What should you download when getting a new computer?

• Chockeh wrote on 2011-09-05 10:25
  This is pretty much just a suggestion thread. What should you do first or download when getting a new computer?
  
  I'm probably going to download Microsoft Security Essentials from my usb (to avoid using the internet) after I back-up or all that stuff on my computer (might want to suggest a "what to do before going on the internet" list as well?).
  
  I'll probably download uTorrent, Microsoft Office (Pirated version though), Malwarebyte, CCleaner, Defraggler and Rainmeter (just for the basic skin). As for entertainment, I'll probably download Steam,Windows Live and Skype.
• cupid wrote on 2011-09-05 10:35
  This is good info! I just got a new laptop today xD
  
  I immediately went and downloaded mabinogi and vindictus.... along with setting up my microsoft office and my antivirus thing xD
  
  Msn, came pre-installed into my new sony laptop...
  
  One question would be, [UB][SIZE="4"]what would you get rid of that is pre-installed with your new laptop?[/SIZE][/UB] (stuff that slows your computer down) O.o
• Yoorah wrote on 2011-09-05 10:45
  First thing to do is run Windows Update and reboot as required until you have no more updates to install. xd Next you check for driver updates for things like the graphics card.
  
  You can download MSE on the laptop itself, lol. If you don't want to risk infections, don't pirate stuff. CCleaner is kinda useless imo, at least on Win7. So is Defraggler. Malwarebytes is meh. Don't get infected in the first place!
  
  I like to keep stuff at a minimum on my computers. So just install what you need. :P
• BobYoMeowMeow wrote on 2011-09-05 11:33
  the cat thinks win7 defrags itself on a weekly basis or something
• Kingofrunes wrote on 2011-09-05 13:34
  Hmm...
  
  Open Office (although these days Google Docs could suffice)
  Mabinogi
  Skype
  IZArc (My favorite free unzipping program that can handle rar's too)
  Filezilla (for my website)
  Notepad++ (Great for working on my php pages)
  Google Chrome and Firefox
  Steam, TF2, Portal 2
  Transfer Touhou and Stepmania
  Transfer all my songs and pictures
  
  As for pre-installed crap. Remove it all. Useless. That's what most of the pre-installed crap is.
• Bakuryu wrote on 2011-09-05 19:54
  Yeah, win7 self-defrag is surprisingly good. So you don't need any defragging software.
  I also would download Thunderbird, indispensable if you use more than one email.
• TA wrote on 2011-09-05 20:33
  These are some notes I kept from when I had to redo my entire OS here recently...
  
  [SPOILER="Spoiler"]http://www.displayfusion.com/Download/
  http://site.aladen.free.fr/ifoxfork/
  http://www.codegazer.com/vistaglazz/
  http://www.7-zip.org/
  http://www.vista4beginners.com/How-to-install-new-themes
  http://dimage.deviantart.com/art/Smooth-Glass-65856226
  http://www.autohotkey.com/download/ - autohotkey basic
  Shark007 + CoreAVC
  
  desktop > personalization > window color and appearance. Then disable transparency and set the color to Frost.
  
  add run to start menu
  remove recycle bin from desktop http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Show-or-hide-the-Recycle-Bin
  make the file menu always visible on folders
  
  right click on taskbar, start menu, uncheck recent items under privacy
  
  autohotkey in startup folder
  
  remove power from always show in taskbar by clock
  Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB931836) - fixes clock (didn't work for me?)
  Copy Firefox from Program Files (x86) and from users/name/appdata/roaming/Mozilla and I get my extensions and old firefox back.
  
  IrfanView & appdata files
  
  \Users\username\Appdata\Local\Microsoft\Messenger\ to restore msn emotions and display pics but might cause corruption that will freeze msn, so get them backed up then delete it all, uninstall and reinstall
  
  Logitech G11 keyboard driver
  
  NFO viewer
  
  Daemon Tools Lite
  
  photoshop
  rename adobe_eula.dll to adobe_eula.old
  
  __
  If have DX11 card, Update for Windows Vista (KB971512) http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=E2DA6EF8-92B6-4370-9E22-2C05A8C37AB0&pf=true
  dxdiag to confirm
  
  --
  
  MPC & Codecs
  -
  install Shark007 for Vista
  install Shark's x64 component
  download and install Media Player Classic Homecinema
  use backup mpc-hc.ini
  
  (disables blue crap)
  mpc -> options, player tab, uncheck show OSD
  
  (other - better because I have Aero enabled)
  Haali's Renderer in Output
  
  (use CoreAVC)
  options, external filters, add, CoreAVC, prefer button
  
  (use DirectVobSub)
  options, external filters, add DirectVobSub, prefer button
  options, playback, uncheck "autoload audio files" and "autoload subtitle files" at the bottom.
  
