14,000 dos-w31-w9x-XP-7 programs <1mb Freeware-Shareware, 1990s-2025 +Catalogs
Hello everyone,
As I've always had a liking for small Windows programs, I thought I'd share the small freeware programs I've accumulated over the last 25+ years (give or take) before I cark it and my little NAS server goes belly up - or my kids donate it to the Salvos (whichever comes first).
So I've extracted all 15,027 small Windows-DOS programs I have that are between 1kb-1mb in size and grouped them into various size categories on my website and my FTP server for download.
These are almost all Windows (or DOS) but there are a few Acorn, MAC, RISC and CP/M thrown in.
Most are freeware and some shareware - but no cracks/hacks/warez/malware/keygens/ISOs etc.
Dates range from the early 1990's to 2025.
There are 15,027 programs in the archives, but I'm calling it 14,000-ish as there will be some duplicates and some that exceed the upper 1mb size limit (I'm not going to peek into each of 3,835 zips to discover which).
I've grouped these programs into 5 size categories:
* 1,292 programs from 01kb - 10kb (8mb archive)
* 4,555 programs from 11kb - 100kb (187mb archive)
* 2,262 programs from 101kb - 200kb (286mb archive)
* 3,543 programs from 201kb - 500kb (1gb archive)
* 3,835 programs from 501kb - 1mb (2.1gb archive)
* Combined 15,027 programs 01kb - 1mb from the 5 smaller archives in one 3.6gb archive
All these groups have been archived in .rar format.
So that you can see what you're getting, I've cataloged all the archives using Virtual Volumes View and this is also available to download.
It has a catalog for each of the 6 groups and instructions on use are included.
It's a nifty little piece of software and presents the catalog in an Explorer-like GUI, and it has a search function.
I've also included a simple pdf listing in folder/file format in each archive.
I hope by making them available people will download and enjoy some of them so they won't be lost to time.
There are some real gems in these archives and all credit to the authors for making their work available to the internet community for others to enjoy.
To access the downloads you can go to either my tiny windows site or my main site here:
https://tiny.multiboot-windows.dscloud.me/
https://multiboot-windows.dscloud.me/index.html
They're also on my FTP server here: (in the folder "055_Tiny_Apps_1kb-1mb")
ftp://shotterftp21.mooo.com (login as anonymous)
Download and enjoy some excellent small Windows freeware programs.
Update:
I wasn't going to upload these to the Internet Archive but following 02k-guy's suggestion I've padded the smaller archive files and all seem to have uploaded OK.
The Internet Archive link is:
https://archive.org/details/14000-dos-w31-w9x-xp-7-programs-less-than-1mb/
Downloads from the Internet Archive may be faster than from my Synology NAS, as I live in a part of the world where internet speeds are not the fastest.
Anyways, download and enjoy.
Kind regards,
shotter_nail
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Example view of one of the archive catalogs (VVV):
Example view of one of the pdf listings:
As I've always had a liking for small Windows programs, I thought I'd share the small freeware programs I've accumulated over the last 25+ years (give or take) before I cark it and my little NAS server goes belly up - or my kids donate it to the Salvos (whichever comes first).
So I've extracted all 15,027 small Windows-DOS programs I have that are between 1kb-1mb in size and grouped them into various size categories on my website and my FTP server for download.
These are almost all Windows (or DOS) but there are a few Acorn, MAC, RISC and CP/M thrown in.
Most are freeware and some shareware - but no cracks/hacks/warez/malware/keygens/ISOs etc.
Dates range from the early 1990's to 2025.
There are 15,027 programs in the archives, but I'm calling it 14,000-ish as there will be some duplicates and some that exceed the upper 1mb size limit (I'm not going to peek into each of 3,835 zips to discover which).
I've grouped these programs into 5 size categories:
* 1,292 programs from 01kb - 10kb (8mb archive)
* 4,555 programs from 11kb - 100kb (187mb archive)
* 2,262 programs from 101kb - 200kb (286mb archive)
* 3,543 programs from 201kb - 500kb (1gb archive)
* 3,835 programs from 501kb - 1mb (2.1gb archive)
* Combined 15,027 programs 01kb - 1mb from the 5 smaller archives in one 3.6gb archive
All these groups have been archived in .rar format.
So that you can see what you're getting, I've cataloged all the archives using Virtual Volumes View and this is also available to download.
It has a catalog for each of the 6 groups and instructions on use are included.
It's a nifty little piece of software and presents the catalog in an Explorer-like GUI, and it has a search function.
