Free Software List for Vista

[rive0108]

CD/DVD/BD ISO burner
BURNCDCC
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/downloads-free-software.htm


Self diagnostic similiar to Hijack this, but with more verbosity and in depth diagnostics/scanning (hijack this is not x64 compatable-results in "file missing" errors)
SysInspector
http://www.eset.com/download/sysinspector.php


Bootable partitioner
Paragon Partitioner

Imaging software similiar to ghost/Vista complete pc backup (ideal for Premium/Basic users)
Paragon drive backup
http://www.paragon-software.com/home/db-express/download.html

 

[Brink]

Thank you Rive.

Already had Drive Backup Express, but added SysInspector.

 

[MilesAhead]

Folder Cache v. 1.6

Brink, I must be stubborn because I keep incarnating this Explorer recent folder idea. Now I think I have it so people will want to use it. I made it pop up with a hotkey so that I could make the window wider to avoid horizontal scrolling to see long paths. The wide window isn't an issue because as soon as you reopen the folders you want it pops back down.

Here's a little write-up I got on ghacks

I believe v 1.6 addresses usage issues and short of finding small bugs it should be stable. I've tried it on W7 32 bit, Vista 64 bit and XP 32 bit. Smooth like butter!!

edit:

There's no install.. stand-alone compiled AutoIt3 script. It creates a file FolderCache.txt in the same folder as the .exe to store the folder names so that it doesn't start up empty after the first run. To start with Windows just put a shortcut in the Startup folder. Hit Shift-PgUp to pop up the window.

 

[Chap88]

Great list and very useful. Thanks

 

[The Cool Guy]

Good Work, Shawn........your so good at these things.....wish I was too

 

[avirupforyou]

Great List Bro...

 

[Brink]

Good Work, Shawn........your so good at these things.....wish I was too

Great List Bro...

Thank you guys.

I'm sure that your better than you think are Madhu96v. You just gotta play with it. When you break it, you learn more by fixing it. LOL, just remember to keep good backups though.

 

[william gunkel]

Shawn, I am looking for a program (free of course) that will enable me to seperate the music from the video or post that I receive in my windows mail. I also want to than you and the rest that have made this forum the best.

 

[The Cool Guy]

Thanks, Shawn

 

[Barman58]

Shawn, I am looking for a program (free of course) that will enable me to seperate the music from the video or post that I receive in my windows mail. I also want to than you and the rest that have made this forum the best.

Hi,
If you check out VLC player (will be on the list here somewhere), I believe that that app is capable of producing audio only streams (files) from video files

 

[MilesAhead]

I have a couple of new freebies I wrote that may be useful in W7.
Both are available for download from my Hotkeys Page

The first is very simple. It's called CreateDir

If you want to create a new directory chain, you run it and type or paste the folder name. Example, you have a folder named C:\download with no subfolders. You want to create the subfolders Icons\Themes. Run CreateDir and enter
C:\download\Icons\Themes

If the path is not an absolute path then it uses the current directory as the root. So if you are in a command prompt sitting at C:\download you can achieve the same effect with the command:
CreateDir Icons\Themes

if it sees a command line param it is entered in the InputBox for you to confirm.

The second is similar but it copies file(s) including the source folder chain. It's called ChainCopy

It's Yet Another Task Tray Hotkey Utility. To chain copy files, open the target root folder in Explorer then hit the Control-NumberPadPlus hotkey. (For anything to happen the folder window has to be the active window.) A FileOpen Dialog pops up. Browse to the source folder and select the file(s) you want to chain copy. You should get a dialog telling how many files where chain copied. Example: you open C:\temp in explorer and hit the hotkey. FileOpen pops up. You select fractal.jpg in Documents and press ok. Now there exists the file C:\temp\Users\Owner\Documents\fractal.jpg

The chaincopy creates the folder chain and copies the source file(s) into it.

