The Help2Go community has compiled a list of software that we recommend for various tasks. Many of these are free to use or free to try, but for those tasks where commercial software is the best, we have tried to also provide a free alternative.
This is a "living" document. Please post your comments or suggestions by following this link and let us know what you think should be included on this list.
If an entry has a * following it, you can click on the * which will take you to a review of said program.
Essential Software
Operating Systems: Windows XP-SP3($), Windows Vista($); Windows 7 ($); Ubuntu Linux (free)
Web Browsers: Firefox (free), Opera (free) , WebKit (free)
E-Mail Programs: Thunderbird (free)
Temporary email address: Yopmail (free)
Instant Messaging: Meebo.com (free), OpenFire (free & $)
Office Suites: Microsoft Office ($), Google Docs (free), OpenOffice.org (free) , Scribus (free)
PDF Readers : Foxit (free)
PDF Creators: PrimoPDF (free & $), CutePDF (free & $), PDFCreator (free)
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Anti-Virus/Spyware Software
A/V software: AVG Free *, Avast (free & $) * , Avira AntiVir (free)
Spyware Removal: SuperAntiSpyware (free), Malwarebytes Anti-malware (free)
Spyware Prevention: Spyware Blaster (free) ; Spyware Guard (free)
Hijack Detection: HijackThis (free)
AVG Removal tool
Norton Removal Tool
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Application Software
Text Editor: SciTE (free)
Web Design Software: Adobe Dreamweaver ($)
Compilers and IDEs: Eclipse (free), Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Express Editions (free limited editions)
3D Modeling: Google SketchUp (free), Blender (free)
Mapping: Google Earth (free)
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Media Software
Music Jukebox: iTunes (free)
Media Player: WMP10 (free) , Winamp (free) , Foobar2000 (free)
Image Viewer: IrfanView (free)
Photo Editing Software: Photoscape (free); Adobe Photoshop ($) , GNU Image Manipulation Program [a.k.a. "GIMP] (free) , Paint.net (free) , Picassa (free)
Font Viewer/Manager: Fontpage (free)
Screenshots: Snapshot (free) , Greenshot (free) , Photoscape (free)
Image Hosting: Photobucket (free) , ImageCave (free)
Image Resizer: Image resizer (free) , IrfanView (free)
Tutorial Creator: Wink (free)
Graphics Editor: Inkscape (free), Adobe Illustrator ($), Corel Draw ($)
Audio/Visual format conversion : FormatFactory (free)
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CD/DVD Utilities
CD & DVD Burning Software : Nero $ Audacity (free)
DVD Decrypter: Handbrake (free), DVD43 (free), AnyDVD ($)
CD->MP3 Utility: CDex (free) , Audacity (free)
DVD Decoder: DVD Decoder Information and Help
ISO Image Burner: ISO recorder (free)
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Utilities for a Healthy System
System Information Tools: Belarc Advisor (free) *(please read advisory) , EVEREST Home Edition (free) , SIW (free personal use) , SysSpec.exe (free) ; Autoruns (free) , 'Windows Directory Statistics' (free) same for Mac version (free) , System Explorer (free) * , What's Running.exe 2.2 (free) , SequoiaView (free) , Spacesniffer (free) , Aida32 (free) , Process Hacker (free), Tree Size (free)
File Recovery: Recuva (free) * , TestDisk (free) , PC Inspector (free) , Unstoppable Copier (free)
Duplicate File Cleaner : Duplicate Cleaner (free)
Startup cleaner : MSConfig Cleanup (free), CodeStuff Starter (free)
Disk Defragmenter : JkDefrag (free)
Hard Disk Health : HD Tune (free)
Hardware Diagnostics: Memtest86 (Memory, free), SeaTools (Seagate & Maxtor HDD Diag, free), Fujitsu (HDD, free), Drive Fitness Test (Hitachi HDD, free), Western Digital (HDD, free)
Uninstaller: Absolute Uninstaller (free, pro $) , Revo Uninstaller (free) , Killbox (free) , Windows Install Cleanup utility (free)
Hard drive crash recovery: SpinRite ($)
Firewall port testing: ShieldsUp (free)
Dll/Processes information tool: QuickLink (free), ListProcesses(free)
Reformat Hard Drive: KillDisk (free)
Partition Editor: GParted (free)
USB Detector : USBDeview (free)
Registry Cleaner: Easy Cleaner (free); CCleaner (free)
Privacy Software: CCleaner (free), ATFCleaner (free)
Backup Programs: Ghost 14 ($), Acronis 12 ($)
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Security Utilities Hard drive and data encryption: TrueCrypt(free)
Encryption Software : dsCrypt (free)
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Other Utilities
FTP Program: Filezilla (free) , FireFTP (Firefox Add-on FTP Client, free)
Unzip Utility: 7-Zip (free) , ZipGenius (free) , IZArc (free)
Windows Automation: AutoIt (free)
Download Manager: Fresh Download (free)
Internet Explorer Spell Checker: iespell (free) , tinySpell (free) , Aspell (free)
Remote Control your PC: LogMeIn free (free) * , UltraVNC (free)
E-Mail Filtering: K9 (free)
Automated Updater: Filehippo (free)
Pop-Up Stopper: Pop-up Stopper (free)
For older versions of software: OldVersion (free)
Notebook : KeyNote (free); Evernote (free)
Java uninstall tool: JavaRa (free)
Clock Sychroniser: YACS (free)
Asset Management (for bigger networks): SpiceWorks (free)
VPN Software: Hamachi (free & $), OpenVPN (free)
Customize Windows Clock : TClockEx (free)
Off-site file backup: JungleDisk ($) * combined with Amazon S3 ($) *
Browser window order : Deskpin (free)
File Finder : Locate32 (free)
Folder/File search engine : Everything (free)
Web based Info/note capture : Evernote (free/$)
File Splitter: GSplit (free)
CAD program: progeCAD 2008 Smart (free)
Dictionary: Wordweb (free)
Registry Editor: RegScanner (free)
E-Mail cleaner: emailStripper (free)
Hiding folders: Free Hide Folder 2.1 (free)
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Worthy Firefox add-ons Personal Security
We are a supporter of
RFID Protect. RFID Protect supply a range of sleeves, wallets and ID card shields that are designed specifically to protect against unauthorised access to your bank and charge cards.
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