Windows 10 will be a free upgrade for Windows 7 and Windows 8 users

PCWORLD- It’s official, folks: Windows 10 will be a free upgrade for existing Windows users—as long as you claim it quickly.

Kicking off the consumer-focused Windows 10 event in Redmond on Tuesday, Microsoft operating system chief Terry Myerson announced that current users of Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows Phone 8.1 will be able to upgrade to Windows 10 for free for one year after the operating system launches. Once you’ve claimed the upgrade, Microsoft will keep you updated for the supported lifetime of the device.


“We think of Windows 10 as a service,” Myerson said.
Is there a catch? Here's the fine print from the Windows 10 page on Microsoft's site:
“It is our intent that most of these devices will qualify, but some hardware/software requirements apply and feature availability may vary by device. Devices must be connected to the internet and have Windows Update enabled. ISP fees may apply. Windows 7 SP1 and Windows 8.1 Update required. Some editions are excluded: Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 8/8.1 Enterprise, and Windows RT/RT 8.1. Active Software Assurance customers in volume licensing have the benefit to upgrade to Windows 10 Enterprise outside of this offer. We will be sharing more information and additional offer terms in coming months.”

The decision to make Windows 10 a free upgrade for existing users—at least for a limited time—makes sense. Windows 8 users have vocally expressed their displeasure with the operating system, prompting happy Windows 7 users to stay put on that OS. That hinders Microsoft's ability to execute its vision for a service-centric, cloud-connected future for Windows; making Windows 10 free could spur more users into embracing a modern Microsoft operating system.

And hey, it'd be weird to charge for Windows 10 after Windows 8 flopped so hard and Apple started giving away OS upgrades. Right?

Source: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2873214/windows-10-will-be-a-free-upgrade-for-windows-7-and-8-users.html

System Restore On Reboot – Deep Freeze Your Windows Installation With Free Tools

If you’ve ever wanted to maintain a system state to keep it secure and not allow any changes, then you might want to try deep freezing your Windows computer.
Unlike a factory reset, which wipes everything back to the manufacturer’s default, a deep freeze allows you to create a specific system state that you want your computer to restore back to. Windows 8 has built-in utilities to restore and refresh your system, but this is a bit different.
There are paid and free applications to help you accomplish this, so we’re going to look at both and see what’s available on the market.

What Is Deep Freeze?

Deep Freeze is an application that resets the system state every time you reboot your computer. This means that any change to the system, like installing a program or adjusting a setting, will be forgotten when the system starts up again.



Deep Freeze is developed by Faronics and is available on modern versions of Windows. It’s suitable for a single computer workstation or an entire server. While Deep Freeze is a very useful tool, the downside is that it’s commercial. There’s nothing inherently wrong with paying for software, but there are a number of free alternatives out there that might suit you better.
Download: Deep Freeze (30-day free trial) or purchase full edition (price on request).

Why Would I Need It?

Have you ever used a public computer? Those found in hotels or libraries will probably use some sort of system restoring software. This is because these systems are set up to run in a very specific way. Users may accidentally download malware, attempt to install a program or alter the visual style of the computer – to keep tabs on this across all systems and then fix any changes is far too time consuming.



Not only does it come in handy for businesses, but deep freezing a system can be beneficial to you as an individual, too. Have you ever set up a computer for a friend or relative only to return at a later date to find it riddled with junk? Or perhaps they’ve changed a setting somewhere and they don’t know how to get it back to normal?
Save yourself the hassle of fulfilling the tech support role and instead let their computer dismiss any changes when they reboot. Additionally, be sure to read our guide on how to make their computer harder to break.

What Are The Free Alternatives?

If this sounds like something you might benefit from then we’ve rounded up a list of free software that will deep freeze your system. Be sure to post a comment below if you’ve used any of these before or have your own suggestion to add.

Steadier State

Steadier State is a program developed specifically for Windows 7. The name comes from Windows SteadyState, a free deep freezing utility that Microsoft provided for XP and Vista, which was discontinued and is no longer compatible with new operating systems.



A good thing about this program is that every time the system reboots, you can choose whether to roll back to the original state or keep the changes. It’s a simple little utility, but if you’re running Windows 7 off a few single machines, then it’ll do the job well.

Reboot Restore Rx

While Reboot Restore Rx does have a paid alternative (Drive Vaccine) that offers additional features, like scheduled restoring, remote managed and critical update automation, the free version does the job just fine for basic use.




The program supports Windows 2000 to Windows 8.1, both 32-bit and 64-bit, and is still being updated to this day. It’s a bit different to some other programs because it uses its own mini operating system that functions at the sector level of the hard drive, ensuring the master boot records’ integrity is kept.

ToolWiz Time Freeze

One of the great things about ToolWiz Time Freeze is its simplicity. All you need to do is tick a single box and the program will work its magic. You can also start the program while the system is running or alternatively enable it to automatically run on each boot.



You can add a password protection to your time freeze to make it harder for someone to disable the protection. ToolWiz Time Freeze is available on everything from Windows XP and above. It even claims to work on Windows 10, which is still in beta!

‘Till Windows Freezes Over

Whether you just want to protect your own computer or a whole bank of them, deep freezing a system can come in very useful. No longer do you have to worry about anything troubling your system again – simply restart and the changes are gone!
You don’t even have to use these programs permanently. For example, there might be times where you let someone play around on your system and you could enable one of these utilities prior to the fact in order to maintain your preferred state.

There’s loads of uses for a deep freeze and luckily an arsenal of free programs to help you out!
Do you make use of any deep freeze software? If so, how does it come in useful for you? Do you have any other freeware to add to our list?

Source: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/system-restore-reboot-deep-freeze-windows-installation-free-tools/

How to get Windows 10's best new features today

Windows 9? Fuhgeddaboutit. Microsoft skipped that digit and jumped straight to Windows 10 for the next-gen version of its operating system. Revealed at a preview event on September 30, Windows 10 aims to atone for the sins of Windows 8 by wooing PC power users with a mix of compromise and outright bribery. 

A reborn Start menu, windowed Metro apps, virtual desktop support, and enhanced Command Prompt tools are enticing lures indeed. Alas, Windows 10 itself isn't expected until the middle of 2015—a veritable eternity for folks slogging through Windows 8's Live Tiles. But fear not! You don't have to wait to get the best of Windows 10 today.
Microsoft will offer a Windows 10 Technical Preview in the months ahead of the operating system's launch, but if you don't like the idea of slapping pre-release OSes on your computer, some handy-dandy software can deliver some of Windows 10's highlight features to your Windows 8 PC today. 
Consider it a taste of things to come. Let's dig in!

 

The return of the Start Menu

A slew of Start menu replacements hit the web the second the Start Menu-less Windows 8 hit the streets, but when it comes time to put your cash on the line, the decision boils down to just two programs: Stardock’s Start8 and Classic Shell.

