Ultimate List of Free Windows Vista Software & Resources from Microsoft

 

WINDOWS VISTA GOODIES

Experience Pack 

 

• Equation Writer – handwritten mathematical equations convert into a typewritten image
• Media Transfer copy/stream media from a computer to a Tablet PC
• Ink Crossword solve 12 puzzles (& download more)
• Ink Flash Cards helps learning facts or study for an exam

Feeds Plus read RSS feeds in a combined view with notifications for new items. (Support: MSDN)

 

Ink Desktop a dry-erase board to jot down phone #, directions, or top daily prioritiesy

 

Origami Experience Pack for UMPCs
 

• Origami Experience:  Access all media & favorite programs
• Touch Settings: Config touch screen
• Sudoku: Popular number game

StickySorter is for brainstorming, planning, and affinity diagramming

 

Virtual Earth 3D search, browse, & organize local information viewed in 3D

 

Windows Vista Ultimate Helpful Hints: Guide to mastering the Ultimate operating system

 

XML Notepad 2007 browse & edit XML documents. (Support: DOC) 

XML Paper Specification Essentials Pack view, generate & index XPS Docs

 

UTILITIES

AccessChk provides what kind of accesses specific users or groups have to resources including files, directories, Registry keys, & Windows services

 

Active Directory Topology Diagrammer reads AD configurations using ActiveX Data Objects (ADO), and automatically generates a Visio diagram of your Active Directory and /or Exchange 200x Server topology

Administrative (Group Policy) Templates (.admx) manages registry-based policy settings in the (gpedit.msc) user interface

 

AeroNotes is a full featured notepad alternative using the Aero Glass technology

 

Application Compatibility Toolkit contains tools & docs to evaluate and mitigate application compatibility issues before deploying Windows Vista, Windows Update, or a new version of Internet Explorer in your environment.

 

App-V USB Tool is an add-on to the App-V 4.5 Client. It makes it possible to automatically, or by request, import and register App-V enabled (sequenced) applications into the App-V Client from any USB storage device. (Support TechNet)

 

AUReset tool contains scripts to fix most Automatic Updates & Windows Update problems.

 

AutoRuns shows what programs are configured to run during system bootup or login, and shows the order Windows processes them.

 

Baseline Security Analyzer graphical & command line interface performs local or remote scans for common security misconfigurations: missing security updates, update rollups & service packs published to Microsoft Update. (Support: MBSA Homepage & Visio Connector Tool for MBSA)

 

Battery Alarm alerts when battery gets low

 

Battery Saver saves up to 70% of your battery by disabling some greedy features

 

BGInfo displays relevant information on the Desktop’s background: computer name, IP address, service pack version, etc.

 

BitLocker: 

 

• Drive Preparation Tool configures drives to support BitLocker
• Recovery Password Viewer for Active Directory locate & recover encrypted passwords in ADDS.
• Repair Tool recovers data from a corrupt / damaged BitLocker drive

BITS Repair Tool for 32 bit & 64 bit, helps fix the corruption of Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) state files. (Support: KB940520)

 

Command Reference for automating command-line tasks by using batch files or scripting tool

 

Cayra mind mapping tool for flushing out design ideas. (Support: MSDN)

 

Desktops organizes your applications on up to four virtual desktops.

 

Edison – energy monitoring application to actively control PC’s energy consumption.

 

FolderShare share files & access computer(s) remotely

 

Group Policy Log View utility exports Group Policy event data from the system & operational log into a text, HTML, or XML file

 

Hosts File Manager makes configuration changes to the HOSTS file (add, delete, & edit).

 

IE7Pro add-on for Internet Explorer includes tweaks to make it friendlier, more useful, secure & customizable. (Support: MSDN)

 

IE Proxy Manager (TrayIcon) is an easy to use proxy Manager for Internet Explorer and all depending applications.

 

IconEditor creates icons in multiple formats: 16×16 – 16 color, 48×48-24bit color, up to 128×128-32bit color, along with marking the transparent colors (XOR Mask & AND Mask). (Support: MSDN)

 

Internet Connectivity Evaluation Tool verify routers support new technologies.

