Windows recommended apps

[Silenus]

The following is a list of software programs that members of the community have determined to be useful for a number of reasons. Links to each program either directs to the download page on the owner/company's website, or to a major download server (such as File Hippo, which is a very fast server and has a large number of these programs on their site). Some programs such as Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop are not available for free, but links have been provided for information on how to purchase them.

Antivirus:
NOD32
AVG
Kaspersky

Spyware:
Spybot - Search & Destroy
Ad-Aware Personal
Spyware Blaster
Webroot Spysweeper
Sunbelt Counterspy

Firewall:
Agnitum Outpost Firewall PRO 4.0. Protects all types of network connectivity and detects and defends all types of hacker attacks.
Sunbelt Kerio Personal Firewall (the easiest of all firewalls).
Comodo Personal Firewall.

Disk defragmentation:
O&O defrag
Diskeeper pro
PerfectDisk

Video and Audio Encoder/Converter/Authoring:
Xillsoft video encoder
Easy CD-DA extractor, ripper and converter
Nero Wave Editor
Adobe Premiere Elements
SUPER© audio encoder
dB Power AMP music converter - Convert dozens of formats with additional plugins
AutoGnot GK. Free tool that converts VOB files to XviD of desired quality.
Adobe Premiere Elements. Edit your videos and background track on a timeline. Add special effects, edit the exposure, add font/images and more.
Adobe Encore DVD. Semi-professional DVD authoring product with Photoshop integration. Offers broad functionality.
LameFE. Can rip CD's and/or convert audio files, as well as recognize music using acoustic fingerprinting to properly rename files.

Audio apps.:
Cue Splitter - Split albums that come as single MP3s into tracks using a cue file.
Tag&Rename - Mass edit MP3 ID tags, freedb support and more
Album Cover Art Downloader - Semi-automatically add album art to all your MP3s
Last.fm client - Logs all the music you play to your last.fm profile
MusicBrainz Picard allows acoustic fingerprinting too.

File compression, extraction:
Winrar
7zip
IZarc.
Video player:
VLC
MPC
WMP

Audio player:
Winamp
Jet Audio
Foobar2000

Audio and Video Codecs:
ffdshow for audio/video decoding and all that jazz
Klite codec pack
Combined Community Codec Pack
Core AVC
Vista codec pack
Divx codec
Xvid codec

Screen/Video Capture:
Camtasia Studio
SnagIt 8.0
FRAPS (screenshot capturing & recording videos)

Tools:
Unlocker (Able to delete, move and rename protected files)
Crap Cleaner (Delete temp files on your pc and able to clean your registry)
Driver Cleaner Pro (for making sure your old drivers are gone)
Hacha (Great file splitter).
Tuneup Utilities does a lot of maintenance and optimization to your PC
Launchy. allows you to search for stuff like the Vista search feature in the start menu.
System mechanic.
File Splitter. Allows users to split large files into seperate chunks of custom sizes. Chunks can be recompiled later.
AutoPatcher. Saves time for new installations btw. Getting the full package is recommended.

Encryption:
PGP Desktop Pro 9. Powerful technology for encrypting entire hard-drives or single files.

Web Browser:
Firefox
Internet Explorer 7
Opera
K-Meleon.

Web Browser Tools:
Google toolbar: allows suggested hits.
TCP Optimizer. increase Internet speed.
AM-Deadlink Removes duplicate bookmarks, and checks existing ones for validity. No more dead links.
Httrack. Handy to make a duplicate copy of a loved website.
Word Viewer 2003, Excel Viewer 2003, and Powerpoint Viewer 2003. Noone needs MS Office just to read those docs.

Chat Clients:
mIRC
Windows Live messenger
Yahoo! messenger
Trillian Pro
X-chat

Download Accelerator:
DAP
Free Download Accelerator
GetRight

Bittorrent client:
µtorrent
Azureus

P2P software:
Bitspirit
Ares
Ratio Master
KCeasy.
Shareaza. Open-source EDonkey2000, Gnutella, BitTorrent and Gnutella2 client. Customiseable, feature-packed and skinnable.
eMule. Popular ed2k client for finding those rarer files.

