Open
Source / Freeware
Windows System Essentials
(To access the download page for the item click item name)
Last Update: 2007-09-11
| Always Need - Install it... NOW! | |
| Often Needed - Depends on how you use your PC. | |
| Rarely Needed - Unlikely to use this unless you're a specialist. | |
| Included in OS Update - Make sure you're updating your OS! |
This
document is aimed at
Windows users.
As such before continuing we would always advise you ensure your
installation of Windows is as up to date as possible.
Windows XP or below:
Visit
Microsoft Update.
Windows Vista
: Control Panel -> Security -> Check for updates.
(When
updating remember to continue " looping" through the update process,
including
all optional updates, until ALL categories show "0" updates).
| Category / Name / Link | Description | ||
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| Microsoft (* = Inc. in Windows. Update) | |||
| ActiveSynch | Synchronise PDAs, SmartPhones, etc with your PC. | ||
| Baseline Security Analyzer | Scan your system for security weaknesses. | ||
| * DirectX | Essential gaming / graphics infrastructure software. | ||
| * dotNET | Essential software for running .NET applications. | ||
| Jet | Windows internal Jet database engine. | ||
| Journal Viewer (+ MUI) | Ability to view Windows Tablet Edition files. | ||
| Malicious Software Remover | Check your system for malicious software. | ||
| MDAC | Windows internal ODBC & OLE database engine. | ||
| * Media Player | Play movie and music files. | ||
| Messenger | Live text / audio / video chat client. | ||
| VBRun | Required to run any Visual Basic 6.0 applications. | ||
| Windows Defender | Tool that helps stop malicious software installing. | ||
| * Windows Installer | Software to help make installation easier & better. | ||
| Windows Script | Scripting system for Windows. | ||
|
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| 3rd Party Runtimes | |||
| GTK+ for Windows | Infrastructure for running many Open Source applications. | ||
| Java | Infrastructure for running Java based software. | ||
| Perl | Infrastructure for running Perl based software. | ||
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| Applications | |||
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| Admin | |||
| AutoStreamer | Application for integrating patches onto install CDs. | ||
| AusLogics Disk Defrag | Excellent disk defragmentation program. | ||
| Cacheman | Modify / Optimise your system cache settings. | ||
| CPU-Z | Get full CPU / Motherboard information. | ||
| Disk Space Reporter | A great disk / file / folder size analysis tool. | ||
| JDiskReport | Review hard disk / system storage usage. | ||
| NTRegOpt | Defragment your system registry. | ||
| PC Wizard | |||
| Sandra Lite | |||
| SpeedFan | Monitor / Manage system fan / cooling devices. | ||
| Aurionix FileUsage | Another file / disk / folder size info tool. | ||
| System Info for Windows | |||
| Tree Size | Review hard disk / system storage usage. | ||
| WinDirStat | Review hard disk / system storage usage. | ||
| StepTree | Review hard disk / system storage usage. | ||
| Unlocker | Unlock system locked files. | ||
| X-SetupPro | Optimise / modify numerous hidden system settings. | ||
| Z-Misc (Various) | |||
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| Connectivity | |||
| BitTorrent | The leading Peer-2-Peer network client. | ||
| FileZilla Client | FTP Client. | ||
| FileZilla Server | FTP Server. | ||
| Firefox | Web Browser, leading alternative to Internet Explorer. | ||
| Free Download Manager | Download accelerator. | ||
| GAIM | Multi-network chat client. (Messenger, ICQ, etc) | ||
| GrabIt | Usenet / NNTP Browser. | ||
| HTTrack | Website Downloader. | ||
| LeechGet | Download accelerator. | ||
| MailEnable | Personal Mail Server. (SMTP, POP3, etc) | ||
| Kompozer | Website creator / editor. | ||
| Spamhilator | Spam filtering tool. | ||
| Thunderbird (Portable) | Email Client, leading alternative to Outlook. | ||
| TightVNC | Remote Desktop Control system (Client & Server) | ||
| Download Managers | |||
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| Media | |||
