Альтернативные бесплатные программы

[GoBlin]

В теме Свободное программное обеспечение приведён список софта, идущего в комплекте к Убунту.

Меня заинтересовал вопрос наличия бесплатных программ под винду (т.к. по ряду причин отказаться от неё не могу).

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Источник: aceweb.ru

Растровый графический редактор GIMP. Бесплатный аналог Фотошоп. Созданный ранее для Linux, а теперь и для Windows бесплатный графический растровый редактор GIMP - одна из лучших бесплатных (opensource) программ для создания и редактирования графики.

OpenOffice. Аналог Майкрософт Офис. Полностью русифицирован. Вы можете без проблем открывать документы MS-Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint), редактировать их и сохранять как в оригинальном формате, так и в формате OpenOffice.
Этот пакет включает в себя:
Writer. Программа для создания документов. Текстовый процессор и редактор HTML. Полностью совместима и поддерживает файлы, аналог Microsoft Word.
Calc. Электронные таблицы. Аналог Microsoft Excel. Поддерживает файлы, созданные в Microsoft Excel.
Draw. Векторный графический редактор. Аналог программы Corel Draw!
Impress. Cистема презентаций. Аналог Powerpoint.
Base. База данных.
Редактор формул. Редактор формул.


Диаграммы Dia. Мастер диаграмм. Функциональные схемы, органограммы, чарты.


Антивирус Avast. Отличный бесплатный антивирус для домашнего использования. Используем его более пяти лет и не было ни одного случая, чтобы он подвел. Совершенно не оказывает влияние на систему, он полностью незаметен. Файлы обновлений размером в несколько килобайт, быстро.


Mozilla Firefox. Интернет-браузер (аналог Интернет Эксплорер), предназначенный для просмотра веб-страниц в Интернете. Одновременно очень простой и с возможностью персональной подстройки под пользователя. Имеет множество бесплатных дополнений, как например, фильтр рекламы на Интернет-страницах, ftp-клиент, повышенная защита, уменьшение/увеличение картинок, докачка файлов и многое другое.


Универсальный проигрыватель mpc.darkhost.ru Проигрывает всевозможные аудио и видео файлы, DVD. Не требует установки дополнительных кодеков. Просто открываете файл и смотрите / слушаете. Не требует инсталляции.


Mozilla Thunderbird. Почта. Аналог Microsoft Outlook и гораздо удобнее и дружественнее. Имеет множество настроек и фильтров от спама. Содержит календарь и адресную книгу, обучаемый антиспам.


FTP клиент. FileZilla FTP Client - мощный бесплатный (opensource) FTP-клиент для Windows, Linux, Mac OS X. Легок в использовании, быстр, поддерживает множество полезных опций.


Восстановление данных http://www.pcinspector.de Отличная программа для восстановления утерянных данных на компьютере, любом носителе, логического или физического диска практически любой файловой системы. Поддерживает русский язык.


QIP (Квип). Интернет-пейджер аналог ICQ. Несмотря на то, что последний также бесплатный, Квип полностью избавлен от рекламы и имеет встроенный антиспам-робот, чтобы не принимать спам-сообщения.


Переводчик jalingo.sourceforge.net Англо-русский переводчик. Словарь переводчика содержит 65000 слов.


Создание PDF ( pdfforge.org pdfcreator ) и Просмотр PDF ( foxitsoftware.com ). Две программы, одна для создания, другая для просмотра PDF-файлов. Обе небольшие, и нетребовательные к ресурсам системы и вместе с тем многофункциональные. Гораздо лучше, чем Adobe Reader.


Архиватор 7zip. Архиватор, поддерживающий все известные форматы и типы архивов. Может как открывать, так и создавать архивы в своем или в оригинальном формате. По желанию встраивается в оболочку и все действия можно выполнять двумя кликами мыши.


Аудиоредактор traverso-daw.org Программа для мультитрекового режиссирования и записи, копирования содержимого музыкального диска в различных форматах, включая mp3 на жесткий диск компьютера, записи дисков.


Punto Switcher. Программа, которая распознает язык и автоматически переключит его на нужный при вводе с клавиатуры. Таким образом, Вы напечатаете фразу "бесплатные программы" вместо ",tcgkfnyst ghjuhfvvs" или "софт" вместо "cjan".

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Ссылка (обновлено 22 июня 2009) спасибо Ranger7000


Antivirus Applications

• Antivir
• Avast Free
• AVG Free - at the bottom of the page.
• Bitdefender Free
• Clam AntiVirus - an open source (GPL) anti-virus toolkit for UNIX, designed especially for e-mail scanning on mail gateways Compatibility: GNU/Linux, Solaris, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, Mac OS X - nigglesnush85
• ClamWin - Compatibility: Windows 98/Me/2000/XP/2003/Vista - nunzconz

Free Online Virus/Trojan/Spyware Scanners

• Anubis - malware analyzing service - skyfuser
• BitDefender - virus scanner
• ESET Online Scanner - detects both know and unknown forms of malware, including viruses, worms, Trojans, phishing and spyware, residing on a computer, and cleans the system - ddeerrff
• eTrust - Virus scanner - WhyBeNormal
• F-Secure - virus scanner
• HouseCall - virus scanner
• Jotti's scan - submit files to be scanned by multiple (15) scanners
• Kaspersky Online Scanner - snemelk
• kephyr.com - PopUp Killer Test
• McAfee - virus, security and Wi-Fi scanners, under "Free Services"
• Panda ActiveScan - snemelk
• PC Pitstop - several scans, on the left, under "Tests and Scans"
• SpywareGuide - spyware scanner, on the right
• SUPERAntiSpyware Online Safe Scan - spyware scanner - at the bottom of the page, under "Popular Links" - boopme
• Symantec Security Check - virus & security scanners
• Virustotal - submit suspicious files to be scanned by multiple (22) Antivirus/Spyware scanners - SifuMike
• Webroot Spy Audit - Spyware scanner. It will not remove or modify any files. - WhyBeNormal
• WindowSecurity - trojan scanner

Malware Removal - You may also want to read this topic, Simple steps to keep your computer secure!

• a² Free - a complementary product to antivirus software which is specialized in protection against harmful software. Antivirus software often features an inadequate protection against Trojans, Dialers and Spyware. a² fills this gap." - Compatibility: Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/2003 Server/Vista - tg911
• Ad-Aware - Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/2003 Server - Tutorial: Using Ad-Aware
• AVG Anti-Spyware (formerly ewido) - removes Trojans, Worms, Dialers, Hijackers, Spyware and Keyloggers. - Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/Vista (both 32-Bit & 64-Bit)
• Dr.Web CureIt! - curing utility to clean your computer infected with viruses and various unwanted codes - Pilate
• IE-Spyad - Internet Explorer 4.0/4.01 (incl. SP1 & SP2)/5.0/5.01 (incl. SP1 & SP2)/5.5 (incl. SP1 & SP2)/6.0 (incl. SP1& SP2)/7.0 - Tutorial: Using IE-Spyad
• Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware - can detect and remove malware that even the most well known anti-virus and anti-malware applications fail to detect Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/Vista (32 and 64-bit) - DaChew
• Spybot - Search & Destroy - Compatibility: Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP/XP AMD64/XPTablet PC Edition/2003/Vista/PE/ Mac OS/Mac OS X/Linux/Unix (Starting in Wine; full Wine support in 1.5) - Tutorial: Using Spybot S&D
• Spywareblaster - prevents spyware from being installed on your PC. - Tutorial: Using SpywareBlaster  
• Spywareguard - provides a real-time protection solution against spyware that is a great addition to SpywareBlaster's protection method. - Tutorial: Using SpywareGuard
• Spyware Terminator - Effectively remove spyware, adware, trojans, keyloggers, home page hijackers and other malware threats. Real-Time Protection is included in the basic version. - nigglesnush85
• SuperAntiSpyware - link to a direct download of the Free version - Vista compatible
• WinPatrol - "WinPatrol uses a heuristic approach to detecting attacks and violations of your computing environment. Traditional security programs scan your hard drive searching for previously identified threats. WinPatrol takes snapshot of your critical system resources and alerts you to any changes that may occur without your knowledge." - Compatibility: Windows 98 - Vista - joe53

Specific Virus Removal Tools - if you know what Virus you have, try here.