Stardock

Stardock’s polished Start8 Start Menu matches the color of your taskbar. (Click to enlarge.)

Those reviews have all the nitty-gritty details, but you’ll probably want to start with Classic Shell since it’s donationware. Classic Shell includes options for both Windows XP- and Windows 7-style Start menus, along with numerous customization options. You can tinker with what’s listed in the Classic Shell Start Menu, or even change the look of its Start button to an icon of your choice. Cool stuff, indeed.
Start8, meanwhile, offers either a Windows 7 Start Menu or a Modern UI-tinged Windows 8 Start Menu that’s more in line with what Microsoft itself is cooking up. The $5 Start8 app is more polished and easier to use than the open-source Classic Shell, which is chock full of ugly buttons. Start8 still offers plenty of options and features, though, and you can’t go wrong with either program.
You might also consider Start Menu Reviver. We didn't like it quite as much as Start8 or Classic Shell, but its tile-infused interface mimics the look of Windows 10's Start menu much more closely than its more classicly themed counterparts.

 

Windowed desktop Metro apps

Image: Microsoft

A Metro app running in a desktop window in Windows 10.

Sure, the Windows 8.1 spring update added plenty of mouse-friendly features, but it still doesn’t let you use Modern apps in desktop windows. If you want that capability today, you only have one place to turn: The utterly superb ModernMix software.
Again offered by Stardock—do you get the feeling that the folks at Stardock weren’t impressed by Windows 8?—ModernMix exists solely to let you run Windows Store apps in desktop Windows. It’s wonderful if you use Windows 8’s native apps, such as email, calendar, and Music, all of which stick to the Modern UI.

ModernMix in action. Seriously, buy it today.

ModernMix runs like a charm even with the updates recently introduced to Windows 8.1. It’s well worth the $5 admission price.

 

Virtual desktops

Image: Microsoft

Windows 10's virtual desktop feature in action.

Windows has long limited you to a single desktop interface. OS X and Linux operating systems, on the other hand, support virtual desktops—essentially multiple, configurable, virtual desktops you're able to switch between, so that you can have completely separate desktop interfaces for work and play or whatever.
But Windows 10 ditches that one desktop frame of mind, adding support for multiple desktops via a new "Task View" feature.

One PC, many virtual desktops, courtesy of Dexpot.

Why wait? If you want to start using virtual desktops on Windows today, just download Dexpot. It's not only free for personal use, it's chock full of UI hints that remind you that new desktop experiences are just a click away. Dexpot is insanely customizable and so finely polished that it makes virtual desktops feel like a native part of Windows—which they will soon indeed be.

Note: Microsoft also offers a free mutli-desktop utility here:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/cc817881.aspx

 

Bringing it all together

There you have it: For less than the cost of a large pizza, you can have Windows 10’s most-anticipated improvements right now. Give yourself time to get used to Dexpot and you'll wonder how you ever managed to work without virtual desktops. And once you’ve welcomed a Start Menu replacement and ModernMix into your workflow—especially paired with the Windows 8.1 spring Update’s tremendous tweaks—you might just be surprised how well those newfangled Modern apps translate to the familiar desktop experience.
Now if only there was a tool that added keyboard shortcuts to the Command Prompt...
Editor's note: This article was originally published on April 16, 2014 but was updated with virtual desktop information and tweaked language on September 12, 2014 when leaks of the Windows Technical Preview appeared. The article was updated again on September 30 2014 when Windows 10 was revealed.

Source: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2144540/dont-wait-for-windows-9-how-to-get-a-start-menu-windowed-metro-apps-today.html

Other links:

UxStyle memory patching: http://uxstyle.com
UltraUXThemePatcher: http://www.syssel.net/hoefs/software_uxtheme.php?lang=en
Windows 10 Theme for Windows 7: http://cu88.deviantart.com
Windows10 Theme for Windows 8.1: http://cu88.deviantart.com
Taskbar UserTile/Mosaic/Aura: http://angelwzr.deviantart.com
WinMetro: http://iobit.com/iobit-winmetro.php
Newgen: http://nsapps.net
RocketDock: http://rocketdock.com
expstart: http://coderforlife.com
Desktops: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/cc817881.aspx
Start Menu Reviver: http://www.reviversoft.com/start-menu-reviver/
Read more at http://www.windowsxlive.net/windows-10-ux-pack/#g1wO18TZ9V0BMQf3.99

How To Center Windows 7 Taskbar Items

Many of you are aware that Microsoft changed the taskbar in Windows 7 quite a bit in comparison to Vista and Windows XP. The taskbar is by no means a perfect solution, but it offers several improvements that make sense to the majority of users.
I for myself like the ability to pin programs, folders and files to the taskbar as it is a very comfortable option to open the items in the operating system.
The pinned and open items on the other hand are always located on the left side of the taskbar, on the right side of the start menu orb. Some users may want to change the location, especially if they have a widescreen monitor with lots of space on the taskbar.
Some users may prefer to center the taskbar items on the taskbar to improve their accessibility. A quick hack that does not take more than a minute can take care of it.



Windows 7 users have two options for this. They need another toolbar on the taskbar. They can use an existing toolbar, for instance Desktop, or create a blank folder on the system and select that folder for a new toolbar.
All they need to do to create a new toolbar is to right-click the Windows taskbar, select Toolbars and then New Toolbar. Browse to the location of the blank folder and select it. This adds the folder to the taskbar.



Now right-click the taskbar again, and click on Lock the taskbar to unlock it. This makes it possible to move taskbar items around. The new folder toolbar is added to the right of the taskbar. Move that new toolbar to the left in front of the taskbar items. This pushes the pinned items to the middle. It is possible to extend and move toolbars by dragging and dropping the dividers in front of each toolbar.




To make it quick. Drag the new folder toolbar to the left side in front of the pinned items toolbar. Once that is done move the original toolbar to the middle to center it.
Once the position is fixed right-click the folder toolbar, and remove show text and show title from the context menu. This hides the new toolbar completely from the taskbar, and keeps the normal toolbar with the pinned items and open programs in the middle of the taskbar. Right-click the taskbar again, and lock it to finalize the change.
It is possible to undo the change by right-clicking the taskbar, selecting toolbars from the menu and then the new folder toolbar to remove it from the taskbar.

Source: http://www.ghacks.net/2010/10/20/how-to-center-windows-7-taskbar-items/

Top List of Free VPN Services - from gHacks.net

By Martin Brinkmann on August 5, 2014 in Internet - Last Update: August 8, 2014 19

Finding a reliable free VPN provider can be a a daunting task. We have tested numerous providers that offer free VPN services and added only the best to this page.

