What freeware would you use in this situation?

[Jeff]

I am building my nephew a computer. All new except the HDD, which is only
going to be 6 GB. I am using that because I had it laying around and am
trying to go cheap althought the processor is 2.7 Mhz and 512MB Ram so it
will be enought for any type software I might want to add. A question to the
group. If you had only 6 GB on your HD, what software would you install.
Interested in as much as possible with of course leaving plenty of buffer
space. So far I have decided to load:

Windows XP Home (I have an unregistered copy from another desktop I bought
from Emachines) for the OS.
Zone Alarm for the firewall
One of the freeware anti-virus programs (Recomendations please?)
Ad-Aware and Spyware Killer
I am thinking of using an unopened unregistered MS Works from 2002, (What
would you recomend for freeware MS Office compatible apps?)
Belarc Advisor (Just because)

What else would you install (Freeware) if this were your computer?

Thanks
J

 

[*ProteanThread*]

stick with no installs or portable software if possible.

extend the size by getting a USB drive to store his documents on.

but thats just my opinion.

 

[mike555]

I am building my nephew a computer.------- snip------

What else would you install (Freeware) if this were your computer?

==== forget works, I would use a simple editor, like textshield ...
and I have a few other suggestions at my little web site...
www.nonags.org/members/mike555/ =======

 

[filthy-mcnasty]

Using at least one appendage, the entity known in this space-time

What else would you install (Freeware) if this were your computer?

Don't mean to discourage you, but I just ran a "Dir/s" on my Windows XP
Pro Folder:

Total for: C:\WINDOWS\*
5,696,331,504 bytes in 20,779 files and 3,725 dirs 5,737,340,928
bytes allocated

I know that other apps have dumped their own quota of stuff in the
System32 folder, but still .....

And I NEVER install anything to "C:\Program Files". That goes onto a
separate dedicated partition. But:

Total for: C:\Program Files\*
992,717,592 bytes in 6,964 files and 2,246 dirs 1,010,147,328
bytes allocated

Granted the odd app will go right ahead and dump stuff into the "Common
Files" subfolder, or some similar subfolder

And that does NOT include the SwapFile, Temp or Internet Cache. Again on
a separate Temp partition

If I were you, I'd scale your plans down to the likes of Windows ME,
which nobody seems to like much. Or, better I reckon, Windows 98. Then
come back and ask again

Sorry, but I don't think you'll get better advice, even if you go for a
minimalist Windows XP installation

Best of luck

--
Will Cornish of Cardigan, UK - No nastier than you; No filthier than
usual

To EMail Remove Anti-Spam Spaces: filthy-mcnasty @
btconnect.com

 

[laurent.herve23]

Zone Alarm has the (bad) habit to create HUGE log files,
it can grow up to 50 Mo after a while. I prefer Tiny personal
firewall. Can't remember the name of that logfile...

maybe "internet.log" So maybe zone alarm improved
since last time

Lh

 

[PanHandler]

snip

Windows XP Home (I have an unregistered copy from another desktop I bought
from Emachines) for the OS.

I'll let others answer the other questions, but I think it's highly unlikely
the eMachines XP OS will install on anything other than the machine it was
shipped with. TTBOMK it's a restore version for the intended eMachine, which
already has the OS pre-installed on the HD.

 

[Jeff]

snip


I'll let others answer the other questions, but I think it's highly unlikely
the eMachines XP OS will install on anything other than the machine it was
shipped with. TTBOMK it's a restore version for the intended eMachine, which
already has the OS pre-installed on the HD.

No actually I got two discs, one with a full version and one with the
restore version. Even if it is proprietary software, I can still make it
work.

 

[jmatt]

Spyware Killer

Just in case you have mispelt the above, here is a list of rouge
programs.

List of fake spyware removers or, Rogue/Suspect Anti-Spyware Products
& Web Sites
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm
http://www.2-spyware.com/corrupt-anti-spyware
http://netrn.net/spywareblog/archives/2004/05/30/
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/lesgrotte/map.htm#scum

* Posted via http://www.sixfiles.com/forum
* Please report abuse to http://xinbox.com/sixfiles

 

[narcippias]

Babya System
http://geocities.com/babyap2002

 

[Duddits]

Total for: C:\WINDOWS\*
5,696,331,504 bytes in 20,779 files and 3,725 dirs 5,737,340,928
bytes allocated

Sounds like you have a retail distro with bunches of
recovery/backup/useless stuff. My WinXP SP2 is 10,598 files, 640 dirs
1,698,560,223 bytes. All updates/patches applied. All update uninstalls
still intact. Total used space on C is 4.9GB with buttloads of software
with system restore set at 2GB max.

regards

Dud

 

[PanHandler]

No actually I got two discs, one with a full version and one with the
restore version. Even if it is proprietary software, I can still make it
work.

That's good. I'm currently running three eMachines, own five, and they all
have only the restore versions. I wonder if Gateway made the change after
they bought eMachines. My newest one (Model 3085) is about 1½ years old. The
preinstalled OS includes the Key number, and that's one of the things the
restore discs look for. I've tried restores from the wrong version and it
refuses to work. BTW - I've been using eMachines since 1999 and plugged
everything but a waffle iron into them without a single problem. They're
great values for the money.

