Index to this Page
Freeware page links are further down.
Before you continue, take a look at some worthwhile Youtube videos from TJ Free, starting with 'Best Free Software (1 of 3)'. For music and video editing, take a look at Bedroom Producer Blog.
Sometimes we find that otherwise venerable software has been hijacked, such as happened to 'CCleaner' and 'Imgburn' when 'pup' software was found to be attached. Another time, a piece of software used very generally was taken over by a new company which allowed it to send back information. That did not last long after the bad press and it improved greatly after going 'Open Source.' One otherwise very good piece of free software is in the habit of suggesting an 'update' (rather than 'upgrade') which goes to the paid-for version. You just have to be a bit careful as a lot of freebies are really loss-leaders.
If you are having Windows 10 problems, as many people do, take a look at Windows Central problems and fixes. By the way, Microsoft always advises agains using registry cleaners as they can muck up the system. Oh, and here's a great tip from Duncan at Eskia Computers in Penistone when the PC starts to go a bit crazy. Try a proper Windows shut-down; not by the usual shut-down button as it only puts your box into 'Hibernate' mode. Use the shut-down option on the Start Menu to do a proper one. Next time you turn it on, the problem might have fixed itself. It is worth a try.
The Freeware Sections
Some of these apps go back years or even decades and there might be better alternatives available as it is not easy to keep up to date. Be careful which download links you follow on their websites and virus-check all downloads before installing. Be sure to use the little 'Back' arrow - 
- at the foot of each page to return to this page.
Then some computer stuff:
Is Freeware Free?
Yes, there are some proper, professional and FREE programs out there. However, many software-sharing websites are financed by adverts and it is common to try to trick you into clicking links that generate income for them. Beware of: 'Download Here', 'Fix windows problems', 'Check your drivers', 'Make your computer faster' or 'Free PC Tune-up' or you will install the wrong thing which will tell you there are dozens of faults detected which can only be solved by purchasing dodgy software.
The 'Real' Download button will often be buried somewhere less obvious. The best bet is to wait at least 10 seconds after arriving on the download page and see if it presents itself (Eg, 'Your file will be ready in five seconds') and if it looks like the right filename. Don't click anything else. And always virus-check downloaded files before installing anything.
This is why the links you will find in the sections above will have been checked by yours truly and have worked. Of course, there is always a chance that a good program could turn rogue, and that has happened a few times, or that someone has hacked the referring page or event hacked the software website, so the usual caveats pertain here and this website is not to be held responsible if something that was good turns out bad. Just be careful.
Consider why it is free, as nothing is really free. Software development, websites and time cost money. Many free apps are nobbled to get you to buy the full version. There's nothing wrong with that but some apps might be financed via dubious methods. For example, there are stories of people using media downloaders for 'adult material' only to receive messages demanding money - or else. Even the good stuff can be hijacked or compromised, such as a well-known PC cleanup app and a popular iso burner. On the other hand, there are some brilliant apps, the free versions of which are only lightly nobbled and quite usable at domestic level.
Be careful to only download your programs from the actual developers, as fake download sites can offer the same apps but with malware attached. On this website, use only the links provided. Then do an anti-virus scan on any installation files before you use them, just to make sure. It can't spoil anything to run the anti-virus scan again when it has been installed.
These suggestions are presented in good faith and usually from recommendations in magazines such as Computer Active, Computer Shopper or PC Pro, or from established websites. But even the highly experienced writers can be misled sometimes and previously-good products changed for the worst. The bottom line is that I cannot take responsibility for any suggestions on this site which might turn out to be mistakes. As it says on the Events List, No responsibility is accepted by the website author for any inconvenience or consequential loss through information provided by this website. But I do try to get it right.
The End of Windows 10
Many of the later Windows 10 computers can be upgraded to Windows 11 for free, but not all. Windows 10 will not be supported after October 2025 and people will be dismayed to discover that their expensive 2019 (or later) computer can't be upgraded and will miss security updates. This means that continuing to run Windows 10 after 2025 will be risky and open to security risks.
But first, can you update from Windows 10 to Windows 11?
From the Start Menu > Settings > Windows Update and there is a link to check if your PC can be updated. This will download a small program which will check for compatibility and give you an answer. See the Windows 11 upgrade specifications.
Even if it says no, it might be just because the TCP 2 security feature has not been turned on in the BIOS. Now changing that goes beyond the limits of this advice but it could be the only thing preventing the upgrade. On a laptop, the TCP 2 had not been enabled but, when it was, the compatibility check showed that the CPU was not allowed for the upgrade. On a PC, at first it showed up as incompatible then by enabling the security feature it proved okay and went on to upgrade to Windows 11.
One way around this is to save data, photos, videos and documents to a plug-in external hard drive for safe keeping and to install a version of Linux such as Zorin, Ubuntu or Mint instead. This would wipe everything off the hard drive and be a fresh start but might be better than sticking to an unsafe system.
