Free Software List for Vista

Here's the Ever Growing List:

Ad-Aware 2008 - Ad-Aware 2008 Free - Lavasoft
A great adware and spyware removal program.


Adobe Flash Player - http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/downl...ShockwaveFlash
A browser add-on that allows you to watch videos online in your web browser.


Adobe Reader - Adobe - Adobe Reader Download - All versions
A PDF file viewer that also installs a add-on for your web browser.


Adobe Shockwave Player - Adobe - Adobe Shockwave Player
NOTE: For more information on this, see the FAQ's page.
The Shockwave Player is a web browser add-on that allows you to view interactive web content like games, business presentations, entertainment, and advertisements from your web browser.


A-Patch - A-Patch for Windows Live Messenger, MSN Messenger & Yahoo! Messenger
To customize all versions of Windows Live Messenger. 71+ features.


A-Squared Free - a-squared Free (formerly a² free) Freeware! A2 is a free of charge Anti-Trojan, Anti-Worm, Anti-Dialer and Anti-Spyware Software - optimal protection
This program helps to remove infections of Trojans, Spyware, Adware, Worms, Keyloggers, Rootkits, Dialers and other malicious programs.


ASTRA32 - ASTRA32 - Advanced System Information Tool - Free Download
NOTE: You have your choice of just a stand alone or installing program.
ASTRA32 (Advanced Sysinf Tool & Reporting Assistant) performs computer configuration analysis and provides detailed information on your computer hardware and its working modes. This is an alternative to Vista's System Information.


Audacity - Audacity: About Audacity

Audacity is a free, easy-to-use audio editor and recorder. You can use Audacity to:

• Record live audio.
• Convert tapes and records into digital recordings or CDs.
• Edit Ogg Vorbis, MP3, WAV or AIFF sound files.
• Cut, copy, splice or mix sounds together.
• Change the speed or pitch of a recording.
• And more! See the complete list of features.

Auslogics Disk Defrag - Disk Defrag - Reclaim the Speed Of Your Disks
Defrags your hard drive. It has a progress graph so you can see what is going on. Also gives you a full detail report with a percentage of performace increase.


Auslogics Registry Defrag - Defragment and Compact the Registry to Speed Up Your Computer
NOTE: Don't forget, if Windows Defender pops up while installing to click "Apply Action".
Defrags your registry. As a result the registry is defragmented and compacted as small as possible, thus improving your computer performance. This will be less Vista will have to read at startup.


AutoRuns - AutoRuns for Windows
NOTE: You will need to right click on the autoruns.exe file and click Run as administrator for the program to run properly.
This utility shows you what programs are configured to run during system bootup or login, and shows you the entries in the order Windows processes them. These programs include ones in your startup folder, Run, RunOnce, and other Registry keys. You can configure Autoruns to show other locations, including Explorer shell extensions, toolbars, browser helper objects, Winlogon notifications, auto-start services, and much more. Autoruns goes way beyond MSConfig.


Avast Antivirus Home Edition - FREE avast! antivirus 4.x Home Edition, anti-spyware & anti-rootkit for Windows
NOTE: You must register this program even though it's free. The registration will be good for a year. After that, you must re-register. It is still completely free though. You can get free skins for Avast here: Free download - new skins for your avast! 4 antivirus program
Very good antivirus program that auto updates the definitions and optionally the program itself. Has a VRDB (Virus Recovery Database) that you set to help in recovering from a VIRUS if infected. Full of options.


Avira AntiVir Personal - Avira AntiVir Personal - FREE Antivirus
Another good antivirus program.


AVG Antivirus - AVG Free - Download installation files & documentation
NOTE: Do a custom install and do not install the email scanning option. Otherwise it can corrupt Windows Mail.
Another great antivirus program that auto updates.


Belarc Advisor -Belarc Advisor - Free Personal PC Audit
Builds a very detailed profile of your hardware and software with serial numbers and product key numbers. Very informative.


BitPim - Welcome to BitPim
BitPim is a program that allows you to view and manipulate data on many CDMA (Code division multiple access) phones from LG, Samsung, Sanyo and other manufacturers. This includes the PhoneBook, Calendar, WallPapers, RingTones (functionality varies by phone) and the Filesystem for most Qualcomm CDMA chipset based phones. To see when phones will be supported, which ones are already supported and which features are supported, see online help.


