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[GoodGuy17]

ULTIMATE GUIDE
to computer enthusiasts

Hello,

I have compiled a list of programs to increase your productivity on the computer. There are a few key programs every computer enthusiast needs. If you feel I need to add something, PM me. If this list helps, please +rep. Here we go:

Piriform
CCleaner
Webpage: Download
About: CCleaner is the number-one tool for cleaning your Windows PC. It protects your privacy online and makes your computer faster and more secure. Easy to use and a small, fast download. CCleaner is our system optimization, privacy and cleaning tool. It removes unused files from your system - allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space. It also cleans traces of your online activities such as your Internet history. Additionally it contains a fully featured registry cleaner. But the best part is that it's fast (normally taking less than a second to run) and contains NO Spyware or Adware!
Screenshot:

Defraggler
Webpage: Download
About: Use Defraggler to defrag your entire hard drive, or individual files - unique in the industry. This compact and portable Windows application supports NTFS and FAT32 file systems. Other defragging programs are all-or-nothing: they don't have settings beyond defragmenting your entire hard drive at one go.
At Piriform, we understand that users want more control over what they can defrag. We've designed Defraggler to give you as many options as you need - without overwhelming you with needless clutter.
For most users (and especially impatient ones!), simply launch Defraggler, click the drive you want to defragment, and then click the big Defrag button. If you want to save some time, there's also Quick Defrag.
You can defragment an entire file, a folder, or a single file. Tell Defraggler to search for files of a particular size or type. Or tell it to exclude files by name, file type, or other criteria.
One of Defraggler's more advanced features is the ability to move large files to the end of the hard drive. Your computer accesses files faster if they're at the start of the drive. Defraggler can put the large files you probably don't use that often (videos and archives, for example) at the end of the drive so that Windows can find the smaller files faster.
Simple enough for everyday users, and flexible enough for those who demand the most options, Defraggler is your best choice to take back control of your hard drive.
Screenshot:

Recuva
Webpage: Download
About: Accidentally deleted an important file? Lost something important when your computer crashed? No problem! Recuva recovers files deleted from your Windows computer, Recycle Bin, digital camera card, or MP3 player. And it's free!
Screenshot:

Other
NotePad++
Webpage: http://notepad-plus-plus.org/download
About: Notepad++ is a free (as in "free speech" and also as in "free beer") source code editor and Notepad replacement that supports several languages. Running in the MS Windows environment, its use is governed by GPL License.

Based on the powerful editing component Scintilla, Notepad++ is written in C++ and uses pure Win32 API and STL which ensures a higher execution speed and smaller program size. By optimizing as many routines as possible without losing user friendliness, Notepad++ is trying to reduce the world carbon dioxide emissions. When using less CPU power, the PC can throttle down and reduce power consumption, resulting in a greener environment.

This project is mature. However, there may be still some bugs and missing features that are being worked on. If you have any questions or suggestions about this project, please post them in the forums. Also, if you wish to make a feature request, you can post it there as well. But there's no guarantee that I'll implement your request.

You're encouraged to translate Notepad++ into your native tongue if there's not already a translation present in the Binary Translations page. And if you want, help translating Notepad++ official site into your native tongue would be greatly appreciated.

I hope you enjoy Notepad++ as much as I enjoy coding it. (EDIT: I did not code it, desc. ripped from page)
Screenshot:

Paint.NET
Webpage: Download
About: Paint.NET is free image and photo editing software for computers that run Windows. It features an intuitive and innovative user interface with support for layers, unlimited undo, special effects, and a wide variety of useful and powerful tools. An active and growing online community provides friendly help, tutorials, and plugins.

It started development as an undergraduate college senior design project mentored by Microsoft, and is currently being maintained by some of the alumni that originally worked on it. Originally intended as a free replacement for the Microsoft Paint software that comes with Windows, it has grown into a powerful yet simple image and photo editor tool. It has been compared to other digital photo editing software packages such as Adobe® Photoshop®, Corel® Paint Shop Pro®, Microsoft Photo Editor, and The GIMP.
Screenshot:

Thanks for reading. NOTE: ALL DESCRIPTIONS AND SCREENSHOTS ARE THE RESPECTIVE PROPERTY OF THE APPLICATIONS' OWNERS. TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM THEIR PAGES.

Remember, +rep if this helped!

~GoodGuy17

[mandai]

If you are after free data recovery software you would probably be better off using TestDisk and PhotoRec.
Personally I don't see how ccleaner/defraggler are better than the built in windows utilities (disk cleanup and defrag).

[GoodGuy17]

CCleaner has over 600 million downloads, and cleans more than disk cleanup.
Defraggler defrags better than defrag.
The included apps in Windows are just meant to keep you held so you have the chance to do what you need before you get to a better app.
EDIT: By the way, your signature lost its links :?

[mandai]

Disk cleanup/defrag have been included in every windows version since 98.
Disk cleanup removes all the significant unused files (ccleaner's registry stuff seems a bit risky). Also how is defraggler better exactly?

Oh I took out the signature links after the 5 max limit was added.

[GoodGuy17]

I used my two PCs, and took the data from one HDD to another. They both had the same exact data, then I put them on their respective PCs, and one defrag with Windows and one with Defraggler. I then tested the speed and other things, and the one that used Defraggler had better marks. CCleaner allows you to backup the changes made to the registry though.
Oh, and were you an MVP in the MSDN forums?

[mandai]

What method did you use to test the speed/other things?
If the system became unbootable as a result of the registry changes it could turn out to be a hassle getting everything working again.
I haven't done much posting on MSDN actually.

[GoodGuy17]

I did this:
Gaming Test
Sony Vegas load time
(not really a true test, but it was what I did)
And, do you have any apps to put up on the topic?

[mandai]

There are many variables to testing a filesystem's fragmentation than just using some applications. It would be very difficult to benchmark accurately unless you had 2 other identical drives with identical snapshots after each was defragged. Then you would have to copy identical data, revert and compare each change.

I could probably mention a few programs:
Audacity - Good for editing audio files
VLC + ffmpeg - Great for streaming/converting/playing multimedia files
Daemon Tools - Great for mounting virtual CD images
CDBurnerXP - Great for burning CDs
LCISOCreator - Great for making CD images
Wireshark - Great for network monitoring
UltraVNC - Great for remote desktop control
Microsoft Virtual PC/VMWare Player - Great for virtual machine stuff

[GoodGuy17]

OK, those applications will be added soon.

[Zulf]

I use all the Piriform applications. :P Great apps for free.