Utility Software Guide

CENTRALIZED UTILITIES LOCATOR TABLE
This table last updated: 08 September 2008. Copyright © 2003-2008 Keith E. Risler. All rights reserved.

KEY TO DESCRIPTION CODES
DV=Downloadable Version of original boxed software.
FS=Free-to-Use Software(*). Fees for business use may apply; general license terms may apply.
IO=Internet-Only. Software exists only as a web download.
IB=Available as Internet download and as Boxed product; may cost more in boxed version.
CS=Commercial Software, fee is payable before download.
DEMO=Demo version available; may be time-limited and/or have limited features.

*NOTICE: Although software may be offered for free use, "free" usually does not mean that the software is either "freeware" or that copyright has been relinquished; usually "free" software remains fully copyrighted, with you, the end-user, gaining free use of such "free" software, provided that you obey stated license terms. Listed software may require registration. In general, be careful about ordering "free" CDs with shipping from any web site, as the shipping fees, any import or other taxes, and additional fees to import (often payable to customs or courier services in the receiving country), can elevate costs substantially in some cases.

ERUNT critical system file save and restore:        Description Codes:  FS  IO
Save key system settings for rapid restore in case your Windows NT, Windows 2000 or Windows XP PC suddenly starts misbehaving. Also includes Windows registry optimization for Windows NT/2000/XP. Warning: Use with caution. When this utility is used to restore settings, system changes made after the settings were last stored using ERUNT will likely be lost:
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/

Firefox open source web browser:       Description Codes:  FS  IO
Superb standalone browser, second heir to the Netscape browser throne following the release of the Mozilla browser suite. While Firefox is just the browser, a separate Thunderbird email client is also available. Features tabbed browsing. Firefox is now the better-than-Explorer (or Mozilla) browser choice for millions of end users.
http://www.mozilla.com/ 

Fresh Devices software:        Description Codes:  FS  IO
FreshDiagnose: Provides an overview of PC components and benchmarks a PC;
FreshDownload: A file download manager for assisting with and scheduling downloads;
Fresh UI: A utility for setting useful and often obscure PC options.
We suggest avoiding the other utilities offered via the Fresh Devices web pages; most other such utilities are fee-payable and of unknown quality.
http://www.freshdevices.com/downfiles.html 

Free (old) Serif Software:        Description Codes:  DV  FS  IB
Suggested download: Serif PagePlus v5
Full desktop publishing and graphic editing software; old but still fully functional versions offered as promos for the current versions. Serif also offers this older version software on CD from the listed web site, for what they assert is just the shipping cost, with more free graphics. There are several other free older applications available for download:
http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/

Gibson Research Freeware Listing:        Description Codes:  FS  IO
A variety of efficient free utilities for maintaining Zip drives and disks, determining what kind of server a FrontPage web site is running on, and more.
http://www.grc.com

Karen's Power Tools by KarenWare:        Description Codes:  FS  IO
A variety of useful free utilities by the author of a contributor to the defunct Windows magazine. Utilities include the Visual Basic source code and so are useful as well for those learning to program in Visual Basic. A for-fee CD with all of the available utilities may also be purchased:
http://www.karenware.com/

Mouse drivers from Logitech:        Description Codes:  FS  IO
Many PC mice will run on Logitech's mouse driver. The latest version is always available via the download section of the Logitech web site at. Many PC users are completely unaware that updated mouse driver software is continuously re-issued. Spruce up your mouse at:
http://www.logitech.com

OpenOffice.org:       Description Codes: FS  IO
Freeware office suite that in this release becomes a viable Microsoft Office alternative as Microsoft Office stagnates with few new features. Has amazing ability to create Adobe Acrobat PDF files from OpenOffice.org files. Soon-to-be-released Version 2 will make this suite a true Office competitor, for common uses:
http://www.openoffice.org/

Paragon Software:        Description Codes:  CS  DEMO  IB
If you are looking for a hard disk partition manager as powerful as PowerQuest PartitionMagic as well as on-disk encryption, and drive imaging similar to Symantec's Norton Ghost, we recommend the commercial program called Paragon Hard Disk Manager v6 or later. This application also include a boot manager for booting multiple operating systems on the same hard disk, all for about $60 U.S.--far less than the cost of most other single-function utilities that do any one task as listed here. These utilities are best suited to the high-knowledge PC user, owing to their powerful but sometimes tricky behavior:
http://www.paragon-gmbh.com/

Pegasus Mail by David Harris:        Description Codes:  FS  IO
A free but powerful alternate email program. Also offers free mail server software.
http://www.pmail.gen.nz

