Learn Piano at Stephens Music & Computers

Free Computer Software

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Warning!

Before making ANY alterations to your computer, you should ALWAYS back up your data.

This applies equally to installing new software (especially Microsoft or audio software), as well as to altering any settings in the Control Panel, Device Manager or the Registry (oh no, not the Registry!)

Here's some free advice: one day your computer will fail. You'll lose some or all of your important documents, favourite bookmarks, software settings, download keys, and encryption passwords. To quote a famous commercial: "it may not happen overnight, but it will happen".

So, back up regularly to avoid pain and embarrassment.

An easy way to backup is simply to copy your My Documents folder to removable media. Better, backup your entire drive using Norton Ghost, or Save & Restore.

Finally, for the paranoid amongst us (and if you use Windows, your paranoia is justified), you should back up your registry daily (and automatically) by using either ERUNT or RDILLY.

How Much Will It Cost?

You should purchase a good anti-virus program.

Other than that, all the software listed below is free, except WebWasher (the authors suggest a donation to the Red Cross), and EditPadLite (the author requires that you send him a stylish postcard!)

Many of the programs recommended below are multi-award winners, and BETTER than their commercial equivalents.

Planning Partitions
http://aumha.org/a/parts.htm

Partition Manager
http://www.ranish.com/part

Safety

Boot Disk
http://bootdisk.com

Start Right
http://www.joejoesoft.com/sr.php

RDilly
http://www.joejoesoft.com/vcms/124/

ERUNT
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/

MRU Blaster

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/mrublaster.html

Internet

ZoneAlarm (Firewall)
www.zonelabs.com

Pegasus Mail
http://www.pmail.com/

QSoft Ramdisk
http://users.compaqnet.be/en021945/

RAMDisk/ramdiskfree.htm

WebWasher
http://www.cyberguard.com/products/webwasher/webwasher_products/classic/
index.html?lang=de_EN

Ad-Aware SE
http://www.lavasysusa.com/support/download/

Firefox
http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/

Firefox Extensions

Firefox Configuration

Firefox Azerty
http://azertyskin.free.fr/english.php

user.js Script

Multimedia

Windows Media Player FAQ
http://zachd.com/pss.pss.html

Winamp
http://www.winamp.com

DivX
http://www.divx.com/divx/play/download/

Useful Utilities

Eraser
http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/download.php

Wizmo
http://www.grc.com/wizmo/wizmo.htm

Wizmo Scripts
"C:\StandAlonePrograms\Wizmo\wizmo.exe"

quiet reboot!

quiet monoff

quiet shutdown!

aida32
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download181.html

everest
http://wwwmajorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4181

EditPadLite
http://www.editpadlite.com/editpadlite.html

HijackThis
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html

Restoration
http://www.geocities.jp/br_kato/

Universal Converter
http://noeld.com/programs.asp?cat=misc#uniconv

PowerDesk6 Free
http://www.v-com.com/PowerDesk_Free_Trial.htm

X-Setup 6.3
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=127

Toms Hardware
http://www.tomshardware.com

Beautify Your Windows

WallMaster
http://www.wallmaster.com/download.html

Sample Wallpapers
http://www.bottin.com
http://shiftedreality.com
http://www.artofgregmartin.com
http://digitalblasphemy.com

NeoWin MultiPatcher
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=140707/

YzShadow
http://www.osx-e.com/downloads/utilities/yzshadow.html

miniMIZE
http://aquaria.za.net/component/option,com-remository/itemid,26/
func,select/id,11/

Visual Themes
http://interfacelift.com/themese-win/software.php

Some Quick Configuration Tips...

Start Menu Configuration

1. Click `Start' Button

2. Select `Settings'

3. Click `Taskbar and Start Menu'

4. Select `Auto-hide'

5. Select `Keep taskbar on top'

6. Select `Show Quick Launch'

Optional: Using the sensible Classic Menu

7. Select `Classic Start Menu'

8. Select `Show small icons'

Quick Launch Configuration

1. Move your mouse pointer to the lower-left corner of the Quick Launch taskbar

2. Click and HOLD the left mouse button. A four-arrow pointer appears.

3. Drag the pointer across the monitor desktop all the way to the top edge of the screen.

The Quick Launch taskbar will now be docked to the top edge.

4. Right-click on the new taskbar.

5. Select `Always on Top'

6. Select `Auto-hide'

7. Select `View - Large Icons'

The Quick Launch bar will remain invisible until you touch your mouse to the top edge of the screen.

Control Panel Shortcut

1. Right-click on the desktop

2. Select `New - shortcut'

3. Where it says `Type the location' you type:

C:\windows\system32\control.exe

4. Click `OK'

5. Where it says `Type the name' you type:

Control Panel

6. Click `Finish'

A new shortcut icon will appear

7. Right-click on the new shortcut

8. Select `Properties'

9. Select `Change Icon'

10. A warning window will appear saying «This file contains no iconsª - just click `OK'

Lots of pretty icons will appear (cute!)

11. Select one, then click `OK'

12. Click `OK' again

Your new desktop shortcut will change to the icon you selected.

13. Drag the icon to the top of the screen (to your Quick Launch taskbar)

You now have instant access to your control panel!

The same method can be used to create shortcuts to other favourite programs.

Running Windows95 Programs

Sometimes when you try to install programs, the computer reports errors such as «non-target OSª or «this program is not compatible with WindowsXPª.

These programs are usually older Windows95 programs. Here's how to easily install them:

1. Right-click on the program you want to install

2. Select `Send To'

3. Select `Desktop (create shortcut)'

A new icon for your program will now be on the computer monitor.

4. Right-click on the new icon

5. Select `Properties'

6. Select the `Compatibility' Tab

7. Select `Run the program in compatibility mode for Windows 95'

8. Click `OK'

Now double-click on the icon and the program should install (and run)

Timetable & Vacancies

We teach morning, after-school and evening classes.
Please call on 4751-6196 for an appointment.

Legal Stuff

The use of images, text, music scores, backings or acrobat files
without permission is illegal.

Material noted as 'free to download' cannot be used for
commercial purposes, or by other music teachers (write your own!).

See our legal page for more details

This web page was created on 20 January 2007
Last updated 12 March 2007