AutoHotkey

AutoHotkey is a free, open-source utility for Windows. With it, you can:

  • Automate almost anything by sending keystrokes and mouse clicks. You can write a mouse or keyboard macro by hand or use the macro recorder.
  • Create hotkeys for keyboard, joystick, and mouse. Virtually any key, button, or combination can become a hotkey.
  • Expand abbreviations as you type them. For example, typing “btw” can automatically produce “by the way”.
  • Create custom data-entry forms, user interfaces, and menu bars. See GUI for details.
  • Remap keys and buttons on your keyboard, joystick, and mouse.
  • Respond to signals from hand-held remote controls via the WinLIRC client script.
  • Run existing AutoIt v2 scripts and enhance them with new capabilities.
  • Convert any script into an EXE file that can be run on computers that don’t have AutoHotkey installed.

Getting started might be easier than you think. Check out the quick-start tutorial.

Transfering files and folders rapidly in Windows

One of the most common task of a computer user is transferring (copying or moving) files and folders. Pathetically, the default windows  file transferring tools are too primitive and slow. Thankfully, there are free and commercial, file transferring utilities at our disposal. My personal favorite are teracopy and richcopy.

Links:
Teracopy – http://www.codesector.com/teracopy.php
Richcopy - http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/2009.04.utilityspotlight.aspx
Few more similar tools – http://www.techmalaya.com/2008/06/11/windows-file-copy-faster-speed/