[Info] List of useful software

[PaLmEr]

Will add more as I go along, contributions from the IT savvy more than welcome!

 

============

 

MICROSOFT Windows Service Packs

Highly recommended for all users

 

Note: It is very important to keep your operating system updated with the latest patches.

Keeping your system updated will ensure that many of the bugs and loopholes are fixed which would prevent many trojans/viruses/bots from taking over your system.

The easiest method will be to use Microsoft Windows Update to patch your system.

Most users would be using the 32 bit versions (x86) of operating systems.

 

The process of upgrading to a new service pack and/or patches involves a check to see if your copy of Windows is not pirated. [read more, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Genuine_Advantage]

Windows 7

Windows 7 Service Pack 1 [Learn how to install] [What's inside SP1?] [Download (x86 and x64)]

 

Windows Vista

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 [Information] [Download (x86)]

 

Windows XP

Windows XP Service Pack 3 [Information] [Download (x86)]

 

 

Apple Mac OS X - "OS Updates"

For Mac users, the "Software Update" utility is used for installing OS updates and security fixes, and even newer versions of software and drivers like iTunes or HP, just to name a few. Apple states that their OS updates and security fixes are what keeps Mac OS X secure from viruses and threats, and is reviewed regularly and released to their users as soon as they find faults.

 

To update your Mac OS X with the "update" listed below that corresponds to what Mac OS X you are using now, at the menubar at the top-left corner of your screen, click the http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/1803/applemenulogo.gif logo >> Software Update

 

Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard)

Mac OS X 10.6.5 update [read more, http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4250]

 

Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)

Mac OS X 10.5.8 update [read more, http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3606]

(note: This is the last "update" released by Apple for the 10.5 Leopard operating system)

 

========================

 

Word Processing

 

OpenOffice

Open Source Office Suite.

Price: Free

Platform: Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, Solaris

Requirements: -

Website: www.openoffice.org

 

Notepad++

Alternative to Windows Notepad, but much more powerful and arranges many open notepads into tabs

Price: Free

Platform: Windows only

Requirements: -

Website: http://notepad-plus-plus.org/

 

Notepad2

Another alternative to the default Windows Notepad.

Price: Free

Platform: Windows only

Website: http://www.flos-freeware.ch/notepad2.html

 

Document Viewers & Converters

 

PDFCreator

Allows you to convert a document into a PDF file

Price: Free

Platform: Windows

Requirements: -

Website: http://sourceforge.net/projects/pdfcreator/

 

PrimoPDF

This also lets you convert any kind of document into a PDF file

Price: Free

Platform: Windows

Requirements: -

Website: http://www.primopdf.com/

 

FoxIt PDF Reader

Don't like Adobe Acrobat? This is a lightweight alternative for you to view PDF files

Price: Free

Platform: Windows

Requirements: -

Website: http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/reader/

 

Picture & Imaging

 

IrfanView

Lets you open (and lightly edit) any kind of image from all the world's known image formats

Price: Free

Platform: Windows

Requirements: -

Website: http://www.irfanview.com/

 

The Gimp

Freeware alternative to Photoshop

Price: Free

Platform: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux

Requirements: See website for OS specific requirements.

Website: http://www.gimp.org/

 

Paint.net

Alternative to Windows Paint, but with more features

Price: Free

Platform: Windows

Requirements: Requires ".NET Framework v3.5 SP1" and alerts you if you do not have that installed.

Website: http://www.getpaint.net/

 

Security (incl. Anti-virus/spyware)

 

Ad-Aware

Anti-spyware (newer version now has added Antivirus capabilities too)

Price: Free

Platform: Windows Vista, XP or 2000 Pro

Website: http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php

 

Spybot S-D

Anti-spyware

Price: Free

Platform: Windows

Requirements: -

Website: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

 

Comodo Internet Security

Antivirus + Anti-spyware + Firewall

Price: Free

Platform: Windows Vista (32bit) or XP

Requirements: -

Website: http://www.comodo.com

 

Avira AntiVir

Antivirus + Anti-spyware

Price: Free

Platform: Windows

Requirements: -

Website: http://www.free-av.com/

 

Avast! Home Edition

Antivirus

Price: Free

Platform: Windows

Requirements: -

Website: http://www.avast.com/

 

ClamWin

Antivirus

Price: Free

Platform: Windows, Windows Server OSes

Website: http://www.clamwin.com/

 

SUPERAntispyware

Anti-spyware:

Detect and Remove Spyware, Adware. Also remove Malware and many other types of threats.

