Over the years I have found these to be my favorite free software programs to keep my PC/HTPC running "like a top", and/or are very useful. If you have any other free ones to recommended, please post and share your wisdom - or comment on the ones I've listed...
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Utilities, tune-up, maintenance & useful PC information
1-4a Rename - batch, mass file renamer & other useful utilities (2/18/04)
[email protected] Kill Disk - free powerful hard drive eraser (11/7/04)
Add/Remove Pro - useful Add/Remove Programs utility
AnswersThatWork.com - ultimate online HelpDesk for PC problems (5/17/04)
Auslogics' Registry Defrag & Disk Defrag – free defragmentation utilities (1/24/09)
AutoPatcher - install all the updates & registry tweaks (6/22/04)
AutoRuns for Windows – shows you what programs are configured to run during system bootup (8/15/08)
BartPE - Bart's Preinstalled Environment (BartPE) bootable live windows CD/DVD (10/6/04)
Batchrun - create batch files Win 95/98/ME/NT/2000
Batchrun XP alternative - create .cmd files (using Notepad) (6/21/04)
Black Viper's web site - Windows configurations, setup, tweaks...
Black Viper archived - archived site (5/10/05)
Black Viper archived - archived site for XP SP2 (5/10/05)
Boot Log Analyzer - looks at your Windows BOOTLOG.TXT file for startup issues (5/21/05)
Boot Log XP - the best Windows boot analyzer (5/21/05)
BootVis - performance trace visualization tool for faster boot-startup times (8/1/04)
Ccleaner - freeware system optimization, privacy & cleaning tool (9/12/08)
CDCheck - utility for prevention, error detection & recovery of damaged files (6/30/04)
CodeStuff Starter - view & manage all the programs that are starting
ComputerUser.com - very complete and updated high-tech dictionary for computer users (9/20/04)
Darik's Boot and Nuke - self-contained boot floppy that securely wipes the hard disks of most computers (11/7/04)
ExplorerXP - innovative FREEWARE file manager for Windows 2000/XP (5/20/05)
FARR (Find And Run Robot) – rapidly find programs & documents on your computer (1/27/09)
File Management in Windows XP - a lot of info & tips from The Elder Geek (5/20/05)
FileAnt File Manager - Windows file manager on tabs, FTP client (5/20/05)
Filex - complete reference on File Extensions & associated applications
freeCommander - dual pane, “swiss army knife” replacement for Windows Explorer (12/17/04)
freshdevices - excellent utilities like Fresh Download, Fresh Diagnose, Fresh UI, Fresh View... (5/21/05)
HDD Scan and Restoration Program - free HDD repair & data recovery software (11/7/04)
Help2Go - committed to offering free computer help & tutorials (6/23/04)
Index Your Files – search with file name indexing, smaller footprint (1/27/09)
Iobit SystemCare – System Care, Computer Scan, Computer Repair, PC Maintenance (6/4/09)
KatMouse – mouse wheel utility for Windows (1/27/09)
Lavalys - freeware system diagnostics & benchmarking solution (6/30/04)
Lockergnome Tips - “Your Top Technology Information Resource”
Low-Level Format, Zero-Fill & Diagnostic Utilities - info on HDD (Hard Disk Drive) utilities & formatting (11/7/04)
Low-Level Format, Zero-Fill & Diagnostic Utilities - manufacturer links for HDD utilities (11/7/04)
How to permanently erase data from a hard disk - site about permanently erasing data on a hard drive (11/7/04)
MagicISO Virtual CD/DVD-ROM – designed for creating & managing virtual CD drives & CD/DVD discs (11/25/08)
Motherboard Monitor - manage your fans, resources & alarms
MSFN's Unattended XP CD - create XP CD with Critical Updates, tweaks, drivers... (5/27/04)
MyCoolTools - real useful tools: VisualRoute, MySpeed, Visual IP Trace, eMailTrackerPro... (8/20/05)
nLite - excellent free Windows Installation Customizer, remove unwanted Windows components (8/28/04)
Oscar's File Renamer – rename files in a full featured text editor (8/12/08)
PC INSPECTOR File Recovery - data recovery program for FAT 12/16/32 & NTFS file systems (6/30/04)
PC INSPECTOR smart recovery - File Recovery companion for digital camera media... (6/30/04)
PC Pitstop – free PC scans & tune-up utilities (9/12/08)
PowerToys - Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP, TweakUI...
