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[Unusedname]

I found a lot of threads with tips on building a new computer, but nothing on what to do once you have the computer.

I just wiped my computer and I want to make sure I do the important things before I start downloading my games again.

So far:

Got my wifi working.
Downloaded firefox.
Created a backup.
Installed adblock.
Downloaded spybot search and destroy.
Logged into bay12forums and tagged the log in forever button.

What's left?
Add-ons for firefox?
Programs for computer safety?
Convenient programs to have?

edit: ah gotta update drivers. ._.
time to figure this out.

[Sensei]

Make sure you've got all your sound and video drivers up to date, as well as OS updates. Other than that, you're probably good to start downloading all your games.

If you're looking for utility program suggestions, I recommend WinDirStat (assuming you're using windows), which is a great program for tracking your hard drive usage.

[ragnarok97071]

Install an OS. Hard to do anything without one of those.

Well. Technically the first thing is put the parts in the case if it's a desktop, and turn it on if it's a laptop.

Honestly beyond that what I think you should have basically involves drivers and then steam because most of my games are on there.

[LordBucket]

Convenient programs to have?

Pkware/winrar
Flash/Java updates
An ftp program
Winamp/VLC
Open office
Gif animator/GIMP
Mirc
Dosbox
ImDisk

[nenjin]

Microsoft Security Essentials
Steam
Process Explorer
Wireshark

[gigaraptor487]

Nobody mentioned Adobe reader? I guess I must just love pdfs
Some ideas for programs that I believe everyone should have:

-CCleaner
-Malwarebytes free scanner (Incredible, never had it miss anything in my usage of it)
-Openoffice or Libreoffice(unless you have microsoft office)
-Bittorrent client
-Cygwin (Handy for using windows to do Unix tasks)
-Notepad++/Notepad2 etc.
- VLC player
- Fre;ac audio converter


Also I think it is a good idea to look at drives(I assume, like almost every machine since 2004 you have a cd/dvd combo drive), You may want to add a blu-ray drive in as well as they are beginning to become somewhat affordable.

Also (even if you use Cygwin) I think you should put Linux/BSD/alternative operating system on there, even if just for a more protected environment if a serious virus or problem attacks the windows partition.

I hope I helped

[miauw62]

Install MBAM and SUPERAntiSpyware.
Disable SUPERAntiSpyware starting up when the computer boots.

Always nice to have these around.

[Caz]

firefox, libreoffice, peazip, vlc player, deluge, gimp, dwarf fortress, winamp, pidgin, wuala, skype.

the essentials.

[Caz]

- Fre;ac audio converter

Audacity ftw.

[jaass]

Avira Anti-Virus or AVG
HWiNFO- Much better resource monitor.
CrystalDiskInfo- Not bad disk monitor

[BFEL]

Porn.

[gimlet]

The 1st things I do, after turning it on but before even installing an OS:

- run memory diagnostic overnight (memtest off a linux live usb)
- run disk diagnostics
--- badblocks" off a linux live usb - writes and reads every sector on the drive
--- the manufacturer's SMART diagnostics, short and long tests

After the OS is installed I run Prime for a few hours to check temperatures and make sure settings work (I usually overclock a *little*, just for fun).

I really REALLY recommend spending the few minutes it takes to set up these tests, which can run while you sleep.  It helps you rule out one cause when you encounter flaky, transient problems.
1st stuff I install:
- yeah, drivers, duh.
- 7zip
- winrar (some stupid rars only work with this program)
- vlc
- firefox
- egg timer  (I kill time at the pc a lot while cooking stuff)
- vim (editor I'm used to)
- process explorer from sysinternals
- Hijaack This
- Microsoft Security Essentials

Hmm that's all that come to mind, it's easier when doing it 'cause it's pretty obvious which program you need to install when you're blocked or annoyed at some "feature", heh.

EDIT:  Oh, and please PLEASE invest the $1 or $2 and buy a piezo speaker if your motherboard doesn't come with one (few do now) and you don't have one you can "borrow" from an old pc.  Being able to hear the boot beep codes can give the hint you need to zero in on a booting problem without hours of frustration trying everything down the list.   Damn, they're a little tricky to find now - I *know* I found em on ebay repeatedly 5 for $5 with free shipping, I did have to wait for shipping from China.   Here's 2 for $4 shipped (no affiliation): http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-2pcs-Motheboard-Internal-Pc-Onboard-Mini-Case-Speaker-Bios-Beeps-Buzzer-/131033331232 or $4 each from amazon http://www.amazon.com/PC-Internal-Mini-Onboard-Speaker/dp/B002W4M0DW

[foil]

Did you run Windows Update to download the 200+ updates for Win 7 lol?

[Astral]

Some things were mentioned previously, but for programs in no particular order other than Firefox first:

• Firefox (only good thing Internet Explorer is good for getting)

          AdBlockPlus
          NoScript
          GreaseMonkey (I'm picky about certain webpages)
          Fasterfox

• Flash Update
• Java Update
• Applicable OS Updates
• Notepad++ (Programmer's best friend, and general tool)
• Microsoft Security Essentials
• Malwarebytes Anti Malware (As a secondary scanner I run once weekly, always good to have a second opinion)
• Spybot: Search and Destroy (For the passive protections and occasional scan)
• CCleaner
• Defraggler
• Speccy
• HWMonitor
• Speedfan (Nearly gave me a heart attack when I ran it on my i7 for the first time and it read 80 degrees Celsius; the temperature reports are apparently off for those, so I don't really recommend it anymore)
• VLC Media Player
• Process Explorer
• uTorrent
• HxD (Hex editor)
• Eclipse (Java IDE)
• Driver software for any hardware I might be using (Razer and Logitech products each come with their own, for example, graphics card, monitor, USB, etc)
• Keytweak (disable left Windows key functionality for use in voice chat programs as a bind, and because I hate hitting that in a full screen game)
• Ventrilo, Teamspeak, Skype
• Hiren's BootCD (lots of useful diagnostic/general troubleshooting tools)
• Lastly, Steam/Origin, and let the installation begin

If I am going to wipe a computer, I use CCleaner to export a list of any installed software to use as a guideline for setting up my next one. Plus, I have a flash drive with a majority of the above in portable editions, so if I'm missing something I'll likely be reminded at some point.

Afterwards, I download software as needed. I don't do much in Office, but I download LibreOffice because I don't feel like paying for Microsoft's latest take on it. If I feel like screwing around with sounds for a possible game, Audacity was my choice application. GIMP is a good (free) feature complete image editor with plenty of add-ons that, in skilled hands, can rival Photoshop. If I need to install an older game that I have a backup on a drive (such as Warcraft 3 or Diablo 2, both of which I have my original boxes and CD keys for), I used to use Daemon Tools Lite, but I hear they're getting plagued with ad/spy/malware, so I can't really recommend it anymore.

[miauw62]

I can confirm that you should be careful with installing Daemon Tools Lite, it dropped a bunch of adware on my system.