First of all, expect this list to grow. As links are suggested or I find new ones, I will add them here. So check back often.

• Disk Utilities
• WinDirStat - Scans a drive or folders of your choice, and then gives you a breakdown of file usage as well as a graphical representation of your directories.
• WinMerge - Compare two files or folders and it will compare everything within them. Great for code updates!
• Crap Cleaner - It can’t get more simple that the name of the program. But it will examine your system for bloat and you can selectively remove it, old prefetch files, program clutter, even clean up missing registry associations. Can be used in place of Windows crappy uninstaller tool as well.
• Remove Empty Directories - Pretty self explanitory don’t you think? Cleaning up a file structure and want to remove particular empty directories? It will scan a directory of your choice and then you choose which empty directories to remove, it does the rest.
• File Unlocker - Don’t you hate it when you try and delete a file only to have Windows tell you that the file is locked, or in use, but doesn’t tell you by what? This program will not only tell you, but it will remove the restriction, and finish performing the action for you.
• Defraggler - Finally a defrag tool that’s both free, and works a hell of a lot better than Windows stripped down version. Want to just defrag someone’s PST file? You can choose to only defrag a single file, or all files that need defragging. Plus, it’s not very taxing on the system!
• Backup
• nLite OS Streamline Tool - Need to slipstream an XP install, as well as add in a few extras that it should have always had? This is the tool for you.
• DriverMax - Ever set up what seems like the same system over and over again, if only you could save all the drivers to some sort of backup file and just drop them in after doing your slipstreamed installation of Windows. That’s exactly what this tool does. It does require registration, but it’s still free.
• DriveImage XML Backup - When I read the description of this little piece of genius, I about flipped. It will take a snapshot using Windows own VSS to write a single or multifile backup using structured XML so you can use it with more than just this software to restore a backup.
• System Monitors
• Belarc System Analyzer - Examines the system installed on and gives a complete readout of the system internals, all installed programs, DLLs and patches installed.
• Process Explorer - The task manager that Microsoft SHOULD have included in Windows. Once setup, it actually has the option of replacing the normal task manager, and it can give much more detailed info about the processes and programs running, even dependencies they relies on.
• CPU-ID - A simple tool to give you the exact specs of the CPU that is running, the memory in the computer, as well as other vital information.
• PC Wizard - PC Wizard is the big brother that CPU-ID is based on. This will tell you everything about your system as far as hardware goes. The output file I did on my own machine equated to 61 pages of information, on just hardware! It can tell you about drivers too… it must get into novel size at that stage.
• HWMonitor - Where PC Wizard and CPU-ID both give you snap-shot information, hwmonitor is a live continuous hardware and system monitor. A great tool for initial break-in of hardware, or monitoring of a vital machine on the network.
• Process Scanner - With the huge variety and database of processes that Windows can run, sometimes it’s hard to tell when one is real or just a virus saying it’s a process. This can tell you the difference between the two.
• Currports - If you need to know what’s running on your computer and where, CurrPorts can be useful. You can monitor and control the ports that are used on your computer and the applications that are using them. This allows you to terminate or close them if needed. You also can export the information you find into an html or text-based report.
• WinAudit - Crack down on your computer with WinAudit. It allows you to run a detailed audit of all the hardware and software on your computer so you know exactly what you have installed, license information, memory usage, startup programs, and network settings. Like Currports, you can obtain a report in text or html format and additionally spreadsheets.
• Settings Tweakers
• XdN Tweaker - A simple environment tweaking software that works for both Vista and XP.
• Displays
• VirtuaWin - Want multiple screens but don’t have the real estate or the cash to do it? Pull off a Linux trick and have multiple desktops running in Windows, up to 9 in fact.
• File Viewers/Printers
• Zan Image Printer - Creates a virtual printer that prints everything to a user defined image, type, size, compression are all configurable. This is the only tool on here that requires payment for full use and anything past 15 days. But it’s use outweighs its small cost.
• Notepad++ - A notepad replacement! I’m using it to write this post right now. It can parse most code types to help with editing by applying color formatting. Very customizeable.
• Foxit PDF Reader - A very small, fast loading PDF reader, great for replacing Adobe’s bloated Acrobat Reader®
• PDF Merger - Have a bunch of smaller PDFs that you want to merge into a manual or book? This is the tool to use.
