Software I recommend (or not)
See below for my favourites. Specific software for removing viruses, spam and spyware are listed on the appropriate pages.
Google are currently offering a number of free programs here. I suggest that you use their TOOLBAR, PICASA (amazing photo organising, displaying. printing, mailing etc.), Adobe Reader (which you may have already) and SPYWARE DOCTOR (see my ANTI-SPYWARE page here).
I don't recommend their DESKTOP (see my NEWSLETTER here), Nortons Security (I recommend free AVG) or REALPLAYER (the most annoying program on earth that continually tries to trick you into updating to a chargeable version).
The Photo screen saver will slow down your PC but is harmless, Star Office is a massive download. It's a free alternative to Microsoft Office and probably best for students and non commercial users. FireFox is an Internet browser for MS haters. Skype is for free Internet telephone calls - if your friends are using the same system.
Mail Alert
A useful facility available with Outlook 2003 is pop-up message that informs you when new mail has been received. You can now add this facility to earlier versions of Outlook with a free utility called MAIL ALERT that displays a transluscent message on the toolbar when a new email is received, displaying some of the contents. This is available from Bettasoft.net . I am using this and it is very handy!
RoboForm
I am very impressed with this software and now use it daily. It saves your web user names and passwords for you and fills them in at a click of a button. It will also auto-fill credit card and other details if you wish. It can also generate passwords for you. Full backup and security features are included. Click below to download a free copy (limited trial version). It only costs about £17.
Mail2Disk
If you have lots of emails in your Outlook folders you might like to be able to save them in a normal folder on your PC or on a server where they can be shared by other users. This way they are filed together with other documents about the same subject, project or customer. A useful Outlook add-on is available here that enables you to create a simple drop down list of categories to save your emails automaticallly into the appropriate folders.
BxAutoZip
Auto
compression of attachments to a zip file
Compressing
a file, so it takes up less space and is faster to send as an attachment to an
email, can be done using Winzip™ or the "send to compressed folder" option
in Windows XP. However it's a fiddle! An excellent program called BxAutoZip is
available (free to personal users) which will automatically compress your attachment
when you send the email. Business users pay $19.95. Find it (and more) at http://www.baxbex.com/
GroupMail
Using this program you can:-
- send highly formatted professional messages that are personalized for each of your recipients
- Manage an unlimited number of groups/lists with an unlimited number of recipients in each
- Test and preview messages before sending
- Use formatted text, graphics, links etc.
- Do follow-up mailings etc. etc.
- Three versions are available including a free trial (limited function) version which is suitable for testing the software.
- The "business" version now links to your MS Access™ database and can use live data!
- Click on the logo above to take a look at the Infacta web site or download the trial version.
Handy Backup
Want to make quick backups to CDRW disks?
I have discovered an excellent program called HANDY BACKUP that copies pre-selected files or folders in seconds! It is available for free trial and only costs $30 (USD) to buy. An inexpensive add-on is available to copy the emails in your personal Outlook folders (not applicable to users using networked email where your files are stored on your company server). Click on their logo above to read about the program on their web site or download a 30 day trial from my downloads page. Purchase 1 or more copies HERE.
Winzip
Unzip compressed files or make files smaller before emailing them. Not a free program it is for evaluation only! Not needed with XP Pro. Version 10 now available (large file) at $30.
Download V7 from this web site here
Web-site here
PKZIP Reader
Free program to open files that have been compressed (reader only)- a full version can be purchased that also compresses existing files - same as Winzip) Not needed with XP Pro or Vista.
Has to been downloaded from their web-site
Web-site here
PrimoPDF
If you want to send a document to someone in a common file format they can read using the free Adobe Reader program you need a pdf file creator. Several free programs are available to do this. Some add adverts to the pdf file until you buy them! One of the easiest to install and use is PrimoPDF. It's completely free and without adverts. Find it here.
Download Acrobat
Reader free here:- 
Send Personally
Using an inexpensive add-on for MS Outlook®, called SEND PERSONALLY® software the only thing you will have to do is to select multiple recipients (you can use a distribution list you have already created - and/or select them individually), press the button "Send Personally" instead of the standard "Send" button (after installation you will find it on your Outlook toolbar on the 'New Message' form). No special setup procedures are needed: it is ready to use straight away. Automatically the single email is sent to each person with only their individual address on it.
Read
about the program on their web site here
Mapi have lots of Outlook Add-ons
Purchase 1 or more copies HERE (under £15 single user)
File Recover (PC Tools)
If you have accidentally deleted an important file you may be able to retrieve it using this program. However if you install it after the deletion it might overwrite the deleted file! It's best to install in just in case it's needed!
You can download it
here.
It costs under £15.
For dozens of inexpensive (and free) useful programs I recommend:-
Click on the graphic to visit their web site and take a look around! I have been using various of their utilities for web-site designers for years.