Win8Starter

Engelmann Media GmbH

With Windows 8, the start button disappeared from the desktop, and many users who were used to accessing tasks or shutting down the computer from this area have had a hard time adapting to the change. Using Win8Starter you can put the start button and start menu back where they belong, making it easier to access common menu options. It's easy to adjust the application's functions, and you'll see that all of your programs and buttons will integrate uniformly into your new Windows menu.

TwinkiePaste

Aml Pages

TwinkiePaste is an application that is sure to make your life easier by giving you the ability to copy and paste any type of text, and perform searches in just seconds. It works by saving the phrases you use most often, and allows you to edit them by directly accessing the search function, which you may do at any moment. That way, you can assign a determined phrase to a hotkey combination, and paste more than one phrase at a time. The days of copying and pasting phrases one by one are over now that you can use TwinkiePaste to paste all the text you need. The application lets you insert formatted and unformatted text, works with a large variety of applications, and also allows the Unicode format. It includes a clipboard history that you can use the edit the list of most-used phrases, changing them to fit your needs.

Audio Switcher

xenolightning

Audio Switcher takes you directly the sound settings on your PC, no fuss. Just by opening this program you can access all your system's tools to adjust your microphone and speaker settings, both internal and external. This program lets you easily manage all the sound devices connected to your computer, helping you to control external devices connected via USB. (You'll need to search for these devices in the control panel among your various active drivers.) Although accessing these settings directly is a great advantage, Audio Switcher also lets you create keyboard shortcuts to open the controls even faster, so even if you don't have the interface open you can just press a key to go to the menu for loudspeakers, sound cards, microphones, etc. A single click is enough to open the panel, and any adjustment you want to make is just two more clicks away. Say goodbye to the days of browsing through your PC's control panel to find audio devices and sound drivers.

ViGlance

Lee-Soft

If you have seen any image of the new Windows Seven, you'll have realized that one of the major reforms is the visual style and the new taskbar is one of the preferred ones. If you have seen it and you want to have that taskbar on windows XP, you'll welcome this lite application that will transform your common taskbar into the new and trendy Windows Seven taskbar. You don't have to squeeze your brain, it's extremely simply to install, just run the executable and the new taskbar will replace yours. The design of Windows Seven will be introduced in your desktop with a taskbar that features icons of 48x48 and a floating text box. Give it a try, give Windows XP the Seven's fresh look.

Device Remover

Kerem Gümrükcü

Device Remover is one of the most effective and easy to use applications out there to help you cover the limited functions of the Windows device manager. Thanks to this powerful tool, we'll be able to manage all devices, no matter if we want to change, configure or uninstall them. The program will show on screen all details about the selected device. In fact, you can check details about devices which were previously plugged in your computer. Device Remover is not only that, in fact, we have found it pretty useful when using it as driver manager because it tells you extra information based in the program's database. Furthermore, we can create a backup including all the drivers, so we'll have all of them in case of crash. Finally, we'll find a Cleanup option which is essential if we want to disable or eliminate any device or delete temporary files

vLite

Dino Nuhagic

vLite is an application for Windows Vista that lets you deactivate certain options in the operating system you consider unnecessary and slow down your computer. If Vista isn't performing as fast as you want, vLite can help you get rid of what's weighing it down. vLite can also be used to create bootable ISO images for the operating system, containing all your previous settings. Thanks to vLite, installing Windows Vista is a whole lot easier. That's because you're only installing the features you actually want and need. vLite is a version for Vista of the classic nLite, which offers the same features for other Microsoft operating systems.

Sizer

Brian Apps

Sizer is a lightweight utility that lets you resize any window into a number of predefined sizes. This application installs a menu on the title bar. From there, you can change the window's aspect ratio to any of the following options: 640x480, 800x600, and 1024x768. You can also choose other sizes manually. Also, if you want to move the window to a specific part of the screen, you can do so here. Just access the application settings by clicking on the icon on the title bar. Sizer is an especially great application for web developers, since it lets you change a window's size with just a click. It's also useful for anyone who has to frequently take screenshots.

Microsoft IntelliPoint

Microsoft

IntelliPoint is a lite program that allows you to modify and personalize the functions of such an important device as your mouse. Assign different shortcuts to each button of the mouse, something specially useful in the case of the central button or the wheel. You can also change some settings like shadow, pointer image, auto-hide,... One of the most interesting features is the one that allows you to adjust the wheel sensibility in order to power up the way you use it. Microsoft IntelliPoint is very interesting for any user, it doesn't consume a lot of resources and can be very helpful.

