XP install - what apps do you consider necessary?

[- Bobb -]

Having had lots of apps installed/reinstalled on my pc, I'm gonna do a
clean install of XP and reviewing what apps are a "must have". My list:
Adobe Acrobat
MS MediaPlayer
MS Money
MS Office ( Open Office ?)
Outlook Express ( I like Firefox and its excellent spam filtering - but
have an issue with lack of newsgroups )
Musicmatch Jukebox ( I like it's look/feel better than itunes and
others)
Nero
NortonAV
Quicktime
Pop peeper ( I have lots of email accounts)
PowerDVD
Printkey (systray app)
Winzip
Zonealarm

What other "general purpose" apps do you find essential to have on your
PC ?

I have Office and XP SP2 on CD - any way to " get all the downloads I
need " onto a CD - PRIOR to the install ?
Or do I have to do the install THEN go to www.windowsupdate.com a few
times ? Then fetch macromedia flash/plugins etc.

I also have MS Plus Digital Media Edition installed ( did it at xp
install time) and trying to remember when I've used it - does anyone
find it useful - for what purpose ? I think I used it a few times to
convert wmv to mp3 and that's it.

Thanks for the feedback
Bobb

 

[Dave B]

What you consider essential would be entirely different than what others
consider essential. You have stuff on your list I would never consider
letting anywhere near any of my PC's, Such as ANY Symantec product, Money,
Zone Alarm, and MusicMatch to name a few.
What you do determines what apps are essential to YOU.

 

[Guest]

Windows Defender Beta 2 free from Microsoft and StartupMonitor from
http://www.mlin.net/.

Eric,
PC Buyer Beware!
http://www.pcbuyerbeware.co.uk/

 

[jonah]

Having had lots of apps installed/reinstalled on my pc, I'm gonna do a
clean install of XP and reviewing what apps are a "must have". My list:
Adobe Acrobat
MS MediaPlayer
MS Money
MS Office ( Open Office ?)
Outlook Express ( I like Firefox and its excellent spam filtering - but
have an issue with lack of newsgroups )

Firefox is a browser - you need Mozilla Thunderbird to do NGs and E
Mail then you can avoid "Lookout Express" totally.

Musicmatch Jukebox ( I like it's look/feel better than itunes and
others)
Nero
NortonAV

Lose Norton AV if you can.

Quicktime
Pop peeper ( I have lots of email accounts)
PowerDVD

You do not need Power DVD and Quicktime. You can get the Klite Codecs
standard install - which will give WMP 10 all the codecs it needs to
play 99% of video formats including DVDs. Then you need Real
Alternative and Quicktime Alternative to play the related files via
WMP without needing to install the spyware / phone home / Association
grabbing Real and Quicktime Software.

Printkey (systray app)
Winzip
Zonealarm

What other "general purpose" apps do you find essential to have on your
PC ?

I have Office and XP SP2 on CD - any way to " get all the downloads I
need " onto a CD - PRIOR to the install ?
Or do I have to do the install THEN go to www.windowsupdate.com a few
times ? Then fetch macromedia flash/plugins etc.

Try This

http://www.autopatcher.com/

I also have MS Plus Digital Media Edition installed ( did it at xp
install time) and trying to remember when I've used it - does anyone
find it useful - for what purpose ? I think I used it a few times to
convert wmv to mp3 and that's it.

Dunno, I use Linux to convert Media Files

 

[Kenny]

The only ones I consider necessary are an up to date AV and firewall,
together with more than one anti spyware, I use AdAware, Spybot &
SpywareBlaster.
MailWasher I find very useful for filtering spam.
CC Cleaner and CleanCache also useful.
All of the above can be got for free but the free version of MailWasher only
works on one a/c, you'll need to pay for the Pro version to use on more than
one.
Anything else is personal choice depending on what you use your PC for.

 

[- Bobb -]

in message

Firefox is a browser - you need Mozilla Thunderbird to do NGs and E
Mail then you can avoid "Lookout Express" totally.

You' re right - my mix up - but I when I tried it, I thought Tbird
didn't do newsgroups, so I uninstalled it. For instance with OE I use
comcast's newsgroup server - with tbird , it didn't work. SO can anyone
confirm - I screwed up and it WILL work with Comcast ? if not any public
newsgroup server names available ?

Lose Norton AV if you can.


You do not need Power DVD and Quicktime. You can get the Klite Codecs
standard install - which will give WMP 10 all the codecs it needs to
play 99% of video formats including DVDs. Then you need Real
Alternative and Quicktime Alternative to play the related files via
WMP without needing to install the spyware / phone home / Association
grabbing Real and Quicktime Software.

