updated: June 30, 2009

Shells/File Management

LiteShell 0.9.0 [42k] {S}+ Minimalist shell. Access via hotkeys and/or context menu.  

 Files v3.0 [64k] + "(T)he best dos-based file management program. It does everything that you could ever want, including viewing multiple compressed files."  

File Maven 3.5a [160k] PC-to-PC file transfers via serial or parallel cable

Servant Salamander 1.52 [207k] + Powerful file manager  

Dimension File Manager [210k] + Minimalistic file manager   

 File Wizard [287k] {S}+ File manager for DOS/Windows. LFN & mouse support, drag and drop, read archives, integrated text editor, CD player, much more.

 A43 File Management Utility 2.52 [825k] + File manager with integrated text editor, zip/unzip, file search, quick launch, more.  

Shell Extensions

DirSize.DLL [6k] {S}+ Adds a "Folder Size" column in Windows Explorer. Free registration required to download.  

Drop To DOS [10k] + With Drop to DOS, you can right click on any folder and choose the Drop to DOS option to take to you a command prompt within that folder.

Long Filenames (LFN)

 LFNDOS v1.06 [23k] {S}+ Provides the Windows 95 long filename API to DOS programs.  

 LFN Tools [278k] {S}+ Support for long file names in DOS

Many more LFN emulators for DOS & Windows NT: http://sta.c64.org/lfnemu.html

File Lists

 dtree [17k] + Display tree structure of directory

 Tree32 [21k] {S}+ Similar to DOS's tree.com, but with LFN support

JR Directory Printer [174k] + Save/Print directory listings  

File Renaming

 BK Renamer 1.0 [24k] + Rename files based on a UNIX-style regular expression  

 RenameFiles 2.42 [148k] + Rename files recursively, add/delete strings, change case, preview before applying, much more.  

Renamer v6.0 final [256k] {S} Rename multiple files with change (very powerful), search/replace, insert, trim and many other batch operations. Features undo, preview, 'change'-operation and can work in sub directories on specified extension. Can also change name to ID3 v1 tags and modify files' ID3 tags which makes it perfect for renaming MP3's.  

File & Folder Comparison

 cmp [13k] + Binary file comparison

 comm [13k] + Look for common lines in 2 files

 diff [24k] + Compare files and directories

 DELTA [132k] + File and directory comparison tool. Formerly $100, now free.  

ExamDiff 1.6i [204k] + Visual file comparison tool.  

Comparator 2.20 [508k] File/folder comparison, copy and update utility with easy-to-use GUI. Can also function as a Microsoft Briefcase replacement.    

FreeFileSync v1.14 [1330k] {S}+ Compare, sync, and update folders. Also handy for resuming interrupted folder move or copy operations.  

Finding Files

 FIND Tools [9k] + Includes XFIND (scan multiple files for a string, reporting all files where the string was found) and TFIND (scan a single file for a string, reporting all lines where the given strings were found)

 Locate [11k] {S}+ Find directories, files, or both; 0-byte files; executables only; mask by date, time, and/or attributes. Will search into hidden sub-directories. Extended wildcards. Options to change directory, delete files, display Win95 long filenames. Includes A86 source and exhaustive documentation.  

FastFind v1.14 [219k] {S}+ Generates a file index which can be searched in seconds.  

Finding Duplicate Files (Dedupe)

 Duplicate File Finder 3.3 [108k] + Multithreaded, byte-level duplicate finder.  

 DoubleKiller 1.6.1.80 [392k] + Searches single or multiple folders/partitions for identical files. Files can be compared by name, size, date and/or CRC32-checksums. Many more options (masks, flags, etc) available.  

File & Folder Splitters

 FineSplit [5k] + Splits a file into floppy sized parts and creates a merging batch file for them. Edit INI file to change the default part size, define individual part sizes, and more.

 HJSplit [from 10k] + Multi-platform file splitter with many versions

 InkSizer [19k] + Copies the contents of a folder into user defined sizes

 find [21k] + Find files with certain properties and execute commands on each

JR Split File 1.2 [112k] + File splitting utility which uses a batch file to combine the split pieces  

Archives & Compression

 UnZip [44k] {S}+ Simple DOS unzipper. Package includes several additional tools. Ports available for virtually every platform.

100K_Zipper [75k] + Simple zip & unzip with GUI  

 Zip [85k] {S}+ Simple DOS zipper. Package includes several additional tools. Ports available for virtually every platform.

 LHA Ver 2.55E [66k] + MS-DOS file compression/extraction utility. More about LHA

 UnRAR for DOS [115k] {S}+ Command line DOS32 UnRAR.  

