| On-Line Courses |
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| My Guide |
If you want to learn how to do anything on your PC have a
look at these free on-line courses. |
| BleepingComputer.com |
A host of PC based turorials on all aspects of things computer. |
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| Microsoft
Updates |
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| XP
Service Pack 2 |
The best security update that you can give your PC. (Windows
XP only) |
| MS
Office Service Packs |
Gets all your MS Office programs up to latest specification.
(Various service packs for Office 97,98,2000,XP,2003,2007). |
|
XP Extras |
Lots of extras and utilities for Win XP, includes XP PowerToys. |
| Internet
Explorer 8 |
The latest version of Microsofts bundled browser. |
| Media
Player 11 |
This is the version used by Vista but can be downloaded for
XP |
| Windows 7
Upgrade Advisor |
Checks your PC to see if your hardware and software is OK
to run Windows 7. |
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| Anti-Virus
Software |
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| Kaspersky |
This is not free, but we include it because its
the best there is. (Click link for special offer) |
| Avast Home |
One of the best free antivirus software packages available.
Paid for version, (Avast Internet Security), is worth the extra. |
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| AVG |
Been around a bit longer than Avast but still
very good. |
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| Anti-Spyware
Software |
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| Spyware
Doctor |
This is not free and uses quite
a lot of processor power. But if you need the best - This is it! |
| AdaWare |
Once considered the best anti-spyware
product, although it now has some competition. |
| SpyBot
search & Destroy |
Improved a lot recently, more powerfull than
Adaware but a bit more "hands-on". |
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| Microsoft
Security Essentials |
This free antivirus and anti-spyware just gets better and better. |
| HijackThis |
Use with care! This shows a list of running processes
and allows you to delete them. Very, very effective. |
| AVG
Anti-spyware |
Full version for 30 days then reverts to free
version, but still very effective. |
| Spyware
Terminator |
Quite good on some of the latest malware. They
also have versions for Win 98 & ME. |
| Panda
Anti-Rootkit Detector |
Rootkits are used to hide other viruses/spyware
on your PC and are undetectable by most antivirus programs. |
| Malwarebytes
Anti-Malware |
Scans registry and all files. Gives you information
on results. Pro version with resident protection is $25. |
| Avira Anti-Rootkit |
A free tool that just deals with the growing problem of Rootkits. |
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| Disk
Clean and Tune up |
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| CCleaner |
Removes unused files from your system allowing Windows to
run faster and freeing up hard disk space. |
Video |
| PC
Decrapifier |
Gets rid of all those unwanted freebie programs
that you now get with most new PC's. |
| Regseeker |
Displays various information and cleans up your
registry. |
| IOBit
Advanced WindowsCare |
The new one click tune up for your PC has rave
reviews. |
| IObit
SmartDefrag |
The only thing lacking in Advanced WindowsCare
is a defragger and here it is. |
| Diskeeper
Lite |
A cut down free version of the industry standard
defragger. No longer available from Diskeeper's website. |
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| File Sharing |
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| Limewire |
Easy-to-use file sharing program that contains
no spyware, adware or other bundled software. |
| BitTorrent |
Harness a community of over 150 million users
to deliver files to your PC faster than anything else. |
| BitTornado |
Techy BitTorrent client with extra bells and
whistles. |
| On
Share |
See, hear and share your friends files, as if
they were on your own computer. |
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| Alternative
Browsers |
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| Mozilla
Firefox |
Replaces Internet Explorer with a fast, more
compact browser. |
| BackupFox |
This backs up all the data in your Firefox profile.
It will also backup your Thunderbird profile as well. |
| Opera |
Removes ads and improves browsing |
| Google Chrome |
New browser from Google |
| Safari |
The famous Apple browser now available in beta for Windows |
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| Alternative
E-mail clients |
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| Thunderbird |
The E-mail client that works with Mozilla Firefox. |
| Opera mail |
Use with Opera web browser |
| Eudora |
A highly respected alternative to Outlook Express (sponsored mode - with ads, is free) |
| Pegasus Mail |
A complex, but very worthy email client. |
| IncrediMail |
If you like lots of smiley faces in your emails, this one is for you. |
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| Office
Software |
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| Open
Office |
A Microsoft compatible Office suite, will open
and save Word, Excel, and PowerPoint document. Highly recommended. |
| Adobe
(Acrobat) Reader |
Free PDF reader from Adobe. (The link is initially
slow as it checks which version is best for you). |
| Outlook
PST backup |
Microsoft Outlook 2000/2003 , makes a backup
of your Outlook files on shutdown or at regular intervals. |
| Microsoft
Office 2007 Trial |
Try all versions of Office 2007. |
| Word
2007 Get Started Tab |
Access to on line help and video demo's to get
you started with Word 2007 |
| Excel
2007 Get Started Tab |
Access to on line help and video demo's to get
you started with Excel 2007 |
| Save
as PDF (Office 2007) |
Saves all your Office 2007 documents as PDF's
that anyone can view with Adobe (Acrobat) Reader. |
| PowerPoint
Viewer |
Allows you to view a PowerPoint presentation
without having PowerPoint installed. Works with all versions. |
| Calendar
Printer (Outlook 2007) |
An easy way to print and customize Outlook 2007
calendar information. |
| Out
of Office Ass. (Outlook 2007) |
Create automatic, customized e-mail replies for
your incoming e-mail while you are out of the office. (How
to use) |
| Office
Compatibility Pack |
Makes Word/Excel/PowerPoint XP/2002 compatible
with the new 2007 file formats. More
Info |
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| Photo
Edit & Store |
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|
Picasa
|
Picasa helps you instantly find, edit and share
all the pictures on your PC and is produced by Google (2000/XP only).
