DefaultPrograms is a small, free utility that can manage and edit the way windows works with filetypes, such as editing their context menu items, their icons, description, and the associated file type for an extension. For Vista and Windows Seven it can also manage and edit autoplay handlers, as well as edit, add, or remove the default registered programs associated with file types.

DragTargets is a free app designed to make it easy to drag and drop your files into frequently used folders. Shortcuts to favorite folders (including folders on external drives) can be placed as buttons on a semi-transparent floating widget, and can be used to quickly move or copy files or access these folders.

FreeFileSync is a free/open source folder and file synchronization program that features a beautiful, two pane user interface and a host of powerful options. It can do the following: compare files by their content or by file size and date, synchronize files and subfolders, process multiple pairs of folders at once, load/save folder comparison sessions, create batch jobs that can be run from the command line, and can can handle cloned files (i.e. symbolic links or junctures). It also offers UniCode and Network support. There is also a portable (no-install) version.

Caderno is a freeware text editor/Notepad replacement that’s focused on delivering an excellent user experience. It features a minimalist, tabbed user interface on the one hand and some powerful features on the other, without overloading the user with too many functions. Features include search/find/replace, go-to specific line, crash recovery, session management, Unicode support, as well as Syntax highlighting (INI, XML, HTML, Java, PHP).

GSplit is a freeware program that can split any file, even extremely large files, in any number of ways including by user-defined sizes or predefined sizes, by spanning across a number of removable disks/media, by number of desired pieces, or even by number of individual lines or occurrences of a pattern in the file. It can create a tiny program to re-unite the split files without needing to use the original application, and can even integrate this into the first file of your splits. Gsplit also adds a Windows explorer context menu entry for on-the-fly splits. Portable version available.

BumpTop is a cool little addition that can make your Windows desktop a little more organized and add a bit of pizazz to the experience. It adds physics and depth to your normal, boring desktop. You can slide files and icons around on the “floor” or pin them to any of the four walls that BumpTop creates. It makes for an impressive desktop and is somewhat comparable to Compiz on Linux, but is there much practical application for it?

[Editor’s note: this review was written by Freewaregenius contributor Jason H. Check out his tech blog: 404techsupport.com].

There is an impressive range of excellent freeware Windows enhancements and tweaks. This posting will present forty three excellent additions to Windows that you will like.

WinCDEmu is a free, open source program that can mount disk images (.ISO, .IMG, .CUE, .BIN and .RAW) into virtual CD or DVD drives. It works invisibly without a user interface, and simply allows the user to double click on an image file to mount a CD/DVD image into a virtual drive, and to right-click “eject” to unmount.

Folder Menu is a free utility that can display a popup-list of favorite folders, files, and program shortcuts via hotkey or by using the middle mouse button. An added function is the ability to browse your files and folders within the popup dialog.

Benubird PDF is a free document management system designed to manage all manner of documents and files in a single, centralized location. It allows you to organize your files and documents within virtual folders (irrespective of where they reside on your hard drive), and to and apply tags to them as well as other metadata. The interface provides for quick and easy filtering and search capabilities. Advanced features include the ability to monitor local folders for changes and to use a set of user-defined rules to update the library of documents/files accordingly.

StExBar is a free Windows extension that adds a number of useful functions as a Windows explorer toolbar, including a filtering box, toggle show system files, copy names or paths, mass rename, and a command line console. It allows you to add your own functions to the toolbar (or as keyboard shortcuts) if you have an executable or script.

TaggedFrog is a free utility that allows you to tag any files on your hard disk by keyword and access or filter them through a tag cloud. Users can also create filters by file-type to filter their results, and create favorite “sets” or combinations of tags for quick browsing.