Re-install these 20 free applications (categories) on my new Windows XP system

Two weeks ago, my system disk toasted (damn western digital, got two hard disk failed from you) and I had to re-install the Windows XP on another spare hard disk to bring my computer life back. Glad I had my data on a different hard disk and backed-up everything to the external disk every week.

During the re-installation process, I thought it would be better if I record every application I had to install first to be productive and enjoyable before I sit down to do anything else. And, inspirited by the post from lifehack.org The first 10 free Apps to install on a new Windows PC, I decided to write this post.

Well, it will be different for every one and every computer regarding the applications installed. And it totally depends on the owner’s favorites and the computer usage or purpose. I am using my home computer mostly for Internet surfing, email checking, video/photo editing and free lance programming. What I chose will not definitely be exactly yours. Ok, let us get it started.

1. Firefox browser and add-ons
   First of all, you need a good browser to download other free applications, right? Since I have been using Firefox for a few years, and have been hooked to a couple of its add-ons (like Xmarks, Firebug, and IE Tabs). On the browser choice, I decided Firefox over IE and Chrome.
2. Microsoft Free applications/downloads
   It is funny that a lot of people ignore Microsoft when we are talking about free applications. Even MS charges us a big chunk of money on OS and other business suites, some of their free stuffs still should be mentioned.
1. Microsoft Live.com downloads, including Live Writer; Live Photo Gallery, Live Messenger and Live Mail, and Live Sync.

   I like Live Writer which I am using it to write this post right now. I used other off-live blog writer apps, but I still find Live Writer the best one I ever used. I think I will keep it for a while.

   Of course, you can always find other alternatives to the above. But I just like Live Photo Gallery over Google Pissca, Live Messenger than Yahoo Messenger or GTalk etc. As for the Live Mail, if you have Outlook or Thundbird, then you do not need to use it. But you used Outlook Express before, then this one is recommended for your upgrade.

   And one more highlight of the above is the Live Sync which is a piece of client app to the Microsoft Live service. By using it, you can sync files or folders between different computers.

   And in this category, what I did not choose were Family Safety, Sign-in Assistant, and others. But if Microsoft Security Essentials comes out, I might try it over other free anti-virus applications.

2. Microsoft Virtual PC 2007
   Ever wanted to install more than one Operation System on your computer? Or just wanted to try some free downloads but do not want to mess up your main PC? Well, the virtualization is the answer. Instead of paying VM to get VM desktop or get its free VM server, I chose Microsoft Virtual PC. My plan is to install another ubuntu pc inside my Windows XP after I am done with this new setup.
3. Other Microsoft free apps
   I installed Windows Desktop Search (instead of Google Desktop or Copernic desktop search), and some Movie Maker add-ons, and Process Explorer (a better alternative to Task Manager).
3. Google free downloads (Google Toolbar; Google Calendar Sync, Google Earth, Google Pinyin)
   Google Calendar Sync – I need my Outlook sync with blackberry wireless, so I choose Google Calendar as the middle. The Google Calendar sync is the necessary tool to accomplish the above.
   Google Earth – I do not need to explain more on this one.
   Google Pinyin – To replace the default Microsoft Chinese IME. When you start to use it, you will feel Google Pinyin is too smart to allow you to go back to Microsoft IME.

   In this category, you might need to try Google Desktop, Google Pissca even I did not based on the reasons above.

4. 7-zip
   Now it is time to install free applications from other small companies or developers. First I need to look through all my archived downloads. Since some of them were compressed either in RAR, or ZIP formats. A good file compression tool is the must. I choose 7-zip over any others (WinZip, WinRAR).
5. Daemon Tool (old version)
   Another tool I needed to install first is a good virtual disk mount software since some of my applications are in .iso, or cue/bin format. Instead of burning them to CD, DVD, I will use Daemon Tool to mount them virtually. Of course, you can choose other alternatives like Virtual Clone Drive, MagicDisc. I just used Daemon Tool too long to switch.
6. Foxit Reader and CutePDF Writer
   Now let us deal with some PDF files. You can download free Adobe  Acrobat Reader. But with Foxit Reader, you will have lighter PDF reader and get rid of the security concerns with tons of Adobe Reader patches.
   As for the writing or printing PDF files, I will see you can try CutePDF writer, or just live with Office 2007 or OpenOffice.org’s embedded PDF printing features.
7. WinSCP
   I can not work without any FTP or other file transferring tools. Using WinSCP, you not only get the normal FTP function but the SFTP, SSH (through Putty) and more.
8. WinMerge
   As I said, I am using this computer to write codes. WinMerge can help me compare two files, or two folders without any hassles.
9. AVS Video Converter
   Did I also say I will use this computer to edit videos? Right, this one can help me convert to almost all the common video format including some of the HD video format.
10. DVD Shrink
    Well, I have not seen any other easier DVD copying tools like DVD Shrink. Try it, and  you will like it too.
11. CDBurnXP
    After these video editing, converting, I should think about burning them to DVD now. My old Nero OEM 6 came with the DVD writer can not be compatible with the XP services pack 3 and I could not get the updates from their website. So I use CDBurnXp to replace Nero, and you should be fooled by its name. It can burn anything in any OS not only the Windows XP.
12. KeePass Pass Safe
    I admin I do not have good memory especially on a lot of web site user names and passwords. I used PassSafe before, but I like KeePass 2 slicker layout and did not go back ever since.
13. TrueCrypt
    More concerned about my computer file safety, so I install this utility to encrypt all my financial data files. And TrueCrypt can also encrypt a whole disk or remove storage flash drive as well.
14. CcCleaner and Windows Install Clean up
    During my installations, some of my applications got screwed up with my previous setup. To clean all them up, I had to use CcClener and Windows Install Clean up tools.
15. VLC Media Player
    It was called Video Lane Player before. Regardless the name it was called, it can play virtually everything. Especially along with my other two free codec downloads (Real Alternative and QuickTime Alternative), I really do not think I will keep Real Player or QuickTime Player any more.
16. Skype
    This one is a no-brainer VOIP (voice over IP) application for me if I need to talk with my friends overseas.
17. Binary News Reaper and eMule
    For more free stuffs like these ones I mentioned above, then I had to install some applications to help me get them. The Binary News Reaper for the NewsGroup binary files downloading, and the latter is for the Peer-to-Peer downloading in the future.
18. Avast! Anti-virus, Comodo Firewall and PCTools ThreatFire
    Finally, I need to consider my computer security. The reason I did not do it first since I did not want the anti-virus/firewall to slow down my installation process. After all, what I installed before the anti-virus tool were all applications I trusted.

    After a year’s experiment, the combination of Avast! and Comodo work seamless on my machine. No significant performance reduce and no single virus/malware break-in. I will continue to use these dues and add ThreatFire (behavior anti-virus and community contribution) as the  extra layer of security.

19. Belarc Advisor
    More and more application will be installed, and I do not think I can keep the pace to update all of them later. Belarc Advisor can give me a great profile and warn me if I have not update some application in a while especially some with security patch concerns.
20. DriveImage XML
    Ok, ok. Enough free applications now. I know I just installed a little percentage of what is available. But I believe I can start work with them along with other paid ones (like Microsoft Office 2007 and Adobe CS4).

    So I decided to call it a day at this point. To avoid to repeat these processes again in the next disk disaster, I installed DriverImage XML (just like Ghost) to image all my system file on C: drive. Next time, if my system disk goes south again, I will just restore them from DriverImage XML to my new disk.

How about yours, feel feel to share with us.

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