Useful utilities/programs, windows only

[SuperFlyer]

Post your useful utilities/programs for Windows (not demos), as well as a description:

Please dont clutter this thread if possible, and going off topic, so that a overview should be possible.

Those utilities have ussualy a manual build in or on their site, if needed.

[SuperFlyer]

FileMenu Tools

FileMenu Tools allows you to customise the context menu (right-click menu) of Windows Explorer. And it lets you:

    * Add some built-in utilities that perform operations on files and folders.
    * Add customised commands which run external applications, copy/move to a specific folder or delete specific file types.
    * Configure the "Send to..." submenu.
    * Enable/disable commands which are added by other applications to the context menu.

http://www.lopesoft.com/en/fmtools/info.html

[SuperFlyer]

LopeEdit

LopeEdit is a powerful programmer's editor and a replacement of Windows Notepad.

There are two editions of LopeEdit: LopeEdit Lite (freeware) and LopeEdit Pro (shareware). LopeEdit Lite is fully functional but does not contain all features, and LopeEdit Pro includes all features. You must purchase LopeEdit Pro if you wish to use it. You can try LopeEdit Pro for 30 days if you don't register it.

Basic Features (LopeEdit Lite and LopeEdit Pro)

    * Supports visual themes: Office 2003 Screenshot Screenshot, Visual Studio 2005 Screenshot, Office XP Screenshot, Office 2000 Screenshot or Windows XP Screenshot.
    * Tabs to select between open files.
    * Screenshot Syntax highlighting (user configurable). Pre-configured for C/C++, Java, JavaScript, Visual Basic, VBScript, XML, HTML, ASP, JSP, SQL, Cobol, C#, CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), Pascal, Perl, PHP.
    * UNICODE and UTF-8 support.
    * Support for the following new line formats: DOS/Windows, Linux/Unix, MAC.
    * Screenshot Automatic highlighting of brackets/braces as typing or positioning occurs.
    * Multiple tabs for an open file.
    * Screenshot The window can be divided in tab groups (horizontal or vertical). It is possible to move tabs by dragging them with the mouse.
    * Screenshot Edit Box in toolbar to find quickly strings in documents.
    * Several docking windows with utilities. These windows can be docked in any place of the main window, or can be auto-hided when losing the focus.
    * Screenshot File Browser Window. Build-in file browser (as Windows Explorer) to open files in the editor, or to make any operation over files or folders (copy, move, delete, etc.).
    * Screenshot Find and Replace Window. Finds or replaces a string in the current document or in all open documents.
    * Screenshot Find and Replace In Files Window. Finds or replaces a string in all files that a folder contains.
    * Regular expression support with tagged expressions for find/replace.
    * Screenshot Find Results Windows. Allows showing search results. Double clicking over a search result, editor will open the file and will scroll until search result position.
    * Screenshot Favorites Window and Screenshot Favorites menu.
    * Screenshot Recent Files Window.
    * Opens files from Internet (Web sites or FTP sites). Files opened from FTP sites can be saved directly in FTP sites.
    * Quick view. When a file is selected in build-in File Browser, the file is showed in quick view. This allows observing multiple files quickly.
    * Screenshot Bookmarks support. Optionally it is possible to save bookmarks.
    * Screenshot Edit marks support. Marks are displayed in the margin for modified lines.
    * Screenshot Printing Preview support.
    * Screenshot ASCII Table Window. Allows viewing and insertion of ASCII characters.
    * File associations. Any file type can be associated in order to open files with LopeEdit by double clicking from Windows Explorer.
    * Screenshot User configurable toolbars and menus. It is posible to modify, add, delete commands from menus and toolbars, and to add new menus and new toolbars.

