5 must-have applications for your Windows PC

So you just finished a fresh install of Windows – now what? Here’s a list of free applications that make your computer time more productive and capable of handling the innumerable trends of today’s internet experience. I personally use every single one of the following programs, and highly recommend them to ANY Windows user. 1. CCleaner (http://www.ccleaner.com)

I’ve had CCleaner (formerly known as CrapCleaner) on all my Windows installations for the past three years. Weighing in at just over three megabytes, this app does the dirty work of removing all the unnecessary files from your computer, like your browsing history, temporary files, and cookies. It also digs through your Windows Registry and deletes unused entries, uninstallers, application paths, and files that your system no longer needs – and it even comes with a feature to help you easily back up your files. It’s quick, easy to use, and has a relatively small memory footprint for what it does for your system. I’ve seen up to two gigabytes freed on my hard disk just by running the app, and the increase in both computer speed and response time was not only noticeable, but surprising! I usually run it once every couple of weeks and average a few hundred megabytes of deleted files per cleaning. If you download only one application from this list, make it this one; you’ll thank me later, and then download the rest of the items on this list because of how right I was about CCleaner.

2. 7-Zip (http://www.7-zip.org)

When it comes to file compression, most people think of WinZip or WinRAR; however, 7-Zip is an application that I definitely do not see enough people using. I consider 7-Zip the king of file compression applications, as it supports the two most commonly used archive formats (.zip and .rar) in addition to its own format, .7z, and other file archive types such as .cab and .iso. It also unpacks said archives quickly, has an intuitive interface, and can be integrated into your Windows shell. Furthermore, its compression ratio is greater than that of both WinRAR and WinZip. I have personally extracted a 24 megabyte .rar file and recompressed it using 7-Zip, and it shrunk to twelve megabytes! If you handle file archives in any way, shape or form, there is no application I could recommend more.

3. Pidgin IM Client (http://www.pidgin.im)

Gaim-buddylist-2.0.0b6 One of the greatest things about the internet is that it enables people from all over the world to interact, and many do so through Instant Messaging clients provided by Yahoo!, Google, and AOL, to name only a few. Given the plethora of options to choose from, not every friend you make on the internet will have the same IM client you do. With Pidgin you can have all your friends in just one small client, which connects to quite a few chat networks like MSN, IRC, AIM, and Yahoo!, and a user can even download and install plug-ins for others such as Facebook chat and Skype. Pidgin also gives you the option of having only one window open for all your conversations, simply separated by tabs. It’s fast, user-friendly, and makes communication a one-program affair. What’s not to like?

4. VLC Media Player (http://www.videolan.org/vlc/)

Whenever someone tells me that the movie or audio file that they just downloaded isn’t working, the first thing I ask is, “Have you tried VLC?” VLC Media Player is my go-to application for handling all types of files – movies, audio CDs, DVDs, and even flash videos. This open-source application supports all types of files, whether it be your usual .avi movie, .mp4 recording of the crazy guy you saw last Saturday, or the .flac audio files from your brand-new CD. There are very few files that I don’t open with VLC (most notably .mp3 files, but mainly because I’ve been using WinAmp since forever). I even use it to watch DVDs or DVD images, because it supports multiple subtitle and audio tracks. With the exception of the odd Windows Media file that is finicky about being played in VLC, I rarely have reason to use any other media player, and if you try it, you’ll see what I mean.

5. DAEMON Tools Lite (http://www.daemon-tools.cc/eng/products/dtLite)

This is arguably the application that best caters to the most specific type of computer user: the user that wants to back up all their CDs and DVDs. With DAEMON Tools Lite, you can make images of all your optical media for backup purposes, and even save hard drive space by compressing the image data. This way, you can not only extend the lifetime of your physical DVD by making a digital copy, but also save hard drive space by compressing the DVD image’s data. But now, you may be wondering how to go about accessing the data on these DVD images; fortunately, DAEMON Tools Lite is still the answer! In addition to creating the backups of your DVDs, the application also emulates up to four CD/DVD virtual drives. You simply select a drive on which to mount your DVD image, choose which image file to mount, and you’re ready to go. It’s just like a real CD/DVD drive but without the physical wear and tear on the physical media and a faster processing rate, as it’s simply reading data from your hard drive. If you’re a stickler for backups and preserving the items you buy with your hard-earned money, DAEMON Tools Lite may be right up your alley.