Virtual Optical Drive:
Daemon Tools
Alcohol 120% (makes perfect images, burns to discs, includes virtual drive)
Magic ISO
Alcohol 52%

Office Suites:
Microsoft Office
OpenOffice

Remote Access, Servers:
Ultravnc
dynDNS (for easy remote login of your personal computer)
RealVNC
WAMP. Allows Windows users to run their PC as a server. Combines MySQL, apache, PHP and more.

PDF file viewer:
Adobe Reader
Foxit Reader

CD/DVD software:
Nero
DVD Decrypter
ImgBurn
Deepburner

Image (graphics) Viewer:
IrfanView
FastStone Image ACDSee 8.0Viewer.
XNVIEW, wich shockingly supports many times more formats (even PS1 TIMs and EA pics!!) out of the box, and features a easy browser interface.

Image Editing:
Adobe Photoshop 10.0 CS3
Paint Shop Pro
GIMP. very good image editing program.
Paint.NET (requires the .NET framework btw, surprisingly, stunning)
CellSea. Online Image editor

Overclocking:
CPU-Z
SuperPi Mod
RivaTuner
SP2004 Orthos
Lavalys Everest
MBM5
A64info
A64Tweaker
Speedfan
Clockgen.

Virtual Machine utilities.:
VMware Player. To use a virtual machine.
VMware converter. To actually make a virtual machine from YOUR very actual windows system.

Exploring the world:
Google Earth. Uses higher quality commercial maps.
WorldWind. WP article. VEERY versatile. Has considerably more display-able stuff than the 'basic' Google Earth. 2x less accurate maps though.

Visual styles and themes.:
BricoPack full conversion themes for XP (NOT recommended with XP64).
Icon packager: change icons.
Windows Blind.
Tuneup styler, inside of Tune up utilities.

Big thanks to dashboardy, mogster, Hard core Rikki and all our mates here for their recommendations.
If you would like to add to the list, please make a suggestion in this thread. Only recommend applications that you have personally used.

I’ll keep updating this post with your advice.

__________________

--ASUS G50VT-X1 - P8400 2.5GHZ - Geforce 9800GS 512MB - HDD 320GB - 4GB DDR2 800MHZ - WINDOWS 7 64 BIT - ZALMAN NC2000--

...Mis sueños son mentiras que algun día dejarán de serlo...

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Last edited by Silenus; June 27th, 2007 at 02:30..

[RZetlin]

I would not call video and audio encoder converter and download accelerator as essential tools.

My essentials to add to the list are:

-Spybot Search and Destroy
-Ad-aware
-If using Windows, all the Windows updates and service packs

__________________
AMD Athlon 64 3700+ | 2 GB RAM | XFX Nvidia 6800 GS 256 MB XXX Edition | Win XP Pro SP3
"Asu no Egao no Tame ni!" - So We Can Smile Tomorrow!
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/RZetlin

[Silenus]

I know I threw a lot more than the essential to the list.

Thanks for your recommendations.
I like to use Ad-aware.

__________________

--ASUS G50VT-X1 - P8400 2.5GHZ - Geforce 9800GS 512MB - HDD 320GB - 4GB DDR2 800MHZ - WINDOWS 7 64 BIT - ZALMAN NC2000--

...Mis sueños son mentiras que algun día dejarán de serlo...

[industrian]

RealAnime 5 for encoding movie files.
Foxit Reader for PDF files.
Media Player Classic for ... take a guess.

[Silenus]

Thanks.
I was guessing about VLC and MPC.
Which is better?

__________________

--ASUS G50VT-X1 - P8400 2.5GHZ - Geforce 9800GS 512MB - HDD 320GB - 4GB DDR2 800MHZ - WINDOWS 7 64 BIT - ZALMAN NC2000--

...Mis sueños son mentiras que algun día dejarán de serlo...

[industrian]

I use Media Player Classic for my video files and individual music files (WMP is used if i want to listen to full albums) and it's just a personal preference to be honest. My university's computer's default media player is VLC and it annoys me. I'm not sure if VLC Player is, but Media Player Classic is a one-program solution. No installation required.

And on a similar note: Utorrent.

[Silenus]

I use MPC, but sometimes I want to increase the brightness in movies but that is a hassle.

And on a similar note: Utorrent.

Yes I was forgetting about this too.
Thanks man.

__________________

--ASUS G50VT-X1 - P8400 2.5GHZ - Geforce 9800GS 512MB - HDD 320GB - 4GB DDR2 800MHZ - WINDOWS 7 64 BIT - ZALMAN NC2000--

...Mis sueños son mentiras que algun día dejarán de serlo...

