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9 Great Freeware Programs that Should be on Every PC
One of the most common questions we get here at Gizmo’s Freeware is “What freeware programs do I really need?”
So here are our suggestions for the free programs you should consider installing on your Windows PC. And to make things easy for you we have not only listed the programs you need but provided full download and installation instructions, all contained in a free, downloadable, 44 page PDF report.
This report is provided free as a service to our readers and contains no advertising. No registration is required or any data collected. It is what it is: a genuine freebie with no strings attached.
What's in the report:
- Our selection of the nine best freeware programs for average users (see list)
- What these programs do and why you need them
- Full download instructions for each product
- Full installation and usage guidelines including dozens of screen shots
- How you can get free support for these products
The products have been chosen because they are useful, work well and you don’t have to be an expert to use them. For expert users we’d probably change some of our recommendations but these suggestions will hit the sweet spot between power and ease-of-use for most people.
All these programs are from reputable companies and are free of viruses, trojans and other nasties
How to get the free report
1. Clicking your right mouse button on the following link and then select “Save as..”
http://download.techsupportalert.com/9-great-freeware-programs.pdf (0.77MB)
If you encounter problems saving the PDF file try clicking the following link which is the same PDF report enclosed in a ZIP file.
http://www.techsupportalert.com/download/9-great-freeware-programs.zip (0.71MB)
2. Once you have downloaded the PDF file, locate where you saved it on your computer and then double click to open the report.
The report is in Adobe PDF format so to read it you need a PDF reader. Most people already have a PDF reader installed on their PC but if you don't you can download the standard Adobe Acrobat Reader from here or the smaller and in some ways superior, PDF-Xchange viewer from here. Both are free.
Enjoy!
Gizmo
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Comments
FYI PDF24-creator adds a start when windows starts command that is non-revocable. It also starts an ad-ware downloading app. I was able to cancel both of these through WinPatrol, however PDF24-creator was, apparently still trying to complete either loading or downloading adds or both as resources were so consumed that any programs that were trying load after creator were stuck and never finished. Fortunately I created a restore point and just restored the machine to before creator's installation.
I am new to computers. A knowledgeable friend recommended AVG for anti-virus and Malwarebytes for anti-spyware removal. Do these 2 programs perform the same or similar functions as any of the programs on your list of 9?
Thank you for listening. Your site is great. Keep up the good work.
The list features MSE (Microsoft Security Essentials) which is a real-time antimalware program like AVG. Some tests show AVG to be more effective overall but it is a lot more complicated to use than MSE. MSE is also designed to integrate perfectly with Internet Explorer and Windows firewall. The free version of Malwarebytes has no real-time protection but it is a highly effective program and an ideal "second opinion" or supplementary scanner.
Thanks for this info. I thought that's how Malwarebytes worked, but wasn't sure. Thanks for the distinction between MSE and AVG. Much appreciated.
What I do not like about Auslogics Disk Defrag, is that it supposed to find 33 junk files and when I click on Learn More it throws up a new web page with the message "Your Disk Is Bloated with Junk Files". I am sorry 33 junks files is not "bloated" and then I am invited to download Auslogics BoostSpeed. No thanks, don't know it and it was not on the recommended list. Then, soon after running CCleaner, the Auslogics Disk Defrag registry says 33 errors (coincidence 33 junk files, 33 registry errors)? and advises me to download BoostSpeed. Now does that mean CCleaner is rubbish, or that Auslogics Disk Defrag is lying?
I get almost the exact same thing! I would say it's lying but CCleaner doesn't go very deep with registry cleaning although you don't really need to clean your registry because the risk of messing up your computer is much greater than the reward of a slightly faster PC (you probably won't even notice)...
Just joined your site and i wish i had found it years ago.
I love Freeware and to find a "genuine" Freeware site is like hitting the jackpot.
I agree with the list and happy to see MSE on the list as its unusual for MS to produce something that just works.
Ive used Auslogics for a while and its a demon piece of Freeware as is 7zip.
Personally, I prefer a program called IZArc. Forget where I picked it up at, but it works like a charm and every tool you could need is packed into it. For example, you can test for a virus, go into debugging mode, and create an EXE file just from the buttons on the program instead of digging into the File, Edit, Tools, etc. tabs.
IZArc is bundled with OpenCandy. See here for details:
http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/controversial-advertising-progra...
http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-file-archiver-zip-utility.htm
"Ive used Auslogics for a while and its a demon piece of Freeware as is 7zip."
By this do you mean that you don't like them? If so, why?
Thanks. I've got lots to learn.
Nice Post...!! Love to read...really informative.. :) love to see more from you.
I would have preferred to se Avast or Avira on the list.
Based on facts from Virus Bulletin and AV-Comparatives.
Avira's active protection and heuristics bog down my Windows PC and doubles CPU usage when transferring files (not good when on battery!) whereas Microsoft Security Essentials offered the same functionality without ads, nag screens or comparable slowdown. MSE *does* make my system lag somewhat, but not as much as every other free active protection antivirus I've tried.
Avast worked OK, had fewer nags than Avira, and a larger database than MSE, but constantly returned false positives to the point where I turned it off.
Testing antivirus by comparing databases is nearly pointless. Active protection is far more important than having a huge database, when new virii are constantly being developed.
That said, NONE of the major AV apps I've tried caught my hand made ActiveX script OR a malicious Flash exploit, when using Firefox or Internet Explorer's default settings. So configuring your browser security to ask you for permission at every new site is still the best way to go.
Use Sandboxie while web surfing.
Very useful!Thank you!
Why could you not write the report on this page? Why did it have to be downloaded?
why not post a short list with short description, kinda like a preview so we can decide whether to download or not ?...:)
A short list is already provided - you must have missed it.
Just click the "See list" link at the end of the first bullet point.
Because it is 44 pages long!
Very Nice Article
I enjoyed this so much..........
Thanks
God Bless You
I have some good video on CD and I need a program that will easily play the videos without a bunch of complications. I usually manage to play them but it wears me out struggling with it. Anyone got suggestions? I would be very thankful to solve this problem.
{Moderator's Comment: Email address removed. For your privacy and safety please do not post your email address anywhere on this site.}
See this category for media players:)
http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-windows-media-player-replaceme...
If you don't like the look of any of the media players reviewed, this is another good option.
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Video/Video-Players/PotPlayer.shtml
Thanks. Useful article.
I can recommend this to any normal windows user. Very useful and practical.
I enjoyed this so much I forwarded the report to a number of my friends who also interested in their computers.
Many thanks to the people at Gizmos for this one
Many credits to the writer. Clear, detailed, concise and most practical.
Thanks, i show first
You must have read my mind. I had no idea what to download. This made it clear what I should do. It's a very good way for guiding people.
This is just what I needed. Everything is laid out step by step and that makes it easy for older people like me.
Thank you very much.
Helen Louise Edwards
Many thanks to you! I have been blessed to find and use your site for many.moons. Thanks for helping the newbies (who we were once, remember?)
Sure, some of us are quite experienced but still take advantage of the good stuff. Your efforts go above and beyond. Some people just like to complain.
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