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CCleaner, Google Chrome, LibreOffice, Notepad++, VLC, CCCP (it has a very good set of codecs and Media Player Classic), Dropbox, 7-zip, Gimp, Adobe Reader, PDF Creator, and µTorrent are in my "must have" apps list for any Windows user.
wild9
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- May 20, 2007
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I use ATF Cleaner (freeware with optional donate). It is similar to CCleaner and can wipe all the junk created by Windows, IE, Firefox, Opera and other apps.. all the click of a button. Often when you clean the system it feels snappy. This (stand-alone) program also has a very small memory foot-print.
wild9
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- May 20, 2007
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Want a fast alternative to Windows Search, one that can also do all manner of text file batch processing? I recommend ‘Heatsoft Handy File Tool 1.04 (Freeware version).
This tool is incredibly fast for search and processing.. so much faster than Windows XP. It's user interface can seem a little daunting, and needs some work when it comes to updating options after you load different scripts. But it's free, and as fast as lightning. It also allows you the option to create backups of all the files in use.
Processing 1000’s of files is a breeze with this app. I consider it indispensable, and way better than anything Microsoft can come up with. Even huge text files, e.g. 200MB+ can be handled by this little gem. After chipping away at 650MB worth of log files I managed to get them down to 180MB in no time, so searching for text strings was faster even under the Windows Search tool.
This tool is incredibly fast for search and processing.. so much faster than Windows XP. It's user interface can seem a little daunting, and needs some work when it comes to updating options after you load different scripts. But it's free, and as fast as lightning. It also allows you the option to create backups of all the files in use.
Processing 1000’s of files is a breeze with this app. I consider it indispensable, and way better than anything Microsoft can come up with. Even huge text files, e.g. 200MB+ can be handled by this little gem. After chipping away at 650MB worth of log files I managed to get them down to 180MB in no time, so searching for text strings was faster even under the Windows Search tool.
wild9
Distinguished
- May 20, 2007
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If you want to load your DivX etc clips into Windows Movie Maker (XP), download the free Xvid codec 1.3.2 Update using the following page. Now, when you import your camcorder footage a small blue "X" appears in the corner of your screen. The codec is pretty fast but obviously with things like this the faster your CPU the better (mine was fine on an old Athlon 64 x2 at 2.2GHz and 2GB RAM).
There's also a bunch of other stuff on there for Windows 7 users.
http://www.digital-digest.com/search_action.php?keywords=Xvid+Codec&type=software
There's also a bunch of other stuff on there for Windows 7 users.
http://www.digital-digest.com/search_action.php?keywords=Xvid+Codec&type=software
wild9
Distinguished
- May 20, 2007
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(Sorry if this seems like spam, I am reeling these ideas off the top of my head as I rummage through my software collection).
1) Ever bought or tried to fix an old lap-top, and discovered Nero etc won't work with it's OEM DVD burner? Try CD Burner XP (freeware).
http://cdburnerxp.se/en/home
I've used this three or four times on old Dell and HP machines.
2) Want to backup your original DVD's? Use DVD Shrink (freeware). This app is old, but boy is it gold in terms of speed and ease-of-use. You can delete junk or compress it to save space when backing up DVD9 films to DVD5 media, or just use DVD9 media. Note however, your drive will probably have a region lock that only allows you to set it's region code upto 5 times. There are ways around this but I could only find commercial programs like AnyDVD. Due to it's popularity you should only ever get AnyDVD from a reliable source..
Also, some these apps like iTunes are popular, but the thing I hate with them is the services and other background tasks they install. Google Chrome likes to install toolbar updaters. I know it's less of an issue these days with fast processors, big drives and cheap RAM, but I always like to run my system and the systems I fix with minimal overhead. Always check what services are being run in the background, and whether you actually need them. Some can create problems and some are nothing more than a waste of space.
1) Ever bought or tried to fix an old lap-top, and discovered Nero etc won't work with it's OEM DVD burner? Try CD Burner XP (freeware).
http://cdburnerxp.se/en/home
I've used this three or four times on old Dell and HP machines.
2) Want to backup your original DVD's? Use DVD Shrink (freeware). This app is old, but boy is it gold in terms of speed and ease-of-use. You can delete junk or compress it to save space when backing up DVD9 films to DVD5 media, or just use DVD9 media. Note however, your drive will probably have a region lock that only allows you to set it's region code upto 5 times. There are ways around this but I could only find commercial programs like AnyDVD. Due to it's popularity you should only ever get AnyDVD from a reliable source..
Also, some these apps like iTunes are popular, but the thing I hate with them is the services and other background tasks they install. Google Chrome likes to install toolbar updaters. I know it's less of an issue these days with fast processors, big drives and cheap RAM, but I always like to run my system and the systems I fix with minimal overhead. Always check what services are being run in the background, and whether you actually need them. Some can create problems and some are nothing more than a waste of space.
