I like Start Menu X. As you install Programs, it shows immediately. It is simple & quick. Has many
features & is FREE.

Start Menu X

http://www.startmenux.com/index.html


- Group programs by purpose in "virtual groups"(office applications, graphics, etc) without changing their location on the hard drive. Groups can be "folded" (minimized) to make finding and launching your programs easier.

@kalmly #19

You described your favorite launcher, but neglected to name it. Sounds interesting though.

No one has mentioned one, if not the best launcher / Dock app.
StabLauncher is really the one useful one click launch application. Freeware of course.

http://stablauncher.com/index.html
You may have as many tabs as you like , each one personalized.
I use is since XP to Windows 10 ...

After years of use, and trying a lot of programs of this kind, this one is a jewel. "this one is different, this one is great,no one who has ever tried it could live without it anymore!gives you quick access to applications, documents, folders and shortcuts.
Unlike many other launchpads RUNit doesn't occupy any space on your screen
- you only see it when you actually use it." (between quotes is copied from the site but I couldn't say it better). Just drop programs files, links etc in the setup portion of the program. Create menus, sub menus at your will.
Right click on each of the 4 borders of your screen to have 4 different launching pads for different kind of apps!. For all win versions. Download only version runit21beta6a and don't be afraid by the "beta". It's perfectly safe and stable.
http://www.magister-lex.at/RUNit/

So many seem to be missing the point of a launcher. I don't have to dig around in side bars, start menus, or Windows Explorer, searching out an application, and then point and click, point and click. My launcher pops open any application in my system with no more effort than typing 3 or 4 keys and hitting enter. Ir will also open any file I've added to its list just as easily. If you'd rather point and click and search, you don't want a launcher. Me, I like it the easy way.

I noticed that Launcher left data behind under

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Micro-Sys\Launcher\TrialInfo]

after it was closed. Since one of the benefits of portable software is cleaning up after yourself when you use it on someone else's computer, I'd conclude that it isn't really "portable" in that sense, though I suppose those who don't mind leaving data behind won't care. Or maybe it's a bug, and the developer simply neglected to fix that when he made the program portable.

Cool App and that too free on GAOTD....I was looking for such kind of app only...It made my day...:-)

#3 Karl, you wrote, "I would like to have these program in a 'startmenu', not an additional symbol in the task tray." Respectfully disagree. My start menu--though organized--is glutted and full of all kinds of programs. I don't feel like wading through them all to find what I want to open. A little launcher like this sitting in the clock tray and reserved for my most frequently-used programs is most convenient.

Just use icons on the Windows desktop to run individual software or open a folder of genre of software. Double click icon to run. Customise the icons to graphics that are easy to remember and label them with text. The visual icons beat any list.

Nothing special...you must be do more man, as this is a supersaturated field.

* (Portable) Find and Run Robot (FARR)
Terrific FREE app which can find programs and documents on your computer, as you type their name, through a smart "live search" function. Can also perform quick run web searches, send email, manipulate files, control on-screen windows, and much more.

http://www.donationcoder.com/Software/Mouser/findrun/index.html

* (Portable) SideSlide
Amazing dockable, highly configurable and feature-packed FREE desktop launcher and desktop clutter cleaner, which makes your PC as friendlier and faster as never before. Highly Addictive!!

http://www.northglide.com/sideslide.html

* Pokki
How about having a FREE TOOL providing you with quick access to your favorite web apps, games & sites (Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, YouTube, Amazon, eBay, Wikipedia, SoundCloud, Angry Birds etc...), as a mobile-like experience right in the taskbar of your PC?
A FREE program letting you keep yourself up to date with real-time notifications on your emails & tweets, giving you the ability to find, organize and launch your favorite apps, sites, folders and files literally with a couple of mouse click?
Too good to be true, right? Wrong!!

http://www.pokki.com

* SSuite Mac Dock
What if you could create a Mac OS X-like dock on your desktop, with the ability to launch certain programs (up to 35 custom apps shortcuts) with a single mouse click?

http://www.ssuitesoft.com/ssuitemacdock.htm

* AutoStarter X4
Very unique FREE app designed to launch multiple files (documents, audio files, websites, folders) by a single batch file (BAT file format). This way you can automate the launch of multiple items at the same time.

http://2xdsoft.de.tl/AutoStarterX4.htm

* MetroSidebar
Very handy FREE Desktop Sidebar tool, designed to help you easily access all of those programs out there you frequently use on a daily basis. To do that it adds an awesome modern UI Widget Sidebar to your Windows desktop.

http://metrosidebar.com

But how about make your own application launcher for FREE, with the ability to create categories as well??

http://www.winstep.net/nexus.asp (==> Softpedia Editor Pick)
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Launchers-Shutdown-Tools/Fahmy-My-Suite.shtml (==> Portable App)
http://sliderdock.wikidot.com
http://www.donationcoder.com/Software/Mouser/LaunchBarCommander/index.html

Merry Christmas!! ^_^

I like FSL Launcher. It´s freeware.
http://freesoftland.sytes.net/download.html

Installed on Win XP x64 without a problem. The program looks usable. It seams that it may be good for files that are currently in use. You add thous files into the list, and they are awailable for quick peak.

