Have you ever downloaded and installed a new Windows utility and wondered why Windows didn’t have its features inbuilt? I have. Over the last few years, I’ve tried hundreds of apps that have solved common inadequacies in Windows.

This is a list of 37 handpicked Windows utilities that I think will help us in fixing the missing pieces in Windows. Give them a try â€“ these utilities will beat those common Windows annoyances. Good luck. Before reading this post, make sure that you also check out our post on lifesaver windows utilities as well.

If you think an app deserves to be in this list, please use the comments section to voice your opinion. I’ll be glad add more to this list.



Essential Windows Utilities

Without further ado, here goes a list of the most useful windows utilities I’ve ever used and wished that Windows came preinstalled with them.

Teracopy â€“ Speeds up Windows file copying. You know how slow it is in Windows Vista

Flash Drive Reminder â€“ Reminds you to remove your USB drive when you exit Windows

Unlocker â€“ Deletes files even if they’re being used by other Windows Processes

Taskbar Shuffle â€“ Rearrange minimized Window Buttons in the Taskbar

Clickie Path Name Copier â€“ Right click to copy a file’s path name to the clipboard. Also opens command prompt in the selected directory

TrayIt â€“ Minimize windows to the System Tray instead of the taskbar

Stalled Printer Jobs â€“ Remove print jobs that are stuck. Ever hit the delete print job button and seen the printer job vanishing instantly?

Folder Size â€“ Makes Windows Explorer to show the size of folders in â€˜Details’ view

QTTab Bar â€“ Adds tabs to Windows Explorer

Drive Icon â€“ Shows a bar that indicates disk usage near the drive icon in XP’s My Computer window, just like you have in Vista

Defraggler â€“ Speeds up Windows Defragmentation

Image Resizer â€“ Adds quick resizing options to Windows Vista’s Explorer right click menu

WinDirStat â€“ Visualizes hard disk usage. Know what folders are occuping big chunks of space

FileHippo Update Checker â€“ There’s no central update system in Windows to update all installed software. Use this utility instead

Mmm Free â€“ Delete and edit right click options. Get the junk out

AlwaysOnTop â€“ Keeps windows on top of everything else

DeskDrive â€“ Insert a removable drive and its icon appears in the desktop. You needn’t necessarily go to My Computer to view its files

Window Sizer â€“ Use hotkey combos to quickly resize any window to predefined dimensions

WinRoll â€“ Double click on a window to show only its title bar and hide everything else

ThumbScrew â€“ Write protect USB Flash Drives so that it doesn’t get infected

FileMenu Tools â€“ Adds a load of customizable options to the Explorer right click menu

TaskSwitchXP â€“ Adds Window Thumbnails to the Alt Tab overlay window in XP

Startup Monitor â€“ When a program adds itself to the startup list, this utility asks for your approval

Ant Renamer – Renames files in a batch. Have a look at the screenshot to know about how powerful it is.

Desktop List View â€“ Enables Explorer only list view on your Desktop

Hot Corners â€“ Assign a task to every corner of your desktop, like in Mac’s Expose

Startup Delayer â€“ Load startup programs sequentially, not immediately after Windows boots

AMP WinOFF â€“ Auto Shutdown Windows. Dozens of fully configurable options

fsLock â€“ Lock down files and prevent renaming, moving or deletion

Jing â€“ Capture and upload screenshots online

Everything â€“ Searches files as you type them. Supports Boolean operators and is better than the default Windows search feature

NoClose â€“ Disables the close button in Windows so that you won’t end up closing windows accidentally

BatteryBar â€“ Detailed battery life meter. Gives the accurate time remaining. Much better than the default battery level indicator

BitMeter â€“ Bandwidth Monitor to track bandwidth usage

USBDeview â€“ If you have multiple devices and drives attached to your USB Port, this utility gives a neat interface to manage them all

Shutdown Guard â€“ Prevents apps from automatically shutting down your computer without your approval

Dexpot â€“ Feature rich multiple virtual desktops manager

What are your favourite Windows Utilities?

That’s about it. Got anything to add? Please tell us about how any lifesaver utilities in the comments. Also don’t forget to bookmark this post by using the ShareThis button below.