Price: Free

Platform: Windows

Website: http://www.superantispyware.com/

 

Malwarebytes

Anti-spyware:

Identifies and removes malicious software from your computer. When a computer is infected, Malwarebytes removes the infection and restores the machine back to optimum performance.

Price: Free

Platform: Windows

Website: http://www.malwarebytes.org/

 

VundoFix

Anti-spyware (for a specific malware)

Removes Vundo or Vundo-related malware infections: Trojan.Vundo, Trojan.Conhook and other similar infections.

FYI: Vundo infects computers by randomly and spontaneously displaying adverts from WinFixer, Amaena, WinAntiVirus, ErrorSafe, SystemDoctor and DriveCleaner.

Price: Free

Platform: Windows

Website: http://vundofix.atribune.org/

 

Audio & Video

 

VLC Player

A free audio/video/DVD player that has its codecs built-in, so you don't need to install any codecs at all just to view any audio/video.

Price: Free

Platform: Windows, iPhone/iPod Touch

Requirements: -

Website: http://www.videolan.org/vlc

 

MPlayer

Free media player.

Price: Free

Platform: Linux. Windows & Mac OS X.

 

Video Codecs

Codecs allow you to play video formats that your computer doesn't understand. DVD is one of them.

 

K-Lite Codec Pack

A big collection of codecs to allow you to play all kinds of audio, video or DVD on any kind of media player.

Price: Free

Platform: Windows

Requirements: -

Website: http://www.free-codecs.com/download/K_lite_codec_pack.htm

 

Perian

All-in-one video codec for Mac, enables Quicktime to play all kinds of video formats

Price: Free

Platform: Mac OS X

Requirements: -

Website: http://perian.org/

 

Video Converters

Video conversion software lets you convert from one video format to another. Say AVI to MP4.

 

Super ©

This video converter supports many known file formats, including those for Sony PSP, iPod, VCD, DVD, etc...

Price: Free

Platform: Windows

Requirements: -

Website: http://www.erightsoft.com/SUPER.html

Productivity

 

WorkRave

Break reminder, especially useful to help with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Price: Free

Platform: Windows

Requirements: -

Website: http://www.workrave.org/

 

Tools and Utilities

 

VirtualBox

Virtualization software - Run another operating system within your computer. It's like having another PC, but it's virtual, so there's no physical second computer to mess with. Easy way to mess around with Linux or another operating system if you ever wanted to. Owned by Sun Microsystems.

Price: Free

Platform: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Solaris

Requirements: You need the operating system's CD (ie Windows XP CD/Linux CD/etc…) to setup your new virtual PC.

Website: http://www.virtualbox.org/

 

PortableApps

Portable versions of many freeware applications (including some listed here) so you can put on a thumbdrive and take it with you. Also has a launcher for easy access.

Price: Free

Platform: Windows

Requirements: -

Website: http://portableapps.com/

 

LogMeIn (Free version)

Web based remote access solution to allow remote control of ones computer from anywhere via the Internet. Free version provide basic functions (good enough) while paid versions have more advanced features.

Price: Free

Platform: Any kind of computer with an internet browser (IE, Firefox)

Requirements: -

Website: https://secure.logmein.com/US/products/free/

 

CPU-Z

Displays information on the devices in your PC, including Hard Disks, RAM, video card, etc...

Price: Free

Platform: Windows

Requirements: -

Website: http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

 

SpeedFan

Monitors voltages, fan speeds and temperatures in computers with hardware monitor chips....