Linux might be able to run certain Windows programs (using Wine) but there are many good Linux apps the same as their Windows versions, such as Libre Office instead of Windows Office, VLC media player for music and video and familiar web-browsers such as Firefox, Vivaldi and Opera. Look for 'Cross-platform' on the apps pages. Some of the more serious Windows apps are also available for Linux and Mac, such as DaVinci Resolve for video editing. Linux works differently to Windows but you can largely get the same results and Linux is known to be intrinsically safer to use than Windows.
In short, you should be able to carry on doing the stuff that you normally do, such as office work, emails, web-browsing and entertainment as before. A bonus feature is that most Linux apps are Open Source and completely free. Another thing is that most Linux versions have been around a long time and can run some very serious software for businesses and home.
Here's the thing. If it is an old PC or laptop that does not matter much and would be thrown out anyway, there is nothing to lose by installing Linux after you have saved anything important to a USB or external hard drive. You can download most Linux 'distros' (distributions) as 'live' versions which let you try them without actually installing them. It is worth trying out a Linux 'distro' to see if the old beast can still be of at least some use. If nothing else, it could be put to work as a media centre.
Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows Windows 11 Calendar
There are many features in Windows 11 which are supposed to be helpful but are actually quite frustrating, such as the file explorer right-click menu (Grrrr!) which is not good. The Calendar is another hiccup. Anyone updating their computer Operating System to Windows 11 will notice that the calendar starts on a Monday rather than the traditional Sunday (in the UK). It is not obvious how to change it but this might work.
Select Settings from the start menu:
> Time & Language
> Date & Time (top option)
> Language and Region (scroll down to find this)
> Regional Format
> Click the down arrow after 'English (United Kingdom)'
> Change Formats
> Now you can click on the First day of the Week and return it to the thoroughly British 'Sunday.'
You can also reach the Date and Time settings by right-clicking on the taskbar date and selecting 'Adjust Date & Time.'
What a palaver for something that ought to be simpler. Some people who tried this have remarked that it can revert to a Monday after as while. This was from a Microsoft Answers page.
Scams
False Facebook shops and messages are common, even those apparently from known friends but with no message accompanying. Just a link that you would be foolish to click on. If you accept a 'friend' on Facebook, they can discover your personal details such as phone number, as a stepping stone to ID theft. If it looks iffy, it probably is. Paypal seems to be a scammers' paradise with all manner of tricks in play.
Fake parcel delivery messages are an everyday thing, with messages like 'XYZ parcels could not deliver but will try again - if you pay £3' (they want your card details as always) but you didn't order anything did you? Other scams are 'NHS Track and Trace' saying you need a test but it will cost you (and they want your card details). Or the Tax people who wouldn't use facebook or any social media to contact you anyway. Then they say you will be fined for non-compliance. All baloney, then they drain your bank account with lots of little transfers just below the level of suspicion. Don't trust any private messages or friend requests unless you can check them first. Just ask them if they have sent a friend request. They probably haven't.
Another one is doing the rounds, a phone call from an Indian call centre to say that the warranty on your washing machine/television/whatever has been generously extended by the manufacturer, for a small fee. Ask them which one and they won't know. If you give your card details, the small fee would soon become much, much bigger and fund another crime overlord.
Supposed licence renewals or tax refunds are also scam-rich, as though you will be fined if you don't click their dodgy link. Let's face it, how would they have your number or other details if you never gave them out to start with. If genuine, they would send a letter. Make sure you navigate to what you need through official websites. If you do an online search for such as 'Driving Licence' you might see official-looking sites that are very convincing. You might click on a licence renewal and discover that you are setting up a monthly subscription for something that would otherwise be free.
A common smartphone scam is: 'O2 can't process your payment details, click here (etc.)' - Make a note of the originating phone number before you forward it to 7726, the universal scam number on phones. For android scam texts, open the message and hold your thumb on it, click the option to forward it and enter 7726 to send it for analysis by your ISP. Here's an idea. Since you might forget the number, make a new contact and call it 'Scams 7726'. Then you can easily forward the scams to that contact.
A Postcode Lottery Scam: Someone who can barely speak English says that you have won a lottery but they need your email address or bank details before they can pay out. It is a scam, don't bother. Check their phone number with 'Who Called me?' and you will find a lot of other people getting the same scam. Best not to answer the phone to those not in your personal phone list.
Dodgy emails should be forwarded to 'report@phishing.gov.uk' for auto-tracking and possible prosecution. I use that one every week. Dodgy Whatsapp texts can be blocked and reported using the menu. Phoned scams to do with taxation can be reported by email to 'phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk' together with the originating phone number and details. Stay sceptical! See NCSC.
Fixes
It is beyond the scope of this website and its author to suggest more than a few basic fixes for a broken PC but here are some of them.
If it Ain't Broke
If you are like me, you like your PC or laptop to be up to date but a bit of caution might be a good philosophy. Examples:
George Burns:
'People ask me what I'd most appreciate getting for my eighty-seventh birthday. I tell them, a paternity suit.