• AVG
• BitDefender
• McAfee
• Panda
• Symantec

Firewalls

• Ashampoo Firewall - DarkNight
• Jetico Personal Firewall -  Compatibility: Windows 98/Me/NT/2000/XP/2003 Server - acklan
• Kerio Personal Firewall - 3rd one down Compatibility: Windows 98/Me/NT4/2000/XP - tos226
• Outpost Firewall Free - Compatibility: Windows (All)
• PC Tools Firewall Plus - a powerful free personal firewall for Windows Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003/Vista - pete@21
• Sunbelt Personal Firewall - Compatibility: Windows 2000 Professional (desktop version)/XP/XP Media Center Edition
• Sygate Free - Compatibility: Windows (All)
• Vista Firewall Control 32 bit Version - the outbound filter in Windows Vista is, in essence, turned off by default. And as a practical matter, it's impossible to manually configure it to block malware making outbound connections. That's where the free Vista Firewall Control comes in Compatibility: Windows Vista - Adamsappleone
• [url=http://]Vista Firewall Control 64 bit Version[/url] - Compatibility: Windows Vista - Adamsappleone
• ZoneAlarm Free - Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/Vista

PC Security

• Active@ KillDisk - powerful and compact DOS software that allows you to destroy all data on hard and floppy drives completely, excluding any possibility of future recovery of deleted files and folders. - FAT/FAT32/NTFS File Systems - acklan
• Core Control - a full featured advanced security program, designed for Windows 95/98/ME - acklan
• DeleteOnClick - completely deletes files in one click rather than sending the file to the recycle bin. The data becomes unrecoverable. For this reason you must use this program carefully. - Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista - leeanne172
• Eraser - an advanced security tool (for Windows), which allows you to completely remove sensitive data from your hard drive by overwriting it several times with carefully selected patterns. - Compatibility: Windows 95/98/ME/NT 4.0/2000/XP - jgweed
• EULAlyzer - can analyze license agreements in seconds, and provide a detailed listing of potentially interesting words and phrases. Discover if the software you're about to install displays pop-up ads, transmits personally identifiable information, uses unique identifiers to track you, or much much more. - Compatibility: Windows (All) - Wink
• iProtectYou - allows parents to control which web sites can be visited, which programs can have Internet access, block e-mails, chat sessions and instant messages with inappropriate words, stop annoying ads, and/or restrict internet time to a predetermined schedule. - Compatibility: Windows (All) - acklan
• KL-Detector- detect keylogging activity on your computer! - Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP - boopme
• Rohos Mini Drive - creates hidden and encrypted partition on the USB flash drive memory. You work with the files on the hidden partition without opening a special program Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista - Newb4Life
• ThreatFire - constantly analyzes your computer's behavior to detect and block any malicious activity Compatibility: Windows XP/Vista/2003/2008 - rowal5555

File Encryption

• AxCrypt - a powerful, yet extremely easy to use file encryption program. It integrates directly with Windows Explorer, enabling encryption, decryption, viewing and editing of any file with just a few clicks of the mouse. - Compatibility: Windows (All)
• Cryptainer LE - A really simple to use encryption tool that creates an invisible, password protected folder on your hard drive or other media. Free version limited to 25MB. "Cryptainer LE's encryption works with all 32 bit versions of Microsoft Windows (95/98/ME/2000/XP/2003 Server) and with all known file types." - Compatibility: Windows (all 32 bit versions) - Rimmer
• PowerCrypt - a powerful file encoder. Make sure your files are protected with a 100% secure encryption algorithm, which is not resolveable by NSA nor CIA. - Compatibility: Windows (All)
• True Crypt - disk encryption software for Windows XP/2000/2003 and Linux. A, more powerful version of Cryptainer. As a user of both, I recommend TrueCrypt over Cryptainer by a long shot. No stupid limits on how big you can have the drive, as well, so you could encrypt your whole drive if you wanted to. - Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/Vista/Linux - ØÇë¦òT

Hard Drive & System Utilites

• AnVir Task Manager Free - a tool that controls everything running on computer and provides Windows enhancements Compatibility: Windows XP/Vista - skyfuser
• Auslogics Disk Defrag - designed for fast optimization of today's modern hard disks. - Compatibility: Windows 2000/2003/XP/Vista - Yourhighness
• BootSafe - a program (doesn't require installation) that sits on your desktop. Double click on it, select one of the 3 Safe Mode options, and click on Reboot. - Compatibility: Windows 98/98SE/ME/2000/XP - usasma
• Clonezilla - a hard drive backup/cloning tool Compatibility: (32 and 64 bit)GNU/Linux, MS windows and Intel-based Mac OS - nigglesnush85
• Defraggler - a file defragmentation tool Compatibility: Windows 2000/2003 and 2008 Server/XP(32 and 64 bit)/Vista(32 and 64 bit) - frankp316
• Disk Cleaner - a tool to quickly and easily clean your hard disk from temporary files like those in the system temporary folder, the Internet Explorer Cache and Cookies folder, and the Recycle Bin Compatibility: all Windows versions/platforms - henceforth
• Drive Manager - has been written to help you easily identify drives which are of the same type. - fleamailman
• Driver Max - allows you to download the latest driver updates for your computer Compatibility: Windows 2003/XP/Vista and Windows 7 - Yourhighness
• driveSMART EWT - an early warning and tracking system, which tracks the status of the computer hard disks, timely detecting, and anticipating any problems occurring with the disk, before the danger of the data loss appears. - Compatibility: Windows 95b/98/ME/2000 Pro & Server/NT 4.0 Workstation & Server/XP/2003 Server__MAC OS X 10.2 & 10.3 - BlackSpyder
• DShutdown- a stand-alone program that allows you to easily shutdown and wake up local or remote PCs, with many specific options. - Compatibility: Windows 9x/NT/2000/XP/Vista - acklan
• DTaskManager - a Task-Manager, but specifically engineered to give additional functionalities that the Windows bundled TaskManager (and other third party products) do not have. - Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/Vista - scratcher
• EASEUS Partition Master - comprehensive hard disk partition tool and system optimization software for Windows-based administration without data loss. Both basic and advanced partition operations can be done by this partition software. Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/Vista - Wildabeast
• ERUNT - registry backup tool - Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista - rowal5555
• GParted - an industrial-strength package for creating, destroying, resizing, moving, checking and copying partitions, and the filesystems on them. This is useful for creating space for new operating systems, reorganizing disk usage, copying data residing on hard disks and mirroring one partition with another (disk imaging). - Gnome - fozzie
• HDDScan - a freeware program for low-level HDD diagnostics. Supports IDE/SATA/SCSI hard disk drives, RAID arrays, external USB/Firewire hard disks, flash cards. - Stidyup
• HDTune - a good piece of software for testing the HD in the PC. Gives good analysis of the drives sector issues. - projectfocus
• JkDefrag - disk defragment and optimization utility for Windows 2000/2003/XP/Vista/X64 - Shaba
• JkDefragGUI - a Graphical User Interface which allows you to easily select all the features of JkDefrag Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/Vista/2008, U3 capable flash memory and with BartPE pre-installed environment - Yourhighness
• Memtest86 - a thorough, stand alone memory test for x86 architecture computers. - boopme
• MicroSoft's Memory Test - tests the Random Access Memory (RAM) on your computer for errors. - acklan
• Minimem - can reduce the memory footprint of any application Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista (32 and 64 bit) - nigglesnush85
• msconfig - for Windows 95/2000 - acklan
• PC INSPECTOR - a data recovery program - Supports FAT 12/16/32 & NTFS file systems. - usasma
• Power off 3 - a small program that allows you to control the power state of your pc. - Compatibility: Windows 95/98/Me/NT4.0/2000/XP - Yourhighness
• Process Explorer - shows you information about which handles and DLLs processes have opened or loaded. - Compatibility: Windows 9x/Me/NT 4.0/2000/XP/Server 2003/Vista - Ronbo
• Process Lasso - Improve your PC's responsiveness and stability. Process Lasso offers capabilities such as default process priorities and affinities, termination of disallowed processes, instance count limits, a system responsiveness graph, logging of processes, and much more Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista - Adamsappleone
• ProcessLibrary - Gain insight on any process through easy and quick search feature that queries over 9000 entries in processlibrary.com database directly - Compatibility: Windows 2000/2003/XP - nigglesnush85
• Quick Access InfoBar - Get the latest definitions and exhaustive advice on all the processes running in the Windows Task Manager. - Compatibility: Windows 2000/2003/XP
• Ranish Partition Manager - Partition resizer, create, manager similar to Partition Magic but free! - Compatibility: Linux, FreeDOS, FreeBSD, & Windows 98/2k/XP
• Send To Toys - an enhancement of the Send To system menu. Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/2003 Server/Vista - Yourhighness
• Smart Defrag - has two defrag modes: express and comprehensive. Can also run automatically in the background to constantly keep your drive defragged. Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/Vista, and Windows 7 - Budapest
• SpeeDefrag - a program, which restarts your computer and runs only defrag.exe with optimized windows settings. -  Compatibility: Windows XP/Vista - acklan
• Speed Test - monitor CPU (over 8 cores) and RAM usage by itself and more Compatibility: Windows Vista - Adamsappleone
• StartUpLite - a lightweight and simple to use application that allows you to speed up your system startup, safely and efficiently. The program allows you to disable or remove unnecessary startup entries from your computer. Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/Vista - DaChew
• Swissknife - can create, delete and format partitions on your hard disk drives. Supports Internal interfaces such as IDE and SCSI and External interfaces such as Hi-Speed USB, Parallel port, PCMCIA, USB On-The-Go, Firewire®, SATA interfaces etc. Creates Fixed and Removable Disk Format types. - Compatibility: Windows 98/XP/Mac OS/Linux - BlackSpyder
• SyncBack Freeware - backup and synchronization software - Compatibility: Windows 98/98SE/ME/NT 4/2000/XP/Windows 2003 - usasma
• Unknown Device Identifier - Identify unknown devices not recognized by Windows in your system especially after you reinstall your system and cannot figure out what all those yellow question mark labeled devices really are. - Compatibility: Windows 95/98/ME/NT4x/XP/2000 - acklan
• Vision - Reports all open TCP and UDP ports and maps them to the owning process or application. - Compatibility: Windows XP/2000 - usasma
• WinDriversBackup Personal Edition 1.0.9 (last freeware version) - for backing up your Windows system driver files. It can also scan for, and back up, third party non-Microsoft drivers. - Compatibility: Windows 9x/NT/ME/2000/XP - mommabear

