Recommended Programs

[ktr]

wow, well i guess if the company that makes it doesnt exist, why not make the program free.

 

[GLD]

wow, well i guess if the company that makes it doesnt exist, why not make the program free.

Works for me.

 

[trog100]

irfanview as a general pic viewer basic editor..

tinyspell.. basic spell checker..

foxit a better (quicker) pdf default viewer..

gadwin print screen.. nice screen capture device..

winamp.. good mp3 player..

media player classic.. good media player..

fraps.. fps tool..

wordweb.. good thesaurus.. i needed tinyspell for that one.. he he he

ERUNT.. reg back up thingy..

CPU-Z.. cpu speed thingy..

rightmark.. windows based mem test and other tools..

thunderbird.. mailer to go with firefox..

all i can think of at the minute will update as i think of more..

trog

ps.. the problem here is as this list grows we are gonna get some crap.. too much crap and the list becomes pointless..

 

[Alec§taar]

Ok, some of these I may or may not use (categories) but, here goes:

Adding onto your current lists, omitting ones you already have in place (covering ones you don't have, & assuming this is about purely FREE models, no costs involved, whatsoever etc.):

Adware/Spyware Cleaners:

BlackLight
IceSword
SOPHOS AntiRootkit
AVG AntiRootkit
BHO Scanner
BHO List
ADS Scanner

File Recovery/unlock:

PC File Inspector
Restoration.exe

Firewalls:

Supplementing existing software firewalls with PORTS FILTERING (it works):

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/topics/networksecurity/legsgch3.mspx

Supplementing existing OS security using SERVICES SECURING:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...fe-84de-4b9a-af49-babd696025c9&DisplayLang=en

* These 2 are not exactly "softwares", but features of your EXISTING software in Windows NT-based OS, but GOOD for security & supplementing firewalls (& work w/ BOTH hardware &/or software based firewalling).

Virus Scanners:

AntiVir (free personal edition)

** Removal tools are ANOTHER good one to have around, & to that, I can only recommend:

McAfee STINGER

(And, the ENTIRE LISTING of them from Symantec's "Security Response" page online - many of them here, but worth having imo!)

http://www.symantec.com/small_business/security_response/removaltools.jsp



APK

P.S.=> If you need URL's to some of those, just ask... they are or should be in their "HELP" menus, etc.... apk

 

[Slater]

Updated & if you guys could get the version information for all the ones I don't have, that would be great

 

[Polaris573]

I think it's been over a year since sygate was updated, so I'm not sure how good it is anymore.

 

[Canuto]

It's good i can assure that, i've always used it.

 

[Alec§taar]

Updated & if you guys could get the version information for all the ones I don't have, that would be great

Oh, ok... will do - I really do TRY to keep them as "updated/current" as is possible here on my system, so here goes:

AntiVirus/AntiRootkit tools

F-Secure BlackLight (1st of January 2007 expiry date)
IceSword (not sure on version, sorry)
SOPHOS AntiRootkit 1.1
AVG AntiRootkit (BETA current)
BHO Scanner (NSA Soft) 1.8
BHO List 1.5.0
ADS Scanner by Crucial Security (1.0) - AdAware has a facility for this too, though, FYI.

File Recovery/unlock:

PC File Inspector 4.0
Restoration.exe 2.5.14 (download url = http://www3.telus.net/mikebike/RESTORATION.html ) -> THERE IS A 3.2.12 model out there though... I don't have the URL for it unfortunately.

Firewalls:

Supplementing existing software firewalls with PORTS FILTERING (it works):

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/topics/networksecurity/legsgch3.mspx

Supplementing existing OS security using SERVICES SECURING:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...fe-84de-4b9a-af49-babd696025c9&DisplayLang=en

* These 2 are not exactly "softwares", but features of your EXISTING software in Windows NT-based OS, but GOOD for security & supplementing firewalls (& work w/ BOTH hardware &/or software based firewalling).

Virus Scanners:

AntiVir (free personal edition - current model 8.x iirc)

** Removal tools are ANOTHER good one to have around, & to that, I can only recommend:

McAfee STINGER (free model, current)

(And, the ENTIRE LISTING of them from Symantec's "Security Response" page online - many of them here, but worth having imo!)

http://www.symantec.com/small_business/security_response/removaltools.jsp

* UPDATE HERE: I actually CAUGHT a trojan via email (SOMEHOW, which I found odd, because my email's covered afaik by NAV Corp. Edition 10.x + I set my email reading/sending to TEXT ONLY in Outlook) & pulled it (Trojan TooSoo) yesterday!

(I could NOT believe it: I rarely EVER catch these but did for the first time in ages yesterday apparently, unless it was a 'false positive')

AND, because of Norton's "BEAGLE" removal tool (which was updated recently to catch this variant of it, the name I use above - Norton Corporate Edition Client 10.x found it & quarantined it here), I was able to "pull" it off my system, period!...

** DO keep these CURRENT & around guys, they DO help!



APK

P.S.=> Best I could do, version #'s-wise, d/l locations (& what-not, etc.)... have @ it! apk

 

[Tatty_Two]

Well out of ALL the hardware monitoring tools I have tried, and I have tried alot, I came to the conclusion most are inaccurate and some to a fairly great degree so about a year ago I tested a few of them and got my neighbour in with his box of electronics goodies to do some testing and this simple little program came out tops, MSI's own PC Alert 4, its a little gem if all you want is to monitor CPU/System temps/CPU Volts and power on the 3/5/12V rails as well as fan speeds etc, it works with any system, does not need to be MSI and you can find it here: Its about half way down the page under "utilities":

http://www.msi.com.tw/program/support/download/dld/spt_dld_detail.php?UID=456&kind=1

 

[Alec§taar]

On undelete programs:

AVIRA (makers of AntiVir) have released a FREE "undelete" program!

