Setting up your Windows System after a Fresh Installation

[lopri]

Everyone wants clean, well organized Windows systems. Many long-time system builders always prefer clean installation of Windows over upgrades, and tend to have their routine installation procedure, or have it in an image format so that it can be used at will.

Below I'm starting a list of essential downloads which you may/should install prior to your day-to-day applications. (e.g. games) A lot of times, your applications installers will come with a version of DirectX, Visual C++, or even video card drivers. But as you can easily guess, those are often outdated. Besides, you do not want your critical system files 'patched' whenever you install a new application. If your system already have the latest version of these commonly required frameworks, then most application installers will check the versions and skip to the next step.

The list is by no means complete or error-free. Suggestion/advice is always welcome.


Windows Updates (Duh!)


Drivers for motherboard chipsets and graphics cards

Intel : http://downloadcenter.intel.com/default.aspx
AMD : http://game.amd.com/us-en/drivers_catalyst.aspx
NVIDIA : http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us


Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable Package SP1 (Note: Install both 32-bit/64-bit for 64-bit Windows | Install only 32-bit for 32-bit Windows)

64-bit : http://www.microsoft.com/downl...7BD44DA&displaylang=en
32-bit : http://www.microsoft.com/downl...6F85647&displaylang=en


Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable Package SP1 (Note: Install both 32-bit/64-bit for 64-bit Windows | Install only 32-bit for 32-bit Windows)

64-bit : http://www.microsoft.com/downl...DFFEE4E&displaylang=en
32-bit : http://www.microsoft.com/downl...2AF5FC2&displaylang=en


Microsoft .Net Framework 3.5 SP1 (Note: Windows 7 users need not apply)

http://www.microsoft.com/downl...79AB0D7&displaylang=en (Note: Download the full-package for off-line installation)


DirectX End-User Runtimes (Thank you: IlllI)

http://www.microsoft.com/downl...712D553&displaylang=en


Java Run-Time Environment (JRE) (Thank you: tcsenter)

http://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp


Windows Installer 4.5 Redistributable (Note: Vista SP2/Windows 7 users need not apply) (Thank you: tcsenter)

http://www.microsoft.com/downl...4412-95b9-54d056d6f9f4

Windows 7 comes with a brand new MSI (Version 5.0). To see how Windows Installer has evolved over time, check out the following links.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-u...y/aa371185(VS.85).aspx
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-u...y/dd408114(VS.85).aspx


*Honorable mention

Adobe Flash Player (Thank you: tcsenter)

Mozilla/FireFox : http://fpdownload.adobe.com/ge...stall_flash_player.exe

MSIE : http://fpdownload.adobe.com/ge...ll_flash_player_ax.exe


*The following are for Windows XP ONLY. (Thank you: tcsenter)

Microsoft .Net Framework Version 1.1 and SP1

http://www.microsoft.com/downl...4842-8157-034d1e7cf3a3
http://www.microsoft.com/downl...40b2-bbdb-a83353618b38


Windows Media Player 11 for Windows XP (Necessary to play VC-1/WMV-HD clips)

http://www.microsoft.com/downl...4e45-8668-5166114010ca

 

[SitrukFlow]

Awesome thread! I look forward to what other people have to offer. I typically install Ccleaner very early on in the install process. It helps to clean out all the extra trash that each program I install may add.

 

[tcsenter]

Adobe Shockwave Player
http://fpdownload.macromedia.c...ave_Installer_Full.exe


Adobe Acrobat Reader 9.30
http://ardownload.adobe.com/pub/adobe/reader/win/9.x/9.3/enu/AdbeRdr930_en_US.exe


Java Run-Time Environment v6 r20
http://javadl.sun.com/webapps/download/AutoDL?BundleId=39494

 

[geokilla]

Do we really need Shockwave? I've used my computer for so long now and still didn't use shockwave.

CCCP. I install it so that I have no problems playing movies or video files, whether it be MP4, MKV, etc.

