PC reset & upgrade time!

I want some software suggestions.

By Luckmann on January 27, 2010 1:54:44 AM from

So, it's one of THOSE threads again.

I'm tired of Vista now, and a recent upgrade seem to have solved some of my issues, but not all of them. New ones have cropped up and I'm no longer sure if it's a hardware or software issue. The natural thing to do is a reformat. Might aswell upgrade to Win7 in the process.

Currently backing up everything and downloading "the essentials". So far, apart from (the latest) graphic and motherboard chipset drivers, I've (re-)downloaded Open Office, Mozilla Firefox, Winamp and CCleaner. I'll likely do a firmware upgrade of my BIOS aswell but, eh, not really relevant for you to know.

So, taking suggestions. What are essential first-install things for you, or what do you recommend? I just remembered Photoshop, gotta take a note of that. Also taking general advice, such as "don't forget to backup your bookmarks".

Anything, really. Also, Impulse is a given (Steam is not). Thinking of trying out Mozilla Thunderbird, too, because I'm horrible at using those web things. Is it any good?

Edit: And Combined Community Codec Pack.

+131 Karma | 21 Replies

What Anti-virus/Anti-Spyware/Anti-Malware/Firewall would you recommend? Preferably one that can be completely turned off. I used to use AVG, but it conflicted with some programs/games and it had to be uninstalled to be turned completely off. So unless things have changed, AVG is out - which means that I need a new favourite. Preferably freeware, but I'm open for suggestions.

In the AV/firewall/anti-mal/spy department i use Kapersky Internet Suite. It's not free but is not too process heavy and does just about everything you would need, which allows me to get rid of a few other apps. I keep Ad-aware around tho still, more out of habit i guess.

As for the new install, i myslef just upgraded to Win 7 from vista so it is pretty fresh in my memory. Ccleaner and SmartDefrag are two of the first things i think of when reinstalling. Also remember to back up any FF extensions you have and their settings..alot of them export/import features. Do this with your emails and contacts that ya need to keep to.

Don't bother archiving anything in Impulse, as it does not support OS changes, ahich i found out the hard way. Also if you are a Object Desktop subscriber make sure you are up to date, i wasn't and as such since many of the OD apps that i had on vista now don't work on Win7..WB6 was the first i realized i had lost.

Along with the CCCp i have FFdShow as well.

Any GC2/SINS mods? Remember to back up your mod folders, as well as your My Games folder.

As for Thunderbird, i use it and it is great. About what you would expect in an email client from mozilla, much like Outlook but netter and more streamlined.

Hope your upgrade goes well mate!

Anti-virus/spyware/malware http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/

Zone Alarm for the Firewall

Winpatrol for program control

all free

Give Thunderbird a go. It works well.

Edit: And Combined Community Codec Pack.

I have yet to see a need to load a codec pack with Windows 7...it even has Quicktime support buit in.

Anti-virus/spyware/malware http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/

I agree....works well and has very little system impact.

If it's just personal email and you don't have or use a PDA then Thunderbird 3.0 is great. It does imap for gmail, pop3 for hotmail and yahoo mail (pay) and there's an addon out there that lets you access yahoo free mail as well.....

Before upgrading, you might want to install the advisor tool in the LINK.

Not every computer is up to it, and this tool will let you know if there will be problems.

just a note on thunderbird.

use it at work everyday and it's never let me down. the latest version is a big bonus when i comes to serachign as it quick with resutls and allows you to further restrict the results by sender, date, ect without having to initiate a whole new search. a big plus over gmail ( who's searching ability goes with out saying) which i use for personal mail.

on win7 installs in general.

i went from XP straight to win7. copied my install folder (the folder where i download all the tools i find too) and a few other txt files to USB then simply ran win7.

that was pretty much it.

obviously need to reinstall my programs (love you impulse) but as for drivers it was a dodle. codecs haven't been an issue yet but i use GOM player which will fetch codec (with a prompt) should it need one. no prompts to date.

other win7 tips.

pretty much. if it's got a window it's pinable. meaning you can attach it as a permanant button to your taskbar.

handy if you like quick access to control panel, task manager, etc...

in general

much better OS imho you won't be sorry

Don't bother archiving anything in Impulse, as it does not support OS changes

I think that's largely an artifact of the customization apps that actually do have variations for each OS. Games-wise, if you keep them on another partition or aren't going to reformat, there's a pretty decent chance you should be able to use the detect app option and force reactivation on them with a new OS. Doing so won't carry over the version number though so you'll have to write that down and put it in the registry yourself if you want to update later without reinstalling. Any titles that install stuff outside what's in the game folder itself will still need to be reinstalled, but that may save you a few.

