Useful Software

Music Software

  • AnalogWhole

    Can convert DRM protected WMA files into MP3 files by using the certificate.

  • Applian Freecorder

    Can record from the soundcard, but without using special soundcard driver (Works with Vista).

  • BonkEnc

    Free and opensource CD ripper, audio encoder and converter

  • CDex

    Freeware utility for extracting / ripping music cds.

  • dBpowerAMP

    Music Converter can be used to convert WAV, MP3, OGG, WMA, ASF, APE, RAM and many more.

  • Exact Audio Copy

    Freeware utility for extracting / ripping music cds.

  • Foobar2000

    Light weight quality audio player.

  • JetAudio

    Good quality audio player.

  • Monkey’s Audio

    Official site of the APE format, and provides APE plugin for WinAmp.

  • Total Recorder

    Records audio directly from the soundcard, the final solution for ripping audio.

  • Winamp

    My favorite audio player.

  • Winamp Plugin - Disk/File Writer

    This functionality is not included in the minimal version of Winamp.

  • XMPlay

    Light weight quality audio player.

Data Compression

  • 7-Zip

    Creator of the 7z format. My favorite compression utility (Doesn’t support ACE).

  • Filzip

    Allround freeware archive utility.

  • IZArc

    Allround freeware archive utility (Probably the best).

  • MaximumCompression.com

    Benchmark of the different compression formats.

  • PicoZip Recovery Tool

    Program that can help you recover lost or forgotten passwords from password protected Zip files.

  • TUGZip

    Allround freeware archive utility.

  • UltimateZip

    Allround freeware archive utility.

  • WinACE

    Creator of the ACE format.

  • WinRAR

    Creator of the RAR format.

  • WinZip

    Once lean and mean, now bloated beyond repair.

  • ZipGenius

    Allround freeware archive utility.

Image Handling

Instant Messaging

  • eBuddy

    Web-based IM client able to access MSN, AIM and Yahoo.

  • Gaim

    Opensource IM which supports ICQ, MSN, Yahoo, Jabber, IRC etc. (Good plugin support).

  • ICQ

    Creator of the ICQ IM protocol.

  • ICQ to Go

    Web based version of the ICQ IM client.

  • IM2

    Free IM which supports ICQ, MSN, Yahoo, IRC etc.

  • Kopete

    Opensource IM which supports ICQ, MSN, Yahoo, Jabber, IRC etc.

  • Miranda IM

    Opensource IM which supports ICQ, MSN, Yahoo, Jabber, IRC etc. (Good plugin support).

  • MSN Messenger

    Creator of the MSN IM protocol.

  • MSN Messenger Plus

    Extends the functionality of MSN Messenger (Bundled with optional sponsor).

  • MSN Web Messenger

    Web based version of the MSN IM client.

  • Trillian

    My favorite IM application.

Text Editors

  • Context

    Similar to Notepad++ but a little slower to start (Works well with large files).

  • EditPad Lite

    Similar to Notepad++ but a little slower to start (Works well with large files).

  • Multi Edit

    My favorite text editor, when I have to search and replace in many files.

  • Notepad++

    My favorite text editor, when I have to make some small changes to a file.

  • Programmer’s Notepad

    Opensource text editor with project support.

Computer Monitoring

  • BitMeter

    Network bandwidth monitor similar to DU meter and NetMeter (.NET)

  • Motherboard Monitor

    Gives a nice little systray icon to monitor the temperature of your motherboard and CPU.

  • NetMeter

    A free network traffic/bandwidth monitor, which works just like DU Meter but uses less resources.

Computer Protection

Computer Testing

  • ATTO - Disk Benchmark 2.02

    Test the speed of your storage solution.

  • CPU Burn-in

    CPU Temperature Test software. (Useful for testing stability after overclocking)

  • CPU-Z

    CPU Identification software. (Useful for seeing CPU- and RAM-type before overclocking).

  • Futuremark - 3DMark

    Graphics Speed Test software.

  • memtest86

    RAM Test software. (Useful for testing stability after overclocking)

  • Rightmark.org

    Provides a range of tools for testing CPU and RAM. (Useful for testing stability after overclocking).

  • SiSoftware - Sandra

    Benchmarks almost everything in the computer (HDD test partition should have 1 GB unfragmented free space).

  • Steel bytes - HD Speed

    Test the speed of your storage solution.

  • TCD Labs - HD Tach 2.61

    Test the speed of your storage solution (Jagged curve means retransmissions because of bad cables).

File Manager

FTP Software

  • FileZilla

    Opensource FTP server and client, and the FTP server have become my favorite (Replacing an aging Gene6 FTP server).

  • SmartFTP

    My favorite FTP client, even though free it has a nag.

Web Browser

Website Tools

  • HTTrack

    A free multithreaded site grapper/napper/spider for downloading entire website for offline browsing.

