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The Editors' Choice List: Our Selection of Best Free Windows Desktop Software
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The Editors' Choice List - Page Index
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 3. Best Free Cleanup, Tune and System Utilities for Windows |
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Best Free File Cleaner for Windows
CCleaner -- Download | Review
"Quickly and effectively remove unused or temporary files, unwanted cookies, and other unneeded files from applications." Chosen for Gizmo's 9 great freeware.
Additionally, it can scan the registry for issues, erase, manage the startup, uninstall, and clean system restore points.
Related: Also runs automatically at startup or as a task.
What's it for? - Over time unnecessary files accumulate, which can be removed with a disk cleaner to maintain system performance.
Best Free PC Tune-up Utility for Windows
CCleaner or WinUtilities Free -- Review
"CCleaner is an example of a serious mini-suite. Its user interface is ultra simple and its performance and speed are also good. While it is solid and much appreciated, it lacks an automatic mode to perform all of its actions; each menu module must be run manually and separately. A small price to pay for such a solid product.
WinUtilities Free is a PC tune-up suite with a wealth of features, including 1-click maintenance. It runs fast and automatically creates a log file to undo your changes if needed. Most functions appear to be straight forward so it should be a safe bet for novice users in 1-click mode and enough information and warnings on individual modules to make it novice proof."
What's it for? - Intended as an all-in-one PC performance optimizer and tweaker to simplify system tasks that typically require many separate specialty programs.
Best Free Registry Cleaner for Windows
Wise Registry Cleaner -- Download | Review
"To decrease the likelihood of causing problems, it allows you to backup the registry before you start and (by default) ignores areas where most registry tricks are played. I caution against changing the default settings unless you have a good understanding of the registry and how applications use it."
Related: If you use registry cleaners such as Wise, CCleaner, Glary, or Revo, be sure to backup and image first.
What's it for? - The effectiveness of registry cleaning is controversial and can lead to the need to completely re-install windows, but for computer savvy users it may help reduce potential conflicts from the leftovers of a few kinds of uninstalled software.
Best Free Disk De-fragmenter for Windows
UltraDefrag -- Download | Review
"It is simple yet has a lot of customizable options through text files and scripts via two mouse-clicks. Not only is the defragmentation super fast, but also you are not going to notice it's working!
You can keep doing your things while UltraDefrag does what was born to do… defrag. It performs so well you gonna want to carry it in your wallet. A lot of varied boot defrag commands. If your goal is to optimize your system startup at maximum, this is what you need."
What's it for? - Defragmenting your hard drive on a regular basis is a sound housekeeping habit. It can greatly increase system performance and relieve stress on your hard drive.
Best Free Secure Erase Utility for Windows
Eraser -- Download | Review
"Highly effective at wiping the free space, leaving behind only unrecoverable nonsense file names on modern size hard drives. It erases the unused disk space (or "free space"), cluster tips (or "slack space"), individual files or folders, and data in the recycling bin."
What's it for? - Normal file deletion doesn't prevent a common file recovery program from recovering your files, so eraser utilities are helpful to permanently delete any personally identifiable or unwanted files to protect your privacy.
Best Free Startup Manager for Windows
Autoruns -- Download | Review
"This utility, which has the most comprehensive knowledge of auto-starting locations amongst all the startup managers, shows you what programs are configured to run during system bootup or login, and shows you the entries in the order Windows processes them. These programs include ones in your startup folder, Run, RunOnce, and other Registry keys.
You can configure Autoruns to show other locations, including Explorer shell extensions, toolbars, browser helper objects, Winlogon notifications, auto-start services, and much more."
What's it for? - If you have a system full of programs running in the background or a start menu full of near useless tray icons, then startup managers are especially helpful for increasing system performance. Run programs when you want, not when they decide.
Related Cleanup, Tune, and System Top Picks and Hot Items
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Best Free Duplicate File Detector for Windows -- SearchMyFiles -- Download | Review. Detect duplicate files.
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Best Free Disk Space Analyzer for Windows -- SpaceSniffer -- Download | Review. Analyze disk space; find space hogs.
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Best Free Program Uninstaller for Windows -- Revo Uninstaller -- Download | Review. The Windows control panel has limited uninstalling capabilities, but freeware programs like Revo and ZSoft allow for better deletion of programs by removing many files and registry entries that are usually left behind.
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Best Free System Information Utility for Windows -- System Information for Windows (SIW) -- Download | Review. "Displays many detailed specs such as CPU, memory, devices, installed programs, processes, services, network, and page file usage."
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Best Free Process Viewer for Windows -- SystemExplorer -- Download | Review. Investigate your system: view active processes, end processes, view resource use of processes, and much more.
- Article type:
- PC Freeware,
- Cleanup & Tuning,
- Desktop & GUI,
- Disk & File Utilities,
- Home & Office,
- Educational,
- Games and Diversions,
- Image View and Edit,
- Internet, Email & Messaging,
- Multimedia (CD, DVD, Video, Audio),
- Networking & File Transfer,
- Programming & Engineering,
- Reference & Cataloging,
- Security,
- System and Performance Info,
- System Utilities,
- Software list
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Comments
************False claim
How can you offer and claim the best free software when in reality it is not free! Free demo is what you get.. (hook, line and sinker)
Which software are u talking about?
No review on AOMEI Backupper? I found it has very extensive feature for disk imaging software, plus it's free for personal and commercial use.
