Useful Windows 11 apps and settings
This is the software I work with.
System / Coding
- 7Zip Windows comes with basic ZIP file functionality. But 7Zip can also handle tar,gz,7z formats and create passwords
- AxCrypt encode files or folders and and protect them with a password
- Azure VPN Client
- Brother iPrint and Scan only for Brother devices
- BrowsingHistoryView comfortable search tool for most web browsers' history
- Comodo Cleanup Essentials dives into registry for autorun, terminates apps most reliantly and more
- Explorer Patcher Windows 7/10 layout in Windows 11. It is still a bit experimental: Uninstall (in safe mode) if your screen ends up black on startup.
- Flash Renamer powerful tool to batch rename files with many options (free version is limited)
- Folder Size for Windows analyzes directories and subdirectories
- HTerm a basic terminal tool for COM port communication
- Intel Chipset Device Software depending on your device it is always recommended to install chipset drivers
- node.js extends JavaScript to run as standalone applications. Use the latest version of the prebuilt installer.
- Process Explorer a Microsoft systernal exceeding the Task Manager
- PureSync mirrors directories for data backup
- Ruby language for graphical charts from CSV
- Traffic Monitor shows current upload and download bandwidth (KB/s) in task bar
- XAMPP bundle with Apache driver (for php scrpting on your local PC), MariaDB and more
- Zadig assign drivers to devices manually
Databases
- HeidiSQL workbench for quick database editing, cross platform
- MariaDB is part of XAMPP but there always crashing. Better to install it seperately.
- MariaDB ODBC driver needed in combination with HeidiSQL
- PostgreSQL
- PgAdmin for Postgres. You need old PgAdmin versions for old database versions. PgAdmin 1.6 works well with Postgres 8.
Internet
- Firefox Developer Edition has a few more features than the standard edition, FF is best for data protection
- Google Chrome a few sites still do not work with Firefox
- HMA VPN VPN provider of my choice (paid)
- Mozilla Thunderbird e-mail client
- Open Shell classic start menu for Windows 11
Audio and music
- Audacity universal audio editor, can record any StereoMix output in WASAPI mode
- BandLab amazing platform where musicians around the world can easily come together to develop common projects
- BR Series Wave Converter tool to transfer audio tracks to my pocket 8-track Boss BR-80 audio recorder
- Cubase expensive and complex, but powerful. Comes with 1000s of instruments and presets.
- Cakewalk fully featured DAW (digital audio workstation). Intuitive and free. Basic instruments integrated. Requires BandLab Assistant.
- Equalizer APO integrates EQ in any Windows sound output, infinite number of bands and frequencies possible
- mp3directcut lossless cut of MP3 files
- Mp3tag edit ID3 tags in a powerful GUI.
- id3mtag powerful command line editor for id3 tag batch processing
- Realtek Audio Console if you use Realtek soundcards
- VLC media player for audio and video
- Winamp still preferred for my MP3s, playlists, crossfading etc
VST Instruments
- Arturia V Collection professional VST synths and instruments. Low-Price licence transfers are available at Knobcloud. Check ratings fist.
- Kontakt Many free instruments. Both versions 6 and 7 with "Native Access" from Native Instruments are required for different instruments
- ProjectSAM The Free Orchestra
- Spitfire Audio
- Steinberg Halion Sonic 7 free version of this synth- and sample instrument is very basic
Images and photos
- FastStone Image Viewer lightweight app to organize image directories, basic editing, batch processing (with I use for compressing)
- GeoPhoto reads Exif coordinates from files and places all your images on a world map
Radio / DX / Satellite
- DAB player by Andreas Gsinn enables DVB-T USB sticks to decode digital radio DAB+
- EBS Pro satellite transponder analysis with the TBS5925 tuner, also for other devices
- FM DX Webserver share your TEF6686 receiver, requires node.js
- Jaguar DX MW DX GUI for the Perseus receiver
- Perseus software and server for the great Perseus SDR
- PskovNDB detect ultra-weak non-directional-beacons on LW by loops / overlays of long-time WAV recordings
- QIRX DAB+ decoding with deep analysis: TII (transmitter identifier) and more
- Praat for FFT frequency analysis of WAV files. Originally intended for acoustics, this also works with SDR-WAV recordings
- RDS Spy RDS decoder, You can use an input signal with 192 khz sample rate provided by your SDR software via the VAC output (Virtual Audio Cable or VB audio).
- SpectrumLab sprectrum, waterfall, signal analysis
- SDR Sharp SDR-GUI with many plugins: Co-Channel canceller, analog TV demodulation etc
- Virtual Audio Cable creates virtual audio devices for audio routing and resampling (paid)
- WSJT-X decode digital modes for weak signals
- CSV Userlist browser connects frequency lists with SDR software
Video
- AviDemux cuts and merges AVI, FLV, MKV, MOV, MP4, MPG and WebM, lossless
- MPC-HC outdated video player but I still like the functionality
- OBS studio screen recorder
- Sony DVD Architect Studio for DVD creation (from 2012, not free)
- XMedia Recode batch convert audio and video, nice GUI but can cause system crashes
Text editors
- Libre Office a free alternative to Word, Excel, power Point etc
- Note Tab Light powerful text editor for system files
- PSPad editor for coding with color emphasis
Other
- Ahnenblatt 2.99p Genealogy. Supports common formats. 2.99 is the last free version
- Google Earth Pro Google Maps as an app with additional features
Tweaks
- Restore old File Explorer context menu in Windows 11:
reg.exe delete "HKCU\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}" /f(in PS) - Make power shell batch files (PS1) files executeble: Run PS as admin, then: Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned
All freeware unless otherwise indicated. I am only linking to Google to prevent the links from becoming outdated.