 

[lopri]

Thank you for the suggestions and I agree with them all. However, I didn't mean to create a list of 'essential applications for Windows' - that'd belong to Software for Windows Forum. Since this is Motherboard Forum, I'd like to keep things to the minimum, de facto standard stuff that a user will inevitably encounter in Windows environment. CCleaner is a fantastic application, but it is not a prerequisite of other popular applications rely on. So it'd be better discussed in Software for Windows Forum, IMO. Same goes for Acrobat Reader. Although it is a necessity for most users, it can still be a choice, and there are alternatives, and it isn't a kind of framework that other common applications are based on.

Flash player is somewhat of an odd ball. I believe it is a must-have, but then again it is almost impossible to avoid it either - it's likely that users will have to install it in the first days of fresh Windows installation, and it will be the latest version since Adobe controls its distribution. But I do believe it fits the goal/theme of this thread so I gave it an honerable mention.

The list has been updated.

P.S. Geokilla: Yes, I thought about codecs/DXVA as well but that could possibly make this thread way too complicated. I'll keep it in mind, though.

 

[tcsenter]

Package Installer for Windows XP (requisite for Windows Updates):
http://www.microsoft.com/downl...4b99-a65a-069b79267856


User Profile Hive Cleanup Service (Windows XP/2003 only):
http://www.microsoft.com/downl...4e18-b570-42470e2f3582


Windows Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP:
http://www.microsoft.com/downl...447c-8a30-081805b2f90b


Windows Internet Explorer 8 for Windows XP:
http://www.microsoft.com/downl...4347-8c03-08cdecd8852b

 

[lopri]

List updated.

 

[tcsenter]

I recommend including Package Installer for XP as well. Its a requisite for obtaining Windows Updates.

 

[lopri]

That is why I didn't list it separately. You cannot do Windows updates without WGA. And Windows Updates is the first thing on the list.

 

[n7]

Huge :heart: for the direct link to Flash Player for IE.

Normally you have to use a horrible dl manager now.

 

[IlllI]

DirectX Runtime (2009/August)

http://download.microsoft.com/...ctx_aug2009_redist.exe


for older nforce motherboards i like to use fernando's remix packs:
for xp: http://www.nforcershq.com/foru...p-32-64bit-t70968.html

for vista: http://www.nforcershq.com/foru...a-32-64bit-t70915.html

been using them for a couple years now and have had no issues at all.

 

[lopri]

Thank you for the DirectX reminder, IlllI. List updated.

 

[vailr]

Secunia Personal Software Inspector (PSI) 1.5.0.1:
http://majorgeeks.com/Secunia_...spector_PSI_d6030.html
Oldies but Goodies:
Startup Control Panel: (not yet updated for Windows 7)
http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml
NetPerSec 1.1 (provides a taskbar icon mini visual display that monitors data flow over the internet + works with Windows 7):
http://download.cnet.com/NetPe...000-18512_4-15690.html
TClockEx (does not work with Windows 7):
http://www.rcis.co.za/dale/tclockex/index.htm

 

[Rubycon]

I love NetPerSec.

Although it reminds me how slow (but steady) my internet connection is.

What's the difference between Adobe Flash player and Adobe Shockwave player? Is the latter just used for those silly games?

 

[heyheybooboo]

Ding. Ding. Ding.

Top of List (if applicable): Load AHCI/RAID Controller driver onto thumb drive and select |>Load Driver<| at first Win7 installation screen prior to formatting ---- browse to applicable (32/64-bit) directory on thumb drive for *.inf file.

 

[billyb0b]

notepad++ is on my list

 

[JackMDS]

The most occurrences of "Ghosts" in Win 7 Device Management after installation relate to the onboard RealTek Network card, and HD Audio (my guess would be that RealTek some how missed the deadline to include it on the original DVD).

This link gets to the main screen of the Download from there One can drill down to his/her specific chipset, and find drivers to any Win version that works with the hardware from Win 98 to Win 7.

http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=7&PFid=7&Level=2&Conn=1

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