mercredi 23 octobre 2013

Freeware Replacements for Common Commercial Apps

This list was last updated June 22, 2009

I thought a beneficial topic to everyone, would be a list of freeware programs, that you can use instead of a commercial one. Feel free to suggest programs that should be added to the list. Please, only suggest programs that are known to be free of spyware or other malware.


Antivirus Applications



Free Online Virus/Trojan/Spyware Scanners

Malware Removal - You may also want to read this topic, Simple steps to keep your computer secure!

  • a² Free - a complementary product to antivirus software which is specialized in protection against harmful software. Antivirus software often features an inadequate protection against Trojans, Dialers and Spyware. a² fills this gap." - Compatibility: Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/2003 Server/Vista - tg911

  • Ad-Aware - Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/2003 Server - Tutorial: Using Ad-Aware

  • Dr.Web CureIt! - curing utility to clean your computer infected with viruses and various unwanted codes - Pilate

  • IE-Spyad - Internet Explorer 4.0/4.01 (incl. SP1 & SP2)/5.0/5.01 (incl. SP1 & SP2)/5.5 (incl. SP1 & SP2)/6.0 (incl. SP1& SP2)/7.0 - Tutorial: Using IE-Spyad

  • Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware - can detect and remove malware that even the most well known anti-virus and anti-malware applications fail to detect Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/Vista (32 and 64-bit) - DaChew

  • Spybot - Search & Destroy - Compatibility: Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP/XP AMD64/XPTablet PC Edition/2003/Vista/PE/ Mac OS/Mac OS X/Linux/Unix (Starting in Wine; full Wine support in 1.5) - Tutorial: Using Spybot S&D

  • Spywareblaster - prevents spyware from being installed on your PC. - Tutorial: Using SpywareBlaster

  • Spywareguard - provides a real-time protection solution against spyware that is a great addition to SpywareBlaster's protection method. - Tutorial: Using SpywareGuard

  • Spyware Terminator - Effectively remove spyware, adware, trojans, keyloggers, home page hijackers and other malware threats. Real-Time Protection is included in the basic version. - nigglesnush85

  • SuperAntiSpyware - link to a direct download of the Free version - All Windows compatible

  • WinPatrol - "WinPatrol uses a heuristic approach to detecting attacks and violations of your computing environment. Traditional security programs scan your hard drive searching for previously identified threats. WinPatrol takes snapshot of your critical system resources and alerts you to any changes that may occur without your knowledge." - Compatibility: Windows 98 - Vista - joe53


Specific Virus Removal Tools - if you know what Virus you have, try here.FirewallsPC Security

  • Active@ KillDisk - powerful and compact DOS software that allows you to destroy all data on hard and floppy drives completely, excluding any possibility of future recovery of deleted files and folders. - FAT/FAT32/NTFS File Systems - acklan

  • Core Control - a full featured advanced security program, designed for Windows 95/98/ME - acklan

  • DeleteOnClick - completely deletes files in one click rather than sending the file to the recycle bin. The data becomes unrecoverable. For this reason you must use this program carefully. - Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista - leeanne172

  • Eraser - an advanced security tool (for Windows), which allows you to completely remove sensitive data from your hard drive by overwriting it several times with carefully selected patterns. - Compatibility: Windows 95/98/ME/NT 4.0/2000/XP - jgweed

  • EULAlyzer - can analyze license agreements in seconds, and provide a detailed listing of potentially interesting words and phrases. Discover if the software you're about to install displays pop-up ads, transmits personally identifiable information, uses unique identifiers to track you, or much much more. - Compatibility: Windows (All) - Wink

  • iProtectYou - allows parents to control which web sites can be visited, which programs can have Internet access, block e-mails, chat sessions and instant messages with inappropriate words, stop annoying ads, and/or restrict internet time to a predetermined schedule. - Compatibility: Windows (All) - acklan

  • KL-Detector - detect keylogging activity on your computer! - Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP - boopme

  • Rohos Mini Drive - creates hidden and encrypted partition on the USB flash drive memory. You work with the files on the hidden partition without opening a special program Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista - Newb4Life

  • ThreatFire - constantly analyzes your computer's behavior to detect and block any malicious activity Compatibility: Windows XP/Vista/2003/2008 - rowal5555