Ciusbet Hardware BenchMark

Coyotes Hardware

If your PC is getting old and you want to satisfy yourself that it is still performing to its optimal levels, you need an application like Ciusbet Hardware BenchMark. The programme has been designed with the sole aim of testing a PC, analysing the performance of each of its components and giving a general overview of the test results. Ciusbet Hardware BenchMark carries out a complete set of tests in which it will test the processor, RAM, graphics card, any storage devices and make an overall analysis of your PC. The programme´s creators recommend that you do not perform any other tasks while running the tests, as this will affect the results. The process can last anywhere between 1 and 20 minutes.

Taskbar Eliminator

Aviassin

Are you tired of that taskbar that steals you part of your screen when you are working? Taskbar Eliminator is the apllication you need to get rid of it and make it disappear. It's easy to use. You run Taskbar Eliminator and you decide when it will be shown. Press Alt+T (or the key combination you choose) to enable or disable it. That's all. In the settings panel you can choose whether to hide it at startup or not.

TabExplorer

iWeSoft

TabExplorer is a small application that integrates a simple tab system into your Windows file explorer so you can move more comfortably between folders without having to open them in different windows. As with other similar programs, you organize the tabs by simply dragging them to the front or back. In the end your Windows file explorer will look quite like your web browser. Tab Explorer is a very useful tool that makes navigating with your Windows file explorer much easier.

Super Finder

FreeSoftLand

Are you tired of the limitations of the Windows search engine? Super Finder is the application that will solve those searching problems. It is a usful application that offers you some advanced features not included in the original Windows search application. Super Finder is divided into several tabs, so you can search for an specific word, application, type of file, filter your search results,... Choose if you'll see hidden files or not, choose the maximum and minimum size of the file you are searching for and more. By this way, you'll get a moe exact result, you will not have to search for the file again in the result list, because the result list will be better and smaller. Finally, you can access super finder from the right-click menu.

Bloatbox

Builtbybel

10AppsManager

Lavish Thakkar

Windows 10 comes with quite a few default programs that cannot easily be uninstalled or deleted. 10AppsManager is a free tool that lets you get rid of these programs and even retrieve them later if you change your mind. The program shows you all the icons of the programs that it can uninstall, though some of them are simply shortcuts to installers instead of the programs themselves. The full list includes 3D Builder, Alarms, Calculator, Camera, Film and TV, Get Office, Get Skype, Get Started, Mail and Calendar, Maps, Money, Music, News, OneNote, People, Phone Companion, Photos, Solitaire, Sports, Store, Voice Recorder, Weather, and Xbox. Since it's an experimental and unofficial tool, the developers recommend creating a backup before using it. Also, if you decide to reinstall a program that you deleted with 10AppsManager, you need to follow a series of steps that includes manually entering a command in Windows shell. This is all fully explained in the reinstall section of the program.

Open-Shell

Open-Shell

AnVir Task Manager

AnVir Software

Anvir Task Manager is a task manager including a good bunch of interesting features that will be loved by advanced users. It allows you to monitor all processes giving you an stimation of the risk for your computer, the resource consumption, location In addition it allows you to eliminate and clean any traces of virus, spyware or Trojans that your antivirus software doesn't delete. You can also modify the list of programs running in Windows startup and boost it up. In short, Anvir Task Manager is an useful application that allows you to modify some settings to make your computer run better.

Start8

Stardock

Start8 is a small application manufactured by Stardock (one of the most popular game and software development companies) that will allow its users to get back the traditional start button of Microsoft operating systems, which has disappeared with the arrival of Windows 8. In addition to getting it back and placing it where it has always been, Start8 offers many configuration and customization options, to give you the look that you want. From the start menu icon to the color, everything can be customized to suit the user. Also at your disposal, you will have a number of keyboard shortcuts that can be used for quick access to any part of the menu. Also, you can change the function of the Windows key that usually opens the start menu, by changing it to open the Windows 8 screen, if you want. Start8 is an interesting application for any user who is interested in returning to the traditional Windows presentation. Also, the full version (this one is a trial) only costs five dollars.

SP TimeSync

spdialer

SP TimeSync is a simple app that synchronizes the time on your Windows clock time with that of an atomic clock via the Internet. The program consumes a small amount of your system's resources and it lets you adjust the time with just a click, making it fairly easy for anyone to use. SP TimeSync is a unique tool that will help you arrive on time no matter where you go. The days of your computer clock being a couple of minutes fast or a few minutes slow are over.

WSCC

KLS Software

WSCC is a tool that allows you to easily and intuitively manage all your system utilities. You can install and uninstall any utility, update it with just a click, execute it from the program's main window, and organize them however you like so you always have the ones you use most at hand. For utility management, there is a Favorites folder where you can add items by right clicking on them. WSCC is a light tool that doesn't require installation, and has a clean and simple layout that will make using it easy for any user.

