Getting free Windows Programs

[us3rnotfound]

Who is behind all of these terrible websites with 29 download now! links? I gotta know. So many people trash their Windows machines within 2.5 seconds of installing crapware that they thought was their beloved KazaA.

What's worst is the driver download helper websites. OMG that would cause it to flip.

Why must I be smart as hell to navigate through these treacherous waters, and why do they exist and pervade my web browsing experience? So many suckers out there.

 

[BoomerD]

Um....what?

 

[us3rnotfound]

In the middle of re isntalling my Windows 8.1 build. Currently working off a temp. Win7 platform to grab my Win8.1. Also downloading Linux Mint just to see if I decide to go that route, although I've become quite accustomed to the Windows ecosystem, and each time I return to Linux, I come back to Windows because of too many reasons I can't ignore.

Windows (or a product that generates profit) will prevail over *nix I think because the desire to get profit drives what the masses use.

 

[us3rnotfound]

Um....what?

Just gathering all the drivers and utils I normally need. In doing so I cannot avoid arriving at busy ad-infested websites. No matter what. Oh, it's so ironic too the fact that getting a program that is supposed to clean up Windows comes with crapware attached to its installer so need to uncheck the checkbox. You need to be on your toes to use this stuff.

 

[lxskllr]

You need some level of skepticism and intelligence to navigate gratis Windows downloads, but I don't know about "smart as hell". I never had issues, but I always preferred libre software, downloaded from legit sites.

I don't have to deal with any of that crap anymore. I can access everything I need from my package manager.

 

[us3rnotfound]

Here's another thing, I'm using an Alienware, so that brings me to Dell's Download site to get the...wait, latest and greatest? No.... so I need to understand the specifications of this machine in terms of hardware components. First of all, it is like a black box, I guess you're not supposed to know the chipset and teh 2 video graphics chips it has, along with the pcie gig/wireless chips. So you find those via Hardware IDs in the devmgmt.msc snap-in. Google those and you get to a website for free viagra.


I know, I'm making this so much harder than it needs to ever be. I could just install my Alienware restore but I'll digress immediately.

 

[Ichinisan]

For Windows drivers, always find out the chipset for your devices and get each driver straight from the chipset manufacturer. No dealing with crapware from third parties.

 

[us3rnotfound]

You need some level of skepticism and intelligence to navigate gratis Windows downloads, but I don't know about "smart as hell". I never had issues, but I always preferred libre software, downloaded from legit sites.

I don't have to deal with any of that crap anymore. I can access everything I need from my package manager.

Not to kick-off Win vs. Linux topic but I just have to note:

1. Bought Itunes tv series I couldn't get anywhere else so that locks me to Windows.
2. I've found WIndows 8.1 to be fantastically easy to setup for EFI firmwares and installing all of my drivers on my NVIDIA Optimus system.
3. Office 2013 is actually quite, quite nice.
4. Myriad other nit-picky things.

But like I said I'm downloading a debian based distro too so I'm just torn on what to do. I have accomodated and compromised more than I thought I ever would by using Windows 8.1. It's an awful UI but I can use it...

By the way I am reformatting because Windows 8.1 broke itself so hard I can't even believe it. Seemed like a .NET component failure because .NET programs didn't work right so I did an Online image restorehealth via DISM and an SFC /SCANNOW but those did not find anything wrong.

Basically guys, any .exe file I tried to run would return a Class not Registered error. I was up till 3am in the morning fixing it but to no avail. I am good but not this good. I don't think it was a virus, couldn't find anything via scanners.

I guess I will start making frequent backups because the unimaginable happened. My computer inexplicably broke. Never happened before and am dumbfounded.

 

[us3rnotfound]

For Windows drivers, always find out the chipset for your devices and get each driver straight from the chipset manufacturer. No dealing with crapware from third parties.

Agreed but STMicroElectronics (3-axis accelerometer) doesn't have driver downloads.

I downloaded the one for my lappy on the Dell product page under my service tag. Thing came with a Release Notes text file indicating there's a newer one out in the wild for Win8.1 (the only one Dell had for my service tag was a version for Win8). So long story short, I had to get the one for the newer Alienware. Blah.

It's not like I get drivers from DRIVERS69.com but I was just searching for them, encounter information I might find useful and there's just all kinds of distractions for a the average joe to get a virus quite easily.

