Good and Free Software

Legal, Free and Reputable Software (mostly for Windows).
Yes, there are some proper, professional and FREE programs out there. However, the usual software-sharing websites are financed by adverts and it is common for them to try to trick you into clicking junk links to generate more money from those who pay 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 tells you there are dozens of faults detected which can only be solved by purchasing more dodgy software.

The 'Real' Download button might 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.

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 antivirus 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 many 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. 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 cersion 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 similar to 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. 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.

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.

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. Yous 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.

The Freeware Sections
Some of the software goes back a few years and there might be better alternatives available, as it is not easy to keep up to date. Sometimes we find that otherwise venerable software has been hijacked, such as happened to 'CCleaner' and 'Imgburn' when pup software was attached. Be careful which download links you follow on their websites and virus-check all downloads before installing.

• Office - Productivity and freedom from MS office.
• Graphics - Edit, draw or organise pictures, then make posters.
• Audio - Edit or create sounds.
• Video - Edit, convert or burn video to discs.
• Misc. - Some odds and ends.

Then some computer stuff:

• Tweakers - A few PC utilities.
• Security - Keep the bad guys out.
• Linux - Run 'live' without installing or risk a crappy old PC and bung it right on.

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. If you are having Windows 10 problems, as many people do, take a look at Windows Central problems and fixes. Oh, and here's a great tip from Duncan at Eskia Computers in Penistone. Try a proper Windows shut-down; ut 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. Be sure to use the little 'Back' arrow - - at the foot of each page to return to this page.

• Copy: Ctrl + C
• Cut: Ctrl + X
• Paste: Ctrl + V
• Undo: Ctrl + Z
• Open File Explorer: Windows Key + E
• Maximize Window: F11 (toggle action)
• Task View: Windows key +Tab
• Switch bewteen multiple desktops (if set up): Ctrl + Windows key + left or right arrow
  Use Task View to add or remove additional desktops.
• Switch between open apps: Windows key + D
• Shutdown options: Windows key + X
• Lock your PC: Windows key + L
• Open Task Manager: Ctrl + Alt + Delete
  This was the 'three-finger salute' which used to close down Window XP, etc.

Scams
False Facebook messages are common, apparently from known friends but with no message accompanying just a link that you would be foolish to click on. They can discover your personal details such as phone number if you click the link, 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). Then they say you will be fined for non-compliance. Then they drain your bank account with lots of little transfers just below the level of suspicion.

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 the lottery but they need your email address or bank details. It is a scam, don't bother. Check their number with 'Who Called me?'

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.

• Your Desktop PC won't boot up - Pull out any plugged in memory sticks first and try again. You might get a quick flash of the start-up screen (aka the 'BIOS' or 'Boot' screen). See if the date and time are correct. If not, a shiny, coin-sized 3-volt battery will have died (this happens a lot in hot weather). Unplug the PC from Mains and remove the side of the box. This battery is probably the CR2025 type and will be on the main board (the 'Motherboard') but you might need to move cables out of the way to see it. Make a mental note of which way up it is. You need a thin screwdriver to release the catch and the battery should pop out. Pop in the new one the same way round. CR2025 cells are cheap and easy to find in such as Home Bargains. Be careful to return things exactly as you found them and make sure that the internal plugs have not been disturbed. When you switch on again, you will probably see a 'Boot Screen' with lots of settings. If not, you need to quickly press such as 'Delete', f1, f2 or Escape just after switching it to see the Boot screen. You need to make a couple of basic changes to settings. Find the Date and Time on the Menu, which is different place on different systems, and enter the right details. On another menu, select something like 'Default Values and Save' and it should restart. All being well, it ought to work again. If not it will probably settle in after a restart or two.
• Worst Case - If the PC is unstable, it hangs or has a very slow response to everything, there are some things you can try.
  1. Windows Update. Click the Magnifying Glass icon and search for updates to initiate Windows Update. If it fails, there is a Troubleshooter in the same section which can reset the Updates system and get it working again.
  2. Virus Scan. Also in the Updates and Security section is the Windows Security. Click 'Virus and Threat Protection' and you will have different ways to scan the system for viruses. The best scan to choose from time to time is 'Microsoft Defender Offline Scan' which will restart the PC and scan files which are 'locked' in normal use.
  3. Reset Windows. If you can't get the PC working properly, the 'big one' is to 'Reset' it. This can keep the working programs and data unless you go for the fresh start reset. This will be a slow process as it will download the latest copy of the your Windows version and install it. It is a big download and the re-install will take hours.

If it Ain't Broke
If you are like me, you would like your PC or laptop to be up to date but a bit of caution might be a better philosophy. Examples:

• I noticed a driver update for a graphics card, so I installed it. Everything had been working perfectly and I did not need to update it. Next thing, I'm getting black screens and crashes. Luckily it was known about and a quick search led me to an NVidia hotfix download - from the NVidia website and buried deep in the user forum. I used a different PC to download the fix and worried that the main PC might crash before the fix was installed. It fixed the problem but, why do it anyway?
• Windows Update. I have not had any problems with WU but others who have leapt in and updated at the earliest have had some quite severe problems. It would be better if the users of Microsoft's operating system were not employed as free testers for them.

Windows 11 - Check your PC/laptop for compatibility with the Windows 11 upgrade.