Free Windows (XP & Vista) Add-Ons & Updates

updated 07-02-07

--sectioned by Vista, Vista & XP, and XP below. There is also a free CD/DVD and Books/Training section.

(this page is updated constantly as MS continues to release new stuff at no cost; "Disclaimer: nearly all of what is listed below is not available in a cardboard box. Instead you must use the modern marvel, the internet, to download the goods. Box nuts need to go to their local store to cop a feel."

***Vista went RTM on 11-08-06 and hit mainstream availability January 30, 2007.  I imagine the growth of the XP section will slow substantially now that Vista is the the primary OS from MS, but we can expect several more years of add-ons and enhancements. In fact, mainstream support for XP runs until 2009 and extended support goes until 2014, per MS.***

I read an article and commentary at http://osnews.com/story.php?news_id=10163 and http://www.freep.com/money/tech/mwendland31e_20050331.htm that got me to thinking yet again about the difference between how XP and X have been updated and upgraded over recent years. I then compare my thoughts to what I read at  http://www.unsanity.org/archives/000377.php (brief commentary on this at http://pcnmac.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=293), and I realize once again what a good buy Windows is-- both at the outset and over time. As you can see below, Microsoft has added tons of value to XP since it's release in October, 2001. Some of it may be trivial (WMP skins or desktop images) for some users, but some of it has a real dollar figure attached to it: Windows Defender used to cost $30 when sold by Giant, Windows Desktop Search compares to X1 Search that cost over $75 or Spotlight for OS X that costs $129 with an OS upgrade to Tiger, Services for Unix used to cost $149 (v2), PhotoStory 3 was the main component of a package (Plus!) that cost $30, Lookout used to cost $30, Onfolio used to cost $100, Virtual Server Enterprise Edition used to cost $999, Visual Studio 2005 Standard is $299, Virtual PC 2004 (and now VPC 2007 too) was $129, Expression used to cost $149 when sold by Creature House....it all adds up to a lot of value being provided free...consistently, over a long period of time.  Now that XP has passed its 5 year anniversary, I find it safe to say that XP is the best desktop OS ever released for consistency, reliability, value, vendor support, free add-ons...Vista will have a hard time topping XP's total package (message to MS, please leave Vista like XP for the next five years.  Five years is better than two for a paid OS upgrade to stay current with the latest and greatest).

 

***From October 26th, 2006 until March 15th, 2007 one can buy a PC with XP (or a standalone copy of XP) and it will include a free upgrade coupon to the corresponding version of Vista (there is a $10 charge to ship the media, though some resellers like Circuit City are even covering the shipping charge).  All coupons must be redeemed by March 31st, 2007.***

 

Vista Add-Ons and Updates

 

Ultimate Extras (only for owners of Vista Ultimate)

 

SilverLight DreamScene Dusk (Wide and Standard)

DreamScene Content Pack (4 Scenes) (March '07)

DreamScene (1 Scene) (February '07)

Language Packs (15 add-on languages) (February '07)

Bitlocker and EFS Enhancements (January '07)

Hold 'Em Poker Game (January '07)

 

Sidebar Gadgets 

 

Traffic by Live Search Maps

Sudoku

Scribble

Poker

Outlook Tasks

Outlook Upcoming Appointments

Live Search Gadget

Microsoft Office 2007 Recently Used Documents

 

Miscellaneous Programs

 

SUA - Utilities and SDK for Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications in Microsoft Windows Vista

Windows NT Backup - Restore Utility

Experience Pack (Media Transfer, Ink Crossword, Equation Writer, and Ink Flash Cards)

Origami Experience Pack (Origami Experience, Sudoku, and Touch Settings)

Windows Help 1.0 (WinHlp32.exe - legacy help file viewer)

Ink Desktop

UniveRSS 0.8.0.0

 

Database Gear

 

Programming Gear

 

Development Kits

 

Windows Movie Maker and Windows DVD Maker SDK 

 

Game Gear

 

Security Gear

 

Vista and XP Add-Ons and Updates

 

Miscellaneous Programs

 

