Ultimate Freeware Machine

[dman]

The "Favorite Software" thread has inspired me to create a similar one for freeware only.

Ok, I know that "you get what you pay for" is largely true. That being said it is possible to create a really great machine for most general purposes using only freeware (excluding windows, of course). I know some of the programs listed do not measure up to their commercial brethern, but they are all very functional for all but the most demanding users and uses.

This list includes only freeware and "free for home use" ware. No shareware or commercial.

How about it... List your ultimate freeware system!

Download Manager: Free Download Manager, FlashGot

RSS Aggregator: Sage Firefox Plugin

Web Server: Apache

Web Browser: K-Meleon, Firefox

Firewall: ZoneAlarm Pers

E-Mail: Thunderbird

FTP: SmartFTP

Anti-Spyware: Spybot S&D, Ad-Aware SE, HijackThis, CWShredder, SpywareBlaster

Anti-Virus: AVG Free, AntiVir Pers

Imaging: The GIMP, Paint.NET

Image Viewer: Irfan View

Photo Album: Picassa2

Screen Capture: Gadwin PrintScreen

Word Processing: PsPad, OpenOffice

PDF Reader: Adobe Acrobat

Database: MySQL, SQLite

Web Development IDE: Nvu

HTML Editor: AlleyCode

CSS Editor: Top Style Lite

Defrag: dirms, buzzsaw

Backup: MS Backup

Undelete: HandyRecovery, PC Inspector

Compression: IzArc

Drive Imaging: Digital Dolly

Disk Cleaner: CrapCleaner

File Search: AgentRansack

Registry cleaner: CrapCleaner

Disk Usage Viewer: Sequoia View

Boot-CD: PeBuilder, 911CD

Virtual Drive: Daemon Tools

CD/DVD Burning: CDBurnerXP, DeepBurner

Audio Player: foobar2000, WinAmp Free Version

Audio Recorder: Audacity

Audio Ripper: Streamripper for winamp

Notepad Replacement: Metapad

Process Viewer: Sysinternals ProceXP

Startup Viewer: Sysinternals Autoruns, startup mechanic

Diagnostics: Everest Home Edition

Programming: SharpDevelop, Eclipse

Net Monitor: Advanced Port Scanner,Ethereal

File Manager: xplorer2

Disk Scan: Disk Checker

Torrent: Azureus

Partition: Ranish

[TheBlackMan]

Since there is already a topic similar to this, here is the link : Click Here

[Yzöwl]

Well, I don't want to spoil the party, due to some of your selections, either, but please if nothing else get rid of the Adobe stuff.

Also, with software, it is possibly one of the only things where I can honestly say, you do not get what you pay for! Every machine I build, excluding the OS is installed completely with freeware. and proper no nag, advertising, spyware etc. freeware too.

Unless you are into using the PC for a specialist purpose, there is little which cannot be achieved, using freeware.

[dman]

@Yzowl,

I wasn't asking you to critique my favs, but list your own. But since you brought it up, what's wrong with Adobe Reader (this is honest question) It is free is it not?

[TheBlackMan]

@ dman : I was just posting the link in case anybody was interested. It's a good thing to bring this kind of topic back because there are always people wondering what free alternatives they have.

I think Adobe Acrobat is great! It opens absolutley everything I have ever needed it to, I have never encountered any critical problems with it, and best of all...it's FREE! One problem I do find with it; however, is it's slow loading time and what not. I use RyanVM's silent install package, which is tweaked to drastically reduce the loading time. You can find it here. There is also a simple application called Adobe Reader SpeedUp that removes plugins, descreasing loading. The beauty of it all is if you need those plugins again, you can add them back with Adobe Reader SpeedUp! You can find Adobe Reader SpeedUp here.

Might I add a neat little webserver program : SimpleServer

[dman]

I noticed that Adobe7 seems to load much faster than v6. Have you noticed this also? [deXter] has a great slimmed-down version of this as well.

[TheBlackMan]

Yes, Adobe v7 does seem to load much quicker than v6. Could you possibly provide a link to [deXter]'s lite version?

[dman]

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=39162&hl=adobe

[TheBlackMan]

Here are some free network related programs :

SoftPerfect Network Scanner

NetStumbler

I use both of these programs to help find computers across the network and monitor any suspicious activity. They may not be fancy or anything, but SoftPerfect's Network Scanner is a single executable which is always a plus!

[Sparky1]

Anti-Spyware: Microsoft, Formerly Giant. It will be free for any licensed copy of window after July 31.

[jaclaz]

But since you brought it up, what's wrong with Adobe Reader (this is honest question) It is free is it not?

My two cents:

1) Yes it's free

2) but it is BIG

As I think that half part of a fast (responsive) PC is the hardware, and the other half is slim software, I like slim solutions, like FOXIT:

http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/rd_intro.php

Foxit PDF Reader is small (the download size less than 1MB), so you can download it quickly. It doesn't need any lengthy installation, so you can start to run it as soon as you can download it.

And it starts up immediately, so you don't need to wait the annoying "Welcome" screen to disappear.

Foxit PDF Reader is extremely easy to use, just double click it to start and then click open button to open your PDF document. If you want to print, click on "Print" button. If you want to setup the page layout for printing, select "Print Setup" from "File" menu.

Foxit PDF Reader runs on Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP/2003. It is provided by Foxit Software Company for free non-commercial use. This product is provided AS IS without any explicit or implicit warranty. Please see the End User License Agreement.

True, maybe it won't work with ALL .pdf files, but what do you want from a 1Mb proggie that needs no install, BLOOD?

jaclaz

[TheBlackMan]

Password Manager : Any Password

File Joiner : Simple File Joiner

File Splitter : Simple File Splitter

Image Compression : JPG Cleaner

Since everyone seems to be on the topic of PDFs I'll post these freeware alternatives :

Tomahawk PDF+

eXPert PDF Reader

AcroPAD

Now, I have not tested any of the PDF alternatives so I cannot guarantee their reliablity, but I'm going to try AcroPAD since it's only 300 kb!

[TheBlackMan]

Here is a very resourceful website that provides links to freeware/standalone applications : Click Here

I forgot to mention that it is created by albator. albator has done a great job compiling a terrific list! Thank you for all your hard work!

Edited May 30, 2005 by TheBlackMan

[Jeremy]

Sometimes, shareware applications give you that pinch of extra functionality that you need to be satisfied. I've not found a better registry cleaner than JV16 PowerTools' Registry Cleaner combined with RegSupreme Pro. And the GUIs are very straight forward and non-fancy.

[Yzöwl]

@Jeremy

You could of course just use the last available freeware version of RegCleaner, which is practically the same, and works on all versions of Windows.