System Information

• Belarc Advisor - builds a detailed profile of your installed software and hardware, including Microsoft Hotfixes, and displays the results in your Web browser. - Compatibility: Windows 9x/ME/NT 4/ME/2000/XP/2003/Vista - Ronbo
• CoolMon 2 - a program for monitoring vital system stats and almost anything else you wish to display on the desktop. - Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP - nosnhoj#3
• Core Temp - used to monitor CPU temperatures. Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista (both 32bit and 64bit) - DaChew
• CPU-Z - gathers information on some of the main devices of your system; CPU, Mainboard, Memory, and System. - Compatibility: Windows (All) - Rimmer
• Double Driver - you can view which drivers are installed in your system and you can backup the drivers you choose, save and print the drivers list, and more. - Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP - Yourhighness
• EVEREST Home Edition - a freeware system information, system diagnostics and benchmarking solution for home PC users. Similar to Belarc, but much more comprehensive. - Compatibility: Windows (All) - Herk
• GPU-Z - a lightweight utility designed to give you all information about your video card and GPU Compatibility: Windows 2000 / XP / Vista (both 32 and 64 bit) - Mr Alpha
• SIW - This program performs computer configuration, analysis, and diagnostics. (Similar to Everest) - Compatibility: Windows (All)
• SpeedFan - monitors voltages, fan speeds and temperatures  in computers with hardware monitor chips. - Compatibility: Windows (All) - usasma
• System Spec - lets you can see, save and print a complete spec of your PC with this no-install, system information utility and perform various windows functions. Additional advanced info includes CPU, drives, apps, display, memory and more. - Compatibility: Windows 98/ME/NT 4/2000/XP - John_McKenna
• What's Running - a product that gives you an inside look into your Windows 2000/XP/2003 system. Explore processes, services, modules, IP-connections, drivers and much more. - Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/2003 - rowal5555
• WinAudit - a self-contained (no setup required) PC audit, and inventory of software, licenses, security configuration, hardware, network settings... - Compatibility: Windows PE/95/98/Me/NT3.51/NT4/2000/XP/2003/Vista - usasma

File Compression and Archiving

• 7-Zip - a file archiver with high compression ratio. - nosnhoj#3
• ExtractNow - will let you extract multiple archives with the ease of a single click. - acklan
• FilZip - an archiving utility (zip tool) that can open various archive types. It offers Windows integration, drag and drop, encryption, multi-extract and more. - leeanne172
• IZArc - File compression utility that supports most standard compression formats.
• WinRAR - click on the downloads tab and download the trial version (not the beta). You can use the full functionality forever. - Lanscader
• ZipGenius - A nice archiving tool. It handles zip, rar and many others. - Storm Rider

File/Folder Utilities

• Cobian Backup - a multi-threaded program that can be used to schedule and backup your files and directories from their original location to other directories/drives in the same computer or other computer in your network. - usasma
• Delete Doctor - Delete files that are difficult to delete, such as some files left by viruses and trojans, or files with corrupted file names.
• Digital Dolly - hard-disk-partition, image, and cloning software that runs completely from a bootable CD-ROM. - acklan
• Everything - Locate files and folders by name, instantly. Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista/2008/Windows 7 - rowal5555
• Folder Guide - a handy utility that provides fast access to your frequently used and favorite folders. It can operate as the part of your context menu in your Windows Explorer. Compatibility: Windows 9x/Me/NT/2000/XP/2003 - Yourhighness
• HostsMan - a hosts file manager and editor - Yourhighness
• LupasRename 2000 - rename files quickly (Will run on USB Drive) - turbines
• MDI Viewer - allows you to view .MDI files - sitalchauhan
• Recuva - a Windows utility to restore files that have been accidentally deleted from your computer, camera memory cards, MP3 players... Compatibility: Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/2003 and 2008 Server/XP(32 and 64 bit)/Vista(32 and 64 bit) - Keithuk
• ReNamer - a small, yet very flexible file renaming tool, that offers all the standard renaming procedures, including prefixes, suffixes, replacements, case changes, as well as remove contents of brackets, add number sequences, change file extensions, etc. - Walkman
• SequoiaView - an excellent utility to help you figure out what is taking up so much space on your hard drive. - ddeerrff
• Snap Backup - The One-Click Backup Utility that makes it simple to protect your important work. - acklan
• Unlocker - Remove, hard to Delete, files and folders.
• WinDirStat - a disk usage statistics viewer and cleanup tool for Microsoft Windows - Windows 95/98SE/ME/NT4(SP5)/2000/XP/Server 2003 - nigglesnush85
• WinMerge - a visual text file differencing and merging tool for Win32 platforms. It is highly useful for determining what has changed between project versions, and then merging changes between versions. - Walkman

[GoBlin]

