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PowerDesk

Version: 6.0
Downloads Count: 463,742
License Type: Free
Price: $40
Date Added: Jan 5, 2011
Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows XP
Requirements: Pentium 133 or higher, 64 MB RAM, 40 MB disk space
File Size: 15.527 MB
Author: Avanquest Software

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Editorial Review of PowerDesk

Moving and copying files and folders can be a tedious business, but PowerDesk 6 can make it easier by providing a better-designed interface than Windows Explorer. This handy little utility allows you to easily sort, move, and otherwise manipulate files by showing you two directories in one window: you can select the files then copy or move them with a mouse click. That?s a lot easier than all that dragging and dropping you have to do with Windows Explorer.

It can also compress files using Zip compression, securely delete files and kick off other utilities (such as Regedit and a command prompt).

Although it is designed to act as a demo for the $40 commercial utility PowerDesk 6 Standard, it's a useful program in its own right, and runs without time limitations or restrictions. The commercial version has a much wider range of features, including the ability to rename groups of files at once, plus the ability to batch convert groups of files at once from one format to another.

--Richard Baguley

Description of PowerDesk

PowerDesk 6 free file management tool for the PC desktop is an excellent replacement for Windows Explorer. PowerDesk is a file manager that has all the features of Windows Explorer, it encrypts and decrypts, zips, unzips and password protects, views numerous file types, provides quick access to popular applications, e-mails, destroys files, finds files, and more. PowerDesk Utilities' two pane interface is very similar to Windows Explorer. All of the tools you need are on the customizable toolbar. The Quicklaunch comes with shortcuts to programs like Internet Explorer, Registry Editor, Notepad, Paint, and more. This bar can also be customized to launch any other app you want. Files can be permanently deleted or sent to the recycle bin with a click of the trash and recycle icons. Files can be zipped and unzipped using the right-click context menu. And files can be encrypted and decrypted with a few simple steps. PowerDesk decodes email messages, allows you to preview files in a file viewer and finds music files based on MP3 tag information. PowerDesk is the ultimate PC desktop utility and it s free!

Most recent User Reviews for PowerDesk

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Reviewed by: MWE66
06-14-2011

Duration of ownership: 10 Years

Strengths: vastly superior to Windows Explorer. Allows real understand, control and management of file system

Weaknesses: lacks a powerful (batch) file renaming capability

Overall Evaluation: I have used it for approx 10 years (started with PowerDesk 4) under Win2k and WinXP; one of the most valuable utilities on my system
Reviewed by: cw2go
04-13-2009

Duration of ownership: 10 Years

Strengths: For years I was a big fan of earlier versions, and considered this the most valuable utility ever devised, with excellent multiple pane drag & drop copying or moving, a wonderful file viewer, and extensive customization options. The "trial" version is useful, but lacks many of the most important features such as the viewer.

Weaknesses: Under XP, looking in a directory with large files (maps or photos) slows the program to a crawl. Your computer is effectively locked up for several minutes while it finds the files one at a time at a snail's pace. This is completely unacceptable, and causes lots of crashes under XP. I no longer recommend this program.

Overall Evaluation: I have owned two paid versions (which were great under Win95/98/ME, but not very compatible with XT. I have a downloaded trial version, which is hobbled and will trash all your customizations if you have the older paid version. This is totally incompetent. You will have a miserable time trying to go back to earlier settings (no uninstall / go back option). This is unacceptable. This program has been sold twice and the new owners do not seem to know how to keep it current and compatible. Consider FreeCommander as an excellent free alternative.
Reviewed by: capex00
03-09-2008

Duration of ownership: 8 Years

Strengths: Indespensible file manager, viewer, sync tool-file finder. If I only had one utility program, this would be the one. Multiple panes very very good for drag and drop, sync, etc..

Weaknesses: Would like to see a "showall" files in a folder and sub-folder like the old Xtree Program. Sync program sometimes jumps folders between setup and run; wold like to have cad dwg, dwf file viewer.

Overall Evaluation: Excellent piece of software that has been continuously updated with new features. The interface is a bit dated but still fully functional.
Reviewed by: Volbum
10-01-2007

Duration of ownership: 5 Years

Strengths: Lots of different file actions, numerous other features, dual pane view, lots of customization abilities.

Weaknesses: None for me.

Overall Evaluation: This one of my "I can't do without" utilities. It's more than just a file manager. It has a customizable launch bar, a Sync function, file finder, file viewer, picture converter, FTP pgm, .. to name just a few. I've had it at least 5 years and still find another use that I never realized, now and then.
Reviewed by: kbbishop
07-30-2007

Duration of ownership: 5 Years

Strengths: Excellent file viewer

Weaknesses:

Overall Evaluation:
Reviewed by: thomasstadler
07-13-2007

Duration of ownership: 7 Years

Strengths:

Weaknesses:

Overall Evaluation:

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