File Encryption

  • AxCrypt - a powerful, yet extremely easy to use file encryption program. It integrates directly with Windows Explorer, enabling encryption, decryption, viewing and editing of any file with just a few clicks of the mouse. - Compatibility: Windows (All)

  • Cryptainer LE - A really simple to use encryption tool that creates an invisible, password protected folder on your hard drive or other media. Free version limited to 25MB. "Cryptainer LE's encryption works with all 32 bit versions of Microsoft Windows (95/98/ME/2000/XP/2003 Server) and with all known file types." - Compatibility: Windows (all 32 bit versions) - Rimmer

  • PowerCrypt - a powerful file encoder. Make sure your files are protected with a 100% secure encryption algorithm, which is not resolveable by NSA nor CIA. - Compatibility: Windows (All)

  • True Crypt - disk encryption software for Windows XP/2000/2003 and Linux. A, more powerful version of Cryptainer. As a user of both, I recommend TrueCrypt over Cryptainer by a long shot. No stupid limits on how big you can have the drive, as well, so you could encrypt your whole drive if you wanted to. - Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/Vista/Linux - ØÇë¦òT


Hard Drive & System Utilites

  • AnVir Task Manager Free - a tool that controls everything running on computer and provides Windows enhancements Compatibility: Windows XP/Vista - skyfuser

  • Auslogics Disk Defrag - designed for fast optimization of today's modern hard disks. - Compatibility: Windows 2000/2003/XP/Vista - Yourhighness

  • BootSafe - a program (doesn't require installation) that sits on your desktop. Double click on it, select one of the 3 Safe Mode options, and click on Reboot. - Compatibility: Windows 98/98SE/ME/2000/XP - usasma

  • Clonezilla - a hard drive backup/cloning tool Compatibility: (32 and 64 bit)GNU/Linux, MS windows and Intel-based Mac OS - nigglesnush85

  • Defraggler - a file defragmentation tool Compatibility: Windows 2000/2003 and 2008 Server/XP(32 and 64 bit)/Vista(32 and 64 bit) - frankp316

  • Disk Cleaner - a tool to quickly and easily clean your hard disk from temporary files like those in the system temporary folder, the Internet Explorer Cache and Cookies folder, and the Recycle Bin Compatibility: all Windows versions/platforms - henceforth

  • Drive Manager - has been written to help you easily identify drives which are of the same type. - fleamailman

  • Driver Max - allows you to download the latest driver updates for your computer Compatibility: Windows 2003/XP/Vista and Windows 7 - Yourhighness

  • driveSMART EWT - an early warning and tracking system, which tracks the status of the computer hard disks, timely detecting, and anticipating any problems occurring with the disk, before the danger of the data loss appears. - Compatibility: Windows 95b/98/ME/2000 Pro & Server/NT 4.0 Workstation & Server/XP/2003 Server__MAC OS X 10.2 & 10.3 - BlackSpyder

  • DShutdown - a stand-alone program that allows you to easily shutdown and wake up local or remote PCs, with many specific options. - Compatibility: Windows 9x/NT/2000/XP/Vista - acklan

  • DTaskManager - a Task-Manager, but specifically engineered to give additional functionalities that the Windows bundled TaskManager (and other third party products) do not have. - Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/Vista - scratcher

  • EASEUS Partition Master - comprehensive hard disk partition tool and system optimization software for Windows-based administration without data loss. Both basic and advanced partition operations can be done by this partition software. Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7 32 and 64 bit - Wildabeast

  • ERUNT - registry backup tool - Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista - rowal5555

  • GParted - an industrial-strength package for creating, destroying, resizing, moving, checking and copying partitions, and the filesystems on them. This is useful for creating space for new operating systems, reorganizing disk usage, copying data residing on hard disks and mirroring one partition with another (disk imaging). - Gnome - fozzie

  • HDDScan - a freeware program for low-level HDD diagnostics. Supports IDE/SATA/SCSI hard disk drives, RAID arrays, external USB/Firewire hard disks, flash cards. - Stidyup

  • HDTune - a good piece of software for testing the HD in the PC. Gives good analysis of the drives sector issues. - projectfocus

  • JkDefrag - disk defragment and optimization utility for Windows 2000/2003/XP/Vista/X64 - Shaba

