Must-Have Utilities For Windows Users/Admins
Last Updated: 31 Aug 2006 (Prior Update: 26 Oct 2005)
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*** PLEASE NOTE: Link(s), If Provided, May Be Wrapped ***
Here's my ever-growing list of Must-Have Apps/Utils for
Windows Users and Networks:
(After a few suggestions, I have broken them into broad
categories. As always, suggestions are appreciated.)
CATEGORIES
1. Backup and Recovery
2. System Maintenance
3. Server Administration
4. System & Network Monitoring
5. Security & Encryption
6. OS Customization
7. Scripting & Development
8. File Management
9. Multimedia
10. Miscellaneous
11. Cool Vendor Sites
12. Archives & Repositories
BACKUP AND RECOVERY
• Acronis PowerUtils ..... http://www.acronis.com/
• Bart's PE Builder ...... http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/
• ConfigSafe ............. http://www.imaginelan.com/products.html
• CPR for 2000/XP ........ http://www.imaginelan.com/products.html
• Drive Image ............ http://www.powerquest.com/driveimagepro/
• Easy Recovery .......... http://www.ontrack.com/
• ERD Commander .......... http://www.winternals.com/products/repairandrecovery/
• Partition Magic ........ http://www.symantec.com/partitionmagic/
• Restorer 2000 .......... http://www.restorer2000.com/r2k.htm
• TrueImage .............. http://www.acronis.com/
• Ultrabac ............... http://www.ultrabac.com/
• WinBackup .............. http://www.liutilities.com/products/winbackup/
• WinImage ............... http://www.winimage.com/
SYSTEM INFO & MAINTENANCE
• AEFDisk ................ http://www.aefdisk.com/
• AutoDefrag ............. http://www.morphasys.com/autodefrag/
• Diskeeper .............. http://www.diskeeper.com/
• Dr. Hardware ........... http://www.drhardware.de/
• DumpTokenInfo .......... http://www.ntsecurity.net/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=15989
• Emco Network Mgmt ...... http://www.emco.is/
• INCTRL5 ................ http://www.zdnet.com/downloads/stories/info/0,,001CV2,.html
• InstallRite ............ http://www.epsilonsquared.com/
• Lavalys Everest ........ http://www.lavalys.com/
• Partition Magic ........ http://www.symantec.com/partitionmagic/
• PerfectDisk 2000 ....... http://www.raxco.com/products/perfectdisk2k/
• RegCleaner ............. http://www.macecraft.com/regsupreme/
• RemoteNOW .............. http://www.liutilities.com/products/remotenow/
• RepairDisk ............. http://www.raxco.com/Products/repairdiskmanager/
• Special Op Suite ....... http://www.specialoperationssuite.com/
• System Commander ....... http://www.v-com.com/
• U-Promote .............. http://u-tools.com/UTools/
SERVER ADMINISTRATION
• AdmWin ................. http://www.admwin.com/
• AINTX .................. http://www.dwam.net/docs/aintx/
• Cygnus Unix Utils ...... http://sourceware.cygnus.com/cygwin/
• DC Pwd Changer ......... http://www.danish-company.com/dcpc/
• DameWare ............... http://www.dameware.com/
• Directory Sizer ........ http://www.franzo.co.nz/dirsizer2/
• Domain Detective ....... http://www.quest.com/domain_detective/
• Enterprise Config Mgr .. http://www.serverware.com/
• Hyena .................. http://www.systemtools.com/hyena/
• M&A Start/Stop ......... http://www.webf1.com/startstop/
• MKS Utilities .......... http://www.datafocus.com/eval/
• Multi-Remote ........... http://www.eytcheson.com/
• NTSEC Utils ............ http://www.pedestalsoftware.com/ntsec/
• RemoteNOW .............. http://www.liutilities.com/products/remotenow/
• Remote Task Manager .... http://www.ntutility.com/rtm/
• Security Explorer ...... http://www.securityexplorer.com/?c=Products
• Special Op Suite ....... http://www.specialoperationssuite.com/
SYSTEM MONITORING & NETWORKING
• Alchemy Net Monitor .... http://www.deksoftware.com/alchemy/
• HyperAccess ............ http://www.hilgraeve.com/hyperaccess/
• Misc Monitoring Utils .. http://www.pchome.com.hk/nonags/monit.html
• MRTG ................... http://www.mrtg.org/
• MultiPing .............. http://www.nessoft.com/multiping/
• NetLab ................. http://www.adanil.com/NetLab/
• NetProbe ............... http://www.objectplanet.com/Probe/
• NetScanTools ........... http://www.netscantools.com/
• NetStatus Pro .......... http://www.otosoftware.com/
• Server Monitor ......... http://www.purenetworking.net/Products/ServerMonitor/ServerMonitor.htm
• ServersAlive ........... http://www.woodstone.nu/salive/
• Special Op Suite ....... http://www.specialoperationssuite.com/
• Syslog Daemon .......... http://www.kiwi-enterprises.com/
