I will also be posting this in the tech section, but since hardly anyone goes there, figured this might be a good place as well. Alot of this info can was found in a magazine, but I copied it over to here as I know not everyone has a subscription to a PC related mag. More will be added as I get time.........So, here we go....

If you would like this emailed to you in HTML format, please IM me and off it shall go.

All new rntries are labeled with the NEW!!

*I am not held responsible for any thing that goes wrong if you use any of these*


Utilities To Make Your Life Better
    Thay have a program for that???

File Me: Disk and File Tools

ChangeExt
 This add-on to the right-click context menu let's you control and explore all aspects of every file type. Change attributes, get creation/modification/size details, and even copy all of this information to the clipboard for pasting elsewhere--all from the context menu. Fantastic for those who need to manipulate a mass of files.
www.geocities.com/justaskcomp (Freeware)

Drive SnapShot 1.3
 This backup/disk image tool won't perform incremental backups, but you wont mind because it creates a disk image so quickly (up to 1.2Gb per minute) while you work. It works with RAID drives and Linux partitions, and it lets you mount your saved disk image as another drive, so you can access the backed-up files.
www.drivesnapshot.de/en (Shareware; approx. $50)

File Viewer 5.0
 Now more than ever you need a decent file preview tool, and File Viewer 5.0 offers a versatile inerface that lets you rifle trough directories and peek into most file types without having to launch the native app. Ithandles Office files with one button for isolating the right file types. FV 5.0 has excellent file managment  (batch rename, emailing, album creation, etc.)
www.accessoryware.com (Shareware; $27.50)

Recover My Files 3.70
 I love this undelete tool because it really delivers thousands of deleted entries yet lets you zero in on the right one. A preview window shows images and docs, while filtering options narrow your search by file type, creation dates, etc.
www.recovermyfiles.com (Shareware; $69.95)

SynchBack 3.2.8.50<------NEW!!
 There are no reason in this day and age not to back up vital files regularly. Even the freeware version of SynchBack lets you schedule quick, easy backups of select directories and files to disk or to syncroniuze source and destination directories. Well worth the $20, the SE version adds network support and a much easier point-and-click interface for designating source folders from a directory tree.
www.2brightsparks.com (Freeware; SE version $20)

Virtual CD 7.1<-----NEW!!
 A comprehensive virtual drive tool like this is perfect for travelers because it lets them put the full contents of a copy-protected nusic CD, game , or DVD onto their hard drive and run it without the disc (as if the data were on their optical disk). There are many other options in this comprehensive, well-explained program, including password protection, disc burning, and more. For laptop travelers who hate bringing discs along.
www.virtualcd-online.com (Shareware; $39.95)

Customizations

ClipMate 6.5
 Some oldies are worth revisiting, and this classic clipboard enhancer is perfect for a boradband age of relentless Web research. It not only holds thousands of clips, but it can search them, combine them, filter text from Web pages, print clips, and now encrypt them for security. A must-have, now more than ever.
www.thornsoft.com (Shareware; $29.95)

CursorXP
 After five years in the market, this is still the easiest way to spice up your Desktop with stylish cursors. Integrated direclty into the Mouse Properties box, CursorXP pulls from a strong library of styles but also lets you import your own images and animations and then make adjustments for how they look and behave on screen.
www.cursorxp.com (Shareware; $29.95)

ObjectDock
Mac envy seems rife this year, and so I find OS X launch bar emulators like this one proving very popular among shareware junkies. ObjectDock not only turns your icons into animated launch bar but has "docklets" such as live weather and a pop-up Google search box, an excellent library of icons, and performance tweaking. The plus verison adds tabbw\ed docks, task groups, and more anmation.
www.stardock.com (Freeware; Plus version $19.95)

ShellToys XP<-----NEW!!
 This suite of XP tools bolts onto the OS shell so that scores of functions pop-up from the context menu. ShellToys XP has media browsing, advanced clipboards, search and repalce, archiving, send to functions, encryption, shut down, and so much more. This effectively bundles most common Windows tools into a single, always available resource--a shortcut to everything.
www.shelltoysxp.com (Shareware; $48)

SmartBarXP 0.991<-----NEW!!
 Get a tatse of the sidebar utility menu reportedly coming in Windows Longhorn (Vista). This wildly enhanced Taskbar pulls in news and weather feeds, monitors Outlook tasks, offers media playback, and turns your Desktop into a live data console. Oh, and of course, there's also that big honkin' clock. Brilliant!!
www.smartbarxp.com (Freeware)

