Microsoft provides the basic software’s for its Windows customers bundled in its operating system.But if you want to replace those software’s or find a better and free open source alternative to it, we have shortlisted some of the free alternatives for your convenience and usage with links to download them.You can even find more alternative software’s for these programs on the internet, but we have given you some best possible options you could find.
Disk Cleanup
- CCleaner – This is no surprise as the software is quite popular.Searches system files,installed programs and hard disk for junk files and cleans them as required.Integrated start-up manager ,Add /remove programs options and registry cleaner.
- Advanced SystemCare – From the developer IObit , is a freeware system optimizer that also cleans the registry and also scans, repairs and secure computers in a minute. It also features virus protection and can be used to defragment hard drives.
Windows Media Player
- VLC Media Player – Highly portable and supports a majority of audio and video formats.Known for its high performance, lightweight interface and flexibility. It can also be used for media file conversions as well as streaming protocols.
- Media Player Classic – Has several additional features such as a built-in AVI subtitle support, DVD player etc. Its very light and can play a variety of formats without the requirement of any special codecs.
- KMPlayer – Plays a variety of audio and video files is KMPlayer. Also has ability to support a large number of formats and can be used to capture screenshots of audio and video while playing.
- GOM Player – Can play most media files without any external codec and can also play damaged or incomplete media files.
- Songbird – Good clarity Integrates well with music websites.Easily syncs with most smart phones and media players .
Notepad
- Notepad++ –Supports several programming languages and includes syntax highlighting, code folding, auto-completion, multi-document, full regular search support ,drag-n-drop,etc.Most preferred alternative for notepad.
- MetaPad -Its small, fast and completely free text editor. Designed to completely replace Notepad since it features all of the Notepad’s features plus a few extras. The features include tool bar functionality, WYSIWYG printing, auto indenting etc., It is also been said it consumes less amount of memory than Notepad. So even if you like to stick with the simplicity of Notepad; you can very well try MetaPad.
- Notepad2 – Its a lightweight, free and open source text editor and also provides full functional Notepad like editor with syntax highlighting. Features also include drag and drop feature, wildcard search, syntax highlighting for most of the languages.But not much features as Notepad++, it provides a simple alternative for Notepad.
Internet Explorer
- Mozilla Firefox – a fast, open source, secure, and extendable browser from Mozilla. Offers a number of features over Internet Explorer, including Smart Location Bar, Places Manager, and a rich database of extensions.
- Google Chrome -It has process-isolated tabs and add-ons support, providing stability and security and so if an individual page or an add-on crashes, it won’t mess up the rest of tabs or add-ons.Chrome uses a custom-built JavaScript for faster performance.It’s private browsing offers complete privacy from your regular browsing.
- Opera –Integrated “Turbo Mode” for loading websites faster, particularly over poor or dial-up connections. Opera is very visual,Feature-rich browser. Also Includes email client, BitTorrent downloads, Speed Dial and mouse gestures.
- Safari – Clean design and very simple to use from MAC.Supports multitouch gestures in Mac OS X for speedier, less-clicky browsing.Protects against malware and phishing attacks, block pop ups.
Run
- Launchy – Launch programs faster from keyboard shortcuts and by entering portion of the application name rather typing the full name.
Calculator
- Power Calculator – This is a freeware and offers more powerful alternative to the built in Calculator available in windows.
Command Prompt
- PowerCmd- Splits Main view in grid, vertical, horizontal layouts etc.Can also save and restore previous command line sessions. Provides history logs.Has a special feature called Outlining.Supports standard text editing behavior also cut, copy and paste using the conventional Windows shortcuts.Can add bookarks with shortcut keys.
- PowerShell- An advanced command prompt alternative from Microsoft,and works for Windows XP, Vista, 7 and Windows Server 2003 , 2008. It’s centered around the concept of cmdlets, these are commands that manipulate the objects to perform a single task.
- CygWin – CygWin provides the features of Linux shell for Windows,anh hence allows you to work with a more powerful command line tools.
File Archive and Compression
- 7-Zip – Supports a number of formats, including RAR, ZIP, TAR, and 7z; can also generate a self extracting archive.
- PeaZip- Supports more than 80 file types, including 7Z, RAR, TAR and ZIP.Works well both on Windows and Linux.Provides multiple strong encryption standards.
Paint
- GIMP – Most preferred and advanced image editor for all types of users.I personally use this software and its easy to use,flexible and provides a lot of features.
- HeliosPaint- Powerful,feature-rich, easy-to-use paint program for editing drawings,photos and icons. Runs on Microsoft Windows,Mac OS X, Linux and Unix.
