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Abiword
Freeware, 5Mb, Windows 98/SE/ME/NT/2k/XP, Linux
www.abisource.com/
This package is an open source/freeware word processor that resembles
Microsoft Word without all the bells and whistles and is fully
compatible. It carries all the main word processor functions,
boasts a 30-language spell checker, word count, mail merge and
tables. The list of functions goes on and on. There is a huge
range of plug-ins available which extends the packages capabilities
even more.
Open Office
Open Source/freeware, 65Mb Windows 98/SE/ME/NT/2k/XP, Linux, Mac
OS
www.openoffice.org/
Your very own freeware Office Suite containing 5 main components
comprising Writer (word processor with many Microsoft Word features),
Calc (spreadsheet package with Excel compatibility), Impress (presentation
program with drawing tools etc), Draw (graphics package to create
diagrams and illustrations) and Database Tools (a database program).
All the programs are fully integrated and have some compatibility
with their Microsoft equivalents. There is also a large friendly
user group base assisting with packages development.
Mozilla, Firefox
& Thunderbird
Open Source/freeware, Windows 95/98/SE/ME/NT/2k/XP, Linux, Mac
www.mozilla.org
An alternative web browser and email client. The traditional Internet
Explorer and Outlook Express due to their popularity are often
targets of virus writers and hence your security. An alternative
may be the answer
Deepnet Explorer
Freeware, 2.4Mb, Windows 98/SE/ME/NT/2k/XP
www.deepnetexplorer.com/
This freeware browser has some special extras in the shape of
a controversial integrated Peer-2-Peer file sharing facility and
built in RSS Newsreader. It has Internet Explorer compatibility
including tabbed pages and a pop-up stopper.
Part 4 :- Utilities
Spacemonger
Freeware, 103kb, Windows 95/98/SE/ME/NT/2k/XP
www.werkema.com/software/spacemonger.html
This little tool will let you know how much all those applications
and data files are actually taking up on your hard drive. Using
a simple to understand colour coded graphics display it will show
you exactly what you have stored on your machine and how much
room it is taking up. You can zoom right in for even more detail
Restoration
Freeware, 162kb, Windows 98/SE/ME/NT4/2k/XP
www.geocities.jp/br_kato/index.html
This handy package can recover deleted files from the Recycle
bin after it has been cleared. It also has the facility to make
sure deleted sensitive files remain unrecoverable if so required.
It is even small enough to run off a floppy disc.
Regseeker
Freeware, 307kb, Windows 98/SE/ME/NT4/2k/XP
www.hoverdesk.net/freeware.htm
The registry is when your PC houses all those configuration settings
for Windows and the applications installed on your PC. After a
while the registry accumulates a host of redundant entries that
will in time slow down your machine or even cause unexpected problems
resulting in the registry becoming corrupt and Windows grinding
to a halt. This program is a safe and easy registry cleaner that
will identify those superfluous unused entries. Once identified
you have the option to keep or delete. A safety measure is incorporated
in that all deleted files are automatically backed up and can
be easily restored if anything goes awry.
Ezback-It-Up
Freeware, 988kb, Windows 98/SE/ME/NT4/2k/XP
www.rdcomp.net/ezbackitup/index.php
This is a fast and efficient tool for backing up the hard drive.
It will copy all the critical files to a separate drive partition,
a second drive or a CD-R (formatted for UDF or packet writing).
It will make incremental back-ups, i.e. by copying and updating
the files that have been created or modified since the previous
backup. There is a built in scheduler that will run in the background
at your convenience. All backed up files are recorded in its permanent
log.
RJH Extensions
Freeware, 673kb, Windows 98/SE/ME/NT/2k/XP
www.rjhsoftware.com/rjhextensions/
This program offers a range of improvement add-ons to window explorer
such as printing the contents of a folder, shred files so they
cannot be recovered and encrypting files using the powerful Blowfish
algorithm. Once installed the new features are displayed by right
clicking on a file or folder.
Convert
Freeware, 152kb, Windows 98/SE/ME/2k/XP
www.joshmadison.com/software/convert/
A general conversion package that will convert values in over
20 different categories including temperature, speed, pressure,
angles, power, density and flow. A useful tool to have close to
hand.
Belarc Advisor
Freeware, 605kb, Windows 98/SE/ME/2k/XP
www.belarc.com/free_download.html
Want to know what drives your PC? This program goes beyond the
normal information readily available about your system such as
processor speed, memory size, hard drive capacity and so on. This
program scans your system and offers the smallest details about
your PC and the programs stored on it, including most licence
and registration codes. Probably not an everyday usable program
but could be invaluable to someone trying to diagnose a fault.
Ideal to take a snapshot of your healthy machine while it is still
running.
Word Toys
Freeware, 1.5mb, Word 2000, 2002, 2003
www.wordtoys.com
A nice little utility for Microsoft Word users which is a suite
of 30 tools and enhancements which allows you to customise Word
to your personal preferences. There are keyboard shortcuts to
accented characters, quick find document recall from up to a month
previous, double save to two different locations – ideal
for backup and many other features. There is even an out of office
feature that will leave a message on the screen if you are away
from your desk.
Autoruns
Freeware, 140kb, Windows 95/98/SE/ME/2k/XP
www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/autoruns.shtml
A small freeware utility that will list all the programs that
run automatically from the registry when Windows is loaded. An
ideal package if you suspect something is causing problems at
boot up. The listed items have a check box next to them to allow
the user to stop any suspect program launching during the boot
up sequence.
Dave Robb
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