Convert All My Software To Freeware

[Eldmannen]

Well, that is software that I use or have used, and are satisfied with. It is software that I do like. So I can't agree with your statement "I find real decent free software is few and far between".

[Ultimate Predator]

Is IZarc not free then (as in open-source). IN fact, looking through my list, what is really free?

[Eldmannen]

Is IZarc not free then (as in open-source). IN fact, looking through my list, what is really free?

No, IZarc is not really free (as in open-source).

Ad-Aware SE Personal, SpywareBlaster, Spybot - Search and Destroy, Outpost Security Suite Pro, ConvertXtoDVD, Daemon Tools, Magic DVD Ripper/Copier, Nero Burning ROM, Vista Codec Package, NCleaner, Disk Cleanup (Included in Windows), Disk Defragmenter (Included in Windows), uTorrent, Windows Live Messenger with A-Patch, Windows Media Player 11, Microsoft Office 2007 Enterprise, XPize, Avira UnErase Personal, Dial-a-fix, HijackThis, UPHClean Unlocker, Dizzy, Foxit Reader, IZarc, Tweak UI are closed-source / proprietary software / non-free software.

Firefox, Frostwire, FileZilla, Paint.NET, VLC Media Player, Notepad ++ are open-source / free software.

[Ultimate Predator]

I see. Are the re fre (open-source) to the baove? I certanily can't find any for anti-spyware.

[Tarun]

Apparently only WinPooch is free and open source.

[Ultimate Predator]

Is it any good?

[Tarun]

I tried it because they said it was a free firewall and I didn't really care for it much at all.

[Ultimate Predator]

I see.

[Monkey Proof]

Is aMSN worth the download? At this point I'm looking for an IM service to install onto my new laptop with Vista. I have several IM applications on my old laptop including AIM/adHack which I used the most, I wonder if that is compatable with Vista?

[Tarun]

I've been using Pidgin and find it quite acceptable.

[Ultimate Predator]

Anti-Spyware: SpywareBlaster, Spybot - Search and Destroy, Windows Defender

Anti-Virus: Avast Home Edition

Browser: Firefox

CD/DVD Burning: AVStoDVD, InfraRecorder

Disk Management: NCleaner, Disk Defragmenter (Included in Windows)

File-Sharing: Frostwire, BitTorrent

Firewall: Comodo Free Firewall

FTP: FileZilla

Graphics: Paint.NET

Instant Messenger: Windows Live Messenger with A-Patch

Media Player/Codecs: Windows Media Player 11 (audio and streaming videos), VLC Media Player (downloaded videos)

Office: Microsoft Office 2007 Enterprise or OpenOffice

PC Visuals: XPize or Vize

Technical Tools: Dial-a-fix, HijackThis,Unlocker

Utilities: 7Zip, Dizzy, Foxit Reader

Web Program: Notepad ++

Only Microsoft Office 2007 Enterprise costs money from the list above though you can use OpenOffice as an alternative.

[Ultimate Predator]

Ad-Aware SE Personal, SpywareBlaster, Spybot - Search and Destroy, Avast Home Edition, Comodo Free, ConvertXtoDVD, NCleaner, Disk Defragmenter (Included in Windows), Windows Live Messenger with A-Patch, Windows Media Player 11, Microsoft Office 2007 Enterprise, Dial-a-fix, HijackThis, Unlocker, Dizzy, Foxit Reader, are closed-source / proprietary software / non-free software.

Firefox, InfraRecorder, Frostwire, BitTorrent, FileZilla, Paint.NET, VLC Media Player, Media Player Classic, OpenOffice, XPize or Vize, Notepad ++ are open-source / free software.

Any more suggestions for the closed-source / proprietary software / non-free software?

I'll be converting to SumatraPDF when it has a search option, at the moment I really need that, so I'm sticking with Foxit.

I can't find free alternatives to the anti-virus or anti-spyware nor the firewall.

Is there a free alternative of ConvertXtoDVD?

Is there a free alternative of NCleaner?

Disk Defrag I use simply because it come with Windows, why should I not use it? Is there a free alternative?

I'm still using WLM with A-Patch as it allows me to have MSN contacts and YIM contacts both form my MSN address. I haven't found a free alternative that can do that yet.

WMP 11 I use simply because it come with Windows, why should I not use it? Is there a free alternative?

MS Office I use simply because IMO its better than OpenOffice, though I've listed OpenOffice as well.

Are there any free alternatives to Dial-a-fix, HijackThis, Unlocker, Dizzy?

[Eldmannen]

I can't find free alternatives to the anti-virus or anti-spyware nor the firewall.

I don't use any real-time virus scanner (I don't like running background processes). I do however use ClamAV sometimes. I can be gotten with ClamWin, or just as the ClamAV Windows ported binaries that run from command-line. I also feel that the recent versions are faster than it used to be...

As for firewall, in lack of a open source alternative, I am using the default firewall that comes with SP2.

Is there a free alternative of ConvertXtoDVD?.

I took a quick search at SourceForge.net and found AVStoDVD, haven't tried it, but you might want to take a look.

Is there a free alternative of NCleaner?

Maybe Disk Cleaner.

Disk Defrag I use simply because it come with Windows, why should I not use it? Is there a free alternative?

I am not aware of any alternative. I also use the one that comes with Windows.

I see no reason why you should not use it. In my opinion, since you cant get rid of it anyway, and it does its job, there is no reason not to use.

WMP 11 I use simply because it come with Windows, why should I not use it? Is there a free alternative?