I went there - LOTS of pointers - I'm dloading now.

What other "general purpose" apps do you find essential to have on
your
PC ?

I have Office and XP SP2 on CD - any way to " get all the downloads I
need " onto a CD - PRIOR to the install ?
Or do I have to do the install THEN go to www.windowsupdate.com a few
times ? Then fetch macromedia flash/plugins etc.

Try This

http://www.autopatcher.com

I tried to open a few of the "Current AutoPatcher releases" links , it
hung then I got:
IPB WARNING [2] mysql_connect(): Can't connect to MySQL server on
'10.1.1.202'
on http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=412735
I'll try another time, thanks

 

[- Bobb -]

re: > Anything else is personal choice depending on what you use your PC
for.

I understand - just asking to maybe find something that I've overlooked
as there is so much good stuff out there. Or , like jonah said, with
"Klite Codecs" and Real Alternative and Quicktime Alternative, then WMP
can do it all. So I'll try that. I'm not a gamer - just use Pc for basic
home/office computing , will learn to make DVDs - other than drag/drop
files onto a " big CD".

btw, I did try CCleaner last week - and did like it.
Also 'Eraser' ( to wipe disk clean) and ERUNT (Reg backups)
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt

Thanks for the feedback.

Bobb

 

[- Bobb -]

>

jonah,

AFTER download, I ran QTalternative - it uninstalled QT for me. Do I
need to install the included player ? or just the codecs ?
I unchecked "install player" (figuring the reason behind this is to use
WMP, right?) and just installed the codecs. Now some .mov files are OK
in WMP , others are not. YET if I "open in browser" the problem files,
then they DO play OK in IE . I only have a few QT movies so not a big
deal- I mainly use it for online viewing ( so I'll go check out some
movie trailers etc online).
The problem with them varies - on one the audio is undetectable and no
video. ( That was the debut of Win98 when the PC crashed onstage with
Bill Gates next to the "demonstrator" and got a BSOD - perhaps WMP code
refuses to play it ;->)
On another, the video is "digitized" - but I can't make out the image
( implosion of the Dunes hotel in Vegas)
Same thing for Realalt - install the player ? or that's only if I had no
WMP installed already ?

Thanks,
Bobb

 

[jonah]

jonah,

AFTER download, I ran QTalternative - it uninstalled QT for me. Do I
need to install the included player ? or just the codecs ?
I unchecked "install player" (figuring the reason behind this is to use
WMP, right?) and just installed the codecs. Now some .mov files are OK
in WMP , others are not. YET if I "open in browser" the problem files,
then they DO play OK in IE . I only have a few QT movies so not a big
deal- I mainly use it for online viewing ( so I'll go check out some
movie trailers etc online).
The problem with them varies - on one the audio is undetectable and no
video. ( That was the debut of Win98 when the PC crashed onstage with
Bill Gates next to the "demonstrator" and got a BSOD - perhaps WMP code
refuses to play it ;->)
On another, the video is "digitized" - but I can't make out the image
( implosion of the Dunes hotel in Vegas)
Same thing for Realalt - install the player ? or that's only if I had no
WMP installed already ?

Thanks,
Bobb

OK Bob,

Get normal QT and Real Player out and use a registry cleaner to remove
the debris.

Put the K-Lite Codec Pack (Standard) in first, uncheck the Media
Player Classic leave everything else as default, then when you go
through the install it asks if you wish to make WMP default player
for all media files, select this option. The same thing happens with
QT Alternative and Real Alternative, just deselect the offerered Media
Player Classic and select the WMP option when offered, these 2 apps
install the extra codecs and stuff needed to fool RM & QT into playing
via WMP.

Comcast should be fine via T Bird - its tricky to set up T Bird
correctly though. A good alternative is Forte Agent - there is a free
version which is fine for reading NGs and it has a great e mail client
built in also.

http://www.forteinc.com/agent/

Also not a beginners application it needs setting up correctly but its
worth the effort.

Lookout Express is OK

Jonah

 

[Donald McDaniel]

Having had lots of apps installed/reinstalled on my pc, I'm gonna do a
clean install of XP and reviewing what apps are a "must have". My list:
Adobe Acrobat
MS MediaPlayer
MS Money
MS Office ( Open Office ?)
Outlook Express ( I like Firefox and its excellent spam filtering - but
have an issue with lack of newsgroups )
Musicmatch Jukebox ( I like it's look/feel better than itunes and
others)
Nero
NortonAV
Quicktime
Pop peeper ( I have lots of email accounts)
PowerDVD
Printkey (systray app)
Winzip
Zonealarm

What other "general purpose" apps do you find essential to have on your
PC ?

