These are some of my favorite programs

avg free Anti-virus software
you have to download this software yourself from there web site. it is free but you have to register and get an activation number assigned by them. it works better then any other program I have paid for.
Download AVG 8.0 here 45 Mb
 

Spybot S&D
Ad-Aware
These programs will find and remove most spyware

Windows Powertoys for xp
Command Line Powertoy
 Image Re-sizer Powertoy
Calculator Powertoy
Task Switcher Powertoy
TweakUI Powertoy
This version of TweakUI is for XP only

Windows Hot Key Configuration Program
This is a lint to an open source FREE program that will allow you to create hot-keys from any combination of keys....
For complete detail follow link.

DST FIX FOR WINDOWS 98
Daylight Saving Time update for Windows 98

CheckSR
Sound Card Calibration Tool

Gimp
Photo Editor, very like PhotoShop but free

TClock2
A great desktop manager

KeyFinder
Have you lost your Windows installation key?
Use this program on you computer BEFORE you try and reinstall your disc to get the correct key for your MicroSoft Windows, Office and other Microsoft programs. See read-me file included in file.

eCleaner
This is a program that will strip out any content that is not needed to convert it to a .txt file. Even HTML.
 

AUDACITY
LAME.DLL
Audacity Recording software
this is open source and really works great
Just place the LAME DLL file in your windows directory and unpack the Audacity and your ready to go