Wallpaper Sequencer Ultra<-----NEW!!
 Stop being bored with your Desktop by letting this tool turn most image libraries into wallpapers that swap in new images as often as you like. You can superimpose a clock or a calender to add functionality and even set transparency on your Taskbar.
www.wallpapersequencer.com (Shareware; $24.95)

Windowpaper XP<-----NEW!!
 This tool lets you paper the background of individual folder windows with a solid color or and digital image. You can also change the icon text descriptor color so that every folder has its own look and feel. You can tile images so that they appear on every screen, even in large file-filled folders. This is a utility that gives Windows a bit more character.
www.sodabush.com (Freeware)

Y'z Dock<-----NEW!!
 A bit buggy and lacking documentation, this is still too cool a tool to over look because it gives WinXP a Mac OS X launch bar. Drag your icons into the bar to make the same launch pad of animated pup-up items as the Mac interface. Change icons, control how each launch item behaves (minimize, maximize programs, etc.), and even use some of the program's small library ot Mac-like icons. (NOTE: THis works with WinXP ONLY)
www.majorgeeks.com/yz_dock_d2790.html (Freeware)

Prodding & Poking: Diagnostics For Serious Modders

CPU Stability Test 6.0
 For system overclockers this tester puts your system through its paces to determine wheather and how much a PC is overclocked and if all aspects of motherboard operation are reliable. Consider it health insurance for radical PC modders.
www.majorgeeks.com/download215.html (Freeware)

DLL Informant
 For serious system snoops, tis sungualr tool tells you what DLLs are running and which programs they support. It also catalogs all of the DLL files on your harddrive to detect duplicates and orphaned files no longer associated with a program. Powerfull, but use with care.
www.jps.at/dllinfo.html (Freeware)

Error Messages
 For system troubleshooters befuddled by those cryptic code numbers in Windows error messages, this one-trick pony looks it up and descibes the error. No more scratching your head.
www.gregorybraun.com (Freeware)

Performance Test 5
 Sometimes simpler is better, and this straightforward benchmarker is comprehensive without being overwhelming. It tests major CPU operations, 2D and 3D graphics, hard and optical disks, and memory. A simple bar chart compares your system to other common systems. And unlike many freeware programs, this benchmarker is up-to-date and supports the latest processors.
www.passmark.com (Shareware; $24)

Ultimate Boot CD
 For the serious PC physician, this bootable DOS CD contans scores of free open-source diagnostic tools, virus fixers, and disk and boot managers that can run directly from the disk. Turn this ISO disc image file into a CD, and you're ready to circumvent a broken ortroubled Windows OS with every imaginable open-source and freeware fix-it tool. Ultimate indeed.
ubcd.sourceforge.net (Freeware)

FreeMeter<-----NEW!!
 Now thats a resource monitor! The task bar visually displays disk space, memory and page file use, CPU load, and much more. The paid version adds network, process, and performance monitoring, as well as cool alerts when any meter hits a customized threshold. Send yourself an email that your disk is full.
www.tiler.com (Freeware; Proversion $21.95)

Look @ LAN 2.50  <-----NEW!!
 Who the heck is on my network? This monitor scans and pings your network to tell you what nodes are online and offline and the general efficiency of each connection. It has buiult-in analysis to provide various types of reports on activity and performance. An excellent alert mechanism tells you when new nodes come on or when they go active.
www.lokatlan.com (Freeware)

Wi-Fi Defense<-----NEW!!
 If you have a Wi-Fi network in any well populated area, you know that interlopers often try to hitch a ride on your broadband. This effortless tool monitors the router, alerts you to anyone trying to access the network, and then lets you declare then "friend" or "foe". Monitor who is and isn't active on the network, their bandwidth use over time, and usage history. WFD also helps you configure your router's security settings. A must-have for apartment dwellers.
www.otosoftware.com (Shareware; $29.95)

Desktop Studio: DIY Media Burners, Reorders, Editors

Advanced MP3/WMA Recorder
 For recording directly from Webcasts or any other audio stream, this is both an easy and powerfull tool that cabn convert any sound your PC makes directly to MP3 or WMA files. Output options abound yet the intertface remains clean.
www.xaudiotools.com (Shareware; $29.95)

Audacity 1.2.3
 One of the superb opn-source bargins on the Web, this full-featured digital audio editor will blow you away with its amazing accessibility. Just highlight a section of audio, and you can trim, cut, paste, and apply effects to MP3, WAV, OGG, and other formats as if editing a text document. For podcasting wannabes wondering how to edit their shows into polished programs, this is where to start.
audacity.sourceforge.net (Freeware)

