USBDeview 1.05

Platform Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista
Type freeware
Manufacturer NirSoft
Size 45Kb
Free download

You connect a couple of external USB hard drives, a firewire unit and your USB printer. However, disconnecting them is another matter. How do you know which device is installed, is assigned to a particular drive letter and more?

USBDeview is a small utility that lists all USB devices that currently connected to your computer, as well as all USB devices that you previously used. For each USB device, extended information is displayed: Device name/description, device type, serial number (for mass storage devices), the date/time that device was added, VendorID, ProductID, and more.

USBDeview also enables you to uninstall USB devices that you previously used, and disconnect USB devices that are currently connected to your computer. You can also use USBDeview on a remote computer, as long as you login to that computer with admin user.

Mozilla SeaMonkey 1.1.2

Platform Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP
Type freeware
Manufacturer Mozilla
Size 10.8MB
Free download

Back in the 90’s, Internet Service Providers used to supply ‘all-in-one’ suites so that you had everything you needed to connect to the Internet. Indeed, Turnpike made a fortune selling their suite to Demon, when it was primarily made up from third-party applications (Mozilla, Eudora etc).

These all-in-one integrated Internet suites were designed to work with the Internet provider. It would be all pre-configured so that you install, select your local POP (a POP was a local phone number for dialup users), entered your supplied user name and password, and you’d find that you’d have a web browser, email client, chat application and dialup manager.

Mozilla SeaMonkey is an all-in-one Internet suite from the same guys that gave use Firefox and Thunderbird. Indeed, it contains the latest Firefox and Thunderbird, along with an IRC chat application and also Mozilla’s HTML editor for creating your own web pages.

Note that this is the Windows (US language) download only. Linux and Mac OS X versions are available from the Mozilla website.

Mozilla Firefox 2.0.0.4

Platform Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP
Type freeware
Manufacturer Mozilla Corporation
Size 5.5MB
Free download

Mozilla Firefox, the popular web browser, caused a stir with the original release, but apart from minor changes, visual improvements and security fixes, there haven’t been a wide range of new features since the original 1.x release. This is all about to change, with the release of Firefox 2.0. Windows version available to download from this page.

Current new 2.0 features include anti-phishing support, useful for acknowledging the difference between a legitimate website and a fake site set up for the purposes of obtaining your personal information.

Other new features include enhanced tabbed browsing, the ability to open tabs closed accidentally, spell checking within web forms, a search plugin manager, combined and enhanced Add-Ons manager and much more, including support for new web standards.

You can download other language editions of the Windows Firefox 2.0, as well as Linux and Mac OS X versions from the Mozilla website.

BitComet 0.88

Platform Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP
Type freeware
Manufacturer BitComet.com
Size 6MB
Free download

Using peer-to-peer technology is great for downloading large files. Particularly software that has recently been released. Often you spend so long trying to get on to the software website – along with everyone else – that you just end up giving up. It’s too slow.

However, you’ll find that other people have downloaded the software you want, so why not make that software (legally) available as a Torrent file and share it with others? They can then download from you and others, quickly.

The problem with Bittorrent is that it’s a rather basic tool. Does the job, but fairly simply. BitComet is a free file sharing tool that is Bittorrent compatible. It ships with a fantastic interface, which makes it a pleasure to use if you’re sharing files on a daily basis. You can queue files to download, auto-resume downloads, set speed limits, change your ports and much more.

K-Lite Codec Pack 3.1

Platform Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP
Type freeware
Manufacturer KL Software
Size 13.9MB
Free download

There are three or four key compression formats that most people use to compress video (or audio) for playback on the Internet and users will generally use QuickTime, Windows Media Player, RealPlayer or DivX Player to playback your video.

However, it’s not always as simple as this. Some people avoid the mainstream players, as these players require the end-user to register in order to use their software and people see this as an invasion of their privacy. However, some of the freeware and Opensource video players don’t always ship with the relevant codecs. Indeed, if you try and playback a video compressed in the 90’s, you might find it was encoded with an old Intel codec or other popular codecs that have long-since been discontinued.

