Freeware programs and applications

[Vich]

Can someone direct me to the location of a good utility that replaces the Win scandisk function. I can get my scandisk to work so im looking for a replacement.

Thanks

 

[Winchester]

VMWare Server is now free.


Q: Will VMware Server still be free when it is generally available?

A: Yes, VMware Server will be a free product. There will not be any charge for licenses to VMware Server when it becomes generally available.

 

[nova2]

HIGHLY recommend "TypeAndRun" (tar)

http://galanc.com/index.html?page=2&lang=en

especially for power users, sysadmins, etc.

 

[WildHorse]

igowerf

It is hoped that you will compile everybody's suggestions into one living master list maintained in your OP. Scott

A simple list of free, open-source software for Windows
http://www.opensourcewindows.org/

Computer testing tools:

For RAM & cpu info:

RightMark Memory Analyzer, NOTE: this is a good substitute in several areas for Everest Home Edition, which has been discontinued by Lavlays on December 1, 2005.

CPU-Z

For video benchmarking:

3D Mark 06

For stress testing:

ftp://ftp2.ocbase.com/ocbase3/OpenBeta/OCCTv0.91.exe">OCCT</a>

Prime95

Super PI

For temperature & voltage monitoring:

ITE SmartGuardian

List of 150 free resources on Online Tools, Generators, Checkers
Text

HTML editor:

Arachnophilia, extremely powerful.

Other useful:

Polynomial/Trig Regression Data Fit

Java download site

Quadratic Equation Solver

Finance Calculator

Database front end GUI

Hosts File - stops popups, adware, viruses, etc.


Project Management (substuitute for Microsoft Project):
Open Workbench, Open Source Project Management and Project Scheduling for Windows

 

[Evander]

Found (but not tested) a freeware hard drive GHOST image here:
http://ping.windowsdream.com/ping.html
"PING is a live Linux ISO, based on the excellent RIP (Recovery Is Possible) distribution. It can be burnt on a CD and booted, or integrated in a PXE / RIS environment.
Several tools have been added and written, so to make this ISO the perfect choice to backup and restore whole partitions, an easy way. It sounds like Symantec Ghost(tm), but has even better features, and is totally free."

sounds good except for the requirement to have 2 networked comps (so you can write the image to the other system)

"To use the PING distribution, you need at least the following :

* A LAN (Local Area Network). At least two connected computers. One of these computers is to be backuped or restored, and the other is supposed to store the images you'll do with PING.
* A Share. The computer used to store the images must be able to share files (any Microsoft Windows computer can). If you're a Linux user, install Samba.
* Space. The computer used to store the images should have enough space disk. To store a full 40 Go hard disk, you might need 20 Go."

 

[Winchester]

Originally posted by: Evander
Found (but not tested) a freeware hard drive GHOST image here:
http://ping.windowsdream.com/ping.html
"PING is a live Linux ISO, based on the excellent RIP (Recovery Is Possible) distribution. It can be burnt on a CD and booted, or integrated in a PXE / RIS environment.
Several tools have been added and written, so to make this ISO the perfect choice to backup and restore whole partitions, an easy way. It sounds like Symantec Ghost(tm), but has even better features, and is totally free."

sounds good except for the requirement to have 2 networked comps (so you can write the image to the other system)

"To use the PING distribution, you need at least the following :

* A LAN (Local Area Network). At least two connected computers. One of these computers is to be backuped or restored, and the other is supposed to store the images you'll do with PING.
* A Share. The computer used to store the images must be able to share files (any Microsoft Windows computer can). If you're a Linux user, install Samba.
* Space. The computer used to store the images should have enough space disk. To store a full 40 Go hard disk, you might need 20 Go."

AWESOME! Been looking for a ghost alternative.

 

[Evander]

Well in that case, you'll be happy to hear that here's another alternative called driveimage xml:
http://www.runtime.org/dixml.htm

" DriveImage XML is an easy to use and reliable program for imaging and backing up partitions and logical drives.

The program allows you to:

* Backup logical drives and partitions to image files
* Browse these images, view and extract files
* Restore these images to the same or a different drive
* Copy directly from drive to drive
* Schedule automatic backups with your Task Scheduler

Image creation uses Microsoft's Volume Shadow Services (VSS), allowing you to create safe "hot images" even from drives currently in use. "

It says you can run off a bartPE disc as well

 

[Copyr]

It is an often task to copy data from the faulty HD to the normal one in course of data retrieval. COPYR.DMA is a free application for making copies of hard disks with bad sectors.
The application works in DOS environment and uses DMA mode. Application creates HDD copy at the intermediate carrier, where the data logical structure can be retrieved using other applications.

