Free Software and Sites

I admit that I enjoy hunting around the net for free "stuff"... there is lots of free junk, but there is also lots and lots of worthwhile free software. There are several very good sites that list tons of freeware (yes, truly free!) and shareware (free to try and often pretty cheap to buy).

Many of the files that can be downloaded from these sites must be "unzipped" before they can be used. (Files are compressed for quicker transfer.) Go to FreewareHome (see below), select "System Utilities", then "File Management", and lastly "Compression & Zip Tools". You will find several free utilities that will do this for you!! The one I use is PowerArchiver.

Try these links - they will take you directly to the site!!!!

	This site has a huge and amazing list of freeware and shareware sites.This is where I started, and picked out my favourite spots.
	Really good site. Easy to find ones way around. New area with freeware for kids.
	Well set out, with helpful rating system. For frighteningly addictive games go to "Freeware", then "Games", and look for Clickomania, Bubble Puzzle, Geert's Backgammon, and Roll M'Up Pinball - all are my faves! All NONAGS files have been checked for viruses.
	Another good site - includes shareware too, but can be personalized to find only freebies. Can be a little slow.
	This guy has made some excellent software - 2 I use every day, and highly recommend. Online timer keeps track of "you know what" in a very simple way. I also like Lonewolf's qNotes.

Check out

for help dealing with those "evil pop up windows". Their utility "POW" is small and very easy to use.

Another truely phenomenal piece of software (IMHO) is Anvil Studio. This is an incredibly powerful music composition and learning tool - I still can't believe that it's free. (There are accessories that can be purchased, but probably only necessary for serious musos and students.) If you are non-musical like me, you may have to struggle a bit to get started, but what you can do with a little bit of messing around is just amazing. Click

to go to their home page, and click here to listen an arrangement of an old, familiar tune I created with AnvilStudio during my first session!!

I created this site with the help of Joe Barta's Web Tutor and

. Both of these are really good - I recommend them highly.

Once you have made your own site, try...

	A really, really useful FREE service to help tidy up, check and maintain your web site
	Tons of free web site services - guestbooks, counters, forums, mailing lists etc. I use some myself!!

There are plenty of expensive virus checkers around - there are also some sensible people in the world who think that such basic "stuff" should be free. I have tried a few, and personally like this one the best. Virus updates and super-frequent and easy to do.

For this and other virus checkers as well as other useful utilities, go to FreewareHome (see above), select "System Utilities", then "Virus Protection". Check out "Bootminder" (minimizes risk of boot sector virus) - it is also worth having.

Once you have become addicted to downloading "things", you may want to get a utility that helps you manage this process. My personal favourite is GO!ZILLA

Last updated on September 10, 2000
http://www.fortunecity.com/village/dorisday/37/software.html