Taskbar Hide

Eusing Software

Taskbar Hide is a small application that helps you keep your desktop organized – especially helpful for times when you have loads of window opened. Taskbar Hide's interface will show you all the windows you have opened on your desktop, be they applications or Internet browser windows. You'll be able to do several different actions to each: close them out, minimize them to the taskbar, or camouflage them, hiding them in the icon for Taskbar Hide. Also, like any good program with these features, Taskbar Hide lets you limit access to certain content with a password. The program also has incorporated keyboard shortcuts to make it easier to use.

Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor

Microsoft

If you don't own a very new computer, you might check if your computer can support the new Operating System of Microsoft before installing it. Microsoft has released a program so you can heck it in a few minutes with just one click. The program analyzes your system and it determines if it supports Windows 7 or not. The analysis will take a few minutes and when it finishes, it shows a report featuring data related to your computer and the minimum requirements of the future Windows seven. Furthermore, Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor also warns you about devices and programs not supported by the new Operating System, so you can buy new ones or uninstall programs.

Cinebench

Maxon

Cinebench is one of the best options for evaluating a processor's performance. The program renders a scene by only using the processor's cores without resorting to the graphics card, making it an excellent way to compare its performance with that of others on the market. There are two ways in which this can be done in Cinebench: using all of the processor's cores or just one. The more cores your processor has and the higher its frequency, the better result you will get and the faster the performance test will be completed. In a single-core test, the only thing that matters is the frequency that our CPU reaches on its best core, since not all of them perform equally well. To get a better score in Cinebench, you can overclock the processor or increase the RAM frequency. However, it is difficult to get a higher frequency than what the components already come with, and you will not gain more than a few performance points. The program also shows information about your computer, letting you know the CPU's frequency, cores and threads, its model and the operating system version you are using. So, if you want to compare your processor's performance with that of others on the market, don't hesitate to download Cinebench.

Windows 11 Media Creation Tool

Microsoft

Grub2Win

drummerdp

Grub2Win is a program that allows you to boot Windows and Linux on the same computer. Thanks to Grub2Win, you can install both operating systems on storage drives with GPT or MBR partitions, as well as NTFS, HFS, ext4 and Btrfs file systems. Supports all Windows versions from XP onwards, as well as UEFI and BIOS. As for Linux-based operating system distributions, you find PhoenixOS, Android, Ubuntu, Debian, Suse, Fedora, Manjaro, Mint and Clover. Grub2Win is a very light program, since it only occupies 20 MB in the unit in which Windows is installed. After installing it, you can choose the boot order in which each operating system will run. Without the program, this needs to be done in the BIOS, but with Grub2Win it can be done directly from the operating system. After installing Grub2Win and restarting the computer, you will find that Grub2Win will create a different launch screen. Thus, instead of having to choose the partition or disk to boot from, it will load a customizable interface with all the operating systems you have installed. In addition, you can have several versions of the same operating system installed. If you want to have two or more Windows or Linux operating systems installed on the same computer, downloading Grub2Win is one of the best options available.

Windows 95

Felix Rieseberg

Raspberry Pi Imager

Raspberry Pi Foundation

Raspberry Pi Imager is the official software by the Raspberry Pi Foundation aimed to simplify recording operating system images compatible with the popular micro-computer onto your home unit. Specifically, it streamlines writing and saving OS software on external SD cards. That way, they're easier to use later on -- you can pop it right in and burn it onto your Raspberry Pi unit without the extra runaround of using external tools. The list of officially recognized and supported operating systems that you can download and install from Raspberry Pi Imager includes well-known titles like Raspbian, LibreELEC and Ubuntu. Plus, each comes with different versions and flavors for each Raspberry Pi edition. For example, LibreELEC has versions for Pi Zero/1, Pi 2/3, and Pi 4. Ubuntu comes with the latest updates like LTS (as its standard). Once you've selected the operating system you're looking for, all you need to do is pop in your SD -- or MicroSD with an adapter -- to a card reader for your Raspberry Pi unit, and proceed to run your selected ISO. This is going to take a couple of minutes and you're going to need to have your disk image on hand to stick it into your Raspi.

