Home › News › Weekend Open Forum
Weekend open forum: What are your software 'essentials' or the first things you install after a clean format?
in-house feature
You may call them your software essentials because you rely on them on a daily basis for work or for pleasure. Another way of going about it is that after a clean format you simply cannot move forward without first installing those applications you use.
Tell us about those software gems you love, share them with the rest of the community, so we can all learn about new apps. As the discussion moves forward, me and other members of the staff will share our favorite applications as well.
Discuss.
User Comments (44)
Post a comment|
Julio
on September 27, 2008 12:13 AM |
[b]Originally posted by ElShotte:[/b][quote]Ahh yeah, I forgot FireFox 3 in my comment, I have a question, why does everyone install password managers when FireFox remembers them for you...?[/quote]Portability, manageability, security... I have like seven different passwords for TechSpot alone. Then about two more dozen passwords for different services, partner sites, and other stuff I don't use too often. |
|
tedster
on September 27, 2008 6:20 AM |
1. Symantec Corporate (Free - US government)2. OpenOffice - open source3. Crap Cleaner - open source4. 7Z - open source5. Thunderbird - open source6. Firefox - open source7. Sunbird - open source8. Acrobat Professional (Also free US government License)9. TCP Optimizer (open source)10. Mile Lin's startup editor (open source)11. Spybot search and destroy (open source) |
|
Rage_3k_Moiz
on September 27, 2008 7:53 AM |
In the following order:NOD32Comodo Firewall ProOperaUpdated drivers for all my hardwareLatest Windows updates and service packsMicrosoft Office uTorrentAlcohol 120%Daemon ToolsK-Lite Mega Codec Pack7-ZipWindows DefenderSpyware DoctorNero 7 EssentialsOrCad PSPICEMATLABGarenaSteamAll my games and their patches |
|
kimsland
on September 27, 2008 9:20 AM |
In EXACT order1. All updated system drivers2. All MS updates3. Varied Custom MS updates (sometimes all) including WMP; Dx; Codecs etc4. Flash Player5. Adobe Reader6. Open Office (or if user has it MS Office)7. CCleaner8. Startup Control Panel9. Antivirus (always properly installed last)10. Optimizing tools (these are a bit general, but they are all uninstalled once complete11. Sometimes customized wallpaper and screen saverThen it's ready to go  9.
|
|
captain828
on September 27, 2008 9:32 AM |
[b]Originally posted by ElShotte:[/b][quote]Ahh yeah, I forgot FireFox 3 in my comment, I have a question, why does everyone install password managers when FireFox remembers them for you...?[/quote]roboform, if that's what you're referring to, isn't just a password manager but also a "form" manager; it remembers how you entered a common form, for eg. a Billing form or a Registering formit's not what I'd call essential, but it's useful for us lazy power users  EDiT: didn't saw the second page of comments...
|
|
camuss15
on September 27, 2008 12:12 PM |
1. Nvidia drivers for 9600GT.2. Firefox 3 (addons:Adblock plus, better Gmail 2, Cooliris (piclens), DownloadHelper, etc)3. Avast antivirus4. Paint.net5. AIM6. Burning software (Power2Go or Nero)7. uTorrent8. Limewire Pro9. Daemon Tools10. ConvertXtoDVD11. Office Pro 200712. VLC media player13. Games (Crysis Warhead, COD 4, Sims 2, Mercs 2, etc)14. Any vista updates + Sp115. Audacity16. Foxit pdf ReaderThen I still have to go through and adjust all settings and stuff to my liking. I didn't realize how much stuff I use. There is too much to list here. |
|
Amano
on September 27, 2008 1:22 PM |
1. Drivers2. Windows updates3. ESET NOD32 antivirus4. the reset of software I use randomly (Firefox, WLM, Adobe CS3, DX, Office, uT, 7zip, etc...) |
|
toerings
on September 27, 2008 2:43 PM |