I've also included a simple pdf listing in folder/file format in each archive.
I hope by making them available people will download and enjoy some of them so they won't be lost to time.
There are some real gems in these archives and all credit to the authors for making their work available to the internet community for others to enjoy.
To access the downloads you can go to either my tiny windows site or my main site here:
https://tiny.multiboot-windows.dscloud.me/
https://multiboot-windows.dscloud.me/index.html
They're also on my FTP server here: (in the folder "055_Tiny_Apps_1kb-1mb")
ftp://shotterftp21.mooo.com (login as anonymous)
Download and enjoy some excellent small Windows freeware programs.
Update:
I wasn't going to upload these to the Internet Archive but following 02k-guy's suggestion I've padded the smaller archive files and all seem to have uploaded OK.
The Internet Archive link is:
https://archive.org/details/14000-dos-w31-w9x-xp-7-programs-less-than-1mb/
Downloads from the Internet Archive may be faster than from my Synology NAS, as I live in a part of the world where internet speeds are not the fastest.
Anyways, download and enjoy.
Kind regards,
shotter_nail
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Example view of one of the archive catalogs (VVV):
Example view of one of the pdf listings:
Comments
So, to make that happen, I create a large enough dummy binary file, that when added to the rar, the total exceeds 650 mb.
Now, that may seem a waste. but it's their bandwidth. There is an online site I used to create 100, 200, 300 mb files that I keep on my hard drive, just for this purpose. Because the files are random binary content, they do not compress, and make it easy to predict the final size of your upload.
https://pinetools.com/random-file-generator
Thank you for the tip - I'll give it a go with the 3 smaller archives and pad them out before I upload them.
I did think about mime encoding everything but it adds an extra procedural layer that might be a little too technical for some.
I have to admit I've lost some confidence in the IA in the last few years with the direction they seem to be going - although the upside is it's still an invaluable resource for things such as early freeware and device drivers.
Kind regards,
shotter_nail
Yes. I considered that method too. Reached same conclusion.
I have no qualms about cracks or keygens and uploading them. They are necessary to keep old softs alive. For those, I have a simple command prompt program that will convert the crack/keygen to a non scannable, self-extracting batch file. And it will execute on anything DOS on up thru Windows 12. I shamelessly rippied it from a DOS software forum, and it works well.
I have to admit I've lost some confidence in the IA in the last few years with the direction they seem to be going - although the upside is it's still an invaluable resource for things such as early freeware and device drivers.
Yes, it is all that and more. AS you have found, IA feels pressure from outside forces, and this is how they were best able to adapt.
Some time ago, I uploaded Wincode 2.73:
"This is Wincode v2.7.3 *RELEASE*. It will NOT expire :-)."
NOTE: This is the last version published.
A Windows utility written by George Silva that supports the UUcoding and MIME
formats for converting binary files into 7-bit ASCII for transmission so they
can be attached to email over the Internet.
Decode MIME (Base 64), BinHex, UUe. Handles segmented files.
Wincode is 100% compatible with all standard UUcoders, MIME 1.0
conformant software, BINHEX 4.0 and BTOA v4.0 and v5.2 coders.
Wincode v2.7.3a: Multi-Purpose Encoder/Decoder for Windows.
Supports UU,XX,USR,BASE64(MIME), BINHEX,BTOA(4&5) & BOO encode/decode.
Includes support for external ZIP/UNZIP and Virus Scan programs.
Winsock compatible module will automatically E-Mail and/or Post encoded
documents.
Smart Decoder; Drag & Drop; Fully Configurable.
https://archive.org/details/wincode
This would make it much easier for the uninformed.
Thank you for the link, I'll try it out.
I also found a very simple Base 64 encode/decode utility called Base64 File Converter, drag and drop, portable, 110kb with minimal options, Windows XP and up.
I tried it out and it does a fast encode/decode and checksums match (which is good).
The link is here:
https://web.archive.org/web/20140903054823/http://base64fileconverter.codeplex.com/
In the meantime I'll keep using your padding method for IA uploads as that works fine.
Kind regards,
shotter_nail
I tried it out and it does a fast encode/decode and checksums match (which is good)."
Thanks! I'll take it.
OPPS! Wayback page loads, but download link not working.
https://web.archive.org/web/20140911231350/http://base64fileconverter.codeplex.com/downloads/get/696023
However, after rooting around, found this link to the ZIP:
https://codeplexarchive.blob.core.windows.net/archive/projects/base64fileconverter/base64fileconverter.zip