- Paint.NET – Provides a larger features for image editing, and support for layers and infinite undo’s.
Windows Search
- Google Desktop Search – Google Desktop Search indexes all fixed disks on your PC by default. Provides faster alternative to windows search.It provides a sidebar and quick launch utility.But if you want to keep your privacy away from the big brother google, better try other options in case google might even save your preferences for it search engine.
- Copernic Desktop Search – User friendly,Easy to use and customize, and it seems to index faster, that too using less amount of system resources. Clear search-results window and more intuitive.
Add/Remove Programs
- Revo Uninstaller – Powerful uninstaller that attempts to remove all traces of a program when uninstalling.
- CCleaner – As i mentioned this software in clean-up utility, it even has Integrated Add /remove programs options and registry cleaner with faster interface.
Windows Photo Gallery / Windows Picture and Fax Viewer
- Google Picasa- Picasa is a simple and easy-to-use photo organization tool available from Google.Provides plenty of tools to edit and modify pictures, including the ability to add tags to identify people, fix red-eye, straightening photos, brightness variation and contrast, as well as fine tune lighting and shadows. Offers a variety of special effects that can be applied to photos as the graduated tint, film grain effect etc.
- IrfanView – Light image viewer with a wide range of features, including image manipulation and conversion.
Windows Movie Maker
- VirtualDub – An Open source video processor/editor which has powerful features for processing video clips. Provides real-time downsizing, apply noise reduction, and has support for AVI2. Can decompress and recompress videos and use an advanced set of filters that perform functions such as blurring, rotating, image adjustments etc.
- Jahshaka – offers more features than windows movie maker, includes editing with flexibility, create effects in real time, animate your video, paint and design on your video, create music with practically all the tools that professional video editors use, and work in any format at any resolution.
Windows Messenger
- Pidgin – Extendable with plugins and Supports wide range of protocols, including Yahoo!, MSN, IRC, AIM, Google Talk, Jabber, and others.
- Digsby – Supports a wide range of protocols, including Yahoo!, MSN, IRC, AIM, Google Talk, Jabber, and others, and provides special feature to integrate with social networks like facebook.
- Yahoo! Messenger – Integrateing feature with MSN . Mainly built for and supports the Yahoo! .
- Miranda IM – Runs on Lighter resources and has relatively smaller size than other messengers with support for a wide range of protocols. Highly extendable using plugins.
Windows Explorer
- Explorer++ -Relatively easier to use with Multi Tab feature and Advanced file operations .Provides much similarity and functionality as the Windows explorer itself with almost similar interface but with much improvements.Provides easy to remember Keyboard shortcuts and quick navigation.Completely portable
- xplorer2 – Another better free alternative to Windows Explorer with advanced features like dual pane and tabbed browsing.
- Free Commander – Integrated features like tabbed browsing, dual pane, file wiping, and MD5 creation and checksum abilities.
Windows Update
- AutoPatcher –Provides you to download selected updates when online and install then when offline.
- Project Dakota – Provides you with feature to download a CD ISO file with all the updates required to install.
Disk Defragmenter
- Auslogics Disk Defrag –Supports FAT 16, FAT 32, and NTFS volumes. Comes with a user friendly interface and performs defrag slightly faster than the default Windows defragmenter. Excellent, easy to use user interface for both beginners and experts.
- Smart Defrag – SmartDefrag will perform the defragmentation process automatically without your intervention. Being smart, it continuously runs in the background as you work with your computer.Recommended.
Outlook Express / Windows Mail
- Mozilla Thunderbird – Enhanced Email client from Mozilla. Can modify themes and include functionality by installing Extendable plugins .
Windows Firewall
- Comodo Firewall Pro – Most preferred alternative for windows firewall.Protects the outbound and inbound connections, unlike Windows Firewall. Prevents unnecessary warnings by storing safe software’s in the database.
- ZoneAlarm Free Firewall – Protects outbound/inbound connections and also stealth’s your computer.
CD/DVD Burning
- ImgBurn – Works with all types of media, able to create, build, and burn CD images.
Windows Sidebar
- Google Desktop Sidebar – Available with Google Desktop package as a part for sidebar feature .
- Yahoo! Widgets – Similar to a sidebar,Allows you to place widgets onto your desktop.And also you can dock your favorite widgets at the widget dock for faster access.
Start Menu
- Vista Start Menu – Better visual style and larger start menu and allows you to find your applications more easily and quickly to perform required tasks faster.
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