List your apps here

[Kaido]

Just did a fresh OS/apps install on my machine. Here's the list of apps I use:

Weekly system maintenance:
Adaware
Spybot
AVG antivirus
ZoneAlarm (firewall with access control)
*Disk Cleanup (included in Windows)
*Disk Defragmenter (included in Windows)
*Windows Update (included in Windows)

Documents:
*Notepad (included in Windows)
Microsoft Office XP (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access, preferred over v. 2003)
Adobe InDesign CS (page layout app, part of Adobe CS suite)
Adobe Reader
Adobe Acrobat 6 Pro (PDF printer & creator, part of Adobe CS suite)
Tranglos KeyNote (free hierarchical notes notes app, supports passwords and images)
Font Explorer (font browser, free from Karen's Power Tools)

Graphics:
Paint Shop Pro 7 (older, but still good; I use this as my main graphics app)
Photoshop CS (raster graphics, part of Adobe CS suite)
Illustrator CS (vector graphics, part of Adobe CS suite)
ColorPix (free app for finding a specific color on screen)
Color Schemer Studio (color combination helper)
Picasa 2 (free photo album software from Google)
SureThing CD Labeler Deluxe 4 (Lightscribe disc labeler, among other things)

Internet:
mIRC (IRC chat client)
Firefox (> IE, free, tabs, better bookmarking system)
Flash for Firefox (Macromedia Flash player)
Java JRE (free Java for your system, works with Firefox)

Multimedia:
DivX
Real Alternative (I hate Real Player; this doesn't have all the junk it has)
*Windows Media Player 10 (included with Windows)
iTunes/Quicktime (plays .mov, iTunes is an easy and convenient music library)
DVD Decrypter (great for making DVD movie backups)
DVD Shrink (great for reauthoring DVDs - rip out the main movie, burn back to DVD sans menu, now you don't have to worry about kids scratching the original disc and the movie starts up without delay!)
PowerDVD 6 Deluxe (awesome software DVD player)
Marine Aquarium 2.6 (killer saltwater aquarium screensaver)
Photo Story 3 (free photo slideshow movie software from Microsoft)
*Windows Movie Maker (free movie software included in Windows, has export bugs though)

Tools:
Nero 6 Ultra Edition (Burning ROM, ImageDrive, Soundtrax, Wave Editor)
** Nero ImageDrive is really useful for watching movies when traveling - extract an ISO of the DVD using DVD Decrypter, load the ISO into the virtual drive using ImageDrive, and then play the movie using PowerDVD 6 Deluxe. You don't have to worry about carrying DVD movies on trips this way, but it eats a lot of disc space. Alternatively, Nero Recode can recode your movie after ripping with DVD Decrypter to save space, but this cuts down on quality and takes a long time to do.
*Calculator (included in Windows)
Clipboard Viewer (free clipboard text/image/etc. viewer from Karen's Power Tools)
Replicator (free backup software from Karen's Power Tools)
WhoIs (free domain lookup from Karen's Power Tools)
WinRAR (supports more formats than WinZip)
Sizer (free app to resize Windows, great for web design)
Taskbar++ (lets you rearrange taskbar buttons of running apps)
Royale theme (makes XP look like shiny like MCE)
TweakUI (free Microsoft tool to change many Windows settings, like the first icon)
Transparent Screen Lock (puts a password-protected clear "screensaver" on Windows - you can see but you can't touch, useful when you leave the house and don't want other people messing with your computer, or if you want to monitor things like renders with security)
Gmail Notifier (lets you know when you have new mail in Gmail, free app from Google)
Macro Express (the mother of all macro apps)
StrokeIt (free macro mouse gesture app; I use this in conjunction with Macro Express for super functionality)
PathCopyEx (right-click and copy path to file, VERY useful, free from Mike Lin)
Meebo (online AIM client, free and very functional, www.meebo.com)
EssentialPIM (best personal information manager and calendar evar, free versions for desktop and portable USB memory sticks available)
RMClock 1.8 (version 2.05 now available; free manual/auto processor speed controller)
LogiGamer (lets you program buttons per app)

And a few others that I don't use anymore that you may find useful -
ObjectDock (very useful OS X Dock-style shortcut bar, I just use custom folders at the top of the Start Menu now)
StartupCPL (lets you disable startup items that are hidden, free from Mike Lin)
StartupMonitor (good if you need to check app installs or are OCD, free from Mike Lin)
FireFTP (FTP for Firefox, I just use IE for FTP since I don't do much FTPing anymore)
Adblock (blocks ads in Firefox, even Flash ones)
Shockwave (like Flash, not used much anymore)
Miranda IM (lightweight AIM app, free)
Skype (free voice chat)
SharpKeys (change your keyboard keys)
Alt-Tab replacement (gives you a mini-screenshot of each app as you alt-tab through it)
Rainlender (great desktop calendar and to-do list)
TopDesk (OS X Expose-style program switcher)
SphereXP (navigate XP's desktop in 3D, free!)

How bout you?

