Fixes
Error 10016 in Windows 10 Local Activation permission for COM Server application.
Freeware
Gizmo's List "The Best Freeware Reviewed and Rated". Possibly.
Security
Gibson Research Corporation Steve Gibson knows what he is talking about. When this is security, it should come to no surprise that he infuriates some people who care less than he does (think Mi©®o$oft). Go and check his site.
His SpinRite might be the most important utility to have if you use hard drives, and is now available (at long last) for NTFS and Linux. 89 USD, and worth every cent of it. But it no longer works on the latest generation of drives (AF / UEFI).
Magic Mail Monitor To check your mail on the server(s), without having to actually receive it. If your provider does not offer web access, or if you suddenly get bursts of spam every time you use their web interface.
DBXtract From time to time, Outlook Express will completely lose some of its folders. McAfee VirusScan used to cause that problem quite frequently (and they never advertised the fix). Since OE uses a proprietary binary format, there is no way to recover the messages unless you use this little gem of a program. 5 USD (since version 5). Of course, this is no problem if one uses Thunderbird…
Privacy
Mailinator It's no sign-up, instant email. Here is how it works: You are on the web, at a party, or talking to your favorite insurance salesman. Wherever you are, someone (or some webpage) asks for your email. You know if you give it, you'll be on their spam list. On the other hand, you do want at least one message from that person. The answer is to give them a mailinator address. You don't need to sign up. You just make it up on the spot. Pick jonesy@mailinator.com or bipster@mailinator.com - pick anything you want (up to 15 characters before the @ sign).
Later, go to their site and check that account. It's that easy. Mailinator accounts are created when mail arrives for them. No signup, no personal information, and when you're done - you can walk away - an instant solution to one way spammers get your address. The emails will automatically be deleted for you after a few hours.
cerbermail To encrypt your address, a must if you post to newsgroups.
PGP / GPG Whether you plan to become (or already are) an international (or even local) terrorist, or you are just scared to death by the paranoids who are after you, you will need this absolutely. For the rest of us, probably the best protection against snoopers. As long as quantum computers remain a dream. And more to the point, as long as you pick a good passphrase. Have a look at free, safe and great Diceware. Tom McCune has the answers to most other questions in his PGP Q&A page.
PostScript & PDF
For free PDF generation, see Gizmo's List
To add PostScript support, download and install GhostScript (interpreter) and GSView (viewer). Create a PS printer (suggestion: HP DesignJet 755CM/PS, up to A0 size) and set it to print to a file. Whatever you print to a PostScript file can then be converted into a PDF document. Free for non-commercial use.
Last update 2016-11-25