DVD Shrink 3.2
 This indispensable tool rips from comlex DVDs only the tracks you need or cant fit on a standard 4.7GB DVD+/-R disc. It zeroes in on specific language/audio tracks and includes/excludes extra features for ripping only what you need to a hard drive.
www.dvdshrink.org (Freeware)

Picasa 2
 One of Google's overlooked gifts to users is a remarkably deep photo manger that sends images to email or blogs, via IM, or into collages. The image-editing suite stands out for its sheer simplicity in cropping and manipulating imagry. It gets most digital photography jobs done without loading a massive photo-editing suite. A good red-eye remover to.
www.picasa.google.com (Freeware)

CDex 1.51<-----NEW!!
 Every CD you rip or convert among major formats with this open-source wonder gets properly tagged with CDDB info. It also normalizes audio, creates playlists, and records from analog with one of the cleanest, quickest interfaces.
cdesos.sourceforge.net (Freeware)

CopyPod 7<-----NEW!!
 If you have lost all of your iTunes tracks in a system crash or drive reformat, you need this tool. It transfers music, playlists, and personal info from your iPod to your PC; something iTunes wont do.
www.copypod.net (Shareware; $19.90)

MP3 Tag Tools<-----NEW!!
 This free and easy tool is for messy MP3 libraries of incomplete tags and weird file names. Create batch file renames that follow your own format and pull information from the media tags to create more sensible file naming. You can apply ID3v1.1 or ID3v2.x tags and fill in missing elements among highlighted groups of files. It's a total music library clean up in minutes.
massid3lib.sourceforge.net (Freeware)

Advanced X Video Converter<-----NEW!!
 This program goes beyond its title. More than just a converter of video formats (AVI, MPEG-4, WMV, etc.), it really shines as a splitter and joiner. Highlight miltiple video files, and it concatenates them into a single video. Load a lenghty clip, and a simple slider and dual video screens let you pinpoint the splice to split it in two.
www.aoamedia.com (Shareware; $29.95)


Power Users Toolkit

Bootvis
 Every power user wants a PC that starts up and resumes from hibernation or standby as fast as possible. To speed up Windows XP boot times, and the time it takes the OS to resume from hibernation or standby, Microsoft developed Bootvis. You can use Bootvis to trace the boot/resume process and get a visual representation of Boot Activity, CPU usage, Disk I/O, Disk Utilization, Driver Delays, and Process Creates. Bootvis can also optimize  the placement and order of key files to decrease boot times. Microsoft is no longer supporting Bootvis, but it's available for download from many popular sites.
www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=664 (Freeware)

CachemanXP 1.1
 Windows may have a reputation for bing somewhat of a resource hog, but if use Outer Technologies' CachemanXP application, you can squeeze more performance from a Windows installation. CachemanXP is a sytem service designed to improve the performance of a computer system by optimizing several key caches, recovering RAM, and tweaking a handful of system settings such as the NTFS Last Access Update and Wait To Kil timeouts, among numerous others. CachemanXP also has Auto-Optimization wizard that makes it extremly easy for novices to use, but the sheer number of tweakable settings makes this an invaluable tool for power users, as well.
www.outertech.com (Shareware; $25)

Startup Orginizer
 Over time every Windows-based PC gets bogged down by a plethora of unwanted programs and services that launch whenever the OS is booted. To battle the never0ending onslaught of items that load upon boot, I like to use Startup Organizer. Startup Organizer is an easy-to-use application that was developed to provide uick access to all of the programs and services that automatically start  when you power up your computer. Startup Organizer can edit, inspect, print a list, and/or temporarily disable all of these programs, and make backup configurations should a user run into problems. The program also monitors start-up items and will alert users when it adds a new program or service.
www.metaproducts.com (Shareware; $25)

jv16 Power Tools 2005<-----NEW!!
 jv16 Power Tools 2005 gives users the ability to diagnose, monitor, and generally tweak a system for maximum stability and performance. The program's key features include a Regisrty Cleaner that uses AI to help ensure key entries arn't deleted or altered mistakenly, a Privacy Protector that you can use to clear all unwanted cookies and history items at every system startup, and a file cleaner that will eliminate obsolete and unused files. jv16 also has a handy File Analyzer that will let you examine the contents of unidentified files. In addition, jv16 has a file tool that will merge, encrypt, mass rename, copy, or completly remove files.
www.jv16.org (Shareware; $29.95)

Diskeeper 9 Pro Edition<-----NEW!!
 A fragmented had drive is a slow hard drive. So to combat inevitable hard disk fragmentation, power users need more that the limited disk fragmenter included with Windows. Enter Diskeeper 9 Pro Edition. Diskeeper 9 is a powerful disk defragmenter with a multitude of options available to fine-tune the  defragmentation process. You can use boot time defrags to optimize files that normally can't be moved while the OS is running; you can schdule defrags at predetermined intervals; and with Diskeepers "set-it-and-forget-it" feature, you'll never need to manually defragment your hard drive.
www.diskeeper.com (Shareware; $49.50)


