PC Help Forums recommended Software

[PCHF Staff]

PC Help Forums recommended Software

The following programs are recommended as both safe to use, and are the PCHF choices for the best
in each category.
We have provided download links mostly to the software authors websites.
Sometimes we may supply a link to a safe mirror site for downloading.
The software is not listed in order of preference.​

Anti-Virus Software:

Free versions:

• Microsoft Security Essentials
• Bitdefender ... Win 7, 8, 8.1 (not fully compatible with Win10 yet)

Paid versions:

• Eset Nod32 Antivirus
• Emsisoft AntiMalware
• Kaspersky

Anti Malware:

• Malwarebytes 3 (Free..after trial and Premium)
• Zemana AntiMalware .... Fully functional 15-day trial. Zemana AntiMalware is a cloud based malware scanner that provides excellent malware detection, quick scans, and easy malware removal.

Browser AdBlockers:

• Ad Muncher ....Blocks ads and pop up windows in all browsers.
• Adblock Plus .... Can block tracking, malware domains, banners, pop-ups and video ads
• uBlock Origin for Firefox .... .... It doesn’t just block ads but also tracking mechanisms and known malware sites.
• uBlock Origin for Chrome .... .... It doesn’t just block ads but also tracking mechanisms and known malware sites.
• uBlock Origin (Preview) for Edge .... It doesn’t just block ads but also tracking mechanisms and known malware sites.

Anti AdWare

• Unchecky .... Automatically unchecks unrelated offers in 'free' software.
• AdwCleaner ....Searches for and deletes Adware, Toolbars, Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUP), and browser Hijackers from your computer.

Anti Keylogger

• KeyScrambler Free .... Encrypts your keystrokes in a wide variety of supported programs, so you can avoid tracking by keylogging software
• Zemana AntiLogger ....Fully functional 15-day trial. Protects your computer from keyloggers by encrypting your keystrokes.

Alternative Browsers:

• Firefox
• Google Chrome
• Opera
• Pale Moon
• Vivaldi Browser

Password Managers:

Free versions:

• Last Pass .... Save your passwords and keep everything organized in your LastPass vault
• KeePass .... Open source password manager, which helps you to manage your passwords in a secure way.
• LogmeOnce
• Dashlane

Paid versions:

• LogmeOnce Professional/Ultimate
• Dashlane Premium

Burning Software:

• Cd Burner XP Pro .... Burn CDs, DVDs, Blu-Ray and HD-DVDs. It also includes the feature to burn and create ISOs.
• IMGburn .... A lightweight CD / DVD / HD DVD / Blu-ray burning application
• Ashampoo Burning Studio FREE .... Burn files and folders, Creates CD, DVD and Blu-ray data discs.
• BurnCDCC .... This utility is used to burn an ISO file to a CD/DVD/BD disc. Many new systems come with a limited CD/DVD software package that lacks the ability to burn ISO files.

Partitioning and Formatting:

Free versions:

• EaseUS Partition Master
• Paragon Partition Master .... Organize and optimize your hard disk with Create-, Resize-, Format- and Delete partition Wizards

Paid versions:

• EaseUS Partition Master Professional
• Partition Commander .... Create, modify, merge, resize, move and restore your partitions.

Backup Software:

Free versions:

• Macrium Reflect Free .... Disk cloning and imaging solution.
• EaseUs Todo Backup Free .... Back up partitions, restore partitions & individual files.

Paid versions:

• Macrium Reflect Home Edition .... File & folder backup, Password protection, Support Essentials, Disk cloning and imaging solution.
• Argentum Backup .... Backup your documents and folders, both manually and automatically.
• EaseUs Todo Backup Home

Startup Control:

Free versions:

• WinPatrol .... Monitors pc for browser hijackings, malware attacks and critical changes made to your
  computer without your permission.
• AutoRuns .... Comprehensive 'startup' monitoring and configuration utility.

Paid versions:

• WinPatrol

Uninstall Utilities:

Free versions:

• Revo Uninstaller .... free version only works on 32bit systems

Paid versions:

• Revo Uninstaller Professional .... fully compatible with 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 and Windows Server

System Stats:

Free versions:

• Speccy ....Need to find out what’s inside your computer? Speccy has all the information you need!
• Process Explorer .... System monitoring utility useful for tracking down resource problems.
• Belarc Advisor .... Builds a detailed profile of installed software and hardware, missing security patches and anti-virus status.
• Crucial Scanner .... Will analyze your system's hardware and provide a list of compatible upgrades.

Paid versions:

• Speccy .... Same as free version, but with Advanced PC insights, Automatic updates and Premium support

System Cleaning:

Free versions:

• CCleaner .... Clean potentially unwanted files (including temporary internet files).
• TFC by OldTimer ....A small utility that will clean out all the folders on your computer that house temporary files. (Win 7, 8, 8.1 (not compatible with Win10)

Paid versions:

• CCleaner Pro

File Recovery:

Free versions:

• Recuva
• EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

Paid Versions:

• Recuva Professional
• Recover My Files
• EaseUS data recovery software

Harddrive Erasers:

Free versions:

• Hard Drive Eraser .... Destroys ALL data on your hard drive, once for all.
• Kill Disc
• Disc Wipe .... Application for permanent volume data destruction.

Paid Versions:

• Kill Disc

Defragmentation Tools:

Free versions:

• Defraggler .... Defrag entire hard drives or individual files.
• Auslogics Free Disk Defragmenter
• Puran Defrag

Paid versions:

• Auslogics Disk Defrag Pro
• Diskeeper

PDF Reader:

• Foxit Reader
• Adobe Acrobat Reader ... Unclick the optional offer of installing McAfee Security Scan and True Key™ by Intel Security before clicking Install now.

Memory Test: (often called RAM test software)

• Memtest86 .... Stand alone memory testing software for 32Bit computers.

Productivity:

• Apache OpenOffice .... Open-source office software suite for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases, etc.
• Kingsoft Office (WPS Office 2016 Free) .... A powerful office suite which includes a word processor, a spreadsheet program and a presentation maker.
• LibreOffice .... A powerful office suite, includes several applications that make it the most powerful Free and Open Source office suite on the market.

Audio/Video:

• VLC for Windows
• RealPlayer
• DivX Player
• Voicemeeter ..... A Virtual Audio Mixer ....To mix your voice and video game audio on Skype and more

File Compression:

Free versions:

• 7-Zip

Paid versions:

• WinZip
• WinRAR

System Monitoring:

Free versions:

• Speed Fan .... Will read the temperatures of your motherboard and your hard disk, read voltages and fan speeds etc.
• HWMonitor .... Hardware monitoring program that reads PC systems main health sensors

Paid versions:

• HWMonitor Pro .... Extended version of HWMonitor