Silverlight 1.0 Beta

Silverlight 1.1 Alpha

Live SharedView

XML Paper Specification Essentials Pack (follows beta 1 & 2 and RC 1) (XPS Document Viewer, iFilter, iPreview, & XPS Document Writer)

Office Accounting Express 2007 (also available via shipped CD [free])

Robocopy GUI Version 3.1.1

SyncToy v1.4

Network Monitor 3.0.372

Office Migration Planning Manager

Windows Easy Transfer (migrate from an XP PC to a Vista PC)

Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK) (can be run on XP but used for deploying Vista)

Business Desktop Deployment 2007 (follows v3.0, 2.5, & 2.0)

Application Compatibility Toolkit 5.0 (follows v. 4.1, 4.0, 3.0, 2.6, and 2.0)

User State Migration Tool 3.0 (follows v2.6.1, 2.6, & 2.5)

ZoomIt v1.21

Threat Analysis & Modeling v2.1.1

Snip IT Add-On for Internet Explorer

PowerShell

Report Viewer Redistributable 2005 SP1

Captions Language Interface Pack

Virtual Earth 3D (Beta v1.1)

 

Communications Gear

 

Live Meeting Add-in Pack

 

Font Gear

 

8 Redistributable Fonts (Kootenay, Lindsey, Miramonte Regular, Miramonte Bold, Pericles Light, Pericles Regular, Pescadero Roman, &  Pescadero Bold)

3 Fonts (Segoe Light, Regular, & Bold)

Font Properties Extension, version 2.30 (follows v2.1)

4 Consolas Font Pack

 

Virtualization Gear

Virtual PC 2007 (follows VPC 2004 SP 1 and VPC 2004)

Windows XP Svc Pk 2 w/ IE 6 VHD

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 VHD
Exchange Server 2007 VHD
SQL Server 2005 VHD
Windows Server 2003 R2 VHD
ISA Server 2006 VHD
Visual Studio Code Name "Orcas" - January CTP VHD
Visual Studio 2005 Team System Basics Training VHD

 

Database Gear

 

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition Service Pack 2

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with Advanced Services Service Pack 2

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition Toolkit Service Pack 2

SQL Server 2005 Management Studio Express Service Pack 2

SQL Server 2005 Best Practices Analyzer February 2007 CTP

Visual FoxPro "Sedna" February 2007 CTP

SQL Server Migration Assistant for Oracle V3.0

SQL Server Database Publishing Wizard 1.1

 

Programming Gear

 

XML NotePad 2007 [2.4] (follows v2.3, v2.1, v2006 [2.0], v1.5, and v1.0)

Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition  (SP1 for Vista Only)

Visual C# 2005 Express Edition  (SP1 for Vista Only)

Visual J# 2005 Express Edition  (SP1 for Vista Only)

Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition  (SP1 for Vista Only)

Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition  (SP1 for Vista Only)

ASP.NET AJAX 1.0

Visual Studio Code Name "Orcas" - March 2007 CTP

Product Identification Tool

Debug Diagnostic Tool v1.1

Visual C# 2005 Keyboard Shortcut Reference Poster

Visual C++ 2005 Keyboard Shortcut Reference Poster

Visual Basic 2005 Keyboard Shortcut Reference Poster

.NET Compact Framework 2.0 Service Pack 2 Redistributable

Consolas Font Pack for Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 (including Express)

Shared Source Common Language Infrastructure 2.0 Release

Device Emulator 2.0 (run Windows Mobile on your PC) (follows Beta 2 v2 release)

 

Development Kits

Silverlight 1.0 Beta SDK

Silverlight 1.1 Alpha SDK

Windows SDK Update for Windows Vista

Windows Mobile 6 SDKs (Standard and Pro)

Visual Studio 2005 SDK version 4.0

.NET Micro Framework SDK

Windows Search 3.x SDK

Office Accounting 2007 SDK

WPF/E SDK CTP Feb 2007

MultiPoint SDK

DirectX SDK - Symbol Files

DirectX SDK Feb. 2007

MapPoint Web Service SDK version 4.1 (follows v4.0)

Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Applications (VSTA) SDK

 

Game Gear

 