Utilities

• 3DMark03 Free Version - a benchmarking proooogram that includes a collection of 3D tests, a set of CPU tests, feature tests, image quality tests, and sound tests. - BlackSpyder
• 8start Launcher - a portable application launcher. - Yourhighness
• ATnotes - a sticky note application - Dialer
• Calc 98 - Scientic Calulator and Conversion Tool (Will run on USB Drive) - turbines
• Clipboard Buddy - a clipboard cache program that remembers what was copied to the clipboard even after new data is copied, and allows you to retrieve the old data. - rowal5555
• Convert - an easy to use unit conversion program that will convert the most popular units of distance, temperature, volume, time, speed, mass, power, density, pressure, energy and many others, including the ability to create custom conversions. - Ronbo
• Digital Post-It - replaces all those sticky yellow post-it papers that you got on your desk. - usasma
• Easy Picture2Icon - a tool for converting images or digital photos in to Windows icons. Compatibility: Windows 98/Me/NT/2000/XP/Vista - acklan
• EssentialPIM - Personal Information Manager - acklan
• Evernote - allows you to easily capture information in any environment using whatever device or platform you find most convenient, and makes this information accessible and searchable at any time, from anywhere - skyfuser
• Fass - a forum post editor & automated post generator. It also has a "Post Preview" feature, which shows your post as it will appear on forums. Designed for use with Invision Power Board, compatible with most forum software.
• FeedDemon - view and manage your RSS feeds from your desktop Compatibility: Windows 98 or later - Yourhighness
• Filebox Extender - enhances Windows by adding several advanced functions to the standard Open File and Save File dialog boxes. - Yourhighness
• Free Download Manager - an easy-to-use, open-source, download accelerator and manager Compatibility: Windows 9x/ME/2000/2003/XP/Vista (32bit versions only) - Dialer
• Google Earth - lets you fly anywhere on Earth to view satellite imagery, maps, terrain, 3D buildings, from galaxies in outer space to the canyons of the ocean Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/Vista, Mac OS X 10, Linux Kernel: 2.4 or later/glibc: 2.3.2 w/ NPTL or later/XFree86-4.0 or x.org R6.7 or later - DSTM
• HandyNotes - a small software program, that makes it easy to keep all your notes organized, in one easily accessible place. - Herk
• KeyNote - a flexible, multi-featured tabbed notebook, based on Windows standard RichEdit control.
• Keytweak - a keyboard remapper Compatibility: Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista/Win 7 - boopme
• Launchy - indexes the programs in your start menu and can launch your documents, project files, folders, and bookmarks with just a few keystrokes. - nosnhoj#3
• LogMeIn Hamachi - a VPN service that easily sets up in 10 minutes, and enables secure remote access to your business network, anywhere there's an Internet connection - nigglesnush85
• Magical Jellybean Keyfinder - a utility that retrieves your Product Key (cd key) used to install windows from your registry. It has the options to copy the key to clipboard, save it to a text file, or print it for safekeeping. - Herk
• Microsoft Reader - allows you to read books published in the MS reader (.lit) format. - Ronbo
• Multi Install - an advanced cd/dvd menu authoring system for your own creations. A "Multi Installer" is an install program that can install multiple programs from the same menu. Compatibility: 32-bit Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP - Yourhighness
• MyUninstaller - Free app to remove entries from your Add/Remove Programs list.
• nLite - a tool for pre-installation Windows configuration and component removal at your choice - Tedfs3
• PCMark05 Basic Edition - PC performance benchmark program that provides an accurate and consistent assessment of the performance of your PC in general home environment usage. - BlackSpyder
• PitchPerfect Guitar Tuner - Tune your electric or Bass with your computer - BlackSpyder
• RealVNC - makes it possible to view, and fully-interact with, one computer from any other computer, or mobile device, anywhere on the Internet. - acklan
• Revo Uninstaller - helps you to uninstall software and remove unwanted programs installed on your computer. Compatibility: 32-bit Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista - Yourhighness
• Safarp - a small and fast alternative to the Add or Remove Programs Control Panel applet of Windows 2000/XP. Among other things, it displays a list of the installed programs, and allows one to uninstall / repair them. - scratcher
• Sandboxie - runs your programs in an isolated space which prevents them from making permanent changes to other programs and data in your computer Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/Vista/Server 2003 - thcbytes
• Simply Connected - access your computer remotely from anywhere - Yourhighness
• Start++ - an enhancement for the Start Menu in Windows Vista. It also extends the Run box and the command-line with customizable commands.  For example, typing "w Windows Vista" will take you to the Windows Vista page on Wikipedia. - nosnhoj#3
• Startup Inspector for Windows - helps both novice and expert user manage Windows® startup applications.
• Stickies - a PC utility to try and cut down on the number of Post-It® notes stuck to your monitor. It is a computerised version of those notes. - Animal
• Sun's Solaris 10- a free Operating System - acklan
• Taskbar Repair Tool Plus! - allows you to Repair and Customize the Quick Launch, Taskbar and Notification Area in Windows XP. - Ronbo
• Tidy Start Menu - allows you to arrange all the shortcuts in the Start Menu. Your Start Menu looks neat, and you can easily and quickly find any program you want. - rowal5555
• Total Uninstall - can help you to monitor any changes that were made to your system during installation of a new software product and allow you to perform a complete uninstall without having to rely on the supplied uninstall program (which may leave files or changes behind).(last freeware version) - usasma
• TweakVI - was designed for easy tweaking an optimizing a Windows Vista based computer. - nosnhoj#3
• TweakUI - This PowerToy gives you access to system settings that are not exposed in the Windows XP default user interface, including mouse settings, Explorer settings, taskbar settings, and more. - Ronbo
• Uninstall Tool - (Last Free Version) a small and fast utility that helps you to uninstall various software. It can be used instead of the standard unconvenient and heavy "Add and Remove Programs". - mommabear
• VirtualBox - enables multiple virtual machines (VMs) on a single desktop, allowing users to access other operating systems within a native OS environment Compatibility: Windows NT 4.0/2000/XP/Server 2003/Vista/Windows 7, DOS/Windows 3.x, Linux (2.4 and 2.6), Solaris/OpenSolaris, and OpenBSD - nigglesnush85
• vLite - a tool for customizing the Windows Vista installation before actually installing it - Tedfs3
• WinKey - create keyboard shortcuts to access your favorite programs, documents, and files. Once you've made a shortcut, simply press your desired key combination to launch your program. This tool supports up to 200 key assignments. - nosnhoj#3
• WizMouse - a mouse enhancement utility that makes your mouse wheel work on the window currently under the mouse pointer, instead of the currently focused window. This means you no longer have to click on a window before being able to scroll it with the mouse wheel Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/Vista/Windows 7 - Leech
• YC3 - apowerful Windows clipboard extender/memory. Compatibility: 32 bit Windows 95/98/ME/NT4/Win2K/XP - rowal5555

Networking

• Fiddler - a HTTP Debugging Proxy which logs all HTTP traffic between your computer and the Internet. Fiddler allows you to inspect all HTTP Traffic, set breakpoints, and "fiddle" with incoming or outgoing data. - usasma
• Netstat Live - a small, easy to use TCP/IP protocol monitor which can be used to see your exact throughput on both incoming and outgoing data - whether you're using a modem, cable modem, DSL, or even local network. Will also graph the CPU usage of your system. - Herk
• No-IP - Use to map a static or dynamic IP address, or long URL, to an easy to remember subdomain, such as yourname.no-ip.com. - turbines
• PingPlotter - a high performance, low-overhead traceroute application. - turbines
• Wireshark - a network protocol analyzer (packet sniffer)

Web Browsers

• Avant Browser - based on the Internet Explorer browser engine. - nosnhoj#3
• Firefox - a highly customizable web browser, with tabbed browsing - JEservices
• Flock - a social web browser powered by Mozilla Compatibility: Windows/Mac/Linux - Animal
• K-Meleon - an extremely fast, customizable, lightweight web browser for the Win32 (Windows) platform based on the Gecko layout engine (the rendering engine of Mozilla) - saint satin stain
• Maxthon Internet Browser - tabbed browser with a highly customizable interface. It is based on the Internet Explorer browser engine. - wng_z3r0
• Netscape - Includes a browser, email client, and html composer - Bizrus
• OffByOne - Incorporates a tabbed browsing, and does not require any installation. If you're looking for a fast browser, with minimal features, this is it. - acklan
• Opera - JEservices
• SeaMonkey - Web-browser, advanced e-mail and newsgroup client, IRC chat client, and HTML editing made simple -- all your Internet needs in one application. - ddeerrff
• Sleipnir - a highly customizable browser that you can configure to suit your individual needs Compatibility: Windows 98/98SE/Me/2000/XP/Vista - careless25

Web Browsing Security

• CookieWall - allows you to quickly and easily decide which cookies can stay on your system, and which cookies should go - once you let CookieWall know which ones are unwelcome, it does the rest. (Internet Explorer only) - Jacee
• Finjan SecureBrowsing - provides you with safety ratings of URLs showing in your browser - Yourhighness
• Hitware Popup Killer Lite - an intelligent popup killer for Internet Explorer (5 and up), that runs in the system tray and quietly eliminates most pop-up and pop-under ads before they appear. - idk
• KeyScrambler - a web browser plugin that encrypts your keystrokes to protect your important personal information from keyloggers. - Jacee
• LinkScanner Lite - integrates with major search engines to check search results for a variety of online threats before you click. Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP Home/XP Professional/Vista - tos226
• McAfee SiteAdvisor - (for IE and Firefox) installs a small button that changes colors as you browse the Web based on the results of their safety tests. You can also click on the button's menu to see the site's detailed test results. - nosnhoj#3
• Netcraft Toolbar - Anti-phishing toolbar. It works well with Firefox in Vista - and with one minor glitch (in the updater) with IE7 in Vista (I just close the updater and it runs just fine). - usasma
• PeerGuardian 2 - IP blocker for Windows. - Walkman
• Pow - trainable, popup blocker for Internet Explorer. - Herk
• Smart Popup Blocker - intelligently block pop-up ads and messenger pop-up spam, and speed Internet Explorer by optimizing settings. It also cleans cookies and guards your default Internet Explorer home page. - idk

Web Browsing Utilities

• AM-DeadLink - detects dead links and duplicates in your Browser Bookmarks. Checks Bookmarks from Internet Explorer, Opera, Mozilla and Netscape. - Ronbo
• BitMeter II - a bandwidth meter, that allows you to visually monitor your internet connection by displaying a scrolling graph that shows your upload and download speed over time. Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/Vista - rowal5555
• CleanUp! - a powerful and easy-to-use application that removes temporary files created while surfing the web, empties the Recycle Bin, deletes files from your temporary folders and more. - WhyBeNormal
• Convert & Open - automatically repairs bad links. No more copy and pasting of incorrect/invalid URLs. - leeanne172
• Extract URL - extract URLs with title, description, keywords meta data from entire websites, list of URLs, or search engine results. - acklan
• HTTrack - allows you to download a World Wide Web site from the Internet to a local directory, building recursively all directories, getting HTML, images, and other files from the server to your computer. - nosnhoj#3
• IE Privacy Keeper - automatically cleans up all traces of your IE, Firefox and system activities. Compatibility: Windows (All) - mme
• TCP Optimizer - a Windows program that provides an intuitive interface for tuning and optimizing your Internet connection Compatibility: Windows 9x/ME/2K/XP/XP-SP2/2k3 - ucanfixit
• Tor - can help you anonymize web browsing and publishing, instant messaging, IRC, SSH, and other applications that use the TCP protocol - Walkman
• Xenu - checks Web sites for broken links. - Yourhighness