Advanced Features (LopeEdit Pro only) I won't mention, as they are very advanced functions that very little people will use.

http://www.lopesoft.com/en/lopeedit/info.html

[SuperFlyer]

Unlocker

Ever had such an annoying message given by Windows: Cannot delete file: Access is denied. There has been a sharing violation. The source or destination file may be in use or the file is in use by another program or user. Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is not currently in use. Unlocker is the solution. Unlocker is an Explorer extension that allows you with a simple right-click of the mouse on a file or folder to get rid of error message such as error deleting file or folder, cannot delete folder: it is used by another person or program.

http://download.cnet.com/Unlocker/3000-2248_4-10493998.html

[SuperFlyer]

Boss Toolbar (only for IE)

The major advantage of this Boss Toolbar is the fact that with one click you can hide the browser without leaving a trace even in the taskbar. With another click, all the browser windows reappear (standard shortcut is CTRL+Q, but you can change it). Boost your Web browsing experience, privacy, and enjoyment by protecting your privacy, auto-fill your forms and passwords, and clean your Web browsing history, including cookies, cache, recent documents, clipboard, recycle bin, and auto-complete field.

I added a screenshot to pinpoint the hidden menu:



http://download.cnet.com/boss-toolbar/3000-12512_4-10702343.html

[elikay]

Bullzip

http://www.bullzip.com/


Free PDF Printer   The Bullzip PDF Printer works as a Microsoft Windows printer and allows you to write PDF documents from virtually any Microsoft Windows application.
 This program is FREEWARE with limitations, which means that it is FREE for personal and commercial use up to 10 users. It does not contain any advertising or popups. For commercial applications with more that 10 users there is a commercial version of the product available at www.biopdf.com.
 License FAQ
  Features

• Print to PDF from almost any Windows program.
• Multiple output types supported: BMP, JPEG, PCX, PDF, PNG, and TIFF.
• Runs on Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/XP x64/2003/2003 x64/Vista/Vista x64/2008/Windows 7.
• Supports 64-bit operating systems.
• Direct output to the same file each time or prompt for destination.
• Control if the printer should ask if you want to see the resulting PDF document.
• Control output and prompts programmatically.
• Setup can run unattended.
• Graphical user interface.
• Password protect PDF documents.
• 128/40 bit encryption.
• Quality settings (screen, printer, ebook, prepress).
• Set document properties.
• Watermark text, size, rotation, and transparency.
• Superimpose/background documents.
• Appending/prepending documents.
• User interface control.
• Command line interface to all settings.
• COM/ActiveX interface for programmatic control.
• Support for Citrix MetaFrame
• Support for Windows Terminal Server

[elikay]

7zip
http://www.7-zip.org/
7-Zip is open source software. Most of the source code is under the GNU LGPL license. The unRAR code is under a mixed license: GNU LGPL + unRAR restrictions. Check license information here: 7-Zip license.
You can use 7-Zip on any computer, including a computer in a commercial organization. You don't need to register or pay for 7-Zip.
 The main features of 7-Zip

• High compression ratio in 7z format with LZMA and LZMA2 compression
• Supported formats:
  • Packing / unpacking: 7z, XZ, BZIP2, GZIP, TAR, ZIP and WIM
  • Unpacking only: ARJ, CAB, CHM, CPIO, CramFS, DEB, DMG, FAT, HFS, ISO, LZH, LZMA, MBR, MSI, NSIS, NTFS, RAR, RPM, SquashFS, UDF, VHD, WIM, XAR and Z.
• For ZIP and GZIP formats, 7-Zip provides a compression ratio that is 2-10 % better than the ratio provided by PKZip and WinZip
• Strong AES-256 encryption in 7z and ZIP formats
• Self-extracting capability for 7z format
• Integration with Windows Shell
• Powerful File Manager
• Powerful command line version
• Plugin for FAR Manager
• Localizations for 79 languages

[Chachem Balaileh]

CutePDF Writer (Freeware)Sometimes when u need to save a invoice or doc but u dont want to print.