The K-Lite Codec Pack is a collection of codecs and related tools that will enable you to playback just about any video/audio format you’ll find on the Internet. A codec is short for Compressor-Decompressor. Codecs are needed for encoding and decoding (playing) audio and video. With the K-Lite Codec Pack you should be able to play all the popular movie formats and even some rare formats.

Skype 3.20.152

Platform Windows 2000, Windows XP
Type freeware
Manufacturer Skype
Size 22.6MB
Free download

When it comes to making free calls across the internet using Voice over IP technology, Skype is certainly leading the pack. With almost 26 million people having downloaded the software, Skype is the most used free internet application.

Developed by the people behind the file-sharing service Kazaa, Skype offers free internet telephony with another PC user as long as both have the Skype software.

If you're an existing Skype user, the first thing you'll notice is that the interface has had a makeover. Another key addition is the use of public chats, so you can now start a conversation between a group of people, whether you know those people or they're random users who happen to join your topic of conversation.

Skype Prime enables a small business, such as an advisor, to offer services over the Internet. SkypeFind is a new business and feedback system, that enables end-users to rate businesses it finds through Skype.

The latest Skype 3.2 contains new features, including the facility to send money to another Skype user through PayPal, take a video snapshot of yourself, invite Hotmail, GMail and Yahoo friends to a chat and additional import features.

K-Meleon 1.1

Platform Windows 2000, Windows XP
Type freeware
Manufacturer kmeleon.org
Size 4.89MB
Free download

K-Meleon is an open source browser based on the Gecko rendering engine used by Mozilla.

Looking like a bit of a cross between Firefox and Internet Explorer, it should be easy for most users to get to grips with - even if they do insist on refering to browser tabs as 'layers'.

It does have some other confusing elements too: it features both 'favorites' and 'bookmarks' menus, with the 'favorites' menu full of Internet Explorer links (msdn.com, msn.com, Internet Explorer 7 webpage etc).

However, on the whole this is a fast, secure browser that offers some features we've not seen in other browsers, such as the ability to organise tabs into groups.

It also has a number of plugins available, such as Flash and Quicktime, although from reading the documentation the installation of these isn't always straightforward.

JetStart Free 4.38

Platform Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP
Type freeware
Manufacturer Code Sector Inc.
Size 890KB
Free Download

Tired of digging into a crowded Start Menu? JetStart offers you quick access to categorised Start Menu shortcuts, recently launched programs and system commands.

You can also place your most-used programs and documents into the handy toolbar and quickly run any program by typing few starting letters.

Sophos Anti-Rootkit 1.3

Platform Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP
Type freeware
Manufacturer Sophos Plc
Size 1.12MB
Free Download

Sophos Anti-Rootkit is a tool that servers one purpose, in that it eliminates hidden applications and processes that were installed on your system by malicious software.

The term rootkit is used to define a Trojan (or technology) used to hide the presence of a malicious object (process, file, registry key, network port) from the computer user or administrator.

As part of its complete protection of endpoint computers, Sophos Anti-Virus detects rootkits and prevents them being installed on any of your desktops, laptops and servers. Sophos Anti-Rootkit provides an extra layer of detection, by safely and reliably detecting and removing any rootkit that might already have secreted itself onto your system.

Adobe Flash Player 9.0.45

Platform Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista
Type freeware
Manufacturer Adobe
Size 1.1MB
Free Download

Adobe's Flash Player 9 is the next-generation Flash Player client runtime environment.

Flash Player provides a more secure, lightweight, robust runtime environment for rich media and enterprise-ready rich internet applications.

Flash Player 9 achieves up to 10 times faster performance through ActionScript 3.0 and a new ActionScript Virtual Machine, which features a Just In Time compiler that translates ActionScript bytecode to native machine code for maximum execution speed.

Installed on over 600 million internet-connected PCs and mobile devices worldwide, Flash Player provides consistent and predictable application runtime capabilities across browsers, desktops and other devices.

Flash Player and Adobe Reader provide client runtime capabilities for the Adobe Engagement Platform, which delivers a programming model, tools, components and services that enable designers and developers to create and deliver rich, vibrant, branded content and applications to mass audiences in virtually every medium.

