Free Essential Windows 7 Downloads

Now that you have Windows 7 installed on your computer (and if you don't, we can install Windows 7 for you), it's time to give it a turbo boost with updated software. We've collected links to seven (get it?) of the top essential free software downloads that will enhance your new Windows 7 experience.


Ultimate Windows Tweaker / Windows 7 Tweak Guide

Windows 7 is already designed to perform faster and more user-friendly than Windows Vista...and arguably, Windows XP. But many of us aren't satisfied with a piece of software's default settings. They are, after all, set for the average user. With a little tinkering, we don't have to settle for average; we can do better!

Ultimate Windows Tweaker is a free application that will open up the hood for you in Windows 7. By selecting from an assortment of tick boxes, you can optimize the speed of your PC, adjust the user interface, and even improve security.

This tool is a slim 345KB executable that requires no install and can be run as a portable app from a flash drive. It even detects whether you're using it on Windows 7, Vista, and whether the OS is 32bit or 64bit.

For those who want something more hardcore, the guys over at Tweak Guides is currently working on a thorough Windows 7 tweak guide to go along side their fantastic Windows Vista and XP guides. There's more manual work involved, but the benefits are well worth the effort.


Microsoft Security Essentials

Nothing is more important than making sure that your computer is safe and secure. Microsoft Security Essentials is a free utility offered by Microsoft to defend your PC against viruses, spyware, and other malware that may infect your computer. Security Essentials establishes real-time protection and runs in the background, so it won't slow down your computers regular run time.

While tests show that Security Essentials is capable of protecting your system against over 98% of the current wide-spread malware, there is a third-party alternative. AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition is another reliable security application, which just recently updated to version 9.


Ninite

Ninite is a fast, convenient application for quickly installing your favorite third-party software. This can come in handy if you have a new computer or have to do a clean-reinstall of the operating system. You'll save hours off the chore of re-downloading and re-installing all the programs you use on a regular basis.

All you do is go to their website and check from a list of available popular programs. Ninite will collect the latest versions into one executable installer. The program will then install all of the selected applications with their default settings. The install will also reject any extra, unwanted features (like search toolbars, etc.) that other developers like to sneak in.

If you don't find one of your favorite applications from their list, they're very open to requests.


Windows Easy Transfer

We all have our own style in preferences in how we use our computers. Whenever you get a new PC to welcome into your family, it can be time consuming adjusting it to match the others that you use.

To make synchronization of multiple computers a lot less painless, Microsoft offers a handy tool: Windows Easy Transfer. This program will copy selected files, email, and settings that you need to transfer from one PC to another. You have the option of making the transfer over a network or saving them to a portable storage drive.

The transfer process will complete without disruption, regardless of running into incompatible files. If a file is unable to be included in the transfer, Easy Transfer will continue with the rest of the task and make a report of non-transferable files for your review.


Combined Codec Community Pack

It's becoming more and more common for people to connect their PC to an HDTV to act as a high-tech media center. (In fact, we wrote a PC-to-HDTV guide!) Video files are easily made available in high-definition video, with multiple subtitle and audio tracks. This is an incredible opportunity for users with high-end home video cameras and aspiring filmmakers!

In order to view video files these extreme features, you'll need to install the proper codecs to decipher them. The Combined Codec Community Pack is a bundle of all the essential codecs that your computer will need to play high-quality multimedia, as well as some media players most suited for the task. The pack is free and fully customizable, depending on your preferences.


Windows Live Photo Gallery

One of Microsofts key goals for developing Windows 7 was to reduce as much bloat as possible. As a result, many applications that had been packaged in with Windows up through Vista were removed. While these applications could be argued as unpopular, there are still a great many users that enjoyed or depended on them to carry out specific tasks.

One of those applications that users have expressed missing is Windows Photo Gallery. It was an easy-to-use image editor, great for managing your photos and home video collection. Microsoft has made a newer version for faithful users, called Windows Live Photo Gallery. It's free to download and install for Windows 7.


Live Mesh

Unlike Windows Easy Transfer, Live Mesh will allow you to share programs across multiple machines, along with your favorite files. This includes multiple platforms—PC, Mac, and even mobile devices.

Every computer with Live Mesh installed will be able to share resources with each other, whether on a network or connected remotely from the web. If you need an application on one computer that's installed on another, you can access the other computer's desktop and run it on your current display.

The service is free to use and signing up will give you an additional 5GB of web-based data storage.


If you would like Triangle Laptops to include any of these applications along with our professional Windows 7 installation, please let us know! Consult our laptop repair service page or contact us by email for details. You can also call toll-free 1-877-456-7869.