Password Managers/Generators

• KeePass - an open-source password manager, or safe, which helps you to manage your passwords in a secure way. - turbines
• KeyWallet - a browser independent Password Manager which encrypts your data, and supports skins - TerryK
• Oubliette - password database, and generator, that stores a list of accounts with information such as account name, associated password, URL, and free-form notes. Oubliette offers a number of ways to transfer account names and passwords to the browser: via the clipboard, through drag-and-drop, or by automated form filling.
• Password Agent Lite - allows you to store all your sensitive data like passwords, PIN codes, credit card numbers, software serial numbers and other textual data in a single, easy to navigate and secure database Compatibility: Windows 95/98/Me/2000/XP/Vista - XML2005
• Password Corral - password generator, and organizer, with several additional features - Yourhighness
• Password Safe - a tool that allows you to have a different password for all the different programs and websites that you deal with, without actually having to remember all those usernames and passwords - Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP - saint satin stain
• Password Scrambler - a browser add-on that allows you to automatically generate secure, hard-to-guess passwords for every site you visit, based on a master password  of your choice. - Jacee
• Whisper 32 - a very easy-to-use Password Manager for Windows. - turbines

Spell Checker & Dictionary

• Aspell - can either be used as a library or as an independent spell checker. - Ross Zip
• IESpell - A spelling checker for Internet Explorer. Works like the spell checker in M$ Office, right click and select Check Spelling. - Ronbo
• Magical Jellybean Dictionary - a freeware dictionary client for Windows 9x/ME/2000/XP, that connects to a dictionary server, and retrieves the definition from a database on the server. - Herk
• tinySpell - easily and quickly check the spelling of words in any Windows application. Monitors your typing on the fly, and alerts you whenever it detects a misspelled word. It also checks the spelling of every word you copy to the clipboard. - Wink
• Word Web - a comprehensive English thesaurus and dictionary, that can be used to look up words from within most programs. - tg1911

Email Clients & Tools

• ePrompter - automatically and simultaneously checks and retrieves your e-mail messages from up to 16 password-protected e-mail accounts. It not only lets you compose, forward, and reply to your retrieved messages, but also gives you the ability to delete unwanted spam or suspicious-looking mail without having to launch your e-mail program or having to go to your Web mail's site. - nosnhoj#3
• Eudora - Free mail client but is ad sponsored. ( Eudora has a lite version available... just download the current version, and if you can live without the spellchecker, you dont have to live with the ad screen, being there. Go to the help menu, after installing, and select "payment and registration". Then select "lite mode", and it will ask if you can live without all of the extras, just click on "reduce features") - rexifelis
• FreePOPs - can be used to download mail from the most famous webmails, but it could also be used as an aggregator for RSS feeds and much more. This way it is possible to get all your messages in your favorite email client. - acklan
• K-9 - POP3 Bayesian spam filter - turbines
• OE Quick Backup - Backup Outlook Express mailboxes, settings, mail rules, etc.
• Pegasus Mail - Bizrus
• POP Peeper - an app which picks up all your incoming E-mail automatically at a user-defined interval and displays it in one screen where you can read, use links, and reply. - rowal5555
• Quicksilver - a PRIVACY software that can give you complete privacy in your email and newsgroup postings. - turbines
• SpamBayes - anti-spam filter
• Spell Checker For OE - a way to add a spell checker to OutLook Express without having to have MS Office installed. - acklan
• StripMail - Strips the characters ">" and "|" from forwarded e-mails, formats the text into paragraphs, making it easier to read, changes the text's right margin, by indenting, and can be used with any e-mail client.
• Thunderbird - Open Source email client. - Jgweed
• YPOPs! - an application that provides POP3 access to Yahoo! Mail - acklan

Office Applications

• Abiword - Free word processor that can open and edit OpenOffice, Word, Rich Text Format, HTML, Wordperfect documents, Palm, web pages and many more
• Calendar Magic - an easy-to-use program that is entertaining, informative, educational, and of equal applicability in the home - saint satin stain
• CutePDF - Create PDF Documents
• Foxit PDF Reader - You can view and print PDF documents. No installation required. - hiteckee
• Go-oo - Improved version of OpenOffice [faster loading, nicer user interface, etc] Compatibility: Windows, Linux, Mac OSX - 1010mk
• Microsoft® Office Accounting Express 2007 - everything you need to make your small business idea flourish. - acklan
• Open Office - Free Microsoft Office alternative.  Has the ability to open most mainstream document types and edit them. - JEservices
• Open Workbench - an alternative to Microsoft Project, that provides robust project scheduling and management functionality. - jgweed
• PagePlus SE - a great way to get into desktop publishing and easily design professional-looking documents for every occasion. - acklan
• PDF Blender - a cross platform PDF merging tool that utilizes Ghostscript. - Yourhighness
• PDF Creator - Freeware PDF creation through any Windows based program. - ColdinCbus
• PDFill PDF Writer - a PDF Writer, Printer or Converter. - hiteckee
• PDF reDirect - a full-featured alternative to PDF995 and CutePDF. It features Merging, Encryption, Optimizing, and Previewing - saint satin stain
• PDF-XChange Viewer - smaller, faster, and more feature rich than the Adobe Reader Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista - Yourhighness
• Rainlendar - Desktop calender for Windows, that's skinnable and able to synchronize with M$ Outlook's calender so you may see what your appointments are, without opening Outlook. - Ronbo
• RoughDraft - word processor for Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP. Although suitable for general use, it has features specifically designed for creative writing: novels, short stories, articles, plays and screenplays - saint satin stain
• SoftMaker Office 2006 - a complete office suite for Windows - 1010mk
• Sunbird - Calendar program
• Wink - A presentation program designed to make tutorials on how to use software.  Can export these tutorials in Flash, EXE, and HTML.
• ZoomIt - a screen zoom and annotation tool for technical presentations that include application demonstrations. ZoomIt runs unobtrusively in the tray and activates with customizable hotkeys to zoom in on an area of the screen, move around while zoomed, and draw on the zoomed image. Compatibility: Windows XP and higher, Windows Server 2003 and higher. - Yourhighness

Chat Clients

• ChatZilla
• Digsby - a multiprotocol IM client, email notification tool, and a social networking tool Compatibility: Windows - nigglesnush85
• Easy Message - The smallest IM available (Will run on USB Drive) - turbines
• IceChat
• meebo - web-based instant messaging - mme
• Miranda IM - an open-source multi protocol instant messenger client for Microsoft Windows. - phew
• Pidgin (formerly GAIM) - a multi-protocol instant messaging (IM) client for Linux, BSD, MacOS X, and Windows. - acklan
• Trillian - acklan

[GoBlin]

Audio Applications

• Audacity - a free audio editor. - tg911
• Coolplayer - Sourceforge alternative to Winamp. - Yourhighness
• dBpowerAMP Audio Player - "dAP plays Mp3s, WMA, Ogg Vorbis, Monkeys Audio, Real Audio, Wave and Midi, and many more" - tg911
• eags on! - an easy to use ID3v1 tag editor, that offers single or batch renaming of mp3 files, based on ID3 information or custom parameters.
• Evil Player - a fast, powerful and flexible media player for windows - File_Knight
• foobar2000 - an advanced audio player for the Windows platform. - agitarius
• GNUitar - guitar effects software that allows you to use your PC as guitar processor. Compatibility: 32-bit Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP, All POSIX (Linux/BSD/UNIX-like OSes) - BlackSpyder
• iTunes - Music Player, Organizer, Tag Editor and online store.  Only works with Windows XP. - Phawgg with clarifications from Jeservices
• K-Lite Codec Pack - a collection of codecs and related tools. - nosnhoj#3
• Kristal Audio Engine - audio recorder/editor - BlackSpyder
• MediaMonkey - a music file manager that will rip CDs, convert audio files, edit ID3v1 & ID3v2 tags, automatically organize & rename files, create playlists, export playlists to m3u files, burn Audio CDs, burn MP3 (Data) CD/DVDs, play CDs, correct volume levels, create statistics & other reports, and synchronize with iPods, MP3 phones & other Portable Audio Devices. - kellydgk
• MP3 Album Maker - combine multiple mp3's into one album. Requires the DotNet Framework. Compatibility: Windows 98/ME/NT(Service Pack 6a)/2000/XP - Yourhighness
• Mp3Decode - a real handy app to have in your Send To menu, it simply converts MP3 into WAV, quick and lightweight. - nosnhoj#3
• mp3DirectCut - a fast and extensive audio editor and recorder for MP3. - HitSquad
• MP3Gain - analyzes and adjusts mp3 files so that they have the same volume - Yourhighness
• MP3 Shield - can rapidly scan vast MP3 collection for corruptions and automatically detects corrupted MP3 files while being downloaded - Walkman
• Switch Soundfile Converter - Converts sound files to many other formats (WAV, MP3, OGG, and more) - BlackSpyder
• TagMaster - lets you edit the ID3 tag in MP3 files, which contains information like the name of the artist, song, album, etc. - Bluie
• The GodFather - a multi-function audio tag editor, and organizer - sitalchauhan
• WavePad Audio Editor - audio recorder/editor - BlackSpyder
• winLAME - an encoder for several audio formats, including mp3 (MPEG Layer 3), Ogg Vorbis and more. winLAME lets you set up the encoding process with an easy-to-use wizard-style user interface. - nosnhoj#3
• WinMP3Shrink - encode or re-encode your MP3s by using the Lame encoder. - idk
• XMPlay - an audio player, supporting the OGG / MP3 / MP2 / MP1 / WMA / WAV / CDA / MO3 / IT / XM / S3M / MTM / MOD / UMX audio formats, and PLS / M3U / ASX / WAX playlists. A load more formats are also supported via plugins. - Yourhighness