This version is for Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Netscape web browsers. A version for Internet Explorer is also available.

Spyware Terminator 1.9

Platform Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP
Type freeware
Manufacturer CRAWLER, LLC
Size 8.18MB
Free Download

There are plenty of anti-spyware programs available, but few as comprehensive (or free!) as Spyware Terminator, which is an application that will prevent spyware, adware, keyloggers and other types of malicious applications from hijacking the use of you computer. It resides in your system tray and works in real-time to prevent unauthorised programs from taking over your computer.

There are others available, but many anti-spyware applications are paid-for products, primarily as the software developer has to update the anti-spyware engine on a daily basis. These developers are always fighting the latest spyware technology.

When Spyware Terminator finds a suspect file, it is moved into Quarantine. Spyware Terminator prevents them from functioning and causing further damage to your computer. You can review and choose to permanently remove suspect files or safely store essential files.

Spyware Terminator will scan your computer manually or schedule an in-depth scan to be performed on a regular basis. The scan process runs in the background so that you will not be disrupted while working on other tasks.

Winamp 5.35

Platform Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP
Type freeware
Manufacturer Nullsoft
Size 6.3MB
Free download

It looks good with a completely new interface, and comes with fairly comprehensive file support. Audio support includes CDA, MIDI, MP1/2/3/4, AAC, OGG, WAV, AIF, WMA and more.

Support for video is added in version 5, and currently this stretches to MPG, M2V, AVI and ASF formats.

It packs a good deal into a fairly slim package, with the player incorporating everything you would expect and more: loop, repeat, ID3 tag support, cross-fading between tracks, 2x CD burning/ripping, internet TV and radio support etc.

It has a media manager, 10-band graphic equaliser, visualisations and a playlist editor. Upgrade to the Pro edition to get full support for ripping/encoding audio into the MP3 format, and integrated CD burning up to 48x speed.

Winamp 5.35 adds a new dashboard and a few minor enhancements.

Opera 9.21

Platform Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista
Type freeware
Manufacturer Opera
Size 4.68MB
Free download

Since the release of Opera 9 earlier this year, Opera have been working hard fixing little bugs, making minor improvements and turning Opera in to a serious rival to Internet Explorer. Now at 9.2, it's worth downloading if you've not used this browser before.

The new speed dial feature is a new view in new tabs. It shows live thumbnails of up to nine websites. Click on one to open the site, or enter a new address as normal. It's certainly more useful than a blank tab.

Opera also supports BitTorrent downloads. These type of downloads make best use of available bandwidth by splitting files up and downloading the different bits from several locations at the same time.

The principle of the system is that files downloaded onto your computer should be accessible to others but Opera can turn this off to conserve bandwidth quotas.

An improved content blocker allows individual elements of a webpage to be blocked to avoid adverts. The pop up blocker has also been improved.

Widgets are a small programs for showing news feeds or other information, some of which can be taken from the web. They are accessed with a single keypress and are written by the Opera community rather than the company itself.

The tabbed browsing has also been improved with a small preview of the webpages.

The ability to make a Google search from the address bar is still present but it is now possible to create customised shortcuts.

Opera 9.2 also contains a number of fixes and new features, including a fraud detection module to protect against phishing websites.

Notepad2 2.0.16

Platform Windows 2000, Windows XP
Type freeware
Manufacturer Flo's freeware
Size 263KB
Free download

Notepad is great for quickly editing text documents but it is basic and this can make it harder to use. Notepad2 aims to keep the simplicity of Notepad as far as possible but adds a host of very useful extras.

At first glance the greatest difference of Notepad2 is a list of icons in a toolbar. These include the fairly standard copy, paste and save functions but also some useful extras such as turning on word wrap and changing the size of the text.

There is a huge list of keyboard shortcuts; probably too many for most casual users but useful to have.

There are instructions available on how to replace Windows Notepad with this more capable version.

Those who like Notepad for editing files such as HTML web pages will find Notepad2 especially useful as it can colour code commands and other programming text. This is also a great help for anyone learning to write in a programming language.

