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I just bought my daughter a new Dell laptop for college with Vista pre-loaded.
I'm brand new to Vista (kind of a die-hard XP guy).
What software would you suggest I load before sending her off? Since she's going away, I won't have the luxary of being able to fix her computer (kinda sad thinking about it).
I'd prefer the free versions, if possible.
With my XP machines, I always loaded:
Spybot S&D
AVG
CCleaner
avast!
http://avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html
Comodo
(Install the Firewall only -- no AntiVirus)
http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/
MalwareBytes
http://majorgeeks.com/Malwarebytes_A...are_d5756.html
SpywareBlaster
http://www.majorgeeks.com/SpywareBlaster_d2859.html
SuperAntiSpyware
http://majorgeeks.com/SUPERAntiSpyware_d5116.html
ThreatFire
http://www.threatfire.com/download/
WinPatrol (May not need this with Vista?)
http://www.winpatrol.com/
CCleaner (Uncheck Yahoo! Toolbar when installing)
http://www.ccleaner.com/
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Adobe Reader (Uncheck Google Toolbar)
http://www.adobe.com/go/EN_US-H-GET-READER
Adobe Flash Player (Uncheck Google Toolbar)
http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/?promoid=BUIGP
Adobe Shockwave Player
http://get.adobe.com/shockwave/
Sun's Java (Uncheck MSN[?] Toolbar)
http://www.java.com/download
Mozilla Firefox
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/personal.html
Apple QuickTime
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/
Windows Media Player (version 11)
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/win.../download.aspx
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If they do not have Microsoft Office installed, they may also need the following:
Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer 2007
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en
Microsoft Word Viewer
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en
Microsoft Excel Viewer
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en
Microsoft Visio Viewer 2007
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en
After installing any of these, make sure you visit Microsoft Update and install any updates marked as Critical
http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/
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When done setting up their computer, visit the following two links and make sure everything is up-to-date:
Microsoft Update
http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/
Secunia Online Software Inspector
http://secunia.com/software_inspector/
Terrific answer and VERY thorough! Thanks!
I'll start installing tonite!
If it's Vista 64 bit some of those programs will not work, like SuperAntiSpyware. If you have 64 bit you have to make sure it's compatible with it.
I'd rather use Foxit than Acrobat Reader.
http://www.foxitsoftware.com/downloads/index.php
VLC is a better media player than WMP.
http://videolan.org/vlc/
I prefer Avira to Avast, but Avast is pretty good.
http://www.free-av.com/
If you don't have MS Office, you can try OpenOffice.
http://www.openoffice.org/
You're welcome; And Thanks. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by MPTech