Video Applications

• Aegisub - an advanced subtitle editor Compatibility: Windows, Linux, BSD, Mac OS X - skyfuser
• ALShow - a movie player that will let you automatically find/download/install any codecs that may be needed Compatibility: Windows  2000/XP/Vista (32/64-bit) - rowal5555
• AVI2DVD - an All In One tool used to convert, with just few clicks, an Avi/Ogm/Mkv/Wmv/Dvd to Dvd/Svcd/Vcd. - Yourhighness
• AVIcodec - Gives the codecs needed to play the file, and where to download those codecs if they are missing on your system.
• Avidemux - video editor designed for simple cutting, filtering and encoding tasks. It supports many file types Compatibility: Windows, Linux, BSD, Mac OS X - skyfuser
• AviSynth - a scripting language and a collection of filters for simple (and not so simple!) non-linear video editing tasks. It frameserves video to applications - skyfuser
• DScaler - a piece of software that captures video, processes it, and scales it for presentation on a projector or computer monitor. - turbines
• DVD Flick - a simple but powerful DVD Authoring tool. It can take a number of video files stored on your computer and turn them into a DVD that will play back on your DVD player, Media Center or Home Cinema Set. You can add additional custom audio tracks as well as subtitles of your choice. - Yourhighness
• DVD Shrink - DVD Shrink is software to backup DVD discs
• EMDB - Eric's Movie Database - a small utility to keep track of your DVD collection Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/Vista/Windows 7 - henceforth
• FFDShow Video Decoder - a DirectShow decoding filter for decompressing DivX, XviD, H.264, FLV1, WMV, MPEG-1 and MPEG-2, MPEG-4 movies. - DaChew
• HandBrake - an open-source, GPL-licensed, multiplatform, multithreaded video transcoder Compatibility: Windows, Linux, Mac OS X - skyfuser
• IfoEdit - allows users to parse VOB files, remove and add video, audio and subtitle streams to VOBs, create new IFO files, create DVD images. Also basic DVD Authoring. - Walkman
• Movienizer - movie collection organizer - Yourhighness
• Movie Organizer - a movie collection organizer. Download movie information and images online using UPC, title, actors or MOODb ID. - Walkman
• MovieTrack - a freeware dvd database and general movie collection organizer, for Windows. - Ronbo
• MPlayer - a movie player which runs on many systems - skyfuser
• PSP Video 9 - a free PSP video conversion and management application. It can convert regular PC video files (avi, mpeg, etc) into PSP video files, as well as manage/copy these PSP video files between your PC and PSP. - bilko
• Swiff Player - a standalone Flash player, that allow you to view .SWF files.
• TMPGEnc - converts .AVI file to MPEG1, the format which is used in VideoCD. Using variety of option in TMPGEnc, you can compress your video file in high quality.
• VCDGear - a tool written to effortlessly extract MPEG streams from CD images, convert VideoCD files to MPEG, correct MPEG errors, create (Super)VideoCDs and more. - Walkman
• VirtualDub - VirtualDub is a video capture/processing utility for 32-bit Windows platforms (95/98/ME/NT4/2000/XP)
• Wimpy - a cross platform (Mac and PC), standalone Flash Video FLV player, which will allow you to watch your FLV, and SWF videos, from your desktop.

Audio/Video Applications

• CamStudio - records activity from your screen and audio from a microphone into AVI video files and can also convert the AVIs into Streaming Flash videos (SWFs) Compatibility: Windows NT/2000/XP - skyfuser
• FormatFactory - a multifunctional media converter Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista - KingOfIdiocy
• MediaInfo - supplies technical and tag information about a video or audio files Compatibility: Windows 32 bit 95/98/2000/XP, Mac, Linux - skyfuser
• Media Player Classic - The application has the same look and feel as the old light-weight Windows Media Player 6.4, but is a completely different application which has all the options and features one might expect from a modern media player. (Media Player Classic comes bundled with Real Alternative, so if you'd like both, just get RA) - WhyBeNormal
• Quick Media Converter - a universal audio/video converter) Compatibility: Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista (32/64-bit) - KingOfIdiocy
• QuickTime Alternative - will allow you to play QuickTime files (.mov, .qt and other extensions) without having to install the official QuickTime Player. It also supports QuickTime content that is embedded in webpages.
• Real Alternative - designed for playing RealMedia files, which normally require Real Player - WhyBeNormal
• SUPER - a Multimedia Encoder and a Multimedia Player, easy-to-use with 1 simple click - idk
• SysTrayPlay - an MP3 and CD playing application that is based on being light-weight on both design and on impact on system resources - skyfuser
• VLC - a free cross-platform media player.
• Winamp Full - a fast, flexible, high-fidelity media player for Windows Compatibility: Windows 2000 sp4/XP sp2, or higher  - rowal5555
• YamiPod - an application to efficiently manage your iPod. It can be run directly from your iPod and needs no installation Compatibility: Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux - nigglesnush85