 

ISO Recorder with DVD Support

 

IPsec Diagnostic Tool assists troubleshooting network related IPsec failures.

 

Keyboard Layout Creator create or modify keyboard layouts

 

Language Interface Packs for English versions

 

Network Monitor protocol analysis allows capturing, viewing & analyzing network (wired & WiFi) traffic. (Support: TechNet, Command Line Wizard)

 

OpenType Font File Properties Extension adds property tabs to the fonts dialog box (i.e. font name, origination, copyright, & extended character set code pages)

PrivBar toolbar shows current privilege level (Administrators, Power Users, Users, or Guests)

 

Process Explorer shows information in two sub-windows, about which handles & DLLs processes have opened or loaded. The top window shows currently active processes, including the names of their owning accounts, the information in the bottom window depends on the Process Explorer mode: in handle mode you’ll see the handles the process selected in the top window; in DLL mode you’ll see the DLLs & memory-mapped files the process has loaded.

 

Process Monitor shows real-time file system, Registry & process/thread activity. It combines the features of two legacy Sysinternals utilities, Filemon & Regmon, and adds an extensive list of enhancements including rich & non-destructive filtering, comprehensive event properties such session IDs & user names, reliable process information, full thread stacks with integrated symbol support for each operation, simultaneous logging to a file, & more. (Support: TechNet)

 

PsExec allows executing processes on other systems, complete with full interactivity for console applications, without having to manually install client software. PsExec’s most powerful uses include launching interactive command-prompts on remote systems & remote-enabling tools like IpConfig that otherwise do not have the ability to show information about remote systems.

 

PsService service viewer & controller displays the status, configuration, & dependencies of a service, and allows you to start, stop, pause, resume & restart them. PsService enables logging-on to a remote system using a different account, for cases when the account from which it doesn’t have required permissions on the remote system.

 

Release Notes information on deploying & using Vista, including known issues. 

 

Remote Server Administration Tools 32bit & 64bit support remote management of computers running Windows Server 2008.

SearchMelt, is a Vista Search Folder changed to be generic & able to be shared.  "It’s like Search + XML + Sharing — it’s a whole bunch of melty goodness!"

 

SharedView Beta connects up to 15 people & get your point across by showing them your screen. (Support: FAQ)

 

ShellRunas for heavy Explorer users who launch programs under different accounts (similar to RunAs)

 

Snip IT emails selected text in Internet Explorer using your default email: Gmail, Hotmail & Outlook & Yahoo Mail.

 

SpeechSaver system tray utility to turn off Speed Recognition after a few minutes with no activity.

 

Speech Recognition Macros creates powerful macros triggered by voice command to interact with applications.

 

Speed Launch gives you lightning quick access to all the documents, files, & websites.

 

Start++ Windows XP Desktop Search allowed the creation of aliases between words or characters with commands & searches.  Example: set up the Deskbar so you could type “g Stuff” to search for the work “Stuff” on Google.  Start++ also launches programs, run scripts with parameters.

 

SteadyState helps manage shared computers in a school, Internet cafe, library, or at home. (Support: FAQ)

 

System Update Readiness Tool x32 & x64 checks for inconsistencies in the Windows servicing store which may prevent the successful installation of future updates, service packs, & software.

 

TCPView shows detailed listings of all TCP & UDP endpoints, including the local & remote addresses and state of TCP connections. TCPView also reports the name of the process that owns the endpoint.

Terminals multi-tab terminal services/remote desktop client. It uses Terminal Services ActiveX Client (mstscax.dll) allowing the control of multiple connection simultaneously.

TweakUAC quickly Turns On & Off (UAC) User Account Control (Support: MSDN)

 

User State Migration Tool migrates user files & settings during deployments of Windows XP & Vista. USMT captures files & settings from the source computer and then migrates them to a new Windows installation.

 

• Workstation Migration Assistant visual wrapper for the User State Migration Tool, designed to simplify the capture / restore process for your end-users. (Support: TechNet)

Virtual Desktop Manager provides a powerful virtual desktop manager with a full screen thumbnail based preview

 

Virtual PC 2007 create & run one or more virtual machines (different operating systems), on a single computer.