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), regardless of whether they are free or paid, offer a selection of features that make them attractive for several use-cases.
They can be used to access sites that are blocked otherwise, for instance in a school network, at work or country-wide. This includes situations where you cannot access a site due to bad routing on part of your ISP.
They can furthermore be used to protect the connection against snooping attacks, which is especially helpful if you connect to a network that you have little control over (think hotel, free WiFi at the airport or Starbucks).
Last but not least, they improve your privacy online by blocking direct access to your IP address.
Requirements
All VPN Providers listed below meet the following requirements:

1. Free accounts need to be offered, and they cannot be time-limited (meaning expire after a period of time).
2. They need to have a privacy policy or terms of use, or both.

List of Providers

CyberGhost

CyberGhost is available as a free and paid service. A client needs to be downloaded to supported desktop systems to connect to the virtual private network.
An ad is displayed regularly to free users which is one of the limitations of the service. While you get unlimited volume and bandwidth, you are automatically disconnected from the service after 3 hours of usage.
Paid Accounts: Starting at $6.99 per month.
Privacy Policy: http://www.cyberghostvpn.com/en_us/privacypolicy
Terms of Service:  http://www.cyberghostvpn.com/en_us/terms

 

Hotspot Shield

 

Hotspot Shield is one of the most popular free services available, likely because of its generous 750 Megabyte per day traffic limit. It is also one of the few applications that does not force you to create an account prior to using it.
The free version of the program will display advertisement on the other hand when it is being used. It furthermore makes only available a location in the US for connections, and will block access to select sites via its paywall as well.
Paid Accounts: $29.95 per year, no speed limits
Privacy Policy: http://www.hotspotshield.com/privacy
Terms of Service:  http://www.hotspotshield.com/terms

 

OpenVPN

 

The OpenVPN client for Windows requires Java. The installer will download Java if it is not installed on the system to complete the installation. The problem is that it will install an old Java version instead of the latest one which makes the system vulnerable to attacks.
You need to create an account before you can sign in to the service and connect to one of the server locations. It is possible to sign-up from within the client.
Paid Accounts: Start at $12 for 50 Gigabyte (no monthly fees)
Privacy Policy: https://www.privatetunnel.com/index.php/privacy.html
Terms of Service: https://www.privatetunnel.com/index.php/tos.html

 

PacketiX

This free service is part of an academic experiment run by a Japanese university. It uses its own proprietary protocol called PacketiX which impacts compatibility as it can only be run on devices the client is offered for.
To get started, you need to create a virtual HUB first on the service website to download the client software afterwards to the system.
The client itself is not the easiest to use as well, especially if you compare it to other VPN clients that can be switched on or off with a single mouse click.
You need to create a new VPN connection first before you can connect to the service. It is however interested to note that it makes available quite a few extra configuration options such as enabling remote management access.
Paid Accounts: No
Privacy Policy: http://www.packetix.net/en/terms/vpn.aspx
Terms of Service: http://www.packetix.net/en/terms/privacy.aspx

 

ProXPN

 

You need to create a free account before you can sign in to the local client. Note that you are asked to enter your phone number and email address during account creation and need to verify the email address immediately.
The free client is restricted to connecting to a single server location in the US using the OpenVPN protocol. The volume is unlimited but the speed of the connection is limited to 300 Kbps/s automatically by the application.
The client itself is slim and does not display many options that you can configure. All that you can do is disable its autostart and auto-connection features. The connection info tab displays detailed information about the connection though which can be useful for advanced users.

 

Spotflux

 

Spotflux is offered as an ad-supported free service and paid premium services. What's interesting here is that you can download and use the desktop client without account registration so that you can test the service before you create an account.
The free version is limited to web connections though and it may also limit speed after the free three-day premium trial period.
Paid accounts:$5.99/y for mobile devices and $29.95 per year for up to five devices.
Privacy Policy: http://www.spotflux.com/policy.php
Terms of Service: http://www.spotflux.com/terms.php

 

Tunnelbear

 

TunnelBear is offered as a program that you need to install/run on your computer. It requires that you set up an account and confirm your email address before you can finalize the installation of the client by allowing it to install a new network adapter on the system.
The client itself uses a compact design that provides you with direct access to everything that is important. Here you can turn the VPN on or off, change the location you want to connect to, see your remaining bandwidth allocation for the month, and can open the options to configure it further.
You can turn on two interesting features in the options. Vigilant protects your connection until a connection to the Tunnelbear server has been established by blocking all http connections during that time.
TCP Override aims to improve the performance if the Internet connection is rather unreliable.
Paid accounts: unlimited traffic for $4.99 a month or $49.99 per year.
Privacy Policy: https://www.tunnelbear.com/privacy-policy/
Terms of Service: https://www.tunnelbear.com/terms-of-service/

 

USAIP

 

 

The service supports a wide variety of protocols, some of which allow you to create a new connection using the operating system's network manager so that you are not required to run a client on your system for that.
The free version of the service offers unlimited volume and traffic, but restricts the bandwidth to 200 Kbit/s automatically. Login and server information are provided on the company website.
Some users have reported that the service will disconnect free users automatically every 7 minutes.
Paid accounts: Start at $7.99 per month
Privacy Policy: http://www.usaip.eu/en/index.php
Terms of Service: http://www.usaip.eu/en/index.php

 

VPNBook

The free service is special. It has no volume limitations and provides you with login information on its website that you can use to set up a connection to one of the servers listed there without account creation.
The service is financed by advertising that is displayed on the company website and by selling paid dedicated VPN servers (virtual) to customers.
Setup requires either the download of the free OpenVPN client or to setup connections using PPTP on the operating system instead. Step by Step guides are available for popular operating systems that walk users through the process.
Passwords are changed regularly by the service which is why users need to visit the website frequently to get the new password and modify the connection settings.
Paid Accounts: Dedicated VPN Server for $7.95 per month
Privacy Policy: http://www.vpnbook.com/contact
Terms of Service: None

 

Your Freedom

 

Your Freedom is a VPN Provider that is supporting OpenVPN and PPTP connections. It limits free accounts to 2 hours of usage and 64 kbit/s automatically, but has no other restrictions in regards to bandwidth or allowed traffic.
To get started, you need to register an account on the official website and either download a client from it as well or configure the server manually using network tools that the operating system provides you with.
The limitation to 64 kbps/s makes it less than ideal for anything but basic web surfing.
Paid Accounts: Start at €4 per month.
Privacy Policy:
Terms of Service: http://www.your-freedom.net/index.php?id=aup

Short List of additional VPN Providers

Here is a list of additional providers which we have not had time to review in depth.

1. Security Kiss supports OpenVPN, PPTP and L2TP. Free accounts are limited to 300 MB/day and servers in the US, UK, Germany and France.
2. VPN Reactor offers a free basic account that is speed and time limited (30 minutes, then wait 30 minutes before you can connect again). It offers access to a single server only for free users and blocks outbound email completely. The service does not keep logs.

