Firewall:No need for that as the router already blocks incomming connections - in any case, @tGuard (2 or 3), that one worked, was skinfree and didn't need internet explorer
Anti-Virus:No need for that (don't need another application which bothers me about me eMail inbox file containing trojans or false alerts)... guess there are to much XP/IE/Outlook users out there?
Advanced Windows Tuning (software like tweakXP):Regedit, dis(assembler)
Download Utilities:Seems all tools suck even more than Opera 6.06b
E-Mail:Seems all tools suck even more than Opera 6.06b? Outlook was the only one fitting my personal style (after plenty hacks), but who needs a virus exchange tool?
Webdesign:win32pad or any other notepad replacement... and some assistance of QuickPage
Graphics Development:Ulead PhotoImpact (the older the better... due features i recommend a cracked 6 trial, because in the full version some features don't work); However NT series seems to have problems with PhotoImpact - The Gimp for even more functionality
Hard-Drive optimization tools (defraggers for example):MS Defrag took 1 day for my 120GB disc... Didn't defrag for 2 or three years now, also last formated my boot partition same time ago?
Windows error Checking (Like Norton Utilities):RegMon, FileMon, logfiles, disassembler, debugger
Antything else that comes to mind:Software developers should better take care about Windows compatibility (If I want applications skinned, I install a skinning software or XP and get all apps skinned the same way!!!). Also better Windows 95 compatiblity would be fine (if it runs on Windows 95, it 99% runs on any other Windows... if it is designed for Windows XP/Vista, it 90% runs on XP/Vista)