CHF Recommended Software

ComputerHelpForums.com Recommended Software

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CAUTION: While CHF has chosen what we believe to be the safest download medium it is ultimately the member's responsibility for choosing what they download to their own computer. Many free programs come bundled with unwanted toolbars and services. The best advice we can give you is take time and read every step carefully and uncheck unwanted apps before clicking the NEXT Step.

1) Anti-Virus Anti-Malware & Anti-Spyware

1a) Anti-virus

NOTE Only install one of these programs per computer. Having more than one will create issues and will not provide extra protection.

Microsoft Security Essentials(Free)= Helps guard your PC against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=5201

Bit Defender Antivirus (Free) = Offers basic protection against viruses, worms, trojans, rootkits, adware and spyware.
http://www.bitdefender.com/solutions/free.html

Avast (Free) = Free antivirus with anti-spyware protection fpr Windows 7, Vista or XP.
http://filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/

Nod32 (Paid)= Antivirus with advanced spyware site protection
www.eset.com

NOTE Only install one of these per computer. Having more than one running in real-time protection mode will create issues and not provide extra protection

1b)Anti-Malware Anti-Spyware

Malwarebytes (Free and Paid)= Utilizes Malwarebytes powerful technology to detect and remove all traces of malware including worms, trojans, rootkits, rogue dialers, spyware and more. Free and paid versions
www.malwarebytes.org

Emsisoft= Antivirus and Anti-Spyware
http://www.emsisoft.com/en/

1c)Miscellanious Security Software

Cookienator = Small lightweight program that removes tracking cookies from your browser.
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/cookienator.html

TFC= Cleans out your temporary files.
http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/files/file/187-tfc-temp-file-cleaner-by-oldtimer/

Win Patrol (Free & Paid)=WinPatrol is used to detect and prevent changes to important Windows settings. Notification if unwanted programs are set to automatically run, if a toolbar has been added to Internet Explorer, if your home page, search provider or other internal configurations change.
www.winpatrol.com

2)Backup Utilities

Macrium Reflect= A complete disc image and backup software solution for your PC. Includes it's own easy to use built in Wizard. Paid & Free versions . Free version clones drive and creates image files. Paid version adds incremental and differential modes.
http://www.macrium.com/

EaseUS Partition Manager/ ToDo Backup=Free disk/partition and cloning software with the latter for image files and file and data backup.
http://download.cnet.com/EaseUS-Partition-Master-Free-Edition/3000-2248_4-10863346.html
http://www.todo-backup.com/

Acronis True Image (Paid) = Image files, data and file backup, secure zone, universal restore auto and manual usage
www.acronis.com

Erunt= An excellent tool for backing up or restoring the registry. Simple to use and fast.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/erunt.html

3)Browsers and Plugins

3)a Browsers

Firefox= A free and open source web browser developed for Microsoft Windows, OS (Operating System) X, and Linux.
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all/

Opera = Offers Tabbed browsing, speed dial, advanced bookmarking tools and much more.
http://download.cnet.com/Opera/3000-2356_4-10005498.html

Google Chrome =A speedy browser with bookmark and tab syncing across different devices.
https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95346?hl=en

Pale Moon = A stable Firefox Browser with independent development
http://www.palemoon.org/

3b)Browser Addons

Adblock Plus = Block annoying ads and banners automatically available most browsers.

WOT= Web of Trust site protection from malicious websites available all browsers

Mouse Gestures= Forward and reverse with a single swipe of the cursor

LastPass= Password saver available for most browsers

All above for IE (all other browsers download from within):
http://simple-adblock.com/
http://download.cnet.com/WOT-Web-of-Trust-for-Internet-Explorer/3000-12512_4-10777505.html

4)CD and DVD Tools

Imgburn= Lightweight CD, DVD, HD-DVD or Blue-Ray burning application.Great also for burning ISO's.-Free
http://www.imgburn.com/

CD Burner XP ( has nothing to do with Windows XP) = complete burning for data, audio and iso as well as d or dvd copy function-Free
https://cdburnerxp.se/

5)Data Retrieval and Removal

Revo Uninstaller(Free & Paid) = A CHF favourite. Very thorough program uninstaller and removes all program traces from the registry.
http://www.revouninstaller.com/revo_uninstaller_free_download.html