Related Services

Some services provide access to features that are similar to what VPN offers. This is a short list of these alternatives:

1. JanusVM is powered by VMWare and uses technologies such as Tor, openVPN, Squid and Privoxy to improve a user's security and privacy while connected to the Internet. Has been updated in January 2010 the last time.
2. JonDoNym is a proxy client that is protecting your IP and encrypting your Internet traffic. It is available as a  client for Windows, Mac and Linux, and as a Live CD. The free service is limited to 30-50 kBit/s and files of up to 2 Megabyte in size.
3. Tor Project is a free and open source client that protects your privacy while you are on the Internet. Clients are available for Windows, Mac and Linux as well as Android.

Provider	Based	Restrictions	Locations	Mobile	Logging	Protocols
CyberGhost	Germany	no limit, disconnect after 3h	Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, Finland, France, Uk, Ireland, Italy, Luxenbourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, US	Android, iOS	no	OpenVPN
Hotspot Shield	USA	750 MB/day	US	Android, iOS	unknown	unknown
OpenVPN	USA	100 MB / month	US, UK, Canada, Switzerland, Netherlands	Android, iOS	yes	OpenVPN
PacketiX	Japan	no limit	Japan	no	yes	PacketiX
ProXPN	Netherlands	no limit, 300 Kbit/s	US	no	yes	OpenVPN
Spotflux	USA		USA	Android, iOS	limited	unknown
Tunnelbear	Canada	500 MB / month	US, UK, Canada, Germany, Japan, Australia, France, Netherlands	Android, iOS	no	OpenVPN
USAIP	Seychelles	no limit, 200 Kbit/s	Germany, Netherlands, US, Hungary, China, Luxenbourg and HongKong	yes	yes, 48 hours	PPTP, L2TP, OpenVPN, SSTP
VPNBook	unknown	no limit	US, UK, Romania	all devices supporting protocols	IP and time	OpenVPN, PPTP
Your Freedom	Germany	no limit, 64 kbit/s, 2 hours connection time	UK, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Canada, US, HongKong, Sweden, Panama	Android	unknown	OpenVPN, PPTP, Proxy

Conclusion

Quite a few services offer free VPN connections. While some finance their service through advertisement, others may limit free users in terms of connection period, bandwidth allocation or monthly traffic.
The majority of services are not usable for anything but light Internet surfing and maybe gaming. While there are some that are not as restricted, users who download a lot or watch media streams may want to consider signing up for a paid account to improve the overall experience.

Source: http://www.ghacks.net/2014/08/05/top-list-free-vpn-services/

The Best Windows Software Toplist - from gHacks.net

On this page, you find a listing of the best Windows software. Most of the applications listed here are free, with the occasional commercial program added to the listing.
If commercial software is listed here, you can be sure that it is a top of its class product that excels in its vertical.
All programs have been carefully vetted, reviewed, and virus-checked to make sure that the list is clean and uber-useful to users of the Windows operating system.
The toplist has been divided into several categories and pages for ease of access. While it would have been possible to place them all on one page, it would have grown too big in terms of size and loading time.
The decision was made to use broader categories to avoid the creation of too many pages. That's why a category such as Security contains antivirus software, firewalls, rootkit removers and other security related programs.
Last but not least, we have also made the decision to add a software companies page to the very end, linking to developers who have earned their trust because of their excellence in the field.
Updates

• 6.2.2014 - Added Display Driver Uninstaller, ImDisk Toolkit, PhotoSift, Replace Genius, Who is on my Wifi, WinPatrol
• 17.6.2014 - Added Dumo, EasyNetMonitor, FoldersPopup, Rimhill, Seriousd, SmoothVideo Project

The available categories, and the programs that have been added to them are:
Appearance

• Classic Shell
• Rainmeter
• Start8

Backup and Recovery

• Clonezilla
• DataRescue DD
• DriveImage XML
• Dumo
• EaseUS Todo Backup
• Eraser
• FilExile
• Mailstore Home
• Recuva
• Redo Backup & Recovery
• Roadkill's Unstoppable Copier
• SystemRescueCD
• TestDisk
• Win32 Disk Imager

Communication

• Pidgin
• Postbox (commercial)
• Skype
• Teamspeak
• Thunderbird

Development

• FileZilla
• Notepad++
• PNG Gauntlet
• Sublime Text (commercial)
• VirtualBox
• WinSCP
• XAMPP

File Management

• 7-Zip
• BurnAware Free
• CDBurner XP
• DropIt
• Everything
• File Optimizer
• ImgBurn
• Search My Files
• Unlocker

Internet

• Browser Repair Tool
• Bulk Image Downloader (paid)
• EasyNetMonitor
• Firefox
• Free Download Manager
• Internet Download Manager (commercial)
• Internet History Browser
• inSSIDer (commercial)
• MiPony
• Newsbin Pro (commercial)
• qBittorrent
• uTorrent
• uVNC
• Who is on my WiFi

Multimedia

• AIMP
• Audacity
• CDex
• ConvertXtoDVD (commercial)
• DVD Chief
• DVD Flick
• DVDShrink
• FastStone Image Viewer
• Fast Picture Viewer (commercial)
• Foobar
• Freemake Video Converter
• Gimp
• Miro
• Mp3Gain
• Paint.net
• QGifer
• PhotoSift
• Riot
• Screenshot Captor
• SmoothVideo Project
• SMPlayer
• StreamWriter
• VLC Media Player
• VSDC Free Screen Recorder
• XBMC
• XnView

Productivity

• Apache OpenOffice
• Calibre
• Clipboard Help+Spell
• Clipjump
• doPDF
• Foxit Reader
• Launchy
• LibreOffice
• PDFCreator
• QuiteRSS
• Replace Genius
• Seriousd
• Sumatra
• Word Expander

Security

• Avira Free Antivirus
• BufferZone Pro
• CCleaner
• DiskCryptor
• Dr. Web CureIt!
• Gmer
• HiJackThis
• HitmanPro (commercial)
• Junkware Removal Tool
• KeePass
• Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit
• Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
• Microsoft Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit (EMET)
• Peerblock
• PrivaZer
• RogueKiller
• Sandboxie (commercial)
• True Crypt
• WinPatrol

System

• Autoruns
• CPU-Z
• Dataram
• Defraggler
• Display Driver Uninstaller
• FoldersPopup
• GPU-Z
• Grub2Win
• ImDisk Toolkit
• JavaRa
• Open Hardware Monitor
• OUTDATEfigher
• Process Explorer
• Revo Uninstaller
• Right-click Enhancer
• SlimCleaner
• Speccy
• Speedfan
• SUMO
• System Explorer
• UltraDefrag
• Visual BCD Editor
• Windows Offline Update
• WizTree

Misc Software

• DosBox
• F.Lux
• Keyboard and Mouse Cleaner
• Mouse Without Borders
• MSI Afterburner
• Print Queue Cleaner
• QTranslate
• Rimhill
• ShareMouse
• X-Mouse Button Control

