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Name	Description	Comments

7-zip	Can extract from a wide range of archive files as well as several installers. Can build zip, gzip, tar, files plus “7z” files that can be AES encrypted.	Unlike some other compression tools, doesn’t whine about registering or handing over cash. The author does accept donations, however.
Clonezilla	Copy a whole disk or partition to an archive or a similar size disk. Makes it easy to build a duplicate workstation or rebuild one after a crash. (bootable CD)	This is one of the more mature (and free) disk-imaging tools. The Server Edition (also free) can even multicast disk images to workstations bootable with PXE/Wake-on-LAN.
DirSync Pro	Supports both two-way syncing and one-way backups. Only copies new or updated files in the specified direction. Can also keep backup copies of any files deleted during a sync.	Although it does require Java Runtime, it does not need to be installed - just run the executable. Since it is file-system agnostic, unfortunately VSS is not supported.
SpiderOak	Unlike many competitors, their cloud storage security is a "no-knowledge" scheme that prevents them from seeing your encryption keys. Their backup/sync software and a team collaboration tool called "Semaphor" both use this scheme.	Since they no longer have a "2GB free" plan I am looking at some newer alternatives like IDrive. However, a "basic" version of Semaphor (with limited retention) is free.
CryptSync	CryptSync is a simple encryption tool that synchronizes the content of any clear-text folder with an equivalent encrypted folder. This lets you safely use DropBox, OneDrive, GoogleDrive, etc. with truly private encryption. All files in the encrypted folders are saved as AES encrypted 7zip archives.	While the original product I used for secure cloud storage (Viivo) has been discontinued, I found that this is actually a better and more reliable tool. Apart from being free and open-source, CryptSync also allows file and folder name encryption. Even more importantly, unlike Viivo, it won't crash the windows shutdown process.

Name	Description	Comments

VLC Player	Plays pretty much any audio or video file you care to throw at it. Includes a CSS descrambler for playing DVDs.	Although it’s VERY good, it’s not perfect - some things still play better in Windows Media Player.
MPC - HC	"Media Player Classic - Home Cinema" is intended to feel like Windows Media Player 6.4 (from Windows 2000), but includes modern features and codecs.	While less format-compatible than VLC, sometimes it runs better on slow platforms. It also works with some formats that VLC doesn't.
Audacity	A full-feature wave form editor and sound production facility. Also good for simply recording from any audio input.	Unless you’re a professional sound engineer, this should cover all your sound editing needs. Due to licensing issues some codecs may need to be downloaded separately.
CDex	A simple, well designed “CD Extractor” for ripping CDs to MP3 and various other portable formats.	Although nobody buys CD's anymore, this can turn an old CD collection into a great bunch of MP3's. Includes “paranoia” modes to minimize data errors from old/worn/scratched CDs.
ImgBurn	Reads/Writes CDs, DVDs, BluRays, and ISO/UDF image files. Can rip encrypted commercial DVDs if “DVD43” driver is loaded (for legal use only, of course)	While a very capable tool, usage is not always obvious: e.g. to make an audio CD you select “Tools - Create CUE file” from the main menu. The last version was released in 2013 - so OS compatibility may become an issue.
HandBrake	This video transcoder coverts from typical optical input formats to a range of file-based audio/video formats. Similar to ImgBurn, it relies on the "libdvdcss" library (included with VLC) to deal with DVD copy protection.	While it can handle BluRay disks and images, you would need a simple tool like Free Blu-ray Decrypter or full featured commercial app like AnyDVD HD to circumvent copy protection (again, for legal use only).
DVD Flick	Very simple DVD authoring tool that transcodes a wide variety of multimedia files to DVD VOBs.	Actually uses an internal copy of ImgBurn to write the DVD image to a disc. Does not appear to support Blu-Ray authoring yet.

Name	Description	Comments

GIMP	High-end photo editing and drawing package that has often been compared to Photoshop. It usually wins on price, but the Adobe product still has some exclusive features.	If you're familiar with Photoshop but want to save on monthly fees, a fork that emulates its interface is available here: GIMPshop
Dia	Diagraming tool for flowcharts, network schematics, UML diagrams, and data modeling. Includes LOTS of pre-made objects. Can read and write Visio VDX files and exports to other formats like EPS, SVG, DXF, and WMF.	Similar to Visio, but with a more user-friendly interface. In spite of being a “sub 1.0” product (and a semi-inactive project), it is pretty stable at version 0.97. Lack of development may be due to LibreOffice's "Draw" being pretty good too.
Blender	3D modeling package that includes many professional rendering and animation features. Every function has a keyboard shortcut that makes Blender (eventually) easy to use.	Not exactly easy to learn, but there’s plenty of training material available on-line. Several impressive videos made with Blender are also available. Download a full-length movie here.
Hugin	A “digital stitcher” that lets you join multiple photographs into larger panoramas or posters. Actually a very nice front end for a set of command-line tools.	Simple if you use the defaults, really complicated if you don’t. Although highly capable, it’s one of very few free stitching utilities available.
IrfanView	Can view pretty much any graphic format and even a few video formats. It also includes a bunch of editing options like color effects, cropping, resizing, negative, etc.	Only free for non-commercial use, but it's too universally useful to ignore - and it's probably worth at least the $12 asking price.
MicroDicom	When you get an X-ray or MRI disk from a radiologist they usually include an image viewer that won't work if you copy the disk. This is an alternate viewer that lets you view as many copies as you care to make.	As of 2017, there will be a fee for commercial use. However, that doesn't affect the rest of us - and frankly, this indicates how good it is (that doctors and radiologists are interested in licensing it).

Name	Description	Comments

VeraCrypt	This succesor to the well-regarded TrueCrypt creates virtual disk drives in encrypted “container” files. Can also encrypt whole disks and partitions - including some boot drives.	Unless you do something stupid, even three-letter government agencies shouldn’t be able get your data. Security is even better after updates following code audits of both TrueCrypt and VeraCrypt.
Password Safe	Lets you remember just one (strong) password for the safe and then store your other passwords inside. The encrypted file can then be backed up and copied anywhere.	Much better than writing passwords on a post-it stuck to your monitor. There are many password "lockers" like it, but this was one of the first - originally written by Bruce Schneier back in 1999.
DBAN	Permanently nuke the contents of a hard drive by overwriting it multiple times with random data. (bootable CD).	Unless you used whole-disk encryption or physically destroy the drive, the next owner could be looking at your personal stuff. While disk sector remapping and SSD wear leveling can make this less than perfect, it is certainly better than nothing.
Comodo	Comodo Internet Security is a firewall and real-time malware detection combo. The anti-virus component is optional - but obviously recommended.	While the firewall is very good, its security warnings are a bit intrusive unless you adjust its sensitivity. BTW, Comodo also offers a variety of other free (and non-free) security tools here.
ClamWin	This ClamAV-based tool complements your existing real-time malware detection tools with scheduled virus-scans.	Definitely not a "first line defense" but it never hurts to have a second opinion. If you want three, four, or more opinions submit your file to over 50 different scanners at Virus Total.
Kaspersky Rescue	In case malware has gotten to your operating system, this can scan and clean your system without booting the potentially infected OS. (bootable CD).	If you don't like Kaspersky, there are links to other rescue disks here.

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