Items

• Title
  Owner Notes
  Pack it!
• Spybot
  Spybot Search and Destroy - Anti-malware - using the Advanced Menu offers numerous features necessary for maintenance.
  
• Catalyst Control Centre
  ATI Driver Pack - The current version for the ATI Driver Pack is 9.7. Safe overclocking is now available, but one must "click" the unlock key option.
  
• 7-Zip (Older version)
  The "classic" compression utility. It's really the only compression utility necessary for the average user.
  
• ZipGenius 6
  Another "classic" compression utility. I like ZipGenius, but PeaZip is another favorite.
  
• Free Download Manager
  Much like Orbit--personal taste--torrents too. Make sure to go through all of the Options for personal settings. I find it quite useful. Set Desktop for download location.
  
• Trillian
  What to say? Chat away! Pidgin, Messenger, GTalk--it's really a personal preference.
  
• Picasa
  A number of folks love Picasa; it's sort of an "all-in-one" program for photo albums and basic photo corrections.
  
• Astonsoft DeepBurner
  It's been my experience that it's best to have more than one program for doing the same thing. For some reason, some programs work better than others when burning discs: Ashampoo Free, CDBurnerXP, ImgBurn--they all help.
  
• Adobe Reader
  Fox-It is faster and smaller as is PDF XChange. Check online for PDF to Word converters--Zamzar--when needing to edit.
  
• Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless
  Seems to be the dominant player along with Broadcom.
  
• Comodo Firewall
  Now known as Internet Security; I love this program, and they recently came out with a great cleaner program named "System Cleaner." Another option is a "free" digital ID for e-mail accounts. One may want to visit the site for more options.
  
• SpeedFan
  Excellent tool for hard drive integrity--Active Disk is also recommended. One can tell the hard drive ready for replacement.
  
• IsoBuster
  File undelete for CD/DVD
  
• Auslogics Disk Defrag
  Auslogics - MyDefrag - IOBit - all are worthy of performing the defrag process.
  
• AbiWord
  A light weight word processor which I like because it can import WordPerfect documents and it works well on portable USB devices.
  
• Paint.NET
  Perhaps easier and more efficient than Gimp or GimpShop. As mentioned, it's nice to have choices depending on the project.
  
• Adblock Plus
  Almost a "must have" for Firefox; for some reason, it doesn't publish in my Firefox Collection of add-ons also named Delightful Encounters.
  
• Zoho Writer
  Total online Suite of tools; if one is using a USB Linux install or simply wants to keep life simple, this is a great office suite.
  
• InfraRecorder express
  A little is a lot, or less is more?
  
• GOM Player
  Nice interface, but not as many features as VLC.
  
• Windows Live Installer
  One downloads the basic installer and is given choices; I uncheck the parental controls and Live Toolbar. The MSN Toolbar is slick. Again, all personal preference.
  
• iTunes
  So many people use it and RealPlayer that I surely mention the name. Media Player works for me.
  
• Firefox browser
  I still find Firefox to be my favorite browser; but IE8 works fine--one can't really get along without both browsers. And Bing is good for a comparison search tool.
  
• uTorrent
  Simple and fast--so much so I uninstalled all other torrent clients.
  
• ImgBurn
  A new version is out which makes .iso burning painless.
  
• Adobe AIR
  Almost a necessity anymore with numerous online sites using it as the basis.
  
• IObit SmartDefrag
  IObit has more than this--Advanced System Care.
  
• Ashampoo WinOptimizer 5
  Not really necessary, but one may find the "free" version helpful. Ashampoo products tend to run very well with Vista and Windows 7 and XP.
  
• Defraggler
  Part of CCleaner and Recuva--Piriform--lightweight and effective.
  
• Flash Player (IE)
  Know there is one for IE and one for FF; some people don't realize this and become befuddled.
  
• Shockwave Player
  It's there . . . but I don't know if I use it. Maybe I do. There is also Adobe Media Player. If one is going with Adobe, try Photoshop, Presentations, Buzz, and Connect--all online tools.
  
• Hotspot Shield
  Very effective for securing Internet Cafe connections; the program isn't intended for downloads or streaming--a 5GB limit/month.
  
• Undelete Plus
  One of the few programs that really find "everything." Be sure to limit choices.
  
• Adobe Media Player
  What to say . . . they have some interesting material, but not even close to Hulu.
  
• Photoshop Express
  And with Buzzword, Presentations, Connect--already mentioned. I suspect a user could do all that is necessary with one account--like Google Docs--but no spreadsheet.
  
• Glary Utilities
  Really decent and safe if one isn't sure about what to delete or save. The program doesn't make mistakes--or hasn't yet.
  
• Microsoft Virtual PC 2007
  Virtual PC also has portable version which is worth using. One may want to try VirtualBox and/or VMware Player or Virtual Server. With the VMware Virtual Server, one can create machines for export.
  
• Universal Extractor
  When in doubt, use UE--it will unpack anything.
  
• FreeRAM XP Pro
  Geared for older machines--2GB or less.
  
• Jing
  I like the program for creating Screencasts; however, I save the files elsewhere for showing.
  
• AVG Control Center
  One of the top "free" anti-virus programs; others include Avast, Avira, and PCTools.
  
• FileZilla
  Server and client--totally cool, fast and secure.
  
• CDBurnerXP
  Works best on my machine, but others have had trouble with it.
  
• JkDefrag
  Now called MyDefrag
  
• Unlocker
  Effective--or MoveOnBoot @ softwarepatch.com
  
• SG TCP Optimizer
  Really works--tweak away--the site offers numerous patches/tweaks for Vista, XP, and Windows 7.
  
