Over the several months I've been checking this forum, I've noticed that a lot of the issues that members have major headaches over are ones that can be prevented with routine computer maintenance. This "Essential Tools" thread aims at centralizing the best free software available on the web that, if used regularly, will ensure your computer continues to run like a dream.
Note: All of these programs are very popular and verified to be virus-free. I only link to their official sites/mirrors. These files are not hosted by myself nor repacked/modified in any way, in order to ensure genuine quality. All are also non-beta/non-trial/100% freeware.
If any links are broken/need updating, please PM me. Think a program you use should be on the list? PM me. I hope this helps.
Avira AntiVir Personal
- Summary: Avira AntiVir Personal Free Antivirus is a comprehensive, easy to use antivirus program, designed to offer reliable free of charge virus protection to home-users only.
- OS Support: Windows Vista 64-bit, Windows Vista 32-bit, Windows 2000, Windows XP
- Download Size: 32.39MB
AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition
- Summary: This antivirus program offers rock-solid protection. AVG Free provides the bare necessities, including a real-time shield to prevent infections, anti-virus and anti-malware wrapped up in one engine, and a link scanner for Web surfing with care.
- OS Support: Windows Vista, Windows 2000, Windows XP
- Download Size: 828.82K
Avast! Home Edition
- Summary: Avast Home Edition guards your PC and the network with multiple shields that scan executables and files. You can select parameters for scanning, and even choose wildcards to exclude specific file types. You can adjust the sensitivity level for the program's detectors when it comes to scanning downloaded files, instant messages, e-mails, and a host of P2Ps.
- OS Support: Windows Vista, Windows 95, Windows Me, Windows 7, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows 98
- Download Size: 300.94K
Microsoft Security Essentials
- Summary: Microsoft Security Essentials is a free download from Microsoft that is simple to install, easy to use, and always kept up to date so you can be assured your PC is protected by the latest technology. It’s easy to tell if your PC is secure — when you’re green, you’re good. It’s that simple.
- OS Support: Windows XP (Service Pack 2 or Service Pack 3); Windows Vista (Gold, Service Pack 1, or Service Pack 2); Windows 7
- Download Size: 4-8mb (depending on OS)
BitDefender 10 Free Edition
- Summary: BitDefender Free Edition is your chance to use one of the world's most effective antivirus engines for free! BitDefender Free Edition uses the same ICSA Labs certified scanning engines found in other BitDefender products, allowing you to enjoy basic virus protection for no cost at all.
- OS Support: Windows XP (32-bit/64-bit); Windows Vista (32-bit/64-bit); Windows Home Server
- Download Size: 21.08m
Ad-Aware Free
- Summary: Ad-Aware gives you comprehensive malware protection. With real-time monitoring, threat alerts, and automatic updates you can rest easy knowing that you are protected.
- OS Support: Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000
- Download Size: 58.04MB
Trend Micro HijackThis
- Summary: Trend Micro HijackThis is a free utility that generates an in depth report of registry and file settings from your computer. HijackThis makes no separation between safe and unsafe settings in its scan results giving you the ability to selectively remove items from your machine. In addition to this scan and remove capability HijackThis comes with several tools useful in manually removing malware from a computer.
- OS Support: Microsoft Windows Vista, XP, 2000, ME, and 98.
- Download Size: 793.3K
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
- Summary: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is a surprisingly effective freeware antimalware tool. It's a relatively speedy malware remover, with the quick scan taking about 8 minutes even with other high-resource programs running.
- OS Support: Windows 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows XP, Windows 2000
- Download Size: 3.86MB
Spybot - Search & Destroy
- Summary: Spybot - Search & Destroy detects and removes spyware, a relatively new kind of threat not yet covered by common anti-virus applications. Spyware silently tracks your surfing behaviour to create a marketing profile for you that is transmitted without your knowledge to the compilers and sold to advertising companies.
- OS Support: Windows Vista, Windows 95, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 98
- Download Size: 15MB
A-Squared Free
- Summary: msi Software provides the Malware scanner a-squared Free completely free of charge for private use. But it is not a very limited version, it is a full tool to clean your computer from Malware.
- OS Support: Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows XP
- Download Size: 15MB
ZoneAlarm Free
- Summary: An effective and easy-to-use firewall program, ZoneAlarm does a great job of keeping your PC safe from a variety of threats. ZoneAlarm uses a simple wizard to make configuring a firewall, which seems like a daunting task to many computer users, incredibly easy.
- OS Support: Windows Vista, Windows 2000, Windows XP
- Download Size: 32.38MB
Comodo Internet Security
- Summary: Comodo has merged its antivirus program with Firewall Pro, creating a free security program that aims to be more to more people. Although this may frustrate some users who want only one program or the other, the installer does let you opt out of either of the components.
