My Top Five Must Have Free MS Programs

These Programs are Great!

Published on January 8, 2011 By DrJBHL In Personal Computing

Microsoft has a huge line up of paid software (thanks, Captain Obvious), but it also has lots of high quality software that are available for free to use. Here is my list of top five must have free software from Microsoft.

1. Microsoft Security Essentials:

It is a free security suite (Genuine Windows validation required) developed by Microsoft to protect your Windows based computer from viruses, spyware and other malicious software. It is available to download from Microsoft and very simple to install, easy to use, and always kept up to date so you can be assured your PC is protected by the latest technology. You can get MSE HERE

2. Windows Live Essentials:

My thanks to Island Dog for telling me about this, and Windows Live Writer, especially. All my posts are done with it, and it has made the job infinitely easier! Do more with Windows on your PC with free programs from Microsoft for photos, movies, instant messaging, email, social networking, and more. Get it all in one simple download package. The Live Essentials app suite contains Windows Live Mail, Windows Live Messenger, Movie Maker, Windows Live Writer, Family Safety and many more. A must have suite for Internet users. Get it HERE.

3. Microsoft SysInternals:

The Sysinternals Suite by Mark Russinovich is a pack of more than 20 troubleshooting Utilities rolled up into a single Suite of tools. It is a zipped folder contains the individual troubleshooting tools and help files. SysInternals are one of my personal favorites when it comes to tweak and monitor a Windows PC ever since Windows XP. Get it HERE. I also use "G-d Mode" which is explained HERE. It works for Vista also, I believe. Tweak 7 by Stardock is a fine tool as well.

4. Bing Maps 3D: Bing Map3D is an additional app which installs on your PC and let you view Bing Maps in 3D. It is pretty amazing and the rendering quality is just awesome, I prefer it over Google Maps. You can get it HERE.

5. Microsoft USB/DVD Download tool:

If you have a TechNet or MSDN subscription or purchased a software from Microsoft Store, then there is an option to download the iso file of Windows is available. This tool lets you make bootable USB drive or DVD disc easily to install Windows OS in your computer. It also let you make autoplay DVD or USB flash drives of software like Visual Studio 2010 or other applications. Click the link to get details about installation process and other how to’s: Link

These are my personal favorites. What are yours?

Source: http://www.thewindowsclub.com/top-5-must-have-free-software-from-microsoft#ixzz1AOXtaubr

Comments (Page 1)

Ryat

on Jan 08, 2011

I really enjoy MSE myself. Free security. Woo Hoo!

DrJBHL

on Jan 08, 2011

It is an excellent program.

amitsaran

on Jan 08, 2011

doc. you listed almost all the useful ones

for me, the windows movie maker has been quite useful over the past years for editing videos till the time I got

Cyberlink Power Director and then Adobe After Effects CS 4 for the purpose !!

DrJBHL

on Jan 08, 2011

you listed almost all the useful ones

Actually Amit, It's called Windows Live Movie Maker 2011 and it's part of the large Windows Live 2011 package which I did mention:

The Live Essentials app suite contains Windows Live Mail, Windows Live Messenger, Movie Maker, Windows Live Writer, Family Safety and many more.

To get WMML 2011 here's the LINK .

OK?

aeligos

on Jan 08, 2011

I was just on Microsoft website. The MSE is described as an "antivirus" program, not "security suite".

Maybe I'm placing too much emphasis on one term versus the other ... or maybe there really is no difference?

I don't know.

But I'm going to recommend this MSE to a friend who has a laptop without any AV/ISS installed. Her daughter keeps loading up some nasty bugs on it and recently had the laptop in a semi-frozen state where she was constantly being asked to start a "virus scan". I strongly advised her to not accept the scan and to get her laptop to a tech person who would override that fraudulent virus scan. As it turned out, her brother was able to 'fix' it and now she has her laptop in a decent working status, but she still needs some protection.

Since it is free and since she doesn't want to pay 60 dollars for an IS, I'll recommend MSE.

-.-

aeligos

on Jan 08, 2011

Regarding Windows Movie Maker, does that allow youtube downloads?

-.-

zigboom

on Jan 08, 2011

For YouTube downloads, use Firefox and "Download Helper", it can download any streaming movie from the net.

aeligos

on Jan 08, 2011

Hey. Thanks for the info. I run firefox too so that should work out great.

I'll give it a go.

Philly0381

on Jan 08, 2011

Free software or programs are always priced correctly so that they get the widest use.

I have a pay for A/V and Maleware program and I will probably consider using Microsoft Security Essentials when it's current subscription is up. As for the rest of these I use Messenger and Mail, don't know when I would use the rest.

DrJBHL

on Jan 08, 2011

I have a pay for A/V and Maleware program

LOL Philly!

Scrofulous1

on Jan 08, 2011

I have been happy with MSE, except an anomaly on little netbooks my wife and I each have for travel. Once the automatic update has run, it leaves its image on the desktop (sort of an artifact image). And on a netbook, that is about 50% of the desktop. To clear the image, I have to right click and refresh the screen, at which time the image disappears instantly. It seems odd that it would occur on 2 machines. Having said that, the program does effectively block the occasional malware/virus and does not interfere with any other program I use.

Uvah

on Jan 08, 2011

I use MSE exclusively since DrJBHL turned me on to it. MalwareBytes too. As for the others, I really have no use for them as I don't do videos on my laptop. Live mail ... nope. Yahoo is good enough but the tools suite. Now that I will look into. I'm always up for useful tools and such. Right now I use Glary Utilities and CCleaner. If the suite proves better than I'll use that. Now, Google Maps. I'm not that impressed with Google stuff. It's bland and has no Umph I guess you'd call it. Bing Maps looks pretty good. I'll give that one a go. Thanks Doc for all this cool stuff. Pretty soon my laptop won't need me to tweak it. Its brain'll get big enough to do it all by itself. Then it'll wanna get paid. lol BTW ....... also agree with Doc on G-D mode. I use that too and it is like wow! Everything you wanted to know about your system and then some.

(did i do good)? Hehe

DrJBHL

on Jan 08, 2011

@Scrofulous1 : Your Netbook probably has a low refresh rate due to it's processor/Ram. You found the right solution.

@Uvah:

Pretty soon my laptop won't need me to tweak it. Its brain'll get big enough to do it all by itself.

then it'll turn into:

Uvah

on Jan 08, 2011

I remember SkyNet. What a todo that caused.

firebrick

on Jan 08, 2011

Thanks for the info!

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