This freeware text editor can replace notepad and add many useful features.

Totally recommended.

Features:

• Syntax highlighting: HTML, XML, PHP, ASP (JS, VBS), CSS,
  JavaScript, VBScript, C/C++, C#, Resource Script, Makefiles, Java,
  Visual Basic, Pascal, Assembly, SQL, Perl, Python, Configuration
• Files, Apache Config Files, Batch Files, Diff Files
• Drag & drop text editing inside and outside Notepad2
• Basic regular expression search and replace
• Useful word, line and block editing shortcuts
• Rectangular selection (Alt+Mouse)
• Brace matching, auto indent, long line marker, zoom functions
• Support for Unicode, UTF-8, Unix and Mac text files
• Open shell links
• Mostly adjustable

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DriveImage XML is an easy to use and small freeware application for backing backing up partitions and logical drives.

Features:

• Backup logical drives and partitions to image files
• Browse these images, view and extract files
• Restore these images to the same or a different drive
• Copy directly from drive to drive
• Schedule automatic backups with Windows Task Scheduler

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Orbit Downloader is maybe the best freeware download manager.

It has resume support, can download multiple files at a time, supports HTTP, FTP and other protocols.

You can use it with any web browser.

Orbit Downloader 2.7.8 latest changes:

• Add: Orbit Downloader 2 Years commemorative edition toolbar icon
• Improve: detect file format more correctly in Grab++ and Grab Pro

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Defraggler is a freeware defragmentation program.

You can defragment individual files as well as entire hard drives.

Defraggler 1.04.098 latest changes:

• Multi-language release (16 new languages!).
• Improved handling of daily schedules.
• Fixed bug that could file defrag to be very slow.
• Improved logging of analysis methods.
• Loads of performance improvements.
• Loads of bug fixes.

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CCleaner is a great cleaning utility.

With it you can delete cookies, temp files and more. It has a registry cleaner, startup manager and can uninstall applications as well.

CCleaner 2.13.720 latest changes:

• Added support for Firefox 3.1.
• Added right-click cleaning and analysis for individual items in the tree.
• Added icons to tree parent items.
• Added cleaning for Windows Error Reporting files.
• Added Include/Exclude list editing.
• Improved TypeLib registry cleaning.
• Fixed Index.dat bug that could cause a crash.
• Fixed bug with INI warning messages.
• Internal architecture improvements.
• Fixed minor GUI errors.

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BurnAware is a good burning application that supports almost all the features of major burning programs. BurnAware is one of the best freeware out there.

Changes in BurnAware Free Edition 2.1.5:

• New trial period is available (Home and Pro editions).
• Added tray icon.
• Added “Remember options” option to save preferred options and use it as default for all data compilations.
• Added confirmation message on cancel of burning process.
• Slightly optimized burning process.
• Fixed minor bug with boot DVD file system.
• Fixed “access violation in riched20.dll” error while burning Audio CD.

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Notepad++ is an open source text editor that has many useful features, like syntax highlighting, code folding, autocompletion and macro recording.

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SMPlayer is an open source, multi-platform video/audio player, focusing in video features.

It uses the well-known (at least in the open source field) command-line player MPlayer. This means SMPlayer doesn’t need external codecs in order to play the files. This is great because it saves you time and troubles when playing less-known formats.

Note: If you are using Windows Vista, the default settings of SMPlayer will disable Aero temporarily while playing files.

For it to work well with Aero, go to Options - Preferences. In the General tab, select gl or gl2 in the Output Drivers: Video drop down list. Aero won’t be disabled anymore.

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