[junker39]

WinPatrol: Watches for newly added startup entries and other things.
http://www.winpatrol.com/

EPrompter- Access multiple web based email accounts at one time. They are having problems with HotMail right now. Everything else OK.
http://www.eprompter.com

HostMan: Manage the Hosts file-
http://hostsman12.abelhadigital.com/

SequoiaView- Graphic view of your hard drive-
http://www.win.tue.nl/sequoiaview/

Erunt- Backup and restore registry for Win 2000 (and others)
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download1267.html

[stantley]

xplorer2 lite ditch windows explorer and use this instead

http://www.zabkat.com/x2lite.htm


AutoHotkey great scripting tool, saves a lot of time

http://www.autohotkey.com/

[JohnWill]

OK, I'll toss in my little tidbit, Autoit. This is the slickest way to automate running of simple or complex tasks. I use this tool to perform all sorts of little tasks, and it's even been released as a part of some software I wrote on a contract.

Here's a brief description from their site:

AutoIt v3 is a freeware BASIC-like scripting language designed for automating the Windows GUI and general scripting. It uses a combination of simulated keystrokes, mouse movement and window/control manipulation in order to automate tasks in a way not possible or reliable with other languages (e.g. VBScript and SendKeys). AutoIt is also very small, self-contained and will run on 95, 98, ME, NT4, 2000, XP, 2003 out of the box with no annoying "runtimes" required! You can even make compiled executable scripts that can run without AutoIt being installed!

[Kenny94]

I use FreeDownloadADay.com, they bring you one great program every day 100% free, no strings attached. They carefully select each free downloadable application, making sure it meets their high standards for usefulness, powerful features, ease of use, and time-tested system stability. At FreeDownloadADay.com, you'll find software for Internet viewing and communication, home and office productivity,business and financial tools, system utilities, fun and games,graphic design, entertainment and more. Here you'll never find buggy, ad-laden junk or spyware -- just great software.

http://www.freedownloadaday.com/

Note: Keep updated automatically on the free software featured at
FreeDownloadADay.com via RSS feed or email newsletter. Sign up at:

http://www.freedownloadaday.com/abou...ubscribe-free/

[stantley]

To JohnWill - if you like Autoit, check out AutoHotkey

its like Autoit on steroids , check out the reviews

http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail...y/1088127602/1

Born off AutoIt, AutoHotkey has grown quite a lot and has already made a name in the scripting scene; what with support for AutoIt scripts, exe compiler, GUI builder and other nifty tools, comprehensive help and support, active community/forum, constant development... practically unlimited possibilities- What more can you want? This is the best there is in the scripting/automating/hotkey scene. Go get it today- I seriously wonder now how I lived my life without it.

[Space Cowboy]

Originally Posted by stantley

To JohnWill - if you like Autoit, check out AutoHotkey

its like Autoit on steroids , check out the reviews

http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail...y/1088127602/1

Born off AutoIt, AutoHotkey has grown quite a lot and has already made a name in the scripting scene; what with support for AutoIt scripts, exe compiler, GUI builder and other nifty tools, comprehensive help and support, active community/forum, constant development... practically unlimited possibilities- What more can you want? This is the best there is in the scripting/automating/hotkey scene. Go get it today- I seriously wonder now how I lived my life without it.

Hey You Guy's !!!

I've been wonderin about this type of utility. Can you give us a example/idea of what kinda tasks you use them for?
Thanks
Cowboy

[stantley]

Well, you can use it to do just about any repetitive task that is a series of mouse clicks and/or key strokes.

I've been converting my old record albums to digital files and I use Magix Audio Cleaning Lab to eliminate the clicks and pops. The worst clicks have to be manually edited out, so I need to do the same commands over and over again.

To zoom in, I need to hit the + sign 8 times. So I have a hotkey to send a + sign 8 times. One keystroke instead of eight

Then to cut out the click I wrote a script to 1. move the mouse to a certain spot and left-click 2. move the mouse to another spot, click and drag to 'here' 3. move the mouse again.

That's one the best things about AutoHotkey, you can move the mouse cursor to anywhere you want and click or click and drag, etc.

I had something else where I needed to copy some text from one application to another. So it was - activate window 'A', go 'here' and highlight the text, do a ctrl-c, activate window 'B', go 'here' and do a ctrl-v. Then do this same thing 10 times in a row.

I had something else to copy the text in a tooltip pop-up to a text file. The possibilities are endless.

The other thing I like is you can post a question to the forum and it will be answered quickly. Here's a list of scripts that other people have written.

http://autohotkey.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3284

[KeithKman]

Trillian.

www.trillian.cc

[Space Cowboy]

Thanks for the details Stantley. I guess I don't do that kinda stuff right now but it's good to know

HostMan: Manage the Hosts file-
http://hostsman12.abelhadigital.com/

Hey Junker !!

Can you or anyone explain in the simplest possible way what you are using a host edit utility for? Why not just delete the host file and start over once in awhile? I see a few new freeware apps out there at MajorGeeks for editing the host file and I can't seem to grasp what your trying to accomplish here?

Thanks
Cowboy

[stantley]

and thank you Space Cowboy for starting this thread. There have been a lot of good freeware suggestions. I thought I'd throw a few more out there.

Urlbase 5 - This a great little database for all your web links. You can group them into all sites and fav sites (or any other way you can think of).

http://www.terriadev.com/urlbase/downloads/index.html

Another tool I use along with that is AM-Deadlink. It goes thru your IE favorites or Firefox bookmarks and flags bad links. It's pretty fast too.

http://www.aignes.com/deadlink.htm

And one of my favorite sites for all kinds of freeware is Snapfiles.

http://www.snapfiles.com/Freeware/

[Space Cowboy]

Yeah I really like AM-Deadlink also. I like the way it gets and stores the icon's or (favIcons) for your list of favorites and also checks for dead links.

It isn't 100% though .. there are a couple of my fav's that it say's are bad and they are just fine?

[stantley]

Here's a couple more that I use all the time.

KeePass Password Safe - An easy to use password manager to keep track of all your usernames and passwords. Has a nice password generator too.

http://keepass.sourceforge.net/

Cryptainer LE - Strong encryption software, but still easy to use. Creates a 'virtual drive' where you can store sensitive data.

http://www.cypherix.com/index.htm

Another great site for freeware is FileForum BetaNews. Also has shareware, but you can filter just the freeware. It also has a good RSS feed that keeps you up to date with all the new releases.

http://fileforum.betanews.com/

[Dude044]

OK here's a few more you might want a look at,I haven't tried them all myself.

http://www.techsupportalert.com/best..._utilities.htm

[jimproph]

FreeMind - mind mapping software helps me get lots of random thoughts down in a usable format. It's also great for planning, training, organizing. Like other programs mentioned in this thread, its not technically freeware, but it is open-source and free to use.

freemind.sourceforge.net

-Jim

[JohnWill]

Too much of my mind has been freed, and I'm still looking for it!