 

Vispa tweaking for privacy, security, & system performance. (Support: Channel 10)

 

VistaTweaker has software, performance, usability & other tweaks to improve the overall experience. (Support: Channel 10)

 

Visual Round Trip Analyzer – Web page performance visualizer and analyzer tool

 

WinDirStat disk usage statistics viewer & cleanup tool. (Support: MSDN)

 

WinHlp32 Help program included in Windows XP. (Support: KB917607)

 

Windows Automated Installation Kit helps IT professionals customize & deploy Windows Vista. Perform unattended installations, capture Windows images with ImageX, & create Windows PE images.

 

Windows Installer CleanUp Utility removes a program’s Windows Installer configuration information when experiencing installation (Setup) problems (i.e. problems when adding / removing a program’s component.)

 

Windows Mobile Device Center enables data synchronization between Windows Mobile Devices & Windows Vista & Vista 64.

 

Windows Vista Hardware Assessment finds computers on a network, performs a detailed inventory, reports whether a computer(s) can run Windows Vista.

Windows Vista Ultimate Language Packs

 

• Chinese (PRC)
• Chinese (Hong Kong SAR)
• Danish
• Dutch
• English (US)
• Finnish
• French
• German
• Italian
• Japanese
• Korean
• Norwegian
• Portugese (Brazil)
• Russian
• Spanish
• Swedish

Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor identifies if a PC is ready for an upgrade to Windows Vista & which features will be able to run on their PCs

 

XdN Tweaker (Support: Channel 10)

 

ZoomIt screen zoom & annotation tool for technical presentations.

 

SEARCH & PREVIEW ADD-INS

Windows Search 4.0 for 32 bit & 64 bit updated search component. (Support: KB940157)

 

• 2007 Office System Converter: IFilter Pack installs the following formats: .docx, .docm, .pptx, .pptm, .xlsx, .xlsm, .xlsb, .zip, .one, .vdx, .vsd, .vss, .vst, .vdx, .vsx, &  .vtx 
• Internet Explorer History indexes the history of the web pages browsed using Internet Explorer. (Support KB918998) 
• Lotus Notes indexes the content of Lotus Notes e-mail, contacts, calendar items, & journal items
• Network (UNC/FAT) Protocol Handler indexes shared network directories & FAT drive(s) to easily find specific content. (Support KB918996)
• Outlook Saved Mail indexes Outlook’s (.MSG) sent itens

Adobe Photoshop Preview Handler for Photoshop (PSD) files

 

Code Preview Handler for .cs, .vb, .sql, .js files – allows viewing of code files within Explorer & Outlook 2007 (Support: MS Blogger) 

 

InkSeine search for files by circling a handwritten phrase within notes 

 

SearchTogether Internet Explorer Search Collaboration Tool

 

MULTIMEDIA

Image Composite Editor stitches multiple source images into a seamless panorama

 

ImageResizer PowerToy right-click resizes one or many image files (Support: How to…)

 

Imagizer simple application to resize a batch of images.

 

HD View Utilities display & interaction with very large images. (Support: Website) 

 

HD Photo Plug-in for Adobe Photoshop supports a wide range of pixel formats (high dynamic range, wide gamut formats) & numerous advanced HD Photo features. (Support: MSDN)

 

Paint.Net originated as a project at Washington State University, & still developed by Microsoft alumni.

Photo Info allows photographers to add, change & delete common "metadata" properties. (Support: FAQ)

 

Pro Photo Tools for editing metadata in photographs including latitude, longitude, & other location details.

 

RAW Codecs handles RAW image files with the same ease as JPEG or TIFF images.

 

• ArdFry (.DNG)
• Adobe DNG
• Canon (.CR2, .CRW & .TIF)
• Nikon (.NEF Nikon Electronic Format)
• Olympus (.ORF)
• Pentax (.ORF)
• Sony (.ARW .SR2 & SRF)

TweakMC – Tweak Media Center

 

trueSpace 3D authoring package for online shared spaces, & for Virtual Earth.

