free software for MS Windows
I prefer to avoid MS Windows though I occasionally investigate solutions to help friends who do use it. Here are the results. If you think this list should be modified, please send suggestions to: help!
These programs should be:
- of basic utility (not superfluous)
- fast/small/compact/efficient
- gratis (and preferably open source)
- Firefox
- web browser; faster and more secure than Internet Explorer
- Thunderbird
- e-mail client; easily imports settings from Outlook and Outlook Express
- K9
- spam filter; adaptive (it learns), and it works with any email client including Outlook and Outlook Express
- IrfanView
- image viewer
- Miranda
- instant messenging client; supports many services/protocols
- SyncBack
- backup and synchronize files and folders
- SequoiaView | WinDirStat
- disk usage visualisation utilizing treemaps
- 7-Zip
- archive file utility (supports many formats including zip)
- ClamWin
- anti-virus tools
- Spychecker
- spyware/firewall software directory; remove spyware and other digital infections (if nothing else, use Spybot-S&D)
- WinSCP
- FTP/SFTP/SCP client
- PuTTY
- SSH client
- TightVNC | RealVNC
- VNC client & server
- TinyApps.Org
- software directory of very small/fast/efficient programs (mostly free)