Programs that you can't be without

[Dar]

My new computer comes soon, it's Vista Home Premium. As I was reviewing programs I use I was wondering if there were any programs that you find you can't do with out.

I have the usual cleaners and anti-spyware (ccleaner, spybot, ad-aware, AVG).

But there have been a few other freeware programs that are really good, I use Abiword (sp?) instead of Microsoft Word. I always have Winamp (the light version) too.

Any programs you have found that are just damn useful?

[WapleSpunK]

I can't be without Adobe Lightroom2 and Photoshop and Microsoft Outlook -- my three most used programs.

I use Microsoft Forefront for anitvirus.

Advanced SystemCare for PC scanning.

[Freejack]

Depends on your needs (artist/developer/etc), but I usually install a few programs from SysInternals (now Microsoft) like Process Explorer (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx), Autoruns (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx), and some MS PowerToys (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/Downloads/powertoys/Xppowertoys.mspx) like TweakUI and PowerToy Calculator. Then there's stuff like OpenOffice (http://www.openoffice.org/) (don't use MS Office at all), GIMP (http://www.gimp.org/), PSPad (http://www.pspad.com/), Xnview (http://www.xnview.com/), and Firefox. I'll also install things like my IM client (Miranda (http://www.miranda-im.org)), something for file transfers (WinSCP (http://winscp.net/eng/index.php)), something for file management (FreeCommander (http://www.freecommander.com/)), something for doing textfile merges (WinMerge (http://winmerge.org/)), and something for telnet/SSH (Poderosa (http://www.poderosa.org/)).

[Landro]

First OPEN OFFICE is a gift from heaven, :)

Use AVG Antivirus (http://free.avg.com/), very stable, very effective, cheap, even the free does the job.

CCleaner (http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/), this is one VERY nice program. Cleans Internet history, cache, etc.., plus you can set it up to clean up temp files, and a ton other. It has a registry scanner and repair with backup, an unistaller, very effective.

Malwarebytes (http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html?part=dl-10804572&subj=dl&tag=button) for everything else. This with AVG have prevented every single virus that has been out there or that has attacked me..since I have gotten them.

ALL of these are free, unless you buy AVG. Again the free is highly efficient and effective.

I use the free versions of all and have NO issues. These use VERY little resources. I have CCLeaner and Malewarebytes set to only run when I scan. I scan with Malewarebytes about 3-5 times a week. Easy to update all these too.

[onstill]

Ive found Malwarebytes to be a excellent addition to the spyware counterstrike team. Autoscreenrecorder can be useful too. Oh and CutePDF for printing/sending files to pdf format.

[Jormagund]

I'll second Open Office. I think it's ridiculous to spend hundreds on MS Office when a free, open-source alternative is available that is actually on-par.

[CheapToad]

I use

Cleanup
Eusing registry cleaner
Can't live without: Roboform
Avast
Adaware

[Dar]

Thanks, I've found some new programs I'll be using!

[Kasu]

Outlook
Avast Antivirus
Picasa
Logmein/Logmein Ignition
Itunes
Mozy Home Backup

[ThaMan]

Itunes
I just threw up in my mouth.

[Landro]

I just threw up in my mouth.

I did and swallowed it back, for it is better then ITunes.

[Dar]

lol

If you are listing a program could you say what it does please if it hasn't previously been mentioned? Thanks!

[Savistik]

The latest free versions of both Avast and AVG are major resource hogs, both memory and CPU cycles. Free is compelling and worth putting up with a lot of quirks, but I went ahead and forked up for the newest Norton and my old laptop surged up in benchmarks. I don't even disable it to game like I always did with AVG and Avast.

That said, both AVG and Avast are excellent programs that'll stop all but a deliberate attempt by you to infect your computer.

[Calan Adan]

That OpenOffice looks great - thanks! I'll be downloading that this evening.

[ThaMan]

The latest free versions of both Avast and AVG are major resource hogs, both memory and CPU cycles. Free is compelling and worth putting up with a lot of quirks, but I went ahead and forked up for the newest Norton and my old laptop surged up in benchmarks. I don't even disable it to game like I always did with AVG and Avast.

