The Ever-Growing Free Windows Software List

yousendit.com works good to and as far as i know it works with vista also.

 

The thing about Dropbox, you don't have to install it, you can just use the web interface. However, I recommend downloading it, you can make a "SHARED" folder where you invite your group into that folder, and anything you add into that folder, your group will get the latest version too. If by any chance you guys make an error, the web ui shows all the versions so you can easily restore the version you messed up. The free account gets 2gb free, that should be enough, but right now they are offering up to 3 gb for free if you refer people. I use Dropbox mostly for school, but also for music that I want to have on both my desktop and laptop.

Skydrive also works, I remember using that with my hotmail account a while ago. Like a portable usb but online.

 

Hey, I'm looking for a program(s) that can essentially wipe everything except the essentials off my computer. My new notebook should be arriving soon and my friend wants to buy my old one for his wife. I'd like to be able to erase all personal information and uninstall all non-essential programs. I've done my best to clear what I can, but it's easy to miss things (and I'm sure there are things lurking in the registry).
So basically I'm looking for something as close to reformatting as I can get (my laptop didn't come with a Vista cd, so that's not an option).

 

Buy a new HDD - its impossible to truly erase all data on an HDD.

 

You can never "erase" anything from a HDD, the best you can do is to overwrite all the sectors with 1's or 0's, otherwise the data can still be recovered. If you just want to erase (overwrite) certain files, try Eraser. If you want to erase an entire drive (not a good idea if you don't have a Vista DVD), try Boot and Nuke.

 

Isn't there some sort of hidden/restore partition on your notebook to perform a factory re-install of everything? If that is available, you'd be able to clean off practically everything personal that way (it should do a format/wipe in the process).

 

Media Monkey is awesome and packs so many features at the same time.

 

Yep! It certainly does. But it's already in the list, under the Media section.

 

I'm stun by just looking at the length of the list, some more you're the man the managing it. Great job and keep up the good work!

 

I went looking for something to do "Remote Desktop" when my grandfather got his intrnet connection, and windows remotedesktop didn't want to play along.

(With me "helping")

Going on a search I found this - Team Viewer - it is free for non-commercial private use.
http://www.teamviewer.com

A very uselful tool if you have relatives whoaren't 100% computer savy and need help.

 

Also, there is LogMeIn. It is basically like Teamviewer, but you install the application on the computer you need it on, and control the computer you installed it on through your web browser via either Java, or if you have Firefox, a Firefox extension.

 

Thanks guys for those additions. I added LogMeIn to the Virtual Network Computing section. TeamViewer was already in the list though.

Edit: For LogMeIn, there is a free version which is located at the following page:

https://secure.logmein.com/createaccount.asp

It wasn't apparent from the site's front-page that there is a free option.

 

Splitter and Merger

http://www.splitter.vze.com/

This software hasn't been updated in about 5 years (last update was 3/2004), but can split very large files (at least 4 gigs) into whatever smaller size you'd like. It has the option of creating a self-executable that will merge the files back the way it was before. It's tiny (32KB) and can fit onto a floppy or flash drive and not take up too much space. It works on 32 bit XP, but I don't know if it would work for Vista or Windows 7 (32/64) bit.

 

Are there any Free softwares like

LogMeIn & teamviewer

or just trial ones

 

What do you mean?

Teamviewer is free for non-commercial use.

 

Can't believe I did not add logmein guess I though it would be on the list already.
And so is logmein. The free version at least.

You also need to add Xfire.
DVD-Rip/dvd shrink also if you don't have it.
Orb media streamer

Maybe you can add a section of game demos or free games?
And any of the Koyote software.
Splitcam is a good one I use it to turn my old camcorder into a webcam.
http://www.streammygame.com/smg/index.php

Auslogics registry cleaner
Why have you not added the Image Composite Editor yet?

 

Prish Image resizer (works on vista 32 and x64)

http://prishcom.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!6A6A204ABDF15411!128.entry

Works almost like the XP powertoy image resizer. Right click, and you can choose from certain common, or select your own. You can also preset the quality and where it places the resized pictures.

 

Yeah, Xfire is amazing. It's IM for gamers. I've been using it with my friends for 2 years to manage my games and online friends. It also logs gaming hours.

 

hey offtopic here...is ur avatar taken from an underoath album art? it looks darn familiar but i jus cant remember which band.

