Recommended programs for a new computer?
I just bought a new laptop and I already installed Norton 360, Firefox, a uninstaller program, a registry cleaner/optimizer and a spyware remover. Are there any other programs I should download to keep my computer in top shape?
Dump Norton 360. It slows computers. You will need to download and run the Norton 360 Removal Tool from Symantec on line Support. Nothing else gets rid of Norton stuff completely. Then run your Registry Cleaner and CCleaner (http://www.ccleaner.com/).
Clean out the OEM software you don’t want with PC Decrapifier (http://pcdecrapifier.com/download). Replace Norton 360 with AVG Anti-Virus and AVG Anti-Spyware Free Editions (http://free.grisoft.com), and use the Zone Alarm Free Firewall (http://www.filehippo.com/download_zonealarm_free/). (Don’t try to download Zone Alarm Free from the company web site — it is impossible to find there.) Defragment using the Windows Defragmenter (Disk Tools). Use your other spyware remover alongside of AVG Free. They won’t conflict.
You will probably want OpenOffice.Org (http://www.openoffice.org/) for most of your non- Internet activities. Make sure you get the Firefox versions of FlashPlayer Plug in and Foxit Reader (reads PDF Files without the Adobe bloatware). Both are Firefox add-ons.
I prefer not to be bothered by on line ads, so I use the Firefox NoScript and AdBlocker add-ons. I like to share and back up my Firefox Extensions and Themes, so I use the FEBE add-on.
Use ThreatFire 3 (http://www.threatfire.com/download/) for protection against new on-line threats in real time, but do not buy the PC Tools cleanup option.
Apple iTunes and QuickTime are also popular but optional programs.
Just don’t add more programs than you need — they can add up and slow down an otherwise fast PC.
And for backups, get a large external hard drive and Acronis True Image Home. Back up your system each month, and your files as needed. You can set up folders on an external drive and just use Windows copy/paste to make backups of your files, except for iTunes Libraries, which need to be backed up as the program instructs. Never compute without backups!
Clean up your system with the system cleanup tools every week, and run all anti-virus and anti-spyware scans twice weekly (quick scans) and once every week or two in Deep Scan modes. Defragment when Windows says it’s needed. (Check for fragmentation about once a month.)







April 5th, 2008 at 10:31 am
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