Tweak Me: Life's Little Conveinences


CleanMyPC Regisrty Cleaner
 Among many Registry cleaners, this stands out for making a cmplete registry bckup, checking for Browser hijacks, and giving clear explanations of the Registry errors it finds. How many system maids actually clean and educate at the same time?
www.registry-cleaner.net (Shareware; $29.95)

HDCleaner 2.361
 For obsessives, my new favorite drive cleaner gives total control over what areas and file types to clean, but it also has uninstallers, spy protectors, file splitters, and file shredders. The complete cleaning solution that's sp powerful it's like the Terminator with a mop.
home.tiscali.de/zdata (Freeware)

SpeedFan 4.25
 For advanced tweakers only. SpeedFan monitors and adjusts your fan speed, CPU, and hard drive temps, and even lets you schedule FSB changes, according to your CPU use. Frighteningly deep, so use with care.
www.almico.com (Freeware)

Aversoft Sticker<-----NEW!!
 This slightly misnamed but very effective reminder system pops-up custom, skinnable sticky notes to tweak your memory about events or even launch programs according to a schedule. Reminders can blink or use alert sounds. I love the sticky note metaphor, which lets you move the reminder to a corner so that it gently nags you to remember it.
www.aversoft.com (Shareware; $14.95)

Security

a-squared HiJackFree
 A remarkably sophisticated antispy tool, especially for freeware, a-squared reveals even the most hidden start-up programs, as well as BHOs (Browser Helper Objects), running services and process, and IE add-ons. Best of all, click a DLL or a Regisrty entry once, and the program delivers any available details about its source; double-click and it opens ip Regedit to let you edit the associated Registry entry.
www.hijackfree.com (Freeware)

BHODemon 2.0
 The best protection against drive-by installations detecting the BHOs these underhanded Webmasters use to install programs without permission. BHO-Demon alerts you to these attepmts and then helps you hunt down and neutralize the BHOs on your PC.
www.definitivesolutions.com (Freeware)

CWShredder
 The worst, most widesprwad and destructive spyware online this year os CoolWebSearch, an ever-changing beast that bolts itself into system kernals. Run this CWS killer regularly to make sure you are free of the scourge of 2005...
www.trendmicro.com/cwshredder (Freeware)

WinLock 4.3
 WinLock's not just password protection for every imaginable on your system (drives, folders, programs). but also a comprehensive tool for setting time limits on a user's access to the system and for hiding almost any Windows system element. A control freak's dream tool...
www.crystaloffice.com (Shareware; $17)

Streamline The Internet: Web Tools<-----NEW!!

LinkCommander<-----NEW!!
 Finally, a versitle bookmark manager that seperates your Favorites from the browsers themselves. Rearrange your favs, password protect specific links, and import/export to most of the majot browsers. The coolest tool here is the Drop Trap; Drag any URL from any program to this icon to turn it into a bookmark.
www.resortlabs.com (Shareware; $34.95)

POP Peeper<-----NEW!!
 For simplicity and comprehensivness, I like POP Peeper for checking all POP3 and Web Mail accounts (Yahoo!, Hotmail, MyWay, etc.) all at once in a single, versatile interface. You can fully customize your notification, including skinnable alerts and any audio file. Program POP Peeper to check each account at different intervals and store mail data in disk. It has a fully functional client for reading and repltying to mail in any account.
www.poppeeper.com (Freeware)

Portable Firefox<-----NEW!!
 Firefox on a stick. This makes a fully functional version of the open-source browser run of reusable media sucj=h as a USB key but also ZIP drives, CD-RW discs, and Flash RAM cards. Best feature: It runs most of your favorite FF extensions and retains your prfile despite a changing drive letter.
johnhaller.com (Freeware)

World Wind 1.3<-----NEW!!
 These satellite views and 3D-rendered images from NASA let you zoom into any spot on Earth. There are multiple topographic views to layer over the incredibly resolved Landsat 7 satellite images and spectigraphic data that registers current events as fires, floods, and volcanic activity. SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission) data folds into the satellite imagery to create virtual eye-lever #d views from anywhere on Earth. Google maps? "BAH!" Now these are maps.
worldwind.arc.nasa.gov (Freeware)

thanks Fiero!

Nice post.  Thank you.

You got the URL wrong for Audacity.  It is audacity.sourceforge.net  (that's source forge, not sound forge, an understandable typo.  Did you ever use Sonic Foundry's Sound Forge?

