Love my computer after fresh install. List of programs I need to keep it running nice

[Binow]

Not sure if this has been done before if so cuss me and tell me to search more :D

I have a problem with downloading and uninstalling things so much that my fresh install starts running like crap within a few weeks. I am then back to reinstalling a fresh copy all over again. Anyone add to this to get a list going of good programs to have to keep your system running fresh and smooth ;) Spybot Search and Destroy and Ad-aware seem to be good ones. I also run norton av.

[DaBigJ]

defragment your hard drive weekly

[Binow]

Thats a good point too. I have mine set up to defrag at night when im sleeping.

[bravestennis]

AV, adware/search and desrtoy, and HiJack This! Google toolbar w/popup blocker:clap:

[Agent_Mull]

Mozzila Firebird is better and has a built in pop-up blocker,

[Blueboy1986]

I think u should get Tweak Xp Pro (http://www.totalidea.com/frameset-tweakxp.htm) Its very nice since it lets u customize ur computer and tweak it. BTW Tweak Xp is not free but it will let u open in 30 times before it stops and asks u to register

[Binow]

I also did about 10-15 things from www.tweakxp.com which seem to help the system overall. I'll check ou the software though.

[deRusett]

After your fresh install you should install ZoneAlarm, Then get all your Updates, then install Spybot Search and Distroy, Ad Ware, Mozilla Firebird, burn4free ( if you have a CD or DVD burner ) what ever anti virus software you use, and the Microsoft power tools, especially Bootvis so you can speed up your boots,

I would also suggest getting a better defrager then the built in windows one, something like spacemonger.

IEspell for when you use IE www.iespell.com

Hmmmm thats all I can't think of off the top of my head.

[itshondo]

I agree with everyone above but I'd be carefull with burn for free- I tried it and it was full of spyware/malware.

you also might want do download a freeware registry cleaner program.

snapfiles.com is agreat place to find freeware.

good lock!

[deRusett]

Originally posted by itshondo
I agree with everyone above but I'd be carefull with burn for free- I tried it and it was full of spyware/malware.



you didn't download from Burn4Frees site then


I did a fresh install not all that long ago

This Order

WinXP Pro
WinXP SP1
Windows PE 1.2
ZoneAlarm //Free version
ISP software to connect to the net
Windows Updates
Ad-ware 6.0
Search And Distroy
Mozilla Firebird
Burn4Free
IEspell
EditPLus
Office XP
all 4 Age of Empires
Stronghold, & Stronghold Crusader
Filezilla
ICQ


Ran Ad-ware, and Search and Distroy, and came up with 7 things, 4 of which were part of ATI's media center, one was Search and Distroy which says it comes up, then 2 were cookies

So Burn4Free had no spyware or mailware.

nor did any of the other products listed,

[outhouse]

system free of probs not hardware related after a fresh install.

i use addaware, regclean, tweak ie and norton and as long as im not pushing to high for clock speed's i can go where and do what i want without bsod's for a quite the long while

[supplystud]

You should try Norton SystemWorks

http://www.symantec.com

or System MEchanic

http://www.iolo.com/sm/

They are both great utilities. YOu can use them to clean the programs off your system. clean caches, clean the registry! These steps will all help you to keep your system as close to that new pristeen configuration as possible!

[N1vek215]

If your looking for a good Disk Defragmenter, then Disk Keeper 8 is the way to go. It defrags really good and really fast.

Apy bot and Adaware are THE programs to get if any. It's the number one prog I recommend to peopel who say that their computer is laggin or whatnot. Get those progs, and run them every week or so and dont forget to download the updates.

If your the paranoid type, like me, also get theprog called Peer Guardian. It stops sites and people from trying to conenct to your PC, such as the RIAA or microsoft or any of that "Press yes to downlaod free porn" type things.

That's all I can think of right now

[blownsix]

where can i get a reg cleaner?

[blownsix]

Found one regsuprem is cool so is adaware

[blownsix]

just did a fresh install of xp on mine 2 does run a little bit quicker

[lostshoe420]

I read in a copy of PC Magazine (or PC Something) that defragmenting actually has little or no effect on system performance. They did the exact same things with two identical computers and found ZERO performance gains in the one that was defragmented afterwards...just what I read though...

Anyway, I highly recommend System Mechanic as stated above, its a GREAT program, especially if you get the Industrial version :) .

System Mechanic will clean the registry, delete Junk and obsolete files, delete all your histories and cover your tracks, find duplicate files, missing shortcuts, etc...its pretty good at its job too.

Also, Mozilla Firebird is now Mozilla Firefox (http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/) ...it actually has a (gasp) installer now, so look out for that. All in all it feels like the same browser, but with more support and a couple nice new features.

[DayUSeX]

ace utitilietes is also really really usefull found at download.com the registry defrag is pretty cool feature if you ask me

[DaBigJ]

Originally posted by lostshoe420
I read in a copy of PC Magazine (or PC Something) that defragmenting actually has little or no effect on system performance. They did the exact same things with two identical computers and found ZERO performance gains in the one that was defragmented afterwards...just what I read though...

Anyway, I highly recommend System Mechanic as stated above, its a GREAT program, especially if you get the Industrial version :) .

System Mechanic will clean the registry, delete Junk and obsolete files, delete all your histories and cover your tracks, find duplicate files, missing shortcuts, etc...its pretty good at its job too.

Also, Mozilla Firebird is now Mozilla Firefox (http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/) ...it actually has a (gasp) installer now, so look out for that. All in all it feels like the same browser, but with more support and a couple nice new features.

As far as fps in games, defragmenting your hard drive will do very little or nothing. Windows, however, will run faster; programs and applications will load much faster. The hard drive will have a slightly higher transfer rate depending on how badly it was fragmented, but the seek time will be improved significantly.

The magazine that wrote that article was mistaken in the first place that defragmenting would improve your fps.

Having a fast hard drive, or a defragmented one, is one thing you will notice a LOT just poking around in windows or waiting for apps to lauch.

[lostshoe420]

Uh, sorry for coming across the wrong way, but the magazine never claimed that defragmenting would help or hinder FPS specifically. They just said that by running the same processes (installers, uninstallers, etc...) on two computers the one they defragmented wasn't faster.

I really wish I could find the article, but since I can't, I must concede to your reply.

[shadowdr]

A real must have is Ereaser (http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/download.php) .If you want a file completely gone.

[twEEkerAreUs]

Must have Programs

System Mechanic " All In One, Best I've Ever Used" COST
BlackICE "Awesome Firewall" COST
Ad-Aware "Great Spyware Killer" FREE
Avast "Decent Virus Scanner/Protection" FREE