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If you had just reformatted your HD...

R

ruffilb

Diamond Member
Title+Subject.

I'd probably start out with things like...


  • aVast
    AdAware
    SpybotS&D
    Photoshop
    CCleaner
    Winamp
    CCCP/DivX
    Speedfan
    Adobe Reader
    Folding@Home
    Open Office
    X-Fire
    Gaim
    WinRar
    Newest nVidia Drivers
    Firefox
    Thunderbird
    uTorrent
    Steam
    SP2
    .Net Framework 2.0
    JRE
    Macromedia Flash

I'm trying to create a DVD with stuff to install immediately after any build. Any suggestions?
 
Good call, I'll toss that in.

Is it worthwhile using a small firewall in addition to a hardware firewall in a router? If so, what would you all recommend?
 
A small firewall? Yes, absolutely.

Which one? Now that is an excellent question because that is what I am trying to decide for my new build and after 2 weeks I still can't get answers to many of my questions, one of which is: Does your firewall need to be upgradable or are firewalls pretty much fine as is, i.e., they don't really change much? I really wish someone could answer this for me.


Many still like the free download of Sygate 5.6 even though Sygate is no longer in business. And here comes another of my questions: Would you load a 2 year old firewall on a new system? Stay away from that bloated ZoneAlarmPro 6.0xx and AVG's firewall (though AVG's anti-virus is considered one of the better). There is Keiro (sp?) 4.0 Professional (Sunbelt Software) that seems good and Kapersky is considered one of the very best along with BitDefender. Kapersky, though, doesn't offer their firewall as a stand-alone product and I don't think BitDefender does either.

If you find a good one let me know. (sorry about the spelling of the names; I'm sure I butchered at least 2!)

 
I think that, as far as how new a firewall needs to be, it's not like virus or spyware software; a firewall is designed to allow for adaptability in doing a general job that's not application specific - thus, an older firewall, even if it's old, can be better than a less effecient new firewall.

But... I don't know if I need one! My linksys router seems to do a pretty good job, and I've never really had issues before with things getting through my firewall.

Right now I use a router (linksys/D-Link) firewall + the nForce 4 firewall or the windows firewall, and everything seems to be fine for me.

Also, in terms of this list, I'd like to keep things on the computer as not bloated as possible - although that might be difficult, taking up system resources is never a good thing.
 
I make sure all my drivers are installed so I can get online. Then I go ahead and download and install my service packs and updates. Then I go and install my anti-virus program. I do not run any other spyware program besides Spy Sweeper which isn't launched at start up. I then install Office, Photoshop and the rest of those types of programs.
 
Originally posted by: ruffilb
Title+Subject.

I'd probably start out with things like...


  • aVast
    AdAware
    SpybotS&D
    Photoshop
    CCleaner
    Winamp
    Matroska Pack/DivX
    Adobe Reader
    Folding@Home
    Open Office
    X-Fire
    Gaim
    WinRar
    Newest nVidia Drivers

I'm trying to create a DVD with stuff to install immediately after any build. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Big picture: most of the stuff on your list are "moving targets." A year from now, you're not going to want year-old nVidia drivers, a year-old version of WinAmp and GAIM (security vulns, yay), or year-old versions of antivirus/antispyware apps. Probably not a year-old version of Adobe Reader or Open Office either. Photoshop I could see, if you bought Photoshop you're probably going to stick with the version you've got for a while.
 
Originally posted by: Ultralight
I really wish someone could answer this for me.
Click to expand...

Ok - a firewall does not need to be upgradable as such. You wouldn't want one which is completely unsupported in case there's a security hole in the firewall itself one day (rare, they're simple programs, but still...), however it does not need to have a blacklist updated from the net like an antivirus.


And here comes another of my questions: Would you load a 2 year old firewall on a new system?
Click to expand...

Sure I would. TCP/IP is TCP/IP.

Personally I think NAT router plus windows firewall is fine. Although I do run some extra bits and pieces on my server.
 
Forgot Firefox + Thunderbird... duh.

RE the moving target thing... this is partially a list of software to put on a periodic utility CD/DVD, but it's also a list of software for me to put on a DVD to install before a build. It's a hassle to try to remember what I'm supposed to install every time I reformat, so I'm just trying to create a sort of definitive list.

Good point though.
 
Install everything and make an image using Ghost or True Image. At least that gives you a place to start. I can get back to a clean install in under 2 minutes.
 
the program installs i keep on my E drive for quick install:
The SP2 update
The latest Drivers for everything
Office (yes i admit it! stop laughing!)
CCleaner
Opera 8.54
ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite (i own it. i install it and put in my key)
K-Lite Codec Pack
Windows Media Player 10 install
iTunes/iPod installs
CpuIdle
Spybot Search and Destroy
FreeRam XP
Speedfan (so i can quite down my fans)
TuneXP 1.5
Nero
System Mechanic 5 Pro (i hate 6. it just sucks.)
WinRAR
And maybe the install for Adobe Acrobat Reader
those are my favorites.


 
Originally posted by: ruffilb
Forgot

# uTorrent
# Steam
# .Net Framework 2.0
# DirectX 9.0c
Click to expand...
DirectX 9.0C is part of Service Pack 2, so just install SP2 first thing.

 
besides the necessary windows drivers...i would install:

utorrent
firefox
winamp
symantec antivirus
ad aware
spybot
nero 7 LITE edition (from msfn.org forums)
combined community codec pack
winrar
tuneup utilities 2006
diskeeper 10
AIM w/Messenger Mate
office 2k3 pro
acrobat 7 pro
photoshop CS2
filezilla
limewire pro
opera (for my parents)
media player classic
itunes (for my ipod)
super video converter (converting videos to ipod)
alcohol 120%
ai booster (have to watch cpu temps and i like to OC sometimes in windows)
tweak UI
cpu-z (doesnt need to be installed)
msn messenger/windows live messenger

lots of stuff i know, but i use all of them regularly.
 
Cool. Looking at your list, I seem to have almost everything I need... I'm still missing some pretty obvious stuff, I'm sure, but this seems to be a pretty good compilation.
 
lol I just did this today, and the first thing I installed (after the windows updates of course) was visual studio 2005

that and avant browser!

-SelArom
 
vim, some perl libraries (net::smtp, net::telnet, net::snmp) xorg, xfce (maybe KDE if I'm going to be in the gui alot)
 
In order:

Office 2003 Student
ACDSee 8.0
Acrobat Reader 7
Corel Draw 11
MapMage
ArtMoney
CCleaner
CDex
CCCP
DivX
Download Accelerator 5.2
DVD Shrink
IZarc
Ad Aware
Nero 6
Roxio 6
SpyBot
Symantec Client
WinISO

Some of these I could go weeks without installing.
But not the first few.

Though if the disc doesnt include SP2 thats the first thing I would install. Not from the web either, from a CD.
 
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