Seriously? There are a few programs on this list I use, but install on every computer? No way! Many of the others are ones I remove on sight. Chrome is nothing but sypware, and breaks some of our internal apps to boot. iTunes has slowed millions of computers to a crawl, and installs garbage that loosens security and causes nothing but grief. I admit I used to use VLC, but get far better results with a codec pack and KMPlayer. FF is OK, but IE9 is actually pretty good in itself, and has far better security and privacy than either Chrome or FF. I'll still take MSE over the nagging one gets from the other free AV programs. The Freemake video converter is good, but how many people actually get into that? And Open Office? Really? I'll take LIbreOffice over it any day, but if one's budget supports it nothing compares to the real thing, Microsft Office. Buy the Home version and you can install it on 3 computers, and every once in a while Microsoft runs it on sale for a very reasonable price.
Nexus52085
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- Oct 16, 2009
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Aren't registry cleaners sort of dangerous to use? Don't they sometimes delete important registry files? I suppose if you know how to use it correctly, Ccleaner wouldn't be a bad thing to have, but if you are an amateur, like most people, it wouldn't be wise to use.
Branden
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- Jan 22, 2009
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chrome AND firefox? no need for both (besides, who wants to manage 2 sets of bookmarks?), any non-IE browser is fine.
then i found it hard to agree that any program mentioned after that being necessary at all. photofiltre? tweetdeck? notepad++? seriously?
and no mention of an archiving utility (ex. 7-zip)?
downloading files in a compressed format is a near daily occurance for near everyone, being able to extract them is an absolute necessity.
and what about some kind of s.m.a.r.t. utility to monitor HDD/SSD health? getting warned of an impending drive failure is infinitely more important than being able to tweet and FB at the same time (or at all).
here's my list of absolute necessary computer programs (installed on every machine i build and installed first thing): an office product, an antivirus, an archiving utility, a defrag utility (hdd only), a non-IE browser, a non-WMP media player, a SMART montior, an automated backup utility (to go with backup HDD which should also be considered necessary).
i'll agree with CCleaner though...
then i found it hard to agree that any program mentioned after that being necessary at all. photofiltre? tweetdeck? notepad++? seriously?
and no mention of an archiving utility (ex. 7-zip)?
downloading files in a compressed format is a near daily occurance for near everyone, being able to extract them is an absolute necessity.
and what about some kind of s.m.a.r.t. utility to monitor HDD/SSD health? getting warned of an impending drive failure is infinitely more important than being able to tweet and FB at the same time (or at all).
here's my list of absolute necessary computer programs (installed on every machine i build and installed first thing): an office product, an antivirus, an archiving utility, a defrag utility (hdd only), a non-IE browser, a non-WMP media player, a SMART montior, an automated backup utility (to go with backup HDD which should also be considered necessary).
i'll agree with CCleaner though...
- Jul 16, 2009
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[citation][nom]Nexus52085[/nom]Aren't registry cleaners sort of dangerous to use? Don't they sometimes delete important registry files? I suppose if you know how to use it correctly, Ccleaner wouldn't be a bad thing to have, but if you are an amateur, like most people, it wouldn't be wise to use.[/citation]
Don't worry, the tick box marked "Delete something important" is bright red and has an arrow pointing at it saying "Do not use this feature"
Don't worry, the tick box marked "Delete something important" is bright red and has an arrow pointing at it saying "Do not use this feature"
dimitris__
Honorable
- Jul 20, 2012
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+Acrobat Reader
+7Zip
+CDBurner XP (Best for burning)
+Media Player Classic HomeCinema (Best for Watching HD Movies)
+uTorrent
+Virtual Clone Drive (Mount CD Images)
-Chrome (who wants a spy on their PC)
-iTunes (Specialized software - not needed if you don't have Apple devices)
+7Zip
+CDBurner XP (Best for burning)
+Media Player Classic HomeCinema (Best for Watching HD Movies)
+uTorrent
+Virtual Clone Drive (Mount CD Images)
-Chrome (who wants a spy on their PC)
-iTunes (Specialized software - not needed if you don't have Apple devices)
File recovery tool, guys, one of the most important things to have! Piriform Recuva or something like that.
Also:
iTunes -> Foobar2000
OpenOffice - LibreOffice (true, AOO 3.4 came out not so long ago, but they are far behind)
VLC -> MPC-HC in a codec-pack, or something based on mplayer
Pidgin -> Trillian
+ 7-zip
Also:
iTunes -> Foobar2000
OpenOffice - LibreOffice (true, AOO 3.4 came out not so long ago, but they are far behind)
VLC -> MPC-HC in a codec-pack, or something based on mplayer
Pidgin -> Trillian
+ 7-zip
andrew1421lee
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- Nov 16, 2010
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Sunius
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Come on.. they cannot be serious.
