Tool for converting .shp file to .tab file?

If you have MapInfo you can use the Universal Translator, or you could use:

ogr2ogr

FWTools

ogr2ogr is good. If you prefer a GUI you can use ogr2gui from http://www.ogr2gui.ca/en/index.php

If your really keen and like to try different software. Then you can get a 14day trial of FME from Safe software which is actually quite an interesting piece of software.