TeX and Other Selected Windows Freeware

• INTRODUCTION, freeware sources, space used, what's new
• UTILITIES: disks and files, desktop appearance, starting, running, and controlling programs, miscellaneous tweaks, Unix
  and tips about:
  • Installing and using Windows software in general
  • Bugs versus features
• TEX software: distributions, pdf/ps, graphical shells, tex-spellcheckers, tex graphics, additional programs
  and tips about:
  • Beginners' introduction to tex and its use
  • Configuring Yap
  • Configuring TeXnic Center
  • Configuring some older shell programs
  • Quick and rough pictures in Tex
• EDITORS: other math, compilers and programming, office suites, text editors and word-processors, graphics, other filetypes
• INTERNET: security, SSH, telnet, FTP, email, X Window, HTML editors, MathML, browsers: [ IE, Mozilla, other], plugins
  and tips about:
  • Using Netscape

Abridged instructions for installing Latex software:

1. You'll definitely need a distribution. The one I'm recommending is Miktex.
2. Though it is not absolutely essential, most people will find their work made easier by a shell/editor. The one I've been using is Texniccenter (TXC); here are some extra notes on how to configure it. I'm less familiar with the alternatives to TXC, but you're welcome to try one.
3. Beginners might start with my very brief introduction to tex, and then download one or more of the free reference manuals.
4. You might also want some additional related software -- postscript viewer, tex-compatible spell-checker, tex-compatible graphics editor, etc.