Free Software Linux

Windows only: Free application ProcessQuickLink adds small icons to the left of every running process in the Windows Task Manager that—when clicked—tell you what that process does. The...

For those of you who prefer automating your computer maintenance on a schedule, the How-To Geek weblog explains how to automatically de-crapify your PC nightly. Setting it up takes little more than...

Windows only: Avanquest Connection Manager, previously a $30 app, is now a free utility that could be seriously convenient for laptop users. The app lets you create profiles for your different wi-fi...

Windows only: Free utility HDDScan diagnoses whatever ails your hard drive. HDDScan works on ATA, SATA, and SCSI drives and (with some limitations) on removable drives such as USB and FireWire....

Windows only: Free application Glary Utilities performs vital maintenance on your system to keep it in tip-top shape. Glary Utilities performs six key functions, from optimizing your registry to...

If you work and play on multiple computers in the course of a week, keeping your important files in sync can be difficult. The day may come when you've got access to all of your files and data...

Windows only: Free application PC Wizard is a portable tool that analyzes and benchmarks your PC. At its most basic, PC Wizard gives you an in-depth look at your hardware and system specs. But the...

Windows only: Free application CRP (Control Running Programs) performs two related but separate functions: First, it keeps important applications running no matter what, so if a program unexpectedly...

Free font-matching service Identifont is a good bookmark for anyone who works in words, design, or just has to occasionally match up hard-to-pin-down fonts. While not as automatic as the previously...

Your data is your life, and if you're not backing it up regularly, you're flirting with disaster. On Tuesday we put out a call for your favorite Windows backup tools, and today we're back with the...

Windows only: Freeware applications from web site E-sushi put common Windows actions—like opening and closing your CD or DVD drive—in your system tray. Apart from the eject system tray...

There are two things that stand in the way for most of us when we put off setting up backups for our hard drive. The first is motivation, but if you're already reading Lifehacker, we'll assume you...

Windows only: Freeware application HeavyLoad tests your computer's performance under pressure by maxing out your CPU usage and eating up memory. If neither your computer nor HeavyLoad crash, the idea...

Windows only: Free Windows utility gAttach tightly integrates your web-based Gmail account into your operating system, fixing nearly every "Mail to" or "Send to" button and option to use a small...

When you've got your Windows XP or Vista setup running perfectly, you don't want to lose all your painstaking customizations to a reckless tot, an experiment-minded friend or spouse, or a rogue...