Free Software article discussion

lgs6753

As a non-techie, I want my PC to run faster.
So, it makes sense to install and use something like Chrome as my browser. However, that implies erasing both Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox, as they are presumably clogging up my PC and causing it to run slowly.
Am I right, and if so, how do I erase installed programmes?

marko2002

Installing Chrome won't make your PC go faster, in fact in real-term comparisons it's unlikely Chrome will offer any significant speed improvements over your browsing against Firefox or even Internet Explorer. If you're PC is running slowly it's likely you either have a hardware problem or are suffering some form of malware/virus. To begin with I'd recommend downloading Avast (http://www.freewarebb.com/index.php/files/file/2169-avast-free-antivirus-50594/) and then disconnect your PC from the internet (just pull the plug from it or turn off the router/modem) then in your 'Control Panel' go to 'Add/Remove Programs' and work through the list of installed software you don't want to keep - please be careful not to uninstall any software that you may use, if you're unsure just search google for the name of the program and you should see a description, work out from that whether you need it or want it.

My recommendation is to install Avast from the link provided, and if you do this you must uninstall any other antivirus software you have at the moment on your machine. You should then perform a "boot-time scan" using Avast which will thoroughly scan your entire computer once it's rebooted. A boot-time scan is able to access and delete nasty files which cannot be deleted when your computer is running. For a full explanation on how to do this, see this link: http://www.freewarebb.com/newsletters/freeware-newsletter-11-08-10.html#How_to_perform_a_boot-time_scan_with_Avast_and_why!

Hope this helps
Cheers
Marko

swvillafan

marko2002 wrote: »

if you're unsure just search google for the name of the program and you should see a description,

Might be difficult if they've disconnected from the internet!

marko2002

swvillafan wrote: »

Might be difficult if they've disconnected from the internet!

LOL, think they'll figure it out

dippyjones

As it says, anyone help?

xxx

JasX

dippyjones wrote: »

As it says, anyone help?

xxx

Anything here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_freeware

or here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_free_and_open_source_software_packages

suitable?

goodematthew

I have just recently put Ubuntu 10.04 (Lucid Lynx) on my parents' computer, which ran Windows XP and was getting very slow. My dad was considering getting rid of it and buying a new computer. Instead, it now runs a lot faster, is usable again and he is finding that many open source alternatives are just as good as the commercial equivalents.

The days where a lot of command line work was necessary to get the OS working are pretty much behind now and some of the applications in this article come as default (e.g. OpenOffice) and others, such as Inkscape, Scribus, etc., can be installed from the Ubuntu Software Centre - effectively the equivalent of app stores you find on smartphones.

So, if you're thinking your computer is on its last legs or fancy delving into the world of open source software now may be the ideal opportunity

marko2002

Think you'll be hard pushed to convert most people away from Windows - the thought would be fantastic, but we've had this debate for years now, it's familiarity that's key to computer users, having to learn a completely different operating system just isn't what people will do, despite the obvious power enhancements in the likes of Ubuntu.

As for the listings of software repositories that offer free software recommended by MSE, 4 out of the 6 also promote shareware and commercial software, not exactly the best recommendations when talking about free software is it?. Our site (and I make no bones that it's our site) at https://www.freewarebb.com only contains free software downloads, no spyware, nagware, trialware or commercial software whatsoever - c'mon MSE give a small guy a break and whack us in the recommendations!!! :D:D
Cheers
Marko

spud17

I have just recently put Ubuntu 10.04 (Lucid Lynx) on my parents' computer, which ran Windows XP and was getting very slow. My dad was considering getting rid of it and buying a new computer. Instead, it now runs a lot faster, is usable again and he is finding that many open source alternatives are just as good as the commercial equivalents.

What you are forgetting is that the Linux is a new install.

For a more realistic comparison, you should compare with a fresh install of XP, and not one full of crud from the last x many years.

p.s.I'm a Ubuntu/Win7/XP/Puppy user.

Brockyman

Just did a quick search and no-one seems to have mentioned PHOTOSCAPE. My daughter and I have both been using it for over a year now and are very pleased with it. It's a fairly basic photo editor but with some very useful tools and features, nowhere near as advanced or complex as Photoshop or Gimp. It also works with RAW files which may be useful.
Free download from http://www.photoscape.org/ps/main/index.php