Tips and Tricks for:  Windows

The Problem:   What utilities should be on every computer?

Solution: Here's my top 10 list with links to where you can get them.

Microsoft Makes these tools available:

Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer - This may be replaced with XP SP2 comes out but for now it's important to run this every once in a while.  Get it from www.Microsoft.com/security.

Remote Desktop Connection (The version from Windows XP) - Even if you're not running Windows XP, the version of Remote Desktop from the XP CD can be run on earlier versions of windows.  It's a big improvement over "Terminal Services"

Steve Gibson of Spinrite fame creates some great utilities:

Shoot The Messenger

Turn off the messenger service that so many advertisers use to pop up messages.

DComBobulator

Turns off DCOM, which shouldn't be running if you're not using it.  This increases the security of your machine.

SysInternals puts out a great group of Windows Diagnostic tools.

Many have source code included.  Among them are:

FileMon

Monitor all file activity

RegMon

Monitor all registry activity

Process Explorer

Watch your processes and find out which files they have open.

PC Magazine has a utility in every issue. 

They use to all be free but now require an annual subscription to download.

NetPerSec

Let's you see your aggregate network activity.  I use it often.

Others:

Acrobat Reader

A must for reading PDF files.

TreeSize

This is a directory size and space management tool.  I use the freeware version.  I'm not sure it's distributed anymore.