Windows Toolkit

Adware is known by many names - spyware, trackware or even Big Brotherware. While producers of adware claim its purpose is to collect information about Internet habits to deliver ads tailored to a surfer's interests, privacy advocates are concerned about the potential misuse of this data. Ad-aware identifies and removes these surreptitiously installed applications. Using updateable "reflists," which are similar to antivirus DAT files, Ad-aware scours your system - including Registry and temporary Internet files - and looks for traces of recognised adware modules.

Licence: Freeware.
Online: http://www.lavasoft.de/
Operating system: Windows 98/Me, Windows NT/2000, Windows XP.
Requires:

Install instructions

		Windows

The quintessential Adobe Acrobat reader is required to read PDF files. PDF files are a compact method of distributing publishable content in its original form, and you will find them used extensively for publications ranging from technical documents to press releases.

Licence: Freeware.
Online: http://www.adobe.com/prodindex/acrobat/
Operating system: Windows 95/98/Me, Windows NT/2000, Windows XP.
Requires:

Install instructions

		Windows

DirectX 8.1 runtime is necessary for running the majority of game demos and other rich media software. DirectX 8.1 also provides support for the latest generation of 3D graphics acceleration hardware. The latest version of DirectX offers updated graphics features, faster frame rates and improved support for massive multiplayer games.

Licence: Freeware.
Online: http://www.microsoft.com/directx/
Operating system: Windows 98/Me, Windows 2000 (The Windows XP operating system includes DirectX 8.1. If you use Windows XP, you do not need to install DirectX 8.1).
Requires: 35MB free hard disk space.

Install instructions

Windows 98/Me				Windows 2000

Formerly known as Divx Player and DivX Codec, this major update to the popular video software introduces a new generation of DivX technology and contains all the software you need to create and watch videos in the popular DivX video format. DivX 5.0 includes many new features, such as enhanced video quality, more effective compression capabilities and full support for the MPEG-4 Advanced Simple Profile decoding method. Version 5.0 is also optimised for AMD Athlon and Athlon XP processors and supports the new MPEG-4 based DivX file format. DivX Video Bundle also includes the new DivX Player 2.0 alpha, which supports the MPEG-4 format and offers a skinnable interface system.

Licence: Freeware.
Online: http://www.divx.com/
Operating system: Windows 98/Me, Windows NT/2000, Windows XP.
Requires: DirectX 7.0 or later.

Install instructions

		Windows

The original and the best, ICQ started the online personal paging we now take for granted. Over the years, ICQ has developed and matured into a full-featured, cross-platform messaging and contact service that connects millions of people worldwide. Just about every user on the Internet now has two forms of online contact: their email address and their ICQ number.

Licence: Freeware.
Online: http://www.icq.com/
Operating system: Windows 95/98/Me, Windows NT/2000.
Requires:

Install instructions

		Windows

Use this to restore or change the title of your Internet Explorer and Outlook. It also restores Internet Explorer help menu URLs and search page URLs. Any errors encountered will be displayed in a message box.

Licence: Freeware.
Online: http://www.weeredsquare.co.uk/products/ierestore.php
Operating system: Windows 95/98/Me/2000.
Requires: Internet Explorer.

Install instructions

		Windows

Windows Media Player 7.1 consists of seven features in a single application: CD player, audio and video player, media jukebox, media guide, Internet radio tuner, audio CD burner and it even transfers music files to a portable device. An audio CD creator and a unified player are also included with the program. This program also allows you to: play streaming and downloadable digital audio, video and other Internet content; play back CD and digital recordings; use the jukebox functionality to play or copy an entire CD to your PC in just a few minutes with one click; and much more. Note: Windows Media Player 7.1 should not be installed on computers running Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0.

Licence: Freeware.
Online: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/
Operating system: Windows 98/Me, Windows 2000.
Requires: Pentium-90MHz, 64MB RAM, Internet Explorer 4 or later, sound card.

Install instructions

		Windows

This CD burning software features audio, data, video CD or mixed-mode CD creation. The interface uses simple drag-and-drop copying. NTI CD-Maker is full featured with, among other things, multisession support and a CD comparison utility that verifies all data after writing.

Licence: Shareware (10-day trial).
Online: http://www.ntius.com/
Operating system: Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP.
Requires:

Install instructions

		Windows

The free RealOne Player includes a media player, music jukebox and a built-in media browser to play a wide variety of streaming media formats on the Web. The free RealOne Player does not include access to RealOne channels or programming, premium player features, or RealOne member services.

Licence: Freeware.
Online: http://www.real.com/
Operating system: Windows 98/Me, Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 4 or later/2000, Windows XP.
Requires: Pentium II 233MHz, 64MB RAM.

Install instructions

		Windows

Make sure you always have the most recent reference file for Ad-aware installed on your system. RefUpdate is a free add-on for Lavasoft's Ad-aware that automatically downloads and installs the latest adware definitions on your system. If no reference file can be located, the most recent file will always be downloaded and installed. Note: You need to have Ad-aware installed on your system before you can use this free add-on.

Licence: Freeware.
Online: http://www.lavasoft.de/
Operating system: Windows 95/98/Me, Windows NT/2000, Windows XP.
Requires: Ad-aware.

Install instructions

		Windows

What machine would be complete without a powerful, fast, high-quality MP3 player? Just as WinZip is the undisputed king of Windows-based Zip utilities, the same is true for Winamp and MP3 players. With hundreds of skins, plug-ins, visualisation and sound tools, this is far more than an MP3 player - it's your musical interface to the Web.

Licence: Freeware.
Online: http://www.winamp.com/
Operating system: Windows 95/98/Me, Windows NT/2000.
Requires:

Install instructions

		Windows

The world's most popular Windows-based Zip utility, this product allows you to view, extract, create and otherwise manage Zip files based around PKWare's popular compression algorithms. It also manages TAR, BinHex and UUencoded files.

Licence: Shareware.
Online: http://www.winzip.com/
Operating system: Windows 95/98/Me, Windows NT/2000.
Requires:

Install instructions

		Windows

This popular FTP client was one of the first Windows-based FTP clients and has become an easy-to-use, feature-packed tool. While FTPing with your browser will suffice for infrequent transfers, if you intend to transfer a large number of files over the Internet a comprehensive FTP client is highly recommended. WS_FTP is one of the best.

Licence: Freeware.
Online: http://www.ipswitch.com/products/WS_FTP/
Operating system: Windows 95/98/Me, Windows NT/2000.
Requires:

Install instructions

		Windows

ZoneAlarm provides essential protection for Internet users. Combining the safety of a dynamic firewall with total control over applications' Internet use, ZoneAlarm gives rock-solid protection against thieves and vandals. With Stealth Mode enabled, ZoneAlarm's Firewall renders your computer invisible to the Internet and potential intruders. ZoneAlarm also introduces MailSafe, which enables users of ZoneAlarm to detect and control Visual Basic Script attachments to emails they receive while ZoneAlarm is running.

Licence: Freeware.
Online: http://www.zonelabs.com/
Operating system: Windows 98SE/Me, Windows NT/2000, Windows XP.
Requires:

Install instructions

		Windows