• EditPad Lite - Another text editor, EditPad Lite is a compact and portable application that has many useful features. For example, multiple documents open in tabs rather than in separate windows. You also have the ability to undo changes after saving, and you have support for any text file regardless of the OS it was created on.
• PDF Factory Pro - PDF Factory installs as a virutal printer and as long as you leave the printer window open, you can keep printing files to the same PDF file. This is a trial unlimited time version, so it prints a footer on each page, but it’s still a very powerful PDF creator.
• Remote Access/Networks
• Hamachi VPN Client - Combine this with your favorite VNC software and you have a very quick private VPN setup and ready to go, no matter where you are in the world. It even allows you to use network shares from a distant network.
• LogMeIn Remote Client Software - A good remote access replacement. Once installed, as long as the computer is on, you can access it from anywhere through the LogMeIn site.
• Netalyzer - Simply a graphical windows based version of the standard whois, tracert (trace route) tools. It can also perform get/post tests on sites you give it.
• Network Pinger - Need to find out real quick what IPs are active or taken? Give this tool a range and it will scan through them and give you a report of what is alive and dead.
• The Dude - Ever needed a graphical representation of your network, or networks? Enter in the IP ranges for the Dude, and it will scan them all, tell you pretty close what type of device they are, and then tell you what services the device runs.
• SmartSniff - Monitoring your network traffic on the go can be made easy with SmartSniff. SmartSniff allows you to keep track of your network traffic and even to color code traffic depending on where it’s originating.
• Installers/Uninstallers
• InstallPad - Have a batch of software that you like to install on every computer you setup, or want to make sure it’s easy to update them without going to each site? Edit the XML file used to run the software to enter all the sites you download from, and it can check for newer updates from then on, or copy it from computer to computer to make your life easier and faster.
• Absolute Uninstaller - Do you try out a lot of software from lists like this, only to find that you won’t use most of it, or it doesn’t work like you want? This tool can do a batch uninstall of programs, as well as do a cleanup of the junk it doesn’t get during the uninstall.
• Recovery & Shredders
• System Rescue CD - A Linux based rescue CD that will allow you to still have access to Windows drives should your Windows installation fail (or get a bad hive file…).
• TestDisk - As long as the disk isn’t damaged physically, this tool can most likely read it.
• Restoration - Everyone has accidentally deleted something they shouldn’t have at one time or another, but now there’s an easy way to get it back. You simply scan your computer for any files that can be recovered, limiting your search within certain parameters unless you want to see all of it at once. But what if you don’t want to get your files back but want to make sure they’re gone for good? Restoration can help you wipe your files clean forever.
• RockXP - RockXP can help you to easily retrieve your XP product key as well as any other keys for your other Microsoft products. This may not sound like a big deal, but it can be if you need to reinstall a program and you’ve misplaced the product key information.
• Search
• Google Desktop Search - Apply google’s search algorithms to your own machine, or even to a whole network. Makes finding a file in millions of archived ones a synch. Although, if you go to the enterprise level, you may want to look into one of Google’s rack units.
• Scripting/Recorder Software
• AutoHotKey - A scripting program that users have written hundreds of scripts that cover everything from simple word processing to user administration. It even works as a recorder to convert what you do on screen to a script you can later run. To make it so anyone can run the script after that, it can convert the script commands to an executable for easy use.
• General Utilities
• Clip-o-matic - Ever copied something, only to copy something else right after it and realize you needed to keep the pervious clipping? This program will allow you to keep multiple clippings in memory, choose which one you want to paste, and finally eliminate the need to use notepad to keep multiple copy statements handy.
• MWSnap - Excellent screen capture tool. It can capture everything from full screen, individual windows, to menus and you can place example cursors in the file before saving it in the format and compression that you want. Do you want it to take multiple screenshots every few seconds, it can do that too!
• Lucersoft Freeware - Lucersoft has several small utilities that come in handy. To make an exact duplicate of a CD, they have a CD to ISO creator so you can turn around and make multiple copies of a disc. The HTML Batch Editor will allow you to do a batch update if should say need to add in a particular advertisers code to all your pages. After copying a CD or DVD to your HDD, don’t you hate having to change all the read only tags? This will set everything within a directory with the read only tag on to off.
