Programs to get you through your day

I used to post for some blogs and tech forums and figured I'd shoot one here about programs I use daily or have installed. Perhaps your new or experienced you can benefit from some of the software and hopefully people can add to this list. All these programs are generally what I install when I get a new PC, I have a dvd of all these programs on a disk, makes like much easier when I have everything on 1 disk to install, instead of having 40 disk.
Anyhow here are my programs I installed -

*Adobe Reader, Adobe Flashplayer (You can trade Adobe reader for Sumantra PDF)
Reader is for PDF files which is generally for manuscripts or Instructions found on the internet, most of the time you will run into PDF files and best to just install it and get it out of the way. Same for Adobe Flash, its basically to view flash videos on the internet, most all websites have some sort of flash.

*Ashampoo Optimizer
Optimizer program for windows, generally can make it run much faster and cleaner, must need to keep your windows running smooth.

*AVG Anti Virus
Its free and works pretty good, not much of a resource hog and can keep your computer up to date of spyware/viruses and includes a firewall.

*CCleaner
Or generally called Crap Cleaner, great for removing garbage from your system and registry, I use this with defrag about once a week to keep my system running smooth.

*DIVX
Anyone who watches videos must get DIVX. Primarily for the Codec's it offers which are free, I really hate having to run down individual codec's and DIVX generally offers the majority of them in 1 easy install, includes a DIVX player if you don't like stuff like winamp or Windows Media Player.

*FireFox
I tried some of the others out there and wasn't to impressed, one thing I love about firefox is the Addons. Make sure you check out these addons for Firefox 3 - WOT or Web of Trust, NoScript, Morning Coffee, Foxmarks Bookmark Synchronizer, Download StatusBar and Colorful Tabs.

*Gspot
Have a video that doesn't play sound or video? Gspot will tell you the codecs you need for it. I often run into videos where media player can't play it because I don't have the codecs, simply run Gspot and load the video and it will tell you, simply use google to search the codecs and your good to go.

*Open Office
Who needs to spend $150 for windows office anymore? Open Office is better and free. Can do everything MS Office does.

*PC Tools Firewall Plus
Whether this free program is a jinx or not, I take my laptop in public often and want best defense possible, I had 2 attempts on my laptop caught by this prog since I started using it, how it got by MS Firewall and AVG I don't know, you could decide to leave this one out if absolutely sure

*Pidgin
Why bother installing AOL and Microsoft And <insert 30 Instant messenger services here>? Pidgin is an all in 1 IM program, you simply install, add your aim/yahoo/icq etc accounts into 1 Program. Quite handy if you hate being annoyed by running 20 programs when 1 can do it for you.

*PowerISO
I typically deal with ISO's and Bin files often, as I do alot of burning/backing up and this program does it wonderful. Able to creat, manage and burn files is a must. Also is an emulator, which you can use to add "ghost" Drives to your computer, for example I have 2 ghosted drives, One I keep an ISO file loaded of all my programs so I can add/delete whenever I choose.

*Spyware Doctor
AVG Covers the spyware pretty good, never hurts to have a backup.

*Winamp
Any who plays music, or wants to listen to shoutcast should get winamp. My co-workers prefer Media Player, but I have trusted Winamp for very long time.

*WinRaR 3.71
Most files on the internet are compressed, or "zipped" so winrar is a must pretty much for anyone who wants to access all the compressed files out there.

*VMWare WorkStation
I use this program to install other O/S inside this program without having to actually install on my computer, or another partition. Basically to break it down easily, Say you have Vista installed on C Drive, you want to access some old programs but need windows 98 installed (it can install every OS so don't worry) You simply install Windows 98 inside VMware, and you can run it in the background of Vista. Yes 2 O/S running at same time, I have tried 3-4 O/S at same time on my desktop but for my laptop I limit it to only 1 in the background.

Hopefully this list helps anyone, feel free to add to the list or edit anything I missed, Hope everyone has a great day!

 

Not at my computer right now but off the top of my head...

