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            Best Freeware Programs for DOS and Windows 3.1x
            ===============================================

                                                Last updated 2 June 1996

This is a list of some freeware programs I like. As far as I know, all
are free for personal use. This includes public domain programs,
freeware, "postcard-ware", and shareware programs which are free for
personal or non-commercial use. It can also include demos, if they are
reasonably fully functional, can be freely used, and are not
time-limited. Some of these programs require payment if used for
commercial purposes.

I've tried to indicate an FTP location whenever possible. Corrections
and suggestions are welcome.

I update and post this list to Usenet groups alt.comp.freeware and
comp.archives.msdos.d about every two weeks. Programs new in this
version are marked "*NEW*".

The list is also available through the World Wide Web at:
     http://www.ncf.carleton.ca/~an448

The latest version is usually available by FTP at:
     ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/msdos/info/free96??.zip

Compiled by: Yves Bellefeuille <an448@freenet.carleton.ca>. PGP mail
welcome.

========================================================================

Table of Contents:

Section A:  Application Programs
Section B:  Compression / Decompression Programs
Section C:  Utilities
   Area 1:     4DOS / NDOS Utilities
   Area 2:     Disk Utilities
   Area 3:     Directory Utilities
   Area 4:     File and Text Utilities
   Area 5:     Screen and Graphics Utilities
   Area 6:     System Utilities
   Area 7:     Other Utilities
Section D:  Anti-Virus Programs
Section E:  Text and Hex Editors
Section F:  Communication Programs
Section G:  Miscellaneous Programs
Section H:  Windows 3.1x Programs

========================================================================

SECTION A:  APPLICATION PROGRAMS

Galahad - Old-fashioned but serviceable word processor.
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/msdos/editor/gal210a1.zip, gal210a2.zip,
gal210a3.zip and gal210a4.zip

I'm interested in suggestions for free spreadsheets, database programs,
word processors, DTP programs, CAD programs, and so on!


SECTION B:  COMPRESSION / DECOMPRESSION PROGRAMS

Quick guide:

      To decompress:             Use:
      ==============             ====

      *.arj                      ARJ
      *.com                      UNP
      *.exe                      UNP
      *.gz                       GZip
      *.lha                      LHA
      *.lzh                      LHA
      *.tar                      PCTar
      *.tar.Z                    First GZip, then PCTar
      *.tgz                      First GZip, then PCTar
      *.uue                      UUdecode (see File and Text Utilities)
      *.z                        GZip
      *.zip                      Info-Zip
      *.zoo                      Zoo

ARJ - Supports multi-disk archives and self-extracting archives.
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/arcers/arj250a.exe

Diet - Compresses executable programs while leaving them executable
(similar to PKLite).
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/execomp/diet145f.zip

GZip - To compress/decompress files using the Unix .Z format.
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/unix/gzip124.zip

Info-Zip - PKZip compatible archiver, but doesn't support multi-disk
archives.
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/arcers/unz512x.exe and zip20x.zip

LHA - Supports self-extracting archives.
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/arcers/lha255b.exe and lha255b.txt

LZExe - Compresses executable programs while leaving them executable.
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/execomp/lzexe91.zip

PCTar - To unpack files in the Unix "tar" format. Use "tar -xvqf
filename.tar".
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/msdos/archiver/pctar.zip

UNP - Unpacks files compressed with PKLite, Diet, LZExe, EXECOMP, etc.
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/execomp/unp411.zip

Zoo - An old archiver still used in the Unix world.
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/arcers/zoo210.exe


SECTION C:  UTILITIES


   AREA 1:  4DOS / NDOS UTILITIES

4UTILS - Two utilities for 4DOS: a DESCRIPT.ION editor and a 4DOS-aware
file finder.
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/msdos/4dos/4utils86.zip


   AREA 2:  DISK UTILITIES

Core - Measures hard disk performance.
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/diskutil/core292.zip

DOG - Disk OrGanizer, disk defragmenter.
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/diskutil/dog316.zip

FDFormat - Formats diskettes to greater capacities. For 3.5-inch
diskettes, try "sector sliding" with "X=1 Y=2".
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/diskutil/fdform18.lzh

FIPS - Changes partition size and adds new partitions without deleting
data. Source included.
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/diskutil/fips15.zip

Partition Resizer - Another utility to non-destructively resize, add and
delete partitions. Nicely documented.
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/msdos/diskutil/presz112.zip

Wasted - Shows disk space wasted due to partition size.
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/msdos/diskutil/wasted20.zip

Request: I'm looking for a utility to back up and restore the MBR, the
DOS boot record and the FATs (similar to MIRROR and IMAGE).