Graphics Design & Editing

• @icon sushi - an icon convert tool that supports the mask editor and the creation of Windows XP 32bit icons.
• Apophysis - a windows application for creating, editing and rendering fractal flames. Compatibility: 32-bit Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP - Vaerli
• Avery Design Pro Limited - Customize and print professional looking labels, cards, dividers and more in minutes. - Ronbo
• Beneton Movie GIF - an animated GIF editor Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/Vista - skyfuser
• Blender - the open source software for 3D modeling, animation, rendering, post-production, interactive creation and playback.
• Dogwaffle - A program designed for creative individuals who want to get down and dirty with their pixels (Scroll to the bottom of the page for free version). - tg911
• Dup Detector - will scan pictures within a file (including subfolders) and present potential duplicates for deletion. - jgweed
• Easy Thumbnails - can resize your pictures physically either larger or smaller, or you can keep the physical size and downgrade the quality
• EclipsePalette - a color palette and screen color capture program Compatibility: Windows 95/98/NT/2000/Server 2003/XP/Vista - Dialer
• FastStone Image Viewer - An  image browser, converter and editor that supports all major graphic formats including BMP, JPEG, JPEG 2000, GIF, PNG, PCX, TIFF, WMF, ICO and TGA. - nosnhoj#3
• FastStone Photo Resizer - An  image converter / resizer intended to enable users especially digital camera owners to convert, rename, resize, crop, rotate, change color depth, add text and watermark to images in a quick and easy BATCH mode. - quietman7
• ForceVision Image Viewer - bitmap image viewer and browser with an attractive ease of use and advanced graphics manipulation capabilities. - Yourhighness
• Gimp - " GIMP is an acronym for GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freely distributed program for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring."
• Google Picasa - Locate, edit, add effects, and share your photos - TMacK
• Google SketchUp - a deceptively simple, amazingly powerful tool for creating, viewing, and modifying 3D ideas quickly and easily. - need TOS
• Icon Snatcher - "This one can pull icons from your own files to use to customize your folders." - Ronbo
• ImageForge - Create and edit images, acquire pictures from your scanner, digital camera or other Twain-compliant device, apply special effect filters, produce your own photo albums and simple slide shows, and much more. - Poru
• Image Resizer - gives you the ability to resize an image/picture in 2 clicks, by adding the option to the Context Menu. - nosnhoj#3
• Inkscape - an Open Source vector graphics editor, with capabilities similar to Illustrator, Freehand, CorelDraw, or Xara X using the  W3C standard Scalable Vector Graphics  (SVG) file format. A powerful and convenient drawing tool fully compliant with XML, SVG, and CSS standards. - nosnhoj#3
• IrfanView - "IrfanView is a very fast, small, compact and innovative FREEWARE (for non-commercial use) graphic viewer for Windows 9x/ME/NT/2000/XP/2003." - ColdinCbus
• Just Color Picker - a stand-alone, full featured color picker Compatibility: Windows (32 and 64 bit) 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP/Server 2003/Vista/Server 2008 - henceforth
• Mobile Photo Enhancer - a program that's perfect for anyone who takes pics with a cellphone and needs to clean them up a bit. Also, it's very simple to use for the tech challenged. - frankp316
• Paint.NET - image and photo manipulation software designed to be used on computers that run Windows 2000, XP, Vista, or Server 2003. It supports layers, unlimited undo, special effects, and a wide variety of useful and powerful tools. - nosnhoj#3
• Panorama Tools - Photoshop plug-in for panorama creation, editing and remapping Compatibility: MacOS, Win32, Unix - CrampFish
• Phatch - user friendly, cross-platform Photo Batch Processor and Exif Renamer with a nice graphical user interface Compatibility: Windows/Linux/Mac Os X - nigglesnush85
• Photobie - a free image editing software with multilayer support. Photobie is customized for photo editing.
• PhotoPlus 6 - image editing software that enables you to create, manipulate and enhance photographs, bitmap graphics and web animations. (Registration Required) - cybormoron
• Photoscape - photo editing software that enables you to fix and enhance photos. Compatibility: Windows 98/Me/NT/2000/XP/Vista - Yourhighness
• Picture Resizer - An easy-to-use tool for batch resizing of JPG pictures and photos. - El_Tel
• Pixia -"Pixia is the English version of a popular Japanese painting and retouch software for full color graphics. It supports mask, layer and many other editing functions." - tg911 and Ataryu
• SharpControl - Image Sharpening Utility (Will run on USB Drive) - turbines
• Terragen - a scenery generator, created with the goal of generating photorealistic landscape images and animations.
• UnFREEz - a high-speed Windows application that will take any number of images, saved as separate GIF files, and create a single animated GIF from those images.
• VSO Image Resizer - offers various "profiles", manual resize, several file formats and plenty more. Compatibility: Windows 2000 / XP / Vista - Yourhighness
• Wings 3D - a 3D subdivision modeller Compatibility: Windows 2000 or higher, Mac OS X, and Linux - webrat
• Xnview - you can quickly and easily view, process and convert image files. Will read more than 400 graphic file formats, and write to about 50. Will also display video formats. Also offers more advanced features such as Web page creation, contact prints, multiple conversion (format and transformation), slide shows, screen capturing and Twain support for scanners and digital cameras. - Herk

Screen Capture Applications

• Capture - a screen capture utility for Windows (and NT), which allows you to capture the active window, or the entire screen, at any color depth and resolution, and save it into a Bitmap file for editing. - Herk
• Cropper - a screen capture utility written in C# - Yourhighness
• Fastone Capture 5.3 - (last freeware version) a powerful, flexible and intuitive screen-capture utility. It allows you to capture anything on the screen including windows, objects, full screen, rectangle regions, freehand-selected regions and scrolling windows/web pages, plus additional features. - HitSquad
• Gadwin Print Screen - an easy to use utility, that allows you to capture any portion of the screen, save it to a file, copy it to Windows clipboard, print it or e-mail it to a recipient of your choice. - cybormoron
• MWSnap - Screen & Window Capture (Will run on USB Drive) - turbines
• Screenhunter - screen capture tool for you to easily take screenshots. - cybormoron
• ScreenPrint32 - allows you to print, and/or capture to disk, or clipboard, the full desktop, active window, predefined area, or user selected area of the screen. - rowal5555

CD & DVD Applications

• Active@ ISO Burner - a simple-to-use dialog-style software to burn CD/DVD/Blue Ray ISO images. Compatibility: Windows 95/98/ME/2000/2003/NT/XP/Server 2008/Vista/Windows 7 - acklan
• AudioGrabber - audio CD ripper - Current Resident
• BwgBurn - a Windows XP .NET 2.0 application that can be used to burn CD-R/CD-RW/DVD-R/DVD-RW/DVD+R/DVD+RW/DVD+R DL/BD-RE. It includes the ability to burn both data disk, audio disk and video disk (include VCD and DVDs) - twardnw
• CDBurnerXPPro 3 - can burn CD-R, CD-RW DVD+R/RW DVD-R/RW discs - Yourhighness
• CDex - a CD ripper and converter for Windows - tg1911
• CDRom-Lock - blocks the eject button on almost every CD/DVD drive. Compatibility: 32-bit Windows NT/2000/XP - acklan
• Deep Burner - "A CD/DVD burning software that lets you create Data Cds, Bootable CDs, and Audio CDs as well as data DVDs. In addition, it lets you burn ISO files, and create ISO images. Also lets you design an auto start menu to launch documents or programs from the CD" - tg911
• DeepRipper - can convert music files from AudioCDs into practically any format you'd like, including: MP3, WAV, OGG, and others.
• Exact Audio Copy - CD ripper - rms4evr
• Express Rip - rips CDs to wav or mp3 - BlackSpyder
• FinalBurner FREE - a CD and DVD burner Compatibility: Windows NT/2000/XP/2003 - david28
• ImgBurn - a lightweight CD / DVD / HD DVD / Blu-ray burning application. Compatibility: Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP/Vista (32 and 64 bit/If you use Wine, it should also run on Linux and other x86-based Unixes. - DaChew
• InfraRecorder - CD/DVD burning software that will create data, audio and mixed-mode projects and record them to physical discs as well as disc images. Will also burn dual-layer DVDs, and image files. - Yourhighness
• ISO Recorder - a tool (power toy) for Windows XP, 2003 and now Windows Vista, that allows (depending on the Windows version) to burn CD and DVD images (DVD support is only available on Windows Vista), copy disks, make images of the existing data CDs and DVDs and create ISO images from a content of a disk folder. - usasma
• StarBurn - tool for grabbing, burning and mastering CD, DVD, Blu-Ray and HD-DVD media. Compatibility: Windows XP/2003/Vista (32 and 64 bit) - skyfuser

Windows Desktop Customization

• AJScreenSaver Clocks - a collection of various clock screensavers - acklan
• BootSkin - "These two are the full version and never expire, but are unsupported by the company. The bootskin will not work on every computer, from their literature; "Some drivers and bios makers "break the rules" which can cause BootSkin to not work correctly. If you experience that, you can try these alternative versions:" Unfortunately my HP was one of the ones that broke the rules so I don't know how this one works, but I can vouch for the rest." Information contributed by Ronbo
• CursorXP - Limited functionality but never expires. - Ronbo
• Dexpot - creates and manages virtual desktops and enables you to work far more efficiently and comfortably with many simultaneously opened windows. Compatibility: Windows 95/98/ME/NT4/2000/XP/2003/Vista (incl. x64) - Yourhighness
• exalead one:desktop - a desktop search utility that's fast, intuitive, and you don't have to have it running all the time for it to be effective - saint satin stain
• FlyakiteOSX - a transformation pack that will transform the look of a Windows XP system, to resemble the look of Mac OSX - Ross Zip
• Iconoid - Iconoid is a small program that helps reduce the clutter and confusion of the Windows desktop. - tg911
• Logon Studio - Never expires - Ronbo
• ObjectDock - Limited functionality but never expires. - Ronbo
• Picture and Sound Show - a 32-bit screen saver for Windows that enables you to create your own slide shows from pictures and sounds on your computer. - Floydoid
• RocketDock - a simple Dock program that you can place at the top, bottom, or sides of your screen, and that gives you quick access to your favorite programs and features Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/Vista - craneop
• Virtual Desktop Manager - Manage up to four desktops from the Windows taskbar with this PowerToy. Compatibility: Windows XP only - Yourhighness
• WindowsBlinds - Limited functionality but never expires. - Ronbo

