#1 program I install on any computer I'm going to use is Irfanview.
http://irfanview.com/faq.htm | http://irfanview.com/
  It's a lightweight/small image viewing application with a TON of features.
  It's not meant to compete against Photoshop or Paintshop type programs.
  Image and graphics files aren't the only files it can open and modify.
  I use it even for it's abilities to rename, copy and move massive amounts of files of any type.
  Been using it since 2003 or so and don't want to use a Windows PC without it.
http://hosting.dfbgaming.com/members/0skillz/iview.html - flash video of me using it to move and rename UT99 screenshots... recorded with Camstudio and converted to flash with Super.

#2 = Picasa
http://picasa.google.com/features/index.html | http://picasa.google.com/
  It's an image library/management program with some editing features built in.
  It doesn't quite compete with Photoshop because they are just 2 seperate concepts.
  The features in Picasa that are comparable to features in Photoshop work very well.
  I like to argue that Adobe created [url=http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshoplightroom/]Lightroom[/url] to compete with programs like Picasa...

#3 EditPad Lite
http://www.editpadpro.com/editpadlite.html
  Lite is fine, I don't need Pro.
  Windows' Notepad is very limited.
  Most valuable feature IMO = 'show line numbers'
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For recording videos of your desktop, Camstudio:
http://www.camstudio.org/

For converting video files to other formats, Super:
http://www.erightsoft.com/SUPER.html

Ripping CDs:
http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/

DVDDecrypter's successor:
http://imgburn.com/

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I found something today that's completely free and works just about as much as I need and want.
http://www.latshawsystems.com/ProductDetails_FileSynchronizer.aspx
Can make sure that 2 folders in different locations - even across my local network - have the exact same files in them.  No fancy encryption or proprietary archive format, just plain and simple copy files so both folders are the same :)