Lately I've been downloading and trying out all sorts of free software, and since I build systems on the side of normal work, I thought it would be cool if I could give a customer a CD or 2 of free apps for Windows.

So, I'd like to know what applications you've used and felt could replace retail software. So far I've been impressed by these titles:

AVG Anti-Virus (http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_index.php)
OpenOffice (http://www.openoffice.org/)
Filezilla (http://sourceforge.net/projects/filezilla/)
WinAmp (http://www.winamp.com)

Irfanview (http://www.irfanview.com/)

Well you can't go wrong with Lavasoft Ad-Aware (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/) or Spybot (http://security.kolla.de/)

This site, AnalogX (http://www.analogx.com/contents/news.htm), has a lot of good freeware also. I've used several different apps.

CDEX (http://cdexos.sourceforge.net/)
Best app I've found for ripping CDs, it can also convert audio formats.


XNews (http://xnews.newsguy.com/)
Free Newsgroup reader

EAC (http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/)
like CDEX, this is another good ripping program.

Originally posted by SNGX1275
Irfanview (http://www.irfanview.com/)

Thats my favourite too. Its a cool, easy to use simple phot editor program.

Bump on CDex, and I'd like to add Nullsoft SafeSex (http://www.nullsoft.com/free/safesex/).

I've found a website with a lot of good free software...
Pricelessware.org (http://www.pricelessware.org)

Anyone know of a free CD burning program?

Zone Alarm, the free one, here (http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp).

www.nonags.com is another good freeware site

www.sourceforge.net
www.fsf.org
www.kernel.org

Programmes I do use daily:
BELARC ADVISOR - doesn't phone home.
E-PRESS EASY OFFICE SUITE - (MS Office Suite clone)
SILLYSOFT - just fun
MAPMAKER'S SUNCLOCKS5 - way cool!
SPYWAREBLASTER/MRU/SPYWAREGUARD - all same Company
UNINSTABILITY - just installed, will report back later.
Programmes I do not understand:

AVG - antivirus program which is good but has a nasty habit of quitting after about 3 mos. use. (grrr)
AD-AWARE6 - have some serious questions about it.Can somebody explain what use the FREE edition is? (My answer: not much)
SPYBOT SEARCH AND DESTROY - which imho works better than Ad-Aware. ?

Originally posted by Nodsu
www.sourceforge.net
www.fsf.org
www.kernel.org
Cute nodsu... I don't think thats what he was looking for though.

editpad lite - Nice notepad replacement with tabbed interface
http://www.editpadpro.com/

Aida 32 http://www.aida32.hu/aida-download.php?bit=32

enditall 2 http://www.techtv.com/callforhelp/freefile/story/0,24330,3359077,00.html

getdiz - NFO file reader http://www.softpile.com/Utilities/Miscellaneous/Review_10627_index.html

Error messages for windows & unit conversions http://www.gregorybraun.com/

Tufftest lite - hard drive tester than runs off a floppy http://www.tufftest.com/

add/remove pro http://www.techtv.com/callforhelp/freefile/story/0,24330,3427132,00.html

Driver cleaner http://www.driverheaven.net/cleaner/

magical jellybean dictionary http://www.magicaljellybean.com/

Avant browser http://www.avantbrowser.com/

WinPatrol.
http://www.winpatrol.com/

Nice freeware site.
http://www.aumha.org/freeware.htm

there is a freeware CD burning app. I have never used ot though.

CD Burner XP Pro
http://w1.878.telia.com/~u87812405/

How about MyIE2 (http://www.myie2.com/html_en/home.htm) and Opera (http://www.opera.com/) browsers.

602 Pro Office Suite

http://www.software602.com/

Notepad.exe

Winamp :) cant think of anyting i use more tbh

Originally posted by olefarte
How about MyIE2 and Opera browsers.

oh yeah i forgot. the browser that i am using right now. Mozilla Firebird (http://texturizer.net/firebird/)

BeOS R5 Personal Edition (http://www.bebits.com/app/2680). Free and installs in Windows (or Linux) :)

Originally posted by PanicX
Anyone know of a free CD burning program?

cdrecord (ftp://ftp.berlios.de/pub/cdrecord/alpha/win32/) is free, but if you aren't used to command line, it might be difficult and/or slow to use. But there should be GUI frontends available, too.

I use this to burn all my data CDs.

here a a nice site with alot of links to freeware apps.

Shell City (http://www.shellcity.net/index.php)

This site maintains lists of freeware and shareware apps.

List of Lists (http://lists.gpick.com/index.html)

this site has some nice freeware tools

Roadkil.net (http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~roadkil/)

I love freeware. I have Weatherbug running in my tray. I still use ver 2.7 which if you say you're under 13 , it won't collect data on you and has little or no ads, depending on your browser. Laterversions got more full of ads and make you have a parent authorize it's installation when you say you're <13.