Developer Websites

• Donation Coder
• Nirsoft
• Sysinternals

Appearance

The Appearance category lists programs that change how the operating system or programs that you run on it look like. This can be a program to change wallpapers automatically, total conversions, or other programs that let you modify the look of a Windows operating system.
Classic Shell

	Classic Shell is probably best known for its start menu that it can add to the Windows 8 operating system. It can modify the start menu of other Windows versions as well, and change other elements of the operating system like Internet Explorer or the Shell if you desire.
Review | Go-To

Rainmeter

	Rainmeter can change the look and feel of the desktop in many ways. From different skins to widgets that display all sorts of information.While it is not that easy to create skins of your own, the sheer number of available ones is reason enough to give this a try.
Review | Go-To

Start8 (commercial)

	Start8 is one of the programs that adds the start menu back to the Windows 8 operating system. It offers several features besides that, for instance options to disable hot corners or better control options.
Review | Go-To

Backup and Recovery

Backup and recovery lists tools that provide you with the means to backup data to restore it at a later point in time.
Clonezilla

	Clonezilla is a bootable Linux distribution that provides you with access to tools to clone hard drives or create disk images.
No Review Yet | Go-To

DataRescue DD

	DataRescue DD can create an image of any hard drive partition but the system partition. The ide abehind it is to create a backup so that it can be restored at a later point in time.
Review | Go-To

DriveImage XML

	The backup software enables you to backup logical drives or partitions to image files, browse and extract those image files, and restore the images to another drive. Another interesting feature is drive to drive copy, and the option to schedule automatic backups.
Review | Go-To

Dumo

	Dumo (Driver Updates Monitor) is a free program that scans your system for devices and installed drivers, to check those drivers against a database to see if updates are available. If that is the case, these updates can then be downloaded and installed.
Review | Go-To

EaseUS Todo Backup

	The free backup software offers one-click backups of the system and recovery options, as well as options to backup a hard drive or partition.
Review | Go-To

Eraser

	If you want to remove files securely from your system, you may want to use a tool like Eraser for that. It overwrites data -- either selected data or the free space on the drive -- so that file recovery software cannot recover data anymore.
Review | Go-To

FilExile

	FilExile has been designed to remove directories and files that cannot be deleted by normal means, for instance if they are somehow locked by the system, if the path is too long, or if the name of the file or folder is invalid.
Review | Go-To

Mailstore Home

	Mailstore Home is an email backup software. You can use it to backup emails stored by local email clients such as Thunderbird or Outlook, or remote clients via Pop3 or IMAP connections.
Review | Go-To

Recuva

	Recuva is a file recovery software for the Windows operating system. You can use it to restore files that have been deleted before on the computer's hard drive.
Review | Go-To

Redo Backup & Recovery

	Redo Backup & Recovery is a portable backup solution for Windows and Linux that runs from CD or USB. You can use it to backup Windows or Linux systems, to recover important files, and use network shares as well.
No Review Yet | Go-To

Roadkill's Unstoppable Copier

	Unstoppable Copier can be used to copy data off a drive. Unlike other programs which may simply stop when errors occur during the process, it will copy data from damaged hard drives and disks.
Review | Go-To

SystemRescueCD

	SystemRescueCD is a Linux based rescue disk that you can boot from CD or USB. It provides access to maintenance, system management and troubleshooting tools.
Review | Go-To

TestDisk

	TestDisk is a data recovery software that provides you with a whole array of features. Use it to fix partition tables, rebuild boot sectors, or fix the MFT among other things.
Review | Go-To

Win32 Disk Imager

	You can use the program to write disk image files (img format only) to devices connected to the computer.
Review | Go-To

Communication

The Communication group includes messaging software programs, Internet telephone, email and other communication tools.
Pidgin

	Pidgin is a cross-protocol and -platform chat client that supports a variety of popular networks you can connect it to.
Review | Go-To

Postbox

	Postbox is a commercial email client based on Thunderbird. It offers build-in features that Thunderbird does not offer such as better Gmail integration, a powerful tagging system, and several other features that improve productivity.
Review | Go-To

Skype

	Skype is an easy to use communication software for Windows. It supports telephone, video telephone as well as chat messaging.
Review | Go-To

Teamspeak

	Teanspeak is a voice communication software that is available for multiple platforms. It is popular in the online gaming world, but can also be used for other purposes.
Review | Go-To

Thunderbird

	Mozilla Thunderbird is a popular cross-platform email client. It supports other forms of communication besides email, including chat, RSS and newsgroups.
Review | Go-To

Development

Development software that runs on Windows is listed here. This includes entire development environments as well as smaller programs that help developers in other ways.
Filezilla

	Filezilla is an ftp client and server for the Windows operating system. It supports ftp, ftps and sftp connections, IPv4 and IPv6, and the majority of features that you would expect from a ftp client.
Review | Go-To

Notepad++

	Notepad++ improves the standard Notepad text editor of Windows in many ways. It has been designed to support many programming and scripting languages out of the box, supports plug-ins, and dozens of other features.
Review | Go-To

PNG Gaunlet

	PNG Gauntlet reduces the size of PNG images. This is an ideal tool for webmasters who want to speed up the loading times of their websites, as they can save data without impacting the quality of the images.
Review | Go-To

Sublime Text

	Sublime Text is a very versatile text editor for code and markup languages. It offers an impressive set of fetaures including split editing, multiple selections, a distraction free mode, instant project switching and more.
No Review Yet | Go-To

VirtualBox

	VirtualBox is a software virtualization environment that you can use to run another operating system on your machine. This is often used for testing purposes during development.
Review | Go-To

WinSCP

	WinSCP is a versatile ftp, sftp and scp client for Windows. It supports a wide range of synchronization and authentication features that make it ideal for development purposes.
Review | Go-To

XAMPP

	XAMPP installs a full-fledged Apache web server on the local Windows system. It ships with MySQL, PHP and Pearl, and provides you with an environment that you can use to develop and test locally.
Review | Go-To

File Management

Programs that aid you in the management of files on your system are listed here. This includes file browsers, but also other file related programs such as archiving software or viewers.
7-Zip

	7-Zip is an open source file archiver that supports its own format 7z and the majority of other popular formats, at least when it comes to unpacking archives packed with them.
Review | Go-To

CDBurner XP

	A free disc burning software for Windows that supports all important disc burning tasks. You can use it to create data, audio and video discs, burn ISO images, or copy discs.
Review | Go-To

BurnAware Free

	BurnAware Free is a free -- limited version -- of the popular burning software. You can use it to run all basic disc burning tasks on Windows. This includes the burning of data discs, media discs, as well as custom discs.
Review | Go-To

DropIt

	DropIt improves certain file operations for you. You can either invoke those manually, or configure the program to monitor specific folders at all times so that they are performed automatically instead.
Review | Go-To

Everything

	Everything is a blazing fast desktop search program for Windows. Use it to speed up file searches on the operating system.
Review | Go-To