Free Mouse Auto Clicker

Advanced Mouse Auto Clicker

Free Mouse Auto Clicker is a small application that, simply put, will automatically click every certain amount of time. The user needs to manually establish the click interval, thus being able to vary between several hours or tenths of a second. Everything will depend on how you want to use it. The few program options allow you to choose if you want to right click or left click with the mouse, and establish the keyboard shortcuts for starting and stopping the time interval counter. Free Mouse Auto Clicker is a unique tool that has very interesting applications for especially tedious task such as online games.

StartIsBack

Stanislav Zinukhov

If you've decided to make the leap to Windows 8 but you don't like the Metro desktop, StartIsBack offers you a simple solution to recover the classic Windows Start menu. All you have to do is install the application and the Start button will return to its place as though it never even left. You'll still be able to access the Metro desktop if you want to, but you don't have to. Although Windows 8 has no Start menu, all of the programs still create corresponding direct access, so this application really isn't doing much more than showing you what's on your computer. You'll be surprised to find that everything is there, like it had never left. Of course, the menu is completely configurable and you can adjust its aspect so that it adapts to your needs. This is an excellent way to take advantage of the improvements included with Windows 8 without losing what has always been one of Microsoft's hallmarks.

Shell

Nilesoft

Ghost Mouse Auto Clicker

Advanced Mouse Auto Clicker

Ghost Mouse Auto Clicker allows you to record the movements and clicks of the mouse and repeat them the times you'll want. It's easy to use, you only have to click start button and do the movements you want to track. Then, stop and play those movements whenever you want. That's very useful if you want to do clicks, open windows and other things automatically when you are away. It's very useful to earn points in games like Farmville automatically at night. Finally, not only does it track mouse movements but it can save keystrokes too.

Listary

Bopsoft

Listary is a lite application that when integrated in our computer can convert Windows searches into a different experience. One of the main differences we'll realize once we'll have installed it will be that a new bar will appear on each window. We'll be able to use that bar to search for any term on Windows. Choose to enable or disable it using 'ctrl + W'

App Hide

Simple Software

App Hide is a simple program that lets you hide any application or window open on your desktop. Just press Ctrl+Alt+H while on an active window to make it disappear. Getting it back is as easy as right-clicking on the App Hide icon in your system tray and selecting the hidden window. Using App Hide, you can hide as many windows as you want. If by any chance you hide too many of them, just close the program and they will all be restored automatically.

SIW (System Info)

Gabriel Topala

SIW (System Info) is a simple tool which will allow you to know everything having to do with the software and hardware installed on your PC. All data related with configurations and installed elements in your PC. It doesn’t need to be installed, because it’s executable directly from any drive. Its simple and intuitive interface is divided into three different parts: - Hardware: Detailed system info, CPU, Bios, PCI, installed cards, USB devices,... - Software: Operating system, DLL libraries, crypted files, codecs, authors,... - Network: Security level, ports, connected servers, active connections, TCP/IP, etc. And all this completely free.

Belarc Advisor

Belarc Inc.

Belarc Advisor is a simple application with no own interface, whose purpose is to elaborate a report where all installed components are shown, no matter if they are hardware or software. The elaborated report will be opened with your browser and you will be able to know all about your system. Though it is shown in the internet browser, that information will remain private it will no be sent to anyone. The information shown is really complete, it even shows information about the Microsoft Hotfixes. Belarc Advisor is compatible with the most famous navigators nowadays (Internet Explorer, Mozilla, Netscape, Opera).

Port Locker

Unistal Systems

Stalled Printer Repair

N/A

Stalled Printer Repair is a lite but effective application whose only purpose is to unblock the printing queues. How many times have you had problems with the printer? How many time have you wanted to unblock that printing queue? Now it's very easy thanks to this amazing program. If you have ever wondered how to solve it, now we ofer you the easy solution. Its name is Stalled Printer Repair. It doesn't need to be installed, just run it and click the unblock button. That's all.

Start Menu 8

IObit.com

Windows 8 and 8.1 came without the traditional start button from earlier versions of the same operating system, so some users had some trouble accessing certain features and options to which they were accustomed. Start Menu 8 is perfect for all those people, since it brings the original start button back, putting it in the same place where it has always been, with the same appearance it had in previous versions. Start Menu 8 modifies the more modern Windows interface, allowing the computer to boot directly to the previous operating system image. Your PC will have the same appearance as Windows 7 but with all the features of the newer version. Although this program is intended to restore the start button on Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, it can also be used with Windows 7, XP, and Vista if you want to change the start button in those, too. From the application’s settings, you can make the button look more than a dozen different ways, including the system icons and other fun shapes like a little pig, or a V for Vendetta mask.