Launcher

Micro-Sys

Have you got so many things on the computer that you have difficulty finding your favourite programs? Would you like to clean up your desktop shortcuts but don't want to lose any of them? Launcher is a program that attempts to bridge the gap between your folders and applications without having to populate the desktop with dozens of shortcuts. This way, you can make all your directories and commonly used programs fully accessible, saving you the tedious task of moving between folders and subfolders to locate a specific document. What Launcher does is create all the shortcuts you need, whether folders or files, and merge them into a single program icon in the Windows taskbar. Therefore, you just have to left click on the Launcher icon and select the shortcut you need. To manage all of this, Launcher has a convenient interface from where you can add the shortcuts and group them how you like, giving you full control over your system.

Windows 8 Upgrade

Microsoft

Windows 8 Upgrade is a small application which will allow us to check, in less than five minutes, if our computer can be easily upgraded to Windows 8, something quite possible if we already have Windows 7 installed. Using this application is very simple. We just have to run the assistant and wait a few minutes for it to analyse our whole computer, a process that will take shorter or longer depending on different factors like the size of our hard drive or the state of the Windows registry. Once this analysis is finished, the program will show us the number of applications and devices that are compatible and those that aren't. Looking at this in a detailed way we will be able to know exactly which programs will need upgrading if we finally decide to change to Windows 8. If after this step our computer turns out to be compatible with Windows 8, we will get to a screen from which we will be able to acquire the operating system update with just a click. Furthermore, differently to other previous versions of Windows, this one has a more reasonable price. Windows 8 Upgrade is a light but very useful tool, thanks to which installing Windows 8 turns to be a piece of cake.

HeiDoc.net Windows ISO Downloader

HeiDoc

HeiDoc.net Windows ISO Downloader is a program that allows you to download ISO images of all Windows and Office versions on the market. The images are downloaded from the official Microsoft website, so they are not modified in any way. In Windows, images are available for Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 and Windows 11. These tools are very useful, since there are computers with older hardware that is not compatible with some Windows versions or drivers. This way, you can download ISO images of all the versions released for each operating system. For example, with Windows 10 you can find the first versions released in 2015. After choosing the version you want to download, the program gives you the option to download the ISO directly, or you can also copy the link in case you want to share it with someone or download it from the web browser or a download manager. The Office download is just as easy to execute. You can download any version of Office from 2010 onwards, choosing between Home, Student, Personal, Professional and Professional Plus. You can also download specific programs, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher or Access without having to install the rest. However, it is important to bear in mind that you must have a license to be able to use it once the trial period is over. Therefore, if you want to download a Windows or Office ISO, doing it with HeiDoc.net Windows ISO Downloader is one of the best options.

Hasleo WinToHDD

Hasleo Software

Hasleo WinToHDD is an incredibly useful tool to reinstall Windows on your PC or on a second hard drive directly from an ISO, without using any CD or USB. Its interface is so simple and intuitive that it is designed for anyone, even without computer knowledge. In just a few clicks, you can reinstall your Windows by following the steps. The main window includes four major options to choose from to get you started; reinstall Windows, fresh install, clone system and USB with multiple installations. By reinstalling Windows, you will be able to reinstall this operating system in any of its versions, from Windows Vista onwards. With the new installation option, you can carry out a similar process but with a different version than the one you have installed. The third option offered by Hasleo WinToHDD, the clone system, gives you the possibility to make a copy of your current operating system to work with it whenever, however and wherever you want. In this window, you will see all the complete information of the currently installed version, such as the name, system partition, boot partition or BIOS mode. Hasleo WinToHDD will make it easy for you to reinstall, install or clone your operating system from a very simple tool. If you do not have a USB or CD with the operating system and want to reinstall it, this program will give you the necessary tools to complete the process without needing that Windows CD or USB.

Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

Microsoft Corporation

Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is the official Microsoft app for running Linux-based operating systems natively on Windows. This compatibility layer is mandatory if you want to run a GNU/Linux distro on Windows, such as Ubuntu or Debian. Since it runs natively in the Windows kernel without requiring heavy emulations, its performance is practically identical compared to running the operating system directly on your computer. In its original release, Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) only allowed you to use the Linux Terminal on Windows, without being able to interact with a more user-friendly interface. However, since the release of WSL 2, it is possible to run apps with a corresponding interface. This is very convenient for both developers and other users, since it is possible to test code comfortably from Windows without having to reboot and start another operating system. In order to use Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), you must have Windows 10 (2004 or later). Initially, this component was installed as an optional module in Windows Features, but since November 2022 it is available as a standalone app that you can download and update, simplifying its installation and use. Therefore, if you want to use Linux on Windows natively, downloading Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) on your computer is a must.

LinuxLive USB Creator

Thibaut Lauzière

LinuxLive USB Creator is a simple application that will allow you to create a sort of 'pendrive', disk or USB memory with a Linux distribution, to be able to directly execute it from Windows. Without the need to restart the equipment or install absolutely anything. The big advantage of LinuxLive USB Creator compared to the traditional Live CD is that not only you can work much faster from the beginning, but logically it will also allow you to edit the parameters and change the configurations directly from the USB device. Another interesting point of LinuxLive USB Creator is that it will allow you to download and install all the distributions from the interface of the application itself. Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, OpenSUSE, Mint, Slax, CentOS, ArchLinux, Gentoo, PCLinuxOS, Sabayon, BackTrack, Puppy Linux... they're all just a click away. Once you're bored of a distribution and you want to install another one you only have to turn to 'Smartclean' that will delete it at once and leave no trace of the former distribution so you can install a new one in seconds. LinuxLive USB Creator is a surprisingly useful tool that will make a lot of Linux users ask themselves how the hell they were able to live without it before.

Windows Update Blocker

Sordum.org

Xiaomi Flash Tool

Xiaomi Inc.

Xiaomi Flash Tool is the official Xiaomi tool for flashing and installing ROMs on Mi, POCO, and Redmi devices. With it, you can install an official ROM on your devices to update them or fix any problems you've encountered. To flash custom ROMs, it's best to use a modified recovery and do it from the smartphone or tablet itself. However, if you want to install a stock ROM to update your device or do an installation from scratch, and your device isn't rooted, doing so through Xiaomi Flash Tool is the most convenient. Xiaomi Flash Tool is pretty easy to use. First, you have to reboot the device in Fastboot mode. To do this on a Xiaomi device, press the power button and the volume down button at the same time. Once you have it in this mode, you can control it via ADB or with programs such as Xiaomi Flash Tool. After that, open the program and make sure that your device is detected. If not, you'll have to install the drivers so there are no compatibility problems. Then, find the ROM file that you want to install on your device. Click on Flash, and it will be installed automatically. After finishing this process, you'll be able to use the new ROM on your device.

Windows 8 USB Installer Maker

W8 Maker

As you might have guessed, Windows 8 USB Installer Maker is a Windows 8 installer that uses an ISO image to boot the system from a pendrive or other USB device. This tool modifies your extractable memory device in three steps to turn it into an installer: it converts the format of the pendrive to NTFS, extracts all of the files to the USB (and takes its time doing so), and writes the MBR (master boot record). And what do you have to do? First, connect your flashdrive to your computer and run Win8USB.exe (you'll need administrator privileges to do so). Once there, select the pendrive and make sure that it has NTFS formatting. The next step is to look for the ISO file and click 'create'. Once the process has started, you'll need to have patience because it's quite slow, since it has to unzip all of the installation files into the USB. If you notice that the device isn't responding, that's normal, just verify that your pendrive is active so make sure that it's still copying the files. Finally, a window will pop up and let you know that it's finished, and all you need to do is restart your PC and modify the BIOS boot drive (choosing the pendrive) to complete your Windows 8 flashdrive installer.