- OS Support: Windows Vista, Windows XP
- Download Size: 38.64MB
AxCrypt File Encryption
- Summary: AxCrypt is the leading open source file encryption software for Windows. It integrates seamlessly with Windows to compress, encrypt, decrypt, store, send and work with individual files.
- OS Support: Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 98
- Download Size: 1.48MB
TrueCrypt
- Summary: The ultimate freeware encryption program, TrueCrypt is loaded with powerful features that those concerned with protecting their data from thievery should want--and have. It offers 11 algorithms for encrypting your private files in a password-protected volume.
- OS Support: Windows 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows XP
- Download Size: 3.04MB
KeePass Password Safe
- Summary: This free utility stores all your passwords in one database encrypted with the AES or Twofish algorithm. KeePass allows you to use strong, hack-proof passwords without hindering your PC's performance.
- OS Support: Windows Vista, Windows 2000, Windows XP
- Download Size: 992.3KB
Advanced SystemCare Free
- Summary: This utility offers a one-stop-shop for cleaning and maintaining your computer for better overall system performance. The interface is very simple, featuring only a few buttons, which makes it easy to get down to cleaning immediately (in fact, it automatically runs on start-up) and doesn't confuse you with multiple steps.
- OS Support: Windows 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 7
- Download Size: 7.52MB
Smart Defrag
- Summary: It's hard to stand out in the crowded field of defraggers, but SmartDefrag is able to do so with an unexpected twist. Along with quick analysis and scans, SmartDefrag boasts an automated defragger that continually defrags the files that you use the most, and does it without becoming a persistent drag on your system resources. When running in the background, the program only eats up 14MB of RAM, so it's possible to run it smoothly on older machines.
- OS Support: Windows 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Me, Windows Server 2008, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 98
- Download Size: 2.88MB
CCleaner
- Summary: Although it lacks a few of the bells and whistles found in other PC-cleaning applications, this free program offers more than enough features to make it a worthy download. CCleaner's interface is logically designed and makes it easy to wipe away your tracks from Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera, and Google Chrome from various Windows system areas, and from some third-party applications.
- OS Support: Windows Vista, Windows 95, Windows Me, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows 98
- Download Size: 3.16MB
FreeRAM XP Pro
- Summary: Even if you're not a RAM whiz, you can still easily free up RAM on your running system? By selecting AutoFree mode and then 'go,' FreeRAM XP Pro can automatically optimize your system, balancing levels between your memory cache and the computer's speed. Those with a little more RAM know-how can specify the amount they'd like freed in the program's extensive settings menu.
- OS Support: Windows 95, Windows Me, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 98
- Download Size: 605.59KB
MemTurbo
- Summary: This effective memory optimization tool will boost your system's performance, but the demo disables some useful options. MemTurbo's well-designed interface logically places the important tools at the forefront, while making other functions easy to access. The program minimizes to your system tray for quick access if needed.
- OS Support: Windows 98, Me, 2000, XP and 2003
- Download Size: 1.77MB
Tweak UI
- Summary: Tweak UI can alter most of the routine behaviors of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, but it also can affect some of the more advanced ones, too. From customizing the Alt Tab program switcher to removing the white arrow that appears on shortcut icons, from killing the autoplay feature for specific drives to configuring file and print sharing settings, Tweak UI is a must-have.
- OS Support: Windows XP
- Download Size: 146.67KB
3DMark06 Basic Edition
- Summary: 3dMark06 is the latest in the 3D benchmarking series. The program is one of the most prefered methods of testing hardware and software performance for all PC configurations.
- OS Support: Windows XP
- Download Size: 580MB (large!)
CPU-Z
- Summary: CPU-Z is a freeware utility that gathers information on some of the main devices of your system. CPU-Z does not need to be installed, just unzip the files in a directory and run the .exe. In order to remove the program, just delete the files. The program does not copy any file in any Windows directory, nor write to the registry.
- OS Support: Windows (ALL)
- Download Size: 684KB
GPU-Z
- Summary: GPU-Z is a lightweight utility designed to give you all information about your video card and GPU.
- OS Support: Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7
- Download Size: 435.8KB
SpeedFan
- Summary: If you need a tool that can change your computer's fan speeds, read the temperatures of your motherboard and your hard disk, read voltages and fan speeds and check the status of your hard disk using S.M.A.R.T. or SCSI attributes, then you came to the right place. SpeedFan is the software to go. It is fully configurable and you can create custom events to handle every situation in an automated way.
- OS Support: Windows (ALL)
- Download Size: 1.80MB
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