• TopTools ............... http://www.hp.com/toptools/
SECURITY & ENCRYPTION
• Avast .................. http://www.avast.com/
• AVG .................... http://www.grisoft.com/
• Cryptophane ............ http://cryptophane.ecosm.com/
• Dekart Private Disk .... http://www.dekart.com/home/
• DriveCrypt ............. http://www.drivecrypt.com/dcplus.html
• ePassword Keeper ....... http://www.edisys.com/Products/ePassword_Keeper/epassword_keeper.asp
• GnuPG .................. http://www.gnupg.org/
• GDate GnuPG-plugin ..... http://www3.gdata.de/gpg/
• Kerio Personal FW ...... http://www.kerio.com/
• Password Corral ........ http://www.cygnusproductions.com/freeware/pc.asp
• PGP .................... http://www.pgp.com/
• PowerCrypt ............. http://www.ovsoft.it/downloads.htm
• PrivateCrypto .......... http://www.utimaco.com/privatecrypto/eng_privatecrypto.html
• Security Administrator . http://www.softheap.com/
• WinRoute Pro ........... http://www.winroute.com/
OS CUSTOMIZATION
• NetSwitcher ............ http://www.netswitcher.com/
• Object Desktop ......... http://www.stardock.com/products/odnt/
• RipBar Pro ............. http://softdesign.simplenet.com/ripbar.htm
• Security Administrator . http://www.softheap.com/
• TweakI ................. http://jermar.com/prod01.htm
• XSET ................... http://xset.tripod.com/
• X-Setup Pro ............ http://www.x-setup.net/
SCRIPTING & DEVELOPMENT
• ActivePerl ............. http://www.activestate.com/
• Admin Script Editor .... http://www.adminscripteditor.com/editor/features.asp
• Blat ................... http://www.blat.net/
• ExamDiff Pro ........... http://www.nisnevich.com/examdiff/examdiffpro.htm
• Kixtart ................ http://www.KIXtart.org/
• MaSaI Editor ........... http://www.masaieditor.com/
• TextPad ................ http://www.textpad.com/
• Visual DialogScript .... http://www.dialogscript.com/en/
• WinBatch ............... http://www.winbatch.com/
• XXCOPY ................. http://www.xxcopy.com/
FILE MANAGEMENT
• Download Accelerator ... http://www.speedbit.com/
• GoZilla ................ http://www.gozilla.com/
• LeechFTP ............... http://stud.fh-heilbronn.de/~jdebis/leechftp/
• MacroExpress ........... http://www.macros.com/
• PowerArchiver .......... http://www.powerarchiver.com/
• XXCOPY ................. http://www.xxcopy.com/
• WinHTTrack ............. http://www.httrack.com/
• WinZip ................. http://www.winzip.com/
MULTIMEDIA
• Adobe Acrobat .......... http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html
• Alcohol 120% ........... http://www.alcohol-soft.com/
• Nero CD-ROM Burner ..... http://www.nero.com/
• PaintShop Pro .......... http://www.jasc.com/
• QuickTime .............. http://www.apple.com/quicktime/
• Virtual CD ............. http://www.virtualcd-online.com/
• Virtual Drive .......... http://www.farstone.com/
• WebCam32 ............... http://surveyorcorp.com/webcam32/
• WinAmp ................. http://www.winamp.com/
• Windows Media Player ... http://www.microsoft.com/windows/WindowsMedia/
• WinDVD ................. http://www.intervideo.com/
• WinImage ............... http://www.winimage.com/
• XaraX .................. http://www.xara.com/products/
MISCELLANEOUS
• B-Original ............. http://KB.UltraTech-llc.com/Archives/B-Original.zip
• Blat ................... http://www.blat.net/
• CleverKeys ............. http://www.cleverkeys.com/
• CMD Tools .............. http://www.cmdtools.com/
• Copernic ............... http://www.copernic.com/
• ExLife ................. http://www.ornicusa.com/add-ins/exlife.shtml
• ExSign ................. http://www.ornicusa.com/add-ins/exsign.shtml
• GuruNet ................ http://www.gurunet.com/
• LanFlow ................ http://www.pacestar.com/lanflow/
• Netropa ................ http://www.netropa.com/
• ShortKeys .............. http://www.shortkeys.com/
• Siggy .................. http://www.downseek.com/download/17496.asp
• SmartDraw .............. http://www.smartdraw.com/
• Statistics Server ...... http://www.deepmetrix.com/
• Trillian ............... http://www.ceruleanstudios.com/trillian/
• VMWare ................. http://www.vmware.com/
• VPOP3 .................. http://www.pscs.co.uk/products/vpop3/
• WinWay Resume .......... http://www.winway.com/
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COOL VENDORS & SITES
• Acronis ................ http://www.acronis.com/
• ActivePerl ............. http://www.activestate.com/
• ActivePlus ............. http://www.activeplus.com/
• AdminToolz ............. http://www.ascs.co.ae/admintoolz/