File Optimizer

	File Optimizer can reduce the file size of select file formats such as Docx, PDF, Png or MP3 to save disk space and speed up data transfers.
Review | Go-To

ImgBurn

	ImgBurn is a free disc recording software for Windows. It supports all burning tasks that you will ever need, and while its interface takes some getting used to time, it is definitely one of the best programs in its niche.
Review | Go-To

Search My Files

	Search my Files is an alternative search tool for Windows. It improves search in many ways, for instance by adding regular expression support to it or dozens of information about the files.
Review | Go-To

Unlocker

	Unlocker takes care of files and folders that cannot be deleted in Windows.
Review | Go-To

Internet

Tools that require the Internet to function, or use the Internet for functionality. Web browsers fall into this category, as do tools such as download managers and P2P software.
Browser Repair Tool

	Browser REpair Tool offers to repair Internet Explorer, Firefox or Google Chrome, to restore its original functionality or repair issues that you are experiencing while using the browsers.
Review | Go-To

Bulk Image Downloader (Commercial)

	Bulk Image Downloader is probably the most versatile flexible image downloader for Windows. It can parse multiple pages at once for images so that you can download them in one go almost effortlessly to your system.
Review | Go-To

EasyNetMonitor

	The program provides you with the means to monitor remote or local hostnames, domains or IP addresses. It will information you if a site becomes unavailable so that you can react immediately.
Review | Go-To

Firefox

	Firefox is a popular web browser developed by Mozilla. It has many appeals, from being the most customizable browser to its impressive extension support.
Review | Go-To

Free Download Manager

	A free download manager for Windows that is available as lite and regular version. The full version supports Bittorrent downloads among other features, which you can add as plugins to the lite version.
Review | Go-To

inSSIDer

	inSSIDer scans the local area network for wireless access points, and displays all that it finds in a list. Use it to find the best channel for your own wireless router, to resolve conflicts, or to troubleshoot your wireless connection.
Review | Go-To

Internet Download Manager (commercial)

	Internet Download Manager is a versatile file downloader for Windows. It integrates with various web browsers, but can be fed with download links directly as well. The program ships with all the bells and whistles that you'd expect from it, including authentication support, scheduling, profiles and a lot more.
Review | Go-To

Internet History Browser

	The program displays the combined history of popular web browsers like Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Google Chrome in its interface.
Review | Go-To

MiPony

	MiPony is a file downloader that supports direct downloads as well as downloads from dozens of file hosting services such as Mediafire, Mega, Filefactory or Sendspace.
Review | Go-To

Newsbin Pro (commercial)

	The -- in my opinion -- best Usenet client for Windows. While not free, it has a lot to offer. You can add as many servers as you want, use the excellent search to find articles in the local database, or use the Internet search option to find them this way. It supports everything you'd expect it to support, and then some.
Review | Go-To

qBittorrent

	QBittorrent is a cross-platform Bittorrent client that is an excellent alternative to the popular uTorrent client. It supports all features that you'd expect a client to support.
Review | Go-To

uTorrent

	uTorrent is without doubt the most popular Bittorrent client, at least on the Windows platform. It is lightweight and fast, even though it has become bloated in recent time with feature additions that are not directly related to the downloading of torrent files.
Review | Go-To

uVCN

	Use UltraVNC to display the screen of another computer on your own. This works both over a network and the Internet, and can be used for remote jobs, tech support, or simply controlling another PC through the one you are using.
Review | Go-To

Who is on my WiFi

	Who is on my WiFi checks your network for wireless freeloaders, that is neighbors and others that use your wireless Internet connection without authorization. This is done automatically in the background.
Review | Go-To

Multimedia

Applications that let you view or edit media files are listed here. From converting videos and audio files to viewing images and streaming media.
AIMP

	AIMP is an excellent music player for Windows. It plays nearly every audio file out of the box, supports lots of additional features besides playback, and is still lightweight and easy to use.
Review | Go-To

Audacity

	Audacity is a cross-platform audio recorder and editor. You can use it to record any sound playing on your computer -- or the environment if you are using microphones -- and to edit the recorded sounds or audio files that you load into the program.
Review | Go-To

CDex

	You can use CDex to rip music CDs to mp3 format, so that you can play the music on your computer or other devices.
Review | Go-To

ConvertXtoDVD

	This is one of the best programs to turn any video source file into a video DVD. Just add the files and let the program do the rest. You can pick various themes for the DVD menu and make other modifications to the process as well if you want.
Review | Go-To

DVD Chief

	A movie collection software for Windows. Use it to keep an overview of all of your movies. It features interesting options, like pulling data from various Internet databases, or launching movies right from the interface.
Review | Go-To

DVD Flick

	The DVD authoring tool DVD Flick can be used to turn video files into video DVDs. It supports over 45 different file formats and advanced features such as DVD menus, subtitle support and more.
Review | Go-To

DVDShrink

	You can use DVD Shrink to create copies of video DVDs, or backups on your local system.
Review | Go-To

FastPictureViewer

	FastPictureViewer is probably the fastest image viewer for Windows. It can do a lot more than that though, as it has been designed to quickly go through a large list of photos after a photo shoot.
Review | Go-To

FastStone Image Viewer

	A powerful image viewer for Windows that can open many popular image formats. Support includes several RAW image formats, and options to save images to a different format.
Review | Go-To

Foobar

	Foobar is a long standing lightweight audio player for windows that supports most formats out of the box, and many others by installing component files. It is a highly customizable player, and its source code is provided as well.
Review | Go-To

Freemake Video Converter

	The versatile converter supports the majority of formats out of the box. You can use it to convert video files into a different format, including audio only or DVD video.
Review | Go-To

GIMP

	GIMP is a popular cross-platform image editing suite. It has a lot to offer, and while not as complete as Photoshop, it comes close and should be sufficient for most users.
Review | Go-To

Miro

	Miro is an open source audio and video player. What makes it special is that it enables you to subscribe to Internet channels, or tune into live streams right away from its interface.
Review | Go-To

MP3Gain

	You can use the program to normalize the volume of your mp3 collection so that you do not have to raise or lower the volume constantly depending on the file you are listening to.
Review | Go-To

Paint.net

	Paint.net is one of the best free image editors for the Windows operating system. While no Photoshop, it comes close enough for most users.
Review | Go-To

PhotoSift

	The free program enables you to go quickly through a collection of photos or images stored on your computer. It uses custom directories that you define and shortcuts that it associates with them to file the photos with a single key press into one of those folders.
Review | http://www.getpaint.net/">Go-To

QGifer

	You can use QGifer to create animated gifs. Simply load a video into the program, select the starting and end position of the video that you want turned into an animated gif, define other features such as the desired width and height, and start the process.
Review | Go-To

Riot

	Riot is an image optimization program that tries to reduce the size of images without changing the quality in the process.
Review | Go-To