Price: Free

Platform: Windows

Requirements: -

Website: http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php

 

JKDefrag

Disk defragmenter for Windows

Price: Free

Platform: Windows 2000, XP and above

Requirements: -

Website: http://www.kessels.com/Jkdefrag/

 

Edited March 24, 2011 by redbeacon
Adding software on PaLmEr's behalf

[kmax]

Office Suites

- Openoffice (Open Source) Price: FREE!

 

Video code for all-in-one

http://www.free-codecs.com/download/K_lite_codec_pack.htm

Price: free

[redbeacon]

A small number of us are Mac users too. Would it be useful if I contributed some to the list too? And also, would you like those in a seperate list, or combined but marked with a "(Mac)" suffix?

[CoolieND]

Is this a freeware list or something? If so, for windows...

 

Media Player:

VLC Player (free, portable)

 

Image Editors:

Paint.Net (free, requires .Net Framework from Microsoft)

The Gimp (free)

 

General Text Editor:

Notepad++ (free)

 

Defragmenter:

JKDefrag (free)

 

Other

WorkRave (free, Break reminder)

PDFCreator (free, print to PDF Files)

 

A number of thse can be found on PortableApps.com, which can then be put on a USB drive and used on different computers. Very convenient.

[redbeacon]

CoolieND, hope you don't mind if i organized it a bit so it makes better sense.

 

============

 

Office Suites

- Openoffice (Open Source) Price: FREE!

 

Video codec for all-in-one

- http://www.free-codecs.com/download/K_lite_codec_pack.htm

Price: free

 

- Perian

All-in-one video codec for Mac, enables Quicktime to play all kinds of video formats

Price: Free

Platform: Mac OS X

 

- Super ©

Converts videos from one format to another. Saves them to many known file formats, including those for PSP, iPod, VCD, DVD, etc...

Price: Free

Platform: Windows (All)

 

Media Player:

- VLC Player (free, portable)

 

Image Editors:

- Paint.Net (free, requires .Net Framework from Microsoft)

- The Gimp (free)

 

Text Editors:

- Notepad++ (free)

- Notepad2 (free)

 

Document Readers & Creators

- PDFCreator (free, print to PDF Files)

- PrimoPDF (free, print to PDF files)

- FoxIt PDF Reader (free, lightweight alternative to Adobe PDF Reader)

 

Other

WorkRave (free, Break reminder)

 

Tools and Utilities

- CPU-Z

Displays information on the devices in your PC, including Hard Disks, RAM, video card, etc...

Price: Free

Platform: Windows (All)

 

- JKDefrag

Disk defragmenter for Windows

Price: Free

Platform: Windows 2000, XP and above

Edited November 14, 2010 by redbeacon

[starr]

wow! great! nw can refer to this thread for any new software in need! thnx both of u.

[CoolieND]

CoolieND, hope you don't mind if i organized it a bit so it makes better sense.

 

Not At all, I was leaving it vanilla so that Palmer could more easily format as he liked. But if we're carry the list forward as we add, this works too!

 

============

 

Office Suites

- Openoffice

Open Source Office Suite.

Price: Free

Platform: Multi-platform

Video codec for all-in-one

- http://www.free-codecs.com/download/K_lite_codec_pack.htm

Price: Free

 

- Perian

All-in-one video codec for Mac, enables Quicktime to play all kinds of video formats

Price: Free

Platform: Mac OS X

 

- Super ©

Converts videos from one format to another. Saves them to many known file formats, including those for PSP, iPod, VCD, DVD, etc...

Price: Free

Platform: Windows (All)

 

Media Player:

- VLC Player

Free media player, uses own codecs.

Price: Free

Platform: Multi-platform

 

- Mplayer

Free media player.

Price: Free

Platform: Linux. Windows & Mac OS X experimental.

 

Image Editors:

- Paint.Net

Better alternative to Paint, requires .Net Framework which can be downloaded from Microsoft.

Price: Free

Platform: Windows

 

- The Gimp

Freeware alternative to Photoshop.

Price: Free

Platform: Multi-platform

 

Text Editors:

- Notepad++

Alternative to Notepad, but much more powerful, multi-tabbing.

Price: Free

Platform: Multi-platform

 

- Notepad2

Price: Free

 

Document Readers & Creators

- PDFCreator

Allows you to print a document into a PDF file.

