Nov 25 2007
What I Use
I consistently get asked what programs I use or recommend. So, Here is what I’ve got installed (in Windows XP / Vista). The programs in BOLD are highly recommended (as in what I consider to be system essential)…
7-Zip
Acronis Disk Director Suite v10
Acronis True Image Home v11
Adobe Photoshop 7.0
Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0
Adobe Reader 8
Audio Conversion Wizard
AutoRuns
AVG Anti-Virus
Azureus
Calculator Powertoy for Windows XP (XP Only)
CCleaner (slim)
CmdHere Powertoy For Windows XP (XP Only)
Cool Edit 2000 (no longer in production)
dBpoweramp
DH Driver Cleaner Professional Edition (now a ‘pay-for” program, use Driver Sweeper instead)
Download Accelerator Plus (DAP)
Driver Sweeper
EVEREST Ultimate Edition
Ext2Fsd (to mount Linux ext3 partitions)
FileZilla
IE7Pro
Image Resizer Powertoy for Windows XP (XP Only)
IrfanView
IsoBuster
iTunes Library Updater
iTunes
IZArc
JAlbum
jv16 PowerTools 2007
KinyonSoft WinTools XP, WinTools Vista
K-Lite Codec Pack Standard
Microsoft Calculator Plus (XP Only)
Microsoft Expression Web
Microsoft FrontPage 2003
Microsoft Network Monitor 3.1
Microsoft Office 2007
Microsoft Photo Info
Mozilla Firefox (2.0.0.9) (addons: Adblock Plus, FlashGot, IE View, Tweak Network)
Mozilla Thunderbird (2.0.0.9)
Mp3/Tag Studio
Nero 7 Ultra Edition (has increasingly become bloatware, don’t know what I’ll do the day I have to upgrade)
NVIDIA PureVideo Decoder
PerfectDisk
Pidgin IM
PokerTH
PrintFolders
Process Explorer
Process Monitor
ReNamer
RocketDock
Second Copy 7
System Information for Windows (SIW)
SyncToy 2.0 Beta
TrueCrypt (XP, Vista, Linux)
Tweak UI (XP Only)
Winamp
Windows Internet Explorer 7
Windows Media Player 11
WinPoker 6
November 25th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
I will suggest having a look at InfraRecorder http://infrarecorder.sourceforge.net/
Its a small free CD/DVD burning program for windows only i believe. Its the closest i have found to a Nero replacement.
November 26th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
nice list! thanks for posting that.
another nice image resizer is VSO Image Resizer at http://www.vso-software.fr/products/image_resizer/ . it’s free, plus works on all versions of Windows.
you can get a free but older version of JV16 Power Tools at http://www.321download.com/LastFreeware/index.html — i have the paid 2007 version on my computer, but keep a copy of the older free version for doing maintenance work on other computers.
a free alternative to PerfectDisk is JkDefrag at http://www.kessels.com/JkDefrag/ .
a free alternative to PrintFolders is Karen’s Directory Printer at http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptdirprn.asp .
November 26th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
You guys rock! Keep’em coming…
November 26th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
re:Nero…
I had been a Nero user for many years but the bloat became annoying in recent versions so this year I went looking around for something else and finally decided to go with Ashampoo Burning Studio 7. Been using it for a few months now and I really love it for my CD/DVD burning jobs. http://www2.ashampoo.com/webcache/html/1/product_2_1110__.htm
November 26th, 2007 at 10:19 pm
well, if you insist.
here are three other programs that i use all the time that do stuff i don’t think you’ve covered in your list here:
for screen captures, PrintKey 2000 is a great utility — free version is at http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,22960-page,1-c,desktop/description.html . there’s also a “pro” version at http://www.geocities.com/~gigaman/ . and then there’s the cadillac of screen capture programs, SnagIt at http://www.techsmith.com/screen-capture.asp .
for an alternative to windows explorer, i use xplorer2 at http://www.zabkat.com/x2lite.htm . that’s the free, lite version for private/personal use. there’s also a pro version with some added features.
and for directory stats, i use the free WinDirStat at http://windirstat.info/. another good directory program, but non-free is TreeSize at http://www.jam-software.com/treesize/index.shtml . actually their free version is pretty good, but it’s not Vista friendly.
December 2nd, 2007 at 2:57 pm
Out of curiosity, what do you use all the different backup programs (Acronis, SyncToy, Karen’s Replicator, and Second Copy7)?
December 2nd, 2007 at 3:18 pm
Excellent question!
I only use Karen’s Replicator for testing because I recommend it as a freeware solution. It wouldn’t make sense (nor would it be ethical) for me to recommend something I haven’t tested. I happen to prefer these:
Acronis TI – OS Images
SyncToy – Pics, Music, Videos across the network.
Second Copy – Entire directories across the network.
December 5th, 2007 at 1:31 am
Any recommendation for a mp3 player… other than Winamp… less memory hungry?
December 5th, 2007 at 5:39 am
hi! i see you dont use any kind of program to optimize the entire system, ( tuneup utilities , etc )
do you consider it not a priority ?
i follow your advise just using CCLEANER, defrag disk and disk cleaner , , seems that is the most important staff.
people may not see this topic anymore,
if u do, please tell me about my question plz ! ,thanks :O
December 5th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
You don’t see one of those programs because…
I’ve tried/tested just about every program there is to “optimize” your system. I haven’t found a single one worth the money they are asking. Most of these have the potential to do more harm than good.
January 1st, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Another alternative to Nero is BurnAware Free Edition. Available from here http://www.glorylogic.com/
The developer updates it regularly. It may not do some stuff that people need but for basic burning jobs I’m finding it good and reliable.
January 26th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Any good tools to find duplicate files on your hard disk… where you can compare 2-3 directories or even do a full search??
Thanks
March 31st, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Hey, does anyone know of any good, free audio editing software. I just need one that will cut parts out of songs/add parts into songs/combine songs into one sound file.
Thanks
April 1st, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Never mind, I found a good freeware program called Audacity. It can be downloaded at http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
Thanks
April 27th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Out of curiosity, what do you put on your dock?
April 28th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
June 1st, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Eric I posted earlier up this thread about BurnAware Free Edition.
At the time I thought it had good prospects but I’ve since revised my opinion. After extended use it proved to have quite a few bugs and to make things worse it is only available as a paid for product now.
I’ve now moved on to Ashampoo Burning Studio which IS working excellently. The deals from Ashampoo are good. I purchased the full version plus a second license for £13.98. However they do tend to spam you with various offers after purchasing their software.
So thanks for the heads up Dantv .
June 22nd, 2008 at 5:10 pm
What no antispyware / firewall?
September 13th, 2008 at 7:53 am
SyncToy V.2.0 Is Available Now And Better Than The Beta.
As For Some Tweaks I Have Not Seen; One Can Disable The Telephony Service For Those With DSL/Cable. This Will, However, Generate A Slew Of Errors In The System Event Log Unless You Also Disable Remote Access Connection Manager. So Far, I Have Found No Adverse Effects.
This Works On Both XP And Vista.
Thanks For All Your Valuable Info Erik ^5
September 13th, 2008 at 11:27 am
re-Synctoy – http://www.tweakhound.com/blog/?p=450
thx Avatar!