Free and Essential Applications

[BlackWolf]

Re: Free and Essential Applications

I pologiese rudeness of my last post after i read it started to feel it was really offencive and all. Didnt mean to.

http://www.av-comparatives.org/
Next is Finnish guy who tested all kind of virus tools on his own comp.
http://koti.mbnet.fi/pattaya1/testitulo ... 112007.htm <--- link to results some of it is in finnish but at the bottom of that huge page are results which are pretty far from what you see on normal test results.

 

[Bobbin]

Re: Free and Essential Applications

I think we should have an additional section for Firefox Extensions.


Firebug
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1843
A must for anyone who writes webpages. Easily the best method of debugging javascript.

IE Tab
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1419
Re-renders a webpage using the Internet Explorer engine. Useful for all those pages out there which don't work properly in Firefox(few and far between though)

These are the only two i have here.. but at home i have about 25 more, which i will add the best of when i get home

 

[Nitrous]

Re: Free and Essential Applications

Hi people

I have a problem with my AdAware SE Personal. It hasn't been updating the definitions .

Just wondering if anyone knows how to fix that problem. If not, I can just simply re-download and install it.

Also, is there any other GOOD I.E. 100% detecting Anti-Malware/Spyware software?

 

[Maxi]

Re: Free and Essential Applications

There is no 100% detecting software. A combination of Ad-Aware and Spybot S&D usually works wonders. (and most of all - common sense) 'Bout your Ad-Aware problem, you might want to try and reinstall it, yes.

 

[Chezz]

Re: Free and Essential Applications

Anyone tried JKDefrag? It is a free defragmentation software that is much faster then the WIndows one.

It's available for Windows 2000/2003/XP/Vista/2008/X64

It is at http://www.kessels.com/JkDefrag/.

 

[Weeble]

Re: Free and Essential Applications

Tried that before when I got pissed off that Windows needed 15% free to defrag a drive. Works fairly well.

Also, I'd just like to point out that Ad-Aware SE Personal is no longer supported by Lavasoft. You will have to download Ad-Aware 2007 Free instead.

 

[Fortune]

Re: Free and Essential Applications

I know a great freeware for converting videos and FlV videos into mp3 which is great for geting songs off YouTube!

Free YouTube to MP3 Converter. Extract and download audio from YouTube and Google videos and save it as MP3 files on your PC with one mouse click and with this YouTube Converter!

Convert *.flv video files to *.mp3.

Free YouTube to MP3 Converter contains no spyware or adware. It's clearly free and absolutely safe to install and run.

i've used it for a while and sound quality is good and is quick and i think its free from spyware adn viruses.

 

[Chezz]

Re: Free and Essential Applications

Speaking of Firefox extensions, one of the best and most essential extension is the Download StatusBar.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/26

It allows users to download stuff within a small bar below, so you don't need that clunky downloads window anymore!

 

[Weeble]

Re: Free and Essential Applications

I've been looking at Anti-Virus programs for a while now (currently using avast! Home Edition) but it seems there are betters out there.

Here are the top 4 Freeware anti-virus programs (primarily for Windows) that I've been able to find so far*:

1. Avira AntiVir Personal[/*:m:22w4cx0a]
2. BitDefender 10 Free Edition[/*:m:22w4cx0a]
3. avast! Home Edition[/*:m:22w4cx0a]
4. AVG Free[/*:m:22w4cx0a]

I've been testing a few out and I have to say Avira's AntiVir is actually pretty good. Has a high detection rate, and small memory footprint (around 9k), the only downside I suppose is the fact you get blasted with ads to pay for the professional version whenever it updates (daily). Which isn't really that bad I suppose! I am also informed that you can hide them anyway if you set up a scheduler item to automatically update at a specific time.

BitDefender is good, but doesn't have a real-time scanner so not to be used on it's own!

avast! is still a decent system but it's response times to new threats has steadily been decreasing the past few months.

AVG well.... fairly poor at the moment but still better than other freeware programs.


If, however, you have the option (read: luxury) to pay for an AV system, I'd recommend Kaspersky instead.
So there you have it. Avira > most.