Of cause any file manager can launch your files. And surely you are aware where your recent files reside.

Of cause a lot of Windows programs do remember the last accessed documents. And you can peak them directly from the program. But... this least of recent documents may be too short! During your computer activity you always deal with some unimportant documents that will never be used again. But they have their place in the recent documents.

This program lets you to peak only the important documents or files, thous that are in current use. When the work is done, you can delete those files from the list. I think that it may be useful program. Of cause I'll try Quick Cliq which has been so highly rated.

Hmm another application launcher.There are loads of free options but I will give it a try, to be fair, it's a decent piece of software.Thanks to the developer for providing this free and of course,GAOTD. A few freebie options I would like to suggest, which do a lot more than what's on offer for just a day(take a hint developers) :

1)Cherbox http://www.cherbox.net/support/ I really liked this concept of a simple box storing URLs, files,folders,desktop shortcuts,applications, passwords, reminders, photos,notes,encryption-supported and it's portable.For those who like simple things in life.

2)Appetizer http://app.etizer.org/ visually appealing program launcher and it's portable as well

3)XLaunchPad http://www.xwidget.com/ (careful while installing)

4)http://www.8start.com/ Portable app launcher, Notes organizer, in built-timer, skinable and eye-candy(Careful while installing)

5)http://www.pendriveapps.com/portable-application-launcher-start-menu/ Slightly old but works well

For searching/Launching anything in your hard disk :
http://blaze-wins.sourceforge.net/index.php?page=features Launches Applications.Browses the File-System and the Web.Searches for stuff on the Web.Performs calculations.Performs in-place calculations.Performs base conversion.Creates emails on-the-fly.Inserts quick texts.

http://www.snapfiles.com/get/SearchMyFiles.html

I use the "quick launch" menu in addition to 2 other custom Toolbar menus I have created myself. From these menus it's possible to create sub-menus. I find it much easier and very rarely use the main start menu.

Activation key is provided with the download.An Extremely nice to have tool/Launcher 2.1.0 Pro is.Make every search you want at an instant touch...including the Web/Net(https://www.ect). Among of Must!!!...Have...ThKs again GAOTD/Team well done.

For Portable Application this type of softwares are really helpful for quick launching.

I always try to find the portable version of any Program . Sometime I try to make the portable version from the installer exe files.

We can use PORTABLE APPS PLATFORM smoothly for the programs having .paf.exe extension ( which are available at PORTABLEAPPS.COM ) .

But for other Portable Programs we can find lots of other Freeware Launcher.
Alongwith Quick Cliq there are
1) PORTABLE LAUNCHY

2)PORTABLE START MENU

3) LAUNCHBAR
4) PStart

But I manually place the shortcut of a App to the Start Menu Directory which is also an alternative option.

Use Quick Cliq and SlickRun and you don`t need this. I tried launcher, just didn`t like it.

Installed and registered with no problems on win7 64bit. Runs fine and looks to be a good program. only complaint is it still shows the unlock program after you run the activate.exe but it is registered. Tested by having it run 3 different programs at startup all 3 ran with no problems easy to add programs.

Another huge vote here for Quick Cliq .... fabulous program.

Installed and registered without problems on a Win 8.1.3 Pro 64 bit system.

We had a previous version on September 20th, 2011
Here are the old reviews:
http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/launcher-pro/

A Danish company with name$address and a nice company history:
http://www.microsystools.com/home/microsys.php

After start the program resides in the windows tray. From there you can add items, e.g. programs to start. In the pro version (today's GiveAway) you can define administrator rights, a working directory and some additional setting. The program window can be called by a shortkey or the right click on the symbol. You can group and reorder the programs you add to the program launcher. This is done on an "oldfashioned" way.

I would like to have these program in a "startmenu", not an additional symbol in the task tray.
Does what it claims, a simple program. If you have a good start menu, you don't need this. If you don't have, you can test this little program to see, if it fits to your demands.

Uninstalled via reboot.

As a program launcher this one is pretty good. However it faces plenty of competition from both paid and free alternatives. The publisher itself offers both a free and pro version though it is hard to find exactly what the difference are between the free and pro version. You can turn the program into a portable version by following the directions here...

http://www.microsystools.com/products/launcher/help/program-launcher-portable-usb/

Thank you GOTD team and Microsys.

Quick Cliq, freeware (http://apathysoftworks.com/software/quickcliq), really WONDERFULL !!