Along with the CCCp i have FFdShow as well.

Win7 has all the video codecs--it only really lacks a Matroska splitter and means to process embedded subtitles nicely. But as you can get FFDShow and the splitter alone without using CCCP, I'd reccommend against bloating up your machine with it as well. Just install those bits you need manually, they're quite small and simple to do.

Foxit reader

Media Player Classic (videos, + klite codec pack)

foobar2000 (music library)

Peerblock + uTorrent (if you're into that kinda thing)

Directx + visual c++ 2005/2008

7zip.

Poweriso.

Java.

Those are what goes into my fresh installs, besides what you've mentioned.

Considering I build at least 4 new "state of the art" PC's/ per year... I have a little practice at this.

Revo Uninstaller... for the very thorough capabilities of removing all aspects and traces programs and processes not wanted.

Advanced Systemscare Pro... to keep the registry flowing smoothly in between installs of all my new goodies.

yeah, and BTW, Microsoft Security Essentials is actually a very good Antivirus tool. (for free)

Excellent suggestions, thanks for the help, all. Suffering from a killer headache and I have a lot of work to do tomorrow before I get started on actually formatting the computer and installing Windows 7 on it.

Quoting kryo,

reply 8

[...]

Win7 has all the video codecs--it only really lacks a Matroska splitter and means to process embedded subtitles nicely. But as you can get FFDShow and the splitter alone without using CCCP, I'd reccommend against bloating up your machine with it as well. Just install those bits you need manually, they're quite small and simple to do.

What is FFdShow and what is it good for? Matroska is the only codec I was really worried about, and if I can find it seperately along with Media Player Classic, that'd most likely be fine. But what would I use FFdShow for?

Quoting wallstop,

reply 9

Foxit reader

Media Player Classic (videos, + klite codec pack)

foobar2000 (music library)

Peerblock + uTorrent (if you're into that kinda thing)

Directx + visual c++ 2005/2008

7zip.

Poweriso.

Java.

Almost forgot Java. But perhaps someone could help me with something. When I go to the Visual C++ page, I get completely blinded by a lot of information that really doesn't concern me. What do I need and where do I find it? I'm lost. Suffering from a bit of sleep deprivation here, too. Maybe it'll be clearer in the morning.

Almost forgot uTorrent, too.

Quoting narbytrout,

reply 10

[...]

yeah, and BTW, Microsoft Security Essentials is actually a very good Antivirus tool. (for free)

I'm still hesitant. It's Microsoft. Last time they did a firewall, it was completely broken. Have they gotten better at it?

Maybe I will try it.

Fair point mate....but i'd hardley call FFdShow bloating...what is it...like 6mb..

Why anyone would ruin a new machine/OS with a Torrent is beyond me.

I spent ages with an InLaw's machine which had LimeWire on it.....removing all the porn and virii.

You won't get me paying for hosting someone else's downloads....

Fair point mate....but i'd hardley call FFdShow bloating...what is it...like 6mb..

"It" meant the entire CCCP, with its billions of random codecs from all over that you'll never need.

What is FFdShow and what is it good for?

It's used for rendering subtitles in Matroska files, among other things.

Yeah, I was hesitant too, knowing microsoft's record.

But after some real intense research and many unbiased reviews, come to find out microsoft got this one right.

There is nothing really special about writing an antivirus program, there are all structurally the same. Even the "real-time" protection is similar. It really all boils down to effective "definitions".

Several head-to-head tests show MSE holding it's own, if not out performing many well known antivirus programs.

Plus the integration melds right into your OS.

I'm still hesitant. It's Microsoft. Last time they did a firewall, it was completely broken. Have they gotten better at it?

I'm not talking firewall.

Quoting Jafo,

reply 13

Why anyone would ruin a new machine/OS with a Torrent is beyond me.

I spent ages with an InLaw's machine which had LimeWire on it.....removing all the porn and virii.

You won't get me paying for hosting someone else's downloads....

"A torrent"? Kind sir, I had over 200 torrents running that I now regrettably had to disengage due to the reset!

If he's running Limewire, it's his own fault.

Quoting narbytrout,

reply 16

Yeah, I was hesitant too, knowing microsoft's record.

But after some real intense research and many unbiased reviews, come to find out microsoft got this one right.

[...]

I'm not talking firewall.

Got it. I'll just go for MSE for anti-everything and ZoneAlarm for Firewall.