1. Anti-virus
2. Audio
3. Browsers and utilities
4. Data backup and recovery
5. Drivers
6. File Compression
7. Firewall
8. Hardware monitoring
9. Image editing and animation
10. Internet/Networking
11. Spyware / Adware removal tools
12. Stress testing
13. Text editing
14. Miscellaneous
15. Web Filtering

• PC Diagnostic Tools / Applications on the Go
  Compiled by snipe, this is a list of freeware apps useful to keep on a USB thumbdrive, helpful with PC diagnostics and troubleshooting etc.

• The best Windows XP Tools & Registry Hacks
  Compiled by luxuryoils

• X-Setup Pro [x-setup.net]
  A free "tweaker" program for all versions of Windows accessing >1,700 settings in an easy to use interface.
• X-Setup 6.3 [majorgeeks.com]
  Same functionality as above but without the license.

compiled by alholly1

• Lots of Free Software for all kinds of tasks.

• http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
  Free scanning and cleaning, no download required.
  
• http://www.bitdefender.com/scan/
  
• http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/
  
• http://us.mcafee.com/root/mfs/
  
• http://www3.ca.com/threatinfo/vir.../scan.aspx
  
• http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/vc_scan.asp
  
• http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php

• Audacity [sourceforge.net]
  Audio editing, mixing, processing
• CDex [sourceforge.net]
  Audio Ripping Tool. Convert CD audio to .wav or .mp3, and vice versa.

• Google Toolbar [google.com]
• Mozilla [mozilla.org]
• Mozilla Firefox [mozilla.org]
  with snipe, appleyum, Baskins, The Raddish, yeswarchief seal of approval
• Opera [opera.com]
  with Aluvus seal of approval
• MoreGoogle [moregoogle.com]
  See page preview thumbnails, "Open in New Window" Button, not a toolbar, saves screen real estate, live Amazon.com product information, get accurate site access statistics, retrieve older versions of a site, find more related web sites
• AM-DeadLink [aignes.com] detects dead links and duplicates in your Browser Bookmarks.

• SyncBack [2brightsparks.com]
• CasperXP [fssdev.com]
• RescuePRO [lc-tech.com]
  see description by The Raddish
• GetDataBack [runtime.org] Affordable data recovery utility that works very, very well.
• PC Inspector Recovery [pcinspector.de] (best thing about it - it's 100% free!)

• http://www.driverguide.com/
  To access the drivers, click on login
  username: drivers
  password: all
  
  Check the manufacturer's site for drivers first!

• Winace's XAcePlus [winace.com]
  Free unzip utility (supports ACE, ARJ, CAB, LZH, LHA, JAR, RAR, ZIP, SFX)
• IZarc [dir.bg]
• Pocket Killbox [bleepingcomputer.com]
  a program that can be used to get rid of files that stubbornly refuse to allow you to delete them.
• PV.ZIP [subratam.org]
  removes hidden dll files

• Zone Alarm [zonelabs.com]
• Outpost Firewall [agnitum.com]
• Sygate Personal Firewall [sygate.com]

• Sisoft Sandra 2004 [sisoftware.net]
  Tells all general information, also performs burn in's, and supports mobo temp monitoring for those not supported with MBM.
• CPU-Z [cpuid.com]
  Tells information about mobo , proc, and memory.
• MBM [livewiredev.com]
• SpeedFan [almico.com]
  see description by Rabid

• Irfanview [irfanview.com]
• gifworks [gifworks.com] - online animation tool
• The GIMP [gimp.org]
• Paint.Net [wsu.edu] - Free powerful Paint replacement

• Ad-aware [lavasoftusa.com] - http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/
• Spybot S&D [safer-networking.org] http://www.safer-networking.org/i...e=download
• SpywareBlaster [javacoolsoftware.com] - http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sbdownload.html
• SpywareGuard [javacoolsoftware.com] - http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sgdownload.html
• HiJackThis [tomcoyote.org] - http://tomcoyote.org/hjt/
• Bazooka [kephyr.com] - http://www.kephyr.com/spywarescanner/index.html
• Winpatrol [winpatrol.com] - http://www.winpatrol.com/winpatrol.html
• Windows Startup Inspector [windowsstartup.com] - http://www.windowsstartup.com/download.php
• CWSshredder [spywareinfo.com] - http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merij...loads.html
• BHODemon [definitivesolutions.com] - http://www.definitivesolutions.com/bhodemon.htm
• www.pestscan.com [pestscan.com]
• Microsoft Antispyware (beta) [microsoft.com] - http://www.microsoft.com/athome/s...fault.mspx

• Prime95 [mersenne.org]
  Processor stress-test. Useful for overclocking or seeing how well your heatsink performs under load. Use in combination with temperature monitoring software.
• Memtest86 [memtest86.com]
  Standalone memory stress-test. This will certainly evaluate your RAM to see if you bought a lemon or not.
• 3DMark 2003 [futuremark.com]
  3D Performance benchmark utility. Useful for stress-testing pretty much every component of your computer.

• openoffice.org [openoffice.org]
  Alternative to MS Office suite.

• LSP - Fix [cexx.org]
  Repairs Winsock 2 settings, caused by buggy or improperly-removed Internet software, that result in loss of Internet access.
  
• Winsock XP Fix [spychecker.com]
  similar to above.
  
• Hamachi [hamachi.cc]
  Free and secure "Zero configuration" UDP-based VPN-like network. If this was too much to handle in one sentence, click the link and see for youself
  
• NetStumbler [netstumbler.com]
  NetStumbler is a tool for Windows that allows you to detect Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) using 802.11b, 802.11a and 802.11g. It has many uses:

  • Verify that your network is set up the way you intended.
  • Find locations with poor coverage in your WLAN.
  • Detect other networks that may be causing interference on your network.
  • Detect unauthorized "rogue" access points in your workplace.
  • Help aim directional antennas for long-haul WLAN links.
  • Use it recreationally for WarDriving.