Thanks for the links!

Quoted: Nice post.  Thank you. You got the URL wrong for Audacity.  It is audacity.sourceforge.net  (that's source forge, not sound forge, an understandable typo.  Did you ever use Sonic Foundry's Sound Forge?

Fixed. And yeah, I used it along time ago. Pretty neat.

OK DAMNIT!! IM WORKING ON THE SPELLING ERRORS!!!

tag for later

.

tag

.

tagged

Thank you!

It looks like I can use audacity to cut up one long MP3 recorded from voicemail into individual messages.

Thanks alot!

tag

Got alot more to add, so once I get to work where I have nothing to do ill add some more. Glad someone can make use of some of this.

nice
thanks
tag

nice thread.. i had something like this but not quite as extensive.

Thanks.

Quoted: Performance Test 5  Sometimes simpler is better, and this straightforward benchmarker is comprehensive without being overwhelming.  It tests major CPU operations, 2D and 3D graphics, hard and optical dicks, and memory. A simple bar chart compares your system to other common systems. And unlike many freeware programs, this benchmarker is up-to-date and supports the latest processors. www.passmark.com (Shareware; $24) OK, more will come tomorrow, my hands are tired from typing.

I think I'll pass on that test.  

tag

tag

taggity.

Thanks fiero.

Cool! Thanks!

There isnt a length restriction to text in a sinlge post is there? Cause I have alot more to add.

Thanks a lot!
Great thread

Quoted: There isnt a length restriction to text in a sinlge post is there? Cause I have alot more to add.

Not sure HOW long exactly, but I've seen a couple really long ones that, after a certain point, lost all their formatting and links went all to shit.

I'd try to break them up a bit, if you can, so you don't have to go back and edit a huge post afterwards.


Btw, good post    I've used a few of these over the years and some are worth their weight in gold.

Oh soooo tagged...

tagbump

tag

thanks..i just grabbed dvd shrink.

Quoted: thanks Fiero!

Thanks. I didn't know Audacity was available for the Windows platform.  Here are a few nifty utilities I use from time to time:

All of these things are for Windows unless otherwise noted. Some are multi-platform.

CDex 1.51 - Extract audio tracks from compact music discs in WAV or MP3 format.

QuickTime Alternative 1.66 - Great for folks who are paranoid about regular QT taking over their system and screwing up file preferences.

FontLister 2.0 - A great tool for viewing installed fonts. Unfortunately all versions past 2.0 require payment, but 2.0 is still free and available for download.

Ad-Aware - A fairly good spyware/trojan detector. Most folks know about this application.

Image Magick - A great command line graphics manipulation and conversion tool. Be aware that you must install a few supporting files before you install the main program. Read the instructions carefully. If you install things in the wrong order it won't work!

Mail Washer - Fairly decent spam filtering program. I used this until MS and Mozilla started building spam filters in their email clients. Most folks probably don't need it if they use Outlook Express, Thunderbird, or the Mozilla email client.

memtest86 - Burn this bootable program to a CD-R and use it to detect flaws in RAM. If your ram has flaws, memtest wil find them.

TextPad - The only shareware program in this post. It is a great plain text editor with a lot of features not found in the default Windows editor.

I hope I haven't duplicated any suggestions already in the thread. Have fun. And remember to scan for bugs early and often- particularly after installing a new bit of software.

Galland

Outstanding.

Great thread....

tagged even though I cant track them anymore.

Just got me the Ultimate Boot CD.

Thanks

tag

The Freeware Thread at Anandtech.com has tons of cool stuff.

<tag>

tag-a-rama

Thanks.  I just upgraded to XP from 98 and I am finding myself missing a bunch of little useful utilities.

Does anybody make something like the "Send To" extension that was in Windows Powertools?   I got really used to being able to right click on a file and copy or move it someplace.  

tag for later perusal.

Fiero, you got that written up in an email format?  I'd like to archive that somewhere.  Some of those things look uber useful!  

Maybe a scanner would help? Then you could just add links at the bottom?

Just a thought.

Oh, good info!

Don't forget IESpell...IESpell Oh, it's FREE!


ByteTheBullet  (-:

.

Quoted: Drive SnapShot 1.3  This backup/disk image tool won't perform incremental backups, but you wont mind because it creates a disk image so quickly (up to 1.2Gb per minute) while you work. It works with RAID drives and Linux partitions, and it lets you mount your saved dick image as another drive, so you can access the backed-up files. www.drivesnapshot.de/en (Shareware; approx. $50) .

I am not sure if I want this program mounting my dick image

j/k   Kick ass post.. thanks