Acronis True Image because I don't want to do it all over again ever.Backups are on a second HD. Data (My Docs & Application Data) are in a separate partition from the OS and Programs, any data changes are instantly backed up w/ FieBackPC. Properly setup this is a Zero Touch backup system that functions for years w/o any manual chores. |
|
tw0rld
on September 27, 2008 3:08 PM |
AVGSpybot S&DAd-AwareCcleanerZoneAlarmNeroMS Office |
|
midlorollin
on September 27, 2008 3:29 PM |
Avast! Anti-virus ProCCleanerSpybot: S&DOffice 2003Firefox 3PidginFeedDemonVLC Media Player |
|
red1776
on September 27, 2008 7:03 PM |
FireFoxOperacpu-zgpu-zHW MonitorAVGAd-AwareSandraspeedfanCcleanerATI ToolKM Playerriva tunerauslogics reg defragsysternals Process explorerWinDirStatgoogle earth3ds MaxAdobe PhotoShop |
|
VBKing
on September 27, 2008 9:26 PM |
Don't forget one of the best File Managers around - TOTAL COMMANDERIt's absolutely the very FIRST thing I install so I don't have to use the less robust "My Computer".Don't leave home without it! You'll learn to love it... Trust me.... I'm not a politician!www.wincmd.com or[url]http://www.ghisler.com/[/url] |
|
mrtraver
on September 27, 2008 9:40 PM |
1. All Windows updates2. AVG free3. Peerguardian4. latest Nvidia GPU and motherboard drivers5. whatever game i was focused on when i decided to reinstall the OS6. Spybot7. AdAware8. CCleaner9. whatever else as needed. |
|
anguis
on September 28, 2008 12:35 AM |
Drivers/updatesNOD32MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (free)ConvertXtoDVDMagicDVDCopierFirefox (free)VLC Player (free)Zone Alarm Firewall (free)mIRC/chat programs (free)OpenOffice (free)ATF Cleaner (free)UltimateDefragVisual StudioPhotoshop |
|
Auldian
on September 28, 2008 10:58 AM |
OperaWinRARDriversNorton Internet SecurityDiskeeperOffice 2007iTunesa few games |
|
heythere!
on September 28, 2008 6:40 PM |
Nothing. Everything installs along with Vista (I have modded the x64 install disc) and I have a separate Programs partition for the other programs that aren't OS dependent (or Registry settings, etc). Mozilla FirefoxPaint.NETK-lite CodecsVisual Studio ProNeroAdobe CS3 Master Collection (& Reader/Writer!)LimeWire ProFileZillaMicrosoft Office 2007 Enterprise Blue Edition 7-ZipUltraISOAvast! ProDaemon Tools |
|
outlando
on September 29, 2008 7:27 AM |
FirefoxZoneAlarm (free)AVG (free)Notepad++PhotoshopCCleanerSpybot S&DNormally a few others depending what I'm working on/with at the time |
|
Burned
on September 29, 2008 12:15 PM |
Because I use Raid 0, I create a custom Install XP CD every couple of months that has my programs and updates integrated.Ryan Post SP3 updates.AntiVirCCleaner7ZipUltra ISOCabPackJkDefragFireFoxNero LiteWLM LiteConvertEruntFoxit PDF readerRevo UninstallerVirtual BoxSysinternals ToolsVLC |
|
TorturedChaos
on September 29, 2008 2:23 PM |
Something along these lines,Winrar -unzip driversDrivers - Ethernet FirstFirefoxAvast!Zone Alarm FirewallSpybotRest of my driversFrom there it depends on my system. On my laptop I installed WoW and haven't put anything else on there. My pc I would put things likeWowCS 2 Power IsoMS office 2003VLCuTorrentNeroiTunesthen whatever games and as I go along I remember other programs I want. Usually takes me about 2 weeks to get everything back on my computer. Always forgetting a program until I want to use it :P |
Most Popular
| Trending | Featured |
-
iOS 5.1.1 untethered jailbreak tool released, supports 4S, iPad 3
-
After five days, Facebook ranks as worst IPO flop of the decade
-
Rumor: Windows 8 RC will launch June 1, will ship with Adobe Flash
-
Rumor: AMD "Piledriver" FX CPU production to begin Q3 2012
-
Diablo III becomes the fastest-selling PC game in history
Editors' Case Picks
Subscribe to TechSpot
Get free exclusive content, learn about new features and tech breaking news.
