Windows XP Free Programs List
Award winning web browser from Mozilla. Faster, more secure, and completely customizable.
You'll need the following Plugins : Java, Flash Player, and Shockwave Player.
I also recommend these Extensions : NoScript, Download Status Bar, Colorful Tabs, Tab Effect, IE Tab, and FireFTP.
Make sure to set it as your default web browser.
The alternative to MS Outlook. More secure, easier to organize, and completely customizable.
Make this your default e-mail application.
This program plays ALL video file types without the need for codecs.
Make this your default application for video files when installation asks you, but not for audio files.
"It really whips the llama's ass." - Winamp's slogan
Great library design, awesome visualizations, and thousands of free audio/video streams.
Make this your default application for audio files.
Installation will force it as the default player for videos, change this back to VLC Player (or install this first).
This program doesn't remove spyware, it prevents the spyware being installed in the first place.
It works great, your spyware removal scans will come up completely clean aside from a few MRU lists (browsing history).
As it's a free program, you do have to manually update it (very easy, 2 clicks). Register it for automatic updates.
Place this program in your computer's auto-start list (see Startup Control Panel below).
Make sure to update it about once a week.
Great program for removing spyware.
I recommend not to use the Ad-Watch service it offers to install.
Update and scan with this program once a week.
Another good program for removing spyware, does it a little differently than Ad-Aware.
Also has some very useful tools in the advanced options panel.
I recommend not to use the TeaTimer and System Settings Protections it offers to install.
Update and scan with this program once a week.
One of the best anti-virus programs there is.
Still 100% free for everyone. No subscriptions to buy or renew.
Nowhere near as resource-hogging as Norton or Mcafee.
Updates are automatic.
Use realtime protection, and run a full system scan once a week.
This program lets you control which programs are allowed to access the internet.
A firewall is another level of defense alongside your antivirus.
This one will replace the firewall built into Windows.
This handy little program lets you view/edit/add programs in the common startup locations.
This is probably the single most important program to run on any computer.
It allows you to view all the currently running processes in a formatted list.
It'll alert you if a program freezes (tray icon turns solid red), and allow you to easily kill the process.
No more clicking "end now" a dozen times, waiting for it to actually end.
Recognizing malicious processes and stopping dozens of processes is a breeze for experts.
After installing, go to Options menu, select Replace Task Manager, Hide When Minimized, and Only Allow One Instance.
In Startup Control Panel, go to HKLM/Run, right click in the window and choose New, Browse Processes, and find Process Explorer.
This will add Process Explorer to your auto-start for the computer.
This is a program for advanced users to use to scan all the auto-start locations on the computer.
It does not operate on a list of good and bad like antivirus does... it lists the good and the bad.
Do not attempt to make modifications with HijackThis unless you're sure of what you're doing.
A complete tutorial for HijackThis can be found at http://www.castlecops.com/HijackThis.htm
The perfect companion to HijackThis.
Yet another tool for experts, this one is packed full of goodies.
Hidden Process Scans (rootkits)
Process/Thread Creation Blocking
File Explorer with Force Delete
Distrustful Driver Check
Registry Editor
and more...
This program can often cure the problem of lost connections after the removal of Adware components or
improper uninstall of firewall applications or other tools that modify the XP network and Winsock settings.