Price: Free

Platform: Windows

 

- PrimoPDF

Print to PDF files.

Price: Free

 

- FoxIt PDF Reader

Lightweight alternative to Adobe PDF Reader.

Price: Free

 

Other

- WorkRave

Break reminder, especially useful to help with Carpel Tunnel

Price: Free

Platform: Windows

 

- VirtualBox

Virtualization software to allow usage of multiple OS's on one computer. Easy way to mess around with Linux if you ever wanted to. Owned by Sun.

Price: Free

Platform: Multi-platform

 

- PortableApps

Portable versions of many freeware applications (including some listed here) so you can put on a thumbdrive and take it with you. Also has a launcher for easy access.

Price: Free

Platform: Windows

 

Tools and Utilities

- CPU-Z

Displays information on the devices in your PC, including Hard Disks, RAM, video card, etc...

Price: Free

Platform: Windows (All)

 

- SpeedFan

Monitors voltages, fan speeds and temperatures in computers with hardware monitor chips....

Price: Free

Platform: Windows

 

- JKDefrag

Disk defragmenter for Windows

Price: Free

Platform: Windows 2000, XP and above

 

Security

- Adaware

Malware & Spyware detector/remover.

Price: Free

Platform: Windows Vista, XP or 2000 Pro

 

- Spybot S-D

Malware & Spyware detector/remover.

Price: Free

Platform: Windows

 

- Comodo CIS

Antivirus and Firewall all-in-one package.

Price: Free

Platform: Windows Vista (32bit) or XP

 

- Avira AntiVir

Antivirus software.

Price: Free

Platform: Multi-platform

[starr]

hmm.. anysoftware for audio recording management? like acid pro that sort?

[scoobydoo]

howdee, i'ld like to contribute 2 freewares to the list:

 

a) avast! Home Edition

http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html

 

this antivirus hasn't failed me since i started using in 2002... free but yet "virustight"

i've tried norton, pc-cilin/trend micro, AVG, mcafee, still feel that this is among the best at no cost. but need annual renewal of registration key (free) required. apart from free, what i like most is its auto updates are daily basis. only complain is that it slows down my NB a fair bit during updating (usually upon bootup), after that its ok.

 

b) Logme In Free

https://secure.logmein.com/products/free/

 

i've used this web based free remote access software for a couple of years at it really works; controled/accessed my home PC (left on) from work and sometimes overseas. you'll need to install an smallish software in the PC/NB you want to remotely control and leave it/them on.

the free version doesn't allow transfer of files between the connected PC but hey, just remotely email the required files to your desired location or upload it to webmail.

 

============

 

Office Suites

- Openoffice

Open Source Office Suite.

Price: Free

Platform: Multi-platform

 

Video codec for all-in-one

- http://www.free-codecs.com/download/K_lite_codec_pack.htm

Price: Free

 

- Perian

All-in-one video codec for Mac, enables Quicktime to play all kinds of video formats

Price: Free

Platform: Mac OS X

 

- Super ©

Converts videos from one format to another. Saves them to many known file formats, including those for PSP, iPod, VCD, DVD, etc...

Price: Free

Platform: Windows (All)

 

Media Player:

- VLC Player

Free media player, uses own codecs.

Price: Free

Platform: Multi-platform

 

- Mplayer

Free media player.

Price: Free

Platform: Linux. Windows & Mac OS X experimental.

 

Image Editors:

- Paint.Net

Better alternative to Paint, requires .Net Framework which can be downloaded from Microsoft.

Price: Free

Platform: Windows

 

- The Gimp

Freeware alternative to Photoshop.

Price: Free

Platform: Multi-platform

 

Text Editors:

- Notepad++

Alternative to Notepad, but much more powerful, multi-tabbing.

Price: Free

Platform: Multi-platform

 

- Notepad2

Price: Free

 

Document Readers & Creators

- PDFCreator

Allows you to print a document into a PDF file.

Price: Free

Platform: Windows

 

- PrimoPDF

Print to PDF files.

Price: Free

 

- FoxIt PDF Reader

Lightweight alternative to Adobe PDF Reader.