 

[us3rnotfound]

I'll just conclude by saying, there's a time where this kind of struggle will be no more because the end user won't have this kind of freedom to download and install little details anymore. The tablet idea will take over in my opinion, wherein you have a system with auto updates via some kind of package manager separate from your web browser of choice. Why else would all of these buggy websites with ad driven revenue exist? Because there's chumps like me going to them (albeit accidentally) on a nice Saturday getting viruses silently. The whole cybersecurity BS is overblown, what's happening is shit like this.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

why do they exist and pervade my web browsing experience? So many suckers out there.

Question asked, question answered.

 

[lxskllr]

Not to kick-off Win vs. Linux topic but I just have to note:

1. Bought Itunes tv series I couldn't get anywhere else so that locks me to Windows.
2. I've found WIndows 8.1 to be fantastically easy to setup for EFI firmwares and installing all of my drivers on my NVIDIA Optimus system.
3. Office 2013 is actually quite, quite nice.
4. Myriad other nit-picky things.

1 I don't give Apple money. Period.
2 Ease of use isn't my primary consideration. Privacy and freedom are.
3 LibreOffice is also quite nice.
4 ...
5 I don't have to ask for permission, or beg forgiveness when I want to reinstall my O/S on my computer. In less time than it takes to make a pot of coffee, I can install my O/S to USB, and use it anywhere I like. If I choose to, I can look at the code, and change it to anything I want, or pay someone else to do it for me. Nothing is kept hidden. If I want to see it, I can.

 

[Ichinisan]

Microsoft really should have made it so third-parties could deliver updates and update notifications through Windows Update. This should have been done in the 90s.

So, basically, I should be able to create an ID with Microsoft. Then I release a driver or application that includes my Windows Update identifier. Through the Windows Update API, the end user should receive notifications for updates to third-party drivers and software. The software wouldn't even come from Microsoft servers.

 

[us3rnotfound]

Microsoft really should have made it so third-parties could deliver updates and update notifications through Windows Update. This should have been done in the 90s.

So, basically, I should be able to create an ID with Microsoft. Then I release a driver or application that includes my Windows Update identifier. Through the Windows Update API, the end user should receive notifications for updates to third-party drivers and software. The software wouldn't even come from Microsoft servers.

QFT.

 

[Markbnj]

I'll just conclude by saying, there's a time where this kind of struggle will be no more because the end user won't have this kind of freedom to download and install little details anymore. The tablet idea will take over in my opinion, wherein you have a system with auto updates via some kind of package manager separate from your web browser of choice. Why else would all of these buggy websites with ad driven revenue exist? Because there's chumps like me going to them (albeit accidentally) on a nice Saturday getting viruses silently. The whole cybersecurity BS is overblown, what's happening is shit like this.

A closed ecosystem. It's been Apple's approach all along, and Android is sort of more closed than not, at least in terms of easy online access to apps (you can install whatever you want, obviously). Games on consoles, same thing. So yeah I think this is generally true. The consumer computing world will continue to move in the direction of apps, app stores, and closed ecosystems.

 

[Thebobo]

1 I don't give Apple money. Period.
2 Ease of use isn't my primary consideration. Privacy and freedom are.
3 LibreOffice is also quite nice.
4 ...
5 I don't have to ask for permission, or beg forgiveness when I want to reinstall my O/S on my computer. In less time than it takes to make a pot of coffee, I can install my O/S to USB, and use it anywhere I like. If I choose to, I can look at the code, and change it to anything I want, or pay someone else to do it for me. Nothing is kept hidden. If I want to see it, I can.

1 and 3 I agree on, not many folks are and I know I am not as computer independant to intact a full number 2 and 5 as a lot you of seem to be.

 

[BUTCH1]

Hmm, if I'm doing an OS install I usually gather any needed drivers directly from the manufactures websites (just the driver, not the free Mcafee or other bloatware) and load them all on a USB stick before I start the install.

 

[CZroe]

Agreed but STMicroElectronics (3-axis accelerometer) doesn't have driver downloads.

I downloaded the one for my lappy on the Dell product page under my service tag. Thing came with a Release Notes text file indicating there's a newer one out in the wild for Win8.1 (the only one Dell had for my service tag was a version for Win8). So long story short, I had to get the one for the newer Alienware. Blah.

It's not like I get drivers from DRIVERS69.com but I was just searching for them, encounter information I might find useful and there's just all kinds of distractions for a the average joe to get a virus quite easily.

That's probably your hard drive's drop sensor for parking the heads. Check your drive manufacturer's page.

 

[mmntech]

You need some level of skepticism and intelligence to navigate gratis Windows downloads

Some of these assholes have gotten sneaky though. SUPER used to be my go to video encoder for handling DV files. I used to use consumer camcorders as action cams back in college, before GoPro was a thing I could afford. My primary footage was all in DV though, and it was it was the only free encoder I could find that allowed me to convert MPEGII footage to it. Then they loaded it up with crapware that installs anyway even if you hit "decline". I spent an hour last week clearing it all out after I tried to update the program. Really pissed me off.

