I am a programmer currently using c# as my main programming tool.  I
am looking for a productivity tool, using any language, that allows me
to create windows applications with ease (i.e. where showing a window
does not take up too many lines of code) but that can also install
quickly on a machine without dot net framework.  I just want to create
simple GUI apps, that have a little file acesss, but no database
access.  A low price tag is important, but support is more important. 
What are the best options?

Try Visual Dialog Script (http://www.dialogscript.com) - it is a very
small but powerful scripting language based on Delphi.  Compiles to
small executables with a simple runtime dll for easy distribution. 
Good Windows handling plus support from lots of third party dll's

Visual Basic is one way to go.  But seeing as you already program C#,
I'd suggest you invest sime time in learning the Visual Studio.NET
IDE.  You should be able to  throw together forms pretty quickly once
you know what you're doing.

I have been creating forms in VB and c# for the last 9 years.  What I
need is to create installs that don't require big downloads like dot
net framework.  dialogscript looks interesting... there must be some
others though.

Have you looked into HTA? HTML Applications can give you the full
functionality of all the browser based languages and it uses ie which
just about the entire world has. Check out:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/workshop/author/hta/overview/htaoverview.asp

I have come across HTA before but your link provides some useful
information, and it may be just the thing for what I'm trying to do.

It may be just my prejudices but dialogscript looks a bit clunky (the
language itself).

From my own research, Delphi seems to be the only option which is easy
to program, fits my other requirements, and offers executables (useful
if you want to hide the source code at least, which may be a
requirement in the future)... maybe it is the only such option.

FYI there is mshta.exe that has a command line switch of the path and
location of the hta file you want to run. If you can generate the file
contents through something "encryptable" and then call that executable
then that may work as well. I just re-designed a help system for an
older looking db software that generates everything from compiled
program files and or encrypted db's so it's all hidden.

There's FLTK, which is free, cross-platform and has active user support.
http://www.fltk.org

- Hammer

I recommend an older version of Delphi (5-6) for development, and Inno
Setup for deployment.
Inno setup offers easy way to create a onefile installer.
http://www.jrsoftware.org/isinfo.php#features