Bulk Rename Utility - Downloads - Bulk Rename Utility
NOTE: Be sure to download the correct 32 bit or 64 bit version for your version of Vista. To see all the features, see: Features - Bulk Rename Utility
Bulk Rename Utility is a simple utility which allows you to rename multiple files and folders, based upon flexible criteria. For example, you can add a prefix or suffix to a file, or you can change three letters with four other letters in a filename. There are lots of ways to manipulate file and folder names.


CCleaner - CCleaner - Home
Cleans junk and temp files for Vista and most other programs. It is also a registry cleaner, cookie manager, program uninstall manager, and a startup program manager. A all in one utility program basically.


ClipMagic - The free clipboard program that lets you capture, store and categorize text and images - ClipMagic even records URLs.
ClipMagic is an information manager which provides extended clipboard capabilities to save all clips for later use. A major shortfall in Vista is that the clipboard can only store one item at a time, each new item deleting the last. This free clipboard program stores clips in a convenient categorized format with information; about the window the clip came from, the URL if it came from a web page and the time and type of clip.


Cobian Backup 9 Amanita - Cobian's site - The home of Cobian Backup
Cobian Backup is 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. FTP backup is also supported in both directions (download and upload).
Cobian Backup exists in two different versions: application and service. The program uses very few resources and can be running on the background on your system, checking your backup schedule and executing your backups when necessary. Cobian Backup is not an usual backup application: it only copies your files and folders in original or compressed mode to other destination, creating a security copy as a result. So Cobian Backup can be better described as a "Scheduler for security copies".
Cobian Backup supports several methods of compression and strong encryption.


Comodo Memory Firewall - Buffer Overflow – Free Prevention Tool – Comodo Memory Firewall
Comodo Memory Firewall is a buffer overflow detection and prevention tool which provides a defence against one of the most serious and common attack types on the Internet - the buffer overflow attack.


Comodo Firewall Pro - Free Firewall Protection Software Best Firewall Computer Security Free Personal Firewall
NOTE: See this leak test comparison, MatouSec.com: Leak Tests Results
This is an alternative firewall program instead of using Windows Firewall. It is far better in my opinion. You can set it up for the beginner or advanced firewall user.


CPU-Z - CPUID
NOTE: Click on the version number towards the bottom to download. This is a standalone EXE program.
CPU-Z is a freeware that gathers and displays information for you on some of the main devices of your system. EX: CPU, Mainboard, Memory, and System. See the link for full details on what is does.


D-Color XP - Dindo Liboon's Website
NOTE: This program was made for XP, but I have not experienced any problems with it yet.
D-Color allows you to change the appearance of the desktop icon text foreground and background colors. It also allows you to change the view of your desktop icons from Large, Small, and Tile view icons.


Defraggler - Defraggler - Defragment your files!
Piriform, the makers of CCleaner, Defraggler differs from other defrag tools on the market, by enabling you to quickly and simply defrag the files you want to, without having to only process the whole drive unless you want to. Simply run it, select the file defragment in seconds. You can also set Defraggler to run on a schedule.


DeskScapes - WinCustomize
NOTE: See this tutorial: How to Enhance Windows Vista DreamScene with Stardock DeskScapes
Stardock DeskScapes extends Windows DreamScene with the ability to run .Dream animated wallpapers. .Dream files can be looped video, or dynamically generated in 3D, or change based on a set of triggers. DeskScapes turns Windows DreamScene into something more. DeskScapes can only be used with Vista Ultimate.


DesktopINIFix - http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/fi...desktopinifix/
Desktop.ini a text file that allows you to specify how a file system folder will be viewed (ex: icon). DesktopINIFix is a small utility that fixes the desktop.ini file for various shell folders in Windows Vista.


DreamMaker - WinCustomize
Stardock DreamMaker allows you to create your own animated .dream wallpapers for DreamScapes. DreamMaker is a free utility for Windows Vista Ultimate only.


Duplicate Picture Finder - Duplicate Picture Finder
Duplicate Picture Finder scans any given set of folders and attempts to locate duplicate images for you. But what makes this tool different from all the others out there, is that it does exactly what you would do - it uses visual comparison to determine whether images are the same, enabling it to locate images that different sizes but are visually identical.


EasyBCD - Download EasyBCD 1.7.2 - NeoSmart Technologies
EasyBCD, by NeoSmart Technologies, is used to tweak the Windows Vista bootloader. You can use it to setup and configure Windows boot entries, and to quickly boot right into Linux, Mac OS X, or BSD straight from the Windows Vista bootloader. You can also add an entry to your old XP partition or create a duplicate for testing purposes, debug the Windows Kernel, or setup multi-booting to have mulitple operating systems.


