Security:

• Zone Alarm--(free)--Great firewall—I have used no other.

• AVG—(free)—Anti-virus protection—have used Norton in the past and like this much better. Definately cheaper!

• Spybot Search & Destroy--(free)--Spyware program. Also has a side program that will watch your registry and allow you to approve or deny changes.

• Adaware—(free)—Another spyware program.

Utilities:

• System Restore Point--(free)--can set system restore points automatically and manually.

• Ccleaner (crapcleaner)--(shareware)--cleans temp, history, and other select files on your computer. Also can scan the registry for unwanted items.

• WinDirStat—(free)—tells you the amount of disc space each computer file is taking up.

• Belarc Advisor--(free)--Tells you information about your computer.

• SystemInfoProgram—(free)—Tells you everything you might or might not need to know about your computer. It's more detailed than Belarc Advisor.

• Network Stumbler--(free)--for laptops only. Allows you to check out your wirless network.

• UnZipThemAll—(free)—zip and unzip files.

• Zip Genious—(free)—zip and unzip files.

• Eraser—(free)—BE CAREFUL with this deleting program—once a file is erased, it is unrecoverable.

• Rest2514—(free)—can recover deleted filed (not files that have been erased or otherwise written over).

Audio Playing, Recording & Editing:

• Audacity—(free)—Audio recorder and editor.

• AudioGrabber—(free)—Audio recorder and editor.

• Windows Media Player--(free)--Audio/video player

• Quicktime—(free)--Audio/video player (just the player, not any bundles)

• DivX Player--(free)--(just the player) I like this player best for videos.

• Windows Movie Maker--(free)--capture and edit video.

• Real Player--(free)--I don't like Real because of all the extra baggage that they try to shove at you. But some files are playable by Real Player only.

• Wink—(free)—allows you to create video tutorials. One that I created here.

• Mp3tag—(free)—Allows you to edit Mp3 tags.

Photo Organizing & Editing:

• PhotoImpact—(shareware)-pricey, but I like how it works.

• Picasa2—(free)—From Google—I just started using it. It is an image organizer and minor image fixer. So far, so good.

• Picture It Express--(came with my computer)--not real powerful editor, but can get the job done.

For the Web:

• FireFox Web Browser—(free)--with all of the extensions and add-ons available, Firefox is pretty cool. Also more secure that Internet Explorer.

• Internet Explorer--(free)--I am using Beta version 7. Supposedly more secure. I only use it for Windows Update.

• HTML-Kit—(free)—Web page designer program. I recently found this, & like it well enough that it is all I use.

• SmartFTP—(free)—FTP (File Transfer Protocol) program—works well.

• FTP Commander--(free)--another FTP (File Transfer Protocol) program. Works well but I needed more options so I have migrated to SmartFTP.

• Apache 2.2 Web Server--(free)--An awesome web server. You are being served by it now!

• Apache2Triad--Web Server--(free)-- This is bundled installation containing Apache 2.x, Xmail server, ftp server, SSL, , SQL, AW site stats, and more. This takes a BIG headache out of making a bunch of stuff work togethewr. You are being served by it now!

• ServeU—(free)—FTP (File Transfer Protocol) Server.

• Coranto--News posting program-- --(free)-- an easy program that lets you post news or whatever in a blog type format.

Everything Else:

• RoboForm—(shareware)—password manager

• GoodSync—(shareware)—I've tried several back/sync programs. This is the one I will stick with.

• RootsMagic—(shareware)—Awesome genealogy software.

• OpenOffice—(free)—Great alternative to Microsoft Office. Several of these web pages were created with it.

• Adobe Acrobat reader--(free)--A must for reading PDF documents.

• CutePDF Writer--(free)--Installs as a printer that allows you to print anything to a pdf file.

• GhostScript—(free)—I have no idea what it does, but you MUST have it in order for CutePDF Writer to work.

• Webshots—(free)—desktop background application—allows you to use your photos or download photos for your desktop background.

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