That said, both AVG and Avast are excellent programs that'll stop all but a deliberate attempt by you to infect your computer.
I find that very hard to believe. Norton has been the worst for years. I'll have to check out the difference with the paid version of AVG. I didn't think AVG was that bad, but I haven't really paid attention to it lately.

[Kasu]

I did and swallowed it back, for it is better then ITunes.

Obviously you guys don't use it, so wouldn't expect you to understand why I like it :diablotin:

[CheapToad]

I find that very hard to believe. Norton has been the worst for years. I'll have to check out the difference with the paid version of AVG. I didn't think AVG was that bad, but I haven't really paid attention to it lately.

I'm looking here to see what they say.

http://anti-virus-software-review.toptenreviews.com/

[Savistik]

I bought it based on this article: http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/protect_your_pc_from_guys_like_this

Maximum PC will call out a crappy product. Their editorial and advertising departments are blind so they've even had crappy reviews of products directly across from the ads for that product.

[CheapToad]

Another great but not well known program is called

Proxomintron

http://www.proxomitron.info/

Here's the catch. It's open sorce and not supported by the original programer. But, there is a great community of people to help.

What it does. It can block any, yes any, ad on any web site. Not just pop-ups. Banners, flashing, scrolling, or the ones that just sit there.

It's not easy (but not to hard) to set up. Your Browser must of course go through the program first. This can slow your computer down a bit but you can disable (bypass) the program anytime you like.

It took me not even 5 minutes to set up

[Amond]

I am lost without http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/uk/site.htm for a notepad that is actually decent and flexible.

[ThaMan]

Obviously you guys don't use it, so wouldn't expect you to understand why I like it :diablotin:I've just had to deal with the fallout from iTunes on a couple of the computers at work. I've actually instituted a company policy that NO Apple software - what-so-ever - is allowed to be installed on any company computer without my permission.

[Kasu]

I've just had to deal with the fallout from iTunes on a couple of the computers at work. I've actually instituted a company policy that NO Apple software - what-so-ever - is allowed to be installed on any company computer without my permission.

I only ran into issue with the software about a year ago, and it was because of a software update to Itunes/quicktime.

However for managing my music/playlist and creating genius playlist (similar to how Pandora works), the software works pretty damn good.

[Joxer]

Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, InDesign and Flash (plus numerous plugins - too many to mention) - CS4 is the core of my applications.

FileZilla, Kapersky Internet Security, Picasa, Quickpar, Newsbin, Stardock Object Desktop, Object Dock are also the first to get installed on a clean machine.

And whatever the current game of the month is :)

[Stinkinstink]

I use TweakVI (http://www.tweakvi.com/product.php?Product=TweakVI). The free version is all you need; it optimizes Vista nicely.

Also, someone said Roboform. I second that! One-click form filling and password management for the win. I use RoboformToGo which is just the U3 version of Roboform on my flash drives.

I also use Rivatuner (http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=163) to dial in my gpu fan speeds and monitor core usage & temps, and Speedfan (http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php) to monitor all other system voltages, fans & temps.

[CheapToad]

Speaking of fan monitoring. I use speedfan also

http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php

[Jormagund]

Like Joxer, I am also a huge fan of ObjectDock. I like it much better than the default Windows taskbar and desktop shortcuts.

[CheapToad]

Like Joxer, I am also a huge fan of ObjectDock. I like it much better than the default Windows taskbar and desktop shortcuts.

I'm going to try that one

We should really make a list of these and make it a sticky

[CheapToad]

ObjectDock
speedfan
TweakVI
Rivatuner
Notepad ++
Proxomintron
Norton
AVG
Avast
OpenOffice
ccleaner
Clean-up
Abiword
Advanced SystemCare
TweakUI
PowerToy Calculator
Gimp
Miranda
Freecommander
WinMerge
Ponderosa
Malwarebytes
Autoscreenrecorder
Roboform
Eusing Registry Cleaner


Did I miss any?