donald's favorites (332)

CrystalDiskInfo monitors disk health status and temperature, monitoring/graphing of S.M.A.R.T. diagnostic information. The program also tells you how many times the hard disk has been turned on and how many hours.

Functional with magnetic and solid state disks.

Firefox Browser is a fast, powerful and secure web browser that supports open standards and many of the latest web technologies. The program includes smart search, bookmark management, web development tools and built-in download manager. Smart content blocking for ads and trackers is available in both standard and private browsing modes.

Versions available for Mac, Android, iOS and Linux with synchronisation of passwords and browser state across devices. Additional features and customisations are available via the add-on system, which allows for thousands of specialized functions.

Mozilla Firefox, Portable Edition is a special build licensed by Mozilla and includes both the 32-bit and 64-bit builds and selects the appropriate one for each PC. Beta, Developer, Extended Release, and Win 7/8/8.1 and XP/Vista versions are also available.

FocusWriter is a full-screen word processor that aims for a distraction-free, immersive way to write and edit. The minimalist interface puts options and tools on the edge of the screen and auto-saves progress. Upon relaunch, the program reloads your last file to make make it easy to jump back into your work.

Alternatively, FocusWriter Portable is stealth and automatically adjusts paths.

calibre is a feature-rich e-book library management application with a variety of useful functions including viewer, addendums, editor, online book and news search/download. The software can perform detailed searches, convert e-books to device-specific formats, batch metadata tools, and a content server for online access to your collection.

The program syncs automatically with many different physical devices. It supports a variety of ebook and document formats.

Cross-platform with clients available for Mac and Linux. Alternatively, Calibre Portable and an outdated X-calibre, as well as a WinXP-compatible version are also available.

ProcessKO is a small useful tool designed to quickly kill any running or hanging process / program.

DesktopOK contains a host of beneficial Windows interface tweaks. The program can save the current icon view by resolution and make it easy to swap between views, showing all saved view formats in a list. Other tools include basic screenshots, the ability to force-close programs, color tool, volume and more:

• Interface tools include reducing clutter with a minimize-to-tray by right clicking on a window close button, mouse hiding and ability to hide desktop icons after a period of inactivity (click on the desktop to make them re-appear). You can even modify default icon spacing.
  
  
• Window management tools include scrolling any window that your mouse hovers over (not just what's in focus) and alt+drag (for moving windows without having to hold your cursor over the top bar).

NewFileTime is a small but effective tool that provides you easy access to correct or manipulate any of the timestamps for any file and folder.

This is useful for other tools that rely upon timestamps (archiving and automation programs) or removing indicators that a file was modified recently (for security).

Audacity is a multi-track sound recorder and editor with support for most audio formats and sophisticated effects such as noise removal and studio reverb. Users can record live audio, compress or convert file types, as well as cut, copy, splice or mix sounds together.

Cross platform with clients available for Mac and Linux.

Alternatively, Audacity Portable and an outdated X-Audacity are also available.

NOTE: Recent press about CCleaner indicates it may represent a privacy concern.

CCleaner is a feature-rich system optimization and privacy tool. The program cleans unused, temporary and log files from your system, as well as traces of online activities such as Internet history and flash cookies. The program contains startup controls for Windows, major internet browsers and context menu entries. Includes a separate registry cleaner, duplicate search, system restore tool and can wipe both deleted files and drive free space for security.

A 64-bit version is available (within the folder). Monitoring functions are only available in the pro version.

Additional cleaner rules can be using an unofficial set of community-developed set. It should be noted that many of these rules are alpha and the developers will not provide support for these rules, a thread in the users forum is dedicated to supporting the add-on rules.

Alternatively, ccPortable is also available.