I have Office and XP SP2 on CD - any way to " get all the downloads I
need " onto a CD - PRIOR to the install ?
Or do I have to do the install THEN go to www.windowsupdate.com a few
times ? Then fetch macromedia flash/plugins etc.

I also have MS Plus Digital Media Edition installed ( did it at xp
install time) and trying to remember when I've used it - does anyone
find it useful - for what purpose ? I think I used it a few times to
convert wmv to mp3 and that's it.

Thanks for the feedback
Bobb

The only apps I consider "essential" for a new install of XP are:
1) A good third-party firewall, although it is not really "essential", since
XP provides a decent firewall out of the box. This firewall does NOT
provide outgoing protection, however. It DOES provide excellent incoming
protection. Many people like ZoneAlarm Free for overall protection. But in
my opinion, purchasing a commercial product is a better idea. Not only does
it help programmers to feed their families, a commercial product is more
inclined to be updated sooner rather than later.
2) The BEST Antivirus package I can find. In my opinion, this means Eset's
NOD32 Antivirus, used by MANY Windows users.
3) A decent browser, such as "Firefox 1.5" or above, or another of the
Mozilla.org browsers.
4) Microsoft Office 2003 (mostly for Microsoft Office Outlook, which I
normally use as my every-day Email client and overall PIM.)
5) WindowBlinds, from Stardock. Let's face it, XP isn't exactly the most
beautiful GUI out there (if you can even classify it as "beautiful", which I
do not).


All other application are not so essential, and can be added as needed.

--

Donald McDaniel
Please reply to the original thread and newsgroup,
So that the conversation may not be interrupted.
====================================

 

[Tim Slattery]

You' re right - my mix up - but I when I tried it, I thought Tbird
didn't do newsgroups, so I uninstalled it. For instance with OE I use
comcast's newsgroup server - with tbird , it didn't work. SO can anyone
confirm - I screwed up and it WILL work with Comcast ? if not any public
newsgroup server names available ?

I don't know anything specific about Comcast newsgroups - but
newsgroups are newsgroups. You access them by speaking the NNTP
protocol, which Thunderbird does just fine. Certainly if OE works with
Comcast's groups, Thunderbird ought to also.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Having had lots of apps installed/reinstalled on my pc, I'm gonna do

a clean install of XP and reviewing what apps are a "must have". My

Be aware that which and how many newsgroups you have available to you have
nothing to do with what program you use. It has to do do with what news
server you get you your newsgroups from. The news server is usally, but not
necessarily, provided by your ISP.


Other than that, I have no comment on your list. Lists like that are very
personal, You have some programs listed that I too use, you have others that
I don't use, you have some that I wouldn't let near my computer, and I have
others that I consider esssential that you wouldn't. Those difference
reflect many things, not least that we are different people with different
likes and dislikes, and different ways of working.

 

[- Bobb -]

OK I just downloaded, installed and setup thunderbird - using it now.
All newsgroups have a lot of messages, so I mark all as read. NOW that I
have newsgroups setup, and changed view to threads - I remember why I
didn't like it - maybe someone can tell a work-around ... I figured out
to customize and added the NEXT and PREVIOUS buttons, but ... since all
are now read, to see anything I have to "View all messages" - I wanted
threaded . Open this thread, read this reply and THEN how do you read
the next message in this thread ? When I click on NEXT , I expected
the next message in the thread - WRONG - it brings me to the next UNREAD
message (just written by someone a few minutes ago). Since all in this
thread are already read, how do you read the next message in the thread
? ( other than close window+ double-click the next message ... over and
over) Also how to mark a message once read as UNREAD ? (not an option
on right-click - nor on 'message' , 'mark as'.) I did download the help
file and couldn't see the solution.

Any help appreciated.

Bobb

 

[- Bobb -]

OK I just downloaded, installed and setup thunderbird - using it now.
All newsgroups have a lot of messages, so I mark all as read. NOW that I
have newsgroups setup, and changed view to threads - I remember why I
didn't like it - maybe someone can tell a work-around ... I figured out
to customize and added the NEXT and PREVIOUS buttons, but ... since all
are now read, to see anything I have to "View all messages" - I wanted
threaded . Open this thread, read this reply and THEN how do you read
the next message in this thread ? When I click on NEXT , I expected
the next message in the thread - WRONG - it brings me to the next UNREAD
message (just written by someone a few minutes ago). Since all in this
thread are already read, how do you read the next message in the thread
? ( other than close window+ double-click the next message ... over and
over) Also how to mark a message once read as UNREAD ? (not an option
on right-click - nor on 'message' , 'mark as'.) I did download the help
file and couldn't see the solution.

