Free Software - Recommendations

[Kaitel]

Yeah mp4 (mp4 videos at least), mpg, avi, flv, divx, wmv, f4v and Matroska all work great, havent found any that have failed, tbh I havent used it for music yet but I doubt it would struggle, even if it did its still worth having just for the excellent video controls, playlist is perhaps a bit basic although I havent really explored that and it's options.
It opens fast, always feels stable, drag resizeable, zooms in easily to any level with hotkey, can slow or speed playback speed by any 5% increment between 5% and 300% on all the above files with no problem.
If you set to allow multiple open at same time in options, and select never on top, you can have loads open at once playing different files and click on any to bring them to the front, see the video on the link if you want full video in video views. The interface is minimalist so it doesnt take up too much space yet very functional, particularly if you find the skin option and change to built in skin (which I prefer) over the default. Can set A and B points to repeat between. Um it really has everything I can think of needing.
It's so good it's hard to believe it's free! If it wasn't I'd still want to buy it over anything else.

[XProdgerX]

Could someone please give me a quick run though of how to use CCleaner and what box's to click in the cleaner section. Thanks

[Kaitel]

Create a restore point before cleaning anything, personally I only use the registry cleaner section regularly with all options selected, and check the description of each one before "fixing" it, oh and it allows backing up the registry files first too, a good idea particularly if you're not sure about any or doing a big batch at once.
As for the main section I'd rather not run it unless you really feel the need, I think the defaults are pretty safe, so I use in the windows section: all in internet explorer (although you might lose saved passwords) all in windows explorer apart from Thumbnail Cache unless that's where you have some problem as its pointless making your system reload them all again to display, shouldn't hurt though, the first 7 in system and none in advanced.
I stay away from the advanced ones but only cause I'm clueless on what half of them are.
Anyway that's just me, and I'm no expert so wait for more replies.

[XProdgerX]

Thanks Kaitel, Rep + :L

[Kaitel]

As I've talked about this security suite in another thread, thought Id throw this in the ring here too, the others already mentioned might well be better, cant say as I havent tried them. All I know is this also meets the free criteria so is another option if theres something about the others you dont like the sound of.

Anyway it Comodo security suite, more details and a download can be found here if anyone is interested: http://download.cnet.com/Comodo-Inte...-10460704.html Oh but I just spotted if you did wanna download it, go to the Comodo website instead as the Cnet download may not be the correct one for your operating system.

I've been using it for a couple of months and cant really fault it so far, it has regular virus database updates, clean smart interface with easy options, takes a while to train with accepting pop up warnings but hey, has a sandbox mode where you can run new programs you're unsure about until you can check them out for full access to your PC. Oh and when you install you have the option to use their DNS servers (that sort out IP addresses) over you current ISP ones, you can always change back manually (although that is a little trickier) they proved better than my default AOL ones that often get overloaded with traffic, so have improved general internet browsing speeds and they block reported web pages as a bonus.

[vanthus]

Sorrry if this has been mentioned & i've missed it.
IMGBURN,it can handle CD, DVD, HD DVD, and Blu-ray. It supports a wide range of image file formats like BIN, CUE, DI, DVD, GI, IMG, ISO, MDS, NRG and PDI. can burn Audio CDs from any file type supported via DirectShow / ACM – including AAC, APE, FLAC, M4A, MP3, MP4, MPC, OGG, PCM, WAV, WMA and WV.

[Tom DWC]

Nice one Vanthus. Adding it now.

[pr1s0ner]

Not sure if its worth adding but Blender's not just 3D modelling, it also has a pretty tidy game engine. Fully extendable with python (also free)

[Wozza365]

I would like to recommend a few
- Auslogics Disk Defrag - My preferred choice of defrag program
- Wax - Probably the best free video editing software around
- LogMeIn Hamachi - Allows small servers to be setup on games, i have used it for minecraft with 4players max and it works fine
- RevoUninstaller - Clears away the crap programs leave behind when uninstalled
- Core Temp - Reads temperature sensors on CPU
- GameBooster - Turns off all unnecessary services/programs to optimize performance, also defrag's RAM, very good for those with systems that are starting to struggle

Also these programs are considered important to a gamer (these are found on a list of essential programs on GameBooster
- Steam
- Ventrilo
- TeamSpeak
- XFire
- EA Download (Steam replacement)

Hope this helps

[JSG10]

Mumble is also a pretty good alternative to either TS or Vent