[Bex]

This is to, hopefully, complement my "What programs/apps do you HAVE to install on a new computer?" thread.

I've created a list of some of the must have free-ware apps to get the most out of your computer. Obviously, there will be more than what's on this list depending on your needs, these are just the basics.
If there's anything missing that you think ought to be added just let me know .


Essentials: Protection

Ad-aware 2007 Ad-Aware 2007 Plus provides powerful protection that detects deceptive malware and spyware applications before they integrate into your PC and steal your personal information.

AVG Free Edition 8.0 The free edition of AVG Anti-Virus Software

CCleaner Just as regular exercise is good for your health, a regular workout for your hard disk is recommended. Windows has its own tools for doing this, but CCleaner makes a slightly better job of it.
The application is free to use and shows the door to all kinds of temporary files, from temporary internet files to old automatic back-ups from application such as Office XP and file sharing software. It also shakes out old entries from your computer's registry, such as unistallers and invalid shortcuts. The makers guarantee that it contains no apyware or adware.

Spybot Search and Destroy As with viruses, spyware has caused such controversy that a number of software programmers have developed utilities to eliminate it.

Perhaps the most complete freeware tool is Spybot Search and Destroy. This not only sniffs out and removes any hidden fiends, it can also immunise your system against over 400 different spies.


Essentials: Other

DivXInstaller DivX for Windows includes the DivX Codec, the DivX Web Player and the DivX Player with support for DVD features like menus, subtitles and multiple audio tracks and offers everything you need to enjoy high-quality DivX videos including DivX HD movies.

Flash Player Install the flash player to view flash based websites.

Foxit PDF Reader When it comes to PDF readers, the abundance of free and competent titles suggests that the need for anymore is unnecessary. The Foxit PDF Reader is, however, slightly different.

With a download size of less than 2.5MB, Foxit is an extremely light and speedy PDF reader with an almost non-existent installation process.
This makes it extremely portable; just slip it on a USB key or CD and you can use it anywhere with little fuss.
Unlike many mainstream readers, Foxit is not resident on your PC so it doesn't sap anymore memory than it should. Obviously, this does mean fewer features but the simplicity and portability of the software easily makes up for this shortfall.

IZArc IZArc is the ultimate freeware archive utility supporting many archive formats like: 7-ZIP, A, ACE, ARC, ARJ, B64, BH, BIN, BZ2, BZA, C2D, CAB, CDI, CPIO, DEB, ENC, GCA, GZ, GZA, HA, IMG, ISO, JAR, LHA, LIB, LZH, MDF, MBF, MIM, NRG, PAK, PDI, PK3, RAR, RPM, TAR, TAZ, TBZ, TGZ, TZ, UUE, WAR, XXE, YZ1, Z, ZIP, ZOO.

Open Office 2.4.0 The freeware alternative to Microsoft Office.

OpenOffice components include word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, drawings, data charting, formula editing, a database, and file conversion facilities (including those for Microsoft Office formats).

QuickTime Alternative QuickTime Alternative will allow you to play QuickTime files (.mov, .qt, .3gp and other extensions) without having to install the official QuickTime Player. It also supports QuickTime content that is embedded in webpages.


Web Browsers:

Firefox 2.0.14 Very popular alternative to Internet Explorer.

The award-winning Web browser is now even faster, more secure, and fully customizable to suit your online life. With Firefox 2, we’ve added powerful new features that make your online experience even better.

Firefox 3.0 Beta 5 (English UK) / (English USA) The Mozilla Foundation has released the latest beta for Firefox 3, which includes more than 750 alterations and fixes.
The new beta includes fixes for memory problems that have been plaguing users, as well as a blocking system that will prevent the showing of pages that are known to be forgeries.
Anti-malware code is also being built in, and parents will have the option of blocking certain content.
Other improvements include automatic shutting down of outdated and insecure plug-ins, and easier removal of third-party applications.
The new browser is expected to go out on final release in June, but Mozilla is adamant that it will not be tied down to a release schedule if it means putting out buggy code.

Firefox Portable Edition The portable edition of the great web browser Firefox

Flashget FlashGet promises fast downloads, and on the whole it delivers. It is different to many download managers in that it is integrated into the browser toolbar (IE and Netscape, Firefox and Opera via optional plug-in).


Email

Thunderbird Thunderbird 2 features many new enhancements to help you better manage your unruly inbox, and stay informed. Thunderbird 2 scales to the most sophisticated organizational needs while making it easy to find what you need.