Carioca Rummy

Match-Up (XP Compatibility mode required)

 

Security Gear

 

Baseline Security Analyzer v2.1 Beta

Data Encryption Toolkit for Mobile PCs

 

Wallpapers

 

Silverlight (2 versions and 16 total by size)

Start Button (3 sizes)

Strands (3 sizes)

Bliss

New Bliss

Bluff

Boulders

NZ Bliss Queen's Birthday

Windows XP Media Center Edition (13)

Ireland (2)

Christmas Theme 2004 (1)

Winter Fun Pack 2004 (6)

Digital Photography Winter Fun Pack 2003 (6)

Sudeki (46)

Brute Force (7)

Voodoo Vince (3)

Halo (4) and here for 21 more

Zoo Tycoon 2 (4)

Dungeon Siege II (5)

Dungeon Siege Legends of Arrana (5)

Fable (15)

Fable: The Lost Chapters (6)

Rise of Nations (2)

Rise of Nations Thrones & Patriots (6)

Age of Mythology Titans (6)

Flight Simulator 2004 (8)

Freelancer (6)

Mechwarrior Mercenaries (8)

Age of Mythology (3)

Dungeon Siege (2)

Flight Simulator 2002 (8)

Mechwarrior 4 Vengeance (5)

Flight Simulator 2000 (8)

Project Gotham Racing 2 (10)

Perfect Dark Zero (3)

Catan (3)

Winter Bliss

Kameo (2)

Vanguard: Saga of Heroes (6)

Wellington Beach

Teal Bay

Key Summit Fiordland

Kiwi Sign

Sheep

Hawea

Akaroa2

Akaroa

Lake Gunn

Clyde Dam

Mangawhai Heads

Lake Wakatipu

Rise of Legends (5)

XBOX Live Gamer Card

Amped 2 (3)

Stewart Island

Tree Fern

Exchange Server 2007 (3)

Zune

Welcome to the Hug

Lonely Sucks

CSS

Small Sins

IE7_bg_sqr_rgb.jpg

Wharf

Mt. Ruapehu

South Island River

Fox Glacier

Milford Sound Mitre Peak

National Park - George Moore

Ruahine Ranges from Apiti

Palm Fingers

Mt. Ngauruhoe

Stewart Island

Fern

Shadowrun (4 x 4 sizes)

 

Sysinternals Suite (60 Tools & Utilities)

 

AccessChk

AccessEnum

AdRestore

Autologon

Autoruns

BgInfo

CacheSet

ClockRes

Contig

Ctrl2Cap

DebugView

DiskExt

Diskmon

DiskView

DU

EFSDump

Filemon

Handle

Hex2dec

Junction

LdmDump

ListDlls

LiveKd

LoadOrder

LogonSessions

NewSid

NtfsInfo

PageDefrag

PendMoves

Portmon

ProcessExplorer

ProcessMonitor

ProcFeatures

PsExec

PsFile

PsGetSid

PsInfo

PsKill

PsList

PsLoggedOn

PsLogList

PsPasswd

PsService

PsShutdown

PsSuspend

RegDelNull

RegJump

RegMon

RootkitRevealer

SDelete

ShareEnum

SigCheck

Streams

Strings

Sync

TcpView

VolumeId

WhoIs

WinObj

ZoomIt 

Training and Books

 

Free Books

 

Introducing Visual Basic 2005 for Developers (e-book) ($30 in paper) (code used in book)

Introducing ASP.NET 2.0 (e-book) ($30 in paper)

Writing Secure Code, 2nd Edition  (e-book) ($40 in paper)

Upgrading Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 to Microsoft Visual Basic .NET (e-book) ($60 in paper)

Microsoft® ASP.NET Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic® .NET Version 2003 Step By Step (e-book) ($40 in paper)

Building Web Solutions with ASP.NET and ADO.NET (e-book) ($60 in paper)

Windows XP Professional Resource Kit (e-book) ($60 in paper)

Microsoft® Windows Server™ 2003 Deployment Kit: A Microsoft Resource Kit (e-book) ($160 in paper)

