[Essentials] Freeware

[prowler]

Clementine Player!

 

[Wizerzak]

Lightworks - a video editing software

 

[GH0ST]

Snowbird the light & fast search engine for windows
Everything an administrative tool that locates files and folders by filename instantly for Windows unlike Windows search
System Explorer a tool for exploration and management of System Internals... a very nice tool.
Pegasus Mail a powerfull electronic mail client for use by single or multiple users on single computers or on local area networks
Future Pinball a modern visual pinball version for the fun ;-)


+1 for MyDefrag
+1 for Comodo CIS ( Comodo Internet Security ) a free Firewall, Antivirus, & Defense Sandbox suite

 

[Wizerzak]

Also +1 for

Paint.NET
Google Chrome
VLC
Windows Live Messenger
AVG

 

[EvangelionEX]

Wondering why isn't Opera up there.

 

[Ace]

GTA I & II + 1
I'd also like to add The Elder Scrolls I: Arena

 

[8BitWalugi]

OctoDad

 

[Satangel]

PCSX2

That's just such an awesome emulator, it works so well!

 

[titen96]

Foxit Reader

 

[AsPika2219]

+1 for my own freeware!

Firefox
Google Chrome
CCleaner
Avast! Anti-Virus Free Edition
Malwarebytes Free Edition
No$GBA
WinRar
VisualGBA
KM Player
Snes9x
IrfanView
Paint NET
Notepad ++

 

[DaRk_ViVi]

Firefox
VLC
Rainmeter
Malwarebytes Anti Malware
Combofix
Dropbox
Paint.net

 

[gumgod]

+1 for the following

Desktop software:
VLC
Chrome
Pidgin (chat on Windows/Linux)
Adium (chat on Mac)
Thunderbird
OpenOffice
7-zip
Sandboxie - (Sandbox program - the free version is limited to one sandbox and a couple other restrictions, but still very useful and can be used as long as you like without buying it)

Also +1 to these if you're counting their respective categories...

games:
Secret Mayro Chronicles
Metroid Confrontation / AM2R
Frets on fire
Cave Story

operating systems...
Linux (Ubuntu)

If you're counting web software... (as in not for normal desktop use, but for web servers)
Apache - web server
PHP - free web programing language
MySQL - free database program - commonly used on the web

 

[rockstar99]

Google Chrome
Intel AppUp
Mac App Store
iTunes
VLC
Steam
MSN
WMP
Gang Garission 2

 

[ilovegames]

winamp (equalizer/shoutcast/device manager/milkdrop/skins/ease of use)

opera (least resource intensive full featured browser imo)

rainmeter (get your desktop swagged out)

 

[Wombo Combo]

Alt.Binz
KneePass
Miranda IM
Media Player Classic
foobar2000
ninite

 

[Splych]

FreeStudio [http://www.dvdvideosoft.com/free-dvd-video-software.htm]

a great suite with a variety of converters .

 

[Frederica Bernkastel]

-1 Apache
+1 lighttpd
+1 nginx

 

[Satangel]

FreeStudio [http://www.dvdvideosoft.com/free-dvd-video-software.htm]

a great suite with a variety of converters.

So so true, +1

 

[The Catboy]

Elder Scrolls Daggerfall
Elder Scrolls Arena
Linux
DosBox

 

[Oveneise]

Cave Story