 

WebGuide provides remote access to your Media Center from any computer with a web browser, including a cell phone or mobile device.

 

WMV9 PowerToy configures advanced properties of the WMV9 encoder & decoder otherwise only accessible through registry settings

 

DESKTOP WALLPAPERS, SCREENSAVERS & DREAMSCENES

Chirpscreen interactive screensaver updates with content from social networks (i.e. Facebook, Flickr) – it floats the information across the screen, & allows clicking on the content taking you to the web page or social networking site. (Support: MSDN)

 

Dark Aurora (1500 × 1125) Wallpaper from Long Zheng

 

Digital Blasphemy’s Free 3D Wallpapers – "really-cool" 3rd party wallpapers (Support: MSDN)

 

Dual Monitor Wallpapers – Beautiful images "panoramically" stretch across both screens (Support: MSDN)

 

Exchange Server Team’s 3 wallpapers with new logo

 

FlipClock Screensaver (Support: MSDN)

 

Flittrbook, a WPF screensaver mashup of 3 popular social networking sites: Flickr, Twitter, & Facebook. (Support: MSDN)

 

Halo 3 Wallpaper

 

How to Customize ScreenSavers via Registry.

 

Live Services & Mesh Desktop Wallpapers

 

New Zealand Bliss backgrounds & Wallpaper

 

(RED) Wallpapers raise awareness for people affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa.

 

Silverlight Team’s “Dusk” DreamScene – Standard & Widescreen

Silverlight Team’s Wallpaper – Dawn "Blue" & Dusk "Black" inspired widescreen & 4:3 desktop wallpapers

 

Virtual Earth Screensaver reads RSS feeds to show interesting Virtual Earth birdseye & satellite images with users’ information

 

Vista Wallpapers by Hamad Darwish

 

Vista’s Winning Wallpapers from Microsoft Singapore

 

Wallpapers from Microsoft Employees: Michael Swanson & Mikhail Arkhipov’s 1920 x 1200 (16:10 "widescreen") & 1600 x 1200 (4:3 "standard"), Peggi Goodwin’s Gorgeous Nature Images (various)

 

Wallpapers & Tool from MSN – 100’s of Free Wallpapers & Wallpaper Creation Tool

 

Xbox 360 "Jump in" Holiday Wallpaper – 800 x 600 & 1024 x 768

 

Yule Log Visualization for Windows Media Player

 

WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER 11 SKINS from Microsoft

 

• Anemone Get Oceanographic! 
• BlueGrid neat & organized
• Cerulean Android skin
• Circle Overlapping circular disks
• Claw Sink your claws into this
• Color Chooser Select different background colors to suit your mood
• Crystal Ball Look deeply into this crystal ball . . .
• Digital DJ Automatically builds skins based on different playlists
• Gadget Cool gadget-style
• Goo A splash of organic goo
• Modern Blue Soft swirls of blue
• MSN Keep up on entertainment news
• Ocean Soft Breeze 
• Pharaoh Go back in time
• Polygon Fun Geometry
• RAD Techno
• Radio Old-fashioned radio
• Science Cool Chemistry
• Toothy Your "friend" who stays until the party’s over
• Tube Frame featuring SRS WOW effects

 

GAMES

GAMES for Windows Vista from MSN’s Game Zone

 

Go (traditional Chinese board game), Hua Rong Dao Game & Rubik’s Cube Game from Microsoft’s Xu Wang

 

Sudoku Game from Microsoft’s Carlos Aguilar Mares

 

Windows Pranks:

 

• April Fool’s Day Prank wait until the assigned time & runs one of two (or both!) effects:  Desktop Zoom In/Out & Desktop Rotate!
• Halloween Prank involving "dripping animated blood down a victim’s screen"

 

SECURITY, BACKUP & DATA TRANSFER

Easy Transfer automatically copies files, photos, music, email & settings to your Windows Vista based PC. 

 

Malicious Software Removal Tool (32 & 64 bit) detects & removes infections by malware.

