Top 10 Must-Try Tools Inside NirLauncher for Power UsersNirLauncher is a portable collection of more than 200 small, useful utilities created by NirSoft. It’s designed for Windows power users, technicians, and anyone who wants a single, lightweight toolkit that can be run from a USB stick without installation. The suite covers networking, system monitoring, password recovery, file utilities, and more. Below are the top 10 must-try tools inside NirLauncher that every power user should know about — each explained with practical use cases, tips, and safety notes.
1. WirelessKeyView — Recover Wireless Network Keys
What it does: WirelessKeyView scans your Windows system and extracts stored Wi‑Fi network keys (WEP/WPA) saved by the operating system.
Why try it:
- Recover a forgotten Wi‑Fi password on a machine you control.
- Quickly export keys when migrating to a new device.
Practical tips:
- Run as administrator for best results.
- Export recovered keys to an encrypted file if you need to transport them. Safety note:
- Use only on systems you own or administer; accessing others’ credentials without permission is illegal and unethical.
2. ProduKey — Retrieve Product Keys for Windows and Office
What it does: ProduKey displays the product keys used to activate Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office installed on the machine.
Why try it:
- Useful before reinstalling Windows or Office.
- Save time when documenting license keys for multiple machines.
Practical tips:
- Use the “Load from external source” option to read keys from offline Windows installations (e.g., mounted registry hives).
- Combine with a secure password manager when storing keys.
3. NirSoft’s NetworkTrafficView — Monitor Network Traffic
What it does: NetworkTrafficView captures packets and displays statistics about network connections and traffic, grouped by source/destination and protocol.
Why try it:
- Spot unexpected outbound connections or bandwidth-heavy apps.
- Quick troubleshooting for slow network issues.
Practical tips:
- Filter by process name or IP range to focus on relevant traffic.
- Use short captures (a few minutes) to avoid huge log files.
4. BlueScreenView — Analyze System Crash Dumps
What it does: BlueScreenView scans minidump files generated after system crashes (BSODs) and highlights drivers or modules that likely caused the crash.
Why try it:
- Quickly identify problematic drivers after a blue screen.
- Gather evidence to search for driver updates or patches.
Practical tips:
- Make sure Windows is configured to create minidump files (System Properties → Startup and Recovery).
- Cross-check the highlighted driver with its file version and timestamp.
5. CurrPorts — View Open TCP/IP and UDP Ports
What it does: CurrPorts lists all currently open network ports on the system and which processes own them, including remote addresses and connection status.
Why try it:
- Discover suspicious listening ports or unexpected outbound connections.
- Map services to executable files when auditing a system.
Practical tips:
- Sort by “Process Name” or “Remote Address” to find anomalies quickly.
- Use the built-in option to close unwanted TCP connections.
6. SearchMyFiles — Advanced Local File Search
What it does: SearchMyFiles is a more powerful alternative to Windows Search, offering detailed filters (file size/date, wildcards, content search, attributes).
Why try it:
- Find files by content or advanced criteria when Windows Search fails.
- Export file lists for inventory tasks.
Practical tips:
- Use the “Search in Files” option to locate specific text inside files (supports ANSI/Unicode).
- Save search results to a CSV for reporting.
7. USBDeview — Manage USB Devices and Drivers
What it does: USBDeview shows a list of all USB devices currently and previously connected to the computer. It includes device properties, connection timestamps, and options to uninstall drivers.
Why try it:
- Identify which USB device caused a driver issue.
- Remove stale device entries before reusing device IDs.
Practical tips:
- Run as administrator to uninstall drivers or disconnect devices remotely.
- Use the exported list for inventorying USB peripheral usage on multiple machines.
8. WebBrowserPassView — Recover Browser-Saved Passwords
What it does: WebBrowserPassView reads saved passwords from popular browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Internet Explorer) stored on the local machine.
Why try it:
- Recover a saved credential for a site you own when you forgot the password.
- Audit stored browser credentials during security assessments.
Practical tips:
- Export results to an encrypted file if transporting them between systems.
- Pair with a password manager to migrate credentials securely.
Safety note:
- Respect privacy and legal boundaries; only use on systems where you have explicit permission.
9. ShellExView — Inspect and Manage Shell Extensions
What it does: ShellExView lists all shell extensions (context menu handlers, property sheet handlers, icon handlers) registered on the system and lets you enable/disable them.
Why try it:
- Troubleshoot slow right-click menus by disabling problematic extensions.
- Identify unwanted installed context-menu handlers from third-party apps.
Practical tips:
- Disable extensions one at a time and test after each change to isolate issues.
- Keep track of original settings so you can revert changes.
10. NirCmd — Command-Line Swiss Army Knife
What it does: NirCmd is a small command-line utility that can perform dozens of system actions: change volume, create shortcuts, manipulate files, display messages, and more.
Why try it:
- Automate repetitive tasks or build lightweight scripts without PowerShell overhead.
- Useful for quick administrative actions during troubleshooting.
Practical tips:
- Read the help file for full command syntax.
- Combine NirCmd commands in batch scripts for portable automation.
Installation, Updates, and Safety
NirLauncher itself is portable: download the package, extract it to a folder or USB drive, and run NirLauncher.exe. The launcher categorizes tools and provides descriptions and links to the original NirSoft pages. NirSoft utilities are generally tiny and require no installation, but several need administrative privileges for full functionality.
Security and legality:
- Many NirSoft tools can access sensitive data (passwords, keys, dumps). Use them only on systems you own or administer. Unauthorized use can be illegal.
- Some antivirus products may flag certain tools as suspicious due to their password-recovery features. This is often a false-positive; verify by downloading from the official NirSoft site and checking file hashes when in doubt.
Quick Workflow Examples
-
Recover and migrate Wi‑Fi keys:
- Run WirelessKeyView → export keys.
- Secure the export file (encrypt) and import into the new machine.
-
Diagnose a BSOD:
- Use BlueScreenView to open minidumps.
- Identify driver, update it, reboot and retest.
-
Audit network connections:
- Run CurrPorts to list listening ports.
- Use NetworkTrafficView for deeper packet inspection.
Final Notes
NirLauncher is a compact, practical toolkit for power users who need portable, no-install utilities. The ten tools above represent a cross-section of capabilities — credential recovery, system diagnostics, network analysis, and automation — that can significantly speed up troubleshooting and administration tasks. Use them responsibly, keep backups, and combine with secure practices (encryption, password managers, and documented change control).
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