Create professional quality PDF files from almost any printable document. FREE for personal, commercial, gov or edu use! No watermarks! No popup Web ads! Now supports 64-bit Windows.

http://www.cutepdf.com/

[Chaikel]

Unlocker

Ever had such an annoying message given by Windows: Cannot delete file: Access is denied. There has been a sharing violation. The source or destination file may be in use or the file is in use by another program or user. Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is not currently in use. Unlocker is the solution. Unlocker is an Explorer extension that allows you with a simple right-click of the mouse on a file or folder to get rid of error message such as error deleting file or folder, cannot delete folder: it is used by another person or program.

http://download.cnet.com/Unlocker/3000-2248_4-10493998.html

It hasn't worked to often for me

[Chaikel]

Revo Uninstaller is a must for me.
When you use a programs uninstaller, very often the program deliberately leaves files and registry entries behind (Especially if it's a adware program). Revo searches through your computer to get rid of them (during the uninstall process, you can't do it after you've uninstalled in the free version)

http://www.revouninstaller.com/start_freeware_download.html

Make sure you get the free one, not the "free trial" Pro, paid version

[smurf]

Thanks sf this is a gr8 thread.I have been using unlocker for a while and I think its gr8 @chaikel sometimes it won't work it depends on why the file is locked.
Since everyone is posting pdf printers I'll add one
Pdf creator
I'm posting from my bb I'll try and edit soon with more info
Foxit pdf reader
A great pdf reader its much lighter then adobe loads and launches much faster on less powerful computers like a netbook.on the subject of pdfs anyone know of a good free pdf editor?

[elikay]

Bullzip does jpeg and other formats too.
I would also love to find a free pdf editor.

[SuperFlyer]

TrueCrypt

Free open-source disk encryption software for Windows 7/Vista/XP, Mac OS X, and Linux
Main Features:

    * Creates a virtual encrypted disk within a file and mounts it as a real disk.

    * Encrypts an entire partition or storage device such as USB flash drive or hard drive.

    * Encrypts a partition or drive where Windows is installed (pre-boot authentication).

    * Encryption is automatic, real-time (on-the-fly) and transparent.

    * Parallelization and pipelining allow data to be read and written as fast as if the drive was not encrypted.

    * Encryption can be hardware-accelerated on modern processors.

    * Provides plausible deniability, in case an adversary forces you to reveal the password:

      Hidden volume (steganography) and hidden operating system.

A bit complicated for the novice, but reading properly all the explanations does help.

http://www.truecrypt.org

[SuperFlyer]

Maybe a given, but for those who don't know:



Filezilla (client)

FileZilla Client is a fast and reliable cross-platform FTP, FTPS and SFTP client with lots of useful features and an intuitive graphical user interface.
Features

Among others, the features of FileZilla include the following:

    * Easy to use
    * Supports FTP, FTP over SSL/TLS (FTPS) and SSH File Transfer Protocol (SFTP)
    * Cross-platform. Runs on Windows, Linux, *BSD, Mac OS X and more
    * IPv6 support
    * Available in many languages
    * Supports resume and transfer of large files >4GB
    * Tabbed user interface
    * Powerful Site Manager and transfer queue
    * Bookmarks
    * Drag & drop support
    * Configurable transfer speed limits
    * Filename filters
    * Directory comparison
    * Network configuration wizard
    * Remote file editing
    * Keep-alive
    * HTTP/1.1, SOCKS5 and FTP-Proxy support
    * Logging to file
    * Synchronized directory browsing
    * Remote file search

http://filezilla-project.org/client_features.php

[SuperFlyer]

CCleaner

CCleaner is a system optimization, privacy and cleaning tool. It removes unused files from your system - allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space. It also cleans traces of your online activities such as your Internet history. Additionally it contains a fully featured registry cleaner. But the best part is that it's fast (normally taking less than a second to run) and contains NO Spyware or Adware!
Cleans the following:
Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer
Temporary files, history, cookies, Autocomplete form history, index.dat files.
Firefox

Firefox
Temporary files, history, cookies, download history, form history.
Google Chrome

Google Chrome
Temporary files, history, cookies, download history, form history.
Opera

Opera
Temporary files, history, cookies, download history.
Apple Safari

Safari
Temporary files, history, cookies, form history.
Other Browsers

Other Supported Browsers
K-Meleon, Rockmelt, Flock, Google Chrome Canary, Chromium, SeaMonkey, Chrome Plus, SRWare Iron, Pale Moon, Phoenix, Netscape Navigator, Avant and Maxthon.
Windows