 

[Kaido]

My basic system installation procedure is as follows:

1. Install XP Pro
2. Install SP2/.NET Framework 2.0/WMP10/DirectX (otherwise just SP2, the others are just to save on download time)
3. Install ZoneAlarm (BEFORE going online)
4. Install latest system drivers (chipset, sound card, mouse, etc.)
5. Activate XP
6. Download Windows Updates
7. Power defrag (disable system restore/paging file, defrag, then re-enable system restore/paging file)
8. Burn a Ghost DVD backup with verification
9. Install/configure/update apps
10. Configure system settings (disable auto-restart on failure, cut down System Restore size, disable remote assistance, turn on ClearType, force login instead of auto-boot, etc.)
11. Burn a Ghost DVD backup with verification

-I like to keep my system really optimized. I restore my system using the second Ghost disc every few months. I keep first Ghost disc around if I want to do a complete software reinstall. I make a new Ghost disc yearly with the latest drivers and software updates. Doesn't really take a lot of time, but provides lots of benefits.
-I like the minimalist approach. I hate having lots of things running that I don't want. I configure as much as the software as possible not to start when Windows starts and to hide their system tray icons. For example, Quicktime's system tray icon can be hidden, as well as ATI's, Norton Ghost's, etc.
-I have a backup hard drive to keep Ghost images and file backups. I use the "AB+Ghost" backup system: using KPT's Replicator, I list all of the files I want to back up (iTunes, Picasa, desktop folders, TurboTax, etc.) and copy them to the A or B folder every night, alternating the folders so that I always have an extra backup in case the one I'm working on fails. I also make a Ghost backup of the whole system weekly. I keep the external hard drive turned off except for when I'm backing it up, to protect the files on it from system problems like viruses, power surges, etc. I also keep a UPS on each computer (or a surge protector in the case of my laptop, which has an internal battery). If my internal hard drive ever crashes, I simply use the second Ghost disc to restore the system, then copy over my backup files from the previous night and I'm good to go. Alternatively I can use the weekly Ghost backup as well if I don't want to do a "clean" install. Less than 30 minutes and you're good to go, no matter what happens. I keep a text file called "history.txt" in which I list the last backup date of the "A" folder and the "B" folder, as well as a list of all of the apps I've installed since the last Ghost image. For example, when I make a Ghost image, it's stuck with the apps I install, and when I use that image to restore my computer, I've usually forgotten what I've installed on it since then. So when you make your Ghost image and later add TurboTax 2005, just write it down. Simple, low-hassle, saves your hide later.

 

[Kaido]

Here are a few more apps:

Norton Ghost 2003 (system cloning/backup too, see my tutorial at http://restore.wiredby.com for more info)
Belarc Advisor (software/hardware catalog of your system, plus shows you the licenses/keys)
Stinger (free emergency virus scanner tool from McAfee)

 

[Kaido]

Here are the tools I use for benchmarking:

Memtest86+
Prime95
SuperPi
3DMark01
3DMark03
3DMark05
3DMark06
Dead pixel test (for LCD monitors/laptop screens, http://www.gdargaud.net/Hack/DeadPixels.html is the website)
*Checkdisk (included in Windows)
HDTach
Uptime (just leave your computer running for a few days without turning it off)
CPU-Z

Benchmarking is for two purposes: (1) to test system stability, and (2) for bragging rights. When you build a new system or add new parts, it's always a good idea to run through at least some of these apps to verify system operation. Here's some more information:

Memory:
Application: memtest86+
Procedure: Burn to CD and leave in your computer for overnight testing. If you can pass 6 tests with no errors, the ram is generally good (SuperPi and Prime95 will also help test the ram to some extent, see below for details)

Processor:
Application: Prime95
Procedure: If you have a desktop computer, just run this overnight. If you have a laptop with a variable-clock mobile CPU (like a mobile Athlon 64 that can go from 800mhz to 2,000mhz), use Prime95 overnight with RMClock to test your laptop at both minimal and maximal settings.

Application: SuperPi
Procedure: Record time scores at 1M, 2M, and 32M (bragging rights). 32M is also good for stress-testing your processor and ram.

Hard drive:
Application: HDTach
Procedure: Run HDTach on your primary disk and write down the average and burst speeds (bragging rights). This will tell you how fast your hard drive operates at. You can also test your other disks for comparison.

Application: Checkdisk
Procedure: C:\>Properties>Tools>Check Now. Check "Automatically fix file system errors" and "Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors". If you do this on your boot drive, you will have to restart. This can take a couple hours, but if it passes everything OK, you know you have a good hard drive.

* Another good hard drive testing app is Sisoft's Sandra (lite), which has a lot more functions in addition to testing drive speed; HDTach is useful just for testing the hard drive alone

Graphics card:
Application(s): 3DMark01, 03, 05, and 06
Procedure: Run the apps and write down your scores (bragging rights). This puts you graphics card through the paces.

General system testing:
Application: Uptime (not a program)
Procedure: Leave your computer up and running for three days. Let it sit, use it to surf the web, use apps, etc. See if it locks up due to heat problems or has any problems with the optical drive, hard drive, video card, connections, etc.

* CPU-Z will give you lots of information on your processor as well as your ram. That coupled with Belarc Advisor will give you more system stats than you probably want to know.

Monitor:
Application: Dead pixel test (online)
Procedure: Go through all the tests and eyeball your monitor to check for dead pixels. Doesn't apply to CRT monitors. To clean dust and smudges off your monitor, I recommend the small blue microfiber cloths available at Staples in the computer cleaning/maintenance section. They work really well, just keep them in a plastic sandwich bag in your drawer or laptop case to keep them clean and protected.

*****

This may seem like overkill, but you'll definately know you have a good system when you're done, plus have some bragging rights (hopefully!). Using my system installation procedure above, I like to run these benchmarks after making the first Ghost disc. This way the system is ready to rock and roll but isn't bloated with software yet. Then I use that first Ghost disc to wipe everything off the hard drive and restore the image, which also verifies that the Ghost disc actually works (just don't forget to turn on image verification in Ghost, regardless)

 

[Kaido]

evening bump

 

[mechBgon]

.

 

[Azndude2190]

IE
WMP
Divx
InterVideo
AIM Triton
Skype
Everest Home Edition
Tweak UI
CCleaner
Spybot
Ad-Aware SE Personal
Windows Defender
AntiVir PE Classic
LimeWire
BitComet
Ifranview
WordPerfect
Adobe Reader 7.0