Best Free Software for Windows

Do you have JKDefrag's spacehogger option turned on? I've read on the JKDefrag forums that Windows doesn't "agree" with the way JKD optimizes the placement of those files. If you turn off the spacehogger options, Windows will likely not want to re-defrag the drive. BUT, your system will likely be a bit slower. I'd trust JKD's optimization strategies more than Windows, but that's just my preference. In fact, in XP I've turned off the built-in optimization thing (I used tweakui) because it screws with JKD's placement/optimization schemes.

 

Any suggestion for RocketDock and ObjectDock, please?

 

What do you mean by that, i didn't understand clearly.

 

Which you recommend, either ObjectDock or RocketDock.

 

It doesn't matter much... RocketDock and the free version of ObjectDock are almost identical. I guess I'd give the edge to ObjectDock due to coming with some niftier themes and docklets... even though I'm running RocketDock at the moment.

 

Oh I see. I had download RocketDock and using it now. =)

 

As swarmer said there is barely any differences as plugins for ObjectDock can be used in RocketDock and vise-versa.

 

Anybody knows a good free traffic measure software for XP/Vista? Adequate to a limited internet connection(with monthly traffic limit).

 

I didn't know that... cool.

 

@Calvin:

I'd like to propose the addition of a free utility for "for reading, writing and editing **** information in image, audio and video files" as the author of the utility, Phil Harvey, states more succinctly than I could.

The utility is called Exiftool and can be found, along with a good description of what it does, and how to use it, on the website maintained by Phil Harvey at: http://www.sno.phy.queensu.ca/~phil/exiftool/

I've found it to be a useful tool to help me in sorting and keeping track of the thousands of digital pictures I've amassed that have been taken with at least three different cameras.

It's also useful for those who wish to insert comments into the picture files themselves, or want to insert copyright information into the file.

 

Vista users can do this in Explorer, in the File Properties box under the Details tab. Still, this could be useful for XP users, and I don't know, it might support some file types that Explorer doesn't support for metadata editing.

 

Unless MS greatly expanded that functionality over the equivalent available in XP (file->properties->summary->detailed), file properties doesn't show all of the available EXIF data that's in most digital camera picture files. It also doesn't allow the batch extraction of only certain pertinent data, and, at least in XP, doesn't allow for the same degree of editability. As far as I can tell, ExifTool provides utility above and beyond that provided by WinExplorer, at least in XP.

 

how about adding blender3d somewhere in there, it is a good free 3d editor.

EDIT: sorry forgot to add this but it is safe opensource 3d animation software that i believe can possibly be as powerful as payed software such as maya, i have used it personally and it is good. And it has been used by the blender foundation for multiple movies and games.

 

Add a description as per the contribution guidelines.

 

Safari For Windows should be added to Web BRowsers.

Nice Thread

 

I don't think that Safari could be categorized as "best".

 

Its faster than IE and FF. In my experience and in tests. Ive seen a big speed increase on low end, middle, and high end computers.

 

is there any programs that allow one to "video conference" i guess where more than two people can web cam chat with each other

 

Yahoo, AiM, MSN, etc... one of them probably has the option.

 

I've not run across a free video-conferencing program...if someone can find one, I would loves to have it!

 

GParted looks like a nice free alternative to Partition Magic and Disk Director. Tried their bootable CD version and so far it's been doing what it says. It's almost at par with the commercial ones.

<--- person that has a license of Acronis Disk Director

 

are registry cleaners/compacters/defraggers recommended (like auslogic's registry defrag)? also, a suggestion to have comments on the side of the recommended software like *alternative* for example, for tweaking, which ones should a user get? all? one? I'm specifically referring to CCleaner and PC Decrapifier as RivaTuner is more for OCing? Not too familiar with the rest of them, maybe a short description too? another example is with the PDF readers, which is the best? maybe have ratings like in the security software recommendations...

 

Calvin has decided not to allow reg cleaners and the like on the list because of problems users were experiencing with them, such as registry corruption.

 

That's a good idea, I completely agree with this.

However, I'll state that I've never had any problems with CCleaner's registry cleaner. Make sure, though, that you back up your registry before doing any kind of registry cleaning.