FlashGet 1.84

Platform Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP
Type freeware
Manufacturer Amaze Software
Size 3.5MB
Free download

FlashGet promises fast downloads, and on the whole it delivers. It is different to many download managers in that it is integrated into the browser toolbar (IE and Netscape, and Opera via optional plug-in).

FlashGet's main adavantage is its ability to split a download into up to 10 separate packets; each one downloads a portion of the file only, making more effective use of the available bandwidth.

Downloaded files can be placed into different categories in FlashGet's file explorer. These categories are duplicated on your hard drive as folders, ensuring complete file organisation.

Batch downloads are supported, as is the ability to browse an entire site (FTP or HTTP) for downloadable material.

The downside is that only eight simultaneous downloads are possible.

Ultimate Boot CD 4.1.1

Type freeware
Manufacturer Ultimate Boot CD
Size 87MB
Free download

Windows contains a number of productivity tools, but few tools to diagnose problems.

Worse, if Windows decides that it won't boot, due to a hardware error, many of the regular commercial diagnostic applications won't work without Windows, so you're in a Catch 22 where you can't diagnose or fix your problem.

The Ultimate Boot CD is a free bootable CD that ships with a wide range of diagnostic, repair and system enhancement tools that will enable you to quickly establish if something is wrong with your computer.

As it doesn't require Windows in order to operate (it's a self-contained bootable CD), most of the tools operate on a low level basis, enabling you to detect problems with ports on your computer and even your system Bios.

There are also antivirus tools that will scan your drive, without requiring Windows, and will solve virus infection issues.

If there are no problems with your computer, you can still make use of the Ultimate Boot CD. For instance, you could use the partitioning tools to resize or delete a partition on your hard drive.

AVS Disc Creator 2.1.5.1

Platform Windows 2000, Windows XP
Type freeware
Manufacturer Online Media Technologies Ltd
Size 5.6MB
Free download

AVS Disc Creator 2.1 is a full disc burning solution and one that supports the latest Blu-ray standard.

Distinct from other standard burning solutions is its extended list of supported disc types (CD-R/RW, DVD+/-R, DVD+/-RW, DVD-RAM, DVD+/R, Double/Dual Layer).

It enables you to burn your data on high-capacity Blu-ray discs that considerably saves your storage costs and enhances the protection of your important data.

So you can take full advantage of storing your data in the highest possible quality due to the unique Blu-ray data capacity of 25 or 50 GB per disc.

AVS Disc Creator 2.1 also includes a disc image feature. As a result, you can easily create disc images (ISO files) and edit or directly burn your disc images on more CDs or even DVDs as many times as you want, removing or adding files and folders from/to images at any time.

It supports multi-session that enables easy management of multiple backups to one disc, the facility to import a new session, add or delete new files and folders from the existing burning session or edit it irrespectively of what software you used to author this previous writeable discs.

You can use Disc Creator 2.1 to simplify and automate your everyday burning routine. Save your compilations as projects, so that you could record them later from your hard disc drive.

Besides, specifically designed burning engine allows you to burn your data at the highest speed possible. You just need to choose the burn preference that suits your needs using burn speed option.

Another convenient feature is Disc Size meter that indicates free space of the media inserted.

FinalBurner 1.16

Platform Windows 2000, Windows XP
Type freeware
Manufacturer ProtectedSoft
Size 5.2MB
Free download

FinalBurner is a freeware alternative to expensive CD and DVD burners. This 4-Mb application enables you to create data, audio, DVD disks and burn them onto any type of media, such as CD R/RW, DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, DVD DL.

You can also create an ISO image of a disk. FinalBurner combines all the elements of a professional CD recorder, delivered with a convenient user interface that pleases the eye. Final Burner is designed without any extraneous features. It restricts the complex process of CD recording to a few mouse clicks, which is ideal for typical users. Now you can produce high quality output on the fly without any deep knowledge of CD recording technologies. Power users will benefit from the opportunity to be in full control of many settings that affect the burning process and the quality of the result.

Depending on the project type (audio, video, etc.), you click on the appropriate tab and open its window, where the project is displayed as a folder tree. Then, using the built-in explorer, you add a file or several files to the project, select the drive, writing speed, and start the burning process. While the recording is in progress, you can view its current status at the bottom of the window.