Eraser - http://www.heidi.ie/node/6
Eraser is 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.


Fast Explorer - Fast Explorer - Add, Customize and Clean Up Context Menu Items of Files and Folders
This handy utility allows you to manage context menus items of file objects displayed in a file manager like Windows Explorer or any other application that deals with shell's application programming interface. It's a very simple way to make your often used file actions quickly accessible.


FileMenu Tools - LopeSoft Website

This program by LopeSoft lets you customize the right click context menu of Windows Explorer. It configures the following aspects:

• Add some build-in utilities in order to do operations over files and folders.
• Add customized commands which let run external applications, copy/move to a specific folder or delete specific file types.
• Configure the "Send to..." submenu.
• Enable/disable the commands which are added by other applications to the context menu.

FileTypesMan - FileTypesMan - Alternative to 'File Types' manager of Windows
NOTE: This is a standalone EXE file, and does not install. Be sure to download the correct version for your 32 bit or 64 bit Vista.
FileTypesMan is an alternative to the File Types tab in the Folder Options of Windows XP. It displays the list of all file extensions and types registered on your computer. For each file type, the following information is displayed: Type Name, Description, MIME Type, Perceived Type, In New Menu, Excluded, Flags, Browser Flags, Default Icon, and more. FileTypesMan also allows you to easily edit the properties and flags of each file type, as well as it allows you to add, edit, and remove actions in a file type.


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


Foxit Reader - Foxit Software
A PDF file viewer and browser add-on like Adobe Reader.


Free Studio - Free video soft: video converter, ipod converter, mp4 converter
Free video and audio conversion software. This supports a wide range of audio and video formats that you convert from one to another format or back.

GanttProject - GanttProject: Home

GanttProject is a free and easy to use Gantt chart based project scheduling and management tool. Features include:

• Task hierarchy and dependencies
• Gantt chart
• Resource load chart
• Generation of PERT chart
• PDF and HTML reports
• MS Project import/export
• WebDAV based groupwork

GPU-Z - GPU-Z Video card GPU Information Utility
NOTE: No installation required, this is a standalone EXE program.
GPU-Z is a lightweight utility designed to give you all information about your video card and GPU (Graphics Processing Unit).


Grabtxt - misbah: Grabtxt 1.0
As most developers, while testing a program you may get runtime errors displayed as windows error message boxes and would have to type these error messages in a search engine to find more about these errors and how to fix them. This tool will make this task very easy.


HijackThis - TrendSecure | Download TrendMicro™ HijackThis™
Trend Micro™ HijackThis™is a free utility that generates an in depth report of registry and file settings from your computer. HijackThis makes no separation between safe and unsafe settings in its scan results giving you the ability to selectively remove items from your machine. In addition to this scan and remove capability HijackThis comes with several tools useful in manually removing malware from a computer.


HWiNFO(32) - HWiNFO(32) - Hardware Information and Analysis Tools
A professional hardware information and diagnostic tool supporting the latest components, industry technologies and standards. This tool is designed to collect and present the maximum amount of information possible about the computer's hardware which makes them suitable for users searching for driver updates, computer manufacturers, system integrators and technical experts as well. Retrieved information is presented in a logical and easily understandable form and can be exported into various types of reports.


HWMonitor - CPUID
CPUID Hardware Monitor is a hardware monitoring program that reads PC systems main health sensors : voltages, temperatures, fans speed. The program handles the most common sensor chips, like ITE® IT87 series, most Winbond® ICs, and others. In addition, it can read modern CPUs on-die core thermal sensors, as well has hard drives temperature via S.M.A.R.T, and video card GPU temperature. Special hardware monitors such as abit® uGuru and Gigabyte® ODIN™ power supplies serie are supported too.


HTML Explorer Thumbnails - Ave's Vista Apps: HTML Thumbnails in Explorer
NOTE: Click on the image to download the ZIP file, and be sure to extract the correct 32 bit or 64 bit version from the ZIP download. Read the "readme" file for important instructions.
In Vista, Windows Explorer no longer shows thumbnails of HTML files. This functionality has simply been removed. This little addon for Windows Explorer will show thumbnails for HTML, MHTL and URL files.



Iconoid - Iconoid - Download

• Save and Restore Icon positions for each (or every) screen resolution
• Transparent icon backgrounds or use any color
• Select any color for icon text
• Automatically hide icons when you don't need them and show them when you do
• Automatically or manually select the best color for the text background
• Quickly minimize all windows so that you can see your desktop wallpaper.

