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Must-Have Windows Software (Updated - 6/10/2011)

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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.

  1. 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.

  2. PDF Creator - allows you to print to PDF from any application for free. An alternative is PrimoPDF.

  3. PDFSAM - Merge PDFs with this cross-platform java-based tool.

  4. Spyware Blaster - An easy to use “innoculation” program against spyware/malware.

  5. SumatraPDF - a lite easy to use PDF reader. Download and execute

  6. TeraCopy - Copy/move files quickly. Much faster than relying on built-in Windows explorer to make the copies, especially to external USB drives.

  7. Universal USB Installer - from PenLinux, allows you to burn ISO images of GNU/Linux to USB. Works great, even better than Unetbootin.

  8. Universal Extractor - Extracts all types of compressed files.

  9. 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.

  10. WinFF - video and audio conversion tool

  11. WinPatrolToGo - Great tool to help you monitor everything your computer is doing and then shut it down in real time.

  12. Worldcast - Fairlogic’s Bulk email program. Free for educational and/or non-profit use.

  13. Xvid video codecs

  14. 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:

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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