free software for MS Windows
I generally avoid MS Windows though I occasionally investigate software for it, and accumulate the results here. If you think this list should be modified, please send suggestions to: help!
Ideally, these programs should be:
- of basic utility (not superfluous)
- fast/small/compact/efficient
- gratis (and preferably open source)
Beware that some installers may install unwanted software like browser toolbars by default; just disable those options when running the installer.
All software is open source unless marked* (with an asterisk).
- Firefox
- web browser; faster and more secure than Internet Explorer
- Thunderbird
- e-mail client; easily imports settings from Outlook and Outlook Express
- OpenOffice
- office applications; alternative to MS Office
- PDF Printer*
- PDF virtual printer; PDF output from any program that can print
- Sumatra PDF
- PDF viewer & browser plugin; small/fast alternative to Adobe Reader
- IrfanView*
- image viewer
- Miranda
- instant messenging client; supports many services/protocols
- Exact Audio Copy*
- audio CD exraction
- ImgBurn* | CDBurnerXP*
- CD/DVD writer
- μTorrent*
- BitTorrent client
- 7-Zip
- archive utility (supports many formats including zip)
- SyncBack*
- backup and synchronize files/folders
- Microsoft Security Essentials*
- anti-virus; believe it or not, this actually works well (but it requires WGA)
- Avira AntiVir Personal*
- anti-virus; alternative to MSE (see: AV-Comparatives, Virus Bulletin)
- Hiren’s Boot CD*
- boot CD with many utilities
- PSPad
- text editor; regex, syntax, hex editor, diff, macros, …
- AutoHotKey
- keyboard control; macro-creation and automation utility; also does text expansion from abbreviations
- SequoiaView* | WinDirStat
- disk usage visualisation utilizing treemaps
- HTTtrack
- website mirror; a welcome alternative to wget
- PuTTY
- SSH client
- WinSCP
- FTP/SFTP/SCP client
- TightVNC | RealVNC
- VNC client & server
- Cygwin
- Unix-like environment
- TinyApps.Org
- software directory of very small/fast/efficient programs (mostly free)
- Gizmos Freeware Reviews
- software reviews