 

[Jeff]

That's good. I'm currently running three eMachines, own five, and they all
have only the restore versions. I wonder if Gateway made the change after
they bought eMachines. My newest one (Model 3085) is about 1½ years old. The
preinstalled OS includes the Key number, and that's one of the things the
restore discs look for. I've tried restores from the wrong version and it
refuses to work. BTW - I've been using eMachines since 1999 and plugged
everything but a waffle iron into them without a single problem. They're
great values for the money.

I should have mentioned that I bought the Emachine from Tiger Direct and the
extra disc was a product of Tiger.

 

[filthy-mcnasty]

Using at least one appendage, the entity known in this space-time

Total used space on C is 4.9GB with buttloads of software
with system restore set at 2GB max.

Guilty on the full retail with redundancies, but I forgot System Restore
(Optional, but advisable) and Recycle Bin, which I don't use anyway -
sometimes to my regret, but I DO have lots of room for those life-saving
freeware recovery items

Um, and your lean system still uses 4.9GB, which doesn't leave a lot out
of 6.6GB available to the asker

Sorry. You are right. Overlooked the "buttloads". I'll go away and think
again

--
Will Cornish of Cardigan, UK - No nastier than you; No filthier than
usual

To EMail Remove Anti-Spam Spaces: filthy-mcnasty @
btconnect.com

 

[Duddits]

I am building my nephew a computer. All new except the HDD, which is only
going to be 6 GB. I am using that because I had it laying around and am
trying to go cheap althought the processor is 2.7 Mhz and 512MB Ram so it
will be enought for any type software I might want to add. A question to the
group. If you had only 6 GB on your HD, what software would you install.
Interested in as much as possible with of course leaving plenty of buffer
space. So far I have decided to load:

Windows XP Home (I have an unregistered copy from another desktop I bought
from Emachines) for the OS.
Zone Alarm for the firewall

IIRC, ZA doesn't allow password protection of the rules. Very easy for a
novice user to bypass and allow nasties. Suggest Kerio 2.15 as it allows
password protection.

One of the freeware anti-virus programs (Recomendations please?)

Avast is best for hands free operation. AntiVir is better IMO but requires
manual updates.

Ad-Aware and Spyware Killer

I use four:
1. Microsoft AntiSpyware
2. Spyware Blaster
3. Spybot Search and Destroy
4. Adaware SE

Microsoft AntiSpyware is completely automatic and blocks scripts and
website installs.

I am thinking of using an unopened unregistered MS Works from 2002, (What
would you recomend for freeware MS Office compatible apps?)

The latest Beta OpenOffice build is rock solid and excellent
http://download.openoffice.org/680/index.html

Belarc Advisor (Just because) okey-dokey..... ;-)

What else would you install (Freeware) if this were your computer?

IrfanView
PhotoFiltre
FreeCommander
IZArc
Foobar2000
Mp3Gain
ExactAudioCopy/Lame
http://www.bestmp3guide.com
Media Player Classic
SpaceMonger
Power Defragmenter/Contig
http://www.excessive-software.tk/
Firefox
MozBackup
FileZilla
40tude Dialog
MetaPad
GAIM

All of the above are installed and used on any machine I build.

hth

Dud

 

[PanHandler]

I should have mentioned that I bought the Emachine from Tiger Direct and
the
extra disc was a product of Tiger.

Aha! That explains my confusion As an aside, I'd highly recommend
AidaSysInfo. It's like Belarc Advisor on steroids - more than you really
need to know about the computer and OS, but VERY useful - even to the point
of indicating fan RPM's, motherboard data, etc.

 

[Jeff]

I'd highly recommend
AidaSysInfo. It's like Belarc Advisor on steroids - more than you really
need to know about the computer and OS, but VERY useful - even to the point
of indicating fan RPM's, motherboard data, etc.

Got a link?

 

[PanHandler]

news:H%[email protected]...

I'd highly recommend

Got a link?

The utility has been abandoned by the developer, but here's a link to
downoad it:

http://www.sofotex.com/AIDA32-download_L9326.html

 

[PanHandler]

The utility has been abandoned by the developer, but here's a link to
downoad it:

http://www.sofotex.com/AIDA32-download_L9326.html

The latest version is 3.40, dated 3/28/2003, but I'm not sure which version
is at the link above. In any case, it's great.

 

[elaich]

Windows XP Home (I have an unregistered copy from another desktop I
bought from Emachines) for the OS.

I would install Windows ME, and then tweak it as described here:

www.burzurq.com/forum/trevtweak.html

I would then go to www.beta10.com, and download OPPCOMME, which will allow
you to get rid of all the extra "window dressing" in ME that makes it
sluggish and unreliable. Get rid of System Restore, OOBE, and all the other
garbage you want. I ran ME for five years tweaked like this, and it was
reliable and lightning fast. It's a far better OS than Win98 - M$ just
screwed it up with too much garbage.

 

[heldmar]

If you really are going to use a HDD so small, then I'd recommend you
NOT to use Windows XP, in fact, if this is a working computer (I mean
that your son will use ONLY for college activities and not for playing
or something like that) you should use Linux, I would recommend Ubuntu,
because you can have EVERYTHING you need with just 4G of space. In
fact, it comes with OpenOffice 1.4 wich is a COMPLETE office suite
(completely compatible with MS-Office docs and everything) and some
other tools for your son's working needs. And everything he could need
to add for tools, he will find it on the Internet for free (legally
talking of course) and he won't need more space than thos 6G you offer.
So if you want to get well informed go http://www.ubuntu.com, there you
can find the link to download the OS and the info on how to use it and
the best of all is that it won't cost you a penny!