For my squad: free software

[x0847Marine]

Ask and you shall recieve, here are the free goodies I use to keep Windows happy. Opinions vary.

BTW if you're looking to dabble in alternative operating systems, Xandros is a noob friendly FREE alternative to Windows. Simple to install, dual boot manager, fun fun fun & profit
http://www.xandros.com/

For happy browsing I use Firefox with the google search / pop up blocker:
http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/

For pop e-mail, Thunderbird:
http://www.mozilla.com/thunderbird/

Free e-mail, gmail
http://www.gmail.com

For virus protection Avast home hasn't failed me / my customers in years:
http://www.avast.com/i_kat_207.php?lang=ENG

Avast has a free online "cleaner", great if mom or sis screw the viri pooch:
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_cleaner.html

Spyware = ad aware
http://www.lavasoft.de/software/adaware/

Music player QCD, Quintessential Player 4.50. Outstanding for ripping / burning CD's, simple and small, great skins / plug-ins.. runs in the background while I game out. It lacks a library however, but the auto-tag is great... fixes all those poorly marked tunes.
http://www.quinnware.com/

My #2 choice is Winamp, decent library, Winamp TV is teh funna / poRn HQ.
http://www.winamp.com/

If you have no clue what hardware you have, Belarc adviser will tell all:
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

CPUID (cpuz) gives full chipset / cpu specs:
http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

For overclocking nvidia cards, coolbits:
http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=815

To test your overclocking results, Cinebench:
http://www.cinebench.com/

finally... the best totally free game IMO, Americas Army. Free to download, free to play... free free free at US taxpayers expense.
http://www.americasarmy.com/

[Brenjen]

Just an F.Y.I. - the free version of Adaware is a very good scanner, but it will not BLOCK spyware or adware, it will only clean it off.

 For free real time protection, try Spyware Blaster 3.5.1

 http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

 I use this in concert with Adaware ( it works with Mozilla too )

[MotleyCH]

in regards to the free gmail...you can use Thunderbird to access it via POP:aok

[Eagler]

speed fan
temperature & voltage monitoring:
http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php