Over time, the Windows operating system has been increasingly enriched with new internal features. Some of these tools have been included in Windows 7, others in Windows 8 thus making the installation of additional programs and tools unnecessary.
In this article, instead of recommending new tools and programs, we see which ones no longer need to be installed because they are already included in Windows and, therefore, now superfluous .
At the same time, this article also proposes another purpose, to find the best alternative programs for each tool integrated in Windows .
1) Antivirus
If you use Windows 8, you can not install an antivirus because it is already there even if well hidden.
On the antivirus of Windows 8, Windows Defender we have written a user guide that I recommend to read.
The important thing however is to know that this antivirus is there, it works and protects the PC in real time against any new threat.
Windows Defender of Windows 8 is essentially Microsoft Security Essentials which can be installed in Windows 7 and also on XP.
2) Firewall
If you are still using a third party firewall, I would like to say that unless there are special needs, there is no need.
Windows, starting with the Windows XP SP2 version, integrates a firewall that blocks unauthorized incoming traffic and blocks access to sensitive network services, such as sharing network files on public Wi-Fi networks.
READ ALSO: Best Free Firewalls for Windows PC
3) Security suite
In addition to antivirus and firewalls, Internet security suites also include the phishing filter, and other more advanced protections.
None of these features are really necessary for a computer because every updated web browser, including Internet Explorer, includes protection against phishing.
Note also that Windows 8 has a system-wide protection called SmartScreen that prevents unauthorized installations.
Chrome automatically blocks downloads considered to be at risk.
Internet Explorer 9 and 10 are protected by the smartscreen filter and monitoring.
READ ALSO: Best free security suites for Windows
4) Partition Manager
No external program is required to manage partitions on Windows.
Just use the Disk Management application found in the Windows administration tools to shrink and enlarge existing partitions, create new ones, and format them.
The disk space management feature in Windows 8 can also combine partitions on multiple disks into one large logical partition.
5) Mount ISO and IMG files
To mount the ISO or IMG files and access them as virtual disks, it is no longer necessary to install an inconvenient tool to mount virtual C like Daemon Tools, at least if you are using Windows 8.
Windows 8 in fact allows you to mount an ISO file by simply clicking on it with the right mouse button.
To mount other types of disk images or with Windows 7, you will still need to install an external program.
6) Burning
Windows has its own burning program starting with Windows 7.
It allows you to write to CDs and DVDs, to erase rewritable discs, and even burn ISO image files.
Audio CDs can be burned or duplicated from Windows Media Player.
However, I personally believe that a program like CDBurnerXP is the best for burning discs on Windows.
7) Disk cleaning
"Cleaner" programs that clean up your PC of obsolete or temporary files have never really been necessary.
A program like CCleaner may be recommended, but it is not absolutely mandatory since Windows has its tools to clean the disk completely from unnecessary files
In another article, we also discouraged Registry Cleaners.
8) Startup Manager
In Windows 8, finally, a tool has been put in place to manage programs that automatically start when the computer is turned on.
This startup manager is a tab of the Windows task manager.
In previous versions of Windows, you could use the hidden Msconfig tool or use one of the Windows startup manager programs.
9) Management of multiple monitors
Windows 8 gives you the ability to show the desktop taskbar on multiple monitors.
This function in WIndows 7 and previous versions can be obtained only with external programs that however give more configuration options also in Windows 8.
See also the best programs for working with two or more screens
10) Copy of files
To speed up the processes of copying and moving files on Windows it was necessary to use programs to copy files more quickly such as TeraCopy which also allowed to suspend and resume transfers without having to start over again as Windows did.
With Windows 8 copying files is improved, fast and with the possibility of being paused.
11) Advanced Task Manager
In Windows 8 the task manager is really rich in information, with a hierarchical process structure that makes it simple to read and understand.
Those who do not use Windows 8 can explore what is happening on the computer using an advanced task manager with Process Explorer.
12) System information
To know which computer you are using and to manage computer resources, Windows has many built-in tools.
In another article: 10 most useful system tools hidden in Windows
13) PDF reader
Here is another great addition in Windows 8, the PDF reader to open PDF files without external programs.
Unfortunately, Windows Reader is an application of the Start screen and does not integrate well with the desktop.
However, if you use Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox as a browser, here the PDF reader does not serve the same on any computer, because Chrome and Firefox open PDF files without problems.
See how to open PDF with Chrome.
14) Virtual machines
Windows 8 includes a tool called Hyper-V that allows you to create and use virtual machines without having to install other programs (a special guide will be needed on this tool).
In Windows 7 there is the Virtual PC XP-Mode to have a virtual Windows XP.
In another article the best virtualization programs.
15) Backup tools
Unless you have special backup needs, you don't need to install any additional programs to make backup copies of your computer.
Windows 7 and Windows 8 have its backup and restore function to create a system image.
In Windows 8 there are also options to restore, reinstall or reinitialize Windows 8 from a backup
Most of the tools included in Windows may not be the most advanced and complete options, but they are still integrated solutions that cost nothing more, easy to use and that make the installation of additional programs unnecessary.
