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First there was PFE.In Windows 3.1 the primitive Windows Notepad text editor was not up to the job of programming, editing large configuration files, etc, and so it was a great step forward to find Programmer's File Editor on a cover diskette that came free with the late Windows User magazine. (There were no downloads then - it was before the internet.) PFE had line numbering and could edit large files; it remained the primary text editor until the switch to Notepad++ in 2007. There did not seem to be much need for any other tools in those days.
Now there are many.In more recent times, the number, sophistication and robustness of free programs available to download has escalated, thanks in most part to the Open Source philosophy. A list of the various free utilities in use on my Windows XP SP3 PC was promised to a friend some time ago; here it is at last:
| Program | Replaces | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Notepad++ | Windows Notepad | Line numbering, tabs, syntax highlighting, etc. |
| xplorer2 | Windows Explorer | Dual panes (like File Manager in Windows 3.1) & tabs |
| Search Everything | Windows Search Companion | Instant filename search for local NTFS volumes; difficult to appreciate its value until you try it |
| Agent Ransack | Windows Search Companion | Weirdly named utility to search the content of files; unlike Windows Explorer Search, the filename extension does not matter, e.g. find HTML file with the search string within a tag |
| Pure Text | - | Windows+V pastes just the plain text, omitting the formatting that Ctrl+V includes |
| PDF Creator | - | Print to a PDF file |
| Foxit Reader | Adobe Reader | Smaller, faster, fewer security update hassles |
| HashTab | - | Show CRC-32, MD5, RipeMD, SHA-1 etc. hashes on a tab in the File Properties shell extension |
| SysInternals Suite | Various | Process Explorer, Autoruns, PageDefrag, RootkitRevealer, etc. |
| PowerToys for Windows XP | - | Alt-Tab Task Switcher, Open Command Window Here, TweakUI, etc. |
| Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel | - | Mount an ISO image file as a virtual disc drive |
| CDBurnerXP | Nero | What joy no longer having the hassle of disabling Nero Scout and uninstalling all the useless add-ons |
| FileBox eXtender | - | Go straight to recent folder in file open dialog box |
| MyDefrag | NT Defrag | Awful name; good utility |
| Bulk Rename Utility | - | Prefix a set of filenames with a sequence number, etc. |
| Foxe | - | XML editor |
| Frhed | - | Binary file editor |
| 7-Zip | WinZip | No longer any point in paying (or suffering the nag screen) |
| CyberKit | - | Collection of network tools: Ping, TraceRoute, WhoIs, NSLookUp, etc. |
| FileZilla FTP Client | FTP Voyager | No longer any point in paying for an FTP client |
| Gadwin PrintScreen | PrintScreen | Select screen area to capture; automatically save to .jpg file |
| Secunia PSI | - | Check for security updates/patches (not just M$) |
| Firefox | Internet Explorer | Essential rather than optional now that M$ has decreed that IE9 will not be available on Windows XP. With MozBackup and various add-ons: British English Dictionary, Download Manager Tweak, Firebug, Flashblock, IE Tab V2, NoScript, Tab Mix Plus, Web Developer & Web of Trust. |