Programs for Your New PC and to Keep It Like New
Philip recommends the following utility software programs. Best of all, they are all free.
Bookmarks:
BookmarkSync - XP/Vista/etc. - keeps your Internet Explorer browser bookmarks synchronized, regardless of how many different browsers or computers you use.
Defrag:
Disk Cleaner:
CCleaner - XP/Vista - Remove useless files from several applications, including Microsoft apps. Eraser - XP/Vista/etc. - Completely remove sensitive data from your hard drive by overwriting it several times with carefully selected patterns. File Shredder - XP/Vista/etc. - Completely shred files so that they can't be recovered. Wise Disk Cleaner - XP/Vista/etc. - Clean up your hard disk by removing unneeded junk.
Remove Pre-installed Junkware:
Registry:
EasyCleaner - XP/etc. - Searches your Registry for unnecessary entries and gives you the option to delete them. You can tell it to skip entries containing a specific word, and print or save your results. Should you regret a particular Registry change, you can unto them all or just the one. (Backup of your Registry before deleting any settings.) RegClean - 98/etc. - Clean your Windows Registry of corrupted or unused Registry keys.
Restore:
Vista Recovery Disc - Vista - Recover data from a damaged Vista system with this little-known Microsoft utility. (It uses a .torrent file to download.)
Shutdown:
Show Stopper - XP/Vista/etc. - Eight ways to shut down your PC
Startup:
Autoruns - XP/Vista/etc. - Find out what's loading at startup. Startup Delayer - XP/Vista/etc. - allows a user to place a delay on each of their startup programs, so that they each have time to launch before another begins making demands on the disk and CPU.
Update:
Secunia PSI - XP/etc. - Identify missing Windows patches and outdated, insecure apps on your PC
Utilities:
EverNote - XP/Vista/etc. - Combination of software and Web-based service lets you capture & organize information from multiple sources (If you suffer from Internet information overload). EyeJot - Free video mail without installing a program. LastPass - XP/Vista/etc. - Online password manager that automatically fills in saved logins and forms with the click of a button. Launchy - XP/Vista - A small, skinnable command-line window to displays your target file, also can customize the directories searched as well as the file types launched. (Donationware - donation is optional.) Open Office - XP/etc. - Free competitor to Microsoft Office. It's a full suite, with a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation program, database, and drawing program. Pidgin (Gaim) - XP/Vista/etc. - A universal messenger, like Trillian, and it connects to even more instant messenger systems, including AIM, MSN, Yahoo, ICQ, IRC, Google Talk, Groupwise… RegToy - XP/Vista - Tweak Windows to your heart's content. Skype - Free computer-to-computer calls. Acronis True Image - backup utility, $50
Uninstall:
Revo Uninstaller - XP/Vista/etc. - Do complete uninstalls of programs, and clean out your system.
Wireless Connection:
Loki for Mozilla Firefox or IE - XP/Vista - Turn your laptop into a virtual GPS device with this customizable toolbar. WeFi - XP/Vista - Combines social networking with finding and connecting to hot spots. Whisher - XP/etc. - Access thousands of commercial and shared WiFi networks around the world. WiFi SiStr - XP/Vista - Track the signal strength of your WiFi connection. Wireless Wizard - XP - Display a great deal of information about your current wireless connection.