 

SyncToy helps copy, move, rename, and delete files between folders & computers.

 

Windows Live OneCare service has been upgraded to support Windows Vista.

 

Windows NT Backup – Restore Utility restores backups made on Windows XP, & Windows Server 2003.

 

HARDWARE

Fingerprint Reader – DigitalPersona Password Manager 2.0 (Support: How to . . .)

 

Habu Gaming Mice Drivers & Firmware 

 

Keyboard IntelliType 6.3 for Vista & Vista 64

 

LifeChat Headset 1.3

 
Mouse & Trackball IntelliPoint 6.3 for Vista & Vista 64  (Support: How to . . . )

 
Webcams LifeCam 2.04 

 

XBox 360 Controller & Wireless Gaming Receiver for Vista & Vista 64 (Support: DOC) 

 

WINDOWS VISTA DEVELOPERS

DebugView monitor debug output on a local system, or any computer on the network via TCP/IP. It displays both kernel-mode & Win32 debug output, so you don’t need a debugger to catch the debug output your applications or device drivers generate, nor do you need to modify applications or drivers to use non-standard debug output APIs.

 

Debug Diagnostic Tool assists in troubleshooting issues such as hangs, slow performance, memory leaks or fragmentation, & crashes in any Win32 user-mode process.

 

Debugging Tools for Windows – used to debug drivers, applications, & services on systems running both 32 bit & 64 bit versions of Windows.

 

Fiddler HTTP & HTTPS Website Debugging PowerTool supports viewing & modifying HTTP & HTTPS traffic. It also can be saved to Visual Studio WebTest files.

neXpert add-on helps identify common web performance issues 

Image Colorizer demonstrates how to write an application for colorizing digital photos using the inking support provided by Tablet PC APIs.

 

LUA Buglight helps developers & IT Pros (sysadmins) identify specific causes of admin-permissions issues (a.k.a. LUA bugs) in desktop applications.

 

PowerShell & PowerShell 64 command-line shell & scripting language allows managing computers via commands or scripts, improving productivity through system automation. (Support: Website)

Graphical Help File (including cmdlet help & the About topics) in a fully-searchable, graphical format (a standard Windows .chm file). Also included in the help file is the VBScript to Windows PowerShell Conversion Guide & a collection of PowerShell Tips of the Week.

 

PowerGUI is an extensible graphical administrative console for managing systems based on Windows PowerShell. The tool allows to use the rich capabilities of Windows PowerShell in a familiar & intuitive GUI console. (Support: MSDN) 

 

PowerShell + console embedded in a rich & intuitive user interface. (Support: PowerShell Team)

Product Identification Tool creates a product signature for your installed application.

 

Robotics Studio is an environment to create robotics applications across a wide variety of hardware. 

Introductory Courseware demonstrates common robotics concepts such as reading sensors, controlling actuators, designing simple behaviors, & having a robot interacting with its environment. 

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition is a free lightweight, & embeddable version of SQL Server 2005. (Support: Books Online)

 

Storyboard Designer is used to diagram (model) & generate documentation for a storyboard scenario.

 

Visual Studio 2005 Express Editions. (Support: SDK)

 

Visual Studio 2008 Express Editions (Individual Files or ISO Image) includes:

 

• Visual Web Developer 2008 Express
• Visual Basic 2008 Express
• Visual C# 2008 Express
• SQL Server 2005 Compact
• SQL Server 2005 Express
• MSDN Express Documentation

Windows Media Center SDK – Documentation, tools, & sample code for developing Windows Media Center applications & services.

 

• Media Center Markup Language Preview Tool provides a graphical user interface to craft the command line parameters which can be used with the Media Center Markup Language Preview Tool available with the Windows Media Center SDK.

Windows Movie Maker & Windows DVD Maker Software Developers Kit create & add custom special effects and transitions to Windows Movie Maker; also create custom transitions, buttons, and menu styles to Windows DVD Maker.

 

Windows Vista SDK includes documentation, samples, and tools designed to help develop applications & libraries using both Win32 & .NET Framework 3.0 technologies. (Also: ISO Image)