  • JkDefragGUI - a Graphical User Interface which allows you to easily select all the features of JkDefrag Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/Vista/2008, U3 capable flash memory and with BartPE pre-installed environment - Yourhighness

  • Memtest86 - a thorough, stand alone memory test for x86 architecture computers. - boopme

  • MicroSoft's Memory Test - tests the Random Access Memory (RAM) on your computer for errors. - acklan

  • Minimem - can reduce the memory footprint of any application Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista (32 and 64 bit) - nigglesnush85

  • msconfig - for Windows 95/2000 - acklan

  • PC INSPECTOR - a data recovery program - Supports FAT 12/16/32 & NTFS file systems. - usasma

  • Power off 3 - a small program that allows you to control the power state of your pc. - Compatibility: Windows 95/98/Me/NT4.0/2000/XP - Yourhighness

  • Process Explorer - shows you information about which handles and DLLs processes have opened or loaded. - Compatibility: Windows 9x/Me/NT 4.0/2000/XP/Server 2003/Vista - Ronbo

  • Process Lasso - Improve your PC's responsiveness and stability. Process Lasso offers capabilities such as default process priorities and affinities, termination of disallowed processes, instance count limits, a system responsiveness graph, logging of processes, and much more Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista - Adamsappleone

  • ProcessLibrary - Gain insight on any process through easy and quick search feature that queries over 9000 entries in processlibrary.com database directly - Compatibility: Windows 2000/2003/XP - nigglesnush85

  • Quick Access InfoBar - Get the latest definitions and exhaustive advice on all the processes running in the Windows Task Manager. - Compatibility: Windows 2000/2003/XP

  • Ranish Partition Manager - Partition resizer, create, manager similar to Partition Magic but free! - Compatibility: Linux, FreeDOS, FreeBSD, & Windows 98/2k/XP

  • Send To Toys - an enhancement of the Send To system menu. Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/2003 Server/Vista - Yourhighness

  • Smart Defrag - has two defrag modes: express and comprehensive. Can also run automatically in the background to constantly keep your drive defragged. Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/Vista, and Windows 7 - Budapest

  • SpeeDefrag - a program, which restarts your computer and runs only defrag.exe with optimized windows settings. - Compatibility: Windows XP/Vista - acklan

  • Speed Test - monitor CPU (over 8 cores) and RAM usage by itself and more Compatibility: Windows Vista - Adamsappleone

  • StartUpLite - a lightweight and simple to use application that allows you to speed up your system startup, safely and efficiently. The program allows you to disable or remove unnecessary startup entries from your computer. Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/Vista - DaChew

  • Swissknife - can create, delete and format partitions on your hard disk drives. Supports Internal interfaces such as IDE and SCSI and External interfaces such as Hi-Speed USB, Parallel port, PCMCIA, USB On-The-Go, Firewire®, SATA interfaces etc. Creates Fixed and Removable Disk Format types. - Compatibility: Windows 98/XP/Mac OS/Linux - BlackSpyder

  • SyncBack Freeware - backup and synchronization software - Compatibility: Windows 98/98SE/ME/NT 4/2000/XP/Windows 2003 - usasma

  • Unknown Device Identifier - Identify unknown devices not recognized by Windows in your system especially after you reinstall your system and cannot figure out what all those yellow question mark labeled devices really are. - Compatibility: Windows 95/98/ME/NT4x/XP/2000 - acklan

  • Vision - Reports all open TCP and UDP ports and maps them to the owning process or application. - Compatibility: Windows XP/2000 - usasma

  • WinDriversBackup Personal Edition 1.0.9 (last freeware version) - for backing up your Windows system driver files. It can also scan for, and back up, third party non-Microsoft drivers. - Compatibility: Windows 9x/NT/ME/2000/XP - mommabear


System Information

  • Belarc Advisor - builds a detailed profile of your installed software and hardware, including Microsoft Hotfixes, and displays the results in your Web browser. - Compatibility: Windows 9x/ME/NT 4/ME/2000/XP/2003/Vista - Ronbo

  • CoolMon 2 - a program for monitoring vital system stats and almost anything else you wish to display on the desktop. - Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP - nosnhoj#3

  • Core Temp - used to monitor CPU temperatures. Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista (both 32bit and 64bit) - DaChew