• AdmWin ................. http://www.admwin.com/
• American Systems ....... http://www.americansys.com/
• AnalogX ................ http://www.analogx.com/
• Argent Software ........ http://www.argentsoftware.com/
• Bardon ................. http://www.bardon.com/
• Daemon-Tools ........... http://www.daemon-tools.com/main.htm
• DameWare ............... http://www.dameware.com/
• DataWizard ............. http://www.datawizard.com.au/
• Dek Software ........... http://www.deksoftware.com/
• EdiSys Corp ............ http://www.edisys.com/products/products.asp
• Emco Software .......... http://www.emco.is/
• Frank Heyne Software ... http://www.heysoft.de/
• GlockSoft .............. http://www.glocksoft.com/
• Hilgraeve .............. http://www.hilgraeve.com/
• Intellimax ............. http://www.intellimax.com/
• IPSwitch ............... http://www.ipswitch.com/
• JASC ................... http://www.jasc.com/
• JoeWare ................ http://www.joeware.net/win32/
• JV16 ................... http://www.vtoy.fi/jv16/
• Lieberman & Associates . http://www.lanicu.com/products/nt_frame.htm
• LIUtilities ............ http://www.liutilities.com/
• MediaHouse ............. http://www.deepmetrix.com/
• Microsoft .............. http://www.microsoft.com/
• Mikrotik ............... http://www.mikrotik.com/
• MVsoft ................. http://www.mvsoft-comp.com/
• Namo ................... http://www.namo.com/
• Neon Software .......... http://www.neonsoftware.com/
• Nessoft ................ http://www.nessoft.com/
• NetMechanic ............ http://www.netmechanic.com/
• Northern ............... http://www.northern.net/
• Nu2 Productions ........ http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/
• O&O Software ........... http://www.oo-software.com/
• OnTrack ................ http://www.ontrack.com/
• OTO Software ........... http://www.otosoftware.com/
• Ornic USA, LLC ......... http://www.ornicusa.com/
• Paessler ............... http://www.paessler.com/
• Paragon Software ....... http://www.paragon.ag/
• PowerQuest ............. http://www.powerquest.com/
• PS Computer Services ... http://www.pscs.co.uk/
• PureNetworking ......... http://www.purenetworking.net/
• Pyzzo Software ......... http://www.pyzzo.com/
• Raxco .................. http://www.raxco.com/
• SavillTech ............. http://www.savilltech.com/
• Service Pack Manager ... http://home.san.rr.com/gravitystorm/
• SmallWonders Software .. http://www.securityexplorer.com/?c=Products
• SmartLine .............. http://www.ntutility.com/
• SoftHeap ............... http://www.softheap.com/
• Software Shelf ......... http://www.softwareshelf.com/
• Somar Software ......... http://www.somarsoft.com/
• Stardock Software ...... http://www.stardock.com/
• Sunbelt Software ....... http://www.sunbelt-software.com/
• SyberGen ............... http://www.sybergen.com/
• SysInternals ........... http://www.sysinternals.com/
• SystemTools ............ http://www.systemtools.com/
• TreeSize Pro ........... http://www.jam-software.com/treesize.html
• Ulead Systems .......... http://www.ulead.com/
• Utilities for NT ....... http://wwwthep.physik.uni-mainz.de/~frink/nt.html
• V Communications ....... http://www.v-com.com/
• Windows Commander ...... http://www.wincmd.com/
• Winternals ............. http://www.winternals.com/
• WM Software ............ http://www.wmsoftware.com/
• Xara ................... http://www.xara.com/products/
• XTeq Systems ........... http://www.xteq.com/products/
ARCHIVES & REPOSITORIES
• BHS .................... http://www.internet.com/sections/downloads.html
• CNET Downloads ......... http://download.cnet.com/
• Freshmeat .............. http://www.freshmeat.net/
• Download32 ............. http://www.download32.com/
• File Forum ............. http://fileforum.efront.com/
• Microsoft .............. http://www.microsoft.com/NTServer/nts/exec/vendors/freeshare/Maintnce.asp
• PC Tools ............... http://www.pc-tools.net/win32/freeware/
• Polderware ............. http://www.polderware.com/
• SoftSeek ............... http://softseek.zdnet.com/
• WinNT Mag .............. http://www.winnetmag.com/Techware/InteractiveProduct/EnterpriseMgmt/
• ZDNet .................. http://www.zdnet.com/downloads/
PERSONAL NOTES
• Feb 2005: Updated various Encryption Links (GnuPG)
• SysInternals is one of the best sites for Windows
diagnostics utilities and information.
• As of 24 Mar 2004, Aida32 development will cease...
Time to find another excellent, free diagnostics and
benchmarking utility -- perhaps "Everest HOME Edition"