PrcView - explore & debug, process viewer for Windows (7/1/04)
Process Explorer - advanced task manager (6/26/04)
RegClean - cleans & repairs Windows Registry errors (9/12/08)
Regcompact.NET - registry compaction program that cleans empty values (5/3/2004)
RegEditX - unsurpassed RegEdit productivity
Registrar Lite - powerful & flexible freeware registry editor
Registry Guide for Windows - (formerly RegHelp, RegEditX, RegEdit.com)
RegShot - small & open-sourced registry compare utility
Restoration - restore files that are deleted accidentally & not in recycle bin (6/30/04)
Revo Uninstaller – make sure those programs are uninstalled (1/27/09)
SiSoftware Sandra Standard - The Diagnostic Tool
SpeedFan - monitors fan speeds, temperatures & voltages in PCs...
Startup Control Panel - easily configure which programs run when your PC starts
StartupList - WAY better than msconfig lists all auto starting programs (5/17/04)
Sysinternals Freeware - free very professional/quality system utilities (6/26/04)
Sysinternals RegMon - Registry monitoring utility
TeraCopy – copy & move files at the fastest possible speed (8/12/08)
Textractor - captures text from screen
The Elder Geek on Windows XP - very useful free information site like Black Viper's
ToniArts EasyCleaner - very useful program to clean PC & registry (5/20/04)
TreeSize - tells you where precious space has gone to
TweakHound - Super XP tweaking guide (1/31/04)
TweakTown WinXP Tweaking - From Reformat to Relax (1/31/04)
TweakTown WinXP Tweaking - From Relax to Righteous (1/31/04)
Ultimate Boot CD - boot CD for any OS, also WinUBCD & other free apps (10/6/04)
UltraExplorer – ultimate file manager for Microsoft Windows (8/12/08)
UnH Solutions - free excellent system utilities (6/26/04)
User Profile Deletion Utility - Delprof.exe - get rid of old User Profiles that are no longer needed (5/14/05)
Visual Task Tips – thumbnail image of things in your taskbar (1/27/09)
Vista Start Menu – alternative start menu for XP & Vista users (1/27/09)
Win XP Virtual CD Control Panel – lets you mount one or more .iso files as virtual drives (11/25/08)
Windows MultiEnhancer - remove Windows DialogBox, Outlook Express & Internet Explorer annoyances (12/8/04)
Windows Registry cleaners, downloads - search, delete & cure invalid references to Windows Registry (5/6/05)
Windows Search – instantly find documents, e-mail, attachments, & more (1/27/09)
Windows service packs & updates - OS and application patch repository, no need for Windows Update! (8/16/06)
Windows Services - a list of all standard Windows Services for NT, 2000 & XP (6/22/05)
Windows update driver site - latest secure Windows certified hardware drivers (6/30/04)
Windows XP Home Edition Utility - setup disks for floppy boot install (6/30/04)
Windows XP Installation - Step-by-Step Windows XP install
WinFlip – alternate window-switcher to the standard Windows Alt-Tab (1/27/09)
WinMerge – visual text file differencing & merging tool for Windows (11/25/08)
Winuscon -unearths many Windows's most useful features (6/30/04)
Xteq X-Setup Pro - 1 of most powerful free tweakers, utilities in 1 program
Yahoo Widgets – put items on screen such as CPU meter, volume control, weather, etc. (1/27/09)
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Tweaks & overclocking
ABXZone.com - Windows XP tweaks (1/31/04)
ClubOC.net - the original overclockers club (1/31/04)
Extreme Overclocking - tweaking PC hardware to the max (1/31/04)
Overclockers Club - XP Services removal guide (1/31/04)
Overclockers Online - news, reviews & the kitchen sink (1/31/04)
OverClockers.com - push system performance to limit (1/31/04)
TweakTown - overclocking, tweaking... site (1/31/04)
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Security, adware, spyware, spam, cookies, pop-ups...
