PowerDesk for Windows

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Developer’s Description

By Avanquest Software

Take control over your files in Windows system.

PowerDesk Professional is the easy, fast and expert way to organize and manage the files, digital photos, MP3s and web images on your PC. With far more features and functions than the standard Windows file manager or other file management software, PowerDesk 8 Pro gives you the tools to search, edit, delete, copy, move, sort, zip, label, view, convert and more! 6 Powerful File Utilities for the price you'd normally pay for 1! FTP - Access PowerDesk FTP in an easy-to-use, drag-and-drop interface and view FTP sites as though they were ordinary folders! Once you've set up your favorite FTP sites, connecting with them is just 1-Click away.

PowerDesk for Windows

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Full Specifications

GENERAL

Release: August 25, 2010

Latest update: November 5, 2025

Version: 8.2

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Platform: Windows

Operating System

Windows 10
Windows XP
Windows Vista
Windows 7

Additional Requirements: None

POPULARITY

Total Downloads: 14,986

Downloads Last Week: 0

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Last Updated

User Reviews

2.7/5

25 User Votes

How the mighty have falllen
MartySBNovember 17, 2015
Pros
Still works great on Windows XP!
Cons
No longer functional on Windows 10. Will not install correctly. Crashes when it does install when trying to register.
Summary
Back in the 90s, I received a free copy of PowerDesk and quickly learned to use it as a replacement for the wimpy Windows File Manager. PowerDesk was fast, versatile and made moving / copying / synchronizing files easy and actually fun. It worked great with Windows 3.x and XP, but as Windows became more complex, PowerDesk became more and more stubborn. It would crash when trying to check the properties of a directory and the file sync sub-program became finicky. I upgraded to Windows 10 and finally said goodbye to PowerDesk. Avanquest has put nothing into maintaining the program and now it simply does not work. After nearly 20 years, I'm parting company with an old friend.
Does not work in Windows 10
mrmikehAugust 11, 2015
Pros
Good file manager
Cons
Does not work in Windows 10
Summary
Still a solid product
jurgfellaJuly 2, 2015
Pros
Lots of useful features, including archiving, searching, renaming, synching, FTP, mapping network drives, etc.
Cons
Does crash sometimes, although I've found it to be reasonably reliable. Biggest drawback is that in age of software usually licensed for 3 to 5 computers, this program may only be installed on 1 computer. Even then, it occasionally wigs out and tells me that my installation is not licensed.
Summary
Good solid file manager, comparable to Directory Opus, although not quite as powerful. If you've been accustomed to it, as I have, much more comfortable to use than Windows explorer.
Better than Explorer but plenty of problems
DK44June 3, 2015
Pros
East to view multiple drives
Cons
Often moves files when asked to copy. Often reports that a drive needs 'administrator-level' access but then fails to respond.
Summary
Adequate for many uses, clearly better than Explorer, but often has glitches for trivial tasks.
Buggy but better than WE by far.
Phaedra_March 17, 2014
Pros
Fast searching Accurate searching User friendly interface
Cons
Buggy! Doesn't seem to play nice on a network. If you (or anyone else on your network)have done any searching until you close the program you hold all of the files "open" and no one else can either delete or open them. Tech and customer support is a JOKE and for that reason alone, I will not EVER purchase another license.
Summary
I preferred the previous version, fewer problems. Just dealing with sales/customer service to purchase made me not want to buy it. It is a great concept but not worth the headache.
unnecessary
drdcmathisMarch 12, 2014
Pros
panes, firm delete rather than to recycle bin, ftp
Cons
terrible tech support slow ITS NOT FREE
Summary
get most of the same functions for free with explorer ++
Would not live without it!
michaeltg09February 7, 2014
Pros
I have used PowerDesk for many years. Everything is at my fingertips versus having to jockey around in My Computer. Day to day computer operations are much simplified with PowerDesk. As for one user complaining about copying moves file, you need to hold down the Ctrl key when copying to prevent the file from moving.
Cons
It has problems moving or copying huge files sometimes and crashes occasionally, but all a person needs to do is close out of it and reopen it. Then, move the huge file with My Computer.
Summary
This is a tool that I would not do without.
When COPYING files it MOVES them Instead!!! AVOID!
CrucialFeedbackJanuary 25, 2014
Pros
Lots of features. Great dual pane window. Version 7 and earlier were more reliable.
Cons
When you try to COPY files (by clicking the COPY icon or using shortcut keys) it MOVES the files instead. NOT TRUSTWORTHY!!! It's problematic at best. Liked version 5, 6, and 7 but v8 and 8.5 are trouble. Terrible, apathetic tech support.
Summary
After 3 weeks of using v8.5 I discovered that when COPYING files it would MOVE them instead. I didn't notice this with small files; I only noticed it when copying large files because the copy window appears, whereas with small files it barely even flashes on the screen. However, instead of saying "Copying" it said "Moving" in the window title dialog box. I freaked out. I have no idea how many files I moved from my PC to a backup drive which are no longer on my PC. When I first contacted Avantquest they told me they'd look into it. When I kept pressing tech support about the issue, I finally got an email stating they were aware of this problem as other users reported it too. I thought this was such a significant bug (for a file manager) and suggested they inform their unsuspecting users. But they never did. They never issued any fixes or updates either. They also refused to refund me because I was past the refund period. About 9 months later they issued v9. The copying/moving issue SEEMS to be resolved but I just can't trust it anymore because feel I have to double-check every time I copy a file whether I really copied it or moved it--which is a waste of time. I went from using PowerDeskPro exclusively to avoiding it. Thank goodness I discovered Directory Opus and XYplorer on Bits du Jour from comments made by other users.
Interface 9/10. Tools 8/10. Stability 1/10!
Satviewer2000October 16, 2013
Pros
1. Excellent interface. 2. Good collection of features. 3. Useful tools and apps.
Cons
1. Frequently crashes and locks up Windows. 2. Frequently prevents Windows from shutting down. 3. If closed during a session, it frequently refuses to restart! 4. Why did they get rid of the floating tool bar from version 6???
Summary
I will say it again ... Oh why ... WHY does every version of this program cause crashes, lock-ups, and ESPECIALLY prevents Windows from shutting down properly?! Whenever I try to shut down Windows and it refuses to shut down, it is ALWAYS this program which freezes it up!
Definitely not worth it. Too frustrating
RUKnight1990January 21, 2013
Pros
* Nice organizational view. * Easy to copy files from folder to folder * Incorporates in other programs, such as CCleaner. * Easy to format external drives.
Cons
* Crashes way to often, very frustrating * Unable to manage folders with large numbers of files. I have a music folder with over 3800 songs. It takes an ungodly amount of time to load. God forbid I need to leave that folder and go into another...might as well go get a cup of coffee while it reloads.
Summary
There are some positive features but the slow loading times and frequent crashes really make this program not worth paying for. If it were free, I could maybe rationalize the inconvenience.