Essential Software for a New Windows 8 PC

[Ban Bot]

What are your "essential" programs for a new Windows install?

"Fixes" for Windows 8?

Antivirus?

Malware?

Browser?

Backup Software to an external HDD/NAS?

Media players? (I have a Blu-ray burner/player in my new rig)


I am getting prepped to setup my new laptop and I realized I was planning to just use what I always use. e.g. I always use Avast so I was going to uninstall McAfee and install Avast but thought, "Hey, maybe all the guys at Anandtech can drag me out of 2005!" Maybe there is a much better option now?

After using Paragon, Marcium, and a couple other programs for disk copy I noticed there are some quality back up programs for free. Maybe the tech studs at Anandtech know the best?

Some are obvious, like Chrome and Firefox+Zotero. Others, like Office are out of necessity (yes, LibreOffice is very good). But after that I am pretty open to suggestions!

I am considering Startisback / Start8 / Classic Shell for a Start Button/Menu fix (I hate what MS did to the desktop!) for some of my fixes.

Anyways, curious to see the various categories of software others deem "essential."

 

[Chiefcrowe]

IMO a couple essentials are VLC Player and Macrium Reflect as well as Malwarebytes.

 

[Blazer7]

IMO a couple essentials are VLC Player and Macrium Reflect as well as Malwarebytes.

I use all three. Good stuff.

Here are a couple of others. 7Zip, Syncback, Fastone Viewer/Resizer.

 

[Remobz]

I use all three. Good stuff.

Here are a couple of others. 7Zip, Syncback, Fastone Viewer/Resizer.

Thanks for this.

Loving Fastone Viewer/Resizer🙂

 

[Blazer7]

Thanks for this.

Loving Fastone Viewer/Resizer🙂

If you like Fastone you'll probably like screenhunter too