 

TaskbarShuffle has just released version 2.5, which now supports 64-bit versions of Windows!

 

About time, 64 bit is kinda important now.

 

This Messed my Laptop
had to do a System restore
so be careful
I have Vista Ultimate 64bit

 

This one should have been on there a long time ago. Not quite sure which section it should go in. Tested by me.

Dropbox - http://www.getdropbox.com/

 

ANy1 knows, Glary Utilites: startup manager works on Windows 7? I really need to postpone start up of some programs. Tried those in the list in this thread for Vista, liked only glary...

Added: I'll try this
http://download.cnet.com/Startup-Delayer/3000-2344_4-10068235.html?tag=mncol

 

...really? What happened? I've never had any problems whatsoever with Taskbar Shuffle, it's never even crashed for me. I have Vista Business 64.

 

When i restarted my AWm17 Laptop
it crashed got the Blue screen & then jammed

would not start up in Normal mode

I had to start it it Safe Mode & do a System Restore

 

man i have been looking for this for Vista.

 

I believe the Powertoy image resizer wasn't made compatible with Vista due to the function being found in Windows Photo Gallery, which actually, for myself, make's looking for and at pictures a better experience than just using explorer to do it.

 

..........

 

Hey all, just looking for a suggestion.

I use google chrome and firefox to web browse, but my internet is very slow and unstable. I just got my new notebook in and have a number of programs I need to download, however, whenever my internet severely slows down (or crashes) my programs stop downloading, and when I can reconnect it shows the download as finished and won't resume. The file obviously won't run since it's incomplete.

So is there some sort of download manager that will automatically pause the download if my connection fails and start back up again when my net comes back on?

 

Addons for firefox
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/201
But if you close download window, it's gone, so it's better for you to have a standalone program. There are tonn.
Try this
http://download.cnet.com/Orbit-Downloader/3000-2071_4-10600926.html?tag=mncol

 

Any one of the 3 listed in the first post are good:

I recommend either Free Download Manager or Orbit Downloader.

 

Free Download Manager definitely does the job

Used that for a norwegian site which had some large files for download.

 

Hey all, I'll be updating the list with all of your suggestions since the last update. I'm planning on re-organizing it very soon, as soon as things settle down with the basement remodeling at home.

Free Download Manager has become my de-facto choice in managing downloads and torrents.

 

I would include the link on download.com
It has a ton of free software.

 

There is a ton of sites that have lists of software. Download.com has a lot more that what is on this list here, but also has many shareware entries. This list here is intended to be shareware-free.

 

worked great, thanks guys.

 

DriverMax, Revo Uninstaller

 

Both are already in the first post

 

For those person who need to know more about what is going on with their computer. I haven't tried it because I think it is seems interesting.

http://www.extensoft.com/?p=free_task_manager

 

Don't the sysinternals tools do the same in the end?

 

I'd say Guru3D-Driver Sweeper belongs on the list under System Cleaners.
It's one of the best tools to remove obsolete VGA driver remnants.
It can be used for " NVIDIA (Display and Chipset), ATI (Display), Creative (Sound) Realtek (Sound), Ageia (PhysX) and Microsoft (Mouse)".
For gamers who (frequently) use new drivers, it's a must-have.
Works on " Windows 2000, XP and Vista, 32-bit and 64-bit versions are supported".
Download link.

 

What happens if you have 2 video cards - like my SZ or the newer Sony Z series?

 

The question for me is, why do I need to remove remnants of old drivers?

 

So they cannot interfere with new drivers.

 

Don't know.
I've never had such a scenario so I never looked into it.

 

Am stupid or has nobody thought of adding the the "Crystal Software" to the list?
For Resource monitoring & 1 tool for benchmarking.

http://crystalmark.info/software/CrystalDiskInfo/index-e.html

 

--

http://rightload.org/

Awesome app, I highly recommend it! Makes things that much easier

 

To Jayayess or anyone else: Have you run into any problems using RegSoft's Free Windows Registry Repair? I ask because I think I may need to clean my registry but I've heard horror stories about programs messing with critical files and causing all kinds of headaches. I admit that I'm afraid to download and run this program.

 

Just use legit registry cleaners like Ccleaner. I use Ccleaner and Glary Utilities(Free). Glary also has registry cleaner and more. Both of those are safe. Been using them both for a very long time now.