Essential Apps

DaddyTorgo · 09-15-2008, 02:48 PM

So I go home tonight and I get to bust out the factory-restore disks and basically start over with my laptop. Wondering what people think are the essential apps.

1. AVG
2. Comodo Firewall
3. FF w/ extensions

etc

Wondering if anybody has any favorites as far as launchers/shell replacements/whatever else that they want to nominate?

Freeware vastly preferred.

PackerFanatic · 09-15-2008, 02:53 PM

Fidatelo · 09-15-2008, 02:58 PM

Foxit Reader for PDFs.

DaddyTorgo · 09-15-2008, 03:00 PM

I've always pretty much pieced stuff together after-the-fact, and I'd love to use this opportunity to set it all up straight from the get-go.

Flasch186 · 09-15-2008, 03:01 PM

DaddyTorgo · 09-15-2008, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flasch186

WWSM

I might install that before I install AVG + Comodo, that's how important it is. Although, if my savegame files are gone and not recoverable (I'm not sure ATM), I may just wait for the beta demo of 2009. I've been pondering doing that, because really -- how many years of gametime could I get through. And I'd cry if I was unable to follow the exploits of Fikret Yuksel, Andre Scherz, and whatever-the-fuck-his-name-is who I signed from OM, some stud young african striker. Not to mention Soloman Ejiofer my Nigerian/British GK.

sterlingice · 09-15-2008, 04:00 PM

I go with the following:

Firefox - Of course
AVG Antivirus - Again, obvious
Zonealarm Firewall - Again, obvious
Adaware/Spybot/HiJack This- Usually all 3
ZipGenius- Freeware zip client
Some sort of email client- Outlook/other
Some sort of office client- MS Office/Open Office/Other
Some sort of IM client- Trillian is my preference
Some sort of media player
Some sort of photo/image software

Then there's the "optional" stuff like:
-Printer software/drivers
-Digital camera software/drivers

(and that's just a start)

Actually, the order usually goes as follows:
Windows updates, avg, and zonealarm so things are locked down (reboot after each item)
Then Firefox so I don't have to use IE
Then the "necessary" stuff like drivers, camera software, etc.
Then applications that are more "optional" like Office, email, etc

SI

Fidatelo · 09-15-2008, 04:37 PM

You might also be interested in checking out the Google Pack, which covers most of the basics in one nice download.

MJ4H · 09-15-2008, 04:53 PM

Avira Anit-vir
ePrompter
Codestuff Starter
Process Explorer
Blackbox for Windows
Open Office
iTunes
Ultra Explorer
UltraMon
Firefox
Miranda IM

Pumpy Tudors · 09-15-2008, 05:06 PM

I don't run any antivirus software. HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT!

RendeR · 09-15-2008, 05:43 PM

*Unloads on PumPy*

fantom1979 · 09-15-2008, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RendeR

*Unloads on PumPy*

ummm yeah, i didnt realize it was like that

DaddyTorgo · 09-16-2008, 12:45 AM

yay - 2am and windows+hp stuff is finally all installed - guess it'll be tomorrow before i can play with DLing stuff...

DaddyTorgo · 09-16-2008, 09:17 AM

Haha by the time I got time with XP Service Pack 3 and all the hotfixes and the new video card drivers and flashing a new BIOS it was 3am.

DaddyTorgo · 09-16-2008, 08:09 PM

freeware password managers anyone?

Fidatelo · 09-16-2008, 10:25 PM

KeePass

Oilers9911 · 09-16-2008, 11:14 PM

AVG has been doing some funny things for a few people I know after their latest updates like the update server being down or it interfering with other apps. Anyone else experience this? I use Avast! AV myself.

Alan T · 09-16-2008, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oilers9911

AVG has been doing some funny things for a few people I know after their latest updates like the update server being down or it interfering with other apps. Anyone else experience this? I use Avast! AV myself.

My wife's system has AV installed on it (I don't use it on mine since I kind of work for a competitor company), and the auto-updates have failed constantly recently. If you go in manually and tell it to update though it works about 70% of the time at least. She hasn't mentioned anything else funny though. (other than one webpage on Bank of america's site that crashes when AV is loaded.)

Fidatelo · 09-17-2008, 12:01 AM

I'm like Pumpy, I go bareback. I can't stand the way anti-virus programs slow down my PC.

Neon_Chaos · 09-17-2008, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PackerFanatic

VLC

+1

VLC Media Player is an application I can't live without.

