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Last Updated: 6/10/2011

A short time ago, I updated my must-have Macintosh Apps but failed to do the same for my Windows software. The need to do the same for Windows was driven home when a colleague asked me to re-setup her computer after a spyware infestation. Although I tried to bring it back, after an hour and a half of work, the spyware hung tough. At which point, I reformatted.

Although I keep a copy of all this great software on a USB flash drive, I am also finding it extremely convenient to house it in Dropbox.com and then access it via the Web interface when needed. Works like a charm! Definitely an option to keep in mind.

Below is my must-have software list, as well as a few educational software titles that folks thought worthwhile.

1. Use Seesmic.com Web edition or Chrome Tweetdeck web app for Twitter in the cloud
2. AnyVideoConverter Free– Some folks love this program…it works.
3. AxCrypt – Allows you to encrypt files and share them with others. Comfortable with command-line interface? Try NCrypt that works on both Windows and Linux.
4. BleachBit – Keep your machine clean of junk and free space wiped for security purposes. Also handles a lot more to keep your machine safe.
5. ComboFix – Great anti-malware tool. Works great.
6. Comodo Internet Security – includes a firewall and antivirus program. I’ve tried Avast, AVG, PandaAntivirus, and I keep coming back to Comodo for their free home edition.
7. DVD Builder – Make DVDs of your MPG videos.
8. DVD Flick – Burn DVDs from videos on your computer.
9. Eraser  – Easily wipe files with right-click, as well as setup schedules to wipe free space.
10. GreenShot – A simple, easy to use screen capture tool. Free, open source, too.
11. Handbrake – Rip DVDs to movie format. On Windows, you may also need another utility like DVDFab Free.
12. LibreOffice – my favorite alternative to MS Office…in fact, with LibreOffice (replaces OpenOffice), you don’t need MS Office!
13. MyDefrag – Defragment/optimize your hard drive.
14. Miro – A great way to get and manage video/audio content available on the Web. Find out what you’ve been missing out on…all content available for free!
15. Miro Video Converter – Converts videos, including the new WebM format.
16. Using Ninite.com for auto-installation application (use this handy link to get all the programs in the bulleted list below):
• Firefox Internet Browser (although Chrome is quickly finding its way onto every computer I’m using)
• Skype – great app to connect with other folks
• CDBurnerXP – burn CDs, DVDs, and Blu-Ray
• Songbird – a great alternative to iTunes
• VLC Media Player – plays just about everything video and/or audio
• Audacity audio editor/player
• IrfanView or XnView – for viewing/converting images.
• Paint.net – Up to date Paint application
• THE GIMP – image editing tool
• Malware Bytes – Great to use when you think your computer has been infected with malware/spyware and you need your computer “cleaned out.”
• Spybot Search and Destroy – Best part of Spybot is the TeaTimer which protects your computer’s registry against contamination and immunizes your browsers (IE,Firefox) against malware.
• Flash and Flash for IE
• Java
• Silverlight
• uTorrent – Lots of information is shared via Torrent file. It’s nice to have one handy that works well.
• RevoUninstaller – Ever had to uninstall a program but then you found yourself stuck with unwanted junk? This program will take care of the crud that’s left when you uninstall a program.
• CCleaner – If you didn’t have RevoUninstaller to get rid of stuff, use CCleaner to securely erase your temporary Internet files, clean up your registry.
• 7Zip – Simple, powerful compression/decompression program. Need a GUI? Use PeaZip
• FileZilla – FTP Client, a necessity if you work with a server.
• NotePad++ – need a simple text editor? this is it.
17. Picasa – Having dropped Flickr.com as my image site, I’m totally committed with Picasa application. I run this program as an easy way to manage my images then upload them as WebAlbums accessible by family and friends. Works like a charm, especially since I’m housing everything in Dropbox…that’s right, all pictures on PicasaWeb AND Dropbox.com.
18. PDF Creator – allows you to print to PDF from any application for free. An alternative is PrimoPDF.
19. PDFSAM – Merge PDFs with this cross-platform java-based tool.
20. Spyware Blaster – An easy to use “innoculation” program against spyware/malware.
21. SumatraPDF – a lite easy to use PDF reader. Download and execute
22. TeraCopy – Copy/move files quickly. Much faster than relying on built-in Windows explorer to make the copies, especially to external USB drives.
23. Universal USB Installer – from PenLinux, allows you to burn ISO images of GNU/Linux to USB. Works great, even better than Unetbootin.
24. Universal Extractor – Extracts all types of compressed files.
25. Virtual CloneDrive – a must-have for netbook users…it allows you to mount ISO (CD images) without a CD drive. This enables you to download ISOs of CD images–or make your own on another computer that has a CD drive–then mount it on your computer as a virtual drive.
26. WinFF – video and audio conversion tool
27. WinPatrolToGo – Great tool to help you monitor everything your computer is doing and then shut it down in real time.
28. Worldcast – Fairlogic’s Bulk email program. Free for educational and/or non-profit use.
29. Xvid video codecs
30. XP Codec Pack

Nice to Have Software (also free):

1. DriverMax – enables you to back up the special hardware drivers on your computer. Never worry about losing those drivers CDs; now, use DriverMax to back them up and reinstall.
2. Foobar2000 – play audio files…an alternative to Songbird.
3. Scribus – Desktop publishing software. I’ve used this to create picture calendars…great!
4. TrueCrypt – Protect your privacy by creating encrypted “drives,” or containers where you can place your private, confidential files. Read more about this.
5. Virtual Box – lets you add other operating systems and run them without interfering with your Windows installation.
6. Virtual Dub – Video/audio capture software…let’s you record what you’re watching/playing on your computer.

Software for Educational Purposes (e.g. Digital Storytelling):

1. MS PhotoStory 3 with minimum of Windows Media Player 10
2. Alice.org – Learn 3D Object Oriented Programming
3. Biology Animation Library – a nice collection of downloadable animations about a variety of topics (e.g. cloning) available in Windows and Mac formats.
4. Cmap Tools – Graphic organizer software.
5. Crossword Puzzle Builder – create math or word:hint crosswords.
6. Free ClipArt – free clip art for non-profit use.
7. Scratch – program making software from MIT.
8. GCompris – educational suite of software applications.
9. Google Earth –
10. Google Sketchup – “easy to learn 3D modeling” program.
11. LilyPond Music Notation software
12. Stellarium – free planetarium
13. Celestia – free space simulation
14. Graph – make graphs of different mathematical functions in a coordinate system.
15. TuxMath – save the world by solving math problems
16. Tux Typing – easy typing program for kids…perhaps, too much fun?
17. TuxWordSmith – Scrabble program for a variety of languages, including English.

Other Ones that look interesting but I can’t use because they rely on blocked services in K-12 schools:

• Convert YouTube to MP3

Costs Money
(that is, programs I’d buy…and I’m miserly when it comes to buying software! Items with an asterisk are ones I own personally)

1. Jing Pro

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Everything posted on Miguel Guhlin’s blogs/wikis are his personal opinion and do not necessarily represent the views of his employer(s) or its clients. Read Full Disclosure