* Data based on a number of sources, primary three are: Wikipedia Article (Aug 8, 2008) and PCMag Security Watch (Jan 22, 2008), (Jul, 2008)

 

[Stevey]

Re: Free and Essential Applications

Firefox could not install the file at

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefo ... 6.3-fx.xpi

because: Unexpected installation error
Review the Error Console log for more details.
-203

why whenever i try to get an extension does it come up with this?

 

[Maxi]

Re: Free and Essential Applications

Check if the addon is compatible with your version of Firefox, 2 or 3. Download the file to your desktop, then open it, or Reinstall Firefox. Does it happen with all addons?

 

[Chezz]

Re: Free and Essential Applications

because: Unexpected installation error
Review the Error Console log for more details.

As the error message says, check the error console (Tools --> Error Console), and google it. Hopefully it will help.

Check if the addon is compatible with your version of Firefox, 2 or 3. Download the file to your desktop, then open it, or Reinstall Firefox. Does it happen with all addons?

I've checked the file he's stated, I'm quite sure its works for any version from Firefox 2 to 3. So its probably not the version's problem.

 

[Madmeater]

Here's a very good tool I use to remove programs from my system
Revo
It performs a clean uninstallation by analysing the program, removing it and searching your HDD and registry for any remnants of the software.

It also features hunter mode, which places a crosshair on your screen which you can then drag over any icon/window/disktray icon and it will identify the software and offer to uninstall it from your system.

I've found it really useful for stubborn products such as norton which my friends still insist on using =/

 

[Kingdroid]

ZoneAlarm sucks

It was impossible to configure, and when I uninstalled it, it stuck around

 

[Kingdroid]

Also, Avast and AVG now offer 30-day trials only, no more indefinite free use.

 

[timtadams]

Also, Avast and AVG now offer 30-day trials only, no more indefinite free use.

hmmm, im not sure of this. How did you come by this information? I google "AVG free" and first link is them. They have noticable: 'download trial' and 'buy AVG', but above, you can still to choose to download AVG Free:

http://free.avg.com/au-en/download-avg-anti-virus-free-edition

Anyway, an essential download which immediately came to mind:

K-Lite Codec Pack

Download this and you can play pretty much anything. It has the ffdshow which BW recommended in an earlier post. I also contains Media Player Classic Homecinema with standard and full versions (not basic though)

Just an aside, but I prefer to use WMP v10. I did have winamp, but preferred WMP due to its better ease of use with regard to playlists and navigating through music. This was yeaaars ago though, so i guess i will see what theyve done.

I also prefer WMP10 over WMP11 due to the fact WMP10 has the navigation menu on the left, which allows you to expand artists, giving you the lists of artists, whereas in WMP11 no such list drops down, rather all artists show up in the main window, under alphabetical headings. Anyone else find this, or is it just me?

 

[tomtree]

anyone know any good/free firewall and antivirus for macs?

 

[atsanjose]

Also, Avast and AVG now offer 30-day trials only, no more indefinite free use.

avast is still free

 

[Kingdroid]

Well, impart upon me this secret knowledge, I downloaded the 'free' version of both from the site (and yes, no mention of trials on either) and at 30 days they both stopped working and prompted me to buy.

Also, I have the Comodo firewall and antivirus. Will the Comodo antivrus be fine, or should I get avast too? the Comodo one has no scan function...

 

[timtadams]

Well, impart upon me this secret knowledge, I downloaded the 'free' version of both from the site (and yes, no mention of trials on either) and at 30 days they both stopped working and prompted me to buy.

Also, I have the Comodo firewall and antivirus. Will the Comodo antivrus be fine, or should I get avast too? the Comodo one has no scan function...

Maybe cause you only have the COMODO firewall and not antivirus?...i dunno though, i didnt even know about COMODO antivirus XD

Anyway, i have and am using AVG Free right now. Yes, i now sometimes get popups prompting me to get the full version, but i just close it every time. No problems. I can still use the free version

[edit]are you sure its not working?