AnalogX Script Defender - intercepts all requests to execute a variety of script types (.VBS, .JS, .WSH...) (5/15/05)
Anti-Virus freeware - free anti-virus software from TheFreeSite.com (8/11/04)
AxCrypt – free file encryption software (9/12/08)
avast! 4 Home Edition - free antivirus software
AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition - free antivirus software
bartdart.com - “freeware for you” site, apps like Toolbar Chest, 2 tools below... (6/30/04)
CachePal - dump your IE cache files, browser history, & cookies quickly (6/30/04)
ScrubXP - cleans out temp files, cookies, history & Windows XP opened/searched files (6/30/04)
Bazooka Adware & Spyware Scanner - detects a multitude of spyware, adware, trojan... (2/11/04)
Browser Hijack Blaster - stop anyone from hijacking your home page + other features (6/30/04)
CastleCops - formerly ComputerCops, security professionals (9/5/04)
Comodo Firewall Pro – protection against identity theft hackers, Trojans, scripts... (5/12/07)
Cookie Viewer - discover info that websites leave on your computer (5/7/05)
CWShredder - small utility for removing CoolWebSearch & associated spyware apps (9/7/04)
Eraser - secure data removal tool for Windows (6/22/04)
Eraser - SourceForge open-source site for Eraser (6/22/04)
F-Secure – free online virus scanner (9/12/08)
HijackThis! - powerful spyware tool, many other useful downloads (5/17/04)
IE Privacy Keeper - simple & fast browsing history cleaner for Internet Explorer (6/26/04)
IE-SPYAD - Restricted Sites block list file download, Registry entry (5/14/05)
LeakTest - test for any leaks in your Firewall (6/22/05)
MVPS Hosts File - Restricted Sites block list file download, Registry entry (5/14/05)
MVPS Hosts File - info & help for Restricted Sites block list/Hosts file (5/14/05)
Junkbusters home page - dedicated to fighting junk inside the PC (7/1/04)
Kaspersky – free online virus scanner (9/12/08)
Lavasoft Ad-Aware - useful adware/spyware scanner removal program
McAfee FreeScan – free online virus scanner (9/12/08)
Microsoft Windows XP - site for latest updates, Service Packs & utilities (5/23/04)
Microsoft Security FAQ - FAQ about Microsoft Software & Internet Security
Panda ActiveScan – free online virus scanner (9/12/08)
Password Safe – easily create a secured & encrypted user name/password list (9/12/08)
PGP Freeware - encrypt messages & keep e-mail confidential (6/30/04)
Pop-Up Stopper Free Edition - pop-up blocker with history, cookies... "privacy report" (6/30/04)
Privoxy - proxy web filter download & choice of OS's
Privoxy home page - web filter home page (based on Internet Junkbuster & updated)
Privoxy sources - IE6 enhancements, future versions...
Proxomitron - proxy web filter, similar to Privoxy - not sure of updates (5/7/05)
RegistryProt - compact, low-level realtime registry monitor and protector (5/15/05)
Sam Spade - network-query tool that can help you locate bulk mailers, spammers... (6/30/04)
ScriptSentry - specify which scripts/files should be allowed to run, like AnalogX Script Defender (5/15/05)
SECRETMAKER - handle spam, plus 6 other useful tools (2/23/2004)
SpamAssassin - excellent e-mail SPAM filter that's very flexible... (6/15/05)
Spy Sweeper - free Spyware removal tools & info (9/5/04)
SpyBot - Search & Destroy - powerful spyware/adware... detector & remover
Spyware Doctor - new version very effective for spyware detection (7/6/05)
Spyware Warrior Forums - help with Spyware, Hijackers & other Internet nuisances (9/7/04)
SpywareBlaster - + SpywareGuard, MRU-Blaster... prevent spyware from installing
SpywareInfo - online spyware remover, doesn't scan cookies (5/31/04)
StartupMonitor - notifies you when any program registers itself to run at system startup (5/15/05)
Sygate Personal Firewall - excellent secure Firewall, user friendly (5/12/05)
Symantec Security Check – free online virus scanner (9/12/08)
SwatIt - scans your computer for Trojans, Worms, Bots and other Hacker programs (9/30/04)
ThreatFire – free protection for viruses, spyware and identity theft (3/15/2008)
