PC Freeware Utilities index

[hamstrings]

GNU Image Manipulation Program, or GIMP for short. GIMPshop changes the UI to feel more at home with Photoshop converts.

I always install feature and security updates from Windows Update. The only updates I don't install are the XP drivers: those I get from manufacturers directly. I've had more than one occasion where a Windows Update driver would cause the computer to BSOD.

Compaq might have left you a recovery partition on the hard drive containing the data needed to burn your own Windows install disc. You can also use a friend's disc, so long as it is the proper version (Home OEM vs. Home retail vs. Professional OEM vs. Professional retail, usually the OEM version). You may need to reactivate once it is reinstalled.

You should inspect that Athlon XP computer. Most of the computers of that age tend to develop bulging capacitors or worn and seized fans.

 

[opendriver]

What about Everest? http://www.lavalys.com/products.php?ps=UE&lang=en&page=48

its not 100% "free", but some options have "TRAIL" in place of the result

 

[Aldo]

thanks hamstrings

 

[TB]

sorry but what is Gimp?

It's a program that will either make you walk funny or allow you to edit images. Not sure which.

 

[Solid Lifters]

Compaq might have left you a recovery partition on the hard drive containing the data needed to burn your own Windows install disc. You can also use a friend's disc, so long as it is the proper version (Home OEM vs. Home retail vs. Professional OEM vs. Professional retail, usually the OEM version). You may need to reactivate once it is reinstalled.

You should inspect that Athlon XP computer. Most of the computers of that age tend to develop [url=http://www.badcaps.net/pages.php?vid=5]bulging capacitors or worn and seized fans.

I have the partition with XP, but I cannot make a copy of Windows since messing with the Registry. I was told it's pointless to make a backup copy of XP after screwing around with it. Plus, I never did get a disc writer; I only have a DVD ROM that only reads.

Also, I can bring my PC back to its factory settings but I have done so much to my PC, I'd hate to lose everything I have on my PC just to MAYBE solve my problems. Not worth it, at this point.

I'll wait for my new PC to attempt anything dramatic as restoring my PC back to it's original state; if that even helps.

 

[Sureboss]

Having lots of fun at the moment with Open Office's Draw programme. It's very good.

 

[Lain]

As this is a good thread idea, I will not apologize for this bump.

I've got a few to add, though some might be a bit more niche...

Bulk Rename Utility - Great for people OCD about file names and organization. It's not very simple to use though, so at first it might take you a few minutes to try and figure out how to get it to do what you want.

Tags 2 Folders - Another fantastic tool for OCD individuals, this tool allows you to automatically move your music collection into folders generated from the music's metatags. Helps if your music is properly tagged, so...

MP3Tag - A powerful tool for fixing your music collection's metatags. It's very hands-on though, so don't expect to snap your fingers and have your library's metadata fixed... this isn't TuneUp. This is for people who want to ensure that all their music is 100% properly tagged, not automagically "fixed".

Duplicate Cleaner Free - Great tool if you want to find and get rid of space-consuming duplicate files. And if you really wanna squeeze out every last byte you possibly can from your drives, there's...

FileOptimizer - This tool takes in a wide variety of file types and spits out smaller optimized versions of those files. It's generally a lossless experience (as such, the reductions might not be earth shattering... you'll typically shave a few percent at most, and some files might not see any reduction)... though you might wanna go through the preferences and make sure it's not stripping any metadata if you value that. For instance, the default settings will have it remove embedded album art from MP3s to further reduce the file size, but you can disable it.

MiniTool Partition Wizard - Basically Windows Disk Management on steroids.

 

[Grayfox]

Speed Fan: a fan controlling utility, a pain to configure correctly, but when you do it is nice.

 

[Techy]

Speed Fan: a fan controlling utility, a pain to configure correctly, but when you do it is nice.

I wished the interface was better...

 

[Grayfox]

I wished the interface was better...

JayzTwoCents does a video on how to configure it.

 

[Techy]

JayzTwoCents does a video on how to configure it.

Oh, I already know how to configure it. Just the interface needs a bit sprucing up.

 

[Grayfox]

Oh, I already know how to configure it. Just the interface needs a bit sprucing up.

Don't think the program has been updated in quite some time.
The clock generator page has old motherboards listed, the "exotics" page is still in beta as it was 2 years ago.

 

[Techy]

Don't think the program has been updated in quite some time.
The clock generator page has old motherboards listed, the "exotics" page is still in beta as it was 2 years ago.

Haha, yeah it hasn't. Which is odd considering how powerful it can be. The only other program I can think of that can control fans as well as Speedfan is something like NZXT's CAM software, but I think you need the GRID+ fan hub first.