IconViewer - Download IconViewer

IconViewer is a Windows Explorer extension that lets you easily view, copy, and save icon (ICO) and PNG files contained within .EXE programs and .DLL libraries. Open a file's Properties box, select the "Icons" tab, and view the icons contained in the file. This program is real handy to have for getting these ICO and PNG files.


IE PassView - IE PassView - Internet Explorer Password Viewer
IE PassView is a small utility that reveals the passwords stored by the Internet Explorer browser per website.


ImgBurn - The Official ImgBurn Website
ImgBurn is a lightweight CD / DVD / HD DVD / Blu-ray burning application. It supports a wide range of image file formats - including BIN, CUE, DI, DVD, GI, IMG, ISO, MDS, NRG and PDI. It can burn Audio CD's from any file type supported via DirectShow / ACM - including AAC, APE, FLAC, M4A, MP3, MP4, MPC, OGG, PCM, WAV, WMA and WV.


InstalledCodec - InstalledCodec - Disable/enable codec drivers and DirectShow filters installed on your system
NOTE: This is a stand-alone exe file that does not install on your computer.
InstalledCodec is a small utility that displays the list of all Codec drivers and DirectShow filters currently installed on your system. For each component the following information is displayed: Display Name, Type, Disabled Status, Installed/Modified Time, File Description, File Version, Company Name, Product Name, Filename, File Size, CLSID, Driver Key, and Filter Merit. It allows you to easily disable or enable any Codec or DirectShow component, or export the list into a text, xml, or html file.


IrFanView - IrfanView - Official Homepage - one of the most popular viewers worldwide
A great graphic viewer and editor like Paint, but a whole lot better. It has a ton of ptions and is fully customizable with plug-ins and skins. You can use transparency to for thumbnails, etc...


ISO Recorder - ISO Recorder v3
This program will allow you to record and burn ISO images to a CD/DVD.


Jing Project - Jing Project: Visual conversation starts here. Mac or Windows.
Jing is the always-ready program that instantly captures and shares images and video…from your computer to anywhere.


LogonStudio Vista - Stardock.com - Your Edge In Software
NOTE: See this tutorial: How to Change the Logon Screen in Vista
Stardock LogonStudio will allow you to change the logon screen to whatever you want. You can download from a ton of already created logon screens or create your own from any .jpg, .png, or .bmp file.


Madotate - Madotate - Download
NOTE: Download and extract the files, then run (merge) the reg file to install. Next move the other EXE files to where you like (ex: C:\Program Files) so you can create shortcuts from them to use.
Madotate is a 3D desktop management program that helps organizing your work a lot. It lets you view any open window in 3D, rotate it in any position, and zoom the window in and out.


MozBackup - MozBackup - Backup tool for Firefox and Thunderbird
MozBackup is a simple utility for creating backups of Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla Thunderbird, SeaMonkey, Mozilla Suite and Netscape profiles. It allows you to backup and restore bookmarks, mail, contacts, history, extensions, cache etc.


Mozilla Firefox - Firefox web browser | Faster, more secure, & customizable
This is an alternative web browser other than Internet Explorer.


Mozilla Thunderbird - Thunderbird - Reclaim your inbox
This is an alternative email client program other than Windows Mail.


My Lockbox - My Lockbox - Files and Folders Password Protection - Hide Folder, Lock Folder, Password Protect Folder - FSPro Labs
My Lockbox is a security software enabling you to password protect any folder on your computer. The protected folder (lockbox) is hidden from any user and application of your system, including Administrator and System itself. It is impossible to access the lockbox not only from the local computer, but also from the net. The program is extremely easy to use. You can set the lockbox location and the password during the setup procedure. After the setup is done, lockbox will be hidden and locked until you enter the valid password. My Lockbox Control Panel allows you easily change basic lockbox parameters: lockbox location, protection status, password. In addition, skinned user interface lets you choose from different skins to select the most comfortable look and feel of the software.


Office Accounting Express 2008 -
US download: Easy to use accounting software from Microsoft
UK Download: Easy to use accounting software from Microsoft
NOTE: To read about all of the features, see: Easy to use accounting software from Microsoft
Microsoft® Office Accounting Express is an easy to use accounting package that works with other Office applications you already know.