Windows
Recycle Bin, Recent Documents, Temporary files, Log files, Clipboard, DNS Cache, Error Reporting, Memory Dumps, Jump Lists.
Registry

Registry Cleaner
Advanced features to remove unused and old entries, including File Extensions, ActiveX Controls, ClassIDs, ProgIDs, Uninstallers, Shared DLLs, Fonts, Help Files, Application Paths, Icons, Invalid Shortcuts and more...
Applications

Third-party applications
Removes temp files and recent file lists (MRUs) from many apps including Windows Media Player, eMule, Google Toolbar, Microsoft Office, Nero, Adobe Acrobat, WinRAR, WinAce, WinZip and many more...
Safe

100% Spyware FREE
This software does NOT contain any Spyware, Adware or Viruses.

http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

[SuperFlyer]

Jdownloader

JDownloader is open source, platform independent and written completely in Java. It simplifies downloading files from One-Click-Hosters like Rapidshare.com or Megaupload.com - not only for users with a premium account but also for users who don't pay. It offers downloading in multiple paralell streams, captcha recognition, automatical file extraction and much more. Of course, JDownloader is absolutely free of charge. Additionally, many "link encryption" sites are supported - so you just paste the "encrypted" links and JD does the rest. JDownloader can import CCF, RSDF and the new DLC files.

http://jdownloader.org

[ceejay]

PortableApps.com Suite™ is a complete collection of portable apps including a web browser, email client, office suite, calendar/scheduler, instant messaging client, antivirus, audio player, sudoku game, password manager, PDF reader, minesweeper clone, backup utility and integrated menu, all preconfigured to work portably. Just drop it on your portable device and you're ready to go.

Very useful to carry around on USB. Even good on a PC http://portableapps.com/suite

[ceejay]

Maybe a given, but for those who don't know:



Filezilla (client)

FileZilla Client is a fast and reliable cross-platform FTP, FTPS and SFTP client with lots of useful features and an intuitive graphical user interface.
Features

Among others, the features of FileZilla include the following:

    * Easy to use
    * Supports FTP, FTP over SSL/TLS (FTPS) and SSH File Transfer Protocol (SFTP)
    * Cross-platform. Runs on Windows, Linux, *BSD, Mac OS X and more
    * IPv6 support
    * Available in many languages
    * Supports resume and transfer of large files >4GB
    * Tabbed user interface
    * Powerful Site Manager and transfer queue
    * Bookmarks
    * Drag & drop support
    * Configurable transfer speed limits
    * Filename filters
    * Directory comparison
    * Network configuration wizard
    * Remote file editing
    * Keep-alive
    * HTTP/1.1, SOCKS5 and FTP-Proxy support
    * Logging to file
    * Synchronized directory browsing
    * Remote file search

http://filezilla-project.org/client_features.php

Another good FTP client Cyberduck http://cyberduck.ch/. Originally Mac only now available for Windows

Open source FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, Cloud Files,
Google Docs & Amazon S3 Browser for Mac & Windows.

[SuperFlyer]

TuneUp Utilities™ 2011

Only works free for 15 days, however, its improvements stay, even after uninstalling.

Status & recommendations

The intuitive Start Center with a fresh look and feel gives you complete control and access to the most important tuning steps at a glance.

Optimize system

Get rid of those PC brakes and drop the dead weight in programs: for maximum speed whether working, surfing, or playing!

Gain disk space

Find and remove large resource hogs and annoying data trash to make your PC run even more efficiently.

Fix problems

Fix the most common Windows® problems, scan your hard disk and restore deleted files.

Customize Windows®

Change the visual appearance of Windows® to match your style and safely modify over 400 Windows® settings.

Professional users have direct access to 32 optimization tools TuneUp Utilities™ 2011 offers.

It does much more then what I pasted above, see http://www.tune-up.com/products/tuneup-utilities/features/

[elikay]

Thunderbird
Opensource outlook equivalent

Libreoffice
MS Office Equivalent

VLC
Plays all types of media file

will post info and links later