Avira - recently switched from AVG to this as it uses less resources than AVG 8 and seems to have much less effect on performance.

CDex - great utility for ripping audio.

FireFTP - lightweight FTP client that runs right in the browser with the click of a button.

IEtab - Firefox addon for rendering pages within Firefox using the IE engine without having to Launch the actual application.

Macromedia Homesite - aka "old school" the BEST HTML editor!!!

Photoshop Elements - great for optimizing digital images without having to deal with the monstrosity that is the CS series.

VLC Media Player - can play EVERYTHING

 

FireFox
Pidgin
7zip - open source zip and rar program much better than winzip or winrar imo
abiword
AVG
VLC
winamp
Power ISO
Logon Studio Vista
utorrent
------------------------------

Photoshop CS
Corel painter X
Illustrator cs3
Premiere CS3
Cakewalk Sonar 7
Fruity Loops 8


thats it.. all the stuff i can't live without

 

This thread would be more usefull if links were provdided. just a suggestion...

 

Acronis Disk Image - Great for backing up/mirroring entire disks, especially when adding a new HDD to boot from

CDBurnerXP - Works on Vista also, freeware for burning - Does everything Nero does and more

 

Wefi
Thunderbird
Dameon Tools Lite
Skype

 

Google! =)

 

Google is your best friend, I was writing this while at work and didn't have time to post links to every program sorry.

 

Hey, I am not sure if this is the right thread, but I've lost the software that came installed with the p7811FX! I know, I was in a rush to format it that I didn't make a recovery disk and Gateway is charging $20 for one! Can anyone post the exact titles of the programs that come with this baby? Well, ok not the Norton 360 trial, but perhaps the software for using Labelflash! That was quite useful!
Thanks!

 

Links to actual programs is so 1994.

 

Windows Live Messenger
Skype
Daemon Tools Lite
Foobar2000
KMPlayer
VLC Player
Firefox
Megaupload Manager
Everest Ultimate Edition (for checking temperatures)
uTorrent

 

I'm not a fan of Adobe Reader (formerly Acrobat Reader) because it "bloats" your PC somewhat and parts run in background. It is often updated because of "security holes", meaning a system not running the most current version could be at risk.

I'd suggest Foxit PDF Reader (free) instead. It is not as susceptible to these problems.

Opens much faster, too.

Otherwise, some good program suggestions there, Misconduct.

 

You want I can send you the ISO file of it, either through the internet or mail, its 1.1gigs totally for the program. Actual Program name is Gateway Recovery.

 

I appreciate it, simply wanted to help others get some ideas on good programs they can get cheap or free, so far some of the replies gave me some programs Im going to check out.

 

Good recommendation on Foxit PDF Reader JohnWhoTwo. I've been using Foxit for years and it's always run greatly.

 

While heavy firewalls can be annoying, I use zone alarm on the laptop so I don't get bad juju on public hotspots, or even friends networks who may or may not take care of their PCs properly.

 

k-lite codec pack... plays even more than vlc player

 

World of goo
Tune Up Utilities
CCleaner
Steam w/lots o games
Diskkeeper 09
Gametap (althought vista 64 incompatability with some games sucks)
DVD Shrink 3.2
DVDFab 5
Newsleecher
Quicken 2009
Skype
Teamspeak
Ventrilo
Xfire
Trillian
Mozilla Thunderbird
Acronis True Image
Rocketdock (love it)
Launchy
No-Limits (for rollercoaster fans... fun 3d coasters)

 

lol.. @$$ It's so 2004

 

Hehe, I said 94 because I believe Google debuted in 95.

 

Newsleecher is an excellent Newsbin program, been using it for least 10 years, hate to say how much i downloaded on it so far.

/3TB external drives filled

 

95? Really? Maybe Webcrawler - *googles google*

EDIT: 1998

 

PDFXchange viewer ... simply the best. (some of us need to annotate)
http://www.pdfxviewer.com/

Adobe is so 21 ...

(21 reasons why Adobe Reader is a pain in the patootie)

 

haha read 3 reasons why Adobe sucked, and deleted it off my system, good prog btw!

