So, you have just bought a new laptop??? Or formatted your computer and have no idea as which software you should install on your computer. Don’t worry, leave that job at me. I have compiled a list of 25+ free must have software programs which should be installed on Windows. According to me, this list of must have software programs suffices 90% of user needs. I have taken into account almost every aspect of user needs while preparing this must have software list.
25+ Must have software programs for Windows:
Check out the list of must have free software programs for windows. I have tried to integrate software programs for every field, it may be security, entertainment, business, programming, remote desktop sharing, imaging, web browsing, file uploading and downloading, computer maintenance, etc. You will find this list complete for all these fields.
1. Avira Antivirus:
Antivirus has to be on the top of this list as every computer needs to be protected from incoming viruses and hacktools which can compromise any system. Avira antivirus is the best antivirus ever made. It has the best detection rates, automatic scan and update feature. And what’s more??? It is offered for free.
2. VLC Media Player:
Watching movies and listening to music is one of the most important functions for any computer system. So, we need a single media player which can support almost all file formats and should freeze the least. VLC Media Player has all the necessary features and hence occupies number 2 on this list.
You might ask, why another media player??? VLC media player has some issues when it comes to playing flv files, like sometimes it can’t support pause and resume of video. At such times, Media player classic does the job.
4. TuneUP/CCleaner:
TuneUp Utilities is all-in-one software and hence added in this list of must have software programs. It has features like defrag, disk cleanup, fixing registry issues, program uninstallation and the most important – deleted file recovery. Also, CCleanerperforms similar functions and needs a mention here.
5. Nero/Imgburn:
Nero handles all things related to burning your files to disc may be CD or DVD. It supports all the functions necessary for burning your files. But, since this is not free, I have to mention about Imgburn which has pretty same functionality.
6. Firefox/Chrome:
Firefox is the best browser ever made. Due to integration of addons, it works wonders simplifying our online experience. So, for browsing Firefox is a must. Since, Google Chrome is rapidly occupying market share, it has its position on this must have softwares list.
7. Daemon Tools:
There are many image files available on web. Many a times, we download such files and don’t know how to install the programs from such image files. Leave this work at Daemon tools which does the work of extracting installer files from image file.
8. Open Office:
This is a free alternative to MS Office. I can’t imagine a business without MS Office. Since MS Office is not free, I have added Open Office which does the same job as MS Office, but is free.
9. Adobe Reader:
Wanna read books on your system??? Then you have to download .pdf files and install this Adobe Reader to read your books.
10. 7 Zip:
Open source Windows utility for manipulating archives. Formats 7z, ZIP, GZIP, BZIP2 and TAR are supported fully, other formats can be unpacked. It has the highest compression ratio ever.
The default browser download managers suck!!! So, we are forced to use an external program for handling our downloads. IDM is the best download manager I’ve used. It has unique “Browser integration” which makes it so handy. What more??? It can download Youtube videos too. So, you don’t need to have separate Youtube downloader.
12. Filezilla:
Have a website??? Or wanna upload files via FTP?? Then, Filezilla is the best free program for you. FileZilla Client is a fast and reliable cross-platform FTP, FTPS and SFTP client with lots of useful features and an intuitive graphical user interface.
13. utorrent:
Are you a torrent lover?? If so, you must have this baby installed. This is one of the most lightweight torrent downloaders on web.
14. Adobe Photoshop/GIMP:
If you want to try your skills on image, then Adobe photoshop is the only solution for your need. But, it is not free. So, we have to go for free software program – GIMP, which has almost all the features of Photoshop, though not all.
15. Revo Uninstaller:
Revo Uninstaller is a freeware innovative uninstall utility much faster than Windows Add/Remove applet. With its advanced and fast algorithm, Revo Uninstaller scans before and after you uninstall an application.
16. Adobe Flash player:
This is pre-requisite for any new computer. This enables you to watch flash videos and animation on web.
17. MalwareBytes:
Malwarebytes has developed a variety of tools that can identify and remove malicious software from your computer. When your computer becomes infected, Malwarebytes can provide the needed assistance to remove the infection and restore the machine back to optimum performance.
Zone Alarm is a cutting edge firewall security option which blocks dangerous sites and downloads. Zone Alarm comes with a ‘Two way firewall’ which keeps track of all incoming and outgoing traffic protecting you from hackers and other intruders.
19. TeamViewer:
It is the best software for remotely sharing any computer. TeamViewer is an excellent screen-sharing and file-transfer app that can be used to facilitate business collaborations, remotely access a second computer, or help distraught relatives diagnose and cure computer problems.
20. Mozy:
Mozy is the simple way to back up all the important stuff on your computer so in the event of disaster, your data is still retrievable. There’s no need to worry about external hardware or tedious manual backups; Simply download Mozy, select the types of files you want to back up, and Mozy does the rest.
21. Digsby:
Digsby helps you manage all your IM, e-mail, and social network accounts from one easy-to-use application. Digsby lets you chat with all your friends on AIM, MSN, Yahoo, ICQ, Google Talk, Facebook Chat, and Jabber with one simple to manage buddy list. Ebuddy too functions similarly and can become an alternative.
22. Notepad++:
Notepad++ is a free source code editor which supports several programming languages under Windows environment. It’s also a lightweight replacement of Notepad. This is a must for programmers.
23. Folder Lock:
Folder lock allows you to store your files safely on your computer. It simply creates a password-protected locker where you can easily save all confidential data on your computer.
24. Sandboxie:
If you have downloaded a suspicious file from web, simply run this file in Sandboxie to check whether it is infected or not. This is the must have software for virus testers.
25. Keyscrambler:
Keyloggers are found everywhere on web and you never know when a keylogger will be installed on your computer. So, it is always better to encrypt your typed keystrokes using Keyscrambler. Due to this, keylogger records wrong keystrokes and your online accounts are protected from being hacked.
This was list of must have free software programs for Windows. I think this list ofmust have software programs will suffice needs of every computer user.
What softwares are you using??? Have I missed your favorite software??? Tell us about your views in comments.