  • CPU-Z - gathers information on some of the main devices of your system; CPU, Mainboard, Memory, and System. - Compatibility: Windows (All) - Rimmer

  • Double Driver - you can view which drivers are installed in your system and you can backup the drivers you choose, save and print the drivers list, and more. - Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP - Yourhighness

  • EVEREST Home Edition - a freeware system information, system diagnostics and benchmarking solution for home PC users. Similar to Belarc, but much more comprehensive. - Compatibility: Windows (All) - Herk

  • GPU-Z - a lightweight utility designed to give you all information about your video card and GPU Compatibility: Windows 2000 / XP / Vista (both 32 and 64 bit) - Mr Alpha

  • SIW - This program performs computer configuration, analysis, and diagnostics. (Similar to Everest) - Compatibility: Windows (All)

  • SpeedFan - monitors voltages, fan speeds and temperatures in computers with hardware monitor chips. - Compatibility: Windows (All) - usasma

  • System Spec - lets you can see, save and print a complete spec of your PC with this no-install, system information utility and perform various windows functions. Additional advanced info includes CPU, drives, apps, display, memory and more. - Compatibility: Windows 98/ME/NT 4/2000/XP - John_McKenna

  • What's Running - a product that gives you an inside look into your Windows 2000/XP/2003 system. Explore processes, services, modules, IP-connections, drivers and much more. - Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/2003 - rowal5555

  • WinAudit - a self-contained (no setup required) PC audit, and inventory of software, licenses, security configuration, hardware, network settings... - Compatibility: Windows PE/95/98/Me/NT3.51/NT4/2000/XP/2003/Vista - usasma


File Compression and Archiving

  • 7-Zip - a file archiver with high compression ratio. - nosnhoj#3

  • ExtractNow - will let you extract multiple archives with the ease of a single click. - acklan

  • FilZip - an archiving utility (zip tool) that can open various archive types. It offers Windows integration, drag and drop, encryption, multi-extract and more. - leeanne172

  • IZArc - File compression utility that supports most standard compression formats.

  • ZipGenius - A nice archiving tool. It handles zip, rar and many others. - Storm Rider


File/Folder Utilities

  • Cobian Backup - a multi-threaded program that can be used to schedule and backup your files and directories from their original location to other directories/drives in the same computer or other computer in your network. - usasma

  • Delete Doctor - Delete files that are difficult to delete, such as some files left by viruses and trojans, or files with corrupted file names.

  • Digital Dolly - hard-disk-partition, image, and cloning software that runs completely from a bootable CD-ROM. - acklan

  • Everything - Locate files and folders by name, instantly. Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista/2008/Windows 7 - rowal5555

  • Folder Guide - a handy utility that provides fast access to your frequently used and favorite folders. It can operate as the part of your context menu in your Windows Explorer. Compatibility: Windows 9x/Me/NT/2000/XP/2003 - Yourhighness

  • HostsMan - a hosts file manager and editor - Yourhighness

  • LupasRename 2000 - rename files quickly (Will run on USB Drive) - turbines

  • MDI Viewer - allows you to view .MDI files - sitalchauhan

  • Recuva - a Windows utility to restore files that have been accidentally deleted from your computer, camera memory cards, MP3 players... Compatibility: Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/2003 and 2008 Server/XP(32 and 64 bit)/Vista(32 and 64 bit) - Keithuk

  • ReNamer - a small, yet very flexible file renaming tool, that offers all the standard renaming procedures, including prefixes, suffixes, replacements, case changes, as well as remove contents of brackets, add number sequences, change file extensions, etc. - Walkman

  • SequoiaView - an excellent utility to help you figure out what is taking up so much space on your hard drive. - ddeerrff

  • Snap Backup - The One-Click Backup Utility that makes it simple to protect your important work. - acklan

  • Unlocker - Remove, hard to Delete, files and folders.

  • WinDirStat - a disk usage statistics viewer and cleanup tool for Microsoft Windows - Windows 95/98SE/ME/NT4(SP5)/2000/XP/Server 2003 - nigglesnush85

  • WinMerge - a visual text file differencing and merging tool for Win32 platforms. It is highly useful for determining what has changed between project versions, and then merging changes between versions. - Walkman


Continued in the next post...





via Bleeping Computer Last 20 Posts http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/366982/freeware-replacements-for-common-commercial-apps/

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