Setting up Windows after install

1) First you should increase the security of your system. To do this, follow the next steps:

a) Install Anti-virus software - the best options are:

- Freeware programs

- AVG (get it from http://free.grisoft.com) or

- FreeAV (get it from http://www.free-av.com). Both come with daily updates and provide on-access scanners.

- Evaluation software (you need to purchase the software after a period of free usage)

- McAfee Virus Scan ( http://www.mcafee.com/us/smb/downloads/index.html ) or

- Norton Antivirus ( http://www.symantec.com/home_homeoffice/index.jsp ).

b) Install a firewall (this will block unwanted programs from accessing the network and filter any suspicious traffic - like hacking attempts)

- ZoneLabs (get it from http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/catalog/products/ ) or

- Sygate Personall Firewall (from http://www.simtel.net/product.download.mirrors.php?id=53687 )

Note that both are for personal use only; for professional administration you need to purchase the full program with all of it's options (Zone Alarm Pro and Sygate Firewall)

c) Install a spyware and adware removal tool (malicious codes that collect private data from your PC or force your BROWSER to visit spammed websites). The best ones are:

- Spybot Search and Destroy (get it from http://www.spybot.info/en/download/index.html ) and - Ad-aware ( official site is www.lavasoftusa.com and you can get it from http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/ )

2) Install a better browser (use Mozilla Firefox because - it's more secure then other browsers).
I also recommend to install Mozilla Thunderbird as a Mail Client (you can get it from http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/thunderbird/ )

3) Install file archieving software. I recommend 7-zip since it's freeware and support most of the archive types. You can get it from http://www.7-zip.org.

You can also try using programs like

- WinRAR (download WinRAR http://www.rarlab.com/download.htm)

- WinZIP (download WinZIP http://www.winzip.com/prod_down.htm)

- WinACE (download WinACE www.winace.com).

4) Install a registry cleaner (there are programs that leave traces behind when uninstalling them). I recommend RegCleaner 4.3 (download RegCleaner www.majorgeeks.com/download460.html ).

It's easy to use - scans and automatically finds broken registry entries; you can then delete these. It also makes a backup copy of them in case you encounter any problems.

5) For audio playback, install WinAmp. You can get it from http://winamp.com/player/. You can also add skins and many kind of plugins to it changing according your needs.

6) For video playback, install one of these:

- Windows Media Player (www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/default.asp )

- VLC ( from www.videolan.org/vlc/ )

- BS Player ( from http://www.bsplayer.org/en/bs.player/download/). Note that BS Player comes with some adware too.

Whatever you chose between those three, you must install a video codecs pack in order to open some type of files. The most popular ones are

- K-lite (www.free-codecs.com/download/K_Lite_Codec_Pack.htm )

- Ace Mega Codec Pack (www.free-codecs.com/download/ACE_Mega_CoDecS_Pack.htm ).

7) For graphics install:

- Infran View (image viewer and standard editor with some built in effects, resize and screen capture) - download it from http://www.irfanview.com/ ;

- You can also try ACDsee, but it's not freeware (get a trial version from http://www.acdsee.com/)

8) If you need some web design tools, get the following (trial versions):

- Adobe Fireworks - http://www.macromedia.com/software/fireworks

- Adobe Photoshop - http://www.adobe.com/go/tryphotoshop

- Adobe Flash 8 - http://www.adobe.com/go/tryflash_pro

- Adobe Dreamweaver 8- http://www.adobe.com/go/trydreamweaver

9) For instant messaging you can install the following programs, according to your needs:

- Yahoo messenger - http://messenger.yahoo.com

- ICQ - http://www.icq.com

- AOL - http://www.aim.com

- Skype - http://www.skype.com

- MSN - http://messenger.msn.com/

- Google Talk - http://www.google.com/talk/

- Mirc - http://www.mirc.com/get.html

- You can also try Gaim that combines all above under one application - download it from http://gaim.sourceforge.net/downloads.php

10) To view any PDF files, you need Acrobat Reader. Get the latest version from http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

11) To burn CDs or DVDs I recommend Nero 6 (it's not the latest version but it's the best available). You can download this from http://download.oldversion.com/nero66013.exe

You can also find many programs that you may need on http://www.softpedia.com and http://www.download.com. I recommend a long browsing session on these websites.

If you want older versions of programs (by any reason) you can find them on www.oldversion.com

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