Useful Utility programs

A good place to start would be Scott Hanselman's 2009 Ultimate Developer and Power Users Tool List for Windows.

This is my list from 18 months ago - Utility Programs, Tools, Add-Ins plus other stuff.

Updated list.

• Ninite - Pick from a big list of utility programs ninite will go get them all for you, install them and make sure the crapware toolbars and ebay links are not installed. Reviewed on HowToGeek.com.

• Unlocker Assistant - When you try and delete something and you get the file locked message, the Unlocker Assistant will pop up, giving you the option to unlock the files and perform your delete. Download from here
  

• DiffMerge -is an application to visually compare and merge files for Windows, Mac OS X and Unix. Download from here
  
  • If using DiffMerge with Subversion, the following settings can be used to 'Diff' and 'Merge'
    
    Diff Viewer
    

    C:\Program Files\SourceGear\DiffMerge\DiffMerge.exe /t1=%bname /t2=%yname %base %mine

    
    Merge
    

    C:\Program Files\SourceGear\DiffMerge\DiffMerge.exe /m /r=%merged /t1=%yname /t2=%bname /t3=%tname /c=%mname %mine %base %theirs

• Sysinternals Suite - Has many useful tools including


• AutoRuns - This utility shows you what programs are configured to run during system bootup or login. Download from here.


• BgInfo - is a little tool that displays a load of your system information as a bmp on your desktop. More information from here




• Daemon Tools - Mount iso image
  

• Regular Expression Workbench - a utility that lets you experiment with .NET regular expressions.

• SqlScripter - simple, low-cost tool for quickly exporting data
  


• Foxit - a pdf reader
  


• Paint.Net - a free image and photo editing software for computers that run Windows
  

• CCleaner - removes unused files from your system.

• Driver Max - find updates for your drivers, also backup and restore them.

• LinqPad - A great way to learn LINQ.
  

• Microsoft Security Essentials - its a virus checker, and its free, reviewed here
  

• Moo0 System Monitor - An easy way to monitor your computer’s system resource usage. Reviewed here.
  

• MWSnap - free screen capture software
  

• Reflector - If you dont know about reflector, you probably dont need it.
  

• Secunia Personal Software Inspector - Scans your machine to find out of date software that you are using, this could have security implications for you. Is covered in this article from HowToGeek.com
  

• VHD Resizer - Heres a how to from Serverfault.com.
  

• DBAN - Boot and Nuke - DBAN will automatically and completely delete the contents of any hard disk that it can detect, which makes it an appropriate utility for bulk or emergency data destruction.