The purpose of this webpage is so that I have a quick reference if I need to install something on someone else's computer (but if you find it useful too, that's a nice bonus :) It is primarily for users of the same OS that I use (Windows XP SP2), but most of the software should run on previous 32-bit versions of Windows and a couple (i.e. Firefox ;) should run on just about any OS :-) And since I'm cheap, this is all freeware/free for home use/students ;) Program version numbers as of my last update; if you see something newer, grab that instead.

Update: As I have now just about fully switched to Ubuntu, this page won't really get many more updates. Consider it something of a time capsule, circa early 2005 ;) BTW, if you need a little push to help get moving away from M$, see Kein Mitleid Für MicroSoft ("No Mercy For MicroSoft" >;-)


[Basic Security & Internet]

The first thing you need to do is run Windows Update (it needs to be run with IE) to make sure Windows has all its security patches. Patches are usually released on Patch Tuesday, the second Tuesday of the month.

Once that's done, get the Firefox (v 1.0.4) web browser. Its much safer and faster to boot! :) Then please see my recommendations page. After that, consider turning IE into a Windows Update Drone. Get Firefox!

Then you need an anti-virus program. I suggest AVG (v 7.x). Other free AV programs people tend to use are AntiVir and avast! Some reviews here.

Follow with a good firewall; ZoneAlarm (v 5.5.x) And no, windows firewall isn't good enough. Alternately, I've heard people say that the Sygate Personal Firewall is good too. Still more free firewalls include Kerio and Outpost (Thanks FatJohn! :)

Then get and run ALL of these anti-spyware programs: Ad-Aware SE (v 1.06), Spybot - Search & Destroy (v 1.4), SpywareBlaster (v 3.4), and CWShredder (v 2.15) [Download the "stand-alone version"]

While Microsoft has released its own anti-spyware in beta version (only for Windows XP/2000/Server 2003), I would still recommend using the previous four anti-spyware programs; to get some of the real time protection MSAS offers, you might want to try SpywareGuard (from the makers of SpywareBlaster) and/or Spybot - Search & Destroy's "Tea Timer" feature (which you can select during the installation, but I've never used it :) Microsoft also has an anti-Malware program for some of the most common worms and trojans affecting Windows XP/2000/Server 2003. While its part of Windows Update, you might want to keep a copy with you since its only about a quarter of a MB; if you have a USB drive, it would be one of those things you could easily take with you when visiting someone who may or may not run WU often enough...

Now, when you get all of this set up, if you're using Outlook Express for your e-mail, you need to switch to something else to avoid the potential for infections by malicious code. I use Pegasus (v 4.21c). Another well-recommended program is Thunderbird, from the same people who brought you Firefox (as a bonus it can also (or even exclusively) be used as a usenet newsgroups reader :) There's also the lite version of Eudora but I never liked it ;p


Moved here from the Firefox page:

If you use Windows 95, 98 or Me, please see these installation notes (which includes the icon fix).

In addition to the above extensions, here are some other things you might want to install:
(note: this advice is geared to Windows XP users; if you use a different OS, this advice may not apply)

Regarding plugins for Firefox:

To view PDF files, use the Adobe Acrobat Reader (7.0; modified w/ Reader Speedup 1.31) as per the forum post.

Then to view Real Audio/Video files, use Real Alternative (1.42) and use Quicktime Alternative (1.48) to view Quicktime files. Both contain Media Player Alternative (6.4.8.4) which is also a good alternative to Windows Media Player. [Note: If embedded audio or (non-Windows) video doesn't work, the solution, as per this page is to open "QuickTime Settings", select "Browser Plug-in", click "MIME Settings..." and adjust as needed. Then test embedded QT audio and video.]

Another good media player is VLC (0.8.2) which is available for numerous operating systems; it can handle the embedded Windows video that the above can't. [Note: As per this page, "If your browser's plugins folder is not detected, copy npvlc.dll and vlcintf.xpt from the mozilla folder of your VLC Media Player installation to your browser's plugins folder."]

Finally, should you own one of those spiffy little USB drives, you can put Firefox on it! =D


[Windows Accessories]

TweakUI (for Win XP) (also for previous windows versions). The XP Tweak UI has one shortcoming; it doesn't install in the control panel. That should be fixed by using this program.

TClockEx (v 1.4.2) for adding the seconds to the system tray clock (and a lot more too ;)

Automachron (v 5) for keeping your computer's clock correct (lots of other similar programs online). Use with a stratum 2 time server.

Then I would recommend getting Proxomitron (v 4.5j) to filter out website ads; as a bonus it will work with all browsers on your system simultaneously :) Once you have it installed, get the updated zlib.dll (v 1.22) as per the forum post). Evenually I'll get around to trying out Proximodo (an open-source clone), since Proxomitron is no longer being developed.
UPDATE: Replaced with the Adblock, Flashblock and AniDisable extensions for FF.
If you need a to be able to quickly turn your proxy on and off in FF, use ProxyButton.

