Quick ref of things to load in windows
System Stuff
- Process Explorer for Windows - advanced look at (and control of) processes currently running.
- AutoRuns for Windows - shows what runs on startup and where. You can remove or delete.
- TCPView - Windows program that displays listings of all TCP and UDP endpoints, including the local and remote addresses and state of TCP connections.
- Intel PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software - nice auto wifi control
Tune up/clean up stuff
Some of this taken from Infoworld's 7 free Windows tune-up tools and tips.
- Malwarebytes Anti-Malware - Get rid of malware. Save as alternate name so malware doesn't delete.
- Revo Uninstaller - Remove unused programs
- CCleaner - remove temp files and cleanup windows registry
- Use filehippo.com's Update Checker for latest versions of files
Tools
- 7-Zip - best compression utility for windows
- ActionOutline - keeping random notes...
- Adobe Acrobat
- AxCrypt - file encryption software for Windows.
- AMP WinOFF - Auto power down CPU at scheduled time
- CamStudio - Desktop screen recorder
- ccleaner - clean up junk window files left around
- Classic Shell - DON'T USE - use Open Shell instead - USE for Windows 7 & 8 - old fashioned menu (the one you can customize)
- Copernic Desktop Search - If you can't get Google Desktop because of security concerns...
- CutePDF - creates a pdf via a print driver
- defraggler - defrag file or hard disk.
- Eraser - totally delete old data, disk sectores, etc...
- Filezilla & Filezilla Server - good FTP client and server
- Firefox
- freeFTPd
- freeSSHD
- Greenshot - open source screen grabber
- HWINFO32 - tells you all about machine hw
- ImgBurn - burn ISOs to disk
- ISO Recorder - tool for burning ISOs to CD/DVD
- Keyfinder - finds product keys on your PC if you forget them...
- Kiwi Syslog Daemon
- Klever Pumpkin TFTP server
- kompoZer - WYSIWYG Web-page authoring tool ala Dreamweaver (used to be NVU?)
- Netswitcher
- Notepad++ - good editor
- pingplotter - graphical look at hops along a traceroute
- TweakUI - Powertoy from Microsoft
- Snagit ... (Look at Greenshot as possible free replacement...)
- Stardock Start8 menu - Start Menu for Windows 8
- Synctoy - maybe not the best but works
- SysInternals tools such as:
- autoruns - what starts up automatically
- procexp - process explorer - see what's running and tweak it
- Teraterm
- TightVNC
- TrueCrypt - encrypt a drive or partitian - Byte article...
- recuva - recover deleted files
- Runscanner - show everything that is running, compare to previous scans
- UltraDefrag - defrag system files, registry hives, paging file, NTFS metafile defragmentation, MFT defragmentation, defragging hibernation files, and more.
- VirtualBox - alternative to VMWare
- Virtual CloneDrive - mounts ISOs as virt CD/DVD drives
- ViStart - enhanced start menu for Win XP, 7, and 8
- WinDirStat - nice graphical look at what's taking up space on our harddrive/directories/folders/files
- Wireshark - (ethernet targetted) protocol analyzer
- Xinorbis - look at files and space on harddrive
- XMing - good X display tool
- XML Notepad 2007 - Microsoft tool that makes it easier to edit XML stuff
Code Editors to try
- Aptana Studio free and for cost
- brackets? - open source code editor for html, css, javascript, etc....
- Komodo Edit
- Eclipse
- Scriptly
- UltraEdit - for cost
Audio tools
Video Communication to try
- GizmoProject - competes with skype
- ooVoo - more P2P than Skype. Supports up to six co-videoconferencers, file transfers, and group text chat.
- SightSpeed - Better video quality than ooVoo, less attractive interface. Extras will cost.
VPN on demand options
Possibles
- AbiWord - open-source word processor - lock and feel like MS Word 2003 and earlier
- Allway Sync - Synchronizes folders
- Androsa FileProtector - encrypt files
- Belarc Advisor - tells you about all hardware and every installed program
- bumptop - 3d desktop
- CCleaner - that cleans registry and browser, uninstalls programs, startup folder editor,...
- Digsby - IM client
- DiskCryptor - alternative to TrueCrypt
- EncryptOnClick - Encrypt files with a click - can be de-encrypted with pkzip 9+
- Evernote - synchronize notes across multiple platforms
- Everything - fast windows file finder with FTP integration
- Foxit Reader - Adobe Reader replacement
- GIMP - open source image editor
- Gmail drive - Create A Virtual Gmail Drive On Your Desktop - Byte article
- InfraRecorder - burn/rip CDs/DVDs. Also four methods of erasing discs.
- Launchy - Quick run popup window
- Levelator - adjust audio levesl on files
- Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware - scans PC fo Malware
- OpenProj - open source desktop alternative to Microsoft Project
- Paint.NET - open source light weight image editor
- pdfreaders.org - opensource pdf readers
- pidgin - im client
- Reaper - Rapid Environment for Audio Production, Engineering, and Recording
- rainmeter - customize skins for your desktop - including hw usage meters...
- recuva - file undelete
- rufus - create bootable USB drives
- Restoration - undelete files
- Revo Uninstaller - really really uninstall programs
- Scribus - open-source page layout tool like Pagemaker
- Smultron - editor targetted at developers
- speccy - everything you wanted to know about your computer
- Spicebird - email/calendar/IM/etc built no mozilla base
- SpiderOak - file synchronization via the cloud with security
- System Information for Windows - among other things, grabs licenses - better version costs money
- Textpad for windows - editor targetted at developers
- Trillian - im client
- Universal Viewer (ATViewer) - view all kinds of common files
- Wavosaur - digital audio editing software
- XAMPP - packaged Apache webserver with PHP + PEAR, Perl, mod_php, mod_perl, mod_ssl, OpenSSL, phpMyAdmin, Webalizer, Mercury Mail Transport System for Win32 and NetWare Systems v3.32, Ming, FileZilla FTP Server, mcrypt, eAccelerator, SQLite, and WEB-DAV + mod_auth_mysql
Windows 7 possibles