PoloView is a good image viewer. Tiny and fast.

Cyberkit is good for ping and tracert.

Zone Alarm is a nice firewall.

MBM5 is good for seeing your system temperatures.

Winzip and mIRC are not 'freeware' but work without paying.

Eudora mail is a great safe mail client that can run as 'banner ad' supported free mail client.

SafeSex and Winamp by Nullsoft are great. SafeSex is a notepad type thing that sits on your desktop (Veh turned me on to it) and everybody knows what Winamp is.

that's my list off the top of my head.

As of today, iTunes for Windows. Go get it now! WWW.ITUNES.COM

Thanks for all the great replies! I've got a CD compilation going thats actualy more than 1 CD. If you come up with any other notable Freeware, please post!

Well you can always set them up with AIM and MSN Messenger... as well as StyleXP (http://www.themexp.org) to change the windows themes and what not.

Bit Torrent (http://bitconjurer.org/BitTorrent/index.html)

nuff said

:D

Originally posted by Tarkus
SafeSex and Winamp by Nullsoft are great. SafeSex is a notepad type thing that sits on your desktop (Veh turned me on to it) and everybody knows what Winamp is.

I didn't introduce you to safe sex, your health teacher did!

I find the irony in the nonags.com site delicious. You having to pay to get (better access to) freeware...Contradicts the whole "nonags" idea.

Originally posted by XtR-X
Well you can always set them up with AIM and MSN Messenger... as well as StyleXP (http://www.themexp.org) to change the windows themes and what not.
StyleXP is shareware is it not?
The UXTheme.dll on the other hand, which is all you need, to use styles, is free

Originally posted by StormBringer
StyleXP is shareware is it not?
The UXTheme.dll on the other hand, which is all you need, to use styles, is free

Hrmm... when I got it a while back, it wasn't considered shareware... I think.

Well at least it's a free trial that never expires.... right?

Browser Hijack Blaster (http://www.wilderssecurity.com/bhblaster.html)
Small background program that detects when a web site tries to change your browser settings.

StartupMonitor (http://www.mlin.net/StartupMonitor.shtml)
An even smaller background program that notifies you when a program tries to add a startup entry for itself in the registry.

I use both and am very satisfied :)

Ahh don't forget WinRAR!

last time I checked, StyleXP was a time limited trial.

Originally posted by XtR-X
Ahh don't forget WinRAR!
Also not free.

Originally posted by StormBringer
last time I checked, StyleXP was a time limited trial.


Also not free.

Yes! There are freeware versions of winRAR! I have a late freeware version... not shareware or ad-supported. It is a legal version.


Why ain't you the police?

these two programs are freeware. they arent for the casual computer user but could come iin handy.

the first is

PowerPrompt v.1.1 (http://www.skrubbeltrang.com/Tools.aspx?Tool=PowerPrompt)

the other is FreeFile v.1.1 (http://www.skrubbeltrang.com/Tools.aspx?Tool=FreeFile)

NOTE: FreeFile requires Net.Framework to be in stalled.

How about a decent free firewall: I use Sygate from www.sygate.com, but there is the ubiquitous ZoneAlarm.

Hot CPU Tester Lite (http://www.7byte.com)
RamBoostXP (http://magic56.free.fr) ( It's in French, yes I know. Sue me...;) )
K-Lite Free Codecs (http://home.hccnet.nl/h.edskes/finalbuilds.htm) ( QuickTime Alternative & Real Alternative )

picasa 2
good photo managing download

Picasa
ZoneAlarm Firewall
Ad-Aware Personal Edition
Opera
SIW

I use AVG antivirus and antispyware (better than symantec which tends to be memory hog) ad aware is okay, but avg can automatically delete cookies where as ad aware wants you to keep re-deleting them (last time I had the program) avg also has a bunch of helpful options like disabling error reporting (if nothing else it saves you from clicking cancel).
As for a free vista theme google bricopack vista inspirat 2. Even if you don't have a high-end PC you can still enjoy many of vistas features, since you can disable the rocket dock, shadows and transbar

GBPVR - HTPC - PVR - Supports many capture cards, and MediaMVP
www.gbpvr.com
forums.gbpvr.com

an it's free...

Open office
Mozilla and Firefox web browsers
7Z
thunderbird
sunbird

These are my faves.

I can say that CDBurnerXP Pro is good!

Code::Blocks and SmartSVN are also good!

FastStone Capture.

It's small, simple and easy.

Can't say it's the best. Haven't used others.

avg ftw, best bang for the buck obviously. :D