 

Great Thread

 

I see CCleaner on the list, but going through all these pages is very difficult to find comments about its use.

I have been using it without noticing any real problems on my vista home premium but are some parts it getting damaged whenever I use it?

Do you reccomend I use CCleaner only to clean up internet litter?

 

I've never had any problems with CCleaner on any computer I've used (a few here at work and two at home). I'd say that it is very safe.

 

I second that

 

thanks!!!!

 

Wasnt Total Commander on the list at some point?

 

TotalCommander isn't freeware, it is a shareware, which is why it is not suited for this thread. As written on the TC official site:

 

I need some people to test out MPlayer/ SMPlayer for me, I'm not sure how well it runs under Windows as an alternative to CCCP and Media Player Classic, for people using CCCP and Media Player Classic can you install MPlayer/SMPlayer and tell me how it works out for you? Can you play 720p videos without any lag?

 

Calvin, I have both MPlayer and Media Player Classic on my system.
I like Media Player Classic because its very simple but I think MPlayer will be more popular because it is very polished and shiny.

I couldnt play my videos from fraps in either for very long until it gave a codec error, I installed Vista Codec Pack and no missing codecs on either now.

I believe MPlayer should be on the list though Very fine products

 

Alright, thanks for the info. It's perfect here in Linux, i use it with the front-end SMPlayer so i was wondering how good it was in Windows. Give SMPlayer a shot, you might like it more than MPlayer by itself, it's Windows compatible.

 

Anyone considered Blender?
Its a free 3d content creation program.
I dont have a lot of experience with the program, anyone have more experience with it to recommend it?

 

What is the best free email notification program???

Also what is the best program for taking clips or still pictures from movies?

Thanks

 

Email notification program? I use Digsby to check and notify me about new emails from Yahoo and Gmail.
Fraps is the best program for capturing screenshots from video files.

I am looking for a free program like Rational Rose. Does something like that exist?

 

KarenA i downloaded that Fraps and it sounds great but its not working. The window comes up when i open it and i can click very thing but when i hit the hot key to take a screen or video it doesnt work. Is it designed to only work with games? thats what it sounds like according to the help option. It only mentions games. Because i want to use it for movies? For still shots

 

@ TSGB: Almost every Video Playing software has a still capture option in it. VLC will play most formats and allow captures.

 

Thanks i never relized VLC could do that

 

May I humbly suggest that for this fantastic compilatino to be practical, it is necessary to indicate which of the software the more knowledgeable guys would recommend, or some kind of comparison. (This is done in the "Free antivirus" thread, which is great!)

I know, I know - "depends / different preferences / etc" but at least some kind of indicating words such as "most feature rich" or "most well known" and similar notes that simplify to actually use the compilation.

Thank you so much for this compilation!

/Amzg

 

I HIGHLY recommend KMPlayer(The Korean made one, not the Linux one). It works wonderfully and can be tweaked to the likes of which I have never seen. I have yet to find anything it wont play.

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Video/Video-Players/KMPlayer.shtml

Try it out.

 

What program can I use to burn .mp4 files onto a dvd that can be played on a dvd player?

 

thanks alot!

 

Have you tried Infra Recorder

It also burns ISO's if your interested (",)

OB

 

If anyone is interested in setting custom hotkeys, a very simple piece of software goes by the name of "hotkeyz", 100% freeware http://www.download.com/HotKeyz/3000-2344_4-10590793.html

There are more advanced programs, but this is still worth a look.

 

Do have any software that run on Vista and compatible with .tiff format?

 

Try paint/net, it's free and very good.

Paint.Net

OB

 

Please add to Virtualization, Virtual System Tool: Returnil Virtual System 2008 Personal Edition - http://www.returnilvirtualsystem.com/index_files/rvspersonal.htm


Regards,
Peter

 

Possibly add for audio program:

FL Studio www.flstudio.com

It comes as DEMO version, HOWEVER, ALL features are enabled, except you can't save your projects....but... you still can export them as .MP3 files and still keep the program open as long as you want.

its just a possibility, but i basically think its free, unless you want to be freakin' making musical hits with it, you can still compose drum beats and songs just as the full version allows.