Every so often I like to spotlight utilities that IT admins should keep in their flash-drive toolboxes, like Blue Screen of Death troubleshooter BlueScreenView.

If you spend a lot of time inside the Windows Registry, either on your own system or on users' machines, you need a good tool for tweaking and tuning. X-Setup Pro is a pro-level Registry utility, one that normally costs about $20.

The bad news: X-Setup Pro developer WUG recently ceased operations. The good news: X-Setup Pro is still available, still incredibly useful, and now free of charge.

Sort of. WUG's parting message included a serial number anyone can use to register the software: XSA092-11TA9R-8K12YT. You won't get support, obviously, but let's face it: you probably won't need it.

X-Setup Pro lets you change more than 2,000 "hidden" Windows settings. It's compatible with all versions of Windows, including Windows 7. I would definitely download it sooner rather than later, just in case the sites hosting it decide to take it down.

While you're at it, be sure to check out five free tools for rescuing data from unbootable PCs and one of my all-time favorites, WizMouse.