100 Essential Downloads for Windows: Page 10

System Utilities 80. The Ultimate Troubleshooter

Is your system running slow? Or do you have a PC problem you just can't solve? The Ultimate Troubleshooter diagnoses problems and suggests solutions in plain English that anyone can understand. Price: $29.95 (free demo version).

81. CCleaner

CCleaner (short for "Crap Cleaner") deletes unused files from your hard drive to free up disk space and improve performance. It also deletes the history file from your browser to erase traces of your online activity. Price: Free.

82. Ashampoo WinOptimizer

In a nutshell, WinOptimizer "keeps your Windows installation free of unnecessary garbage and running smoothly while other computers just get slower and slower." The full suite of tools works with Vista, as well as older versions of Windows. Price: $49.99 (40-day free trial).

83. Stardock WindowBlinds

Getting bored with the way your desktop looks? WindowBlinds lets you customize the look and feel of the Windows GUI. It includes lots of pre-set themes, and it's compatible with Vista. Price: Free for basic edition; $19.95 for enhanced version.

84. Magellan Explorer

This file manager replaces the standard Windows Explorer, and adds an ftp client, an archive manager, and a file viewer. It also lets you rename and manipulate groups of files at once, and its search capabilities are much better than Windows Explorer. Price: $39.95 (30-day free trial).

85. PowerDesk

PowerDesk includes a great file manager, plus an ftp client, sync manager, size manager, dialog helper, archive manager, and file finder. It lets you organize all of your files with just a few clicks. Price: $39.95.

Text Editors 86. TextPad

TextPad not only replaces Notepad, it also includes a number of features that make it ideal for programming. It's compatible with all versions of Windows, including Vista. Price: $32 (free trial version).

87. UltraEdit

UltraEdit is the best-selling text editor in the world. Very similar to TextPad, it contains a set of features that make it easier to edit HEX, HTML, PHP, Java, Javascript, Perl, and other programming languages. Price: $49.95 (30–45 day free trial).

88. NoteTab Pro

One of the first Notepad replacements ever created, NoteTab Pro comes in three flavors depending on your needs. The "lite" version is freeware; "standard" version (with thesaurus, spellchecker, and text outline editing) and "professional" version (with advanced features for programmers and html authors) are available for a fee. Price: Free ( $19.95+ for advanced versions).