| Acrobat Reader | Reader for PDF documents. | ||
| PDFCreator | Powerful PDF Creation tool. | ||
| CutePDF | PDF creation (Via "virtual printer") from any software. | ||
| Audacity | Audio editor. | ||
| BentleyView | CAD viewer. | ||
| Blender3D | 3D Rendering / Modelling tool. | ||
| EditPad Lite | Text file editor. | ||
| Flash | Internet multimedia infrastructure. | ||
| GIMP | Powerful image editor. (requires GTK+) | ||
| Inkscape | Capable image editor. (can work with SVG format) | ||
| iTunes | Audio file playing and management. | ||
| IrfanView | Simple multi-format image viewer. | ||
| 7Zip | File compression & uncompression. | ||
| IZArc | File compression & uncompression. | ||
| K-Lite Mega Codec Pack | Play most types of audio & video files. | ||
| Paint.NET | Excellent image editor. | ||
| Shockwave | Complex Internet multimedia infrastructure. | ||
| Simple OCR | Simple, fast & free. | ||
| SyncBackSE | Simple file / folder synchronisation. | ||
| VirtualDubMod | Video editing. | ||
| Winamp | Audio file playing and management. | ||
| CD / DVD | |||
| InfraRecorder | Create Data & Audio CD & DVDs. (MP3 plugin) | ||
| CDex | Backup Audio CD to compressed file (MP3, WAV, Ogg, etc) | ||
| CDBurnerXP Pro | CD / DVD Data. | ||
| ISO Recorder | CD / DVD ISO Images & Copying | ||
| Final Burner | CD / DVD Data & Audio CD from MP3. | ||
| DeepBurner Free | CD / DVD Data & Audio CD from MP3. | ||
| AudioGrabber | AudioCD to MP3. | ||
| MP3 CD Doctor | AudioCD from MP3(s). | ||
| ImgBurn | CD / DVD Image (ISO) Burner / Creator. | ||
| Easy Burning | CD / DVD Data creator. Also many other free CD / DVD tools. | ||
| AVS Disc Creator | CD / DVD / Bluray Data. | ||
| LC ISO Creator | CD / DVD ISO Creator. | ||
| Easy Photo Tools | PhotoCD & PhotoDVD Creation (Advanced) | ||
| Photo VCD | PhotoCD Creation (inc menus) | ||
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| Security | |||
| Ad-Aware SE | System spyware scanner / cleaner. | ||
| AVG Free | Anti-Virus. | ||
| Avast | Anti-Virus. | ||
| CCleaner | Privacy tool. System usage history deletion. | ||
| CWSShredder | System exploit remover. | ||
| HijackThis | System startup review and management. | ||
| Jetico Personal Firewall | Personal Firewall, better than Zone Alarm & far less annoying! | ||
| Comodo | A good range of good security products. | ||
| GRC LeakTest | Test your firewall! | ||
| Spybot | Protect / scan your system against / for malware. | ||
| ZoneAlarm | Personal Firewall, protect your system from attack. | ||
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| Office | |||
| OpenOffice | "Office" suite. (document, spreadsheet, etc) | ||
| OpenProj | Project management tool. (.mpp compatible) | ||
| |||
| Large | |||
| AutoPatcher | Alternative to Windows / Microsoft Update. | ||
| XP | |||
| 2000 | |||
| OS Service Packs; | Official Microsoft Operating System service packs. | ||
| Windows XP SP2 | |||
| Windows 2000 SP4 | |||
| Benchmarking | Test the performance of your system. | ||
| Aquamark | Test the graphical performance of your system. | ||
| 3DMark 03 | Test the graphical performance of your system. | ||
| 3DMark 05 | Test the graphical performance of your system. | ||
| PCMark 04 | Test the overall performance of your system. | ||
| MS Office SPs | Official Microsoft Office service packs. | ||
| 2000 | |||
| XP | |||
| 2003 | |||
| Ultimate Boot CD | An excellent "All in one" boot CD with MANY tools. | ||
| Ultimate Boot CD 4 Windows | The Windows based younger brother of the above! | ||
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| Devices / Drivers | |||
| Display / Graphics Cards | |||
| NVidia | If you use a "gaming" graphics card then it's either Nvidia... | ||
| ATI | or ATI! | ||
| RivaTuner | The best way to "safely" get the most out of your NVidia card. | ||
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| Other Sites | |||
| Open Source Alternative | Very useful site covering similar content to this page. | ||
| A Modest Construct | Another great site like this page. | ||
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