IrfanView

That’s a name I have not heard in a long while. I used to use it back on Windows 95 because it was a faster way to view JPEGs than opening Internet Explorer. Everything about that makes me feel old.

Still a part of the standard software I install on every new install.

As an only occasional windows user, I certainly wouldn’t mind seeing such a list, maybe in a GitHub gist if you find yourself bored one day :)

Each their own, that's mine. Note that this is not a tech user or developper list, but the list of what I install on any new windows pc, including those at work etc ...

7zip (open any archive)

VLC (open any audio/video file)

IrfanView (+ the "all plugins" installer on the same page, open any picture file)

SumatraPDF (read PDFs)

Libreoffice (to open any office files)

NAPS2 (easy scan, and split/merge/... PDFs)

Ditto (give your clipboard a memory)

Everything (an instant file search that works)

TeraCopy (replace windows copy with queue, queues, add files to the queue instead of starting a second parallel copy, pause that works, ...)

Powertoys (so many to list ... mass rename file easily, screen ruler, text extractor ...)

If it's appropriate : Qbittorent (clean torrent client)

Nvidia graphic card ? NVCleaninstall, so you can install just the clean driver you need

Windows 10 or 11 ? O&O Shut Up (to disable all the telemetry and onedrive in one click, there are plenty alternatives but I sort of like this one)

Windows 11 ? ExplorerPatcher to remove suggestions in the start menu and the new and terrible castrated contextual menu

And of course your browser of choice and extensions

In ten minutes you have a computer that feels much more smart and usable. There are plenty of great software out there, but I feel like many what to install lists are very topical or include software you won't use in many cases or once every 6 months, so this is my short list of what you will use essentially every time you use the computer.