Towodo Floppy Image:        Description Codes: CS  DEMO  IO
Originally freeware and now low-cost shareware. This amazing software creates digital self-regenerating images of floppy diskettes (5.25" and 3.5" diskettes) and stores them on a hard disk with complete auto-installer menus and any descriptive listing you want to add. Store all your floppy diskettes to hard disk to guard against data loss; then just regenerate back to floppy when needed:
http://www.towodo.com/

SysInternals utilities (Windows 95/98NT/2000/XP):    Description Codes:  FS  IO
Recommended is the excellent PageDefrag, which defragments key NT/2000/XP system files for speedier PC operation:
http://www.sysinternals.com/

CENTRALIZED UPDATES LOCATOR TABLE
This table last updated: 08 September 2008 . Copyright © 2003-2008 Keith E. Risler. All rights reserved.

Detailed here are storable web updates that avoid the need for redownloading all of the automated patches after a system crash! 

By early  2005 Microsoft had transitioned the delivery of operating system updates for Windows 2000 and Windows XP to its automated Windows Update Services. We now recommend that consumers use only Windows Update to keep their operating system current. The use of ADSL or cable fast Internet service is recommended as a practical way to keep these OSs updated, as there is no easy way for consumers to store updates for quick reinstall  after a system crash. Reinstalling Windows 2000 or Windows XP and then updating via Windows Updates takes several hours via Dial-up, but is relatively quick on a full (not lite) fast Internet connection.

BROWSERS FOR WINDOWS 

Microsoft Internet Explorer and Outlook Express.  Latest Explorer versions and cumulative security patches. Be sure to check for a new Internet Explorer "cumulative" security patch at least monthly. Uses a clumsy web-based installer system that means Internet Explorer has to be completely reinstalled every time Windows is reinstalled, requiring a download that can take all night on dial-up Internet accounts. Necessary for the best reliability online Web purchases, banking and other secure e-commerce sites. Latest version is usually the most secure version. Feature-stagnant; rarely gets any new features.
As of November 2003 Microsoft began issuing security fixes only monthly and has evidently removed individual storable downloads from this web location; this site now sends you to Windows Update. In the case of Internet Explorer security fixes these storable updates seem still available but are buried several links deep at this location. Follow the hyperlinks to the detailed documents regarding the monthly fix as the individual storable files may still be located via such pages if one searches deeply through several levels of links.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.asp

Firefox open source web browser and Thunderbird Email. Superb standalone browser, second heir to the Netscape browser throne following the release of the Mozilla browser suite. While Firefox is just the browser, a separate Thunderbird email client is also available. Features tabbed browsing. Firefox is now the better-than-Explorer (or Mozilla) browser choice for millions of end users.
http://www.mozilla.com

MICROSOFT OPERATING SYSTEM (OS) UPDATES  

Windows 2000, Windows XP:
By early  2005 Microsoft had transitioned the delivery of operating system updates for Windows 2000 and Windows XP to its automated Windows Update Services. We now recommend that consumers use only Windows Update to keep their operating system current.

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Windows 98, Windows 98SE:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows98/downloads/corporate.asp
WARNING: As of approximately June 2006  Microsoft stopped issuing updates to the Windows 98 series of Windows operating systems. Security updates are no longer offered and Windows 98 is no longer considered secure for this reason. As of May 2007 it appeared that all of the updates issued for Windows 98 up until approximately June 2006 were still downloadable by Windows 98 Update, so that one can continue to reinstall Windows 98 and restore it to that point in time. Microsoft has recommended that Windows 98 users upgrade to a later Windows version.

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Windows 95:
No known web page; presumed no longer available. 

MICROSOFT OFFICE SUITES & APPLICATIONS

Office 2007, 2003, XP, 2000, 97.  
As of Sept. 2008 automated updates are still available for Office versions as far back as Office 2000! Be sure to download the latest service pack for your version and obtain automated updates for versions at least as far back as Office 2000, via Office Update at:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/default.aspx

MICROSOFT OFFICE RESOURCE KIT SAMPLES
(For many free files including a comprehensive file format converter)

Office XP Resource Kit:
No known web page; presumed no longer available. 

Office 2000 Resource Kit:
No known web page; presumed no longer available. 

Office 97 Resource Kit:
No known web page; presumed no longer available.

Office 95 Resource Kit:
No known web page; presumed no longer available. 

MICROSOFT CENTRALIZED UPDATES

Microsoft Centralized OS & Driver Updates:
Use the Windows Update feature in Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Vista to obtain OS updates. Windows 95 and Windows 98 are no longer updated.