[industrian]

To suggest other programs:

Driver Cleaner Pro for making sure your old drivers are gone.
Daemon Tools for all your virtual drive needs.
DVD Decrypter for all your... er ... DVD Decrypting needs.
ffdshow for audio/video decoding and all that jazz.

[Cid Highwind]

Media Player Classic
Real Alternative
Quick Time Alternative
uTorrent
Firefox
Winrar
Acrobat Reader

I just switched from DAP to Free Download Accelerator, it's a lot cleaner, still getting used to it though. Getting good speeds so far and it doesn't look as add loaded.

__________________

PC Specs:
CPU: Intel Q8200 @ 2.8GHz
GPU: Sapphire ATi HD4870 / 1024MB / Core: 801 / Mem: 1000
Mobo: Gigabyte EP35-DS3 (rev 2.1)
SPU: Creative X-Fi Xtreme Music
RAM: 2GB Kingston HyperX DDR2 1066 @ 4-4-4-12 ~ 800MHz
HDD: 1TB Samsung Spinpoint, 32MB
PSU: Hiper Type-R 580W
Monitor: Iiyama B2403WS / 1920*1200

Geometry Wars: 198.400
Lumines: 999.999

Join the NGEmu Folding @ Home community NOW!

[D.D.]

for PDF, i use FoxIt.

__________________

1. Small, Cheap, Powerful - you can have only two
2. Everytime you engineer something foolproof, the world comes up with a better idiot.
3. 「学問とは虚栄である。」

The PS3 Cell Processor Explained Page, IBM Research's Introduction to Cell Multiprocessor and Cell Processor Programming Guide

[RPGW1ZaRD]

Well apps I like are

Antivirus:
NOD32

Spyware:
Spybot - Search & Destroy
Ad-Aware

Defragment utility:
PerfectDisk
Windows one (cuz it's quick)

Video Player:
Can't really say which one I like better
MPC
VLC

Audio Player:
Winamp

Video Encoding:
VirtualDub

Codec:
Koepi's Xvid
ffdshow (if needed)

Image Viewer:
IrfanView

Virtual CD drive:
DAEMON Tools

Burning Utility:
Nero
DVD Decrypter

Overclocking:
CPU-Z
SuperPi Mod
RivaTuner
SP2004 Orthos
Lavalys Everest
MBM5
A64info
A64Tweaker

Other tools:
FRAPS (screenshot capturing & recording videos)
nLiteOS (slipstream/remove components & services from your OS and create unattended setups and integrated Service Packs, drivers & hotfixes to your Windows Install CD)

__________________

« Feel free to browse through PCSX2 screenshots on RPGWiZaRD's Putfile.com section »

Intel® Core™2 Duo E8400 @ 4.0GHz «-» Gigabyte P35-DS4 «-» CellShock 2x1GB @ DDR2-1200 5-5-4-10 «-» JetWay 8800GT 512 MB @ 705/1750/1015 MHz «-» Thermaltake ToughPower 750W «-» Sony Multiscan G400 19" CRT «-» OCZ Vendetta 2 «-» Creative SoundBlaster Audigy «-» Logitech X-530 5.1 «-» Sennheiser HD 212 Pro «-» Logitech MX™518 Gaming-Grade «-» Razer Mantis Speed «-» Windows XP Pro SP3 «-» Windows Server 2k8 XSOS 3.0 BETA

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Last edited by RPGW1ZaRD; January 3rd, 2007 at 21:42..

[D.D.]

i think diskeeper pro is also a good defragmenter and is relatively quick and can be very powerful as well.

__________________

1. Small, Cheap, Powerful - you can have only two
2. Everytime you engineer something foolproof, the world comes up with a better idiot.
3. 「学問とは虚栄である。」

The PS3 Cell Processor Explained Page, IBM Research's Introduction to Cell Multiprocessor and Cell Processor Programming Guide

[RPGW1ZaRD]

Originally Posted by D.D.

i think diskeeper pro is also a good defragmenter and is relatively quick and can be very powerful as well.

I didn't like Diskkeeper at all. PerfectDisk is the only 3rd party defragment application I like other than Windows one. The latest version of PerfectDisk seems to do a more efficient defragment job than the rivals according to some review.

