Open Source software for WinXP

[daacosta]

Has anyone tried Comodo's firewall? I like what I have seen so far...

[satimis]

Hi daacosta,

1) Get the one from http://www.burn4free.com/ Though it has a toolbar, install it on a browser you don't use frequently like IE and use the other browser Firefox...

Please explain in more detail. Why a burner needs a browser? TIA

I'm now testing "burnatonce", not promising. It can't burn files on >6 layer, dir/subdirs max 6.

B.R.
satimis

[satimis]

Hi truoc444,

only ones i know are

1 CDBurner XP Pro is a free cd burner

Have you run CDBurner XP? I am stuck on a CD burned without "close/finalize session" checked. The data on the CD can't be read. Do you know how to close the session? TIA

I subscribed on its forum. No response to my posting up to now.

B.R.
satimis

[daacosta]

Hi daacosta,

Please explain in more detail. Why a burner needs a browser? TIA

I'm now testing "burnatonce", not promising. It can't burn files on >6 layer, dir/subdirs max 6.

B.R.
satimis

Is not a browser but a toolbar and you are right, a cd/dvd burner doesn't need that. I just placed that toolbar on my Internet explorer and forgot about it altogether... In honesty I haven't found a better burner than that. Quite simply: You can drag and drop files and start your burning session as if nothing. This nifty program can also burn iso images...

I don't know man... I just like it burn4free

[truoc444]

Hi truoc444,

Have you run CDBurner XP? I am stuck on a CD burned without "close/finalize session" checked. The data on the CD can't be read. Do you know how to close the session? TIA

I subscribed on its forum. No response to my posting up to now.

B.R.
satimis

Sorry i've never actually used it. just knew it existed. I got licensed copies of Nero when i bought my dvd burners. i'll look into it though.

[Roxoff]

Hi folks,

Are there Open Source software for WinXP in respect of;

1) CD/DVD burning other than "Win32 CDR Tools Front End"

You might find something that does this, but you'll probably find yourself falling foul of Microsoft's DRM-enabled operating system.

2) Antivirus

Virus killers are big business. I went for an interview as a software engineer here in the UK with one of the big anti-virus companies. Their operation is pretty large scale, and well spread over the world. They have virus tracking offices spread across the globe (three major stations, one in the UK, on in the US, and one on the pacific rim, I think it's based in Australia). They spend a lot of time tracking down viruses and finding countermeasures - the effort required is immense, and doesn't fit well with OSS software. The beauty of working on FOSS is that you can work in different fields, use your particular skills where they can be applied best, and not be tied to fixed deadlines, which you can work around other work or family commitments. The requirement to chase viruses and find solutions to them doesn't fit too well around that. The good news is that there are free, but not OSS solutions to the anti-virus problem on Windows. Of course, the best solution is to use a properly secure OS that wont give administrator privileges to any snippet of code that you accidentally allow to execute on your computer...

3) Firewall
etc.

Please advise. TIA

B.R.
satimis

If you want on OSS firewall, get smoothwall or one of the other linux-based alternatives, stick it on an old PC box with no monitor or keyboard, but two network cards, and put it between your windows machine and the outside world, and you have a FOSS firewall for windows.

[satimis]

Hi Roxoff,

Tks for your advice.

You might find something that does this, but you'll probably find yourself falling foul of Microsoft's DRM-enabled operating system.

No, I won't go back to M$Windows. It was not an esay task for me migrating to Linux and Unix. A recent test on M$Windows and ReactOS stimulated my interest to investigate the latest development on Windows world.

.....get smoothwall or one of the other linux-based alternatives, stick it on an old PC box with no monitor or keyboard, but two network cards, and put it between your windows machine and the outside world, and you have a FOSS firewall for windows.

Tks.

It sounds some what similar to floppy firewall? I tested it several years ago.

Others noted with tks.

B.R.
satimis

[satimis]

Hi truoc444,

.....just knew it existed. I got licensed copies of Nero when i bought my dvd burners. i'll look into it though.

It is a nice software, with features similar to k3b. I like it. I also have Nero and Easy CD Creator available but I would like to test some software new to me.

Tks.

B.R.
satimis

[daacosta]

Are you also looking for file compression utilities?

I mean, I think we both are in the same boat: I have a laptop with Win XP loaded and now that McFee has expired I need alternatives. Thus far I am very happy with ZoneAlarm firewall, AVG antivirus, etc. I use itunes for my music library and burn4free for my CD/DVD burning... Please let me know if you find cool free software to fulfill security needs, files manipulation, etc.

These are the ones I have:

1. TempCleaner -- http://www.ipaw.net/ Removes all those temporal files...
2. Spybot S&D -- http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html Removes spyware and at the same time warns you of changes in the registry
3. AVG Free edition -- http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1 Good antivirus program
4. ZoneAlarm firewall -- http://www.zonealarm.com/ The best I have found... Comodo's firewall was good enough but I liked this one better.
5. Zip genius 6 -- http://www.zipgenius.it/eng/index.php
6. Burn4free -- CD/DVD burner... Comes with a stupid toolbar but is the best I have found
7. itunes -- Good music library from apple
8. Limeware -- File sharing [ I am not responsible for what you end up sharing or any consecuences of your misuse of this program! ]

I have also scanned my laptop ports using grc's scanner: www.grc.com

Good thing you don't have to do all that using Linux which is happy on my desktop...