Software you gotta have (that many are unaware of)

Just another vote for Process Explorer. I use and recommend this program to friends all the time.

Steve

 

Another vote for Process Explorer

Safe XP 1.5.7.14

controlmind

 

Hmmm, 5 apps is it.

Process Explorer

Unlocker

Eraser

HD Cleaner

7-zip

 

My 5 choices are not obscure. You should have heard of them before. However, they are far from well known. These are programs which are well polished, already have substantial user bases, and deserve some limelight.

Real Alternative
Well known among geeks, not well known in general

Gaim
For those of us who don't appreciate using a bloated, ad-filled IM program (*cough* MSN *cough*)

The Gimp
I'm amazed at how many of my "geeky" engineering friends haven't heard of this program. Free, open source, Photoshop equivalent (for the most part)

MultiMon Taskbar
There are plenty of utilities for extending the Windows taskbar onto a second monitor, but this one is free. Absolutely vital for my day to day computer use.

Mozilla Thunderbird
Outlook Express has no features, Outlook annoys me. Free, open-source Thunderbird makes me happy.

 

More votes for Process Explorer and The Gimp.

 

Unlocker
PC Inspector File Recovery
PageDefrag
Spell Checker for OE
Real Alternative
TCP optimizer
SyncBack

 

A few of my favorites.

FreeRam XP

CrapCleaner

HD Cleaner

AdAware

Spyware Blaster

and

EasyCleaner

(Notice that most of them I got from here?)

 

Two lesser known ones that I always use;
Tech-Pro Utilities and the previously mentioned
EasyCleaner...very useful.

Tech-Pro Utilities is a suite of FREE no-frills micro-applications that perform useful tasks to help you make more productive use of your computer.
EasyCleaner is also free.[some web sites have been trying to charge for it....beware]

 

Vote for process explorer.Also PageDefrag. What about XP TweakUI ?

 

Because the first post said ...

and TweakUI could hardly be called so, although many of us may use it, it doesn't qualify.

 

TClockEx (not a utility but it's better than the windows clock before and after XP)
Winkey (not supported by Copernic anymore, but the file is still available at download.com and aumha.org)
The Wonderful Icon

 

SlickRun. http://www.bayden.com/SlickRun/

Not available from MG, though. Looks like I better submit it. It is my favourite program. Don't know how anyone can use a computer without it. I have 170+ MagicWords loaded. X gets me Excel, mydocs goes straight to MyDocuments folder. Gsearch searches my G drive, IE = Internet Explorer, Ad =Adaware, CC = CrapCleaner , etc.
Saves hours of mouse clicking, menu navigating, creating shortcuts on your front page. Bazza

 

Actually, I know of very few people these days who know what TweakUI is, or what it is good for. Reletivley speaking. In the days of 98 and ME a fair few people used it, but not so much any more. In fact, not all that many people even know about the PowerToys as a group of prorgrams. And it is available here at MG.

Anyway ... lesser known programs? what about the avast! Virus Cleaner... a handy self contained executable, perfect for network admins. Or perhaps BartPE, a great way to make your own "Preinstallation Environment" Bootable CD, using your own XP CD.
http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/ (not really eligible, cause you can't download it here)

 

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4007.html

 

DOH! I missed that one! Oh well, its a good candidate!

 

I have submitted it to MG, for their consideration. Bazza

Baz

 

i found winpatrol does a great job at stopping things creeping onto your system
http://www.winpatrol.com/