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If you know of a good free admin utility and want to write a short review please submit it here. You can also just leave a comment on this page if you know of a free tool in this category.
The tools are ordered according to user ratings. To rate a program click on its title and scroll to the end of the review.
- Free launcher for portable applications – NirLauncher
- SyncBack – Synchronize folders
- Free software inventory software – EMCO Remote Installer
- KeePass – Open source password manager
- JiJi Self Service Password Reset – Allows end users reset their password
- Autoruns – Manage Windows startup programs
- Blackbird auditor express – Real-time Active Directory change monitoring
- Free RDP manager – Royal TS
- NT Toolkit – 28 useful admin tools
- Steganos Locknote – Password saver and text encryption
- RegScanner – Search the Windows Registry
- JiJi Help Desk Password Reset – Delegate password resets
- Trinity Rescue Kit (TRK) – Recover Windows using Linux
- Remote Desktop Manager – Manage remote connections
- Wireshark – Powerful network analyzer
- Network Monitor – A free network protocol analyzer
- NetWrix AD Object Restore Wizard – Create Active Directory snapshots
- Disk2vhd – A simple P2V tool that creates VHDs for Hyper-V and Virtual PC
- Sysinternals Suite – Troubleshooting utilities
- Desktop Central Free Windows Tools – 10 admin utilities
- MobaXterm – The multitab Unix browser for Windows
- Notepad++ – Source code editor and Notepad replacement
- ManageEngine Desktop Central – Client management software
- Symantec NUAC – A UAC extension for Windows Vista
- SpeedFan – CPU and hard disk temperature monitoring
- Unstoppable Copier – Copy physically corrupt files
- PStart – Launch and search tools on your USB stick
- H2bench – Benchmark hard disks
- BlueScreenView – Display Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) information
- Advanced Port Scanner – A port scanner for newbies
- RocketDock – A Mac OS X Dock clone for Windows
- Network Password Recovery – Windows password recovery
- imagepatcher – Update WIM images
- TeraCopy – Increase copy speed
- Spiceworks – Network Monitoring and Help Desk Software
- ADManager Plus – Active Directory reports and monitoring
- Netcat – Swiss army knife for network troubleshooting
- CoreConfigurator – A GUI for Server Core
- FileMenu Tools – Customize Windows Explorer easily
- Remote Reboot X – The ultimate WSUS companion tool
- GFI LANguard – Network Security Scanner
- MobaSSH – SSH server for Windows
- EventSentry Light – Real-time event log monitoring
- UBCD4Win – Ultimate Boot CD for Windows, a comprehensive rescue tool
- NetWrix Inactive Users Tracker
- JDiskReport – Displays disk space consumption
- The Dude – Map networks and monitor services
- Process Monitor – View file system, registry, and network activity
- Nmap + Zenmap – Network scanner with Windows GUI
- EndPointScan – Scan your network for devices
- ExInsight – Monitoring and statistics for Microsoft Exchange
- AdvancedRemoteInfo – Gather information remotely from Windows PCs
- NetWrix File Server Change Reporter
- VirtualIQ – Manage Hyper-V environments
- HealthMonitor – Monitor 60 different system states
- System Explorer – Examine a Windows installation in detail
- NetWrix Active Directory Change Reporter
- Farm Commander – Copy, move delete files on multiple servers
- Extended Task Manager – Find resource eaters
- Service and Scheduled Task User Manager – Change service accounts passwords
- locate32 – Find files
- GParted – Partition manager for Windows and Linux
- Robocopy – Mirror folders
- SuRun – Run programs with local admin right
- Lansweeper – Hardware and software inventory for Windows
- JiJi Self Extractor – Create self-extracting compressed executables
- XIA Configuration Server – inventory and technical documentation
- Sequoia View – Visualize occupied hard disk space
- EventTracker PULSE – a search engine for log data
- Treesize Free – Shows size of folder and subfolders
- BartPE – A Windows PE-based rescue platform
- Live Maps for Microsoft Operations Manager
- Terminals – A multi-tabbed RDP client
- Revo Uninstaller – Free PCs from junk
- NTop-XTRA – Shows network usage
- SolarWinds Real-Time NetFlow Analyzer
- WMI Asset Logger – Gather computer information
- WuInstall – Install Windows updates using a command line script
- ADModify.NET – Modify multiple user accounts in Active Directory
- ShareWatch – See connected users and open files
- AD Query – Search Active Directory
- NetWrix Services Monitor – Restart failing Windows services
- Virtual CloneDrive – Mount ISO and IMG images
- Secunia PSI – Scan for software vulnerabilities
- FlexTK Express – Advanced File Management Toolkit
- Steel Run As – Let standard users execute with administrator rights
- EMCO Ping Monitor Free
- Servers Alive – A Monitoring tool
- smartmontools – Control and monitor storage systems