Another cute little program is CleverKeys (v 1.0), which allows you to highlight a word in any application and look it up on your default browser.
UPDATE: Replaced with the DictionarySearch extension for FF.


[A list of other windows apps and utils that I find handy, but don't feel like formatting ;-] 
Open Office
http://www.openoffice.org/
While I haven't installed it on my machine, I helped my brother in-law get it for his; definitely deserves a link :)

Audioactive Player [2.08]
http://www.audioactive.com/download/default.htm
(nice small MP3 player; other MP3 goodies also available)

VLC [0.81]
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/
(another good alternative to Windows Media Player)

RazorLame [1.1.5]
http://www.dors.de/razorlame/download.php
(A frontend for LAME... used to make MP3s :)
[I use Lame 3.90.3; extract the contents of the zip into the "LAME" subdirectory]
[lame-3.90.3.zip; http://www.rarewares.org/mp3.html; http://www.rarewares.org/files/mp3/lame-3.90.3.zip]
My preferred settings result in VBR MP3s [Lame Options: -b 32 -m s -h -p -V 0 -B 320]
General: Bitrate: 32 kbit
	 Mode: Stereo
	 Output Directory: Same as input directory
Advanced: Optimization: Quality
	  Options: Include CRC-Checksums
VBR: Enable Variable Bitrate (VBR)
     Maximum VBR Bitrate: 320 kbit
     Quality: 0
[I use CDex to rip wav files for processing into MP3s: http://cdexos.sourceforge.net/]

(Koepi's) XviD codec [1.0.3]
http://www.koepi.org/xvid.shtml
(video codec for making and playing a common type of AVI file)

Irfanview [3.95] (+ extensions)
http://www.irfanview.com/
(EXCELLENT image viewer with various editing features)

SpeedFan [4.19]
http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php
(useful for keeping tabs on CPU temps)

ABC BitTorrent [2.6.9]
http://pingpong-abc.sourceforge.net/
(for downloading giant files ;)

KaZaA Lite Resurrection (KLR) [0.0.7.6 E]
http://www.filesharingplace.com/p2pclients.php
(for downloading smaller files ;-)

Streambox VCR (w/ mods) [1.0 Beta 3.1 FlyingRaichu RTSP/PNM]
http://www.afterdawn.com/software/audio_software/audio_tools/streambox_vcr.cfm
(use http://www.bugmenot.com/ to bypass registration)
(for downloading streaming Real Media files... also makes a good d/l manager for big files :)

SDP Multimedia [2.0.0]
http://sdp.ppona.com/
(for downloading streaming Windows Media files)

WS_FTP [old ver 5.08]
http://f2.org/download/ws_ftple.exe
(tried and true FTP server; old version is much nicer about installation ;)
Alternately, one might try FileZilla:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/filezilla/

Power Archiver [6.11]
http://www.oldversion.com/program.php?n=powarc
(super duper freeware add-on to windows that making zipping/unzipping a snap; newer versions are sadly shareware ):

HJ Split
http://www.freebyte.com/hjsplit/
(useful for splitting/recombining files)

SiSoft Sandra
http://www.sisoftware.co.uk/
(VERY thorough system analyzation tool)

DVD Shrink [3.2]
http://www.dvdshrink.org/what.html
(cool DVD transcoding app... does other cool stuff too O;)

FlaskMPEG [0.594]
http://www.flaskmpeg.net/
(VOB -> AVI)

VirtualDubMod [1.5.10.1]
http://virtualdubmod.sourceforge.net/
(handy video file manipulator)

MAME32qa
http://www.classicgaming.com/mame32qa/
[reg. req. or you can just do a search for the file name; i.e. "Mame32v.90_Binary.exe"]
(Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator)

SuperGravity
http://lightning.prohosting.com/~tbates/gravity/super.html
(Usenet App)

IceChat
http://www.icechat.net/site/
(IRC)

WinTalk [1.27; includes both 16 and 32 bit versions :]
http://www.winarchives.com/files/wtalk127.zip
(OLD chat program; much fun pre-IM :)  Also good for quickly finding out your LAN IP adddress...
Its still listed on http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/partners/findoffering/certapp/Entrtain.asp
which is something of a time capsule, since that page hasn't been updated since May 21, 1998!

Dasher
http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/dasher/
(Accessibility Tool and/or cool toy ;)

MoonTool
http://www.fourmilab.ch/moontoolw/
(toy for calculating the Moon's phase)

BallDroppings
http://www.balldroppings.com/
(audio toy)

Drempels
http://www.geisswerks.com/drempels/
(cool trippy screen saver and (MOVING) desktop image replacement!)