Note for the program to be able to read the path of the target folder you should have folder options set to "display full path in title bar" .. even though it says "classic view only" the data is there in the window text for the utility to read.
(At least it seems to be. It's working for me on W7 7077 32 bit)

 

[JimJoe]

I use a nice free directory util, gives 2 window panes. Makes copying or moving files from one folder to another much easier.

2xExplorer home

screenshots:
Snapshots

I have used it for years. Very useful.

 

[MilesAhead]

ReOpen

ReOpen is available for download from my
Hotkeys page.

It's like folder cache but has separate lists for recent folders and programs. Now you don't have to wait some indeterminant amount of time for apps to show up in an MRU list. As soon as the application window is the active window, it's added to the ReOpen list.


The Max items in the spin button is adjustable in the range 10 to 64 and regulates both lists. Here's a screen shot.

Edit: both Folder Cache and ReOpen have been updated so that you can choose a different hotkey using a dialog with combo boxes.

Edit2: I've updated both apps to use a bit of glass on W7 and Vista.
You can see new screen shots on the hotkeys page in the link above.

Edit3: Both apps have been updated. If Glass is enabled, you can use a tray icon command to select the preferred background color of the form from a combobox.
Also I added a few more colors. No need now to edit the .ini file. Another change is the Tray Icon is not visible while the apps are busy. Avoids trying to run commands from the Tray Icon when they cannot be serviced.

Edit4: Enhanced the VistaColor combobox dialog so that when you select a color, the dialog itself changes to that background color as preview. Also added a few more colors and put them in alphabetical order.

Edit5: These programs seem stable. Instead of updating here, if you wish to keep up with changes please use this link:

http://www.favessoft.com/changes.html#FolderCache

 

[MilesAhead]

ReOpen 3.5.0.3 available on Softfpedia




Now has an input filter to quickly find folders and programs in the lists.
Pressing Control-C sends input filter text or selected item to an external search program using its hotkey.

Version 3.5 has a new feature. If you middle click the mouse in an empty space on the desktop or in an Explorer window, the popup window opens. You can enable and disable the middle mouse button action using the Tray Icon Menu.

 

[islandmixed]

nice list of software...i will bookmark this deffo.

i have a question thoe, im new to vista and iam not sure what converting/burning software to use if i wanted to burn some avi files...i would prefare a fast free program but which ones? also what codects are best suited?

cheers

 

[SIW2]

Hi islandmixed,

You could try DVD Flick

 

[worf51]

hi islandmixed,CONVERTX TO DVD 3 works great & is really quick,good luck ......

 

[MilesAhead]

nice list of software...i will bookmark this deffo.

i have a question thoe, im new to vista and iam not sure what converting/burning software to use if i wanted to burn some avi files...i would prefare a fast free program but which ones? also what codects are best suited?

cheers

Whichever converters you use, I recommend Shark's Vista Codec Pack

Download Vista Codec Package 5.3.0 - With this package installed, you shouldn't need to install any other codec or filter - Softpedia


Seemed like every time I tried to convert .wmv to .avi using AviDemux, it crashed. I put Vista Codec Pack on, and it's just routine to use AviDemux with .wmv now.

 

[julzx94]

You can also just use AviSynth with AutoGK. It comes with DivX and Xvid codecs.

 

[MilesAhead]

Pasty : paste selected text into search app

Pasty by MilesAhead

Pasty out of the box pastes selected text into Windows Search. But you can set the hotkey to open another search engine. The hotkey for Pasty itself is also adjustable.

Recommended usage: start with Windows and let it sit in the Task Tray. Highlight text in an editor or web browser, then hit the Pasty hotkey. The search engine will open and the text will be entered via macro action.

You can download from this page:
Hotkeys

Just scroll down a bit until you see the Pasty link.

I've tried it on Vista64 and Windows7 32 bit.

Edit: For those who prefer to download from well known sites, the
latest version of Pasty(v. 1.2) is now on Softpedia:
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Office-tools/Clipboard/Pasty.shtml