HoneyGain

Sneyder

HoneyGain is an interesting tool that offers its users the chance to earn small amounts of easy money in exchange for sharing their Internet connection with third parties. To enjoy the benefits of HoneyGain, simply keep the program open in the background and forget that it's there; HoneyGain will automatically manage your connection, and, little by little, generate money for you. HoneyGain highly values your safety and privacy, which is why this app's team only offers the use of your connection to trusted companies that will never overstep their bounds. Of course, HoneyGain will not collect any information about your computer or your online activity. Typically, your Internet connection will be used for transferring metadata, surveys, and other lightweight files. If you want the amount of money generated by HoneyGain to be slightly higher, you can activate 'Content Delivery,' a service that allows third parties to use your connection to send larger documents, such as images, videos, or audio files. With HoneyGain running on three devices with the 'Content Delivery' service activated, you can generate about $19 per month.

Wintoflash

N/A

WinToFlash helps you extract the contents of a CD or DVD installation window and transfer it to a USB drive to become a bootable replacement for the optical drive. In short, with this program, you can install any version of Windows directly from a USB device or pendrive. This is especially useful for new netbooks, which don't include CD/DVD readers. WintoFlash is very easy to use and, although it's still in beta, you can use it to create your USB boot drive in a matter of minutes. The only thing you need, of course, is a pendrive. Without a doubt, WintoFlash is a very interesting and promising tool that no netbook user should miss out on.

Samsung DeX

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

With the program Samsung DeX you can use all of your Samsung device's features on a larger screen. Thanks to this app, you can create a desktop experience with your smartphone and get the most of your Samsung. Samsung DeX makes it possible to do everyday tasks on your smartphone as if it were a PC. Not only that, but it's easy to use: just install the program on your Windows PC, and then connect a Samsung Galaxy Note 10 or Note 10+ via USB cable. Once your devices are connected, you're ready to run the new desktop on your monitor. This program is even capable of running in multitasking mode, so you can watch movies or listen to music on your monitor while answering messages on your Samsung. Not only that, but you can easily move files from one device to the other by simply tapping and dragging them. With Samsung DeX you can enjoy all the features of your smartphone on your desktop computer. Without a doubt, this creates new ways to use the incredible potential of your Samsung device.

VMware Player

VMware, Inc.

VMware Workstation is one of the most aclaimed applications for running and controlling virtual operating systems remotely. Now, the developers of it have decided to offer VMware Player, an easier-to-use application totally free. Thanks to this full-featured program you'll be able to access virtual machines of Workstation, GSX, ESX Server, Microsoft or Symantec LiveState Recovery. Among the most relevant features we can stand out the possibility to use massive storage systems like pendrives or USB drives from the virtual machine, interchange information between the two systems, access local network or Internet from the virtual machine or emulate 32-bit systems. You can also configure the maximum percentage of RAM that you want the program to use. VMware Player is the best option for users who want to get rid of Windows operating system, but who would like to try another one like Linux

balenaEtcher

Balena

balenaEtcher (officially titled balenabalenaEtcher) is a tool that condenses the entire process of burning disk images to external USB or SD drives in one place. This program takes care of processing the image, formatting the external device, and flashing it with the correct format so that it opens automatically on the device it's meant for. This software is designed specifically to be used by users with little to no technological experience. In addition to having an extremely simple and intuitive interface, it also helps you to make sure you don't make any mistakes throughout the process. In fact, the program hides the local mass storage devices to help ensure you don't confuse them with the drive you have connected. Little details like this make the app perfect for inexperienced users. The possibilities balenaEtcher offers are enormous and it supports the following formats: ISO, IMG, ZIP, DMG, DSK, RAW, XZ, BZ2, HDDIMG, GZ, and ETCH. You can burn Linux distributions to install them from a USB drive, or put a special operating system on an SD card to be detected by a Raspberry Pi. You can even use it directly to create a recovery and installation drive for Windows from an ISO. The best part? Anyone can do it. To top it all off, balenabalenaEtcher is a complete free and open source program. Thanks to this fact, it doesn't have any sort of ads to ruin the experience.