 

Here's another good one, IMHO:

Bullzip PDF Printer: Print to PDF from almost any Windows program.
http://www.bullzip.com/products/pdf/info.php

I also blasted Adobe Reader (v9) off all of my PCs - slow and I didn't particularly care for the fact that it was showing up in CP as consuming over 200MB of disk space. I switched to PDF-XChange Viewer and was so happy with it I actually paid for the PRO version.

 

I'd be grateful! It looks as if I am unable to send you a pm through the forum, and I do not have any yahoo accounts as you do to im you! So please get back to me, my live account is georgousop "at" hotmail "dot" com
Thanks!

 

I don't have a live account, perhaps check your account settings, I am able to send others messages but you Giorginho

 

He needs 10 more posts to be able to PM.

 

I need 10 more posts to be able to pm? So, is notebookreview looking to get... fludded??? ('cause I can do 10 posts right now!)
Misconduct just email me at the above email adress (you won't have any trouble doing that!).

 

email sent Giorg

 

You guys remind me when I used Bulletin Board Services back in the day (before 1995 for those newer!)

/Yes I ran a BBS too in my younger days, father taught me his business (he ran a BBS called River of Time)

Needless say if you wern't on the computer in those days not much to miss, all the photos were in ANSI drawing, google it if you want a great laugh.

I remember days google came out, haven't switched since, I hated yahoo and microsoft with a passion.

 

How did Adobe 9 reader ever used 200MB on my hd I will never know. Kill!!!Kill!!!

Thanks guys.

 

Great thread Misconduct; thanks for all heads-up on programs everyone.

As for Pidgin - I prefer Trillian personally.

 

Anytime Mate, figured those reading the gateway forum would be interested in a little information, glad I could help!

 

I think this is a must have to get you through your day..

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=345164

Humor.

 

hhahaha E-wrecked, that made my day, Sodered my L!!!

 

heh - It made my day enough to throw it in my sig

 

Sorry back to topic, although not free I like Perfect Disk 8.0. It seems to keep the disk in great order from fragmentation.

 

I have been using Power Defragment GUI, which is free and works for Vista 64bit, seems I can defrag entire HD in 5-10minutes at most, has different options also.

 

Many thanks to Misconduct for providing help!

 

not a problem mate glad I can help, anyone else need the gateway recovery I got an FTP up for it.

its for 7811FX though

 

Ausolgic Disk defrag

 

I just did the upgrade to Perfect Disk 2008. Making it faster and also native 64 bit. One thing I like about the program is it also places boot files in the front of the drive. you can also defrag metadata etc too.

One thing I noticed with the XT5000T in using the 08 version the boot time never increased nor did program load times etc in an install of Vista 32 that was over 18 months old.

 

should work on all 7k series

 

better than jkdefrag?

 

See, all these addons, thats why i run linux.... really.... well. not really, it's because my video card is old as , and keeps flaking out with the windows drivers, atleast with linux it doesnt flake as often. I can't wait till mid feburary when i can pick up my new 7805u ( yes I want the 1440x900 screen) or, what ever equilivent they have. And, with any luck I wont run in to the old issues of gateway.... i hope, i pray... i pray some more...

 

OK..not a fan of auslogic defrag.. locked up my comp about 15 minutes in. And.. I don't get lockups unless I cause them.

 

I have used auslogic on many systems, no problems.

 

Well.. didn't settle well with mine. I suggest JKDefrag GUI version - http://www.emro.nl/freeware/download.html

Also optimizes registry(doesn't kill it), cleans temp files, etc. Great, simple program.

 

if your video card is flaking out its likely on your end, I have had relatively minor problems with video cards and windows, unless were talking Voodoo cards then I understand, but any video card newer then 2000 you should have no problem finding drivers and settings to your likings.

I did have some issues with 64bit Vista and gaming on this 7811, but de-volting it pretty much fixed every issue I had. All my games run over 50fps on full graphics and can't complain at all about 64bit vista and the 9800.