- Belarc Advisor – Builds a profile of your PC
- PlacesBar Editor – Configure the dialog places bar
- NetLimiter Monitor – displays transfer rates of processes
- GImageX – A GUI for ImageX
- Defraggler – Defrag individual files and folders
- HashCalc – Compute hash/checksums and HMACs
- DHCP Reservation Manager – Easily migrate DHCP reservations
- Remote Desktop Connection Manager – An RDP client
- GPMC PowerShell Cmdlets
- Wizmo – Control power saving functions in scripts
- Virustotal – Analyze suspicious files
- SoftPerfect Network Scanner – network scanning for Windows
- ESXi Configurator Utility – Backup and update VMware ESXi
- ServiWin: Manage Windows services and drivers
- System Information Viewer (SIV) – Displays hardware, network and Windows info
- Win IP Config – GUI replaces ipconfig, route, and netstat
- PowerTerm WebConnect for Windows Server 2008
- Server Core Configurator – Script-based Windows 2008 Server Core set up
- PC Wizard 2008 – A system information and benchmark tool
- VMware DiskMount GUI – Mount VMDK files
- Hyper-V VM Mover
- Change Analysis Diagnostic Tool for Windows XP
- ADRestore.NET – the GUI version of ADRestore
- Passgen – Set unique administrator passwords on multiple machines
- Top Users Expert – Analyze bandwidth consumption with Network Monitor
- Free ZIP utility – IZArc
- CCleaner – Improve Windows performance by removing unnecessary files and registry entries
- Directory Service Comparison Tool – Restore changed Active Directory objects
- ADMX Migrator – GUI tool for creating ADMX templates and converting ADM files
- ClamWin Free Antivirus – Portable antivirus software
- SoftPerfect Network Scanner – IP, NetBIOS, WMI and SNMP scanner
- Kiwi Syslog Server – A Syslog daemon for Windows
- Free SharePoint backup and permission reporting tool – SUSHI
- Windows Memory Diagnostic – A memory diagnostic tool
- SpecOps Gpupdate – WOL, gpupdate, remote restart
- Process Explorer – A better Task Manager
- PacketTrap pt360 ToolSuite – network management
- WinDirStat – Query disk usage
- Sysinternals ShellRunas – run programs as different user
- TCPView – displays active TCP and UDP connections
- NetWrix Disk Space Monitor
- Process Hacker – A mighty Task Manager and Process Explorer alternative
- HWiNFO32 – Detailed hardware information and diagnostic
- Specops Command – PowerShell meets Group Policy
- Spacemonger v1.4 – Keep track of the free space
- VistaBootPro – manage boot configuration with a GUI tool
- AnVir Task Manager Free
- 3D Traceroute – Displays traceroute information in 3D
- NirCmd – Swiss army knife for the command prompt
- Simple Search – An extension for Microsoft Network Monitor
- NetworkMiner – Network Forensic Analysis Tool (NFAT)
- ManagePC – An inventory tool
- Core Configuration Console (CCC) – Basic Server Core setup
- export.exe – Redirect stdout output into environment variables
- Quest Object Restore for Active Directory – Undelete AD objects
- Q-Dir – File manager with admin features
- Event Log Manager – Event log collector
- NetWrix Password Expiration Notifier
- Netsetman – Switch network settings
- Spotlight on Windows – Monitor Windows servers
- eToolz – GUI for ping, traceroute, WHOIS and more
- Device Remover – A powerful Device Manager alternative
- Remotely Enable Remote Desktop
- SuperScan – An easy-to-use udp/tcp port scanner
- EasyBCD – A GUI bootloader configuration tool for Vista and Windows 7
- NetWorx – Network traffic monitor and network usage reporting
- Windows Installer Clean Up – Resolve installation problems
- GFI WebMonitor – Web filtering for ISA Server
- ManagePC – Inventory and manage PCs
- YAPM – Yet Another (remote) Process Monitor
- Purgos – Desktop management software for Windows
- Total Network Monitor – A sophisticated network monitoring software
- Hyper-V Monitor Gadget for the Windows Vista sidebar
- TweakUAC – Turn off Vista UAC quickly
- Gizmo Central – Mount VHD and ISO images and more
- CPUID HWMonitor – Measures temperatures for many hardware components
- compname.exe – Query and rename computers
- console – Multi-tabbed command shell enhancement
- Smart UAC – Disable UAC prompts for particular programs
- WIM2VHD – Convert a WIM image to a VHD image
- SolarWinds IP Address Tracker – Manage IP addresses
- PC Audit – A simple system info tool
- Raw Copy – Create a raw image to rescue data from a hard drive
- WinBubble – Tweak Windows 7
- SolarWinds Exchange Monitor
- Request Tracker – ITIL compliant Service Desk software
- Free password recovery tool – Cain & Abel
- Logparser – Query text-based data
- AccessEnum – Displays directory and registry permissions
- SolarWinds Advanced Subnet Calculator – IP subnet calculation made easy
- GiPo@FileUtilities – Monitor directory changes, mount folders, and more
- IT Environment Health Scanner – Identify Active Directory problems
- Real Temp – Another CPU temperature measuring program
- PowerGUI Active Directory Recycle Bin PowerPack