OpenWithAdd - Registering programs with the "Open With" dialog
NOTE: See this tutorial: How to Add a Program to Open With in Vista
When you right-click a file and choose Open With, and click the Choose Program... option, the list of registered applications are displayed in the Open With dialog. Programs that are not already listed in the Open With dialog can be added manually using the Browse... option. OpenWithAdd tool can be helpful in circumstances where, when you browse to locate an application, it does not get added to the Open With dialog.


OpenOffice - download: OpenOffice.org Downloads
OpenOffice is a open-source office software suite for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases and more. It is available in many languages and works on all common computers. It stores all your data in an international open standard format and can also read and write files from other common office software packages.


Paint.NET - Redirecting ...
NOTE: This runs in both the 32 bit and 64 bit Vista, but in 64 bit Vista it runs as a full native 64-bit program.
Paint.NET is a image editing and photo manipulation software designed to be used on computers that run Windows. It supports layers, unlimited undo, special effects, and a wide variety of useful and powerful tools.


PC Wizard 2008 - CPUID
NOTE: For this program to work properly in Vista, you must check Run this program as an administrator in the Compatibility window for this program's shortcut after it is installed. For how, see: How to Use Compatibilty Mode in Vista
PC WIZARD 2008 is also an utility designed to analyze and benchmark your computer system. It can analyze and benchmark many kinds of hardware, such as CPU performance, Cache performance, RAM performance, Hard Disk performance, CD/DVD-ROM performance, Removable/FLASH Media performance, Video performance, MP3 compression performance.


PhotoFiltre - Graphisme et utilitaires
PhotoFiltre is a complete image retouching program. It allows you to do simple or advanced adjustments to an image and apply a vast range of filters on it. It is simple and intuitive to use, and has an easy learning curve. The toolbar, giving you access to the standard filters with just a few clicks, gives PhotoFiltre a robust look.


Picture-Shark - download watermark picture shark freeware image gallery protect
This is a program that will allow you to add a watermark to any image. The watermark's transparency can be fully adjusted to what you want.


Process Explorer - Process Explorer
NOTE: This program does not install. It is a stand alone EXE file with a help file.
Process Explorer is an advanced process management utility that picks up where Task Manager leaves off. It will show you detailed information about a process including its icon, command-line, full image path, memory statistics, user account, security attributes, and more. When you zoom in on a particular process you can list the DLLs it has loaded or the operating system resource handles it has open. A search capability enables you to track down a process that has a resource opened, such as a file, directory or Registry key, or to view the list of processes that have a DLL loaded.


Process Monitor - Process Monitor
NOTE: This program does not install. It is a stand alone EXE file with a help file.
Process Monitor is an advanced monitoring tool for Windows that shows real-time file system, Registry, and process/thread activity. It is way more advanced than the Resource Monitor that comes with Vista.


ProduKey - ProduKey - Recover lost product key (CD-Key) of Windows/MS-Office/SQL Server
NOTE: Be sure to download the correct 32 bit (x86) or 64 bit (x64) version of Produkey for your version of Vista.
ProduKey is a small utility that displays the ProductID and the CD-Key of MS-Office, Windows, Exchange Server, and SQL Server installed on your computer. You can view this information for your current running operating system, or for another operating system/computer - by using command-line options. This utility can be useful if you lost the product key of your Windows/Office, and you want to reinstall it on your computer.

Recuva - Recuva - Undelete, Unerase, File Recovery - Home
Recuva (pronounced "recover") is a utility to restore files that have been accidentally deleted from your computer. This includes files emptied from the Recycle bin as well as images and other files that have been deleted by user error from digital camera memory cards or MP3 players. It will even bring back files that have been deleted by bugs, crashes and viruses!


RivaTuner - RivaTuner v2.09 download from Guru3D.com
RivaTuner is a complete powerful tweaking environment, providing you everything you may need to tune NVIDIA GPU based display adapters. The widest driver-level Direct3D / OpenGL and system tuning options, flexible profiling system allowing to make custom settings on per-application basis, both driver-level and low-level hardware access modes, unique diagnostic and realtime hardware monitoring features and exclusive power user oriented tools like built-in registry editor and patch script engine make RivaTuner's feature set absolutely unmatched.
RivaTuner supports all NVIDIA display adapters starting from Riva TNT family up to the latest GeForce 7 series and widest range of NVIDIA drivers starting from the oldest Detonator 2.08 up to the newest ForceWare drivers family.