3ric · 09-17-2008, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oilers9911

AVG has been doing some funny things for a few people I know after their latest updates like the update server being down or it interfering with other apps. Anyone else experience this? I use Avast! AV myself.

Switched from AVG awhile ago to Avast! and haven't had cause to regret it since.

SlowView for picture viewing
XnView for basic picture editing
Metapad for text editing
Google Desktop for searching the harddrive as well as the 'Net
Picasa for picture cataloging

FrogMan · 09-17-2008, 05:46 AM

IrfanView for picture viewing

FM

Schmidty · 09-17-2008, 07:44 AM

Stumble Upon!

I couldn't stay awake at work without it.

weegeebored · 09-17-2008, 12:21 PM

Sandboxie is an essential app for me and not one that many people have heard of.

hxxp://www.sandboxie.com/

PackerFanatic · 09-17-2008, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neon_Chaos

+1

VLC Media Player is an application I can't live without.

You see they got an upgrade out now? I haven't had a chance to DL it, but it sounds like the bee's knees.

DaddyTorgo · 09-17-2008, 01:14 PM

feel free to keep em coming

last night i threw firewall + antivirus +firefox on and discovered that WWSM was installed on my secondary disk so I still have my 20+ year career - yeah that was the end of productivity system-wise last night

sterlingice · 09-17-2008, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neon_Chaos

+1

VLC Media Player is an application I can't live without.

+2 Also a fan

SI

gstelmack · 09-17-2008, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fidatelo

I'm like Pumpy, I go bareback. I can't stand the way anti-virus programs slow down my PC.

Honestly, with the way malware has been going (and better at doding the virus scanners) and all the things these scanners keep doing to my system to keep up, I'm in the same boat. Keep my computer behind a router and watch where I go and what I do (like not clicking on E-Cards).

Heck, everyone raves about Kaspersky's low footprint, and it lasted all of a week on my machine because of slowdowns.

Fidatelo · 09-17-2008, 02:23 PM

Kaspersky is the worst offender of them all in my opinion! It is supposed to auto-install over the network onto all of our work machines by default, but for whatever reason it has never noticed my machine, and you better believe I've never pointed that out...

Fidatelo · 09-17-2008, 02:24 PM

Dola...

I should add it hasn't noticed it since I re-imaged the thing to get Kaspersky off the first time

09-15-2008, 02:53 PM	#2
PackerFanatic Pro Starter Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Appleton, WI	VLC __________________ Commissioner of the RNFL

09-15-2008, 02:58 PM	#3
Fidatelo Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Winnipeg, MB	Foxit Reader for PDFs. __________________ "Breakfast? Breakfast schmekfast, look at the score for God's sake. It's only the second period and I'm winning 12-2. Breakfasts come and go, Rene, but Hartford, the Whale, they only beat Vancouver maybe once or twice in a lifetime."

09-15-2008, 03:01 PM	#5
Flasch186 Coordinator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Jacksonville, FL	WWSM __________________ Jacksonville-florida-homes-for-sale Putting a New Spin on Real Estate! ----------------------------------------------------------- Commissioner of the USFL USFL

09-15-2008, 04:00 PM	#7
sterlingice Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Back in Houston!	I go with the following: Firefox - Of course AVG Antivirus - Again, obvious Zonealarm Firewall - Again, obvious Adaware/Spybot/HiJack This- Usually all 3 ZipGenius- Freeware zip client Some sort of email client- Outlook/other Some sort of office client- MS Office/Open Office/Other Some sort of IM client- Trillian is my preference Some sort of media player Some sort of photo/image software Then there's the "optional" stuff like: -Printer software/drivers -Digital camera software/drivers (and that's just a start) Actually, the order usually goes as follows: Windows updates, avg, and zonealarm so things are locked down (reboot after each item) Then Firefox so I don't have to use IE Then the "necessary" stuff like drivers, camera software, etc. Then applications that are more "optional" like Office, email, etc SI __________________ Houston Hippopotami, III.3: 20th Anniversary Thread - All former HT players are encouraged to check it out! Janos: "Only America could produce an imbecile of your caliber!" Freakazoid: "That's because we make lots of things better than other people!" Last edited by sterlingice : 09-15-2008 at 04:01 PM.

09-15-2008, 04:37 PM	#8
Fidatelo Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Winnipeg, MB	You might also be interested in checking out the Google Pack, which covers most of the basics in one nice download. __________________ "Breakfast? Breakfast schmekfast, look at the score for God's sake. It's only the second period and I'm winning 12-2. Breakfasts come and go, Rene, but Hartford, the Whale, they only beat Vancouver maybe once or twice in a lifetime."