- RunAsAdmin – Run with administrative rights
- WinRAP – Hide running Windows applications
- Free hard drive monitor – Acronis Drive Monitor
- Free Windows sandbox – Sandboxie
- PocketPutty – SSH client for Windows Mobile
- PowerGUI – Create PowerShell scripts with a GUI
- JavaRa – Remove redundant versions of the Java Runtime Environment (JRE)
- Iometer – Measure disk performance
- DELTACOPY – Incremental backup program
- DocLock – Password encryption tool for Windows Mobile
- Active@ Kill Disk – hard driver eraser
- Recuva – Recover accidentally deleted files
- Ultimate Windows Tweaker – Tweak Windows Vista
- SolarWinds VM Monitor – Get X-Ray insight into your ESX Servers
- OpenedFilesView – View and unlock opened files
- VHD tool – Create, convert, and extend a VHD quickly
- DreamSys Server Monitor – Easy server monitoring
- Core Configurator 2.0 – Powerful GUI for Windows Server R2 Server Core
- SQLSearcher – Search for SQL Server installations
- Bad Application – Test application crashes
- WinPing – A portable ping GUI
- AMP WinOFF – Schedule Windows shutdown and restart
- Necromancers Dos Navigator (NDN) – A file explorer
- Detect Intel and AMD Hyper-V compatibility
- Group Policy Refresh PowerShell Cmdlet
- NT EventLog Explorer – Retrieves event log information
- Vmdk2Vhd – Convert VMware VMDK to Hyper-V VHD
- fs guard – Monitor services and directories
- TCP Analyzer – Statistical Analysis of TCP connections in Network Monitor
- Attribute Changer – Change file attributes recursively on multiple files and folders
- Double Driver – Export and import device drivers
- FREE Karen’s LAN Monitor – Displays extensive network information
- FileTypesMan – File types manager for Windows
- FixWin – Fix common Windows 7 and Vista problems
- NTFS Undelete – Easily recover deleted files
- PingInfoView – Another ping monitor GUI tool
- XXClone, a free cloning tool for Windows
- CorreLog Windows Agent – A Syslog client
- Bart’s Stuff Test 5 – A hard drive stress test tool
- SolarWinds Network Device Monitor – Real-time performance and health monitoring
- NTPWEdit – Reset Windows password
- Free unzip software – 7-Zip portable
- Free nslookup tool for Windows with GUI – DNSDataView
- Active Directory Explorer – Active Directory Viewer
- DHCP Find – Search rogue DHCP servers
- Ant Renamer: Easy-to-use and file renaming tool for Windows
- Bulk Rename Utility – Rename multiple files and folders
- CleanAfterMe – Erase computer history
- Edgemeal Get and Set CPU Affinity
- Product Key Finder – Export license keys from multiple Windows computers
- NetWrix Bulk Password Reset – Change the local administrator password network wide
- CurrPorts – Displays detailed info about open TCP/IP ports
- Free file unlock tool – Unlocker
- mst IsUsedBy – Check what process uses a certain file
- Script Elevation PowerToys – elevate PowerShell
- Windows Mobile IP Utility – Check IP connections
- Delbyown – Delete, copy or list files by owner
- AdapterWatch – Comprehensive info about network adapters
- IPNetInfo – Get all information about an IP address
- MF Shutdown Manager – Schedule shutdowns, restarts and wakeups
- EC2Dream – GUI tool for Amazon EC2 and Eucalyptus
- VHD Resizer – Shrink or Expand a Hyper-V VHD
- EMSA Register DLL Tool – Register programs with a GUI
- Specops Password Policy Basic – Fine-Grained Password Policies
- Free portable PDF reader – Sumatra PDF viewer
- RegAlyzer – A nifty free Registry editor
- Compatibility Administrator – Configure legacy apps for Vista
- Karen’s ‘Net Monitor – Website, mail, and ping monitoring
- Free Windows Error Reporting (WER) viewing tool – AppCrashView
- FREEping – Quick and dirty monitoring
- Visual Subst – Map folders to a drive letter
- VHD Attach – Attach and detach VHDs in Windows Explorer
- NetSpeedMonitor – Monitor network speed and data transfer
- Elevation Gadget – Drag and drop to elevate programs
- ManageEngine NetFlow Analyzer – Network traffic analysis tool
- Free Registry Defrag – Defragment the Windows registry
- TsProfileCleaner – Delete user profiles on multiple Terminal Servers
- BitLocker to Go Reader – Read Files Protected with BitLocker under Windows XP
Please submit your favorite free admin tool!
Best Free Admins Tools Index
Leave a Comment
Thank you so much for this list. I hope you always keep it updated. I thought this site had reviewed like 10000 tools.
I know quite a few programs that are free & weel known generally. I can’t see ttem listed here.
Perhaps it would be easier to scan the list if it were optionally listed alphabetically.
Some examples: Image management IrfanView, XnView.
Rgds & please keep up the good work.
anonymous, I am working on it.
Peter, why don’t just use the search function of your browser? You can also post the names of the tools as a comment or send me an email. I will find out, if they are in the list.
Great site, Great list of tools
THX a lot for this good work ^^
IZ