Price: Free

 

Other

- WorkRave

Break reminder, especially useful to help with Carpel Tunnel

Price: Free

Platform: Windows

 

- VirtualBox

Virtualization software to allow usage of multiple OS's on one computer. Easy way to mess around with Linux if you ever wanted to. Owned by Sun.

Price: Free

Platform: Multi-platform

 

- PortableApps

Portable versions of many freeware applications (including some listed here) so you can put on a thumbdrive and take it with you. Also has a launcher for easy access.

Price: Free

Platform: Windows

 

- LogMe In - Free

Web based remote access solution to allow remote control of ones computer from anywhere via the Internet. Free version provide basic functions (good enough) while paid versions have more advanced features.

Price: Free

Platform: Web based

 

Tools and Utilities

- CPU-Z

Displays information on the devices in your PC, including Hard Disks, RAM, video card, etc...

Price: Free

Platform: Windows (All)

 

- SpeedFan

Monitors voltages, fan speeds and temperatures in computers with hardware monitor chips....

Price: Free

Platform: Windows

 

- JKDefrag

Disk defragmenter for Windows

Price: Free

Platform: Windows 2000, XP and above

 

Security

- Adaware

Malware & Spyware detector/remover.

Price: Free

Platform: Windows Vista, XP or 2000 Pro

 

- Spybot S-D

Malware & Spyware detector/remover.

Price: Free

Platform: Windows

 

- Comodo CIS

Antivirus and Firewall all-in-one package.

Price: Free

Platform: Windows Vista (32bit) or XP

 

- Avira AntiVir

Antivirus software.

Price: Free

Platform: Multi-platform

 

- avist! Home Edition

Antivirus software.

Price: Free

Platform: Multi-platform

[PaLmEr]

updated first post. Please quote from there.

 

Many thanks to those who have been diligently contributing.

[accifree]

hmm.. anysoftware for audio recording management? like acid pro that sort?

You can try Audacity

[wait4me]

this is great

ups for palmer

[CoolieND]

You can try Audacity

 

Audacity is very good, and if that's what you need, Great! But if you want something with a wider scope, look up Traverso DAW (esp for Windows) or Ardour (Linux/Mac only).

 

My pick would be Ardour, but you'll have to get used to Linux or Mac OS X. They would have a Windows version (and they've publically said they've got an internal build), but there are some long-standing reasons for it not, the main one of which is why FOSS should bother supporting Windows.

[MoonRunX]

Hm...am I the only one that would like to see this sticked? Its like the first time PsiKo posted something useful...it needs to be remembered

Edited August 11, 2009 by redbeacon
You have included a link to a pharmaceutical website, which is indeed spam. Please refrain from doing this.

[kiwi_nz]

heres a couple i use

 

image editing "Infranview"

 

remote assitance "Teamveiwer"

[m0bIlEnErD]

...................

Edited February 28, 2011 by m0bIlEnErD

[m0bIlEnErD]

.....................

Edited February 28, 2011 by m0bIlEnErD

[fizice]

what about linux/un*x users?

[redbeacon]

The list of useful software has been updated. Check out the very first post by PaLmEr [jump to it]

[redbeacon]

what about linux/un*x users?

 

*nix users are more than welcome to contribute as well. A handful of people here surf SBF on Linux computers.

 

==

 

The software list has been updated.

[Pandoras Kitten 3]

Security:

 

Need to add AVG Free and Microsoft Security Essentials.

 

These are both very unintrusive and effective antivirus softwares (free too) and help with internet security too.

 

They both have options that allow automatic scanning of removable media like thumbdrives preventing your computer from virus/trojan infections from friends.

 

For maximum anti malware firepower, use both Super! antispyware and Malwarebytes.

 

It also helps to pre-emptively scan computers suspected of trojan infection with VundoFix which destroys automatically a lot of very annoying and hard to detect malware like Vundo.

[taengoo]

AVG IMO is not very useful :~

[crazydj]

AVG IMO is not very useful :~

 

AVG was very useful back in the day... until it became like norton instead and took up too many resources...

[ithorlick]

Avast anyone?