  (use external filters)
  View-> Options-> Internal Filters
  In the left column, the following are not ticked: AVI, Matroska, MP4/MOV, MPEG Audio, MPEG PS/TS/PVA, Ogg
  In the right column, only the following are ticked: RealAudio, PS2 Audio, QT PCM, MPEG-2 Video, RealVideo.
  
  Keys > 1234 as the same zoom as default but without the alt or ctrl or whatever, and I changed fullscreen to 5, and I set my screenshot to alt+f
  
  if my computer view messes up: http://www.vistax64.com/vista-file-management/55679-re-computer-tiles-view-messed-up.html [/SPOILER]
• Mello wrote on 2011-09-06 05:48
  Pooooooooooooooooooooorn!
• Shizukani wrote on 2011-09-06 06:48
  CCleaner is not useless, it's great for removing unnecessary files from your hard drive, which frees up space, and for fixing issues in your registry.
  
  As for defragmentation, I would recommend Diskeeper. Personally, I think it's better than the Windows defragmenter, and it also has a built in solid state drive optimizer.
  
  Other than those two applications, and probably antivirus (I recommend ESET Smart Security), you don't really need anything else. Of course, you don't need the aforementioned applications either, but they're great to have, and indispensable in the long run for keeping your computer as fast as it could be.
  
  For other optional applications, Firefox/Chrome is useful, as well as iTunes, Microsoft Word, any instant messaging program (AIM, Skype, Xfire), games/game distribution programs (Mabinogi, Steam), Daemon Tools, Quicktime, Real, WinRAR, Notepad++, video codecs, Adobe Flash, Adobe Reader, uTorrent, Photoshop, etc, etc.
  
  Also make sure to download and install the latest Windows updates and update all of your drivers.
  
  As for the junk that almost always comes with a new Windows computer, you can get rid of all of it. Much of it is trialware and therefore useless after a period of time, and the rest you probably won't even need.
• Excalibuurr wrote on 2011-09-07 02:45
  CCCP for watching anime, Steam, Google Chrome, uTorrent, basic web needs (Adobe Flash, Java, quicktime, ect), Open Office, some type of anti-virus.
• Mystickskye wrote on 2011-09-07 18:01

  Quote from Shizukani;579714:

  CCleaner is not useless, it's great for removing unnecessary files from your hard drive, which frees up space, and for fixing issues in your registry.

  Based on your attempted reasoning I'd say it is useless. Remnant files generally don't take up enough space to be an issue (this is ignoring that with most remnant files, you can just remove them yourself) and it's known to actually cause issues in your registry. Any decent user can do fine without it and it's certainly not a program one would want to run frequently.
  
  I also agree with Yoorah that a dedicated defragger is eh. Despite concerns voiced by some people file fragmentation generally isn't an issue for the average user. I furthermore second "install what you need". Get your new system, start using it, download new programs as the need arises for them. Several solid suggestions for more common needs though. If you want a no frills IM client then Pidgin is quite good though lacks a lot of the fancy options dedicated first party messengers have. Weigh your options.
• TA wrote on 2011-09-07 18:10
  I prefer Shark007 over CCCP since Shark007 will properly generate thumbnails on a 64-bit OS and they otherwise have the same codecs. Shark007+CoreAVC is the way to go.
  
  :awesome:
• Osayidan wrote on 2011-09-07 18:47
  Doesn't matter what you get it's all personal preference, but do yourselves a favor and make a disk image after you installed and configured everything to your liking.
• Excalibuurr wrote on 2011-09-07 19:19

  Quote from Osayidan;581139:

  Doesn't matter what you get it's all personal preference, but do yourselves a favor and make a disk image after you installed and configured everything to your liking.

  
  
  A disk who? :v
• Shizukani wrote on 2011-09-07 20:18

  Quote from Mystickskye;581122:

  Based on your attempted reasoning I'd say it is useless. Remnant files generally don't take up enough space to be an issue (this is ignoring that with most remnant files, you can just remove them yourself) and it's known to actually cause issues in your registry. Any decent user can do fine without it and it's certainly not a program one would want to run frequently.

  
  
  I've never heard of anyone complaining about CCleaner having any adverse effects, and most of the stuff it cleans you would never think about cleaning yourself. You'd be pretty surprised at how much space it actually frees up.
  
  Besides, if you know what you're doing, CCleaner won't harm your computer, it can only help it. Not to mention the fact that it takes up about the same space on your hard drive as Adobe Flash. (~5 mb)