Migrating from Windows NT Server 4.0 to Windows Server 2003 (e-book) ($30 in paper)

Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Server Resource Kit (e-book) ($300 in paper)

Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Professional Resource Kit (e-book) ($70 in paper)

CodeNotes for J# (e-book) ($20 in paper)

Microsoft Windows 2000 Scripting Guide (e-book) ($50 in paper)

Microsoft Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition: Build a Program Now! (e-book) ($17 in paper)

Microsoft Visual C# 2005 Express Edition: Build a Program Now! (e-book) ($17 in paper)

Microsoft Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition: Build a Web Site Now! (e-book) ($17 in paper)

TCP/IP Fundamentals for Microsoft Windows

First Look 2007 Microsoft Office System

7 Development Projects for Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 and Windows SharePoint Services 3.0

Live Communications Server 2005 SP1: WROX Publishing Pro Guide ($40 in paper)

 

Total value above: $1040 in free e-books

 

All Patterns & Practices e-books (43 currently)

 

Free Training Courses, Clinics, Virtual Labs and Hands On Labs

 

Visio 2007 Solution Development Workshop

Clinic 2551: Introduction to Visual Studio Team System ($45 course free)
Course 2924: Building Data Components in Microsoft® Visual Studio® 2005
($99 course free)
Course 2925: Building Managed Code for SQL Server 2005 and Creating SOA Apps
($99 course free)

Course 2926: Building Windows® Forms Applications with Microsoft® Visual Studio® 2005 ($99 course free)
Course 2927: Building Web Applications with ASP.NET 2.0
($99 course free)
Course 2929: Implementing Wizards, Site Navigation, State Management, and Configuration in ASP.NET 2.0
($99 course free)
Course 2930: Implementing Master Pages, Personalization, and Web Parts with ASP.NET 2.0
($99 course free)
Course 2928: Implementing Data Access and Security in an ASP.NET 2.0 Web Application
($99 course free)

Course 2936: Installing and Securing Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2005 ($99 course free)
Course 2937: Administering and Monitoring Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2005
($99 course free)
Course 2938: Data Availability Features in Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2005
($99 course free)
Course 2939: Programming Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2005
($99 course free)
Course 2940: Building Services and Notifications Using Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2005
($99 course free)
Course 2941: Creating the Data Access Tier Using Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2005
($99 course free)

Course 2942: New Features of Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2005 Analysis Services ($99 course free)
Course 2943: Updating Your Data ETL Skills to Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2005 Integration Services
($99 course free)
Course 2944: Updating Your Reporting Skills to Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2005 Reporting Services
($99 course free)

Course 2909: Getting Started with Microsoft® Office Live Meeting 2005
Course 2910: Microsoft® Office Live Meeting 2005: Next Steps for Organizers
Course 2911: Microsoft® Office Live Meeting 2005: Next Steps for Presenters
Course 2912: Microsoft® Office Live Meeting 2005: Getting Started for Administrators

Course 2913: Creating Your First Microsoft® ASP.NET 2.0 Web Application ($45 course free)

Course 4336: Upgrading from Microsoft® Visual Basic® 6.0: Introduction to the Microsoft .NET Framework ($45 course free)

Clinic 2801: Microsoft® Security Guidance Training I
Clinic 2802: Microsoft® Security Guidance Training II
Clinic 2803: Microsoft® Security Guidance Training III
Clinic 2804: Microsoft® Security Guidance Training IV
Clinic 2806: Microsoft® Security Guidance Training for Developers
Clinic 2807: Microsoft® Security Guidance Training for Developers II
Hands-On Lab 2811: Applying Microsoft® Security Guidance Training
Hands-On Lab 2812: Applying Microsoft® Security Guidance Training II

Clinic 2263: Exam Preparation for the MCDST Certification
Using the Solution Accelerator for Business Desktop Deployment Standard Edition

Clinic 2851: Deploying and Administering Microsoft® Windows® XP Service Pack 2
Clinic 2853: Developing and Maintaining Applications on Microsoft® Windows® XP Service Pack 2
Hands-On Lab 2852: Deploying and Administering Microsoft® Windows® XP Service Pack 2
Hands-On Lab 2854: Developing and Maintaining Applications on Microsoft® Windows® XP Service Pack 2

