Microsoft XP Powertoys

There are a number of ‘powertoys’ available for Windows XP, which are not on general release, but can help users with some of the little tasks they might have from time to time.

These powertoys are available to download (along with some additional information) from Microsoft HERE.

The toys we find most useful are:

1) Image Resizer

This does exactly what it says on the tin. If you have an image which you need to resize, this tool allows you to right-click the image and resize it easily. There are a few standard size settings, but also a ‘custom’ setting for specific sizes. Useful for those with ecommerce websites, ebay resellers, or even for avatars on forums.

2) RAW Image Thumbnailer and Viewer

This is especially useful for those of us interested in photography. It is another simple tool which allows the user to work with digital RAW files in Windows (much the same as you can with JPEG, etc), allowing thumbnails, previews, printing, etc.

3) HTML Slideshow Wizard

This is a very useful tool, allowing you to create an HTML slideshow of your selected pictures - ready to be placed on your website.

4) ALT-TAB Replacement

This is an excellent little tool, replacing the standard ALT-TAB showing an icon, and allowing you to see a preview of the page with the icon.