• Revo Uninstaller
  Must, must, must have; "PC Decrapifier?" And "Total Uninstaller?" Revo is best for the novice.
  
• GIMP 2
  More than enough photo editing capabilities for anyone. Try the "liquefy" plug-in if you are going to upsize a picture.
  
• Driver Installation for Intel(R) PRO Network Connections
  Another pack for a dominant player; be sure to go in to the Device Manager, click on the card, and specify options.
  
• Skype
  Free VoIP does exist--VoxOx.
  
• CrossLoop - Simple Secure Screen Sharing
  Great--or Team Viewer or Remobo. Mikogo and AMMYY. So many out there now. LogMeIn works fine.
  
• CCleaner
  I finish every session with a quick use of CCleaner.
  
• Safari
  The interface is awesome, and it gets better every week.
  
• jZip
  Great results--or PeaZip.
  
• K-lite Codec Pack Standard
  Just go with the Standard; I find the Full pack to be too much of a good thing.
  
• PC Tools Firewall Plus
  Easy to use and customize--I avoid ThreatFire and Peer Guardian-Peer Block programs from starting on boot.
  
• SUMo
  Sweet online photo editor; I haven't used a better one.
  
• DirectX End-User
  Keep it updated--DirectX helps everything run better--most users miss this one on a new install. I think it's DirectX9c-March as of now.
  
• Adobe Flash Player
  Mentioned--one for IE, one for FF.
  
• Live Mesh
  And Sync Toy--essentials for Home-Office situations. You may have to talk with your IT Department.
  
• VirtualBox
  Load a Linux distro such as xPud and surf without fear of malware.
  
• CamStudio
  Simple and effect screen recording.
  
• Avast Home Edition
  Which to choose--AVG, Avast, Comodo? I like Comodo. But AVG with PC Tools free firewall is hard to beat.
  
• TweakUI
  Helpful--older OS utility for XP. Newer include TweakIV, and MZ Vista Tweak. I think Tweak7 is out for beta. RegSeeker runs on all platforms.
  
• FormatFactory
  Can do some nifty things.
  
• FileHippo.com Update Checker
  Or try Update Notifier
  
• FastStone Image Viewer
  A little less than Paint.net, but good.
  
• Java Runtime Environment
  Check your version--java.com--java ra will remove old versions; however, sometimes the removal can break current installs.
  
• Silverlight
  Up to version 3--may interfere with other programs.
  
• VLC media player
  When all else fails--may as well make it first--can set up as a streamer for home music to the office.
  
• BurnAware Free
  Good and getting better--simple interface.
  
• Ad-Aware
  Spybot, SpywareBlaster and Malwarebytes--all good, but very little sense in having any of them unless they are used and updated consitently.
  
• Advanced SystemCare 3
  Run in tandem with CCleaner--it's a great daily maintenance tool.
  
• Avira
  Yet another antivirus; however, a recent tech article claimed it has the "best" detection rate.
  
• Virtual PC 2007 SP1
  Stay up to date.
  
• SpywareBlaster 4.2
  Works, simple, dead right-on.
  
• Macrium Reflect
  Fast, simple backup--or Paragon or DriveXML or Cobian or Clonezilla.
  
• COMODO System Cleaner
  Makes a computer squeaky clean--great tool and safe backups allowed.
  
• OpenOffice.org 3.1
  Useful with plugins such as Writer's Tools. Can actually create and edit .pdf files.
  
• Desktop Maestro 3.0
  Also known as Registry Mechanic in US--apply for free key.
  
• RegSeeker v1.0 beta
  Up to 1.55--the program rocks--I've used this program for years. No worries because it makes a backup of deleted entries.
  
• TeraCopy
  Yes, there are others; this one is in my "comfort zone."
  
• Paragon Drive Backup Personal
  Paragon Drive Express--easy as backup of entire partitions gets. No excuse if/when/how you lose your data now.
  
• Everything 1.2.1.371
  Get rid of any other desktop search tool--Copernic just came out with an update; but, this is all I need.
  
• VirtuaWin v4.0.1
  If you miss Linux desktops, try this.
  
• Xmarks
  Good for IE and FF--and/or FEBE and FavBackup; it's so nice to create profiles and upload bookmarks anywhere. "Transmute" is a program for converting bookmarks between browsers.
  
• XBMC Media Center
  Totally impressed so far, but not really necessary on a Windows machine.
  
• clonezilla
  Relatively easy and effective Backup/Recovery tool.
  
• Update Notifier
  Much like RadarSync, File Hippo Update Checker, etc. Quite good! They also have an excellent software database with free and shareware.
  
• Rainlendar
  Nice little GTD utility for the desktop--it's simple, so don't expect too much.
  
• iPig
  Download the Server and Client for effective encryption from Internet Cafe to your Secure Server at home--the easiest for the novice. Try MobaSSH, copSSH, or BitVise SSH servers and a portable SSH client such as PuTTy if you want a little more.
  
• TeamViewer 4
  Super easy and encrypted Remote Help utility; what's great is they also have a TeamViewer Quick Support for mom and dad--makes long distance computer repair much easier.
  
• Gbridge
  Nice way to share files or make remote connections with partner; PipeBytes may suit your needs. Or drop.io.
  
• Lupo PenSuite Full Version
  A portable apps suite on par with Portable Apps--Cody Safe is a great menu program--WinPeck is yet another. Daily Cup of Tech has some nice portable USB packages for computer repair.
  
• FavBackup
  Profile saver for FF and IE--like FEBE--install, save profile, re-install, recover. All in a flash, FF or IE is back to normal.