The 46 best ever freeware utilities

[IronLionZion]

Yes, you can get everything you would ever need to run your computer without paying a cent.

enjoy,


http://www.techsupportalert.com/best_46_free_utilities.htm

[welshTerrier2]

1. excellent ... thanks ...

i downloaded/installed two of the freeware programs ...

one is called Sticky Notes that lets me have custom messages pop-up on my screen at a scheduled time ... it's very easy to install and works great ... now i don't have to "keep an eye on the time while i'm online" ...

the other is called Edit Pad Lite and it's an upgraded version of Notepad ... what's great about it is that, just like Firefox, it uses a tabbed window feature ...

thanks for the link ...

[IronLionZion]

2. Good programs to check out

These are some of the programs I use:

photo editing: The GIMP
instant message: Gaim
FTP: FileZilla
email: thunderbird
PDF: CutePDF
antivirus: Avast
firewall: Kerio
video player: VLC
music player: Winamp
registry/junk cleaner: CCleaner
office suite: open office.org


Know what you're doing before installing anything. Always remove the previous version and restart before installing a new version. CCleaner is great for removing programs, junk files, and bad registry entries.

The biggest surprise for me was how awesome The GIMP was. I couldn't believe that a free program is as good as Adobe Photoshop which costs something like $800.

[cprise]

8. This list is more useful

The original list you linked to has mostly admin stuff you have to juggle just to keep Windows running.

Better to spend my spare time for 7-10 days familiarizing with Linux and put that hassle behind me for good.

Have a look at this site and see if you notice any more good stuff: B-)
http://kde-apps.org/index.php?xsortmode=high&page=0

[IronLionZion]

9. yeah Linux rocks

I haven't completely weaned myself off of Winblows just yet but I'm getting there.

What's your favorite distro? I've been using mostly the older Red Hats and now Fedora Core.

http://distrowatch.com/

There's an ad on that site for a linux newbie training program that looks useful.

[cprise]

10. Xandros -- no question!

Full access to Windows networks through the file manager (even if the network has a domain configuration).

VPN connectivty

Simple printer configuration (both local and network)

Real control over your display (resolution, rate, multiple displays) and better-than-average sound support.

Integrated CD/DVD writing and backup. Plays DVDs.

Integrated CD ripping and encoding.

Switch between different user sessions (great if you don't live alone).

Control over services.

Invitation-based desktop sharing.

Debian-based: No RPM dependency hell. Very high software compatability.

Software installs are easy through either the GUI or directly with apt. Automatic notification of system updates.

Very clean and polished layout.

I've been using Xandros since it was called Corel Linux back in 1999. In 2002 it got good enough for me to replace Windows. Lately I have been using it to archive my last VHS tapes as DVDs. Here is a link to the download torrent.

I think Fedora was an unfortunate choice. Its gotten rather pretty-looking but it is still a server-oriented distro. Candy does not equal user-friendly or managability. In particular, where any non-server functionality is concerned Fedora/Redhat are still too radical in the OS upgrades: Pre-existing software that I've purchased or otherwise had on-hand always breaks from upgrading Fedora. On Debian-based distros like Xandros, my software has consistently kept working.

[IronLionZion]

11. yeah Fedora has some serious hang-ups

my biggest problem was hunting down the right dependencies to install stuff. I've messed around with Gentoo as well but just don't have the patience to use emerge to compile stuff. It's great if you don't mind waiting all day to use your new software.

Xandros looks pretty cool. I may have to give the free version a try. Which version do you use?

[cprise]

12. I installed a Gentoo system years ago

..although it was a very manual process back then (tools like emerge don't help you with initial base install steps, nor with configuration). It is more of a distro-maker's platform than a real distro.

Debian is also nice for distro-makers, but it can be used as a regular distro that lacks system-admin niceties. The installer configures things nicely, but what if later-on you want to change a network interface from DHCP to static? There's no GUI for that, so you have to learn anyway what the installer insulated you from.

My mom and stepfather run the free edition of Xandros. I bought the Deluxe edition for myself because I thought I'd have a use for Crossover Office (turned out I didn't need it). Here are the differences between purchased and free editions:

http://www.xandros.com/products/home/desktopoc/dsk_oc_intro.html

[Pool Hall Ace]

3. I've bookmarked this thread.

Thanks for posting this. It's nice to know that one doesn't have to spend a small fortune for adequate protection.

[IronLionZion]

4. beginners should check out the open cd

http://www.theopencd.org/

This is a free CD that contains a lot of good software for Windows. It makes installation really simple.

[sam sarrha]

5. are there any repair utilities.. i have system works on the other puter

but i cant afford to put it on this one, my wife only uses it rarely and i only get to use it every 2 weeks.., she had to get a job 90 miles away in memphis cause her job got outsourced.. 3rd one.

[IronLionZion]

6. What kind of repair?

From the link in the OP:
Best Free Data Recovery Utility
PC Inspector File Recovery 3 is a free utility that does an impressive job recovering accidentally deleted files or files lost through corruption of the file system. It has some nice features, like the ability to recover files with lost headers, and to recover partitions even when the boot sector has been lost or damaged. It works with the FAT16/FAT32 and NTFS file systems. This is no home written utility - it is a serious product from a reputable German company with a long history in commercial data recovery. PCI is the ideal product for those who want the security of a data recovery program but are not prepared to fork our big bucks for the extra features of high end products. (2.8MB)
http://www.pcinspector.de/file_recovery/uk/welcome.htm

And there are some linux live cds that would help recover a damaged system too. like system rescue cd: http://www.sysresccd.org/

If you don't mind paying a few bucks, then I highly recommend SpinRite from www.grc.com for recovering damaged hard drives. and Active Partition Recovery will help recover deleted disk partitions.

[cprise]

7. "The Ultimate Boot CD" (repair stuff)

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/