http://ninite.com/
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/bska6/whats_your_favorite_software_that_no_one_else/
http://www.techradar.com/news/computing/pc/60-tweaks-and-hacks-for-windows-7-vista-or-xp-685480?artc_pg=2

= communications
firefox
winscp (sftp/scp/ftp)
vncviewer
putty (ssh/tunnels)
dropbox
ie7
netstumbler
stunnel
apexdc++
utorrent

= system
dotnet
jre
conosolas
andal32
inconsolata
profont

= systemtray
mycomputer
cmd.exe
showdesktop
mstsc
sndvol

= dev
activeperl
python
eclipse
netbeans

= archive / storage
7zip
winrar
quickpar
daemontools lite
imgburn
dvddecrypt (makers of imgburn)
dvd43

= security
avg
spybot s&d
ethereal / wireshark

= docs
foxitreader
primopdf
* new pdf viewers
gvim
mobipocket
djvu

= utilities
powertoys deskman cmdhere powercalc synctoy taskswitch
sysinternals suite
autohotkey
treesize
synergy
eeerotate (netbook)

= cygwin

= music
aptuner
asd (amazing slow downer)
audacity
tuxguitar
fairuse4wm

= media
handbrake
super (erightsoft)
eac
lame
foobar2k
vlc
wmp11
divx
fsviewer
g-spot
id3-it
rhapsody
itunes
winamp shn
newzbin
real alternative
gimp
quicktime

= firefox
livehttpheaders
flashplayer 10
downthemall
foxyproxy
adblockplus
noscript
greasemonkey
tree style tab
little fox
firebug
customize google
googlegears
tinyurl creator
user agent switcher
web developer
reload every
gmarks
xmarks
betterprivacy
extended copy menu and/or hyperwords
firegpg

= services
apache2
freeftpd

= work
cisco vpn
citrix ica client

=== Other's Suggested:
Pdf Xchange - Better than foxit
Trillian Astro - Great feature list
Windows 7 Manager - All in one place
Microsoft Security Essentials - So far so good
Pspad - As good as Notepad++
FeedDemon - If you want an alternative for google reader
21. Launchy
check SMplayer instead of vlc.
Gimp - Paint.net
Vlc Media Player - MPC Home Theatre
Firefox - Chrome
Adobe Reader - Foxit PDF reader
Firefox, Chrome, Picasa, VLC, Notepad++, Evernote, Keepass, Syncback, Live Writer (if you blog), VLC, Pidgin, Skype, Gizmo5 (for free calls in US using Voice), Foxit Reader, 7zip, Tweetdeck
WinFF (video transcoding)
cutepdf
CCCP is the way to go Codec-wise.
voidtools.com
MPC Home Theatre 
Avira or MSE (instead of avg) - http://tipsfor.us/2009/03/18/avira-antivir-updates-to-version-9-make-it-more-usable/



nb: daemontools, gimp,  wireshark, rhapsody