I use it over NVU because it fixed more things than it broke.
  • NVU is just as easy to use as Kompozer. Even though it is not being developed anymore it is still very popular. I sometime go back to using this version hoping he bugs with these tools are fixed in one of these versions.
  • For an extensive list of free website editors see this web page.

Free File Download Tools


P2P 

  • Lime Wire - is very popular with a nice search feature 
  • Frost Wire - an open source version of Lime Wire that is expected to be free forever
  • Bit Turrent
    • Opera browser has built in support for Bit Turrent
    • BitComet is faster than Opera and AnalogX Bitpump. It has a executable only version.
    • AnalogX Bitpump - very small Bit Turrent download client.

FTP

  • Filezilla - The best open source FTP with utility with an available portable version.
  • WinSCP3 - free FTP tool with encryption. It is slow
  • FTP Sync - use to backup website files onto your PC and visa versa

Free File Tools

Free Text editors

  • PSPad - provides a variety of features compare files, search for files containing a value, and color syntax for a variety of scripting languages (vb script, SQL,..) What I don't like about this editor is its organization of the menu items and their labels.

Free File Viewers


Free File Compression Tools

  • Universal Extract - extract all types of compressed files including installation files.
  • IZarc - is a freeware compression supporting many formats. It supports CD images and 256-bit AES Encryption. IZArc2Go is a portable version of the tool. Has super fast option that changes a compressed file from 660 mb to 716 mb but reduces the time by 50%
  • 7-Zip - open source compression tool that eliminate the size limit of earlier win zip tools. It runs slower than the new versions of Win Zip. Has nice compression report while its running. Is slower than IZArc 6 to 4 time difference

Release Lock File


Miscellaneous

  • Folder Size - add-on Shows Folder Size through file explorer.



Free ISO Tools


  • XP-ISO-Builder
    • Create an ISO image from the XP CD sliptream SP2. Its suppose to work with recovery CDs as well.
  • BURNCDCC
    • The easiest ISO burn software available.
  • Other recommended CD Burner Software that I have yet to try
    • Burn4Free. - is recommended but had spyware at one time.
    • CDBurnerXP is a free application to burn CDs and DVDs, including Blu-Ray and HD-DVDs. It also includes the feature to burn and create ISOs, as well as a Multi language interface. Everyone, even companies, can use it for free. It does not include adware or similar malicious components. Snapfiles claims no spyware.
  • Here are sites with collections of CD Burning software.
  • http://www.canadiancontent.net/tech/freeware/CD+Burning/ http://www.softpedia.com/get/CD-DVD-Tools/Audio-CD-DVD-Burning/ http://www.snapfiles.com/Freeware/gmm/fwcdburn.html
  • MD5 Checker

    • Is used for checking the MD5 hashes of files. Simply copy the MD5 string into the clipboard, run the program and select the file to check. It is also able to generate MD5 checksums for selected file.


Free System Tools


Free Cleaners:
  • CCleaner is used for cleaning up files and can be used for cleaning registry
  • EasyCleaner is used for Registry Cleaning. It can be used for file cleanups but I use CCleaner for that.
  • MyUninstaller is used to uninstall programs. It works the same as the Control Panel Add/Remove programs except it has sorting options and provides additional information. For some uninstalls I can only find them using this tool. Executable only program
  • Free Uninstaller is used to uninstall programs. It is similar to MyUninstaller but has some nice extra features. Such as quick link to search on Internet for installed program

Free File Recovery
  • There are many free tools available for file recovery. There is a good collection at the Portable Applications Freeware site

Free Registry Cleaners
  • Easy Cleaner is my preferred registry cleaner. It seems to do a good job along with backing up any changes. Using a single registry cleaner provides me a single source for restored in case the wrong thing was deleted. Spyware tools do clean up the spyware registry entries. So I guess I don't follow my single registry cleaner tool 100%.
  • RegCleaner 4.3 by Jouni Vuordi has both an automatic and manual registry cleaner. To shows settings for startup list, uninstall menu, file type, Shell extensions, and other items. You identify what you ant to remove and takes care of removing it from the registry. An example is given uninstalled some trial software but it left behind some registry entries preventing you from installing and trying is again.
  • CCleaner can be used to cleanup registry. I use to check to see what Easy Cleaner left behind. 
  • Microsoft Regclean is an executable that cleans up the registry a little bit.
Free Windows XP Tweaks
Free Resource Meter
  • Process Explorer - an improved version of Perfmon which helps with finding causes of locked files
  • Whats Running - another nice tool that shows what is running along with Internet connections. Even provides system information.

Free System Information Utilities - provide valuable hardware and software information.
  • System Information for Microsoft? Windows (SIW) provides detail information about the hardware and software on a PC. Its my first choice when needing to know all the setup of a PC/Server.
  • CPU-Z - gathers information on some of the main devices of your system.
  • WinAudit - computer audit and inventory software.
  • EvonSoft - might be worth a look. Executable only. The site has other tools such as Win Mechanic Beta and Advanced Spyware Remover Free Edition
  • Karen's Computer Profiler - is very simple. I do not know if it updates registry. May not keep it.

Free Startup Check Tools
  • Autostart Program Viewer - contains shell extensions the same as ShellExView from sysinternals
  • ShellExView - view and alter shell extensions - seems to lack many file types. May get rid of it
  • Startup List - executable only
  • Runscanner - is another startup checker program. Executable only. The program was created as a "best of both worlds" effort to combine all positive features in similar programs like Hijackthis, Autoruns and Silentrunners. Unlike similar programs, Runscanner connects to an on line database to rate the good and the bad items. The main purpose of the database it to do white listing instead of black listing.

Free Windows Software Sites


Best sites to visit when looking for free software tools Additional sites with collections of free software tools
  • Freeware Wiki - many mini reviews of free software with a weekly Newsletter along with a RSS Feed.
  • WinPenPack - created several packages of free applications that run on a USB Drive.
  • Top Freeware List -  large collection free software that includes a short and simple descriptioins with links.
  • VNUNET.COM - has both free and purchasable tools.

Providers of Freeware

Last Updated:Monday, 21-Jul-2008 19:13:36 CEST