Screenshot Captor

	Screenshot Captor improves the screenshot taking functionality of Windows tenfold. You can use it to take various types of screenshots -- full screen, windowed or scrolling for example -- and also edit them right after you have taken them, or have them saved directly without that.
Review | Go-To

SmoothVideo Project

	The application has been designed to improve playback quality on Windows PCs. It uses various techniques to reduce or eliminate lag, frame drops or stutters which you may experience during playback.
Review | Go-To

SMPlayer

	A highly efficient media player for Windows that plays all media files out of the box regardless of codecs installed on the system.
Review | Go-To

StreamWriter

	If you want to record Internet Radio, then StreamWriter is the program to go to. It can record as many streams as your PC and Internet connection is capable of.
Review | Go-To

VLC Media Player

	VLC Media Player plays all major -- and many minor -- audio and video files out of the box. It is a versatile media player that is constantly improved, supporting other features such as Internet streaming or disc playback as well.
Review | Go-To

VSDC Free Screen Recorder

	The free screen recorder enables you to record part of the desktop screen, or all of it using an easy to use interface.
Review | Go-To

XBMC

	XBMC is a media center that can be installed on a variety of devices including PCs but also mobile devices. It provides an interface that you can make use of to play media files from local, network and remote storage.
Review | Go-To

XnView

	XnView is a blazingly fast image viewer for Windows. It supports a plethora of different image formats, and ships as a portable version or setup file.
Review | Go-To

Productivity

Software that improves the productivity in one way or the other.
Apache OpenOffice

	Apache OpenOffice offers an alternative to Microsoft's Office suite. It ships with a similar set of tools, and while some things are not equal yet, it should do for the majority of users.
Review | Go-To

Calibre

	Calibre is an ebook manager and reader application. It offers many advanced features, like a virtual library, the auto-generation of a table of contents, or different view modes.
Review | Go-To

Clipboard Help+Spell

	Clipboard Help+Spell is an advanced clipboard program that not only improves the copying to clipboard process, but adds a lot of different options to it as well. This includes auto-formatting text or looking up information on the Internet via the program's Quick Action feature.
Review | Go-To

Clipjump

	The Clipboard manager adds a lot of options to the Windows Clipboard. From access to the history, to advanced shortcuts, and all that as a lightweight program that you will barely notice.
Review | Go-To

doPDF

	The free program doPDF creates a virtual printer on your system that you can use for the creation of PDF documents.
Review | Go-To

Foxit Reader

	Foxit Reader offers a fast alternative to Adobe's free PDF Reader. It offers some features in addition to that, a virtual printer for example that you can use to create PDF documents using it.
Review | Go-To

Launchy

	Launchy is an Open Source file launcher for Windows. It supports skins and plugins, and can speed up the finding of specific documents or files on your system.
Review | Go-To

LibreOffice

	LibreOffice started as a spin-off of OpenOffice, but has since evolved from there. It does share the core with OpenOffice though, making it another excellent Office alternative for Windows.
Review | Go-To

PDFCreator

	The program installs itself as a virtual printer that you can use to create pdf documents.
Review | Go-To

QuiteRSS

	A lightweight RSS reader for Windows. It supports all major features one would expect, with the exception of synchronization between different devices.
Review | Go-To

Replace Genius

	The text replacement software allows you to replace, add, or remove text from text files that you load into the application interface. It ships with a great set of features that makes the process as easy and comfortable as possible. Each change is displayed as a preview next to the original text, so that you can see the outcome right away before you apply the changes.
Review | http://www.launchy.net/">Go-To

SeriousD

	You can track your activity on your PC with the help of the program. It keeps track of running processes and window titles so that you know exactly how much time you spend in a browser like Firefox or on a site like Facebook.
Review | Go-To

Sumatra

	If all you need is a fast PDF reader, then Sumatra is an obvious choice. It can read a couple of other formats besides PDF as well.
Review | Go-To

Teamviewer

	Teamviewer is a remote support software that you can make use of to take control over a remote PC. It is excellent for tech support, but also for other purposes such as demonstrations.
Review | Go-To

Word Expander

	Word Expander provides you with access to a global spell checking tool. You can use it to correct words in nearly every Windows application.
Review | Go-To

Security

Security software that protects the operating system from harm, hardens it, or offers means to remove damage that has been done is listed here in this category.
Avira Free Antivirus

	Avira's free antivirus solution for Windows adds malware protection to the system. While it lacks some features that commercial security programs ship with, its own firewall for example, it is still suitable to protect user systems from harm.
Review | Go-To

BufferZone Pro

	BufferZone Pro is a sandboxing application for windows. It ships with a set of programs that it puts into a sandbox automatically -- web browsers for example -- and gives you options to add others to it as well.
Review | Go-To

CCleaner

	CCleaner scans the system for file leftovers and temporary files, so that you can remove them to free up disk space or remove files for privacy reasons. If you install CCleaner, do not forget to install CCleaner Enhancer as well.
Review | Go-To

DiskCryptor

	DiskCryptor is an easy to use alternative to the excellent True Crypt encryption software. The program can encrypt partitions, including the system partition.
Review | Go-To

Dr. Web CureIt!

	Dr.Web CureIt is an on-demand scanner that you can download and run right away. It will clean your system of malware that it finds effectively.
Review | Go-To

Gmer

	Gmer is an advanced rootkit scanner for Windows. The results that it displays need interpretation which makes it less than ideal for inexperienced users.
Review | Go-To

HiJackThis

	HiJackThis scans important locations of the PC to display all information to you in the end. The program requires some knowledge or help, as it is necessary to interpret the results.
Review | Go-To

HitmanPro (commercial)

	HitmanPro is an on-demand scanner that takes over when resident security software failed to detect, block or remove a threat.
Review | Go-To

Junkware Removal Tool

	The Junkware Removal Tool scans the system for browser toolbars and other unwanted software. You then have the option to remove those programs from your system.
Review | Go-To

KeePass

	KeePass is a flexible password manager for Windows. It shines on its own, but can be extended through the use of plugins and third party programs.
Review | Go-To

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

	A popular highly efficient malware scanner for Windows. Deemed by many as the best in terms of detection rates, and available as as free and paid (adds real-time protection) version.
Review | Go-To

Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit

	The free program scans your PC system for rootkits. It can be used to remove rootkits that have been discovered on the system.
Review | Go-To

Microsoft Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit

	EMET protects the PC from exploits that have managed to bypass the computer's security. It can mitigate several known exploit techniques, rendering the exploits useless in the process.
Review | Go-To

Peerblock

	Peerblock blocks certain IPs from making connections to your PC. Originally designed to block governments, media companies and rights-holders from connecting to your computer during P2P sessions, it is now used for a variety of privacy-related scenarios as well.
Review | Go-To

Privazer

	PrivaZer scans for leftover data and data that may leak information about you, so that you can remove the data as you see fit.
Review | Go-To

