ATM 2.2 (freeware, atm.idic.caos.it)
Versatile task-manager which can kill open programs immediately or adjust their processing priority. Also includes a CPU cooler and system information, such as how long your system has been running. Not for beginners, but excellent! 3.0+ is non-expiring nag-type shareware...AVG (free for personal use, www.grisoft.com)
Excellent anti-virus software with frequent updates for your peace of mind. Stays resident, includes heuristic detection, all the required stuff.Cacheman (free for poor students, www.outertech.com)
Allows easy configuration of vcache, other caches, memory reclamation, monitoring, etc. If you can afford it, please give the authors a donation!CDcheck (freeware, www.divx.com and search)
Verify old CDs are still in full working order, and check out newly burned CDRs for corrupt files.Discover (freeware, www.freewarehome.com + search)
Pushes windows back onto the desktop, and can resize them to fit. Works automatically or with taskbar icon. Invaluable sanity-saving tool!FlexRestart (freeware, www.zdnet.com + search)
Intercepts system reboots and restarts Windows instead, for quicker software installs. Also can shutdown/restart forcibly killing all tasks. Win95/98 only, not ME.FolderSize ShellExt (freeware, www.essi.com/~berger)
Provides detailed information on where your hard disc space is disappearing to via a system properties tab. Well integrated and simple to use. Enough said, really.Hook99 (freeware, thunder.prohosting.com/~ladi or here ~17Kb)
A fun novelty. Customise your Start Menu button with a different icon and text. Can also turn the 3D effect off (also affects the system tray.) One of the few frivolous system mods I allow myself.HTML Convertor (freeware, htmlconv.da.ru)
Reconstructs your internet cache (IE, NS, Opera) into off-line directories. Simple but very effective!InfoTip & ZipTip (freeware, www.na.rim.or.jp/~norio)
Can be configured to display information in pop-up tips in Windows Explorer, such as file creation dates, text file previews, list ZIP archive contents, etc. Two very useful enhancements to the filer, which I would never wish to be without.Map Of Chars (freeware, www.coolwintools.com)
Excellent replacement for CharMap with all the features you'd expect.NameIt (freeware, www.download.com)
If you've ever wanted to rename MP3s to their ID3 tag, or simply search and replace text in a few filenames, this is the freeware for you. For more heavy usage, I recommend THE Rename.PowerArchiver 6.11 (freeware, www.powerarchiver.com)
The best archiver I've found... handles ZIP, RAR and GZ etc, creates self-extracting files with options. Very similar to WinZip, only better. 7.0+ now is non-expiring shareware, just like WinZip...RegCleaner (freeware, www.jv16.org)
Allows you to easily remove rubbish from partially uninstalled softwareSendTo ShellExtension (freeware, www.microsoft.com + search)
The best part of the Windows 95 Power Toys. Perfectly safe for 98, this lets you copy and move files anywhere, easily, without messing around with multiple Explorer windows.StartUp Control Panel (freeware, www.mlin.net)
An easy way to modify what programs start up with Windows, since many hog memory and make your system more unstable.TClockEx (freeware, users.iafrica.com/d/da/dalen)
Gives you complete control over your system tray clock, a few resource monitors, and a handy calendar.THE Rename (freeware, www.herve-thouzard.com)
I use this in addition to NameIt for operations involving hundreds of files. It's a lot more capable for complex operations.TweakUI (freeware, www.microsoft.com + search)
1.33 now works with 95/98/ME/NT/2K. Allows editing of many Windows settings Microsoft presumes we're too dumb to have control over... like menu speeds and other hideously complicated and dangerous stuff. Ooo. The original system tweaking utility, and actually still one of the best.WinKey (freeware, www.copernic.com/winkey)
My new preferred hotkeys application. Run pretty much anything from a keypress or two.WebWasher (free for personal use, www.webwasher.com)
Stops advert graphics from downloading, thus speeding up browsing and letting you get to the porn quicker... erm, or more wholesome content, whatever you're into. Also kills pop-up windows stone cold. Very much worth having.XVI32 (freeware, www.chmaas.handshake.de)
Nifty free hex editor.Ycalc (freeware, vbourdo.cjb.net)
Replacement calculator which allows you to structure calculations and change variables easily.ZoneAlarm (free for personal use, www.zonelabs.com)
Fantastic firewall software to keep nasty people away from your computer when you're on-line. Unlike some other firewalls, it does this by telling potential hackers that you're off-line....