Basic Kit

1. xplorer² lite - free windows explorer replacement.
2. TreePad - Store and Organize Text Snippets.
   
3. NetMeter - Graphs Upload Download, Tweakable.
   
4. FreeMeter - HDD, Ram, Page, CPU. Graph, Tray.
   
5. tinySpell - Check and correct the spelling.
   
6. Keynote - Tabbed notebook with RichText editor.
   
7. 7-Zip - Zip Archives. Context, Shell, 7z, ZIP, GZIP.
8. IrfanView - Default Image Handler for All types.
   
9. JetAudio - Music, Video, mp3, Real Media, CD, DVD.
10. Foxit PDF Reader - Browser Integration, Light.
11. PhotoFiltre - Edit and Create Images Drawings.
12. WordWeb - Free English thesaurus and dictionary

Set file associations, context menu, shell integration in the options of each program or during install. Make these the default type handlers.

I use the Firefox and Chrome Browsers. There are others too. Some (euro zone) like Opera a lot. Some remain with IE.

Portable Apps

PortableApps.com Suite and Platform

The entire suite is good, all the apps. The advantage is you keep all these stuff in D: drive or external HDD. The OS or PC crashes ! You just move to another system. No migrating system or data. It is in a ever migrated state in a Portable Disk.

Communication

I use the Google Toolbar and also Google talk. Use your choice of Toolbar or Chat Client. yahoo, msn, aol, etc.

Security

• Microsoft Security Essentials
• AVG Free Antivirus and Protection
• avast - antivirus with anti-spyware protection

One of these will do and a firewall if you please.

Zone Alarm or use the built in Windows Firewall after sp2-sp3 xp, Check "Don't allow exceptions". I would also un-check the "Allow Remote Assistance" and disable hibernation in Control Panel. See System and Power icons.

Some of these Security programs and even Multimedia Tools like iTunes and TV/DVD Tools. Take a lot of memory/cpu. Some of them have services running, that makes them use resources even when not running. Uninstall what you do not need. Monitor services and task manager.

Office or SOHO Kit

1. OpenOffice -
   
2. Thunderbird -
3. ProgramLaunch - Organize in Tabs Desk Icons.
4. Stickies - Post Desktop Memos and Images.
5. Touch-It - Virtual Keyboard, OnScreen keyboard.
   

Advanced or Coder Kit

1. NotePad++ -
   
2. WinMerge - 
   
3. ReplaceEM -
   
4. SeaMonkey -
   
5. FileZilla -
   
6.  
   
7.  
   

Note -

Some of these Tools have become an inevitable part of my life and are Excellent. I am also adding new Tools, that i currently find very useful.

Only after a few months, i can establish its stability and quality. So this page will be updated always. Will have a maximum of 100 Tools. The Top Ones Being the Bear Essentials. As you go lower the page it will address the needs of Specialists.

They will be only Freeware and Open-Source here. Some are meant only for Personal Non-Profit use. So if you are a Big Company Looking for Cheap solutions, please pay up or even donate to keep the eco-system up and running.