• Convert - Convert is the ultimate conversion tool. You can convert distance, time, temperature, pressure, and the list goes on and on. You can also add your own custom conversions if the list falls short.
• Portable Programs/OSes
• Damn Small Linux - Now you can bring your Linux operating system with you anywhere you go and even run it inside Windows. Why settle for using an OS you don’t love when you can bring the mini-me version with you? Tiny enough to fit on a USB drive, but powerful enough to run a nearly complete desktop system.
• RoboForm2Go - Take your passwords with you securely and conveniently (who wants to remember all those passwords anyway?). RoboForm2Go allows you to quickly fill out forms and passwords in IE or in other browsers with the click of a button. Your information will remain secure. And, as soon as you remove the USB drive no traces of the program are left behind and the passwords remain encrypted on the USB drive. The free version stores up to 10 logins.
• Reach-a-Mail - Need an email client you can use on the go? Put Reach-a-Mail on your USB drive and use it to download, send and forward your email. It also includes a simple address book so you can add new contacts or import them from Outlook. You can hook it up to several email accounts to download the messages or leave them on your regular server to access later.
• Trillian Anywhere - The popular chat program Trillian is also available in a portable version. It allows you to bring your contacts and settings to any computer you use. Trillian allows you to access your AIM, ICQ, MSN, Yahoo!, and IRC accounts from one central client making keeping in touch even easier than ever.
• Portable Firefox - Even some of the most loyal Microsoft customers have been converted to Firefox. Despite its popularity, it’s been my experience that many computers still don’t have it installed; but no matter, just bring it with you along with your bookmarks and settings.
• Yamipod - Can’t install iTunes on your computer at work? Not a problem - you can use Yamipod to access your iPod’s contents without having iTunes. You can copy files to and from your iPod, import and export play lists, search for songs, remove duplicates, and create and edit notes. Yamipod also includes a built in music player. If you don’t have a USB drive you can put Yamipod on your iPod.
• TrayURL - If you’ve ever been frustrated at another computer when you try to remember a website that you’ve conveniently bookmarked on your own, TrayURL can help you out. It allows you to carry around your favorites on your USB drive and access them from the system tray as easily as you would on your own computer.
• Http File Server (HFS) - If you like to share files on the go, this program can make your task easy. This standalone program allows you to drag and drop files you want to share using a simple HTML page. For those of you who are so inclined, the page can be customized to suit your needs or integrated with Internet Explorer.
• FTP Wanderer - FTP Wanderer is another portable FTP program with drag and drop uploads/downloads. It’s designed for easy navigation of file sites but not necessarily for more advanced web management.
• FollowMeIP Lite - If you want your IP address displayed even though you’re hidden behind a firewall, you can use FollowMeIP. You don’t need to install the program - just run it and your IP address will be displayed.
• Antivirus/Spyware/Firewall
• AVG Antivirus - Grisoft’s free version of their antivirus suite is strong enough for me to run it on most of the computers I work on, it has caught many of the current virus’ even though being the free version, it updates a week or so behind the paid version. Get it today!
• Dr.Web CureIt - Another option for keeping any computer virus free is Dr. Web. It only scans your computer on demand, it does not keep a constant lookout for any incoming virus or worm infections. While this might sound like a disadvantage, the program can detect a wide variety of viruses without installation.
• AdAware - Spyware and Malware infections can render a computer almost unusable, so take the ability to get rid of these bothersome programs with you no matter where you go. With AdAware you can scan the affected computer and delete the programs you determine aren’t ones you want.
• Comodo Personal Firewall - Sometimes you just don’t have access to the router or firewall you’re behind and they just aren’t cutting the mustard. With Comodo you can setup ports you don’t want let in, filtered, or to always pass, plus more!
• Compression Software
• IZArc2Go - IZArc is a great addition to any USB drive. It’s a powerful yet compact system for opening and compressing files in a variety of the most popular formats. It’s great for anyone who tries to cram as many files as possible into limited storage space. Additionally, it comes with features that repair broken archived files, password protection, and the ability to easily email your archived files.