 UPX for DOS [174k] {S}+ Executable file compressor. Will typically reduce the file size of programs and DLLs by around 50%-70%

 XacRett [212k] {S}+ Drag-and-drop archive extractor with support for more than 40 formats: LHa, Zip, Cab, Rar, Ace, Arj, Yz1, Bga, Gca, Imp, Zoo, Arc, Cpt, Pit, Arg, Asd, Zac, MacBin, Tar, Cpio, Rpm, Shar, QuakePak, Ar(Deb), Gzip, Bzip2, Compress, Pack, Compact, Freeze, Belon, Splint, Jam, MS-Compress, Base64, UUencode, XXencode, BinHex, Ish, Boo, BtoA, Fish, Jack, Rez, Cab (InstallShield), Dzip, yEnc.

AxCrypt [230k] {S} File Encryption (AES-128), Compression, and Wiping from the context menu.

FreeZip 1.4.9 [253k] Simple zip and unzip

WinImp [266k] Create ZIP & IMP archives; extract from ZIP, ARJ, RAR and TAR archives; decompress GZIP, Unix Compress and BZIP2 files; and decode UUencoded, XXencoded and MIME files.

 7-Zip 3.12 (command line version) [291k] {S}+ Supports ZIP, 7z, GZIP, BZIP2 and TAR. AES-256 encryption in 7z format. GUI version also available.

 HJZip 1.0 [310k] + Zip and unzip with a simple GUI  

PicoZip Recovery Tool 1.02 [781k] Recover lost or forgotten passwords from password protected Zip files via Brute Force or Dictionary attacks. AES encrypted Zip files are not supported.  

Quick Zip Lite [805k] Supports 25 archive formats  

Encryption

 Tiny IDEA [0.5k] {S}+ Encrypt/decrypt files using IDEA cipher    

 dsCrypt v1.00 [25k] + AES/Rijndael file encryption software with simple, multi-file, drag-and-drop operations. Features BruteHalt® and exceptional resistance to brute-force password search, Secure PassPad® and immunity to keylogger-infested environments, disclosed implementation and code details, secure use of system resources, and much more.

 MP-Crypt 0.5b [26k] + Easy file and directory encryption. Option to create self-decrypting files. (With the kind permission of MP-Crypt's author, this download is hosted by TinyApps. MP-Crypt 0.6 is shareware and twice as large. As always, download and use at your own risk and joy.)    

 privyCrypt 2.6 [198k] {S}+ "A simple encryption scheme for people whose email service providers block attachments and monitor their email." Palm OS and Java applet versions also available.  

AxCrypt [230k] {S} File Encryption (AES-128), Compression, and Wiping from the context menu.

Folder/Disk Space Usage

 DriveUse v1.00 [7k] + Reports detailed disk space usage on all drives and presents the results in a clear, sorted, tree-like structure.  

 df [13k] + Statistics on disk usage

 du [18k] + Display directory space usage

FoldersReport v1.21 [27k] + Dislays disk/directory space usage.  

 Directory Sizes [135k] + Scan, display, and export all directory subtrees with sizes.  

 Scanner 2.6 [160k] + Pie chart display of media usage.  

 FolderSize [161k] + Scans a selected drive or folder and reports the size of all the folders.  

 i.Disk [174k] + Lists subdirectories with their contents and sizes. Export lists to text or csv.  

Format, Wipe & Shred

 SDelete [20k] {S}+ DoD-compliant secure delete program

 SmartFormat [22k] + Format disks even with bad sectors on track zero; format standard 1.44 MB disks for 1.72 MB (without compression or TSRs); much more.

 KILL DISK [58k] + Destroy all data on hard and floppy drives completely. Commercial version also available.

 FMT [121k] + Format floppies to 360kb, 720kb, 1.2mb ,1.44mb, 1.68mb and 1.72mb. With seven special bootsectors.

AxCrypt [230k] {S} File Encryption (AES-128), Compression, and Wiping from the context menu.

 Simple File Shredder v1.0 [282k] + Secure file deletion with GUI.  

Eraser [751k] {S} Completely remove sensitive data from your hard drive by overwriting it several times with carefully selected patterns.  

 Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBAN) [1280k] {S}+ Self-contained boot floppy that securely wipes the hard disks of most computers.

Undelete & Recovery

Roadkil's Unstoppable Copier [45k] + Copy files from disks (CDs, floppies, hard drives, etc) which have sustained physical damage.

Fast File Undelete [145k] $+ Undelete utility which runs directly from floppy

 Restoration [193k] + "Restore files which are deleted from the recycle bin or deleted while holding down the Shift key."    

BadReader [160k] + Copies corrupt files (from CDs, for example) by skipping bad blocks.  

