Hey people.

I've just bought a new computer for my folks. It's a very good new system. Thing is:
it comes loaded with the usual pants...

...just wondered what the computer literate lot thought was the best downloads to 'pimp it up'?

Thank you.

There is the obvious stuff.

Adaware and spybot for security. And microsofts antispyware.
if you dont have a firewall or antivirus i would recomend buying a package but you can download free ones, there are a million threads about this including one here (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=71680)

for internet browsing, and again increased security download firefox. if you have gmail download notifier. if you want a gmail account just pm me :)

downloading java, abode and flash is pretty important!!

Download all the newest drivers for your motherboard and graphics card/sound card etc..
Make sure Windows is upto date..

the rest depends on what you want it for.

microtorrent is the best torrent software, soulseek for unsigned bands, filezilla if you ftp, mirc for IRC, nero, dvd shrink....

for most of these downloads you can get them at www.download.com (wonder how much they paid for that name!!), windows update or the mobo/graphics card manufacturer.

If you dont know what graphics card just right click on the desktop and goto "properties" then "settings" it should tell you in the long bar.

give me an idea of what you want to do with your pc...


hope this helps a bit :)

some of my most used / important appz i use the most are

spybot search and destroy

grisoft avg

kerio personal firewall

leechget 2005 (download manager) - also lets you parse websites

streamdown (download streaming media off the net)

codecs - i use klite codec pack, features all the codecs youll ever need, then some, also has a wikkid media player - media player classic, as well as alternative versions of real player and quicktime

winrar, winzip

firefox (for browsing)

wsftp for uploading to my webspace

directory printer (karens power tools) - allows you to either print out or save to disk a text file of a folder and all of its contents, invaluable for printing out say a cd of mp3s to show somebody

if you dont have MSoffice then download the free but almost as good openoffice

exact audio copy for mp3s / ripping cds

oops forgot an unzipper!!

I wouldnt reccomend klite, its known to cause problems with machines. just download divx and it should play pretty much anything you need it to. you do have to be carefull when downloading codecs from the web.

Originally posted by Preacher Man
oops forgot an unzipper!!

I wouldnt reccomend klite, its known to cause problems with machines. just download divx and it should play pretty much anything you need it to. you do have to be carefull when downloading codecs from the web.

hmmmm ive never had a problem with klite, and i know lots of people who use it online and they dont seem to either ......yeah divx is ok, its when you come across a vid online that wont play, klites handled everything ive thrown at it up till now

Opera for browsing - I found FF too cluttered, epecially when Opera 8 appeared - it's cleaner, IMO. Also, it would lose the focus in Java Applets - grrr.

:)

Maybe iTunes, so they can groove to their music? :suspect:

I've installed the k-lite mega codec pack lots of times without any issues at all.

Firefox for browsing, Opera at a push. As long as it isn't internet explorer.

Ad-Aware/Spybot/AVG7/Sygate personal firewall for security.

I doubt your folks would use any of the others mentioned here. The most important thing is to uninstall the year's free trial of Snortin Norton the computer probably came with and to go in to msconfig and stop all the useless apps starting on boot up.
I just have my firewall and antivirus ticked in the startup list. Anything else i can start manually when needed :wink:

it depends were u get klite from, it caused nothing but trouble on a few of my friends machines

I installed mine from here on Friday :)

http://www.free-codecs.com/K_Lite_Codec_Pack_download.htm

Originally posted by vidster
I installed mine from here on Friday :)

http://www.free-codecs.com/K_Lite_Codec_Pack_download.htm


FTR.

I have been having problems with one or two video files recently...


So I (just now) removed all the codecs I'd got installed on this PC, downloaded and installed the K-Lite codec pack.

Problem fixed:thumbsup: (it also found some "broken" codecs and deleted the reg keys pointing to the damaged files).

Thanks for all the suggestions folks. I will be installing a few enhancements but I think it will have to wait until the old broadband is set up!

(Don't know about the itunes, unless they have a good range of Bruce Springsteen and Tina Turner. But let's not encourage the old folks, it's embarrassing to see them grooving round the kitchen).