If I wasn't a gamer or wasn't doing any video editing, I'd probably use Linux Mint as my primary OS. I actually do use it for web browsing because it's a lot faster than Windows on my old rig. Linux has it's eccentricities but doesn't get bogged down with crap. It's not that hard to use either once you get over the learning curve. Ubuntu can rot in hell though after that partnership Canonical made with Amazon that blasts your search history out to the world.

 

[PliotronX]

The messed up ones are where you're trying to download a 1meg freeware and can't tell by filesize if it's their "download manager."

 

[Red Squirrel]

I HATE sites like that, about the only thing more annoying is sites that have those delayed gray out javascript popups. noscript does not help, because the page wont even load at all without noscript and you end up having to allow like 40 urls just to even see the freaking site. Someone needs to make an extension that selectively disables specific javascript code and has various algorithms for well known annoyances like that.

Why is it so hard for them to just supply a clean page with less junk with a download link directly to the file instead of going through all that bullshit?

One of the reasons I left Windows for Linux. Trying to find any kind of program or utility for Windows is just so hit and miss and more than half of it is all BS junk. Don't have to deal with that in Linux. Yet... if it was to become mainstream it would probably be just as bad.

The worse is programs that are "free" but you end up having to pay, or it's full of ads or nags. RAGE!

#firstworldproblem

Oh, and for drivers I used to use driverguide.com. Not the best, but generally was ok. Not sure how it is now though. I don't miss the days of having to hunt all over google for drivers. It was worse in the windows 98 era though. windows 2000 and especially XP were much better for detecting stuff. I personally always keep the driver disks for everything but most people don't. I don't really deal with fixing people's computers anymore though so have not had to go through that in a long time. Aida32 would also help at finding out what all the "PCI Device" are. GG Device manager, thanks for telling me that I have 3 unknown "PCI Device" without giving me any other information like vendor and model number. On similar subject, Device Manager has an option to let Windows find the driver. Has anyone ever actually witnessed that feature actually find the driver? The day that feature actually works is the day that Toronto Maple Leafs wins the cup.

 

[mikeymikec]

Microsoft really should have made it so third-parties could deliver updates and update notifications through Windows Update. This should have been done in the 90s.

So, basically, I should be able to create an ID with Microsoft. Then I release a driver or application that includes my Windows Update identifier. Through the Windows Update API, the end user should receive notifications for updates to third-party drivers and software. The software wouldn't even come from Microsoft servers.

Only if all driver updates are opt-in updates (except if there's a critical vulnerability in a particular driver version).

The stupid auto nvidia driver updates (ie. the ones pushed through Windows update, not through nvidia's update checker) in the last few years have wreaked havoc on some systems.

Your idea is a little problematic in some cases though, for example most audio input/output devices these days present themselves as the standard high-definition audio device, so therefore it's not possible to detect whether it's a Realtek, SoundMAX, etc chipset.

 

[Carson Dyle]

Like OMG.

What never ceases to amaze me is how many people feel an absolute need for A/V programs because they're too stupid to avoid downloading executables from suspect sites. Or to protect themselves from email that shows up with links to random sites and attached zip files containing executables. Look at the links, look at the addresses, look at the attached files, use all three of your brain cells, delete the stupid message and move on.

 

[Ichinisan]

Only if all driver updates are opt-in updates (except if there's a critical vulnerability in a particular driver version).

The stupid auto nvidia driver updates (ie. the ones pushed through Windows update, not through nvidia's update checker) in the last few years have wreaked havoc on some systems.

Your idea is a little problematic in some cases though, for example most audio input/output devices these days present themselves as the standard high-definition audio device, so therefore it's not possible to detect whether it's a Realtek, SoundMAX, etc chipset.

Well could still deliver update notifications only based on what you already have installed.

I don't know what you mean about HDAudio. As far as I know, the chipset (usually Realtek) is identifiable in the same way it's done for any other hardware.

 

[Ichinisan]

Like OMG.

What never ceases to amaze me is how many people feel an absolute need for A/V programs because they're too stupid to avoid downloading executables from suspect sites. Or to protect themselves from email that shows up with links to random sites and attached zip files containing executables. Look at the links, look at the addresses, look at the attached files, use all three of your brain cells, delete the stupid message and move on.

This.

I've never used antivirus software and I always promptly remove any that came pre-installed on any of my systems. I do not get malware.