RocketDock - RocketDock - About RocketDock
RocketDock is a smoothly animated, alpha blended application launcher dock station for your desktop. It provides a nice clean interface to drop shortcuts on for easy access and organization. With each item completely customizable there is no end to what you can add and launch from the dock. Now with added Taskbar support your minimized windows can appear as icons on the dock.


RunAlyzer - The home of Spybot-S&D!
From the makers of Spyboy Search & Destroy, RunAlyzer is a autostart & configuration manager that allows you to view and edit all the spots where Windows Vista looks for programs or services to start. It's a combination of a standard configuration manager and an advanced tool to locate and remove places where hijackers, spyware, and other malware hide.


7-Zip - 7-Zip
NOTE: After installing, you will need to go into Tools -> Options menu and select the file associations you want 7-Zip to be able to use.
A Zip utility program used to open 7z, ZIP, GZIP, BZIP2, TAR, RAR, CAB, ISO, ARJ, LZH, CHM, Z, CPIO, RPM, DEB and NSIS files. Fully customizable for which file type you want associated to 7-Zip.


ShadowExplorer - ShadowExplorer.com - Manual
NOTE: Previous Version tutorial: How to Restore Previous Versions of a File and Folder in Vista
ShadowExplorer is an alternative program for all editions of Vista for the Previous Versions feature that is only available for the Vista Ultimate, Business, and Enterprise editions. If you do not have one of these versions, then this is a great alternative.


ShellExView - ShellExView - Shell Extension Manager For Windows
NOTE: Be sure to right click this program and click Run as administrator. Be sure to also download the 32 bit or 64 bit version for your version of Vista.
This is an excellent tool to view and manage all installed shell extensions. If available, it displays the description, as well as version details, company information, location, file name and more. You can optionally disable or enable any item. This can be very useful to disable an extension that you do not need or that has been left behind in your right click context menu from a previous software install.


SIW - SIW | System Information for Windows by Gabriel Topala
SIW is an advanced System Information for Windows tool that gathers detailed information about your system properties and settings and displays it in an extremely comprehensible manner.

The system information is divided into a few major categories:

• Software: Operating System, Installed Software and Hotfixes, Processes, Services, Users, Open Files, System Uptime, Installed Codecs, Software Licenses (Product Keys / Serial Numbers / CD Key), Secrets (Password Recovery).
• Hardware: Motherboard, Sensors, BIOS, CPU, chipset, PCI/AGP, USB and ISA/PnP Devices, Memory, Video Card, Monitor, Disk Drives, CD/DVD Devices, SCSI Devices, S.M.A.R.T., Ports, Printers.
• Network: Network Cards, Network Shares, currently active Network Connections, Open Ports.
• Tools: Eureka! (Reveal lost passwords hidden behind asterisks), MAC Address Changer, Monitor Test, Shutdown / Restart.
• Real-time monitors: CPU, Memory, Page File usage and Network Traffic.

SpeedFan - Download SpeedFan - Access temperature sensor in your computer
SpeedFan is a freeware program that monitors voltages, fan speeds and temperatures in computers with hardware monitor chips. SpeedFan can even access S.M.A.R.T. info for those hard disks that support this feature and show hard disk temperatures too, if supported. SpeedFan supports SCSI disks too. SpeedFan can even change the FSB on some hardware.


Spybot Search & Destroy - The home of Spybot-S&D!
NOTE: Select your language and click Download in the upper right corner. Spybot S&D takes a bit to open after you click on the shortcut.
This is a great spyware protection program. You can use this program along with Windows Defender and other anti-spyware/adware programs for added protection.


SpywareBlaster - SpywareBlaster
SpywareBlaster, by Javacool Software, helps prevent the installation of spyware and other potentially unwanted software.


Spyware Terminator - Download free spyware removal and protection program - Spyware Terminator
This is another great spyware and adware removal program. It comes with an optional free Web Security Guard web browser toolbar to help protect your computer while you browse the web.


Start++ - Files: Start++ 0.8.1
Start++ is an enhancement that adds new functionality to the Windows Vista start menu and command line.


StExBar - StExBar | Stefan's Tools
NOTE: Be sure to download the correct 32 bit or 64 bit version for your version of Vista.
The StExBar adds a new toolbar in Windows Explorer that provides many useful commands for your everyday use like Rename, New Folder, Console, Show system files, etc. You can also add as many custom commands as you like to.


Subtitle Workshop - URUWorks - 100% Software Uruguayo
Subtitle Workshop is the most complete, efficient and convenient freeware subtitle editing tool. It supports all the subtitle formats you need and has all the features you would want from a subtitle editing program.


