Software

Microsoft Utilities

ExMerge 5.5 (from Microsoft)
This older version is difficult to find and is valuable for those instances you run into where the new versions do not work for some reason.
MSConfig 2.0 (from Microsoft)
This is the updated version of the built-in msconfig utility.
WSUS Client Diagnostic Tool (from Microsoft)
This is valuable in troubleshooting why WSUS clients are not updating their status to the server or pulling updates.
Cluster Diagnostics (from Microsoft)
Useful for running on newly created, and existing Microsoft Clusters to determine in the configuration is stable.
AD Modify.NET 2.1 (from GotDotNet / Microsoft)
You can use this to bulk edit attributes in the Active Directory. This version requires the .NET Framework. This is a must have Windows Administrator tool.
AD Modify 1.5 (from GotDotNet / Microsoft)
The older non-.NET version AD Modify.NET 2.1. This version has does not require the .NET framework, but is more limited in what it can bulk edit in AD.
UPH Clean 1.6d (from Microsoft)
User Profile Hive Cleanup service ensures user terminal service sessions are completely terminated when a user logs off the server.
Remote Control AD (from Microsoft)
This add-in to the Active Directory Users and Computers MMC, allows you to launch an RDP session to a machine by a right-click on the computer object in AD.
Office Communicator ADM (from Microsoft)
This is the ADM file for Office Communicator to use with the Active Directory Policy Editor. This file is packaged as part of the Office Communicator client download. It typically cannot be downloaded separately, but I included it here for convienence.
Terminal Services License Server Viewer (LSView.exe) (from Microsoft)
Account Lockout Status (LockoutStatus.exe) (from Microsoft)
Account Lockout and Management Tools (from Microsoft)
User Profile Deletion Utility (Delprof.exe) (from Microsoft)
TS Client License Remove
A batch file and registry file that removes the MSLicensing key to clear the TS CAL from a client. This is handy when a client is being removed from the network, or is no longer going to be used to access Terminal Service.
Microsoft Software Trips & Tricks Guides
Windows Group Policy Settings Reference (XLS)
Free Microsoft Security Tools

Installation Utilities

Clonezilla (OpenSource)
A hard disk cloning utility which support multicast and unicast deployment of PC’s.
Install Watch Pro 2.5 (Freeware from Epsilon Squared)
Takes a snap-shot of you server before and after an application install and provides a detailed report on all system modifications from the installation. Very valuable, especially when testing application on Terminal Server.
Install Rite Pro 2.5 (Freeware from Epsilon Squared)
Works with Install Watch Pro and installs software to client machines based upon the snap-shot information taken on the master machine.
NewSid (from SysInternals)
Generates a new SID on Windows machines. Simple to use and needed for Windows deployed using disk cloning or imaging technologies. By using this utility, you understand that Microsoft will NOT support any machines that has had its SID changed using this method. This is best for lab environments. No not run on production machines.
RichProfile (see the readme.txt for licensing info)
Assists with the automatic Outlook Profile creation. Included with this zip package is the utility, the readme, and a VBScript that can be modified and used as a login script that run RichProfile at login.
Beyond Compare – Shareware (from Scooter Software)
Allows file copies between systems and then compares any changes made to the source and the destination. While I typically do not list shareware on this page, Beyond Compare really handy tool for data migrations. Using this tool you can perform a “pre-live migration” copy of all the source files to the destination, reset the security permissions and file shares on the target machine. During the live migration you can then compare the source and destination files and copy the smaller subset of modified or added files to the target potentially saving hours of time.
EasyBCD – Freeware (from NeoSmart)
A GUI which simplifies configuring Windows boot entries for dual or multi-boot configurations. You can also boot Windows/Linux/Mac systems using this boot loader.

Miscellaneous Utilities

TSCMD (from SystemTools Software)
A command-line utility to set terminal server user settings. All eighteen (18) terminal server settings can be set.
ChangeRes
Easily change your screen resolution from the command line.
WinInfo
Provides basic information about the Windows install on the local or remote computer.
Belarc Advisor Free Personal PC Audit 7.0t (from Belarc Software)
Provides detailed hardware and software information about the local Windows computer.
Uptime
Command line displays how long since the machine was last rebooted.
VNC Viewer 4.1.1
It is what it says.
SNARE Mirco Server
Provides central collection for log file sources and has agents for monitoring Windows, Solaris, AIX, Irix, ISA Server, IIS Server, Lotus Notes, and any other device that can send data to a syslog server.

Free Applications

PowerToys for OneNote 2007
Extends the capabilities and integration of OneNote 2007.
Free PDF Previewer for Office 2007 / Vista (from Tim Heuer and Foxit Software)
Quickly preview PDF documents in Outlook 2007, the same way you can Word, Excel, PowerPoint. Using Adobe Reader alone does not give you this ability.
Best CD/DVD Burning Freeware
This blog post examines several free alternatives to Nero Burning ROM.
FileZilla FTP Client (a Sourceforge project)
This is my favorite free FTP client I have found. I’ve evaluated at least 30 FTP free/shareware clients and recommend FileZilla by far.
FreeMind (from SourceForge)
Free mind mapping software similar to Mindjet’s MindMap. If you don’t know what mind mapping is, check out the SourceForge. See the FreeMind project page.
SSL Explorer (from 3SP)
A free SSL Based VPN solution that is extremely simple to setup using the provided quick-start guide. I have installed and had this VPN solution up and running in less than 30 minutes.
Microsoft Security Essentials.
Free anti-malware (Anti-virus, Anti-spyware) software designed for Windows PC’s. This software for home users, even though a small business might also use this free software.
AVG Free (Grisoft)
Free for non-commercial use. This highly rated Anti-virus software package provides automatic web updates and real-time AV protection. “AVG Anti-spyware Free” software is free for non-commercial use. This is one of the most powerful Anti-spyware scanners I have used, and has daily downloadable updates.
OpenFiler
Storage Management Operating System which allows you to build a NAS and/or SAN appliance, using standard hardware in less than 10 minutes. OpenFiler combines Open Source applications such as Apache, Samba, LVM2, ext3, Linux NFS and iSCSI Enterprise Target into a small, easy to manage solution fronted by a powerful web-based management interface.
FreeNAS
Free NAS software supporting CIFS (samba), FTP, NFS, RSYNC protocols, local user authentication, software RAID (0,1,5) with a Full WEB configuration interface. FreeNAS takes less than 32MB once installed.
iSCSI Enterprise Target (Freeware)
The aim of the project is to develop an open source iSCSI target with professional features, works well in enterprise environment under real workload, and is scalable and versatile enough to meet the challenge of future storage needs and developements.
TrueCrypt 6.2 (Freeware)
Provides logical file container and physical volume encryption for Windows XP/Vista and Mac OS X. You can also encrypt USB drives completely or a file container.
NetWrix Disk Space Monitor (Free Edition)
Monitor servers for the percentage of free disk space they have and receive reports on a schedule. The software will send you an E-mail when a server is running low on disk space.

Free Media Production Software

Audacity
The BEST Free Audio Recording Software I could find… and I tried a lot!
CamStudio
The BEST Free Screen Recording Software I could find. Save to AVI or Adobe Flash files. Records Audio too. No Editing Capabilities though.
Windows Live Movie Maker
Create movies for your PC, Internet, or put them on DVD. Edit existing video footage, put together a photo slideshow to music, or whatever else you can think of.

Free Software Download Sites