  • Tidybot

    Performs offline batch validation of an entire web-site using TidyLib (Doesn’t use W3C DTD). Use it together with HTTrack on dynamic sites.

  • Validator

    Performs offline batch validation of an entire web-site using SGML parser with W3C DTD. Use it together with HTTrack on dynamic sites.

  • Free link validator that quickly can check whether all the links on your website are working.

Movie Software

  • DivX Movies

    Articles about encoding and decoding.

  • DivX-Digest.com

    Articles about encoding and decoding.

  • Doom9.net

    Articles about encoding and decoding.

  • DVD-Guides.com

    Articles about encoding and decoding.

  • FlasKMPEG

    Tool for movie format conversion that can re-encode or edit movies.

  • HandBrake

    HandBrake can rip DVD’s and convert them to your favorite movie format (Use it together with DVD43)

  • nanDub

    Tool for movie format conversion that can re-encode or edit movies.

  • RipHelp.com

    Articles about encoding and decoding.

  • TMPGEnc

    Tool for movie format conversion that can re-encode or edit movies.

  • VideoHelp.com

    Articles about encoding and decoding.

  • VirtualDub

    Tool for movie format conversion that can re-encode or edit movies.

Movie Codecs

  • AC3 Codec

    AC3 is the standard DVD audio codec but also used for different AVI movies.

  • AC3 Filter

    Opensource AC3 decoder.

  • DivX

    One of the first MPEG4 codecs used by the scene, but have now become bloated.

  • DivX 3 Codec

    DivX 3 is a hacked Windows MPEG4 Codec (Mostly used by early DivX movies)

  • DivX WMA Codec

    DivX WMA Codec is a hacked Windows Media Audio Codec (Mostly used by early DivX movies)

  • ffdshow-tryouts

    Branch of the official ffdshow, and includes support for x264, h264, HD, VP62.

  • GSpot Codec Information

    Movie format detection tools, that can tell you what codec you need to play the movie.

  • Media Player Classic

    My favorite player that supports subtitles, multiple audio streams, audio stream delay and much more.

  • Morgan Stream Switcher

    Play movies with multiple audio streams, by giving the ability to specify which audio stream (language) to play.

  • MPEG2 Codec

    MPEG2 is a licensed codec used to play DVD’s and other MPEG/MPG movies.

  • Ogg Vorbis Codec

    OGG Direct Show Filter.

  • QuickTime Alternative

    QuickTime Alternative will allow you to play Quicktime files without having to install the official Apple Quicktime Player.

  • Real Alternative

    Real Alternative will allow you to play RealMedia files without having to install the official RealPlayer

  • VSFilter

    Subtitle codec that can merge/combine subtitles (vobsub, ssa, srt, sub+idx, …) into movies being played (Must have same filename).

  • Xvid.org

    Favorite movie codec of the scene.

  • Xvid.org - Koepi’s XviD

    Direct Show Filter

  • Xvid.org - Nic’s XviD

    Direct Show Filter

Movie Subtitles

SFV Checkers

  • Cruzer SFV

    The SFV file can be used to check the CRC of the accompanying files.

  • hkSFV

    The SFV file can be used to check the CRC of the accompanying files.

  • pdSFV 1.2

    The SFV file can be used to check the CRC of the accompanying files.

  • QuickSFV

    The SFV file can be used to check the CRC of the accompanying files.

  • SFV32W 1.1a

    The SFV file can be used to check the CRC of the accompanying files.

CD/DVD Image Software

  • Daemon Tools

    My favorite CD-ROM emulator, as it creates a virtual CD-ROM drive in Windows, which you an insert CD-images (ISO, BIN+CUE, CCD, NRG, etc.).

  • ISO Buster

    ISO Buster, allows you to view and extract the contents of a CD image file.

  • VCD Control

    Microsoft’s Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel for Windows XP.

  • Virtual CloneDrive

    Slysoft the creator of CloneCD have created a freeware CD-ROM emulator, that enables one to mount ISO, BIN, CCD images as CD-ROM drives.

  • WinBIN

    WinBIN, can convert an BIN file (sector size 2352) into an ISO file (sector size 2048).

  • WinImage

    WinImage, allows you to view, extract and change the contents of a CD image file.

CD/DVD Burning Software

  • CDBurnerXP Pro

    CDBurnerXP Pro is a freeware CD/DVD-burner software.

  • DeepBurner

    DeepBurner is a freeware CD/DVD-burner software.

  • FinalBurner

    FinalBurner is a freeware CD/DVD-burner software.

  • ImgBurn

    ImgBurn is a freeware CD/DVD-burner software, but can only burn ready made images.

  • InfraRecorder

    InfraRecorder is a free and open source CD/DVD burning solution.

  • Nero

    Nero is usually bundled with your CD/DVD-burner, so it is a good idea to check for an updated version.

Office Suites