ZipGenius

Replacing Ultimate Zip, which was reported as buggy on some users machines is this sauacy Italian proggie which can give better protection to your archives using encryption instead of the standard ZIP password, you can send e-mail using the built-in mail client, or you can publish archives on the Web with the built-in FTP client. While I'm not crazy about 'Swiss Army' apps, users can extend ZipGenius' features with the ZGTools, which are small applets that can run as services. This download is the utility only. Check the website to accessorize it. Works on all Windows.

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TitileBarClock

This tiny program displays the Day, Month, Time and Megabytes of free physical memory on the right side of the Title Bar in any main window that has the mouse or keyboard focus. Displays time in either 12 or 24 hour (military) format. Can also optionally hide any or all of the clock outputs.   right click on the tray icon allows change to the default settings. Works on Windows 95/98/Me/2000/NT/ and XP.

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Catfish

Catalog the contents of backups on CDs, DVDs, even Zip disks in a compact database which is stored on you hard drive for quick reference. Find any object, file or folder with a quick search by name (with wildcards), size and/or date. Catfish is a fine implementation of a great idea which works on Win 3.x, 9x and NT.

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DrvImagerXP

Keeping an operating system free of clutter will allow it to perform faster. Accomplishing this often requires hours gathering drivers, backing up data, formatting the hard drive, re-installing the OS and so on. This utility takes a picture (image) of a known-good, clean install and allows that to be saved on multiple CD-ROMs. When your 'puter starts to feel sluggish (about six months for me), just plug in the discs and enjoy that fresh, snappy feeling again. Win2000/XP, FAT32 or NTSC.

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dnoter

The author says, "Very clean, effective way to keep track of random crap." I like that, This program allows you to effectively keep track of notes on your desktop as if they were post-it's. The program runs quietly in your system tray and you can start adding notes by double clicking on it. Notes maybe be repositioned, made transparent, resized, colored, locked, and hidden. Windows 2000/XP

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Diskeeper Lite 7.0

I've used the full-featured ($30) version of this software for years and have found it to be the best and fastest defragger available. This version lacks the advanced features, but will manually analyze and defrag one drive at a time on a manual basis quickly and efficiently. A fine companion to RegCleaner (below), the combination of which will leave your 'puter with a fresh. clean feeling and some extra zip. All Windows. 

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PrintFolder

The ability to print the contents of a folder, a list of files or a directory is one of the features which should have been included in Windows, but alas, was not. Thank goodness for this little proggie which does exactly that. Handy for creating annotated text files to include with MP3 or software collections. Works on all Windows versions. 

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Photocopier

This is how scanners and printers should be made to interact, but alas, do not. It makes sense to be able to scan a document and send it directly to the printer. One-button copying. That's what this does and it works on all versions of Windows.

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RamBooster

Many programs we load (or which load at startup) will often suck a little extra RAM 'just in case' it needs it later. Your performance is always enhanced when there is memory to spare. Shake it loose with this cool free software. New version uses even less resources and memory than ever, plus the .exe is smaller. I've tried it and it works.

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The Font Thing

This little proggie will allow browsing of fonts, installed or not, see customizable text previews, print samples and create special groups (like dingbats) for use in special projects. Quick, simple, straightforward use requires no learning curve. It's the one I still use.

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Push the Freakin' Button

This is funny on many levels. The title of the software is amusing enough, but it's amusing that Windows users (any flavor) will wonder how they ever got along without it. The Win OS's all ask if a command given is what the user really meant. This proggie just pushes the 'OK' button. You'll find other uses as well, like automating procedures such as dial-up. A must-have.

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Startup Cop

Software programs are ordered to start with Windows from several locations in addition to the startup menu. For those not comfortable with mucking around with MSCONFIG, this will lay it all out in any easy-to-use (and understand) interface. While it's still possible to make a mistake with this, it's very unlikely and easily undo-able.

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Rough Draft

This is pretty cool ... but only for those who need it. Are you an aspiring screen writer? Still looking to write the Great Novel? Then this novel utility (I kill me) as just the thing. It's a word processor designed for authors, allowing for lists, names, summaries, word counts, spell checking and allows for editing of multiple files. Get it, write now!

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WordWeb

While also a blessing to writers, this is an indispensable tool for anyone who writes anything. Even in composing Email, when you need a different word for 'pale' or 'terse', this baby will advise of alternatives. Oh, yeah, it's also a pretty cool little desktop dictionary. Try it ... I'll bet that anyone who does so will use it frequently. I do! Windows 95/98/2000/NT/Me/XP.

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Enditall

In order to defragment a hard drive (which should be done regularly for optimized operation and always prior to the addition or removal of software), all running programs must be shut down. This little utility is a one-button method for doing so, saving the drudgery of closing them one at a time. A sweet program from PC Mag. Win 9x or better.

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RegCleaner

The Windows registry can be a scary place. One wrong move will bring your operating system to it's virtual knees. This small, simple, graphical utility shows what entries are associated with what programs, identified either by software title or author. Remove old entries manually or use the auto-clean feature (I do, with no problem for years). RegCleaner backs up the last changes it makes. Works on all Win flavors. The home page (www.jv16.org) is sometimes down, but the URL below paints a pretty god picture of the possibilities.

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StatBar

This little utility occupies a tiny strip of your screen real estate, fits above the 'My Computer icon, yet is capable of sharing a wealth of system info and functions like battery status, CPU usage, exit/lock buttons, hard disk information, locks status, master volume control, memory status, RC5/OGR counter, time synchronization, Winamp controls and more. It'll even eject your CD--ROM. While not (yet) skinnable, it comes with a half-dozen good-looking interfaces. Works with all Windows versions.

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