help4IT Top 10 Free Microsoft Windows PC Applications and Programs
Get more from your Microsoft Windows PC with our top 10 list of the best free Microsoft Windows PC Applications and programs.

This week’s blog is continuing the theme from last week’s posts of free applications, but this week (drum roll please) for the Microsoft Windows PC.

There really is a plethora of alternative pc applications and programs for the pc available without sacrificing functionality and usefulness. Free windows apps have been available for as long as the operating system, with capable programmers working hard to provide useful programs for windows users.

This article is a bit more consumer based although some of the applications listed below will still be useful for business purposes.

The programs on the list offer a great alternative to some of the more expensive software that is available, and the programs should run on Microsoft Windows 2000, XP, Vista and Windows 7.

Without further ado our list of essential windows programs covering the top 10 free Microsoft Windows PC applications and programs

1. Microsoft Security Essentials
http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

A surpise entry at number 1 from Microsoft with their Microsoft Security Essentials for windows program / app. Microsoft Security Essentials provides real-time protection for your home PC that guards against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software. Microsoft Security Essentials is free of charge so long as you are using a registered version of windows, you will need to validate your version of windows in order to download and use.

2. Open Office
http://www.openoffice.org/

Open Office is a multiplatform and multilingual office suite and an open-source project. Compatible with all other major office suites and free to download, Open Office is one of only a small number of desktop publishing suites that is freely available.

3. VLC
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

VLC media player is a highly portable multimedia player. What this generally means is that it has a small foot print and will play almost any audio / video format that you feed it.  Open source and open  platform makes VLC a great choice of media player.

4. Digsby
http://www.digsby.com/

Digsby manages all your existing instant messaging (IM), email, and social network accounts from one easy to use application. Free to download and free to use.

5. GIMP
http://www.gimp.org/

GIMP or gnu image manipulation program is a popular image editor alternative. GIMP is a freely distributed piece of software for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. GIMP is multiplatform and multilingual, free to download and to use.

6. Thunderbird
http://www.mozillamessaging.com/thunderbird/

Thunderbird is a free mail client from the mozilla community. It is light weight, quick to load and offers many of the familiar features of other well-known mail clients. Thunderbird is multiplatform and multilingual, free to download and to use.

7. Firefox
http://www.mozilla.com/

Firefox is a free browser from the mozilla community that offers a multitude of features, great extensions and extensive community support. Firefox is multiplatform and multilingual, free to download and to use.

8. 7Zip
http://www.7-zip.org/

7Zip is an open source utility for manipulating archives. Formats 7z, ZIP, GZIP, BZIP2 and TAR are supported fully, other formats can only be unpacked.

9. Eraser
http://eraser.heidi.ie/

Eraser is very useful for deleting data from hard disks. Eraser is an open source secure data removal tool that will delete your old files and folders.

10. Virtual Clone Drive
http://www.slysoft.com/en/virtual-clonedrive.html

Virtual Clone Drive is completly free and allows you to mount images and create a virtual drive on your computer.