Useful Utilities

This is a list of free utilities and tools that can be used in Windows and DOS to perform troubleshooting, maintenance and repairing. I will keep updating this list as I find new and useful programs.

Antivirus and Anti-spyware

Microsoft Security Essentials - This is by far the best anti-virus and anti-malware application I've come across. It's small, fast, and very accurate. It cleans a virus very effectively, and works well with Windows, as designed.

HighJack This -  This utility is very useful if you think you have a spyware or malware problem. It detects settings, browser status, and system status, and shows it to you, allowing you to remove unwanted entries. The best way to use this program however, is to output the scan to a logfile, and posting it to a spyware expert forum so that they can help you out in what is harmful and what is actually necessary for your computer. Use with care.

Drivers

3DP - Not well-known, this software package that contains 3DP-Net, 3DP-Chip and 3DP-Bench. 3DP Net will detect your network adapter, and install it from a surprisingly complete database of drivers that comes with the utility. 3DP-Chip detects major hardware devices (Motherboard Chipset, Sound Device, Graphics Card, etc), and gives you the option to download updated drivers to the various devices. 3DP-Bench benchmarks your CPU to help you check its performance. All in all a great package, and completely free.

Driver Sweeper - The best in cleaning out old driver registry and system files, this tool is a must for anyone that has problems with drivers, especially those that just doesn't want to go away. It's quick, resourceful, and easy to use. It completely uninstalls drivers for most components.

General Utilities

TeamViewer - Team Viewer is a very useful program that allows a IT desktop Technician to assist a customer or friend by connecting and controlling their computer remotely from his own pc. With a secure serverside connection and a stable and smooth usage interface, it is a quick and easy way to fix someone's computer if they have a problem that needs a hands-on fix.

Network Utilities

Ftrace - A GUI version of Ftrace, which is a very powerful tracert variant that can detect hops through networks that usually prevent tracert from registering. With many command-line options, its very useful to determine latency and slow servers through the internet.