SUPERAntiSpyware - SUPERAntiSpyware.com - AntiAdware. AntiSpyware. AntiMalware.
This is another great spyware protection program. You can use this program along with Windows Defender and other anti-spyware/adware programs for added protection.


Supersonic Download Accelerator - Supersonic Download Accelerator
Supersonic Download Accelerator is a simple and reliable download manager with excellent features like, segmented downloads for acceleration, simultaneous downloads and many others. Supersonic increase your download speed by finding multiple sources and allows you to preview downloads. For download you can even use links stored in you clipboard, moreover, both protocols HTTP and FTP are supported.


SweetIM - Emoticons Winks Smileys Nudges Games and Free Add-ons for AIM, MSN & Yahoo Messenger - SweetIM
A Messenger add-on that adds more emoticons, winks, audibles, sound FX, Display Pictures, and Nudges. It can also add a optional IE7 browser toolbar that allows you to add favorite icons and emoticons to any web based application including web based email such as Hotmail, Yahoo mail, Gmail, Web Forums, Blogs and more.


TextMaker Viewer - TextMaker Viewer 2008 - Free document viewer for .doc, .odt, .tmd, .rtf, and more
This program by SoftMaker lets you open, view, and print documents fromMicrosoft Word, TextMaker, OpenOffice.org, OpenDocument, as well as other common office file formats. See link for supported file types.


Thumbnail Sizer - Ave's Vista Apps: ThumbnailSizer
NOTE: You will need to have the "Windows Aero" color scheme running. Click on the image to download the ZIP file, and be sure to extract the correct 32 bit or 64 bit version from the ZIP download.
Ave's Thumbnail Sizer allows the user to change the size of Vista's Window thumbnails that show when one hovers over the taskbar button with the mouse pointer for the opened window.


TweakVI - Totalidea Software :: Product :: Tweak Windows Vista - Vista Tweaks - TweakVI - Tweak-VI - Tweak-Vista - TweakVista - TweakXP - Tweak-XP - Tweak XP - TweakUI - Outlook Backup - Outlook Notes - FireTune
This is a program designed to tweak and optimize Vista. Only the Basic edition is free, but it includes desktop tweaks, Start Menu tweaks, IE & Firefox tweaks, Hardware tweaks, System info, Virtual Desktops, System folder tweaks, Mouse tweaks, Outlook tweaks, and Shutdown tweaks.


Unlocker - UNLOCKER 1.8.7 BY CEDRICK 'NITCH' COLLOMB
WARNING: This program does not work with the 64 bit Vista, but I had to add it since it is a very helpful program.

Unlocker is a utility program used to help you delete a file that you get one of these errror messages on:

• Cannot delete file: Access is denied
• There has been a sharing violation.
• The source or destination file may be in use.
• 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.

USB Image Tool - alex’s coding playground » USB Image Tool
USB Image Tool can create images of USB memory sticks and MP3 players, that are mounted as USB drives. It allows you switch between images with different music styles on your MP3 Player or to make an exact backup image of your USB Stick.


Virtual PC - Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 download
NOTE: This will only run on Vista Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate versions.
Virtual PC 2007 is a powerful software virtualization solution that allows you to run multiple PC-based operating systems simultaneously on one workstation, providing a safety net to maintain compatibility with legacy applications while you migrate to a new operating system.


VistaBootPRO - http://www.vistabootpro.org/
This program makes it easy to install a second OS or make changes to the Boot Configuration Data store (BCD) without having to use the complex command line application bcdedit.exe. This is basically a boot management program.


Vistalizator - Vistalizator - change display language in Vista Home and Business
NOTE: See this tutorial for the Ultimate edition: How to Change the Display Language in Vista
This tool allows you to change the display language in Vista editions other than (officially supported) Ultimate:
Like the Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium and Business editions.


Vista Battery Saver - Vista Battery Saver - Home
This program will help save up to 70% of your laptop battery by disabling those nice, but greedy Vista features. Running in the taskbar with private workset of 5.5M and 0% CPU, it will do all of the work for you by enabling and disabling customizable features when the power source changes or battery power fall under a certain percent.


Vista Folder Background - Ave's Vista Apps: Vista Folder Background
NOTE: Click on the image to download the ZIP file, and be sure to extract the correct 32 bit or 64 bit version from the ZIP download. Read the "readme" file for important instructions.
In Vista, the ability to have custom backgrounds in explorer folders is gone. Ave's Vista Folder Background application makes folder backgrounds possible again.