Website Development

• CSS Tab Designer - a unique and easy to use software to help you design css-based lists and tabs visually and without any programming knowledge required. - nosnhoj#3
• Internet Explorer Developer Toolbar - provides a variety of tools for quickly creating, understanding, and troubleshooting Web pages. - nosnhoj#3
• Jalbum - "This one is pretty cool for making photo layouts for your website." - Ronbo
• KompoZer - a complete web authoring system that combines web file management and easy-to-use WYSIWYG web page editing. Compatibility: Linux, Windows and Mac - BlackSpyder
• Netdrive - integrates your Website as a drive into your Windows Explorer, so you can easily copy and paste all sorts of files, straight to your website. Only supports Windows NT, Windows 2000 or Windows XP. - Yourhighness
• Nvu - a complete Web Authoring System for Linux desktop users as well as Microsoft Windows and Macintosh users to rival programs like FrontPage and Dreamweaver - saint satin stain
• Picture-Shark - a tool to add logo watermarks to your pictures in order to brand them or display copyright information. A stamp can be any GIF, JPEG or BMP image and it can be positioned anywhere on the image and previewed from the interface. You can also specify a transparency level, in order to blend the watermark with the image.
• Porta - allows you to create attractive image galleries from your digital photos in just a few easy steps.
• SiteGenWiz - Site Creation Program. - Ronbo
• WampServer - a Windows web development environment. It allows you to create web applications with Apache, PHP and the MySQL database. - nigglesnush85
• WindowSizer - Sets a given window to an exact size in pixels. Useful for web developers who want to see what their site will look like at various resolutions. - nosnhoj#3

HTML & CSS Editors

• 1st Page 2000 - HTML Editor, Compatibility: Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP Requires IE 3.02+ - Bizrus
• HTML- Kit - HTML Editor
• Notepad++ - a free source code editor which supports several programming languages running under the MS Windows environment. - nosnhoj#3
• NoteTab Light - a Notepad replacement and handy HTML editor. Handle a heap of files with a simple tabbed interface. Search files, strip HTML tags and format text quickly. Build libraries of text macros to speed up your work. - acklan
• NVU - WYSIWYG HTML Editor
• Selida - HTML/WYSIWYG Editor - tg911
• Sothink HTML Editor - HTML Editor (Can only edit one page at a time) - Bizrus
• Topstyle Lite - CSS Editor

File Transfer Programs

• BlazeFTP - FTP Client
• FileZilla Client & Server - FTP Client and Server
• FTP Surfer - FTP client - acklan
• Leech FTP - FTP client - acklan
• SmartFTP - FTP Client
• WinSCP - A secure FTP Program and Secure Copy Program for use with SSH

Programming Languages & IDE/Editors

• BlueJ - developed at a University specifically for the purpose of teaching object orientation with Java. - jpshortstuff
• Code::Blocks - a cross platform C++ IDE built to meet the most demanding needs of its users. It is designed to be very extensible and fully configurable - Romeo29
• ConTEXT - a small, fast and powerful text editor, developed to serve as a secondary tool for software developers - scff249
• Eclipse - used for Enterprise Development, Embedded + Device Development, Rich Client Platform, Application Frameworks, and Language IDE - jpshortstuff
• jEdit - a mature programmer's text editor Compatibility: Mac OS X, OS/2, Unix, VMS and Windows - nigglesnush85
• NetBeans IDE - all the tools you need to create professional desktop, enterprise, web, and mobile applications with the Java language, C/C++, and even dynamic languages such as PHP, JavaScript, Groovy, and Ruby Compatibility: Windows, Linux, Mac OS X and Solaris - nigglesnush85
• phpEdit - PHP IDE (Newest version 2.6.0 is pay for. Previous versions are freeware)
• PSPad - a code editor that supports many file types and languages, with syntax highlighting. There are macros, clip files and templates to automate repetative tasks. Integrated HEX Editor, Project support, FTP Client, Macro Recorder, File Search/Replace, Code Explorer, Code page conversion... - phew
• Visual Studio Express Products - This includes Visual Basic, Visual C#, Visual C++, Visual J#, SQL Server, and Visual Web Dev.
• wxDev-C++ - helps you to create dialogs and frames for wxWidgets visually using a form designer - Romeo29

Telnet Clients

• Putty - Telnet and SSH Client

Time & Weather

• Alarm - a digital clock that you can set to display a message and play a sound at a time of your choice. Compatibility: Windows 9*/ME/NT/2*/XP/Vista - Montel89
• Atomic TimeSync - synchronize your system clock with the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology). - Herk
• ClocX - An analog clock application for Microsoft Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP/2003. - tg911
• DS Clock - a digital desktop clock that displays variable date and time information built from the format string - saint satin stain
• ForecastFox - (Firefox extension)This great little extension allows you to set it up so you can always view your local forecast in your Firefox Browser itself. The forecasts come straight from the Weather Channel's website. - tg911
• Forecastfox Enhanced - (Firefox extension) Enhanced version of the popular Forecastfox extension that adds 12 improved radar images and the ability to supply an URL for your own radar image.
• Neutron - simple and small time synchronizing program that retrieves the accurate time from one of several specialized time servers on the Internet. - turbines
• Qlock - world time clock - DSTM
• SysMetrix - Highly customizable, and skinnable clock. Can be customized to monitor the weather, your e-mail, cpu, memory usage and many other things, in addition to the time. - Ronbo
• Weather Pulse - A weather application
• Weather Watcher - personal Windows desktop weather station. Automatically retrieve the current conditions, hourly forecast, daily forecast, detailed forecast, severe weather alerts from the National Weather Service (US only), and weather maps for over 77,000 cities world-wide - 98/Me/NT/2000/XP/Vista - saint satin stain
• WebTime2000 - WebTime 2000 is a small utility program that will synchronize your PC's internal clock with one of the several atomic clocks maintained by the United States National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Games

• Free Full Computer Games

[BN23-exGSA]

Добавлю Comodo Firewall, пожалуй один из лучших бесплатных экранов, ничем не уступающий платным аналогам. В составе идёт проактивная защита (следит за процессами в системе и спрашивает, что делать с той или иной программой, давать ли ей запускать что-то, загружать, следить за клавиатурой вашей) эдакая лайт версия антивируса. Также в составе идёт и антивирус, но он пока не достаточно хорош, на мой взгляд, лучше поставить аваст или авиру.

Есть платная версия этого продукта, PRO версия, отличается от бесплатной защитой вай-фай соединений и саппортом 24/7, но думаю рядовым пользователям в России это нафиг не надо. 

[dj57rus]

Piriform CCleaner

ИМХО, лучшая бесплатная программа-оптимизатор. Совмещает в себе системный чистильщик, удаляющий все ненужные и временные файлы, полнофункциональный чистильщик реестра и деинсталлятор ненужных программ. При этом отличается маленьким размером (~3 Мбайт) и высокой скоростью работы.

[BN23-exGSA]

Ну добрую половину того, что делает CCleaner, делает штатная чистилка виндовая. А вот с чистилками реестра, людям, не особо шарящим, советую быть поосторожнее.

п.с. Сам эту софтину юзаю, т.к. лень руками реестр чистить после туевой хучи программ поставленных/удалённых при проверках.

[CKAHguHAB]

Добавим еще несколько полезных утилит:
Архиваторы
HAOZIP - симпатичный китайский архиватор
PeaZip - кросплатформенный архиватор
Антивирус @ Ko
AVZ - антивирус Зайцева (смерть троянам и руткитам);
FreeVK - виртуальная клавиатура
AVSFirewall - хороший firewall
Прочие
celestia - 3D планетарий;
workrave - следит за здоровьем при работе за компьютером;
InternetCensor - фильтр интернета для детей;
nanoCAD - бесплатная чертежная система;
ashampoo burning studio 6 free - мощная программа для работы с дисками CD/DVD и их образами;
posteriza - создание постеров;
AIMP - мультимедиа плеер;
Cuneiform - free OCR (платный аналог: FineReader)
ToDoList - простенький менеджер проектов.

[CKAHguHAB]

Добавлю сюда китайский антивирус набирающий популярность: Qihoo 360 Internet Security

[CKAHguHAB]

Добавлю сюда китайский офис (бесплатный для личного пользования и использования в учебе), снискавший популярность во многих странах: WPS Office (бывший KingSoft Office)
Ссылки:
1. Краткая презентация на сайте производителя WPS Office для Windows и ссылка на дистрибутив
2. Краткая презентация на сайте производителя WPS Office для Linux
3. Страничка с ссылкой на дистрибутив WPS Office для Linux (Версия для Linux только на английском языке)

[GoBlin]

По поводу офисного пакета замечу, что ставил буквально анадысь Libre, так вот 7й и 24й очень тяжело ворочаются, медленно открывают документ. Отступил на 6ю версию (6.4.7.2), устраивает.

[Хакер_09]

Компьютер себе что ли взять опять, да линух поставить и м*****ться с ним

[GoBlin]

Так можно не мучаться =) Но иногда придётся перебрать варианты. Помню, на винде я при всём разнообразии программ остановился на ВинАмпе старом как плейере и ИрфанВью как просмотрщике, это возвращаясь к руслу темы =)