__________________

« Feel free to browse through PCSX2 screenshots on RPGWiZaRD's Putfile.com section »

Intel® Core™2 Duo E8400 @ 4.0GHz «-» Gigabyte P35-DS4 «-» CellShock 2x1GB @ DDR2-1200 5-5-4-10 «-» JetWay 8800GT 512 MB @ 705/1750/1015 MHz «-» Thermaltake ToughPower 750W «-» Sony Multiscan G400 19" CRT «-» OCZ Vendetta 2 «-» Creative SoundBlaster Audigy «-» Logitech X-530 5.1 «-» Sennheiser HD 212 Pro «-» Logitech MX™518 Gaming-Grade «-» Razer Mantis Speed «-» Windows XP Pro SP3 «-» Windows Server 2k8 XSOS 3.0 BETA

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Last edited by RPGW1ZaRD; January 3rd, 2007 at 21:47..

[Cid Highwind]

I did like it, got it because Killjoy recommended it to me, great app imo.

__________________

PC Specs:
CPU: Intel Q8200 @ 2.8GHz
GPU: Sapphire ATi HD4870 / 1024MB / Core: 801 / Mem: 1000
Mobo: Gigabyte EP35-DS3 (rev 2.1)
SPU: Creative X-Fi Xtreme Music
RAM: 2GB Kingston HyperX DDR2 1066 @ 4-4-4-12 ~ 800MHz
HDD: 1TB Samsung Spinpoint, 32MB
PSU: Hiper Type-R 580W
Monitor: Iiyama B2403WS / 1920*1200

Geometry Wars: 198.400
Lumines: 999.999

Join the NGEmu Folding @ Home community NOW!

[D.D.]

Originally Posted by RPGW1ZaRD

I didn't like Diskkeeper at all. PerfectDisk is the only 3rd party defragment application I like other than Windows one. The latest version of PerfectDisk seems to do a more efficient defragment job than the rivals according to some review.

can you explain why?

__________________

1. Small, Cheap, Powerful - you can have only two
2. Everytime you engineer something foolproof, the world comes up with a better idiot.
3. 「学問とは虚栄である。」

The PS3 Cell Processor Explained Page, IBM Research's Introduction to Cell Multiprocessor and Cell Processor Programming Guide

[Silenus]

Thanks for the info guys.
And about codecs...

I don't want to use a codec pack, which are the best codecs I should get?

__________________

--ASUS G50VT-X1 - P8400 2.5GHZ - Geforce 9800GS 512MB - HDD 320GB - 4GB DDR2 800MHZ - WINDOWS 7 64 BIT - ZALMAN NC2000--

...Mis sueños son mentiras que algun día dejarán de serlo...

[DoktorSeven]

OpenOffice.org to replace Microsoft's Office garbageware.

__________________
so oldschool it hurts
blawg

[raksmey1309]

Gonna get soon.
Office 2007
Vista Ultimate Edition

Recommended softwares i use.

Antivirus
AVG

P2P
Bitspirit 3.xx

System/Reg/Tool repair
System Mechanic 6.0

Video/Audio player
Power DVD 7.0 deluxe version
VLC player
BS player
Core Media player
Winamp
Jetaudio

CD/DVD/Blue-Ray Disc Burner
Nero 7 Premium
Ashampoo Burning Studio 6.0

Firewall
I let windows build in Firewall handle the job.

Image Editing.
ACDSee 8.0
Adobe Photoshop 9.0 CS2

Screen/Video Capture
Camtasia Studio
SnagIt 8.0

Download Accelerator
Internet Download Manager

Virtual CD drive
DAEMON Tools

Browser
Mozilla FireFox

Chat
mIRC

[Nachbrenner]

Total Commander
"swiss army knife" of tools with plugins from TOTALCMD.NET

There are competitors with similar functions e.g. Norton Commander or Volkov commander which fits on a boot diskette.

[flowrent]

Antivirus : Kaspersky
Media players : Zoom Player, Steinberg MyMP3 Pro
Codecs : Combined Community Codec Pack , Core AVC
Movie converting : Virtual Dub Mod
Download Manager : Internet Download Manager
Drivers : No Catalyst Control Center just Ati Tray Tools
Audit : Everest Home Edition
Picture viewing and editing : Microsoft Office Picture Manager
Pdf : Foxit Reader, thanks for the tip


A surprising amount of good programs out there are small and free