Active Disk = A powerful hard drive data eraser excluding any possibility of future recovery of files.
http://download.cnet.com/Active-Kill-Disk-Hard-Drive-Eraser/3000-2092_4-10073508.html

Free Undelete = Attempts to recover deleted files.
http://www.officerecovery.com/freeundelete/

Recuva (Free)= Retrieve files deleted from your Windows computer, Recycle Bin, digital camera card, or MP3 player.
https://www.piriform.com/recuva

Recover My Files (Free)= Data recovery software recovers deleted files emptied from the Windows Recycle Bin, files lost due to the format or re-install of a hard drive, or files removed by a virus
http://www.recovermyfiles.com/

6)Email Programs

Windows Live Mail/ Outlook.com = Maximizes email security across multiple email accounts. Access even when off line.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=29224

Mozilla Thunderbird (Free)= Flexible, powerful and lightweight with many skins and addons.
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird

7)File Compression Utilities

Win Rar= A lightweight, flexible, and easy-to-use archiving utility that can unpack most archive formats.
http://www.winrarfree.net/

7 Zip= Highly recommended file compression utility with a host of archive formats and options.
http://www.7-zip.org/

Win Zip= A proprietary file archiver and compressor for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS (Operating System) X,IOS and Android.
http://www.winzip.com/win/en/downwz.html

8)Firewalls (All Free)

Online Armour= Protection from inbound threats and complete control of data leaving your PC to the Internet.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/online_armor_free.html

Zone Alarm=Makes your PC invisible to hackers. Stops spyware sending your data to the internet.
http://www.zonealarm.com/

Comodo Firewall=Default Deny Protection™ slams the door shut on all threats to your PC's health.
https://www.comodo.com/home/internet-security/firewall.php

9)File and Folder Utilities

XML Notepad=Provides a simple intuitive user interface for browsing and editing XML documents.
https://xmlnotepad.codeplex.com/

10)File Sharing

Skype= Transfer any size file between Skype participants even .exe files.
https://login.skype.com/login

Team Viewer= Transfer files from or to another computer using remote access.
http://download.cnet.com/TeamViewer/3000-7240_4-10398150.html

Google Drive= Online cloud storage and synchronizing services. 5GB Free.
https://www.google.com/intl/en/drive/

11)Messaging and Chat

Skype=Message your friends, see each other via web cam. Easy group chat available.
https://login.skype.com/login

12)Networking and Remote Access

Team Viewer=Great remote access program.Take remote control of another computer to fix problems. http://download.cnet.com/TeamViewer/3000-7240_4-10398150.html

Input Director= An application that allows you to control multiple PC's using only one keyboard and mouse.
http://download.cnet.com/Input-Director/3000-2094_4-10673488.html

Logmein Excellent remote access program.
http://www.foxitsoftware.com/

13) Readers & Office Applications

13a) Readers

Adobe Reader = The free, trusted standard for reliably viewing and interacting with PDF files. https://get.adobe.com/reader/

Foxit = Lightweight and Free and fast PDF reader. Non intrusive. Uncheck unwanted addon's during install. http://www.foxitsoftware.com/

13b) Viewers

Microsoft Powerpoint Viewer = View fully featured presentations created in Power Point with full fidelity.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=13

Ms Word Reader = Read any Ms Word document completely
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=4

Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack = edit and read newer format Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Files
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=3

13c) Office (All Free that will read and edit Ms Office Documents)

Apache Open Office= Great alternative to Microsoft Office. Recognizes Microsoft office
http://www.openoffice.org/

IBM Symphony = Remake of the old Lotus 123 from IBM easy to use and available for free use
http://www-03.ibm.com/software/products/en/lotusymp/

14) Photo Graphic and Video Editing & Viewing

Gimp= An excellent Image Editor and alternative to Photoshop.
http://download.cnet.com/GIMP/3000-2192_4-10073935.html

PhotoFiltre = A powerful and comprehensive, yet easy to learn, photo editing and enhancing tool.
http://www.photofiltre-studio.com/pf7-en.htm

Paint.net = Highly recommended alternative to Photoshop. Easy to use and incorporates layers. (is a Windows component)

