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6 free Windows programs to fix and prevent PC problems on your own
Here are six (seventeen, really, but some are grouped) simple applications that will help - and they're all free for personal use!
1. PC Decrapifier - A lot of people that drop their systems off for repair say "take out any programs that don't need to be there." Well, that's exactly the kind of crud Decrapifier is designed to get rid of. It compares the programs on your system to a list of known bloatware (Wikipedia definition) and simplifies the removal process.
2. Malware Bytes - Those annoying popups you're getting? The weird pages you see when you try to search for something in your browser? Malware Bytes does a great job at removing the pests that cause those problems. It's usually the first program I run on horribly bogged-down computers. After a scan, clean, and reboot, they're usually much more cooperative.
3. Glary Utilities - The one-click maintenance mode in Glary is a wonderfully simple way for even non-technical users to keep their systems tuned. It tackles all kinds of tasks, from removing temporary file garbage and broken shortcuts to tuning up your registry.
One note: download the slim version to avoid the Ask Toolbar. You can opt out of it during the regular install, but slim removes it altogether.
4. Macrium Reflect or XXClone - No one wants to lose data when they drop off a system for repair. An easy way to make sure that doesn't happen? Fire up one of these programs and copy your entire drive to another hard drive (say, an external USB one).
5. A good antivirus program - Don't keep ignoring that alert from Norton that your subscription has expired. Surfing without up-to-date protection is a bad idea, especially when you can protect yourself for free. The link will take you to a previous rundown I put together of 10 programs that provide antivirus protection for your Windows system. None of them cost a dime.
Of the ten on the list, I recommend AVG, Avast, Comodo, and Rising Antivirus. If you're ok with beta (testing) software, Microsoft Security Essentials is worth a look, too.
6. Web of Trust - Savvy users might know what to watch out for online, but not everyone does. WOT (available as a plugin for Firefox and Internet Explorer) gives casual users a leg up by providing safety ratings for the websites you're browsing and links on search engines. Bad sites are flagged with a red circle, and you'll receive a full page, in-your-face warning should you accidentally wander somewhere you shouldn't.
Got another great, free application you recommend to friends and family? Share it in the comments, and let's empower some users!
Comments
26
Subscribe to commentsMemoJun 24th 2009 7:12PM
This is the type of information I need. I think I am pretty computer savvy but I always need more info. I am excited to try PC Decrapifier when I get home!
playstation_1987Jun 24th 2009 5:23PM
The best free Anti-Virus programs in my opinion are Avira Anti-Vir (comes with pop up window on update but can be disabled easily with group policy editor) or Avast. In my opinion AVG has low detection rates and slows your computer down too much. Microsoft sync toy or another backup program can be used if you just want just the my documents folder.
Kenn.keeperJun 24th 2009 4:39PM
Some of the best free programs I know of and have used them for quite a while. Glary and WOT have always been my top choices when I recommend free programs on my website
Free is Good.....
Kenn.......
AshishJun 24th 2009 5:09PM
I would definitely add Avira to the anti-virus list. The free edition is good except the once-a-day nagf screen to update
FredJun 24th 2009 11:02PM
You can fix that. Navigate to your Avira directory and find the avnotify.[something here, exe I think], and right-click, properties.
Then go to security and make sure all users have the read&execute clicked under 'deny'.
No more pop-up!
AshishJun 25th 2009 2:05PM
Right said Fred!
Thank you very much.
ColinXLJun 24th 2009 5:45PM
DropMyRights is useful for my XP administrator accounts
sitrucJun 24th 2009 6:23PM
AVG jumped the shark a couple years ago.
La BlogueriaJun 24th 2009 7:07PM
Thanks, great list. But, why is Ccleaner not there? :)
Lee MathewsJun 24th 2009 7:36PM
I didn't list it because of Glary Utilities. It does a good job at the same things as CCleaner, and has some added bonuses (spyware check, etc.) that make it a good, versatile maintenance app.
But, yeah...CCleaner is great. :)
La BlogueriaJun 24th 2009 7:56PM
Trying Glary... straight away :)
billcantfartJun 24th 2009 9:53PM
Thanks for this! I was hoping there would be an article for this sorta thing after the "crap people install" article.
billcantfartJun 24th 2009 9:57PM
Aslo, I think some form of adblock should be there. That way they don't click on every fish screensaver and YOU HAVE A BILLION VIRUSES!!!!!!! poop ups.
Brent aka TearitupJun 25th 2009 12:52AM
I tried Glary Utilities slim and did the One-Click maintenance and the Registry Defrag. Restarted my computer and I had a blue screen of death. I could not repair it at all and had to do a fresh install of Windows.
My verdict on Glary Utilities? STAY AWAY - thanks a lot Download Squad for the fresh install!
This was all on Windows 7 64 bit build 7100. Anyone else thinking of using Glary Utilities on this version should stay away - don't say you weren't warned.
GymJun 25th 2009 7:53AM
Did you really expect a one-click clean-up tool to work on an OS that's still in beta?
Brent aka TearitupJun 25th 2009 3:53PM
Actually - yes I did. CCleaner works just fine.
teknisyanJun 25th 2009 2:38AM
Nice line up and yeah... I agree with La Blogueria, why CCleaner is not included in the list. Since it is one of the best freeware that you can use to remove unwanted files such as Internet Explorer files (TIF, Index.dat, cookies and autocomplete history), Windows Explorer, System files and other files that are not really needed by the computer, btw, it also fixed registry problems. :)
Another freeware is spybot, which is a very good anti-spyware program that is good enough to be compare with the pro or paid version of any anti-spyware program.
I got ccleaner, so I don't need Glarysoft!
GymJun 25th 2009 7:46AM
Some thoughts on prevention. I do IT security as my full-time job (I'm a CISSP) so I need to know these things.
The reason why AVG, etc are free is that they don't catch everything, and they don't get updates so frequently as the paid-for ones. Virus Bulletin (www.virusbtn.com) as a regular test of major AV products, and you'll see there how poorly some of these products perform. But even some pay-for AV's are a bit patchy. You'll see there that the most consistently good one is NOD32 - plus it's the least resource-hungry. And no, I'm not affiliated.
If a non-savvy user is on XP, put DropMyRights on there and set up a link to use that to start their browser - which should be Firefox. Add the WOT add-on, and if you think they can handle it, NoScript. NoScript blocks active content, but allows you to whitelist domains as needed. Just show them how to do a temporary or permanent whitelist if a page doesn't show they what they expect/need.
Savvy users should use Sandboxie, instead of DropMyRights, which has a freeware license, but after 30 days it starts nagging you to upgrade to the paid-for version.
Lee MathewsJun 25th 2009 7:46AM
NOD32 is a solid app, but I've yet to find a program that actually detecets EVERYTHING. Heck, NOD missed four infected files on a machine of mine that Microsoft Security Essentials picked up.
Best prevention: read before you click, and ask if you're not sure! :)
Gardiner WestboundJun 25th 2009 7:47AM
Other freeware applications worthy of consideration include file manager FreeCommander, Revo Uninstaller, Mozbackup for Firefox and Thunderbird, and system information tool SIW.