Android-x86

Chih-Wei Huang

Android-x86 is a free, open-source project that aims to bring Google's mobile operating system to Intel and AMD machines with RISC instead of ARM architecture, which is standard on mobile devices. What began as a project to run Android on certain netbook models has become a fully functional operating system that can be used on many combinations of hardware. It can be installed as an operating system on a desktop, and even be set up to run alongside other systems on the same machine. In fact, Android is based on the Linux kernel. When launching Android on a PC, the computer will think you're using a tablet, although you can use it perfectly with a keyboard and mouse and even use shared machine resources like your Internet connection or USB ports, with features continuing to be added with each new version. It is also possible to virtualize Android through popular programs like VMWare or VirtualBox, where you'll find it much easier to configure and test the operating system. There are some obvious differences from using an actual Android, such as the fact that very few applications work correctly, so if you want to install Android to play games, you might want to consider other options like Bluestacks. The real potential of this project lies in its use by developers; in fact, it comes with several applications and configuration tools included for that purpose.

Vistalizator

N/A

Vistalizator allows you to install language packs on any Windows version and not only for Ultimate version - the only one that offers it by default. By thisway, in less than five minutes and thanks to an intuitive itnterface, you'll be able to change the language of Windows Vista or Seven without having to deal with tedious menus and options. Vistalizator is a very useful tool for all those users who want to change the language of Windows due to any reason.

Windows 10 Media Creation Tool

Microsoft

To install Windows 10 using an earlier versions of Windows, you could wait and use the default software updater for an automatic installation. Or you could do it now by yourself using this official tool, which allows you to download an ISO image and even create a DVD or USB installation to use on other computers. When you open the program, it will ask you whether you want to update your current Windows system or create an installation disc. Otherwise, you'll be able to choose where you want to save the new files, which will replace their older versions. Keep in mind that the Windows 10 version that gets installed depends on what you had previously. So, if you have Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, 8, or 8.1, you'll get Windows 10 Home. If you have Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, or any of the other 8 or 8.1 Pro editions, you'll get Windows 10 Pro. Either way, keep in mind that you have to enter in the information related to your operating system's legally registered version.

WinToUSB

EasyUEFI

WinToUSB is a tool that allows the installation of a Windows operating system from a removable drive such as a pendrive or an external hard drive. With this program, any user can copy the ISO image of the original CD to the external drive to make it the installation source instead of using a physical disc. This program is a great way to keep the Windows installer on a USB so you can have it with you at all times, or run it from computers that no longer have the CD reader. You only have to copy it onto the removable drive and insert it into any computer. The program is compatible with Windows 7, Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8. In particular, in this latest version, the 8.1, it's possible to create a live boot system like those used by the LiveCD for certain Linux distributions, thanks to the Windows To Go USB technology included in latest Microsoft operating system. WinToUSB offers an interface that makes using the program relatively easy; just load the ISO image, select it and follow the steps with a simple click. What's more, if what you're looking for is to create a WinPE boot unit, you can also transfer it to your USB with this application.

Universal USB Installer

Pendrivelinux

Universal USB Installer is a simple application allowing us to create, in two simple steps, our own Linux installer to have in the pendrive. The process is as simple as selecting the distribution we wish (to choose among more than twenty), select the ISO in our hard drive (we can also download it automatically) and finally proceed to the creation of our "linux pendrive'. Once we have created it, we will only have to plug in our USB device before the computer will restart and the Linux distribution will be run automatically. Simple, straightforward and very effective.