Windows Live Installer Currently this service allows users to select and install the following Windows Live software applications:

• Windows Live Messenger
• Windows Live Mail
• Windows Live Photo Gallery
• Windows Live Writer
• Windows Live Toolbar
• Windows Live OneCare Family Safety

Messengers

Windows Live Installer Currently this service allows users to select and install the following Windows Live software applications:

• Windows Live Messenger
• Windows Live Mail
• Windows Live Photo Gallery
• Windows Live Writer
• Windows Live Toolbar
• Windows Live OneCare Family Safety

Messenger Plus! Live Messenger Plus! Live is an add-on for Windows Live Messenger from Microsoft. Messenger Plus! adds numerous features to Messenger to make it more enjoyable. Features include the ability to have a multi-chat within one window, by making use of tabs to control your chat – much like the tab function you’ll see in Mozilla Firefox. No need to open a new chat window.

Trillian Trillian is a great Instant Messenger that's fully compatible with all the other major services: MSN Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger, ICQ, Yahoo Messenger and IRC.


Media:

DivXInstaller DivX for Windows includes the DivX Codec, the DivX Web Player and the DivX Player with support for DVD features like menus, subtitles and multiple audio tracks and offers everything you need to enjoy high-quality DivX videos including DivX HD movies.

DVD Shrink DVD Shrink is a software application that allows you to backup your DVD disks. You can use this software in conjunction with DVD burning software of your choice, to make a backup copy of any DVD video disk.

DVD Shrink does not burn DVDs! The output from DVD Shrink is saved as files on your hard drive, which you can then burn to a DVD-R using separate burning software, such as the software provided with your DVD-R drive.

FinalBurner FinalBurner is a freeware alternative to expensive CD and DVD burners. This 4-Mb application enables you to create data, audio, DVD disks and burn them onto any type of media, such as CD R/RW, DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, DVD DL.

Media Monkey MediaMonkey is a music manager and media jukebox for serious music collectors and iPod users. It catalogues your CDs, OGG, WMA, MPC, FLAC, APE, WAV and MP3 audio files.

QuickTime Alternative QuickTime Alternative will allow you to play QuickTime files (.mov, .qt, .3gp and other extensions) without having to install the official QuickTime Player. It also supports QuickTime content that is embedded in webpages.

RipIt4Me Used in conjunction with DVDShrink to remove DVD encryption.

VLC Player VLC (initially VideoLAN Client) is a highly portable multimedia player for various audio and video formats, including MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DivX, MP3, and OGG, as well as for DVDs, VCDs and various streaming protocols.


Graphics:

Gimp The free alternative to Photoshop

Irfanview Irfanview is a great utility for opening and saving in a vast range of graphics file formats as well as performing a reasonable amount of manipulation along the way.

Paint.NET Paint.net is intended to be a replacement for the free MS Paint software provided with all Windows operating systems.It offers many of the powerful features found in commercial editors, including the ability to work on multiple layers, full transparent PNG support, unlimited history, and a plethora of visual effects.


Fun and Other:

Arcade Classic Pack Arcade Classic Arcade Pack includes nine games: Asteroids, PacMan, Frogger, Hexxagon, Pong, Snake, Space Invaders, Tetris, and Tic Tac Toe. The software includes online score-keeping capabilities so you can compete against players worldwide.

Damn NFO Viewer DAMN NFO Viewer is an utility designed for viewing text files containing ASCII Art (e.g. nfo files), and it proved itself to be handy.

So, if you're fed up with starting some DOS-like file manager each time you need to view nfo file, or ain't too happy with the viewer you use, or (worst case) use Notepad - give this little tool a try.

Font Explorer With no supplied font manager, managing your Windows-based fonts isn't always easy. Which fonts do you have installed? How do you move your old fonts across to your new system? If you work with fonts on a daily basis, you'll want a tool which will enable you to quickly add/remove, preview and manage your collection.

ImgBurn ImgBurn is a tool that is designed to manage and create ISO distribution images. If you have an ISO you want to burn to CD/DVD, simply select the ISO image and burn. If you want to create your own ISO image, simply select the files you want to add to your image and save the contents to your hard drive.

RKLauncher for Vista RK Launcher is a free application that will allow the user to have a visually pleasing bar at the side of the screen that is used to quickly launch shortcuts. With support for themes, PNG's and ICO's and with smooth amazing animations, RK Launcher is a versatile and great taskbar replacement.


Taskbar Shuffle Taskbar Shuffle is a simple, small, free utility that lets you drag and drop your Windows taskbar buttons to rearrange them.

XNeat XNeat Windows Manager adds additional features to the Windows taskbar and system tray, that enables you to minimize any window to an icon in the system tray (instead of the taskbar), keep any window on top, set a custom transparency level, and also hide any window or tray icon, furthermore the program allows you to re-arrange the order of the taskbar buttons by simply dragging them around.