Total Video Converter 3.10

Total Video Converter is a total solution for video conversion which supports reading, playing lots of video and audio formats and converting them to popular video formats. Total Video Converter includes a powerful media conversion engine internally so that you can convert media files with very fast speed.

Main Features of Total Video Converter:

• Convert all kinds of videos to mobile videos or audios (mp4, 3gp, xvid, divx mpeg4 avi, amr audio) which are used by cell-phone, PDA, PSP, iPod;
• Photos slide show combines multi-photos and musics with more than 300 photos fantasy transition effect;
• High compatibility and high efficiency for Importing RMVB or RM video/audio;
• Convert various videos to MPEG videos compatible with standard DVD/SVCD/VCD;
• Burn the converted videos to DVD/SVCD/VCD;
• Rip DVD to popular videos of all sorts;
• Extract audio from various of videos and convert which to all kinds of audios (mp3, ac3, ogg, wav, aac);
• RIP CD to audios of all sorts directly;
• Support using with command line;
• Combine several video and audio files to one video file;
• Demultiplex or extract video and audio;
• Multiplex video and audio to one file;
• Flv Nelly Mosser audio extract and decode.

Download now.

Ultimate Boot CD 4.1

Type freeware
Manufacturer Ultimate Boot CD
Size 87MB
Free download

Windows contains a number of productivity tools, but few tools to diagnose problems.

Worse, if Windows decides that it won't boot, due to a hardware error, many of the regular commercial diagnostic applications won't work without Windows, so you're in a Catch 22 where you can't diagnose or fix your problem.

The Ultimate Boot CD is a free bootable CD that ships with a wide range of diagnostic, repair and system enhancement tools that will enable you to quickly establish if something is wrong with your computer.

As it doesn't require Windows in order to operate (it's a self-contained bootable CD), most of the tools operate on a low level basis, enabling you to detect problems with ports on your computer and even your system Bios.

There are also antivirus tools that will scan your drive, without requiring Windows, and will solve virus infection issues.

If there are no problems with your computer, you can still make use of the Ultimate Boot CD. For instance, you could use the partitioning tools to resize or delete a partition on your hard drive.

If you want to benchmark your system on a low level basis, you could use the benchmarking tools and there are boot managers that will determine what happens when you start your system.

Apple QuickTime 7.1.6

Platform Windows 2000, Windows XP

Type freeware
Manufacturer Apple
Size 19.1MB
Free download

QuickTime 7 comes with increased quality in the form of the H.264 video format, the industry-standard codec for 3GPP (mobile multimedia), MPEG-4 HD-DVD and Blu-ray.

H.264 offers high quality video at much smaller file sizes than previously available, and can handle mobile multimedia and high-definition playback.

Upgrade to the Pro version and you can create your own H.264, MPEG-4, 3GPP and 3GPP2 content which, combined with its impressive open source server, offers functionality that's hard to beat.

The interface has changed little in version 7, but there is a new Favourites menu that provides quick access to your favourite movies.

There is also a new feature known as 'instant on' which eliminates the short delay before a stream starts, and it does work. Also, you can now scroll backwards and forwards through a movie.

All the previous media types are supported, including AVI, Mpeg, BMP and Flash 5.

Note: Mac OS X version available to download from the Apple QuickTime website.

CPU-Z 1.40

Platform: Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP
Type: freeware
Manufacturer: www.CPUID.com
Size: 413Kb
Free download

When you’re looking for a new computer – whether you’re planning on building your own or purchasing from an existing supplier – you tend to find out as much as you can about current models, peripherals and the components that you need for your machine. This information includes extensive information about the CPU you’re intending to install and the motherboard required to support the CPU.

However, many of us keep our PCs for at least a couple of years. After this team we choose to either upgrade our existing computer or make a new purchase. If we’re upgrading our PC, we need to work out what’s installed on the PC before we can purchase a better CPU and other components, if required. Can you really remember the CPU installed in your computer that you built a couple of years ago?