Program features:
- High copying speed (up to 2.5 Gbyte/minute, on EPOX 8RDA3+ motherboard);
- Does not damage data on the source faulty disk;
- Uses block and by-sector (in fault situations) reading;
- Ability to start and stop drive spindle motor;
- Ability to set starting and finishing sectors for copying.

Link for download COPYR.DMA BUILD013
http://copyr.tetroniks.ru/index.php?id=dload&language=eng

 

[geeklord]

Didn't check all the 26 pages. Ignore, if this link has already been posted.
A huge list of free software, complete list on one page.
http://tacfug.org/blog/index.cfm?mode=e...ry=C1205F0E-36D1-E29A-8C7F6B19CDB0060F

 

[SGtheArtist]

geeklord,

Thank you for posting. Your post is (to my knowledge) the first post of that site on this thread.

 

[Brazen]

the GParted LiveCD needs to be at the top of your list for partition management programs.

 

[SGtheArtist]

http://gparted.sourceforge.net/index.php

Theres the address

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: Carl Uman
Didn't see an entry for backup/sync software so I'd like to recommend that SyncBack be added for that.

SyncBack link

They also have a version you can purchase but the free is great for backups and synchronizing (yes there is a difference)

yea its good
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Back-Up-and-Recovery/SyncBack.shtml

heres another
http://windirstat.sourceforge.net/
windirstat shows graphically whats eatingup your harddrive space. another one is treesize

 

[MadRat]

http://freewarewiki.pbwiki.com/FreewareReviews

 

[iamme]

just downloaded Paint.NET and i love it! simple and powerful

 

[gotensan01]

Originally posted by: Evander
Well in that case, you'll be happy to hear that here's another alternative called driveimage xml:
http://www.runtime.org/dixml.htm

" DriveImage XML is an easy to use and reliable program for imaging and backing up partitions and logical drives.

The program allows you to:

* Backup logical drives and partitions to image files
* Browse these images, view and extract files
* Restore these images to the same or a different drive
* Copy directly from drive to drive
* Schedule automatic backups with your Task Scheduler

Image creation uses Microsoft's Volume Shadow Services (VSS), allowing you to create safe "hot images" even from drives currently in use. "

It says you can run off a bartPE disc as well

This might be a stupid question, but I don't know anything about ghosting images for backup purposes. Will the freeware quoted above back up an OS image onto a CD/DVD so you can reload it from the CD/DVD? From the descriptions on the website, it makes it sound like it will only store images on your hdd then let you reload the image while running Windows. But does that mean you can also reload the OS image?

 

[Winchester]

When I read it I thought it meant that it backs the image to a server and you can also restore from the server via a bootable gui like Ghost Corp ed.

 

[jeffeh]

No problem with old school... so much easier to understand how everything works

 

[nsafreak]

Was told about this program in #windows IRC chat. Used it to create my Windows 2000 Server SP4 install disc with my RAID drivers thrown in it for good measure. It's called nLite and it can be found at www.nliteos.com among other things it can also create a fully unattended install disc with service packs and drivers for Windows 2000/XP/2003.

 

[Kriz]

I found an open-source download manager:

http://francis.dupont.free.fr/truedownloader/

 

[screw3d]

Looks like we've been digged:

http://digg.com/technology/List_of_Free...cements_for_Commonly_Warez_ed_Programs

 

[saintbyrd]

For a good system tool that breaksdown your disk usage
JdiskReport
http://www.jgoodies.com/freeware/jdiskreport/

I always do the windows move of selecting a couple directories and looking at properties to see the size used and then narrow it down - but this tool is awesome.

 

[MikeDawg]

Lets not all forget about the GAG (Graphical bootloader) should be listed under System Tools -> Boot Loader

 

[DasKamikaze]

Image Viewer: Fast Stone http://www.faststone.org/

IMO, a lot better than Irfan, almost as good as ACDSee. Free.

 

[igowerf]

Ok guys. I see a lot of links, but I don't know if any of this software is good. Testing each piece of software you guys list would be a huge task and a risk to my computer. Please give a short review of any software that you post. I'm trying to make this thread about GOOD freeware that can actually replace their commercial counterparts. Random utilities don't count because there are usually hundreds of free/opensource versions floating around the internet.