Suggestions on what to install on a newbie's PC?

[RossMAN]

I'm helping setup a friend's new PC since I have broadband and she doesn't. I'll boot up the PC for the first time at my house, d/l and install the stuff then bring it over to her house so her and her husband can use it right out of the box.

So far here's what I've come up with:
Windows XP Home patches/updates/drivers (using Windows Update)
ICQ
AIM
MSN
IE 6.0 with 128 bit encryption
Adobe Acrobat 5.0
WinZip

What sort of Flash/RealPlayer/Windows Media Player stuff should I d/l?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

[PsychoAndy]

Aim+ ross. Automatic convo logging.

I like winamp. Is your friend an MP3 addict?

-PAB

 

[RossMAN]

Forgot about that will also d/l Kazaa and WinAmp

 

[spanky]

just get all the flash/real/wmp stuff. if ur friend decides to not use it, it can always be uninstalled. sure beats trying to get it on dialup. also, i would ghost the c: and burn a cd. u know... i case the machine ever needs to be reinstalled

 

[mchammer187]

update the ASPI drivers i believe they can be found at adaptec.com

also I prefer winrar over winzip because the interface is a lot better and it does *.rar ,*.ace as well

Winamp/Musicmatch Jukebox might also be good

I would download a copy of the Java Virtual Machine from sun's website because i prefer it to microsoft's version

you definitely want to download browser plugins for macromedia flash and shockwave

Kazaa Lite

DivX 5.0 Codec (get the lite version without ad support)

Intel Inf Utility & the Intel Application Accelerator if she using an 8xx series motherboard (All Pentium 4 & most pentium 3 motherboards made by Intel can use this)

if she is using AMD get the latest 4 in 1's if her board is VIA

themeXP if she wants to skin windows its easy to use

Mirc if she needs that kinda stuff

thats all i can think of right now

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

MSN!? WTF


...WinXP comes with IE6@128bit encription so you don't have to worry about that.
VNC might be helpfulu in the future for immediate help if he calls you or something...
If he's a n00b newbie, you might want to install the Windows Plus or whatever you call it that has walkthroughs on just about everything for Windows basic functions.

nik

 

[Kevin]

MS Word or Equivalent - if its not already there
WinRAR as opposed to WinZip - since its compatible with more file formats
QCD over Winamp - I just think the sound quality is much better
ICQ Lite unless they are hardcore ICQ Users

 

[kranky]

I'd install as little as possible. What you install, you'll be expected to support. I'd put on the OS, browser, WinZip and Acrobat reader.

 

[Thegonagle]

I second Winamp and Kazaa Lite.

Also, if you can spare it, Office 97, 2000, or XP. Word, and to a lesser extent, Excel, are essential, IMHO.

A good, auto-updating virus scanner, like Norton or McAfee, are a good idea too. Though I don't use virus scanners myself (nor do I use outlook express), it will give a newbie some peace of mind against "those computer viruses" they hear about from time to time.

 

[her209]

BonzaiBuddy - all computer newbs have to have this program installed by default

 

[Lvis]

Some sort of antivirus...even if you have to charge them for it. Can save you headaches down the road as well.

 

[PsychoAndy]

Ad aware.

-PAB

 

[RossMAN]

What's the name of that free anti-virus software?

 

[tigerbait]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
What's the name of that free anti-virus software?

AVG

 

[brtspears2]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
What's the name of that free anti-virus software?

AVG AVG here, free

Err beat to the punch, but it has to be good if its been recommended twice in a row.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: her209
BonzaiBuddy - all computer newbs have to have this program installed by default

 

[chiwawa626]

Office XP
Winamp
Kazaa
Winmx
Spinner radio
Divx codecs
Nero (if needed)
Getright (download manger, if on 56k)

 

[MainFramed]

opera broweser!
style xp !
kazaa lite!

hehe
and btw BONZI BUDDY SUCKS!

 

[yakko]

Install Windows XP. She can do everything else herself.

 

[bonk102]

ad aware, and i'd ask her what she wants on it, might save you some headaches down the road that way

 

[BillGates]

If you want to make it a true newbie system, I gotta go with the Bonzai Buddy one. Skip the antivirus software. Install as many random programs that pop up from webpages as you can. (This includes Comet Cursor, Alexa, Gator, Kazaa, and any other spyware stuffed useless application you can find.)

Don't forget to throw in a few viruses so that they can bother every tech support number they can find for a while.

Finally, don't spend too much time as they're going to end up F'ing it up anyway.

P.S. - Change your phone number!

 

OpenOffice.org is just like Word/Excel/Powerpoint XP but it's free. Good deal.

 

[bmd]

You can also check out 602software's PCSuite for an office alternative. I like PCSuite's interface better than OpenOffice, but that's just me.

 

[DukeFan21]

Maybe it is just me, but my XP didn't come with Java installed. Need that.

 

[yakko]

Originally posted by: DukeFan21
Maybe it is just me, but my XP didn't come with Java installed. Need that.

It is not just you.