 TestDisk 6.3-WIP [from 227k] {S}+ Tool to check and undelete partitions. Precompiled binaries available for DOS, Windows, OS X, and Linux. Works with the following partitions: BeFS (BeOS); BSD disklabel (FreeBSD/OpenBSD/NetBSD); CramFS (Compressed File System); DOS/Windows FAT12, FAT16 and FAT32; HFS, Hierarchical File System; JFS, IBM's Journaled File System; Linux Ext2 and Ext3; Linux Raid; Linux Swap (versions 1 and 2); LVM and LVM2, Linux Logical Volume Manager; Netware NSS; NTFS (Windows NT/2K/XP/2003); ReiserFS 3.5 and 3.6; UFS (Sun/BSD/...); and XFS, SGI's Journaled File System.  

CDCheck [590k] + Utility for the prevention, detection and recovery of damaged files on CD-ROMs with an emphasis on error detection. Features: readability verification, binary compare, CRC file creation (and verification) and file recovery. Registration encouraged, but not required, for non-profit, personal use.  

Partition Tools

MBRWork [16k] + Perform some common and uncommon tasks to the MBR/EMBR/Sectors of a hard drive.

 DE v3.0 [70k] + Very powerful disk editor for 12 and 16-bit FAT drives. Extensive documentation included.

 Ranish's Partition Manager 2.40.00 [96k] {S}+ Partition tool for experts and would-be experts. Free for private use, educational and non-profit organizations for 10 years.  

 Partition Resizer 1.3.4 [97k] + "The first free program to resize and move partitions without data loss."

 XOSL v1.1.2 [101k] {S}+ "Extended Operating System Loader (XOSL) is the world's only full-featured free boot manager with a real, easy-to-use and full-blown graphical user interface."  

 Delpart [123k] + Delete NTFS partitions that defy FDISK.

 Free FDISK v1.0 RC1 [137k] + The official FDISK of FreeDOS

FIPS Version 2.0 [158k] Non-destructive splitting of harddisk partitions.

 GAG [164k] {S}+ Full-featured graphical boot manager with support for up to 9 different operating systems.  

 TestDisk 6.3-WIP [from 227k] {S}+ Tool to check and undelete partitions. Precompiled binaries available for DOS, Windows, OS X, and Linux. Works with the following partitions: BeFS (BeOS); BSD disklabel (FreeBSD/OpenBSD/NetBSD); CramFS (Compressed File System); DOS/Windows FAT12, FAT16 and FAT32; HFS, Hierarchical File System; JFS, IBM's Journaled File System; Linux Ext2 and Ext3; Linux Raid; Linux Swap (versions 1 and 2); LVM and LVM2, Linux Logical Volume Manager; Netware NSS; NTFS (Windows NT/2K/XP/2003); ReiserFS 3.5 and 3.6; UFS (Sun/BSD/...); and XFS, SGI's Journaled File System.  

 Savepart [172k] + Save, restore and copy hard-drive partitions

Boot-US 1.6.3 [634k] "Boot-US consists of an universal boot manager together with a comfortable Windows installation program. With Boot-US you can easily use all your available operating systems." Free for personal use.  

File Copying

 XCLONE [20k] + Disk/directory copying tool which preserves attributes on all files & directories, thus creating an exact clone of the original.

TotalCopy [90k] Enhanced file copy - resume, pause, set & monitor file transfers  

 FastCopy 1.99r3 [100k] {S}+ "The fastest copy/delete software on Windows." Supports Unicode, paths exceeding MAX_PATH (260 bytes), regex filters, and more.  

 Ycopy 1.0d [184k] + Copies files, skipping and logging those that are corrupt or unreadable.  

XXCOPY 2.60.0 [207k] "Boldly Extended Xcopy". Among its many features, XXCOPY can clone a W9x drive while preserving short filenames.  

CD/DVD

 CD2ISO 1.02 [194k] + CD to ISO creator.  

Burn to the Brim v2.0 [315k] Fill your CDRs and other media optimally  

SilentNight Micro CD Burner 5.0 [1215k] + Stand-alone CD/DVD burner. Hosted archive is last freeware version.    

Other

Listing of rawrite (read/write floppy disk images) and similar apps for DOS, Windows, more.

 fileAlert! v3.5 [23k] + File change monitor. Reports every file created, modified or deleted on the current drive since a given date and time.   

 RmEmpty v1.2 [36k] + Delete empty folders recursively.    

 Catfish 1.9 [113k] {S}+ Disk catalog browser  

 Resource Hacker [542k] + View, modify, rename, add, delete and extract resources in 32bit Windows executables and resource files.  

MirrorFolder [1044k] $ Mirror selected files to a local, network, or removable disk in real time.  

 F-Prot Antivirus for DOS [1320k] + Regularly updated antivirus program free for personal use. Linux version also available.  

 g4u (ghost for unix) [1352k] {S}+ Disk cloning/imaging via FTP. Works with virtually any filesystem and operating system.