Clinic 2263: Exam Preparation for the MCDST Certification

Visual Studio Hosted Experience Virtual Labs (21 areas featured, dozens and dozens of labs total)

Absolute Beginner's Video Series to Visual Studio 2005 Express Editions (16 Lessons for both VB and C#)

Getting Started with Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition

C++ Express Webcast Series

Dozens of approx. 30-60 minute MS Office Training Courses (typically cover one specific function)

ISA 2004 Training

Developing Applications in Visual C# .NET Training CD (downloadable ISO)

Exploring ASP.NET 2.0 Using Visual C# 2005 Training CD (downloadable ISO)

Microsoft ASP.NET Using Visual C# .NET Training CD (downloadable ISO)

Course 2274: Managing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment ($349 course free)

Simplified Data Access with ASP.NET 2.0

Developing Microsoft ASP.NET Web Applications with Visual Studio.NET ($349 course free)

13 XP Video Tutorials for Beginners

Scott Guthrie Looks at ASP.NET 2.0 and Visual Studio 2005

ASP.NET Learning for VB .NET Developers

What's New in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0

What's New in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 – Technical course

Clinic 2954: First Look: Microsoft® BizTalk® Server 2006 for Developers

Clinic 2955: First Look: Microsoft® BizTalk® Server 2006 for IT Professionals

Course 2952: Deploying and Managing Microsoft® System Center Data Protection Manager

Course 4697: Introduction to the New Microsoft Office User Interface
Course 4622: What's New in Microsoft Office Access 2007
Course 4623: What's New in Microsoft Office Excel 2007
Course 4624: What's New in Microsoft Office InfoPath 2007
Course 4625: What's New in Microsoft Office OneNote 2007
Course 4626: What's New in Microsoft Office Outlook 2007
Course 4627: What's New in Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007
Course 4629: What's New in Microsoft Office Visio 2007
Course 4698: What's New in Microsoft Office Groove 2007
Course 5046: Inside Look at Developing with 2007 Microsoft Office System SharePoint Servers
Course 5045: Inside Look at Developing with Windows SharePoint Services 3.0
Course 3370: Getting Started with Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 (Beta)
Course 3373: Getting Started with Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 (Beta) e-Hands-on-Lab
Course 3199: Getting Started with the 2007 Microsoft Office System (Beta)
Course 3372: Getting Started with the 2007 Microsoft Office System (Beta) e-Hands-on Lab
Course 3369: Getting Started with Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 (Beta)
Course 3374: Getting Started with Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 (Beta) e-Hands-on Lab
Course 3041: Deploying Microsoft Windows Vista and the 2007 Office System Client Products (Beta)

Clinic 5135 AE: Introduction to Developing with Windows Presentation Foundation and Visual Studio 2005
Clinic 5136 AE: Introduction to Developing with Windows Workflow Foundation and Visual Studio 2005
Clinic 5137 AE: Introduction to Developing with Windows Communication Foundation and Visual Studio 2005

Course 3392: Working with Windows Vista

Course 3404 – What's New in Windows Vista

Course 3036: Getting Started with Microsoft® Small Business Accounting

Course 3037: Managing Customer and Vendor Data with Microsoft® Small Business Accounting

Course 3038: Managing Cash Flow with Microsoft® Small Business Accounting

Course 3039: Reporting and Administering with Microsoft® Small Business Accounting

Course 3040: Managing Business Contacts and Payroll Data with Microsoft® Small Business Accounting

 

Vista and Office 2007 Hands On Labs and Webcasts

 

