A Big Geek's collection of Free Software and websites to help you improve
your computer knowledge and experience.  Nearly all of the software linked to
is Freeware, however, some is Payware.  You can save a considerable sum of
money by using Free Software rather than buying a retail product.  Most of
the software that isn't free has a trial period where you can use the program
for free to see if you like it.
Computer and Technology Sites
AnandTech.com - Hardware news.
PCSTATS - Great set of Beginners Guides
Tom's Hardware - PC Hardware information
including  VGA Charts and CPU Charts
TechSpot - News for PC Enthusiasts.
Yahoo Tech - A good site for technology.
TweakPC Hardware Guide
Maximum PC - My favorite PC magazine.
CNET
PCWorld.com
ZDNet.com
Trusted Reviews - IT Reviews and News.
Steve's DigiCams - Digital Camera Reviews.
Office and Productivity Applications

Free PIMS - Great Site!

Office and Word
OpenOffice
ThinkFree Online - online Office
AbiWord - Word alternative
Jarte - Word Processor

SPAM Filter
Lockspam 3.0

PDF Readers
Adobe Reader
Foxit Reader

PDF and Document Converters
PDF reDirect
BullZip PDF Printer
CutePDF
PDFCreator
OmniFormat - Convert 75+ file formats.
Zamzar - Online File Conversion

Notes
EverNote
LockNote
FreeMind -Tree-Like "mind map"

Faxes
eFax - Free incoming faxes
Fax1 - Send faxes $.12/page
Got Free Fax
faxZERO

Viewers
PowerPoint viewer
Excel viewer
IrFanView - Graphics Viewer

Zippers
7 Zip
ZipGenius
FreeZip
WinZip - Free for 45 Days

Finance
Mint -Personal Finance Manager
Ace Money

Miscellaneous
EssentialPIM - Free Organizer
iCarbon - Printer + Scanner = Copier.
SketchUp - Easy-to-learn 3D software.
LogMeIn -Remote access to your PC.
PrinterAnywhere
ieSpell -IE Spell Checker.
FreePops - Access email using POP3.
Graphics and Gaming
TweakGuides - Great Site!
GPUReview - Compare GPU's
NVIDIA - Drivers and Games
ATI - Graphics Cards
Widescreen Gaming Forum
Fraps - Free video capture
DriverCleaner
GameSpy.com
FilePlanet.com
GamersHell.com
GameDaily.com
Gamespot.com
GamesRadar.com
1up.com
Saitek
Matrox - TripleHead2GO
Computer Information and Diagnostics
EVEREST Ultimate Edition (Personal) - Free Demo version.
BelArc Advisor - PC Diagnostic plus lists software product keys.
CPUID - Info on your CPU.
Autoruns - Most comprehensive startup monitor of auto-starting locations.
PCPitStop - Online diagnostic of your PC.
SiSoftware Sandra Lite - Info & Diagnostic utility.
System Info for Windows
SpeedFan - Monitor and control your computers cooling fans.
Bios Central - Useful site if trying to troubleshoot a Bios problem.
The Definitive BIOS Guide - Guides to Optimize BIOs.
ProcessLibrary.com - Information on processes running on your computer.
Process Monitor
Process Explorer
Computer Help and Support
Tech Support Center -Help from Smart Computing (Phone - 1-800-368-8304)
Dave's Computer Tips - Bi-Weekly Newsletter & Online Resource for PC Users

Cleaners and System Optimizers
CCleaner - System Optimization tool removes temp files & cookies.
Advanced System Care Free
Glary Utilities - Tools & utilities to fix, speed up, maintain & protect your PC.
Zappit - System Cleaner similar to CCleaner.
Disk Cleaner - Quickly & easily free disk space that's used by temp files.
AbsoluteShield Internet Eraser - Cleans up all the tracks of your Internet activities.
TweakNow - Registry Cleaner (only delete items marked safe!)
CloneSpy - Duplicate File cleanup tool for windows.
File Shredder - Secure file delete utility.
BCWipe - Erase the content of any file.
Eraser - Secure data erase tool to wipe files on your hard drive.
PC De-Crapifier - The PC De-Crapifier is great for new computers.
Tweak VI - Optimizer for Windows Vista.
Revo Uninstaller - Finds and Removes files left by Windows Uninstaller.