CPU-Z is a system tool that will enable you to find extensive information about the CPU installed in your computer. I’ll will give you speed info, installed cache details and more. You can also find out information about components that affect your CPU, such as the motherboard revision, installed memory and more.

Mozilla Firefox 3.0 alpha 4

Platform Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP
Type freeware
Manufacturer Mozilla
Size 6.19MB
Free download

With the forthcoming release of Mozilla Firefox 3.0, planned for 2007, the web graphics rendering engine will receive a completely new upgrade. Dubbed ‘ Cairo’, the new graphics rendering engine should improve the output across different platforms, as it’s being developed as an open-standard (see http://wiki.mozilla.org/Cairo). Mozilla Firefox 3.0 will also be based around the forthcoming Gecko 1.9 rendering engine.

With other improvements in the way that pages are ‘painted’ onscreen, improved SVG support and CSS enhancements, the general improvements for Firefox 3.0 are based around the way it will render web pages through the browser.

Note that further improvements and new features will be included within Firefox 3.0 as it is being developed. This 3.0 alpha 4 (dubbed “Gran Paradiso”, rather than Firefox) is an early developer preview.

Mozilla “Gran Paradiso” Alpha 4 is being made available for testing purposes only, and is intended for web application developers and our testing community. Current users of Mozilla Firefox should not use Mozilla Gran Paradiso Alpha 4.

Avant Browser 11.5 beta 3

Platform Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP
Type freeware
Manufacturer Anderson Che
Size 1.8MB
Free download

Internet Explorer might come bundled with Windows but it lacks many features. A number of these can be found in Avant Browser.

Avant Browser is a quick download even for dial-up users. The interface is very similar to Internet Explorer, but open some of the menus and the differences are quickly obvious.

It is possible to deactivate different parts of a web page, such as pictures, sounds and flasgh animations. If you have a slow connection, this can make a huge difference.

Avant Browser can also block advertisements (including pop-ups), translate web pages, display web pages in full screen mode, and has full support for skins.

Any favorites or recently viewed pages from Internet Explorer can be easily imported, making migrating to this browser a doddle.

This is the third beta release of the forthcoming 11.5.

Maxthon 2.0.1 RC1

Platform Windows 2000, Windows XP
Type freeware
Manufacturer Maxthon International Limited
Size 2.28MB
Free download

In the past, Internet Explorer has received a lot of bad press for lack of updates, security issues, poor CSS support and more. However, since the release of Internet Explorer 7, we now have a web browser that offers tabbed browser, a much improved web engine and enhanced security features.

When you install Internet Explorer 7 on your system, the installed HTML web core is built in to Windows (and this element is very hard to remove), there have been a number of attempts to create a replacement for Internet Explorer that take this core HTML engine and add additional features to produce a even better web browser.

Maxthon is one of the more popular Internet Explorer replacement browsers and is constantly updated.

This is the first public preview of the forthcoming Maxthon 2. The new version is far from complete, but contains a brand new streamlined interface, which looks a bit like a mix of the Mac OS X Safari web browser and Firefox. Other features include multi-user support from the same web browser, so each user has their own preferences. There are tons of other minor updates, with more information on the Maxthon 2 preview page.

Spyware Terminator 1.8.7

Platform Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP
Type freeware
Manufacturer CRAWLER, LLC
Size 8.18MB
Free download

There are plenty of anti-spyware programs available, but few as comprehensive (or free!) as Spyware Terminator, which is an application that will prevent spyware, adware, keyloggers and other types of malicious applications from hijacking the use of you computer. It resides in your system tray and works in real-time to prevent unauthorised programs from taking over your computer.

There are others available, but many anti-spyware applications are paid-for products, primarily as the software developer has to update the anti-spyware engine on a daily basis. These developers are always fighting the latest spyware technology.

When Spyware Terminator finds a suspect file, it is moved into Quarantine. Spyware Terminator prevents them from functioning and causing further damage to your computer. You can review and choose to permanently remove suspect files or safely store essential files.

Spyware Terminator will scan your computer manually or schedule an in-depth scan to be performed on a regular basis. The scan process runs in the background so that you will not be disrupted while working on other tasks.