News - QOTW: which lesser-known Windows apps should everyone know about?

[vinnyT]

Sysinternals Utilities (esp. Process Explorer and Process Monitor).

[Singh400]

Copy path to clipboard. Adds a context menu option that does just that. Tiny, simple, incredibly useful. softpedia.com/get/System/OS-Enhancements/Copy-Path-To-Clipnboard-JA.shtml

Shift + Right Click.

Built in Windows 7 functionality

[cheesemp]

Already mentioned but I have to have the following on my PC (at home and work)
Notepad++
7zip
windirstat (So useful for working out whats using disk space)
Antivirus (Avast or Microsoft essentials when I can choose)

Edit: Proper browser! (Chrome currently but firefox is ok)

[Shooty*]

7zip makes me cringe. We have to use it at work. I find that where winRAR can rescue the contents of a corrupt zip, 7zip just gives up.

These aren't 7 specific, but I use:
eMusicTagEditor
Ifranview
various versions of vdub
Dropbox
Allway Sync
ExtractNow for dealing with thousands of zips at the same time
ReNamer

Haven't used WinAmp since about 1999. Does it still kick the Llama's ass?

Will check out some of the other stuff.

[Noxvayl]

Haven't used WinAmp since about 1999. Does it still kick the Llama's ass?

It whips the llama's ass, yes

[krazy_olie]

Doom

[tickleonthetum]

Haven't used WinAmp since about 1999. Does it still kick the Llama's ass?

Nah, Gone right in to bloatware and is now crippled unless you pay up for the 'Pro' version.

I'll stick with Songbird thanks...

[Shooty*]

Winamp... Songbird... OK.

I use this thing called iTunes. I presume it's Microsoft as it annoyingly tries to update itself about as frequently as Windows. Anyhoo, it plays MP3s really well and looks pretty. So I think it rocks

[wasabi]

You don't need 'apps' on a PC. A decent web browser on the large monitor on a PC removes the need for the godawlful fudge in the first place.

[Tattysnuc]

2 stck out for me as hidden FREE gems
1. psr - problem steps recorder. a piece of free ms software that i think installs with windows. Allows you to record a sequence of key and mouse presses. useful for documenting thungs.
2. ICE - msge composite editor. again, free ms software, this one is part of the windows LIVE suite. allows you to mash together sequential photos to make a panoramc photo.

[crossy]

Notepad2 gets my vote - much better than the normal Notepad.

WinSCP and PuTTY also needed - but then again, I've got Linux boxes to deal with. And that's more or less it for the "lesser known" ones, the rest of my must-have list are all well known.

Mozilla Thunderbird and Lightning (very, very frightning me. Galilleo, Gallileo, ...) (one for the Queen fans out there!)

Decent web browser - sorry IE doesn't cut it, combination of Chrome and Firefox suits me.

DBPoweramp - paid version is a great CD ripper.

Nero Suite - just wish they didn't keep ladling in the extras.

Virtualbox and Cygwin - for those times when I need a Linux fix.

[Kushan]

Microsoft Security Essentials - liked avast but no reg req'd with MS and v good
K-Lite Codec Pack - inc Media Player Classic (home cinema) - essential for all video files
VLC - alternate (backup) player
IrfanView - img viewer/editor
Audacity - sound " / "
ImgBurn - best img/iso dvd burner bar none
Ashampoo - (free version) - dvd burner when need to burn audio CDs
Virtual CloneDrive - like Daemon Tools but without potential for installing bloatware (will retry daemon though)
Dropbox - cloud storage
EAC - exact audio copy for ripping cds - best bar none for accuracy
TrueCrypt - when your files absolutely need encryption
uTorrent - fast minimalist but powerful torrent program
Bit Che - torrent harvester for finding torrents
MKV merge - stripping unwanted subs & audio streams from huge mkvs
Damn nfo viewer - what it says on tin
SpaceMonger v1.4.0 - last free version - great visual representation of files/folders on HDD

+ Steam, Chrome, Skype, Spotify, adobe reader (alternatives never cut it somehow), iplayer

This has reminded me about something that I don't think has been mentioned yet, but is pretty much essential: FFDShow (free-codecs.com/download/ffdshow.htm).

I believe this comes as part of the K-lite CODEC pack, however that brings me to another point - CODEC packs are generally overkill for 99% of people's needs. If you only need to play the more common formats, that includes WMV, MPEG/2/3/4, h.264, DivX/XviD and such, then FFDShow will suit your needs just fine. It's VERY fast and can even use your GPU if it's available to offload the processing. I remember back in the day of my 700mhz Celeron, it would occasionally struggle to play DivX files, but when FFDShow was installed it was as smooth as butter. With FFDShow, my quad-core Q9300 and 9800GTX is capable of easily playing 6 1080p files at once, with very little CPU usage. I believe the only thing stopping me from playing more was simply disk I/O (they were all stored on the same HDD).
There are also some legality issues with CODEC packs as they tend to ship a lot of proprietary files without licensing them (Such as DivX), however that's for your own self to debate.

I don't want to disrespect CODEC packs or anything, I used to use the K-lite pack myself, however the point still stands. If you're not convinced, next time you format, JUST install FFDShow and the latest Media Player Home Cinema and you'll see it really is all you need.

Also - it's redundant using VLC and CODECs (packs or standalone things like FFDShow) at the same time as VLC doesn't use them but instead has it build in. Just FYI - however, it's always useful to have VLC installed anyway (As the Above poster mentions, it's a great backup player).

[Shooty*]

I've got the CoreCodec somewhere. That's very good. I've still not got my head around ffdshow, matroska, all that.

ANYHOW... just found a real gem: Bad Peggy.

Searches your JPEGs for corrupt images, etc. I've got a large photo collection, and this is a god send. Been looking for somethign like it for ages. Just stumbled on it a minute ago.

[Parm]

Some really good suggestions here! Bookmarked a few to try out.

On my system I regularly use Google Sync (just to keep my calendar in sync between Outlook and Blackberry), and a few browser extensions. Property Bee for Firefox and Session Manager for Chrome.

There's also an app called PCKeys that I thought was cool. It allows you to control and monitor your Blackberry from your Windows desktop so you can see who's calling on-screen without picking up the handset, among other stuff. The idea was promising, but the app needed a lot of work and development seems to have stopped.

[prateek76]

Windirstat or treesize - for discovering space hugging files and folders
Irfanview - best image viewer out there
Fences - group your icons and keep the desktop clean!

[Millennium]

I see a lot of people recommending Process Explorer, and it's good, I used to use it myself.

But a more lightweight and equally well specced alternative is Process Hacker, which I now find myself using daily. Open source too. Check it out!

Also EditPad Pro is great we use it at work.

edit: for playing movies I recently discovered PotPlayer, it's got recent english translations, and I think all codecs are built in. Brilliant, brilliant media player I have since thrown away MPC and all that stuff.