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[SolarShado]

So, I've tinkered with computers for years, and, like most I imagine, I've accumulated a number of odd, but useful, programs. Just odds and ends, a bit like the contents of your kitchen "Junk Drawer," bits and pieces that, taken individually, may or may not be useful, but with some knowledge and creativity can solve a wide variety of problems.

Here's some of my most used utilities/UI tweaks (on my main PC running Win7):
(attempts at prioritization failed, so this is no particular order)

1. Cygwin -- an assortment of Linux programs using a compatibility layer to run on Windows, this is a large toolbox several other items on this list are included in this

2. Send To -> Notepad -- open any file in notepad with a quick couple keystrokes

3. bash (Cygwin) -- why use CMD.EXE when bash does so much more? granted, as of Vista, CMD's much nicer, but bash sill beats it IMO

3. Pidgin -- multi-protocol IM client, works with Gtalk, AIM, MSN, even IRC. open-source. loads faster and uses less RAM than 2 or 3 individual programs

4. perl (Cygwin) -- perl... the ultimate (IMO) glue language. you'd probably be surprised at how much you can do with a perl "one-liner"

5. 7zip -- best compression program I've ever found, it can read every archive format I've come across (even ISOs!), and has some nice shell integration (right-click menu options to extract/compress etc.)

6. VirtualClone Drive -- small, effective ISO mounter

7. file (Cygwin) -- uses "Magic Numbers" to determine file type, for when filename extensions fail. it can also usually determine the codec used for a media file

8. MMConvert -- general purpose media converter. with the right codecs installed, it can convert just about any video or audio to another format

9. BitTorrent -- because I'm a shameless pirate

So, what utilities would you be lost without?

Let's leave out firewall/anti-virus software, they're more like a diver's O2 tank than his underwater camera.

[xtank5]

1. Defraggler  -- I prefer it to the built in defragmenter on Vista because it gives me a status report and a status bar so I can roughly tell when it will finish.

2. Notepad++ -- It supports multiple languages and tabs so I like it for making programs with Python.

3. AutoHotkey -- I like it because I use it to control VLC with keystrokes.  I also have used it to make some short but time-saving macros.

4. BitZip -- I prefer it for torrents.  It helped me find and get the DF torrent when it came out in April.

5. Rainmeter -- I love this program.  I used it to replace Windows Sidebar because this was way more customizable and lightweight.  I currently use it to monitor system resources and read my twitter feed.  I made my own theme based off of the Enigma theme.

I used to use AlZip but then I downloaded an update and it turned out that now i was shareware and it kept pestering me about buying the full version.  So then I got 7Zip.
By the way; you have 3 twice.

[Hyperturtle]

Telnet
Putty
In windows a good disk defragmenter
Any method of blocking Flash (I admit that some sites are unusuable without it)
Any method of blocking ads (don't browse without blocking!  I loaded up a few sites with ad blocker turned off and couldn't believe people live that way)
An OS emulator (like the free vmware server)
Autopager in firefox can be nice

Granted I wouldn't be lost without the OS emulator but I would probably just stop using the internet if I had to endure flash and ads all of the time.

[Mishy]

Erm..

I use CCleaner and defraggler.

[Sensei]

NoScript (Firefox plugin)- Can identify which site a script or file comes from and block or allow things from that site. Great for preventing viruses that aren't trojans and you will never see an ad again.

Irfanview- An image browser and editor for all the really weird filetypes. Can convert whatevers into somesuches and make JPGs that don't over-compress.

DXTBMP- Not too flexible, but great for editing game textures. Supports all DDS compression types and converts them, as well as allowing you to easily modify the alpha channel by drawing it and saving it as a BMP.

[Eagleon]

For windows, WinDirStat. Gives you a visual of how your disk space is distributed bwtween folders and individual files in a logical way. I recommend this to anyone who is running low on space, or who just doesn't know where their disk-space has disappeared to. There's at least one linux alternative, Disk Usage Analyzer, but it isn't as pretty IMO.

[Duke 2.0]

 Unlocker allows me to get rid of files that decided they don't want to be deleted.

 YOU BE DELETED.

[Aklyon]

I use Auslogics Disk Defrag, mostly because it still has the neat little animated grid thing that ye olde Windows had. Found out that Defraggler does the same thing better without losing the graphic.

Spoiler: This, If you have no idea what I meant. (click to show/hide)

[Sensei]

Unlocker allows me to get rid of files that decided they don't want to be deleted.

 YOU BE DELETED.

Can't a batch script do as much?

[calrogman]

In no particular order:

Spoiler: Huge list (click to show/hide)

File Utilites

chcon
chgrp
chown
chmow
cp
dd
df
dir
dircolors
install
ln
ls
mkdir
mkfifo
mknod
mktemp
mv
rm
rmdir
shred
sync
touch
truncate
vdir

Text utilities

base64
cat
cksum
comm
csplit
cut
expand
fmt
fold
head
join
md5sum
nl
od
paste
ptx
pr
sha1sum
sha224sum
sha256sum
sha384sum
sha512sum
shuf
sort
split
sum
tac
tail
tr
tsort
unexpand
uniq
wc

Shell utilities

arch
basename
chroot
date
dirname
du
echo
env
expr
factor
false
groups
hostid
id
link
logname
nice
nohup
pathchk
pinky
printenv
printf
pwd
readlink
runcon
seq
sleep
stat
stty
su
tee
test
timeout
true
tty
uname
unlink
uptime
users
who
whoami
yes

Yay for coreutils!

[Nilocy]

CCleaner is handy, get rid of windows/web browser temp files.

First time i used it, cleared up nearly 3GB of temp files. I'm a terrible cleaner.

[Duke 2.0]

Unlocker allows me to get rid of files that decided they don't want to be deleted.

 YOU BE DELETED.

Can't a batch script do as much?

Just right click, select unlocker and it's dead. No need to do that.

[Nolor]

For windows, WinDirStat. Gives you a visual of how your disk space is distributed bwtween folders and individual files in a logical way. I recommend this to anyone who is running low on space, or who just doesn't know where their disk-space has disappeared to. There's at least one linux alternative, Disk Usage Analyzer, but it isn't as pretty IMO.

Quoting this because of how ridiculously useful it is. It makes managing disk space so much easier. It lets you instantly see what's taking up your space and delete it.
The standard Windows file browser is woefully inadequate when dealing with masses of files like this:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Clicking on any of the boxes will bring up specifics (filename, size). Incredibly handy!

[Itnetlolor]

I'd have to say about 3/4 of what has been mentioned for similar reasons.

DaemonTools is what I usually use for mounting ISOs for any reason.

[zchris13]

I usually use a mouse, keyboard and monitor with my computer. *twizzles moustache