# What programs should I install before I go on-line (new PC)? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 27, 2005, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-programs-should-i-install-before-i-go-on-line-new-pc/323702 "2005-09-27T17:12:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![D.E.S.K.Top668](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@D.E.S.K.Top668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.E.S.K.Top668)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-programs-should-i-install-before-i-go-on-line-new-pc/323702/1 "2005-09-27T17:12:40Z")
I just finished building my first “not out of a box” PC (new mother board/processor, case/PS. The HD is old but was completely wiped before installation.) Due to the O/S I’m using (Win2000Pro…a friend had an old legit copy he hasn’t had installed for years), I want to make sure I’m secure **before** I go on-line for all the updates. I have access to a T-1 at work and can D/L onto my external hard drive. So far, I’ve got AVG, Zone-Alarm, Spybot Search & Destroy, and Firefox downloaded and ready to install. What other programs would the Dopers suggest besides/instead of the above? Thanks in advance - DESK ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-programs-should-i-install-before-i-go-on-line-new-pc/323702/2 "2005-09-27T17:49:47Z")
About the only thing I’d add is Microsoft’s Antispyware app. And all the Win2K service packs. They’re up to SP4 now. PS: Congratulations for picking AVG over Symantec’s bloatware. ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-programs-should-i-install-before-i-go-on-line-new-pc/323702/3 "2005-09-27T18:36:59Z")
When I start a new PC from scratch, before I even get it online, I get an antivirus program, anti-spyware programs, and a personal firewall installed (I usually have them on CD ahead of time. If you don’t, then go online to get them, but don’t go anywhere else to get them, then get offline and get them installed, pronto!!!) Then I get all the service packs and Hotfixes there are for it next. Then I install an Internet Explorer browser replacement (For me it’s Opera, but you may like Mozilla Firefox or something else. Whatever you decided to use, don’t use IE! I mean it… REALLY!) The rest that I recommend are installed in no particular order and are at your discretion: [ul] [li]IrfanView[/li][li]Adobe Acrobat Reader[/li][li]RJHextensions[/li][li]FreeRamXPPro[/li][li]OpenOffice[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-programs-should-i-install-before-i-go-on-line-new-pc/323702/4 "2005-09-27T18:58:22Z")
> [@Dragwyr](#): > > Then I install an Internet Explorer browser replacement (For me it’s Opera, but you may like Mozilla Firefox or something else. Whatever you decided to use, don’t use IE! I mean it… REALLY!) Chiming in with a big “hear, hear” for not using MSIE. If you have friends use your machine, delete the Big Blue E from your desktop and shortcut bar, or leave it there and point the icon to Firefox or Opera. The amount of Bad Stuff[sup]TM[/sup] that accrues on MSIE machines is horrible. ---
**Author:** ![D.E.S.K.Top668](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@D.E.S.K.Top668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.E.S.K.Top668)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-programs-should-i-install-before-i-go-on-line-new-pc/323702/5 "2005-09-27T19:41:25Z")
Thanks for the help, all. It looks likes I’ve got everything I need to safely get my Windows updates on-line now. Extra thanks to you, **Dragwyr** , for the list of other FreeWare. I’m a big OpenOffice and Infranview fan, but the others look very helpful too. In case anybody else needs the suggestions in this thread any time, I’d like to suggest [FilZip](http://www.filzip.com/en/index.html) for any zipping/unzipping needs. I’ve used it on a WinME box for quite some time with no problems. Peace- DESK ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-programs-should-i-install-before-i-go-on-line-new-pc/323702/6 "2005-09-27T20:26:40Z")
You want to apply SP4 and the Post SP4 SRP. You want to install a firewall like ZoneAlarm (check), and a virus-checker (check). I don’t know if MS’s anti-spyware app works on W2K, but if it does, install that. There’s no need to install a browser other than IE unless you prefer the other browser. ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-programs-should-i-install-before-i-go-on-line-new-pc/323702/7 "2005-09-27T20:54:01Z")
Another good free firewall is Sygate. For some goofy reason, ZoneAlarm, which used for years, would not let me connect when I switched to broadband cable. ---
**Author:** ![slaphead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@slaphead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slaphead)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-programs-should-i-install-before-i-go-on-line-new-pc/323702/8 "2005-09-29T12:31:34Z")
Personally I prefer [NOD32](http://www.nod32.com) for anti-virus. Tiny footprint, daily auto-updates that apply within seconds of bootup, excellent detection. I ponied up for a 3-machine licence rather than put with my ‘free’ :dubious: copy of Norton IS 2005 any longer. Which email program were you thinking of using instead of Outlook Express, or will you be using webmail? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-programs-should-i-install-before-i-go-on-line-new-pc/323702/9 "2005-09-29T12:41:45Z")