Windows 7 Home Premium

Microsoft

Microsoft Windos Seven may be the most awaited Operating System since we waited for Windows XP. Windows Vista didn't work well and people wanted a new Operating System, so Microsoft started working hard and released this Windows Seven, which has been very well received by users from all over the world. The true is that it works pretty well, it doesn't crack as usually as Windows Vista and the interface is beautiful. Windows Seven is light, safe and easy to use. It starts quickly, really faster than Windows Vista and it closes fast too. Applications run very well on it and, in short, people is very happy with it, what has made Microsoft Operating System to receive good reviews again. The graphic appart of the desktop features Aero, one of the good thinigs brought by Vista. Windows Seven is, with no doubt, the best Operating System by Microsoft.

EasyBCD

NeoSmart Technologies

EasyBCD is a tool designed to help you customize and enhance the boot process of your PC. The program will allow you to boot virtually any operating system, both modern and old, and will allow you to boot from USB devices, disk images, virtual disks, and much more. The first thing you notice when you start EasyBCD is how simple and accessible its interface is. In the menu on the left you can find all the program's features, perfectly ordered: View your configuration, Edit the start menu, Add a new entry, Advanced configuration, Copy or fix BCD, and Deploy BCD. In the first of these tabs, View your configuration, you will be able to see a summary of your BCD (Boot Configuration Data). From the second tab, Edit boot menu, you start to find the really interesting features. From here you can easily change the order of the operating systems you have ready to boot. You will also be able to choose the desired default system, and the language in which you want it to start. You can even change the timeout time (30 seconds by default) or skip the boot menu itself. This option, of course, is particularly useful for users who have two operating systems installed on the same computer, as it will give them much more versatility when booting them. The Add Input tab will give you the option to create a new boot method, in a few seconds. The only thing you will have to do is to choose the operating system for which you want to create the new entry, choosing between Windows, Linux, Mac or NeoGrub. After this, you will have to choose the media on which it will boot: disk image, ISO, WinPE, floppy disk, or BIOS extension. Once you have everything ready, you just need to click on the green button to add the new entry to the list. It is important to note that, by default, this new entry will appear at the bottom of your boot list. From the Advanced Settings tab you can enable or disable some additional boot options for each operating system. In the case of Windows, for example, you can enable Hyper-V support or debugging mode. You can also set a limit on the number of cores you want Windows to use. As the name indicates, these are advanced options, which you should only change if you know exactly what you are doing. Otherwise, although it is very difficult to cause irreversible damage to the installation of the operating system, you can reduce the performance of your PC. One of the most useful tools in EasyBCD is undoubtedly BCD Deployment, which will allow you to create a bootable external media in a matter of seconds. All you have to do is choose the partition you want to work on and click on the Install BCD button. That's it. It's that easy. You can also configure the main boot record (MBR) options, although it is usually better to leave the default ones. EasyBCD is one of the most powerful and useful multiboot tools on the market. Thanks to this tool you will be able to customize the boot options of your computer in a simple, fast and efficient way. No matter which version of Windows, MacOS or Linux you have installed, chances are that you can manage them all without any problems.

Windows 8.1

Microsoft

Windows 8.1 is the version of Microsoft's operating system between Windows 7 and Windows 10. This file is in ISO format, so it has to be run from a previous version of Windows or installed on a pen drive. This update from Microsoft is a general improvement of its latest operating system that includes customization options, improved search and applications, the Windows Store, connection to the cloud, and improved security. In addition, it's the only version of Windows to eliminate the drop-down start menu and replace it with a version that takes up the entire screen.

Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool

Microsoft

After the release of Windows 7, Microsoft started to launch free tools in order to make it easier for its users to manage and adapt to this new operating system. This time, Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool is a tool developed to copy the operating system ISO, which can be purchased electronically from the Microsoft Store, to a DVD or USB device. This tool is designed for the new netbooks lacking disk drive. It is only necessary to select the Windows 7 installation ISO and determine on which media you want to make the copy. USB drives must have at least 4 GB of free capacity exclusively for this copy, as the program deletes any data stored on the drive.