Introduction to Microsoft .NET Language Integrated Query, Code-Named the LINQ Project
Windows Presentation Foundation Layout and Controls
An Introduction to Styles and Templates in Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF)
MSDN geekSpeak: Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) with Justin Smith
Using Styles, Content Templates, and Resources in Windows Presentation Foundation (Part 1 of 2)
Windows Error Reporting
Windows Presentation Foundation Properties, Events and Commands
Working with Operations and Calls in Windows Communication Foundation
An Introduction to Styles and Templates in Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF)
In-Depth Answers to Your Questions About Windows Communication Foundation
Designing Software Installations for Windows Vista Using Windows Installer 4.0
Using Styles, Content Templates, and Resources in Windows Presentation Foundation (Part 2 of 2)
An In-Depth Look at Mobility Features in Windows Vista
Introduction to Windows Workflow Foundation
Windows Workflow Foundation Exposed
An In-Depth Look at Collaboration Features in Windows Vista
Programmatic Manipulation of the Microsoft Office Open XML Formats
Programming the Outlook Object Model
Open XML Format for Architects
Understanding the 2007 Microsoft Office System User Experience and Interface Design
ARCast: Hey Architects! Meet the 2007 Office System
Design Reports from SQL Server Reporting Services Using Microsoft Office Programs
Designing Collaborative Business Processes with the 2007 Microsoft Office System
Developing Solutions and Extensions for Office OneNote 2007
Integrating Your Solutions with the 2007 Microsoft Office System User Interface
Introduction to Visual Studio Tools for the 2007 Microsoft Office System

 

Exchange 2007 Training

 

Exchange Server 2007: Installing Exchange Server 2007 Labcast (Level 200)

Exchange Server 2007: Administering Exchange Server 2007 Server Roles and Mailboxes Labcast (Level 200)

Virtual Lab Express: Introduction to Microsoft Exchange Server 2007

Exchange Server 2007: Using Management Console and Shell Labcast

Exchange Server 2007: Remote Client Access with Exchange Server 2007 Labcast

Exchange Server 2007: Compliance and Retention Labcast

Exchange Server 2007: Using Local Continuous Replication

Exchange Server 2007: Using Cluster Continuous Replication

Exchange Server 2007: Configuring an Exchange Server 2007 Edge Server

Forefront Security for Exchange Server

 

Office Communications Server 2007 Training

 

Clinic 5126: Introducing Enterprise Instant Messaging Using Microsoft® Office Communications Server 2007 (Beta)

Clinic 5127: Introducing On-Premise Conferencing Using Microsoft® Office Communications Server 2007

Clinic 5128: Introducing Enterprise Telephony Using Microsoft® Office Communications Server 2007

Clinic 5129: Customizing Real-Time Communication with Microsoft® Office Communications Server 2007

 

BizTalk Server 2006 Training

 

Clinic 2955: First Look: Microsoft® BizTalk® Server 2006 for IT Professionals

 

Windows Security Training

 

Clinic 2801: Microsoft® Security Guidance Training I

Clinic 2802: Microsoft® Security Guidance Training II

Clinic 2803: Microsoft® Security Guidance Training III

Clinic 2804: Microsoft® Security Guidance Training IV

Clinic 2808: Microsoft® Security Guidance Training V

Clinic 2855: Managing Security Enhancements in Windows Server™ 2003 Service Pack 1

Clinic 2806: Microsoft® Security Guidance Training for Developers

Clinic 2807: Microsoft® Security Guidance Training for Developers II

 

Windows Server 2003 Training

 

Clinic 4360: Getting Started with Microsoft® Windows Server™ 2003 R2

Clinic 2855: Managing Security Enhancements in Windows Server™ 2003 Service Pack 1

 

.NET 3.0 Training

 

Collection 5134 : Developing Rich Experiences with Microsoft® .NET Framework 3.0 and Visual Studio® 2005

  

Total value above: more than $5000 in free online training available in recent years.

 

***The main part of this page is contained below and was compiled over about two years showing free add-ons for Windows XP, some Office, some dev software, and some server tools.  Some of the material will apply above and be compatible with both Vista and XP and as I have time, I will clean this up.***

 


 

XP Add-Ons and Updates (all at zero cost, and many have had numerous iterations; likewise, many items have been deleted from this page as newer versions or replacements were made available)

 

Miscellaneous Programs

 

Virtual Server Enterprise Edition R2

Virtual Server Migration Toolkit VSMT

Virtual Server 2005 R2 Management Pack

Windows Update is now up to version 6

Package Installer for Windows version 6.1.22.4

Microsoft Agent

Agent Character Editor

Agent Characters (Genie, Merlin, Peedy, and Robby)