RogueKiller

	RogueKiller has been designed to remove rogue antivirus software from the computer system.
Review | Go-To

Sandboxie (commercial)

	Sandboxie adds sandboxing capabilities to Windows. You can run any application in a sandbox environment, for instance as a security precaution, for testing purposes, or so that all of the generated data gets deleted once you kill the sandbox.
Review | Go-To

TrueCrypt

	You can use the True Crypt encryption software to create encrypted data containers on your system, or to encrypt hard drives on it directly.
Review | Go-To

WinPatrol

	WinPatrol monitors the Windows system for changes and informs you about them, so that you can stop them from happening. It monitors autostart for example, so that you are informed about any new program that attempts to add itself to it.
Review | Go-To

System

All system tools are listed here. From system maintenance tools to tweaking software.
Autoruns

	If you need to analyze the startup of windows, Autoruns is the program to do so. It displays everything that gets loaded by the operating system during start, and provides you with options to uncheck programs that you do not want started with it.
Review | Go-To

CPU-Z

	CPU-Z displays heaps of information about the processor, mainboard and memory of the computer it is run on. Great for making sure the hardware is as advertised, or to check upgrade potential.
No Review Yet | Go-To

Dataram

	Use the application to create a ramdisk on your system. It behaves like any hard drive on your system, with the core difference that operations are a lot faster thanks to being stored in RAM, and that all data is deleted when you shut down the PC.
Review | Go-To

Defraggler

	Microsoft has built-in means to defragment drives on Windows regularly in newer versions of Windows. Defraggler adds options to the process and provides you with the means to control it manually as well.
Review | Go-To

Display Driver Uninstaller

	If you want to make sure that the current display driver is installed without leaving any traces behind, for instance before you install a different video card, you can use the manufacturer's software for that, or Display Driver Uninstaller. This program comes into play when the official software does not work properly anymore.
Review | Go-To

FoldersPopup

	The program makes available a selection of folders that you can access at any time with a middle-click in Windows Explorer and in default save or open dialog windows.
Review | Go-To

Grub2Win

	Use the application to add a boot manager to Windows that enables you to boot Windows or Linux distributions installed on the PC.
No Review Yet | Go-To

GPU-Z

	GPU-Z displays all there is to know about the computer's video card. From detailed information about make, model, and manufacturer to clock and power information and supported features.
No Review Yet | Go-To

ImDisk Toolkit

	What sets this program apart from other "Ramdisk" applications is the fact that it can create ramdisks that are dynamic in size. Instead of using up the same amount of RAM all the time, this one only uses as much RAM as is needed to store the data.
Review | Go-To

JavaRa

	JavaRa provides you with the means to update the Java Runtime environment on your system and remove existing installations
Review | Go-To

Open Hardware Monitor

	Open Hardware Monitor displays detailed information about the installed components of the PC. This includes information about the motherboard, cpu, RAM and hard drives, as well as additional information such as temperatures or fan speeds.
Review | Go-To

OUTDATEfigher

	The program scans the system for outdated software and provides you with the means to download updates for those programs so that you can install the latest version on your system.
Review | Go-To

Process Explorer

	Process Explorer provides you with -- very -- detailed process information. It highlights all processes that are running on Windows, their dependencies, resource usage, and virtually any other information you may be looking for.
Review | Go-To

Revo Uninstaller

	A professional uninstaller for Windows that scans for leftovers after the removal so that you can be sure that orphaned files and Registry keys are removed from the PC. Available as a free and professional version.
Review | Go-To

Right-Click Enhancer

	Use the program to remove right-click context menu entries in Windows Explorer that you never use or that have been left over after software installations. In addition, you can use it to add new items to the context menu to improve your productivity.
Review | Go-To

SlimCleaner

	SlimCleaner is a system maintenance tool that ships with an impressive set of features. From deleting temporary files to verifying running processes or checking for program updates: its library of tools is extensive and mostly very helpful.
Review | Go-To

Speccy

	Speccy displays all kinds of hardware information in its interface. From the processor model to the RAM type and graphics card.
Review | Go-To

Speedfan

	Speedfan monitors fan speeds, temperatures and voltages of hardware supporting it. You can use it to regulate the speed of fans on your computer among others things.
Review | Go-To

SUMO

	The Software Updates MOnitor SUMO scans the PC for outdated software, and rates the programs based on the urgency of the update. You can use it to download and install the latest versions of programs as well.
Review | Go-To

System Explorer

	System Explorer at its core is a task manager replacement. Unlike the Windows Task Manager, it will perform operations on its own, like the scanning for malicious processes during startup.
Review | Go-To

UltraDefrag

	Ultradefrag is an advanced defragmentation software for Windows. It comes as a portable version and installer, and can also be run from the command line.
Review | Go-To

Visual BCD Editor

	You can use the program to edit the boot menu of Windows Vista or newer versions of Windows.
Review | Go-To

Windows Offline Update

	You can use the program to download all Windows updates for a selected operating system version or Office from official Microsoft servers.
Review | Go-To

WizTree

	WizTree displays the largest files of a selected drive in its interface. You can either browse a tree view of folders and folders, or browse the top 1000 largest files right away instead.
Review | Go-To

Misc software

DOSBox

	If you need to run DOS programs on Windows, for instance a game or application that does not run natively under Windows, then you can use DOSBox for that.
No Review Yet | Go-To

F.Lux

	F.lux changes the intensity of the computer screen depending on the time of the day. It may help you sleep better because of it if you are working on the computer until right before you go to bed.
Review | Go-To

Keyboard and Mouse Cleaner

	The idea to clean the mouse or keyboard usually comes when I'm using the devices. While you can power down your computer to start the cleaning, you can also run this tool instead which locks the mouse and keyboard in place so that you can clean the devices without interference on the screen.
Review | Go-To

Mouse Without Borders

	Mouse Without Borders provides you with the means to control multiple computer systems -- connected in a network -- with one keyboard and mouse.
Review | Go-To

MSI Afterburner

	MSI Afterburner works with all kinds of video cards, not only cards by MSI. You can use it for a variety of purposes, from over- or underclocking to recording game videos.
Review | Go-To

Print Queue Cleaner

	This simple program will clear stuck printer queues so that you can start to use the printer for print jobs again.
Review | Go-To

QTranslate

	QTranslate is an interface for several translation engines that you can run on your desktop. It supports Google and Microsoft Translate among others, and can display translations as an overlay on many programs on the system.
Review | Go-To

Rimhill

	Rimhill can reduce the maximum rotation speed of optical drives to reduce the noise the device makes when it is in use.
Review | Go-To

ShareMouse

	The program lets you use one keyboard and one mouse to control multiple computer systems.
Review | Go-To

X-Mouse Button Control

The application gives you control over all mouse buttons, so that you can remap them as you see fit. In addition to that, it supports multiple layers which act like profiles that you can switch between.

Source: http://www.ghacks.net/best-windows-software/