How to Create a Countdown Timer for my Desktop for Free
By Erin McManaway
Updated September 28, 2017
A countdown timer can keep track of the time remaining until a special event or important meeting or until a meal you are cooking is ready. You can download a number of free software utilities that can help you set up a countdown timer on your computer. They will put a countdown timer on your desktop so that you never forget how much time you have left.
HS Countdown
Go to the Countdown webpage (see References).
Click the “Download Now” link. This will download a Countdown zip file.
Locate the folder where your download saved and use a decompression program to unzip the file. This can usually be done by right-clicking the file and choosing “decompress” or “unzip.” This will create a decompressed folder with the program’s files inside.
Open the new decompressed folder and double-click the “Countdown.exe” file. A countdown timer will appear on your desktop and a small clock icon will appear in your toolbar.
Right-click on the clock icon in your tool bar, select “Options,” then click “Set Date.” You can also right-click on the actual countdown box for the same menu.
Choose the date and time from the calendar that you want the program to count down to, then press the “OK” button to start your countdown.
TimeLeft
Go to the TimeLeft webpage (see References).
Click the “Download” link in the left menu, then click the “Download free version” link.
Locate the folder where your file downloaded and double-click “timeleft.exe.”
Install the TimeLeft program and allow it to place an icon on your desktop.
Double-click the TimeLeft icon to launch the program.
Click the “Countdown” button in the TimeLeft Quick Task window.
Click the “Add” button to create a new countdown setting.
Configure the date, time, title and layout of your new countdown, then click the “Apply” button. A new countdown timer will appear on your desktop, using the date and time you specified.
CdTimer
Go to the CdTimer download webpage (see References).
Click the “Download Link 1” link to save a zip file.
Locate the folder where your download saved and use a decompression program to unzip the file. This can usually be done by right-clicking the file and choosing “decompress” or “unzip.” This will create a decompressed folder with the program’s files inside.
Open the new decompressed folder and double-click the “cdtimer.exe” file. The “Derelict’s Timer” program will open on your desktop.
Type the number of minutes you want the timer to count down in the text box next to “Max Time.”
Choose a WAV file to play, if you want, when the timer expires by clicking the button with three dots next to “Wav file.” This will bring up a browsing window to select a WAV file from your computer's files.
Slide the pointer on the blue line all the way to the right-hand side to begin the countdown.
References
Writer Bio
Erin McManaway holds a B.A. in professional writing from Francis Marion University, where she earned the Richard B. Larsen Memorial Award for Business and Technical Writing. She has worked in materials development, media and information technology in the nonprofit sector since 2006. McManaway has also been a writer and editor since 2008.