Blender = Excellent 3D program.Large learning curve. Many addons available to achieve professional results.
http://www.blender.org/

Photoscrape = A fun and easy photo editing software that enables you to fix and enhance photos.
http://download.cnet.com/PhotoScape/3000-2192_4-10703122.html

Phoxo = Small powerful easy to use image and photo editor.
http://phoxo.com/en/

Many Cam = Webcam software - video - special effects - Broadcasts your screen including audio.
http://manycam.com/


Google Sketch Up = SketchUp's a 3D modelling program for a broad range of applications such as architectural, civil, mechanical, film as well as video game design.
http://www.sketchup.com/

Irfanview= Multi language support, thumbnail option, Paint option, slideshow, skins, drag-and-drop support, fast directory view, batch conversion, e-mail option, , print option, change color depth, scan support, cut/crop, IPTC edit, effects, capturing, lossless JPG rotation/ and crop.
http://www.irfanview.com/

15) Portable Applications

Emsisoft Emergency Scanner= The Emsisoft Emergency Kit contains a collection of programs that can be used without software installation to scan for malware and clean infected computers.
https://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/eek/

Superantispyware Portable Scanner= The scanner is the same as SUPERAntiSpyware Free Edition with pre-bundled definitions and a random named installer to prevent malware from blocking the installation.
http://www.superantispyware.com/portablescannerhome.html

RKill= This is an instant stop to all malware processes in a system but not a scanner.
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/rkill/

16) System Information & Utilities (All Free)

Speccy = A CHF favourite that provides complete easy to read hardware information incl your product key.

Speed Fan = Information on system temps, voltages and fan speeds. For advanced users only.
http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php

Belarc Advisor = Gives a full overview of your complete computer and system, software installed, and more.
http://download.cnet.com/Belarc-Advisor/3000-2094_4-10007277.html

Cpuid HW Monitor = Complete information tool for windows hardware and has a real timemonitor.
http://download.cnet.com/HWMonitor/3000-2094_4-10793486.html

Tree Size = Identifies the size of folders and sub folders.
http://download.cnet.com/TreeSize-Free/3000-2248_4-10139400.html

Sisoft Sandra Lite= an information & diagnostic utility. It should provide most of the information (including undocumented) you need to know about your hardware, software and other devices .
http://www.filehippo.com/download_sandra_lite/

Secunia PSI = Scans & identifies outdated apps. Updates from author's site.
https://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/personal/

WinDirSat = Provides a graphical layout of the files and folders that populate your Hard Drive.
http://download.cnet.com/WinDirStat/3000-2248_4-10614593.html

17) Screen Capture

Screen Hunter = Ideal screen grab program for grabbing the whole or part of the screen.
http://www.wisdom-soft.com/products/screenhunter_free.htm

Freeze Screen Video Capture = Records Screen video with audio capabilities. Easy user interface.
http://www.smallvideosoft.com/screen-video-capture/

MW Snap = Easy to use program that lets you capture portions or the full screen.
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/mwsnap.html

18) Web Development and Programming

Eclipse = A cross Platform software that can be used to write in Java, C++, PHP,Python and other languages.
http://eclipse.org/

19) Partition Managers

EaseUS Partition Manager = Easy to use partition tool for creating, modifying or deleting HDD (Hard Disk Drive) (Hard Disk Drive) partitions.
http://filehippo.com/download_easeus_partition_master_home/

GParted (Free)= creates boot cd to partition and format hard drives
http://gparted.sourceforge.net/

Avanquest Partition Commander (Paid) = Partitioning and format of hard drives
http://www.avanquest.com/USA/software/partition-commander-11-126553

20) Boot Management

Easy BCD = An excellent Windows boot manager. Easy to configure with startup screen. Choose in what order Operating systems start.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/easybcd.html

21) Music

Muse Score = A comprehensive notation program.
http://musescore.org/

Anvil Studio= A lightweight music sequencer, notation incl piano roll writer. Edits MIDI files as well.
http://anvilstudio.com/

22) Audio Editor

Audacity= Highly recommended complete audio editor that does just about everything one could wish for.
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Cyber Power Editor = Another powerful audio file editing software.
http://download.cnet.com/CyberPower-Audio-Editing-Lab/3000-2168_4-10779253.html