The product you posted has an overall poor WOT rating (Web Of Trust) and has been spammed here on numerous occasions therefore it will not be featured. MC - Site Manager.
My WOT icon still green when I visit the website. That's very unfortunate.. looks like a good program but I can't find any review of AOMEI Backupper from reputable website yet.
Two of the ratings are already at orange and the others are marginal. MC - Site Manager.
http://www.mywot.com/en/scorecard/aomeitech.com?utm_source=addon&utm_con...
Oh I see.. I only see the WOT icon at the end of the link (I'm using WOT extension in Chrome), never actually roll over on it to see the details :)
Sometimes the WOT ratings can be manipulated maliciously by say rival vendors or fanboys of other products but this practice is not as widespread as the "knockers" of WOT would have you believe, and anyone so affected can have it rectified via dialogue with Web Of Trust. That said, we were inundated with Aomei spam here at one point which is no doubt where many of the adverse ratings stem from. MC - Site Manager.
I am unable to access my registry server license key # to complete/activate the initial scan/repair process for [name removed].
Please contact the support service from where you obtained the product. MC - Site Manager.
I think MalwareBytes Anti-Malware is great. Thanks for the review. I have been using Spybot and Avast for years and after a scan, MalwareBytes picked up several threats that Spybot and Avast missed. I know that MalwareBytes has a paid full time product but is using Avast and MalwareBytes (as on-demand) sufficient?
Tks
Dennis
No one or even two things are "sufficient" on their own or together. Rather, a layered strategy covering the whole Windows system and how it is operated is necessary in order to reduce your risk to the minimum possible. There is more here. MC - Site Manager.
http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/safe-computing-under-hour.htm
UltraDefrag doesn't say it will work on Windows 8 but I tried the portable version and it works quite well on Win8. The help says the optimizer part of the program put the most used files at the beginning of the disc and it seems to make my computer run faster. It did take a couple of hours to run although the disc had never been defragged before and was severely fragmented.
Thanks for the review,
George
What I look for in a PDF reader is a lightweight program that will load quickly, yet support any PDF I throw at it, and let me edit any form in it. I would also like it to let me copy text and images to the clipboard and print or export portions of it. Foxit Reader performs admirably for me. The only time it doesn't do what I want it to is when the document author denied permission for certain functions. IMHO it should merit at least a mention on your list.
Foxit is reviewed here.
http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-non-adobe-pdf-reader.htm
I was coming here hoping to find apps for windows 8. Hopefully you will have a new section soon dedicated to start screen apps.
See my comment on 1/2/2013.
George
We are working on this at the moment. Progress will depend ultimately on how much time our existing team can devote to this project and/or if new volunteers come forward to help. MC - Site Manager.
I'll check back later then. It shouldn't be too difficult as the app store is pretty lacking at the moment, but of course they are adding new ones every day. Anyhow best of luck and thanks for all the hard work.
Long time user, first time commentor.
This is going to get kick back from fan boys I imagine, but the squeaky wheel always gets oil right?
Please consider Wp7 and WP8 user in app recommendations. Though our community is small, we are growing. =)
Thank you for leading me to Macrium Reflect Drive Imaging Program!!
That's a good list! Cheers guys
It's a real honor to have one of my program's on the list. Gizmo's site has become *THE* website I send people to when they ask me "what's the best free program to xyz". There are some great freeware blogs out there and some great software sites, but right now there simply is no one else that is coming close to providing the kind of serious recommendations that you guys are doing. It's been a real joy to watch the site evolve and grow.
-mouser from donationcoder.com
Thank you for the kind words. It seems to us that you guys over at Donation Coder are also doing a great job for the same cause. :)
http://www.donationcoder.com/
The best free site on the net; no need to search others! Great site. Thank you everyone. I also enjoy reading the Comments from others.
This website has all I need and I can find it easily. When I found this website I wouldn't go to another. I didn't go to another because well all I needed was right here. I was glad I found it and I want everybody to at least try it. It is an amazing experience and I hope this stays the way it is forever. I like everybody's post it shows how good this website is. I hope that everybody can find this website.
Awesome feedback! Yes keep on checking and don't hesitate to throw questions anytime
A terrific site, but may I suggest two additions:
1. Disk De-fragmenter for Windows. I really like the Auslogics Disk Defrag, particularly since it offers the option of automatic defragging;
2. I have acquired some excellent free programmes from Give Away of the Day -- giveawayoftheday.com -- and wonder if there is room for this website in your list.
Keep up the good work.
You might want to check the following web page. The free version of Auslogics does not do any optimization:
http://www.auslogics.com/en/software/disk-defrag-pro/#comparison
George
1. Disk Defragmenter is already there on the site... as a review, and the editor's choice from that review is on this list too.
2. Sorry, GOTD will not be considered here. There are issues with it. The software from GOTD has to be activated the same day only. That's a problem. Many of us would want to store the software for a later use, or for installing on a different computer.. that way it won't work. Also, in case we decide to format the computer, and reinstall the software, again, it won't work.
Further, the software offered on GOTD are often promotional, and contain somewhat less features.
Earlier, we allowed GOTD offers on the site, but not since a long time, because of the above issues.
You seem to have misunderstood my original post. I meant that in the Disk De-Fragmenter for Windows section I fealt you should include the excellent Auslogics Disk Defrag programme, which allows one to schedule automatic defragging.