|
A big list of free and commercial software you shouldn't forget about if you just re-install Microsoft Windows XP onto a computer.
Here goes:
All Your Old Data if you have any: 1. Important Documents
2. Pictures, Music, Video
3. Internet Explorer Favorites or Firefox and other web-browser bookmarks.
4. Any 3rd party software and program settings or transferred data that you needed. Drivers and Peripherals:
1. Drivers for all your hardware. You can look at the list of un-installed hardware by going to Device Manager which is in the Hardware tab when you right-click My Computer and click on Properties.
2. Install all the drivers required for your motherboard by using the CD that came with the computer. If you lost the CD for your motherboard, you can open up your computer and look for your motherboard model number between the white PCI slots or sometimes nearby the memory modules. Then search up this model number on www.google.com and you will find out the manufacturer that makes that motherboard if you don't already know. Then go to the manufacturer's website and look for the downloads or support link and download all the drivers for that motherboard. If you have a computer built by a major computer company like Dell, HP, Compaq, Gateway, Sony, etc... then you can just go to their website and type in your computer's model number which is usually found on the front bezel of your tower at the top or bottom of the case or near the power button. Sometimes it will be on the back of the computer on a barcode or sticker. Once you identify your computer on the website a support or download link should appear and you can download all your drivers from there.
3. Install your videocard drivers - NEVER EVER use the CD that came with your videocard. Don't bother with it, by the time a CD is produced printed, shipped to the retailer and sold to the customer, it is OUT OF DATE. Just go online and download the drivers. Your videocard usually contains a graphics chipset made by one of the four major choices: NVIDIA (geforce series), ATI (radeon series), SiS, or integrated video. If your videocard is integrated onto the motherboard than the motherboard drivers should have already taken care of that. If your videocard is made by NVIDIA or ATI, you can simple download the videocard graphics drivers from their websites. Download NVIDIA drivers HERE (http://www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.asp) . Or DOWNLOAD ATI drivers HERE(http://ati.amd.com/support/driver.html). 4. Install the drivers and software for your peripherals. Examples of peripherals that need special drivers and software to take full advantage of their capabilities would be like a fancy mouse, keyboard, printer, scanner, or other external devices. Updating Your Microsoft Windows XP and Other Important Windows Components: 1. Go to Start > All Programs > Windows Update (close to the very top of the menu list)....download and install all the updates and restart your computer when it asks you to do so. Repeat as many times as necessary. 2. Securing Your Microsoft Windows XP Operating System for maximum security and safety from hackers:
1. Install your anti-virus program. I highly recommend FREE AVG Anti-Virus Software from Grisoft over McAfee or Norton Anti-Virus simply because they are too bloated and waste too much memory, space and system resources on fancy cute graphics and constant marketing for their other products and brand. You can download FREE AVG Anti-Virus software here (http://free.grisoft.com/doc/5390/lng/us/tpl/v5#avg-anti-virus-free). 2. The Microsoft Windows Firewall works fine for me so I don't recommend installing a 3rd-party one unless your computer is very fast and you don't mind the constant pop-ups asking you to allow or block an application from sending information over the internet. 3. Install an Anti-Spyware program if you need it or you have a kid or computer-illiterate person that uses your computer and downloads junk often. Some great free programs are AVG's anti-spyware software or Lavasoft's AdAware. SOFTWARE - Productivity Programs Microsoft Office 2003, a great and FREE alternative is the OpenOffice Suite.
Setup Microsoft Outlook 2003, or any other POP3 program that you use.
Configure your favorite internet browser like Internet Explorer or Firefox.
Adobe Reader - Another standard document format. Get the latest version from Adobe.com SOFTWARE - Multimedia Software
Nero Ultra - Great for burning CD's and DVD's. The latest series has all sorts of fancy features that you'll probably never use.
CyberlinkDVD - The best DVD decoder player program available.
Picasa - Great free program for managing, organizing, and even editing all your digital pictures. SOFTWARE - Helpful Utilities MagicISO - Great program for mounting image files on your computer as a loaded CD/DVD.
WinRAR - A must-have standard compression program required to open many popular compressed file formats. You will need this to open .rar files!
Klite Codec Pack - You need to download codecs to play the latest audio and video files. If you're the type to download songs and videos over p2p networks all the time, this is a must. Get the Klite Mega Codec Pack and other useful stuff HERE . TWEAK your Windows XP for maximum speed and performance:
http://www.rfuz.com/windows/tips-and-tricks/how-to-speed-up-your-computer.html
INTERNET SOFTWARE:
Mozilla Firefox - Shame on you if you've never tried it. Download Firefox to see why it's the best web-browser available.
Chat Programs - AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) , Yahoo, ICQ, MSN Messenger, Trillian
Skype - Free software to make phone calls to other Skype Users or even domestic phone numbers FOR FREE through the internet.
LogMeIn - Free easy-to-use remote access software for your computer.
Limewire - Use this free program to download movies, songs, other great goodies you can find! It's also easy to use, too. CUSTOMIZATION and FUN:
Put up your own wallpaper
Install your favorite games I think we've got everything taken care of, all you have to do now is ENJOY!
 |
