List of Awesome Free Tech Software.

[AudioCraZ]

Well, I have a list of software that I use, and hopefully other people will list theirs as well. Please read and use software wisely... Nobody here on this board is responsible for any damage done to any hardware....

Magic Jelly Bean Keyfinder <-- get that Windows CD key, even off of trashed os'.
Bleepingcomputer.net <-- On this page, you will find links to SDFix, ComboFix, and SmitfraudFix. Awesome programs you run in safe mode to get rid of fake a/v, spyware and other programs that take over your computer.
SUPER Anti-Spyware <-- Crappy name, great software with repair abilities.
Core Temp <-- Easy little app to check cpu temps.
CPUID <-- Easy way to find out what processor, CPU, Ram, and video card that is in a working system.
Memtest 86 <-- Very good memory testing software, will have to make a dos boot disk.
CCLeaner <-- Great windows file system and registry cleaner.


Not software, but Great resource sites:
Pinouts.ru <-- One of the best pinouts websites. Lots of great info.
AV-Comparatives <-- Good place to start when looking for AV, or recommending for friends.

Please contribute to the list if you have more....

[AudioCraZ]

Re: List of Awesome Free Tech Software.

Missed an important one: Ultimate Boot CD for Windows

[Wrog]

Re: List of Awesome Free Tech Software.

GPU-Z <-- Same as CPUID, except for your GPU.

[AudioCraZ]

Re: List of Awesome Free Tech Software.

Oh, two others that are awesome:
Unknown Devices <-- Hasn't been updated in a few years, but still works very well, especially if you have older hardware. This will make finding drivers much easier. Especially for those onboard devices.
Aida32 <-- Just like the one above, will use this if UD doesn't find it.

You use these basically after you reinstalled windows, and don't know what they are. UD will only show you hardware that you dont have drivers for. Aida32 will show you everything. Typically won't work to well on a lot of newer hardware.

[stj]

Re: List of Awesome Free Tech Software.

http://www.cadsoft.de
Eaglecad

[Scenic]

Re: List of Awesome Free Tech Software.

Coredamage (CPU Stress testing)
http://damage.vigilantesoftware.com/

much more demanding than any other stress test tool i've seen so far.
please take the warning seriously. CPU can easily overheat if the heatsink/fan is inadequate..
My Core 2 Quad Q6600 with Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro gets up to around 74°C .. which is much much more than what i got with other tools like for example the stress test in Lavalys' Everest.
Note: will not work on all (esp. older) CPUs

HDTune HDD Test Utility
http://www.hdtune.com/download.html

with a little bit of searching or a PM you can easily find the full Pro version. or just buy it. awesome little tool Standard version is free
unlike HDTach, this one measures everything as 1024KB = 1MB
(HDTach uses 1000KB = 1MB ... so especially benchmark values for transfer rates get "faked up"..)

Roadkil Tools
http://www.roadkil.net/downloads.php

the most known one being "Unstoppable Copier"..
http://www.roadkil.net/program.php?ProgramID=29

Memtest86+
http://www.memtest.org/

Doc Memory RAM Diagnostics
http://www.docmemory.com/page/products/doc/docinfo.asp

DOS software like Memtest86(+).
requires registration to download unfortunately..

[toastygoodness]

Re: List of Awesome Free Tech Software.

OCCT (OverClock Checking Tool)
It uses CPU-Z, HWMon, and its own engine for diagnostics and stability testing. I think it might use P95 for stress testing but I'm not sure. Either way, its fun.
http://www.ocbase.com/perestroika_en/

[seanc]

Re: List of Awesome Free Tech Software.

Speedfan. Temperature and fan monitoring is hit and miss, HDD online reports are what makes it worthwhile.

[sofTest]

Re: List of Awesome Free Tech Software.

Oh, two others that are awesome:
Unknown Devices <-- Hasn't been updated in a few years, but still works very well, especially if you have older hardware. This will make finding drivers much easier. Especially for those onboard devices.
Aida32 <-- Just like the one above, will use this if UD doesn't find it.

You use these basically after you reinstalled windows, and don't know what they are. UD will only show you hardware that you dont have drivers for. Aida32 will show you everything. Typically won't work to well on a lot of newer hardware.

Yes, Aida32 is outdated. Try SIW.

For stuff we deal with on this site, I would also like to recommend Electronics Assistant.

Electronics Assistant is a Windows program that performs electronics-related calculations. It includes a resistor colour code calculator, resistance, capacitance and power calculations and more. Details of calculations can be saved or printed. It provides all the functions found in the calculators section of this site and more in a stand-alone user friendly program.

[ddscentral]

Re: List of Awesome Free Tech Software.

Parted Magic, a free Linux based Live-CD for managing hard disk partitions. Includes GParted and some other free Linux tools.
http://partedmagic.com/

[NxB]

Re: List of Awesome Free Tech Software.

No hiren's.
http://www.hirensbootcd.net/download.html

[toastygoodness]

Re: List of Awesome Free Tech Software.

No hiren's.
http://www.hirensbootcd.net/download.html

hiren's has a problem with licensing..... i think that's why its not in here

[AudioCraZ]

Re: List of Awesome Free Tech Software.

Yeah, I love Hiren's myself, but I didn't list it because I know some of the software on it is pirated... But, if you purchase the few paid software and get the dongles, you can use them on Hirens with no issues.

Here some more:
NLite <-- This is for creating custom XP cd's. Great for making xp disks with custom HDD controller driver controllers. You can also slipstream all of the service packs.

vLite <-- Same as nLite, but for Vista CD's.

[Topcat]

Re: List of Awesome Free Tech Software.

^
nLite is a godsent for upgrading vista systems (especially laptops) to XP. its critical if there's no floppy or has ich9+ ide/sata, which xp natively just pukes all over...

[AudioCraZ]

Re: List of Awesome Free Tech Software.

Windows Virtual PC <-- Running Windows 7, and need XP for some software. Microsoft gives Virtual PC and Win XP for it for free. No license needed.

[seanc]

Re: List of Awesome Free Tech Software.

If you're using Pro or better.

[AudioCraZ]

Re: List of Awesome Free Tech Software.

Well, typically people who build and work on computers usually do. I know I always do. Need it for remote desktop to my WHS.

[seanc]

Re: List of Awesome Free Tech Software.

Haha, I actually don't. The Windows 7 Home Premium 3 pack was too good a deal. I'll probably upgrade to Pro at some point and move that license to another PC.

Remote desktop is on Windows 7 Home Premium... unless you mean you need to log into your W7 PC from your server.

[paul_h]

Re: List of Awesome Free Tech Software.

Goldmem http://www.goldmemory.cz/download.php
memtest will find faulty RAM, but goldmem will find system instabilities that could possibly be tweaked to get right.
I discovered it ages ago when I was getting faults similar to faulty RAM, but the RAM was known to be good and passed memtest.
This was back in the day when I was running a XP palomino CPU on an A7V133 (no dot), not officially supporting palomino CPUs. A few tweaks of system voltages got the system working OK.
Anyway, I recommend it because it will find system/compatibility faults that seem like RAM errors but memtest doesn't find anything wrong because the RAM isn't completely stuffed(all that memtest is good for), the system is just not happy with current config.

[mattch]

Re: List of Awesome Free Tech Software.

hirens = awsome

how come nobody mentioned MHDD?? one of my fav hdd utils, doesnt even need bios to detect drive.

i use www.pcidatabse.com to find unknown devices in windows..

more on windows:
oembios.net
dmicfg