Trend Micro HouseCall - online virus scanner (2/21/2004)
TrueCrypt – free open-source disk encryption software (9/12/08)
Wilders.org Security Advisors - website is totally devoted to security
WinPatrol - spyware program launch alert (6/30/04)
ZoneAlarm - excellent free firewall
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Internet browsers & other web surfing software enhancements
AltaVista Toolbar - toolbar w/Google like features + Babelfish translator button (6/30/04)
Avant Browser - versatile tabbed browser using IE engine (5/29/04)
Copernic search engine - allows you to search ALL search engines at once (11/9/04)
Gaim - multi-protocol instant messaging client for Linux, BSD, MacOS X, and Windows (6/30/04)
Google Deskbar - search using Google without opening your browser (6/30/04)
Messenger Plus! - the most popular add-on for MSN Messenger (6/30/04)
Googlebar - search bar plug-in for Mozilla (6/30/04)
Mozilla Firefox - Mozilla's next generation browser (5/28/04)
Mozilla Firefox Extensions - Most popular Firefox Extensions (5/13/05)
Mozilla Firefox Extensions - Free Download Manager: FULL of features, works w/FlashGot Extension (5/16/05)
Mozilla Firefox Extensions - Download Manager Tweak: still adds features, but smaller alternative (5/16/05)
Mozilla Firefox Extensions - fireFTP: cross-platform FTP client for Mozilla Firefox (6/8/05)
Mozilla Firefox Installation Guide - very useful simple guide & tips for Firefox browser (5/13/05)
Mozilla Messaging – free E-mail client (9/12/08)
Mozilla Suite - web browser, advanced e-mail... all-in-one Internet application suite (5/13/05)
Mozilla Thunderbird - Mozilla's e-mail & newsgroup client (6/30/04)
MyIE2 - tabbed interface solution for browser Windows filling taskbar (6/30/04)
Opera - full-featured web browser - surf the web faster, safer & easier (5/14/05)
SeaMonkey - from Mozilla.org, all-in-one Internet application suite (4/25/06)
Toolbar Chest - for OE - save window positions, layout & many more settings (6/30/04)
Trillian Basic - multi-network IM client - IRC, AOL, ICQ, MSN, or Yahoo... (6/30/04)
w00t! - counter-strike search engine (11/14/04)
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Useful software & links for freeware
100best FREE web space Providers - The Truth About Free Web Hosting
7-Zip - versatile zip extractor
AceFTP 3 - FTP client for creating/exchanging web pages
AceHTML 5 - web page creation, validation (6/19/04, no more updates)
AceMoney Lite - freeware manages your finances (6/30/04)
Adobe Acrobat Reader - useful Internet .pdf file viewer, other features... (6/30/04)
AnalogX - free Network utilities (8/12/04)
André Bacard's Privacy Page - Protect Your Computer, Financial, Internet & Political Privacy (11/29/05)
AutoHotKey - create Macros, automate tasks (6/11/04)
Bart's Network Book Disk - professional network boot disk (2/12/04)
Blender – free feature filled 3D animations software (9/12/08)
Blogger.com - create your own blog/web page
Blowfish - The Blowfish Encryption Algorithm, useful for SFTP server transfer... (5/20/05)
CadSoft Online - Eagle Light Edition: free circuit board, electronics... CAD (7/3/04)
CORE FTP LE - FULL FEATURED FTP, SFTP... client for PC... website file transfer (5/17/05)
Cryptainer LE - award winning encryption package is totally free & never expires (11/29/05)
CutePDF – free PDF writer (5/12/07)
CYCAS - CYCAS CAD 2D + 3D + ARCHITECTURE (8/9/04)
DC++ - free ultimate file sharing client for Direct Connect Network (5/5/05)
Dir to HTML Wizard - Advanced Directory Manager (2/10/04)
DNSstuff - useful tools for network administrators, domain owners, users of DNS hosting services, etc. (6/23/05)
Eclipse – free HTML editor (9/12/08)
EventGhost – open-source automation tool for MS Windows (5/12/07)
extendedPDF - make your documents much easier to read w/PDF's navigation (11/29/05)
FileZilla - FTP client for web pages, lots of useful features
FinancialFate – free do-it-yourself financial planning software (9/12/08)
Foxit Reader - free reader for PDF (eBook) documents, small