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| Gimp |
The nearest free alternative to Adobe Photoshop |
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| Telephony/Messaging |
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| Skype |
With a headset you can talk to anyone in the
world for free. New version supports webcams. |
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| Internet/Email
Utilities (see also Office Software
- above) |
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| Pop-Up
Stopper |
Removes pop-up advertising if you haven't got
XP service pack 2. |
| Cactus
Spam Filter |
Removes spam Emails and learns from you as you
use it. (2000/XP only) |
| SandBoxie |
Runs your browser in a sand box to protect your
PC from malware on the Internet. |
| Steady
State |
If you share your PC, use Steady State to prevent
other users from trashing your PC. (Win XP only) |
| K9 Web protection |
New and easy to use parental control software to restrict your childs access to the darker side of the Internet. |
| We-Blocker
(Parental Control) |
Free parental control software.
(do not use on Vista PC's, Vista has its own parental controls) |
| McAfee
Site Advisor |
A browser plug-in that indicates if a site has
malicious content. |
| Genie-Soft
OE Backup |
This is a brilliant backup facility for Outlook
Express. |
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| Hardware
Utilities |
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|
| Netstumbler |
Shows signal strength of wireless connection
by time and other useful information. |
| CPU-Z |
Detects processor and RAM details. Useful when
upgrading. |
| RAM
checker |
Microsoft utility for hardware checking your
RAM. If your PC is becoming unstable give this a try. |
| Norton
Uninstall Tool |
Use this and CCleaner, after uninstalling Norton
from control panel, to remove the bits that uninstall leave behind. |
| CD
Burner XP Pro |
Despite its name, it burns CD's & DVD's and
works with Windows 98/ME/2000/XP. |
| HD Tune |
Utility for checking your hard drive and displaying
vital information. |
| SiSoft
Sandra Lite |
Tells you everything you need to know about your
PC hardware and software. |
| DVD Flick |
Produces home movie and photo slideshows onto DVD. |
| Intel CPU Identification Utility |
Gives information on your Intel processor. You will need this to check your Intel CPU prior to running XP Pro mode under Windows 7. |
| AMD-V_hyper-V_Compatibility |
Gives information on your AMD processor. You will need this to check your AMD CPU prior to running XP Pro mode under Windows 7. |
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| Maps/Satellite
pictures |
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| Goggle
Earth |
Road maps and satellite pictures seamlessly joined.
Recommended. |
| Multi
Map |
On line postcode search on maps and route directions. |
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| Firewall |
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| ZoneAlarm |
If you are not using Windows XP, you definitely
need this program to stop malicious content from the Internet. |
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| File
zip/unzip |
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| WinZip |
Only free for 45 days but still the most comprehensive
zipper/unzipper there is. |
| Zip
Reader |
A simple unzipper if you just want to open a
received zip file. |
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| Music
& Video |
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| DVDShrink |
Shrinks a DVD film onto a blank DVD. |
| Napster |
3 million Full length music tracks. |
| Free
Play Music |
A huge database of production music. |
| EZ
Tracks |
101 free tracks. |
| E Music |
First 25 tracks free. |
| Artists
Direct |
From T-Mobile so works on all browser sizes. |
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| Audio
Editing |
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| Audacity |
Create your own music and ringtones with this
highly regarded software. |
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| Other
Free Software |
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| Serif
Software |
Desktop publishing, photo editing, web design,
graphic design, 3D animation all for free. |
| Logmein |
Use your browser to remotely control another
PC anywhere in the world. |
| WarRock |
Online Gaming. Take part in multiplayer first
person shooter enhancing your power with weapons and items. |
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