Awesome software tools for Windows

Over the years, I've found some totally awesome software tools that are usually quite low profile but really improve productivity. There are a number of sources for discovering these tools - word of mouth, accidentally seeing someone else use it, LifeHacker, etc.
Everytime I switched computers/jobs, I'd end up losing the list. This here is just my effort to keep a reference list that I can use in the future and if anyone else finds it useful, more power to you.
So here we go...

General Tools

• Windows Add/Remove Program alternative: If you find Windows Add/Remove program to slow and cumbersome, try using SafarP (http://wistinga.online.fr/safarp).
• File Sync Utility: Using multiple computers and devices? The biggest headache is keeping tab of changed/new files. New photos, changed password lists, etc. Dropbox (http://www.getdropbox.com) promises to reduce some of these pains. Upto 2GB free data sync and pay-for-use plans for larger quantities of data. Winner of Lifehacker's Sync Utility comparison. Plus they have an iPhone app too.
• Damaged CD Recovery: If you have a scratched/damaged cd with important data, your last resort should be CD Recovery Toolbox (http://www.oemailrecovery.com/cd_recovery.html) - it reads even scratched/damaged CD's.
  
• Screen capture: Windows offers the Print Screen, Ctrl+Print_Screen at best. Install Wisdom Soft's Screen Hunter and you won't remember Print Screen again. Quick to launch and use AND customize. (http://wisdom-soft.com/products/screenhunter.htm)
  
• Delete a locked file: Ever tried deleting a file only to have Windows come back and give you a mysterious (file is locked) message? This usually happens to leftover files when you uninstall, or log files. The only way around is to reboot. Or? Think again - think Unlocker (http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker) the awesome little utility tells you immediately who is locking the file and let's you unlock + delete without having to reboot.
  
• Awesome windows utilities: LifeHacker (www.lifehacker.com) - Utilities for one and all, software and day-to-day life tips to improve productivity, etc. My week is incomplete without visiting LifeHacker at least once a week or more.
• Uninstaller that actually uninstalls: If you are tired of failed software uninstallations, half-baked UnInstallers that leave behind a lot of junk in your windows registry and/or undeletable dll's/directories/etc. Revo Uninstaller (www.revouninstaller.com) is for you. You'll never use the application's uninstaller ever again.
• Keystroke based application launching:
  
  Launchy - Simply the star of the show
  Never used "Start - Programs - ....." again. Simply install Launchy (www.launchy.net). Using a windows shortcut (Ctrl + Space, for ex) opens a little textbox - just type "Excel" or "Firefox" and launch the program. No more fumbling with the mouse.
• Download fast - and how: There are a number of free Download assistants out there - but Orbit Downloader (www.orbitdownloader.com) rules the roost. Easy to use and F*A*S*T !!! Just a note of caution - after installation/upgrade, I usually delete the exe file orbitnet.exe - this makes your machine a P2P client by default.
• Archiving software (Zip/Tar/...): Winzip is nice but if you use 7-Zip (www.7-zip.org), you'll never go back. Free, easy to use windows explorer type user interface (so you actually KNOW where in the zip hierarchy your file is located), in-zip-editing, etc.
• Defragment your drive: Someone who does the job better than your default Windows defragmenter (Surprise??) - Defraggler (www.piriform.com/defraggler)
• Recover deleted files: Deleted a file last week and just realized you need it? Recuva (www.piriform.com/recuva) is for you. Nice, easy and free.
• Spring cleaning Windows: So you delete unused files, defrag your drive and so on. But do you know how much gunk is left behind by all the uninstalled programs, temp files, etc? Could run into a few MB's of valuable disk space. Let CCleaner (http://www.ccleaner.com) show you the way.
• Recover data from damaged CD's: CD Recovery Toolbox (www.oemailrecovery.com/cd_recovery.html) or RoadKil's Unstoppable Copier (http://roadkil.net/program.php/P29/Unstoppable%20Copier) - slow but works.
  

Firefox Plugins and Tools

• Speed up Firefox startup: The usual complaint about Firefox is the slow startup - Firefox Preloader (http://sourceforge.net/projects/ffpreloader) takes care of this by preloading FF into memory - starting up FF after that is simply a piece of cake after that.
• SiteLauncher plugin: Easy to configure and use shortcuts to reach websites that you go to regularly - https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/10127
• Privacy Intact: If you are paranoid about privacy like me (and you should be - why??? Google up "flash cookies" - big brother is watching you !!!) - use BetterPrivacy plugin (https://addons.mozilla.org/addon/6623)
  
• Backup/Sync your bookmarks: With multiple computers/browsers, bookmarks management is now a classic problem - no one solves it like XMarks (http://www.xmarks.com)
• Video downloading: Nice tool to download videos and convert them on the fly - DownloadHelper (https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/3006)
• Hate IE? Don't use it: Use IE-Tab instead (https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/1419) - allows you to view *.asp based pages within FF using the IE rendering engine - you can mark websites so that they will opened by default using the IE rendering engine.
  
• Download - and fast...: Orbit downloader is of course the way to go (read above) - but Orbit Downloader for FF (www.orbitdownloader.com/Download-All-in-FireFox.htm) completes the job.
  

iPhone/iPod Touch apps

• Backup data on your iPhone/iPod Touch: This is the biggest grouse of all iPhone/iPod Touch users - all that flash drive space going waste and the inability to easily backup data using iTunes. Looks like someone has heard your prayers. Check out DiskAid (http://www.digidna.net/diskaid) - free for a month but easily makes your iPhone a sweet backup device. What I use now is iPhoneExplorer (http://www.iphone-explorer.com) - Free and under development - nice, nice tool to use your iPhone/Touch as a backup device.
  

Windows and browser security

• Use Firefox - period !!!!
  
• Privacy Intact: If you are paranoid about privacy like me (and you should be - why??? Google up "flash cookies" - big brother is watching you !!!) - use BetterPrivacy plugin (https://addons.mozilla.org/addon/6623)
• Delete - completely: Everytime you delete a file, even though you've cleared it from the recycle bin - all you've done (most cases) is remove the ui reference to it. The file is still sitting somewhere on your hard-drive - this is the logic used by data-recovery software. However, sometimes you want to delete a file - kaboom!!! Blast it to teeny-toony bits so no data-recovery - NOTHING - can retrieve it. Eraser (http://eraser.heidi.ie) will help you cleanly erase files completely, thoroughly.
• Ghostery - block peeping toms: Everytime you even read a news website, someone is tracking you. Inspite of your efforts to block out popup windows and restrict cookies, there are arcane javascripts running in the background picking up stats about you and sending them surreptitiously to their masters. Use Ghostery (http://www.ghostery.com) to check who is spying on your browsing habits and stop them in their tracks.
• No Scripts: Well - the name says it all. NoScript (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/722) is a powerful Firefox Plugin that just stops all unnecessary javascript in its track. It is intelligent enough to let javascript required on common sites like GMail, Yahoo, FB, etc do their job but stops others. Awesome !!!