Any help appreciated.

Bobb

 

[- Bobb -]

OK I just downloaded, installed and setup thunderbird - using it now.
All newsgroups have a lot of messages, so I mark all as read. NOW that I
have newsgroups setup, and changed view to threads - I remember why I
didn't like it - maybe someone can tell a work-around ... I figured out
to customize and added the NEXT and PREVIOUS buttons, but ... since all
are now read, to see anything I have to "View all messages" - I wanted
threaded . Open this thread, read this reply and THEN how do you read
the next message in this thread ? When I click on NEXT , I expected
the next message in the thread - WRONG - it brings me to the next UNREAD
message (just written by someone a few minutes ago). Since all in this
thread are already read, how do you read the next message in the thread
? ( other than close window+ double-click the next message ... over and
over) Also how to mark a message once read as UNREAD ? (not an option
on right-click - nor on 'message' , 'mark as'.) I did download the help
file and couldn't see the solution.

Any help appreciated.

Bobb

 

[- Bobb -]

OK I just downloaded, installed and setup thunderbird - using it now.
All newsgroups have a lot of messages, so I mark all as read. NOW that I
have newsgroups setup, and changed view to threads - I remember why I
didn't like it - maybe someone can tell a work-around ... I figured out
to customize and added the NEXT and PREVIOUS buttons, but ... since all
are now read, to see anything I have to "View all messages" - I wanted
threaded . Open this thread, read this reply and THEN how do you read
the next message in this thread ? When I click on NEXT , I expected
the next message in the thread - WRONG - it brings me to the next UNREAD
message (just written by someone a few minutes ago). Since all in this
thread are already read, how do you read the next message in the thread
? ( other than close window+ double-click the next message ... over and
over) Also how to mark a message once read as UNREAD ? (not an option
on right-click - nor on 'message' , 'mark as'.) I did download the help
file and couldn't see the solution.

Any help appreciated.

Bobb

 

[- Bobb -]

OK I just downloaded, installed and setup thunderbird - using it now.
All newsgroups have a lot of messages, so I mark all as read. NOW that I
have newsgroups setup, and changed view to threads - I remember why I
didn't like it - maybe someone can tell a work-around ... I figured out
to customize and added the NEXT and PREVIOUS buttons, but ... since all
are now read, to see anything I have to "View all messages" - I wanted
threaded . Open this thread, read this reply and THEN how do you read
the next message in this thread ? When I click on NEXT , I expected
the next message in the thread - WRONG - it brings me to the next UNREAD
message (just written by someone a few minutes ago). Since all in this
thread are already read, how do you read the next message in the thread
? ( other than close window+ double-click the next message ... over and
over) Also how to mark a message once read as UNREAD ? (not an option
on right-click - nor on 'message' , 'mark as'.) I did download the help
file and couldn't see the solution.

Any help appreciated.

Bobb

 

[- Bobb -]

Well that didn't work too well - sent it about 10 times - sorry
I kept getting an error message from tbird each time I sent it

Bobb


"- Bobb -" wrote in message news:[email protected]...

 

[- Bobb -]

Donald,

Thanks for the input.
I'd never heard of Eset's NOD32 Antivirus until now.
I checked the site and couldn't see - how often does it update the
database ? Is it updated daily? weekly? as needed ?
Anyone else with experience with it ? good or bad ?

Bobb

 

[jonah]

OK I just downloaded, installed and setup thunderbird - using it now.
All newsgroups have a lot of messages, so I mark all as read. NOW that I
have newsgroups setup, and changed view to threads - I remember why I
didn't like it - maybe someone can tell a work-around ... I figured out
to customize and added the NEXT and PREVIOUS buttons, but ... since all
are now read, to see anything I have to "View all messages" - I wanted
threaded . Open this thread, read this reply and THEN how do you read
the next message in this thread ? When I click on NEXT , I expected
the next message in the thread - WRONG - it brings me to the next UNREAD
message (just written by someone a few minutes ago). Since all in this
thread are already read, how do you read the next message in the thread
? ( other than close window+ double-click the next message ... over and
over) Also how to mark a message once read as UNREAD ? (not an option
on right-click - nor on 'message' , 'mark as'.) I did download the help
file and couldn't see the solution.

Any help appreciated.

Bobb

snip

Bob I don't know a lot about T/Bird Newsreader, I only use it very
occasionally I use Agent mostly. I have noticed that T/Bird is
difficult to kick into submission however there is always a way to do
what you want. Best bet is to use its NG search facility and find a
dedicated T/Bird NG all the answers will be easier to come by there.

Jonah