Agent Linguistic Sound Editing Tool

Agent Speech Recognition Engine

Agent Speech Control Panel

SAPI 4.0 Runtime

Lernout & Hauspie TTS3000 Text to Speech Engines (11 languages: American English, British English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish; Documentation)

Microsoft Agent Core Components

Agent Language Components (29 languages)

MSN Search Toolbar with Windows Desktop Search 2.0 (includes Pop Up Blocker and tabs for IE 6)

Onfolio Windows Live Toolbar

Windows Desktop Search 2.6.5 (Enterprise version also available)

Windows Desktop Search 3.01

FolderShare (share and store up to 2 GB files; unlimited file transfers for quantity or size of files)

MSN Weather Add-in for MSN Search Toolbar

MSN Explorer 7.02.0011.2700

Internet Explorer 7 RTM

DirectX 9.0c

Calculator Plus

Windows Services for Unix 3.5

Microsoft USB Flash Drive Manager
Wireless Network Setup Wizard
Remote Desktop Web Connection

Microsoft Partner Pack (includes Play: Super Slyder, Serpentine; Share: PhotoSite AlbumBuilder, Microsoft Time Zone; Protect: Computer Associates eTrust Anti-Virus 2005; Explore: Google Deskbar, Desktop Media Gallery, Onfolio Express; Do More: Post-it Software Notes, PayPal Payment Wizard, and Microsoft USB Flash Drive Manager)

Lookout 1.2.8 (only adds value to XP search if Outlook is also owned)
Windows Journal Viewer 1.5 (provides access to Tablet PC Journal files)
MSN Spaces (free online storage [500 photos per month] and blog)

MSN Groups (free 3 MB online storage)

MSN Search (internet search readily available from numerous system points)

MSN Encarta (free use of Encarta when using MSN Search)
MSN Search Toolbar 1.2 (includes Pop Up Blocker)
Microsoft Plus! Dancer LE

MDAC 2.8 SP1

MDAC Utility: Component Checker 2.0

Microsoft Time Zone 2.1.30
MS Windows Memory Tester
Windows XP Service Pack 2 Support Tools (includes 80 tools)

Windows XP Service Pack 2 Deployment Tools
Microsoft Reader 2.1.1 plus Dictionaries (9) and text to speech

Read in Microsoft Reader (only has value for owners of Word)

Reader Dictionary Authoring Kit

Internet Explorer Web Controls 
Keyboard Layout Creator (MSKLC) 1.4 (follows v1.3.4073)

Keyboard Convert Service 1.0
WEFT 3

Internal Font Tools

Font Properties Editor

OpenType Font Signing Tool

Font Validator

Visual TrueType

Visual OpenType Layout Tool

Port Reporter
Port Query 2.0

Port Query UI
Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel v2.0.1.1

Fotovision
ActiveSync 4.5 (follows v 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, 3.8, 3.7.1, 3.7, 3.6, and 3.5)
Windows 2000 Resource Kit Tools (nearly 300 tools)
Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit Tools (126 tools)

Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 Administration Tools Pack

Office 2003 Word Viewer (view, print, and copy document contents to another program)

Office 2007 PowerPoint Viewer (view and print)

Office 2003 Excel Viewer (view, print, and copy document contents to another program)

Office 2007 Visio Viewer (view and print)

Office 2003 Access Snapshot Viewer

Windows Installer 3.1 (follows v3.0 and 2.0 [shipped with XP])

XML Parser (MSXML) 3.0 SP7

RegMaid

Advanced Networking Pack

CopyProfile

User Profile Hive Cleanup Service
Autoplay Repair Wizard

Qfecheck

IEAK 6 SP1

File Checksum Integrity Verifier

Uptime

Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) v2.0

Fiddler 0.9.9

SMS Sender for GSM Mobile Phones

AppLocale

STRGEN

E-Learning Offline Player

Microsoft Research (dozens of downloads)