Since you cant get rid of it, and it does its job, there is no strong reason not to use it. Alternatives for movies include VLC and MPC. Alternatives for music include musikCube.

[Ultimate Predator]

I don't use any real-time virus scanner (I don't like running background processes). I do however use ClamAV sometimes. I can be gotten with ClamWin, or just as the ClamAV Windows ported binaries that run from command-line. I also feel that the recent versions are faster than it used to be...

Two problems. One I use real-time anti-virus, though I;m looking into weening myself of off it. Two; it doesn't support Vista. Hmm, what about this; http://sourceforge.net/projects/moonav/ - had a look in the forums, very early stages, could be good though

As for firewall, in lack of a open source alternative, I am using the default firewall that comes with SP2.

I have the default firewall that comes with Vista at the moment, but its no way as near good as Comodo. It really isn't very safe.

I did a little searching on SourceForge, any of these good http://sourceforge.net/softwaremap/trove_l...hp?form_cat=151 ? What about this; http://www.programmerworld.net/personal/firewall.htm or http://sourceforge.net/projects/openfirewall/

I took a quick search at SourceForge.net and found AVStoDVD, haven't tried it, but you might want to take a look.

I'll look into it. Cheers.

Maybe Disk Cleaner.

Doesn't support applications though.

I am not aware of any alternative. I also use the one that comes with Windows.

I see no reason why you should not use it. In my opinion, since you cant get rid of it anyway, and it does its job, there is no reason not to use.

Since you cant get rid of it, and it does its job, there is no strong reason not to use it.

I like your thinking.

Alternatives for movies include VLC and MPC. Alternatives for music include musikCube.

I have those movie alternatives. for music I'l stick to WMP11, though should I choose to look for new software, I'll use that.

Thank you for your time.

[Eldmannen]

Two problems. One I use real-time anti-virus, though I;m looking into weening myself of off it. Two; it doesn't support Vista. Hmm, what about this; http://sourceforge.net/projects/moonav/ - had a look in the forums, very early stages, could be good though

It does not support Vista?

Haven't heard about Moon Secure AV. It is coded in Delphi, I would prefer C or C++.

It seems "ok" though.

I have the default firewall that comes with Vista at the moment, but its no way as near good as Comodo. It really isn't very safe.

I did a little searching on SourceForge, any of these good http://sourceforge.net/softwaremap/trove_l...hp?form_cat=151 ? What about this; http://www.programmerworld.net/personal/firewall.htm or http://sourceforge.net/projects/openfirewall/

No idea. Haven't tried any. Personally, I remain skeptic.

Doesn't support applications though.

It doesn't?

On the screenshot, it looks like it supports at least Mozilla Firefox.

[Ultimate Predator]

Both the AV and Firewall are very new, so I don't think I'll be using them in a while. Would you not try them out?

ClamWin definitely doesn't support Vista; http://www.clamwin.com/content/view/71/63/ Annoying as I would have used should I have come off real-time anti-virus. Any other alternatives?

I'll look into the Disk Cleaner.

Wrong about Disk Cleaner. It does support Vista, and has loads of plugins. Looks great.

[Eldmannen]

Both the AV and Firewall are very new, so I don't think I'll be using them in a while. Would you not try them out?

I don't like to install software to try them out, because some software tend to uninstall improperly or leave behind files or registry keys.

I checked the websites out, and didn't get an impression good enough to try it out...

ClamWin definitely doesn't support Vista; http://www.clamwin.com/content/view/71/63/ Annoying as I would have used should I have come off real-time anti-virus. Any other alternatives?

Just because it does not mention Vista does not mean it does not support it. Perhaps its just outdated information?

An alternative is the ClamAV port for Windows on http://oss.netfarm.it/clamav/ it runs from the command-line, there is also a simple optional GUI on the site, but I don't use it.

I run it from the command-line.

I run it as;

clamscan --infected --show-progress --detect-pua D:\Downloads\

clamscan --infected --show-progress --detect-pua --memory

[greenknight]

Did a quick search of the ClamWin forum, found some posts that indicate people are using it successfully in Vista:

http://forums.clamwin.com/viewtopic.php?t=...highlight=vista

http://forums.clamwin.com/viewtopic.php?t=...highlight=vista

You could always give it a try, since it has no realtime protection it won't interfere with your resident AV.

[Ultimate Predator]

I'll look into the software guys. My only problem is that after testing Disk Cleaner, it doesn't really work well with Vista. So back to NCleaner. Any other suggestions?

[Tarun]

ClamWin actually has several issues and bad detection rates. You're better off sticking with Avast.

[Ultimate Predator]

ClamWin actually has several issues and bad detection rates. You're better off sticking with Avast.

For the moment then, I will. As with Comodo.

[Ultimate Predator]

Cheers for the lists.

Tarun - what should I use instead of it?

Still, I can't help that some suggestions aren't as good as what I good, but I'm still looking into it (like Office).

Also, will VLC and MPC play streaming videos (like QT) online?

Hm, could have sworn I commented on another codec pack. The Vista Codec Pack.

VLC has plugins you can install for Firefox and IE also, I believe.

Am I right in saying you need the Vista Codec Pack to play embedded quicktime files?

[Tarun]

I've stopped using codec packs altogether. Too many problems with them all. But I believe the VCP will handle QT.

[Ultimate Predator]

I've stopped using codec packs altogether. Too many problems with them all. But I believe the VCP will handle QT.

What do you use instead?

EDIT: Reinstalled it, it doesn't work. I think I'll have to use Vista Codecs again.

[Tarun]

VLC works fine for me. Codec packs just kept causing too many problems. I believe they all do from what I've heard.