Free Software Recommendations Appreciated

General Discussion (off topic) Anything and everyt
#1

I am passing a PC from one daughter 21 to another 19. I plan on reformatting and reinstalling fresh software. This PC is about 4 yrs old and it will be XP Home. When I originally got it back from my daughter SP3 had not been installed, I forgot about the HP/Compaq fiasco when installing SP3.
This format will give it a fresh start and even though there are 1 or 2 files I like that came with the PC trying to recover them and with all the trial ware, just want to start over. Oh it origianlly had Symantic installed and the college required ONLY McAffee.

  1. Any problem formatting both drives to NTFS or should I leave drive 2 as fat32?

  2. I will be using the lastest update of Comodo’s C.I.S for primary security but will have as manual backup scanners Malwarebytes, SuperAntiSpyware, and A2Squared. Along with a few others.

  3. To control starting I have used Startup Control Monitor and Startup Control Panel
    The first informs you if something is trying to install to run at startup,
    and the second you can manually stop a program from loading at startup.
    Any other recommeation
    A program that really annoys me is QuickTime updater, it will try to load when just visiting a page and not even clicking on a link.

  4. Will update IEto IE8 but will also install Google Chrome for the browser, If she wants to change browsers she can.

Other software recommedations or comparisons is apprecieated
Besides Media Player will also install jetAudio from Cowan
Not sure about CD recording I am looking at both CDBurnerXP and Burnware Free (comparison appreciated.

other files are
Qnext
Open Office
7Zip or Zip genius (compare)
Irfanview and FastStone Image Viewer (compare)

I think jetAudio or Media Player will replace PowerDVD, the new version has no free version but only has trial ware.
any other recommendation for just DVD playing

For Cleanup: up: Ccleaner, Comodo System Cleaner, MRUBlaster, Windows CleanUp 4.5.2, ATF Cleaner, EasyCleanup from Tony Arts.

For Defragging combination of Defragler, and then jk-defrag
and for a quick defrag AusLogics defrag and somtimes contig
For registry defrag either AusLogics registry defrag or NTREGOPT

Uninstaller Revo Uninstaller or Zsoft Uninstaller (compare)

Comodo Verification Engine
Whats Running
Secunia and Comodo Vulnerability Analyzer

Weather Watcher

There are several other little files but would like to see your recommendations and comparisons.

Also plan on using recommendations from BlackViper and Pacs Portal, any other site to visit?

Thanks
UncleDoug

#2

With regards to CDBurnerXP i find it very easy to use and get the hang. Certainly would recommend it :-TU

How about also putting Foxit reader on so she avoids the Adobe reader bloat if trying to view a pdf.

Also if you wan`t a media conversion program on there Format Factory is a gem(just untick the toolbars on install, but you know that UD ;))

Korean media player was recommended by Panic a long while back(at least i think it was him) and i`ve never used anything else.

Maybe also worth putting Windows Worms Door Cleaner on if LAN sharing etc is not needed.

I`d format both drives to NTFS, good article:-http://www.theeldergeek.com/ntfs_or_fat32_file_system.htm

Good luck M8,
Matt

#3
1) Any problem formatting both drives to NTFS or should I leave drive 2 as fat32?

Unless you have a specific requirement for FAT32, definitely use NTFS, it’s a considerably more robust file system.

2) I will be using the lastest update of Comodo's C.I.S for primary security but will have as manual backup scanners Malwarebytes, SuperAntiSpyware, and A2Squared. Along with a few others.

I’m not sure you will need all of those. CIS will provide you with an excellent first line of defence. If, however, you feel you need something in addition, then Malwarebytes or A2squared are both highly thought of.

3) To control starting I have used Startup Control Monitor and Startup Control Panel The first informs you if something is trying to install to run at startup, and the second you can manually stop a program from loading at startup. Any other recommeation

Autoruns for Windows arguably the best of breed.

A program that really annoys me is QuickTime updater, it will try to load when just visiting a page and not even clicking on a link.

Unless you specifically need the full Quicktime bloat, use QT Lite or QuickTime Alternative

4) Will update IEto IE8 but will also install Google Chrome for the browser, If she wants to change browsers she can.

Firefox and others will tell you Opera.

Besides Media Player will also install jetAudio from Cowan[

I use foobar2000, it’s an excellent player for audio. For Video I’d suggest SMPlayer

Not sure about CD recording I am looking at both CDBurnerXP and Burnware Free (comparison appreciated.

CDBurnerXP is very good, personally I use ImgBurn

other files are Qnext Open Office 7Zip or Zip genius (compare) Irfanview and FastStone Image Viewer (compare)

Open Office and 7-zip are both excellent PeaZip is also very good. Personally I prefer the Faststone products.

I think jetAudio or Media Player will replace PowerDVD, the new version has no free version but only has trial ware. any other recommendation for just DVD playing

See above.

For Cleanup: up: Ccleaner, Comodo System Cleaner, MRUBlaster, Windows CleanUp 4.5.2, ATF Cleaner, EasyCleanup from Tony Arts.

CSC and CCleaner shold be more than sufficient.

For Defragging combination of Defragler, and then jk-defrag and for a quick defrag AusLogics defrag and somtimes contig For registry defrag either AusLogics registry defrag or NTREGOPT

JKDefrag does an excellent job, particularly when used in conjunction with some of the scripts found on their website.

Uninstaller Revo Uninstaller or Zsoft Uninstaller (compare)

Revo all the way.

Comodo Verification Engine Whats Running Secunia and Comodo Vulnerability Analyzer

Weather Watcher

Haven’t had the need for any of these…

Also plan on using recommendations from BlackViper and Pacs Portal, any other site to visit?

Be careful if you start disabling services, there can be some interesting side effects…

Thanks