AVIRA UnErase:

Get it here:

http://www.avira.com/en/products/avira_unerase.html

* Their stuff's excellent quality in their AntiVirus, as I am certain many of you know from experience, so this MAY be another "hit" on their end as well, and it's FREE!



APK

P.S.=> I am NOT sure if this is one of those "extended Recycle Bins" (these catch thing deleted by other apps, OR while under a DOS prompt session, unlike the std. Recycle Bin) like Norton Utilities has, or SysInternals "Fundelete", OR Executive Software's "Undelete 3.0"... I just downloaded it myself actually, after getting wind of it yesterday.

OR

If it is a true 'stand-alone' undelete program (best one imo IS the one I posted in "Restoration"), but the point's there...

Posting this for those that may wish to try it! apk

 

[Jimmy 2004]

I'd say add AntiVir (free antivirus, very good) and Comodo Firewall (similar to ZoneAlarm but a bit nicer). Another free defrag tool that isn't too good is DirMS. Ewido and A-Squared should be added to the Adware list and you could chuck in BootVis.

 

[trog100]

any freeware stuff i use is good for one simple reason.. the W word and my lack of morality.. he he..

i dont run any antivirus stuff all the time either cos i think it causes more problems than it cures..

one thing i have been useing for years is StartMgr.exe.. i carry it over with every system upgrade.. do a google for it..

use it to see what boots up with windows.. and tick off what i dont want to boot up with windows.. learn what should boot up and be very very suspiciouse of any new unexpected entries..

so one more to add to my list

StartMgr.exe

trog

ps.. another usefull little thing is moveonboot.. nice for stopping things before they get to be loaded.. it gets around windows not letting u kill things while they are in use..

 

[Tatty_Two]

Trog, never heard of that one, might give it a try, does it not function the same as MSConfig tho?

 

[trog100]

i think it does but i use it cos its so simple.. i just drop the executable loose on my c drive and make a handy shortcut to it..

it creates a little .bin file loose in the windows folder when u use it.. ZDStartupInfo.bin ..

when u switch something off it dosnt get rid of the entry it just unticks it.. this makes it easy to tick it back if u want to.. when it gets too full of older unticked stuff i just delete its little bin file and it makes a new uncluttered one the next time u use it..

it was part of a benchmark suit and intended as quick way to shut down anything thats running for the benchmark..

i have carried it with me ever since win 95.. he he he

trog

 

[PVTCaboose1337]

CPU-z now has 1.37 fyi, update..

 

[Alec§taar]

File Recovery/unlock:

Restoration.exe 2.5.14

(download url = http://www3.telus.net/mikebike/RESTORATION.html ) -> THERE IS A 3.2.12 model out there though... I don't have the URL for it unfortunately.

Latest version of RESTORATION is attached (great program)!

APK

 

[Sithchaz]

Media players:
K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 1.57
ultimate codec pack, plays ANYTHING

 

[Slater]

I totally forgot about this thread, I need to get updating

Maybe later though; too tired.

 

[Slater]

There, updated it a tad; I need more alcohol to have the endurance to do more

EDIT: Restoration.exe never really found anything for me; I like the Recover My Files program...

 

[Alec§taar]

EDIT: Restoration.exe never really found anything for me; I like the Recover My Files program...

That's surprising: I just did a QUICK RUN using it (on my downloads disk, NTFS & on USB 2.0 no less, external disk) & it found 110 files, fast... all of them USED to be in the "Recycler" (recycle bin area on disk)!

I will take a look @ the one you mention though, for the heck of it!

APK

 

[Slater]

You just have to fiddle with the options a bit, like running clusters instead of sectors, low level partition validation, be sure to choose the physical drive and have it search for deleted files and have it determine the file sizes...
I just earned myself a hooka by using that program since a guy I know Itunes erased all his songs on his Ipod since he formatted his computer and it wasn't authorized to download to that computer and I recovered all the files FROM the Ipod using the Recover My Files program...

Just need to tweak the settings and WALLAH!!

Earn alot of money using that program

It's 70 dollars (crap I forgot I mentioned freeware only >.<; but they do have a eval version, so I guess I can list it.)

But its definatly worth it.

 

[C0mrad3]

Audiograbber is a really good CD ripper, just make sure you check around for the "Lame MP3" codecs that allow for better quality rips.

 

[Alec§taar]

Audiograbber is a really good CD ripper, just make sure you check around for the "Lame MP3" codecs that allow for better quality rips.

It is!

And, it is written in Delphi 2.0 or 3.0 (betting on the former) my fav. language for Win32 development to this day, & that produces MASSIVELY fast & efficient code... proven faster than VB or VC++ in of all places? VB Programmer's Journal magazine Oct. 1997 issue "Inside the VB Compiler Engine"... how's THAT for a showing?



Plus?

* It has a REALLY easy to use interface, that is "pretty" to top it ALL off...

APK

 

[Jimmy 2004]

Please add Comodo 2.3.6.81. It is a brilliant and little known free firewall, very nice to use.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

advanced windows care.