Must have pc software.

R

Rob Black

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Mar 11, 2005
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Im almost done building my new PC (just waiting for my memory to come in) I was wondering what "must have" software should I install? for instance

- Nortin Anti Virus 2004
- Free version of zone alarm
- winamp ?
- Firefox
- spybot search and destroy ?
- Nero 6 Ultra edition
- Nortin system works
- Microsoft office XP

what do you guys think?
 
No Norton--Kaspersky and NOD32 are much better products with a smaller memory footprint and a higher detection rate.

You should order a hardware firewall. That option is much better than just running a software firewall, which is ultimately corruptible and is therefore a stopgap solution. You can still run a software firewall if you want (and ZoneAlarm is fine), but you should buy a hardware firewall ASAP.

Doing the normal Windows security tweaks, combined with using Firefox and keeping a current install of SpywareBlaster, is pretty much all you need.

The rest is just up to you--Office XP is probably the only "irreplacable" option on that list. Even Firefox has alternatives.
 
- Norton Anti Virus 2004
I don't run antivirus software...If you're smart about it, you'll never need it. After 10+ years, I've yet to get a virus...however, if you want one, then Norton is a good one to go with. I usually recommend it to my customers.

- winamp 5
Gotta love Winamp...it's my favorite MP3 player!

- Firefox
God yes, Firefox rocks! The only thing I use IE for anymore is Windows Update.

- spybot search and destroy ?
Another good tool I use for customers/business.

- Nero 6 Ultra edition
I've found the OEM suite works just fine...the Ultra edition seems a waste of $$$

- Norton system works
I don't think it's necessary...I really don't like the utilities.

- Microsoft office XP
Go with Open Office...it's free and works with all MS file formats :D www.openoffice.org

ALso use Ad-Aware SE in conjunction with Spybot...what one doesn't get, the other does ;)
 
Forget microsoft office, go with openoffice,,, its amazing
www.openoffice.org
then grab a chat program, ICQ the original
firewall Sygate personal firewall 5.6
If you use the web alot, then give opera 8 a try
Learn Opera's Gestures, it will change your life.
And add a storage system to store your porn, um work I mean.
 
I have an FTP with all the proper and must-have utilities that I enforce on every computer build I do. I also did quite an amount of research on all of the utilities. I'll update as I get home. :D

-J.
 
Ad-aware is a good one, same as spybot pretty much, but I recommend using both to keep an eye on spyware.
 
Terpfen said:
No Norton--Kaspersky and NOD32 are much better products with a smaller memory footprint and a higher detection rate.
Click to expand...

Used to use Norton. Use Kaspersky now. Here's a large part of why...

http://www.schadentech.com/Reviews/Antivirus/conclusion.htm

As mentioned, small memory footprint, scales well (Norton, I had to turn off if I was moving/transfering alot of files or it'd take FOREVER) and in general keeps out of my hair while doing a very good job. Think it also updates hourly or daily or something like that.
 
After SP2 install and some windows updates I install:

- Firefox
- Adaware
- Spybot S&D
- Office
- Norton Internet Security, if I feel like installing it. I hate the windows firewall and have used NIS for years so that's what I like. I guess the firewall is all I need because I've never had a virus.
- FTP program (WS_FTP)
- Nero
- MBM5 (w00t, my mobo still supports it :p )
- Folding@home
- winRAR
- Adobe Reader
- Coolbits (for all you nvidia users)
- winamp
 
GeForceX said:
I have an FTP with all the proper and must-have utilities that I enforce on every computer build I do. I also did quite an amount of research on all of the utilities. I'll update as I get home. :D

-J.
Click to expand...

And here is the following:

Windows XP Mouse Acceleration Fix Patch
ATI Catalyst Driver
Folding@Home Console Client
Quake III, Enemy Territory, HL2, ETC...
All-Seeing Eye
Seismovision
K-Lite Codec Pack Full
QuickTime + Real Alternative
J2SE Runtime Environment
Foobar2000
Winamp
HP P1110 Monitor Driver
Ad-Aware SE Personal
Spybot S&D
AVG Free Edition
ACDSee
Adobe Reader
CCleaner
Diskeeper Professional
DriverHeaven Cleaner Professional Edition
Firefox
GAIM
Nero Express Suite
OpenOffice
TuneXP 1.5
USB Mouserate Switcher
WinRAR
X-Chat 2
XFire
BulletProof FTP
No-IP DNS Update Client

-J.
 
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