Vista Forums SysInfo Tool - http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/17...info-tool.html
This tool can help you by displaying information about your Computer Info, UAC Status, Installed Apps, Services, Codecs, Hot Fixes, Event Log, WEI Score, Users, Memory (RAM), Video Card, Drives, CD/DVD Rom, IDE/SATA drives, Network, System Restore, and Running Processes. You can also save this displayed information to a txt file, copy it to the Clipboard, or print it out.


Vista Shortcut Manager - Frameworkx.com - Downloads
NOTE: Under Popular Downloads and Windows Toolbox listings at the site. See this tutorial to: How to Remove or Change the Shortcut Arrow in Vista
Frameworkx Vista Shortcut Manager allows you to either remove the shortcut overlay arrow or to customize it to what you want. It will also allow you to add or remove the Shortcut name extension for shortcuts.


Vista Start Menu - Vista Start Menu – Convenient alternative to Start menu
Vista Start Menu is a very nice replacement for the default Start Menu that came with Vista. It is full of customizable features. See the link for more details about this program.


Weather Watcher - Vista Forums
A weather monitoring program that sits running minimized to a tray icon in the notification area. Get all your weather needs met here with a built in weather alert alarm feature that you can put your own sound for. Fully customizable.


Windows Live Mail - http://www.vistax64.com/windows-live...downloads.html
NOTE: Contacts will have to be manually imported from within WLM. (Tools, Contacts, File, Import, Address book for current Windows User.) To see the Menu bar, press ALT+M and check "Show all menus".
A replacement for Windows Mail that also supports website based email like Hotmail. It supports Pop3, IMAP, HTTP website (EX: Hotmail) email, and is a lot more stable. Plus, WLM will minimize to a tray bar icon and has a separate Inbox for each email account. WLM will automatically import Windows Mail messages, accounts, and settings into it.


Windows Product Key Viewer - RJL Software - Software - Utility - Windows Product Key Viewer
NOTE: See this tutorial: How to See The Product Key in Vista
Windows Product Key Viewer is a free utility that will display the installed Windows Product Key (cd key) and other important Windows system information.


Windows Sidebar Styler - Windows Sidebar Styler at Stanimir Stoyanov’s Blog
NOTE: See this tutorial: How to Change the Windows Sidebar Theme in Vista
This program will allow you to customize the appearance of Windows Sidebar by changing it's theme to what you want.


WinPatrol - BillP Studio: WinPatrol Download
NOTE: WinPatrol Plus is not the free one.
WinPatrol is a anti spyware/adware program that uses a heuristic behavioral 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.


Wireless Migrator - Wireless Migrator - Home
Handy small program, that knows to backup and restore all wireless networks setting from your computer. For some reason, there is no way to do it by using regular Windows Vista tools.
This feature is extremely useful, when you have to reinstall your computer or use the same settings of wireless networks for different machines.


Wise Disk Cleaner- WiseCleaner.com - Downloads
A very thorough junk and temp file cleaner. Has the option to delete to the Recycle Bin for restoring purposes.


Wise Registry Cleaner - WiseCleaner.com - Downloads
WARNING: As with all registry cleaning programs, you should verify the error results before just simply deleting them.
A very thorough registry cleaner. Can be helpful in finding errors in the registry to fix. Has a backup feature to restore registry changes if needed.


XdN Tweaker - XdN » XdN Tweaker
This is a program designed to tweak and optimize Vista. XdN can tweak things like disabling Windows Mail's splash screen, disabling user account control, better save folder views, remove or replace IE7's search box, disable the "send to" option, and much more. Has a installing and stand-alone exe version.

XnView - XnView
XnView is a program used to view and convert graphic files that is really simple to use. It supports more than 400 different graphics formats.


Enjoy,
Shawn

Sean, think of this program as an extension that allows easy accessibility to the buried advanced options in the firewall, not only are the program controls readily accessible through the icon in the tray, you also get activity notification through pop ups.
Try it and you will say that windows firewall should have been built with this feature.

And, if u listed CPU-Z, don't forget the GPU-Z!

techPowerUp! :: Downloads

µAmp
All Common Music Formats (.mp3,.wma,.ogg,.wav)
Native x64 Codec www.fmod.org
Themes - Open Theme Editor Available on Download Page
Intuitive Interface, Simple Design made to be Easy to Use
Low CPU Usage and Memory Usage (Better than Winamp)
available @
Tommorowland

great list.