Defragmentation Utilities
Auslogics Disk Defrag
Auslogics Registry Defrag
IObit SmartDefrag - Has an "Install it and Forget it" Feature.
JkDefrag
Registry Clean Expert - Cleans the Windows registry.
PageDefrag - Defrags paging and registry files.
Diskkeeper 2010 - Free 30 Day Trial

Operating System
Microsoft Virtual PC - Run multiple operating systems simultaneously
Ubuntu - A complete Linux-based operating system.
Windows SteadyState - Very useful program for PC's with multiple users.
BartPE - Build a Preinstalled Environment bootable Windows CD or DVD.
BootSafe - Makes rebooting into Safe Mode a snap.

Portable Applications for USB Drives
Firefox Portable - You can find just about every type of Portable App here
SanDisk Recommended "U3 smart" Programs - Various Apps, some Free.
U3 Software Central - Some Free.

Pictures and Screenshot Capturing
Shrink Pic - Works on Vista!
Screenpresso
ScreenPrint32
Screenshot Captor

File Transfer and Sharing
YouSendIt (Lite) - The Lite version is Free.
Dropio - Interesting way to share files.
FolderShare -  Create a network to synchronize, access, or share files.
Pando - Send and receive large files up to 1GB.
Qnext - "The Swiss Army Knife of Internet communications tools."
TransferBIGFiles.COM - Free

Encryption
TrueCrypt - Disk encryption software for Windows XP/2000/2003 and Linux.
Cypherix - Cryptainer LE 128bit Encryption Software
EasyCrypto Deluxe

Backup Solutions
GoodSync - Synchronize data between PCs, laptops, USB drives and more.
SyncBack Freeware - The Backup program Big Geek Daddy Uses.
Windows Live Skydrive - 5 GB's of Online storage from Microsoft
Mozy - Backup 2GB of Data online for Free.

Folder and File Management
QTTabBar - Add Tabs to your folders like Tabbed Browsers Firefox and IE7
xplorer2 - Free program to Explore your system files and folders.
ExplorerXP - Displays the total size of each folder and has a tabbed interface.

File Restoration and Recovery
Recuva
Restoration - Recover files that have been deleted from Recycle Bin.
FreeUndelete - Data Recover Program for deleted files.
IsoBuster - CD and DVD Data Recovery tool.
File Scavenger® Version 3 - $49.00.   A  file "undelete" and data recovery utility.
Unlocker - As the name implies this utility unlocks files locked by Windows.
CD and DVD Copying and Editing
These links are provided for legal use only and not to condone illegal copying and/or
distribution of copyrighted material.  
If you don't know how to rip a DVD here's a good list of guides from AfterDawn

ImgBurn is a lightweight CD / DVD / HD DVD / Blu-ray burning application
DVDFab HD Decrypter and  Free DVD  Both of these are awesome Free Programs
iWisoft Free Video Converter
NERO 9 Free Version and CDBurnerXP  Burn CD's and DVD's.
DVD Shrink  It's no longer supported w/updates.
SlySoft.com - Best $$$ Programs like AnyDVD, CloneDVD, CloneDVD Mobile
DVD Decrypter  Like DVDShrink and it is also not supported anymore.
AVS Video Tools $$$  The program BGD uses to convert files to different formats.
Video DVD Maker  DVD Maker Free, DVD Maker Pro, and a Converter program.
DVD43 Decrypter
Benchmark Tests
Futuremark - 3DMark06
Maxon - CINEBENCH
HdTach 3 - Hard Drive Testing
Passmark - Benchmark &Testing
Blogs and Websites
WordPress
Blogger - For an example see My Blog
Windows Live Spaces
Vox - Privacy Control feature.
UnlimitedMB - Offers a Free website
Everything Else
Advanced Search Bar - Free Toolbar
Widgets - Free Widgets from Yahoo.
Printable Maps - Printable U.S. maps.
800 Numbers - Find 800 Numbers.
Call the Future - Call a # in the future.
Future Phone - Call Internationally.
Pix2Fone - Cell phone wallpapers.
OpenDNS - Safer and Faster DNS.
jiwire - Find wireless hot spots to use.
Free Software: Links to Free PC Programs
Rapid Repair
iPod repair, parts, accessories
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