WMI Administrative Tools

WMI SNMP Provider 1.5

Location Finder

Max

Color Control Panel Applet

GroupBar

Microsoft Management Console 3.0

Microsoft Software Inventory Analyzer

Transliteration Utility v1.0

Soccer Scoreboard 

Personal Storage Manager

Network Diagnostic Tool 

HTML Help WorkShop

Sandcastle - July 2006 CTP

Internet Explorer Administration Kit 7 Beta 3

Enterprise Update Scan Tool v3

Change Analysis Diagnostic

 

**Below are updates that have been placed in categories. Though many could fit in different areas, I placed them in the section I thought was the best fit.**

 

UI Related

 

Wallpaper Changer Powertoy

Winter Wallpaper Changer

Windowblinds 3.4 by Stardock

IconBuffet Studio Edition Icon Suite

 

Communications Related

 

Remote Desktop Connection (Terminal Services Client 6.0)

Outlook Express 6.00.2900.2180
Windows Messenger 5.1

MSN Messenger 7 (since replaced by Live Messenger)

3 Degrees (since replaced by MSN Messenger 7)

ConferenceXP 3.2

Hotmail (upgraded from 2MB to 250MB storage, 10 MB attachments, free anti-virus, and spam controls; 11-17-06 storage expands to 1 GB)

Microsoft Portrait for PC 2.3

Snarf

Live Messenger 8

Live Mail (free e-mail service with 2GB storage)

Live Mail Desktop Beta 8.0.0783 (free e-mail service with 2GB storage)

 

Web Serving Related

 

IIS Resource Kit Tools (14 tools)

IIS Diagnostics Toolkit

IIS Lockdown Tool 2.1

IIS Debug Toolkit

IIS 6.0 Migration Tool

Urlscan 2.5

SSL Diagnostics Version 1.0

Authentication and Access Control Diagnostics 1.0

DotNetNuke for ASP.NET

Community Server, Forums

Cassini Web Server

Fiddler

Fiddler Script Editor

Atlas

ComponentScience WebPlanner 2005

Asp.net Hosting Kit

WFetch 1.4

 

Database Related

 

SQL Server September 2005 CTP (Enterprise, Standard, Workgroup, or Developer)

SQL Server Web Data Administrator

SQLIO Disk Subsystem Benchmark Tool

Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine (MSDE 2000) Release A

SQL Server Health and History Tool (SQLH2)

MSDE Web Resource Kit Visual Basic .NET and Web Matrix Version
MSDE Web Resource Kit - C# and Web Matrix Version

SqlXml 3.0 Service Pack 3

Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio Express CTP Nov 2005

SQL Server Express Utility

SQL Server 2005 CTP DVD/CD Kit

SQL Server Centric .NET Code Generator (OlyMars)

SQL Server 2005 JDBC Driver Beta 1

Feature Pack for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 - November 2005

SQL Server 2005 Upgrade Advisor- CTP September 2005

KPIUtil

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with Advanced Services

 

Security Related

 

Private Folder 1.0

Microsoft AntiSpyware (free until at least 07-31-06 [over 1.5 years of free use])

Windows Firewall (replaces Internet Connection Firewall, part of Service Pack 2)

Malicious Software Removal Tool (released monthly beginning January, 2005)

Password Minder

Internet Explorer Pop Up Blocker (part of Service Pack 2)

Security Center (part of Service Pack 2)

Microsoft Security Risk Self-Assessment Tool (MSRSAT)

Microsoft Security Assessment Tool (MSAT)

Microsoft Office Visio 2003 Connector for the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (only has value for Visio owners)

Microsoft Shared Computer Toolkit for Windows XP v 1.1

Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer v2

Phishing Filter Add-in for MSN Search Toolbar

Clear Cache for IE

Windows Defender v1593 (follows v1592, beta 2 v1347, & beta 1/Microsoft AntiSpyware) (Defender is in Vista and on by default)

Live Safety Center

Strider URL Tracer 1.0.1.0

 

Game Gear

 

Zoo Tycoon Card Flip Game

Allegiance multiplayer space-combat game

Super Slyder

Dragon Maze

MS Game Advisor and Benchmark Utility

MechCommander 2

Dead Man's Tale for Messenger