Software Links - Free stuff

Windows 8 Start menu..

Classic Shell is an open source Start Menu which brings back the more traditional menu to the Windows 8 desktop.

http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/

Pokki is a hybrid Start Menu which introduces it's own apps as well as showing the a more traditional view of what is installed.

https://www.pokki.com/

Image Viewer..

XnView is an image/picture viewer which will allow the  Microsoft Picture-It format to be converted to a standard  format like .jpg.

http://xnview.com/en/index.html

Paint.net is an open source application with lots of features and is an excellent replacement for the long defunct Microsoft Picture-It.

Anti-virus..

Microsoft Security Essentials. This replaces Microsoft OneCare, and is an excellent anti-virus and spyware solution.

http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

Anti-virus - Bitdefender Free. A small footprint solution that will not slow your computer down.

http://www.bitdefender.com/solutions/free.html

PDF.. 

Foxit reader is small, fast and reads pdf files. Replace Adobe Reader with this for a faster load.

http://www.foxitsoftware.com/

PDF creator - PrimoPDF will enable you to create your own professional looking pdf documents.

http://www.primopdf.com/

Disk utilities.. 

Treesize will give you a smart, pictorial insight into what is using your hard disk space. Also available: SmartBackup, SmartSerial Mail, SpaceObServer, and Exchange Server software.

http://www.jam-software.com/freeware/index.shtml

Auslogics - Watch Windows defrag for free with this excellent utility. It defaults to doing all disks at one time, and is fast.

http://www.auslogics.com/en/software/disk-defrag/

Aomei produce a partition manager and back up program, both simple to use..

http://www.aomeitech.com/

Productivity.. 

Two here. Open Office and Libre Office (based upon Open Office) are full office productivity suites featuring a full set of applications.

http://www.openoffice.org/

http://www.libreoffice.org/

System..

SpeedFan - A very useful hardware monitor which shows internal temperatures on the fly. To make the most of fan control, it does require setting up, but is a must have for all desktop users..

http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php