CCleaner - why would you want that on a new install? The windows are clean already, it's just going to take space!
2 browsers - I don't get why'd you need two.
Office - I don't think it's essential software. Office files aren't that common.
Pidgin - Never heard of it.
iTunes - People still use that?
free video converter - Very situational, only few people will find its use
tweetDeck - never heard of it.
DropBox - It's only needed if you're doing group projects or something.. I can't imagine the need to constantly upload files somewhere using a program that runs in background all the time.
Paint.Net - Almost nobody will find use for it.
PhotoFiltre - Why recommend more than one painting program?
Notepad++ - most people don't use notepad. Only coders.
Programs that are missing:
First and foremost - graphics card control center (like nvidia control panel and catalyst control center). It's needed on any PC, be it for work or gaming.
uTorrent - that's pretty much important program for anyone to have, probably the easiest way to send files to other people without uploading them to a (probably not free or slow) web server.
Daemon Tools - It's needed. You should be able to use .iso files on any PC.
7-zip/winrar - Extracting is essential and is used very often.
PDF reader - they suggest office, however, PDF files are way more common than office files.
HWMonitor - you might want to monitor your computer temperatures once in a while, it's healthy for your hardware.
CCleaner - why would you want that on a new install? The windows are clean already, it's just going to take space!
2 browsers - I don't get why'd you need two.
Office - I don't think it's essential software. Office files aren't that common.
Pidgin - Never heard of it.
iTunes - People still use that?
free video converter - Very situational, only few people will find its use
tweetDeck - never heard of it.
DropBox - It's only needed if you're doing group projects or something.. I can't imagine the need to constantly upload files somewhere using a program that runs in background all the time.
Paint.Net - Almost nobody will find use for it.
PhotoFiltre - Why recommend more than one painting program?
Notepad++ - most people don't use notepad. Only coders.
Programs that are missing:
First and foremost - graphics card control center (like nvidia control panel and catalyst control center). It's needed on any PC, be it for work or gaming.
uTorrent - that's pretty much important program for anyone to have, probably the easiest way to send files to other people without uploading them to a (probably not free or slow) web server.
Daemon Tools - It's needed. You should be able to use .iso files on any PC.
7-zip/winrar - Extracting is essential and is used very often.
PDF reader - they suggest office, however, PDF files are way more common than office files.
HWMonitor - you might want to monitor your computer temperatures once in a while, it's healthy for your hardware.
best comedy ... for software writers there is a better program than notepad. really!? omgawsh! I am still laughing!!
Seriously? Who wrote this? iTunes and messaging software? It's like a tutorial for my grandma or my little sister. I was under the impression this site catered to folk who knew a-whut we're doin' with a computer.
iTunes, really, iTunes WTF, what about the millions of ppl who font have an iproduct, and your recommending iTunes like apple is the only the only thing ppl can buy fro a mobile device. Is apple paying you?? and you chose avast, not a chance, that is just stupid, eset for a paid antivirus, or Microsoft security essentials for free. but really iTunes. What about adobe flash, java, .net framwork,windows updates, shockwave, making sure video drivers are up to date. the never are on a new computer. and really iTunes, you are a retard. I noticed the itunes pic came from an apple computer, and yet this is about software for a windows pc. WTF
I don't believe this! Notepad++? This article says "15 Programs That Should be on any PC" and so many people don't do coding so why install Notepad++?
The other thing is Pidgin. So many people use Facebook and Twitter these days as a means to communicate I don't even think it's necessary.
Yeah, and the failure to recognise the change of name of OpenOffice to LibreOffice.
And why would install both Chrome and Firefox? Are you telling me that EVERY computer NEEDS two web browsers in addition to IE?
The other thing is Pidgin. So many people use Facebook and Twitter these days as a means to communicate I don't even think it's necessary.
Yeah, and the failure to recognise the change of name of OpenOffice to LibreOffice.
And why would install both Chrome and Firefox? Are you telling me that EVERY computer NEEDS two web browsers in addition to IE?
Gigahertz20
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- Oct 30, 2009
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bryonhowley
Splendid
- Oct 24, 2011
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I stop at iTunes there was no point in reading any further. Having tried Avast on my PC I would never put it on any other PC ever. I use MSE and it works well.
MSE
Daemon Tools Lite
MPC-HC
PS3 Media Server with XBMC plugin
XBMC
Firefox
Speed Fan
Winrar
uTorrent
MSE
Daemon Tools Lite
MPC-HC
PS3 Media Server with XBMC plugin
XBMC
Firefox
Speed Fan
Winrar
uTorrent
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