I’ve got a huge passion and interest for portable apps. I’m a bit of a hoarder and collector, and the idea of being able to download a little piece of software and take it anywhere with me, forever, is one that pleases me very much. I’m pleased even more so when these applications help me customize and manage my OS of choice, Windows.

In this post, I’d like to introduce you to three different softwares that will assist you in managing your Windows system in keeping it neat and clean, saving and customizing configuration profiles, and navigating to folders quicker and easier. All three of them can be tossed into a Dropbox folder or on a flash drive, as they are all portable.

Quick Clean

Quick Clean is one of many awesome applications developed and released by The Windows Club. Quick Clean works for all versions of Windows Vista and 7 and acts as a more complete way to clean your system of temporary junk files.

Windows’ built-in cleaning utility is the Disk Cleanup tool. From the simple interface of this application, you’re given a shortcut to immediately run that.

The Clean more junk files button is the main and only function of this program. Clicking that button will delete all of the following files from your system:

• *.tmp
• *.temp
• *.chk
• *.old
• *.gid
• *.nch
• *.wbk
• *.fts
• *.ftg
• *.$$$
• *.err
• *.—
• *.~*
• ~*.*
• *.??$
• *.___
• *.~mp
• *._mp
• *.prv
• *.sik
• CHKLIST.MS
• *.ilk
• *.aps
• *.mcp
• *.pch
• *.$db
• *.?$?
• *.??~
• *.?~?
• *.db$
• *.^
• *._dd
• *._detmp
• 0*.nch
• chklist.*
• mscreate.dir
• *.diz
• *.syd
• *.grp
• *.cnt
• *.~mp.

Quick Config

A week ago I did an article on Startup Selector, an application that will allow you to save configuration profiles of your Windows startup. Quick Config is a very smiliar application that complements Startup Selector very well, as it allows you to save a configuration file of just about everything else other than your startup items.

In the screenshot above, you can see I’ve created a startup profile named “Test”. You can have as many profiles as you want, all switched back and forth with a simple click. You’re able to configure things like your default application handlers, system power scheme, browser settings, desktop resolution, and more.

In my opinion, the best feature is being able to create a list of enabled or disabled services.

QuickWayToFolders

QuickWayToFolders is a great way to create easy access to Windows Explorer folders that you’re always accessing manually. Many of us have Documents folders or external drives that we’re always in and out of, and QuickWayToFolders will allow you to navigate to or browse these folders through the system tray.

Upon first running the application, you’re shown the options. A folder for your desktop has already been created for you.

In your system tray, you’ll notice the icon for your desktop folder. Clicking on it will show the desktop folder in a desktop view.

There are plenty of different shortcut types that will allow you to change the actual view of your shortcut folders, some more suitable for certain folders than others. I’d recommend playing with all of those menu types.

Your available options per folder are pretty extensive also.

QuickWayToFolders is a tool that can save you a lot of time navigating through Windows Explorer. I’ve found it to be an incredibly useful piece of software.

Which of these three portable apps is the most useful for you? Do you have any other portable Windows apps you want to share with us?  Let us know in the comments!