> [@KlondikeGeoff](#): > > Another good free firewall is Sygate. For some goofy reason, ZoneAlarm, which used for years, would not let me connect when I switched to broadband cable. I’ll second this; I’ve not used ZoneAlarm though, so I can’t make a fair comparison. You’ll be wanting some kind of spam filter, I would imagine; SpamPal seems to be a popular one, but I stopped using it after I had problems with it (can’t remember the exact nature of the problems) I currently use [Cactus Spam Filter](http://www.codeode.com/spamfilter/), which is pretty adequate. ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-programs-should-i-install-before-i-go-on-line-new-pc/323702/10 "2005-09-29T15:50:29Z")
> [@D.E.S.K.Top668](#): > > Thanks for the help, all. It looks likes I’ve got everything I need to safely get my Windows updates on-line now. > Extra thanks to you, **Dragwyr** , for the list of other FreeWare. I’m a big OpenOffice and Infranview fan, but the others look very helpful too. > In case anybody else needs the suggestions in this thread any time, I’d like to suggest [FilZip](http://www.filzip.com/en/index.html) for any zipping/unzipping needs. I’ve used it on a WinME box for quite some time with no problems. > > Peace- DESK FYI, here is the complete list of software that I use both at work and at home. I have listed either the title of the product, or the filename, and a brief description. Searching either the title or the filename in google should take you to where you can download it. AdAware Personal SE - Cleans up Adware/Spyware Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 Audacity - Powerful open source wave/sound form editor cdex\_151.zip - CD Track ripper - Encodes CD tracks to MP3 and other formats Cdm32s\_571.zip - Convert .mod formatted music files to wav, mp3, and other formats DCOMbob.exe - Windows DCOM Exploit Vulnerability testing tool from GRC Western Digital Data Lifeguard - Better than WDDIAG. DiskKeeper Lite 7.0.414 - Free Disk Defrag Tool for NT/2K/XP Ethereal - Network Packet sniffer and analyzer Mozilla Firefox - A powerful, fast, open source web browser Macromedia Flash 7 Free Ram XP Pro 1.50- Memory manager for Win98 and up freeundelete.exe - Free utility to undelete files The GIMP - Powerful graphics editor (Photoshop substitute) GTK 2 Runtime environment - (Required to run GIMP in MS Win) irfanview\_plugins\_395.exe - Plug-Ins for Irfanview - Expands IrfanView’s capabilities IrfanView - View and do basic edits to picture files Java Runtime Environment leaktest.exe - Tests firewall installed on windows PC - From [GRC.com](http://GRC.com) Microsoft Windows Memory Diagnostic - Creates a boot disk to test memory on PC MIRC - An IRC chat client Netscape 8.0, full version Opera 8.5 - FREE, no Ads, fast and powerful web browser Open Office - Free 100% compatible alt to MS Office PDFCreator-0\_8\_0\_GNUGhostscript.exe - Free, Open Source PDF file creator PixelToolbox.zip - Utility to create icons for MS Windows QuickTimeInstaller.exe - Installs QuickTime RADTools.exe - RAD Video tools - For basic video editing and conversion Real Player 10 rjhextensions.zip - Add useful functions to the context menu of Windows Explorer saverstarter140.zip - Allows control of screen saver activation sdelete.zip - Command line utility for securely deleting files and cleaning unused disk space Macromedia Shockwave shootthemessenger.exe - Easily enable/disable windows messenger service - From [grc.com](http://grc.com) socketlock.exe - Raw Socket Abuse Prevention system for Windows XP - from [grc.com](http://grc.com) sockettome.exe - Tests Windows XP systems to see if Raw sockets support is on - from [grc.com](http://grc.com) Sam Spade - IP address information utility (Ping, Tracert, and more!) Sygate Personal Firewall 5.5 Spybot Search & Destroy 1.3 - Cleans up Spyware and more stinger.exe - Cleans up sasser and ms blaster worms Mozilla Thunderbird - Free Open source E-mail client TMPGEnc-2.521.58.169-Free.zip - Converter for computer video formats Trillian - Chat client compatible with MSN, YM, AIM, ICQ, and IRC truecrypt-3.1a.zip - Free open-source disk encryption software for Windows XP/2000/2003 VirtualDub-1.6.10.zip - Video converstion/recording utility Winamp - Plays a variety of music files including mp3 Winzip 9.0 - Compresses and uncompresses .zip files WinPcap\_3\_1\_beta4.exe - Needed for Ethereal to function properly ws\_ftple.exe - FTP client yamp33.zip - Yet Another MOD Player - Plays a variety of music files, similar to WinAmp. ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-programs-should-i-install-before-i-go-on-line-new-pc/323702/11 "2005-09-29T15:54:05Z")
Also you can find more great open source software at [The Open CD project](http://www.theopencd.org/).