   AREA 3:  DIRECTORY UTILITIES

ACD - "Another Change Directory", jumps directly to any directory
(similar to Norton's NCD).
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/dirutil/acd233.zip

DirMatch - Compares two directories side by side.
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/pcmagutl/dirmat31.zip

Prune - Renames, moves and deletes directories; prunes and grafts
directory trees.
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/msdos/dirutil/prune10.zip

*NEW* Sweep - Executes a command in a directory and across all its
sub-directories.
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/msdos/pcmag/vol4n24.zip


   AREA 4:  FILE AND TEXT UTILITIES

BFind - Boolean find, supports AND, OR, NOT, etc. Unfortunately slow.
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/msdos/textutil/bfind604.zip

COMT - Converts COM files to executable ASCII text for transmission by
E-mail.
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/msdos/fileutil/comt010d.zip

FGrep - Fast GREP, finds text in files.
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/msdos/textutil/fgrep183.zip

List - File browsing utility.
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/fileutil/list91m.zip

UUencode, UUdecode - Converts binary files for transmission by E-mail.
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/decode/uuexe651.zip


   AREA 5:  SCREEN AND GRAPHICS UTILITIES

DVPEG - Graphics viewer. Supports GIF, JPEG and others.
ftp://sunee.uwaterloo.ca/pub/jpeg/viewers/dvpeg30l.zip

GifExe - Makes "self-viewing" GIF files.
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/msdos/gif/gifexe44.zip

NANSI - A faster replacement for ANSI.SYS. Supports keyboard
redefinition.
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/screen/nansi33.zip

PCMouse - Gives "cut and paste" ability to DOS programs.
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/msdos/screen/pcmou15a.zip

ScrUtil - Simple screen blanker for DOS and Windows. (No longer
supported by author.)
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/msdos/screen/scrutl91.zip

Snipper - Captures text from the screen and saves it in a file or sends
it to the printer.
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/pcmagutl/snippr26.zip

ZANSI - An even faster replacement for ANSI.SYS. Doesn't support
keyboard redefinition. Remove before running MEMMAKER.
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/screen/zansi12.zip

*NEW* Zeno - Speeds up screen writes via BIOS.
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/msdos/screen/zeno25.zip


   AREA 6:  SYSTEM UTILITIES

CacheChk - Verifies size and speed of cache memory.
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/sysinfo/cachchk4.zip

CompTest - System information and benchmarks.
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/sysinfo/ctest260.zip

Escape - Cancels execution of programs during system crashes.
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/tsr/escape20.zip

InfoPlus - Lots of information about your system.
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/sysinfo/ifp1p158.zip

MSD - Microsoft Diagnostics, system information.
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/sysinfo/ga0363.zip

ROM2 - Backs up and restores CMOS data (for use when battery dies,
etc.).
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/sysutil/rom2.zip


   AREA 7:  OTHER UTILITIES

Bat2Exec - Compiles BAT files to executable format.
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/pcmagutl/bat2ex15.zip

CAL - Similar to Unix's cal, shows calendar for any year or month.
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/calendar/cal33.zip

Clock - Shows clock in upper right corner, also supports alarm.
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/msdos/clock/clok132.zip

*NEW* DUMPEM - Display and edit conventional, expanded and extended
memory. Includes memory diagnostics.
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/msdos/memutil/dumpem.zip

*NEW* FILEC - File name completion utility. Configurable.
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/msdos/sysutil/filec106.zip

Key-Fake - Feeds keystrokes to a program.
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/msdos/pcmag/vol4n26.zip

Now & Then - Runs programs at specified intervals (every day, every
week, etc.).
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/msdos/bootutil/nowthn12.zip

Strings - Adds string handling (and many other) functions to BAT files.
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/msdos/batutil/strings2.zip

TSR Utilities - Removes TSR programs from memory without rebooting, and
other memory utilities.
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/memutil/tsrcom35.zip


SECTION D:  ANTI-VIRUS PROGRAMS

ADinf - Advanced Diskinfoscope. Integrity checker.
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/msdos/virus/adinf931.zip (often updated)

Antivirus Toolkit Pro Virus Encyclopedia - Loads of information on
computer viruses.
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/msdos/virus/avpve.zip

DiskSecure II - Protection against Master Boot Record viruses.
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/msdos/virus/dsii242.zip (look for ds242.zip
elsewhere)

F-Prot - Anti-virus scanner. 
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/virus/fp-223.zip (updated about every two
months, finger f-prot@complex.is for latest version)

FixUtils - Suite of anti-virus utilities.
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/msdos/virus/fixutil6.zip


SECTION E:  TEXT AND HEX EDITORS

Hex - Unlike most hex editors, this one lets you insert and delete
bytes.
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/binedit/hex51.zip

NE - "No Edlin", simple text editor with spelling checker. Don't use in
a "DOS box" under Windows!
ftp://ftp.simtel.net/pub/simtelnet/msdos/editor/ne300b.zip

*NEW* SLED - Small yet surprisingly complete text editor.
ftp://ftp.achilles.net/pub/users/sam/sled/sled.zip

TDE - Thomson-Davis Editor, configurable text and hex editor. Very
complete.
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/msdos/editor/tde40.zip

TED3 - "Tiny EDitor" for text files up to 64 kb.
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/msdos/editor/ted3.zip

Zap-It - Binary file and disk editor.
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/msdos/binedit/zapit307.zip

I'd be particularly interested in hearing about editors capable of
handling large files (1 Mb and above).


