[Home] [Evaluation] [Free Resorces] [Descriptions] [Coding In HTML]

Finding Free Software on The Microsoft Webpage



Hidden amongst advertising and an overload of Microsoft information there are actually free downloads of microsoft products. The Microsoft site is very big (this is an understatement) so we probably haven't found all of the free software but we had a good try at it. The Microsoft site is basically made up of numerous subsites, each with a slightly different look and with a different content and audience. Below are the different areas that offer free resources to download.

Technet

Downloads For Different Versions of Windows

Downloading IE

The Microsoft Download Centre

Office Updates

Office Resource Kit

Downloading DirectX

Downloading Media Players Software

Office downloads for Mac's

Other sites

Technet

www.microsoft.com/technet/download/default.asp

This section is aimed at IT Professionals and there are many links to follow out of here to find more things to download

top

Downloads For Different Versions of Windows

www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/default.asp

If you want to find something in particular for you version of windows, go to these places and have a look. Some things that you can find are Securiy Updates, Encryption Packs, Utilities and Help Files.

There are updates for various versions of windows 2000, 98, 95, 3.1, NT workstation 4.0, NT server 4.0, CE

top

Downloading IE

www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.htm

This is the page to get internet explorer and add on's (there are a lot)for it, however, when I looked at it, some of the links of the page sent you to pages which were unreadable, maybe they'll fix it or maybe they'll just continue being microsoft.

top

The Microsoft Download Centre

www.microsoft.com/downloads

Supposivly you can find any of the Microsoft downloads through here

Using the Microsoft Download Centre

There are three ways to find products through here, either by selecting the product, a catgory, or using a search for keywords.

If you know the name of a specific product You want, You can just search through the Products and then click on it to find a download.

The catagory search was very general (such as bringing up all of the games) and gave too many options, however if you are just browsing for something and aren't sure what you want, this is a good option.

I found that a keyword search was the easiest way to find something. Just type a keyword(or several) in and they come up.

top

Office Updates

officeupdate.microsoft.com

This is the best way to find updates and add ons for specific Microsoft applications. If you are looking for something for Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access, FrontPage, Publisher, PhotoDraw or MS Project This is the place to go.

To find the downloads just go to the page, click what application you want, and then click on downloads, You will then be given a very long page of downloads with short descriptions that you can choose from.

top

Office Resource Kit

microsoft.com/office/ork/

Just When You thought there was nothing else to download, you find more This is a site in itself with links to get more resources for office applications to extend and configure the capabilities of the application.

For a list of office downloads from this area, this link microsoft.com/office/ork/appa/AppA.htm shows some, but it is harder to find things than using the Office Resource Kit sub-site.

top

Downloading DirectX

msdn.microsoft.com/directx/

This page allows you to download different versions of directX

top

Downloading Media Players Software

microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/en/download/default.asp

Downloads that help you to use your media player

microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/en/business/walkthrough.asp

Downloads designed for the IT professional and has deployment guides

microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/en/business/walkthrough.asp

top

Office downloads for Mac's

microsoft.com/macoffice/users/freedl.htm

There are numerous downloads for Mac office applications, very similar to the office updates for windows.

Internet Explorer or Outlook Downloads For Mac

microsoft.com/mac/download/en/default.asp

top

Other sites

microsoft.com/windowsce/uplink/tips/freesoft.asp

This page lists different sites which contains free software, most of it presumably is compatable with microsoft products.

top

[Home] [Evaluation] [Free Resorces] [Descriptions] [Coding In HTML]