09-15-2008, 03:00 PM	#4
DaddyTorgo Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Massachusetts	I've always pretty much pieced stuff together after-the-fact, and I'd love to use this opportunity to set it all up straight from the get-go.

09-15-2008, 04:53 PM	#9
MJ4H Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hog Country	Avira Anit-vir ePrompter Codestuff Starter Process Explorer Blackbox for Windows Open Office iTunes Ultra Explorer UltraMon Firefox Miranda IM

09-15-2008, 05:06 PM	#10
Pumpy Tudors Bounty Hunter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Pittsburgh, PA	I don't run any antivirus software. HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT! __________________ No, I am not Batman, and I will not repair your food processor.

09-15-2008, 05:43 PM	#11
RendeR Coordinator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Buffalo, NY	Unloads on PumPy __________________ http://wotlabs.net/s...8/signature.png http://wotlabs.net/sig_dark/na/banichi18/signature.png

09-16-2008, 12:45 AM	#13
DaddyTorgo Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Massachusetts	yay - 2am and windows+hp stuff is finally all installed - guess it'll be tomorrow before i can play with DLing stuff...

09-16-2008, 09:17 AM	#14
DaddyTorgo Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Massachusetts	Haha by the time I got time with XP Service Pack 3 and all the hotfixes and the new video card drivers and flashing a new BIOS it was 3am.

09-16-2008, 08:09 PM	#15
DaddyTorgo Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Massachusetts	freeware password managers anyone?

09-16-2008, 10:25 PM	#16
Fidatelo Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Winnipeg, MB	KeePass __________________ "Breakfast? Breakfast schmekfast, look at the score for God's sake. It's only the second period and I'm winning 12-2. Breakfasts come and go, Rene, but Hartford, the Whale, they only beat Vancouver maybe once or twice in a lifetime."

09-16-2008, 11:14 PM	#17
Oilers9911 College Benchwarmer Join Date: Jan 2006	AVG has been doing some funny things for a few people I know after their latest updates like the update server being down or it interfering with other apps. Anyone else experience this? I use Avast! AV myself.

09-17-2008, 12:01 AM	#19
Fidatelo Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Winnipeg, MB	I'm like Pumpy, I go bareback. I can't stand the way anti-virus programs slow down my PC. __________________ "Breakfast? Breakfast schmekfast, look at the score for God's sake. It's only the second period and I'm winning 12-2. Breakfasts come and go, Rene, but Hartford, the Whale, they only beat Vancouver maybe once or twice in a lifetime."

09-17-2008, 05:46 AM	#22
FrogMan Hattrick Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Pintendre, Qc, Canada	IrfanView for picture viewing FM __________________ A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog...

09-17-2008, 07:44 AM	#23
Schmidty Coordinator Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Early, TX	Stumble Upon! I couldn't stay awake at work without it. __________________ Just beat the devil out of it!!! - Bob Ross

09-17-2008, 12:21 PM	#24
weegeebored High School Varsity Join Date: Sep 2006	Sandboxie is an essential app for me and not one that many people have heard of. hxxp://www.sandboxie.com/

09-17-2008, 01:14 PM	#26
DaddyTorgo Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Massachusetts	feel free to keep em coming last night i threw firewall + antivirus +firefox on and discovered that WWSM was installed on my secondary disk so I still have my 20+ year career - yeah that was the end of productivity system-wise last night Last edited by DaddyTorgo : 09-17-2008 at 01:19 PM.

09-17-2008, 02:23 PM	#29
Fidatelo Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Winnipeg, MB	Kaspersky is the worst offender of them all in my opinion! It is supposed to auto-install over the network onto all of our work machines by default, but for whatever reason it has never noticed my machine, and you better believe I've never pointed that out... __________________ "Breakfast? Breakfast schmekfast, look at the score for God's sake. It's only the second period and I'm winning 12-2. Breakfasts come and go, Rene, but Hartford, the Whale, they only beat Vancouver maybe once or twice in a lifetime."

09-17-2008, 02:24 PM	#30
Fidatelo Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Winnipeg, MB	Dola... I should add it hasn't noticed it since I re-imaged the thing to get Kaspersky off the first time __________________ "Breakfast? Breakfast schmekfast, look at the score for God's sake. It's only the second period and I'm winning 12-2. Breakfasts come and go, Rene, but Hartford, the Whale, they only beat Vancouver maybe once or twice in a lifetime."

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