SECTION F:  COMMUNICATION PROGRAMS

MS Kermit - Reasonably complete, but only supports Kermit.
ftp://kermit.columbia.edu/kermit/archives/msvibm.zip

*NEW* QModem - Complete communication program, demo of commercial
product.
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/msdos/qmodem/qm46td-1.zip and qm46td-2.zip

TXZM - Texas Z-Modem, very small communication program. Supports
Z-Modem only.
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/termutil/txzm241.zip

Special request: I'm still looking for a good fax program!


SECTION G:  MISCELLANEOUS PROGRAMS

FZC - Fast Zip Cracker, brute force cracker for PKZip encrypted files.
ftp://ftp.ox.ac.uk/pub/crypto/cryptanalysis/fzc104.zip

PGP - Pretty Good Privacy, encryption program.
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/crypt/pgp263i.zip

SFS - Secure FileSystem, encrypts a partition or a disk.
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/crypt/sfs110.zip

WPCrack - Finds passwords of Word Perfect 5.x files.
ftp://ftp.ox.ac.uk/pub/crypto/cryptanalysis/wpcrack_a.zip

ZipCrack - Brute force cracker for PKZip encrypted files.
zipcrk10.zip (not zipcrk20.zip, which is another program entirely)


SECTION H:  WINDOWS 3.1x PROGRAMS

1MbFort - Increases free low memory under Windows.
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/pcmagvol/vol14n06.zip

DOSBar - Adds a button bar to DOS windows.
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/win3/sysutil/dosbr142.zip

FTaskman - Replacement for Windows's Task Manager.
ftp://ftp.csusm.edu/pub/winworld/tasks/ftask124.zip

LViewPro - Graphics viewer.
ftp://ftp.std.com/ftp/vendors/mmedia/lview/lviewp1b.zip

MinInfo - Shows free memory and free resources, also time and date.
ftp://ftp.csusm.edu/pub/winworld/memtools/mininfo.zip

More Control - Control Panel add-on.
ftp://ftp.zdnet.com/pccomp/9511/morecn.zip

PFE - Programmer's File Editor. Text editor capable of handling large
files.
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/win3/editor/pfe0602.zip

SAW - System Analyst for Windows. Complete information about hardware,
Windows, drivers, etc.
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/win3/sysutil/saw110.zip

Stiletto - Button-bar task switcher and launcher, calendar and clock.
http://www.winsite.com/supersearch/pc/win3/desktop/stil19u1.zip

SuperPad - Notepad replacement for large files. Doesn't support
printing.
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/msdos/pcmag/vol14n07.zip

UltraClip - Clipboard replacement. Supports OLE.
ftp://ftp.csusm.edu/pub/winworld/clipboard/uclp20.zip

UnixCorn - Adds Windows commands to DOS programs. (Free only to non-US
residents.)
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/win3/shell/unixcn20.zip

Wayfarer - Replacement for Windows's Program Manager. *Very*
configurable.
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/win3/shell/wayfarer.zip

WCL - WinComm Lite, communication program. Demo of commercial program,
annoying compulsory registration.
ftp://ftp.delrina.com/pub/product/windows/wincommlite/wcl.exe

WinFileX - Creates "default" association for File Manager.
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/win3/fileman/wfilx120.zip

========================================================================

Acknowledgements: I got the idea for this list from two great lists of
shareware programs. The first is the list of the best shareware programs
by Timo Salmi, moderator of the FTP site at garbo.uwasa.fi. His list can
be found at ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/pd2/bestp43b.zip. Thanks especially
to Timo for his encouragement and his help.

The second is Samuel Ko's list of the best shareware programs.
Unfortunately, this list seems to be no longer maintained. The last
version (May 1994) is available at
ftp://ftp.coast.net/SimTel/msdos/info/useful35.zip. I've adapted
Samuel's table of contents for my own list.

Special thanks to Konrad Hinsen for suggestions and assistance and to
Stig Linander and Andrew McLachlan for many useful suggestions.

Disclaimer: To my surprise, the administrator of one of the commercial
FTP sites has complained that his own site was not featured prominently
enough in this list. With regret, I therefore feel that I should make
the following disclaimer.

This is a list of software, not a list of FTP sites. I list FTP
locations as a convenience to the users, so that they may find the
programs I mention more easily. I make no judgement on the merits of FTP
sites. If any FTP site has a more recent version of one of the programs
I mention, I would appreciate being informed of this. And, of course,
users's suggestions are always welcome.

========================================================================

Compiled by: Yves Bellefeuille <an448@freenet.carleton.ca>. PGP mail
welcome. Comments, corrections, suggestions and criticism welcome. This
list may be freely reproduced, provided that any changes are clearly
indicated.

========================================================================

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