Jump to content

Photo

Spleen's must have software list!


  • Please log in to reply
28 replies to this topic

#1 SpleenBeGone

SpleenBeGone

    Deer Leader of the Goriest Revolution

  • Administrators
  • 14,951 posts
  • LocationHouston

Posted 09 January 2015 - 02:21 PM

Here's a list of some great software I use on a regular basis. This list should help make computer use, troubleshooting, and repair a good deal easier.

 

First on the list is Ninite. This is a tool that lets you install quite a bit of software at once with minimum work. Great for fresh copies of windows, and a good way to get most of the software I'm going to list.

 

Ninitehttps://ninite.com/

 

VLC Media Playerhttp://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html

VLC is a great media player, better than standard WMP. It has more options and can play more file types out of the box. 

 

GIMPhttp://www.gimp.org/

GNU Image Manipulating Program. It's not as good as photoshop, but it's free, and close. Way better than paint, and acceptable for most things. Ironically, you can google this and the first result isn't a guy in leather.

 

Open Officehttps://www.openoffice.org/

It's like Microsoft Office, but free. There's also a portable version.

 

MalwareByteshttps://www.malwarebytes.org/

One of the best malware scans out there. The paid version gives you constant protection, but scan and removal is free.

 

Angry IP Scannerhttp://angryip.org/download/#windows

This really just lets you see who and what is using IP addresses on the network. Great for finding stuff. Use Fing on Android.

 

Restorationhttp://download.cnet...4-10322950.html

Sometimes you delete stuff you don't want to, this is how you get it back.

 

I also suggest having a Linux live disk, it can make some things a lot easier on a corrupted computer. 


nmjUGDL.jpg

#2 Big_T

Big_T

    Kilobyte

  • Members
  • 242 posts

Posted 10 January 2015 - 01:49 PM

I downloaded Restoration from the link you provided. AVG gave me a warning and found the .exe to have MalSign.generic.164

The download page also notifies that the installation process for this .exe includes options to install unwanted crapware (it calls them components), and should be installed attentively (to prevent it).

I'd never use Ninite or a similar 'tool', but I'm guessing if you want to use it for installation of this list of programs, you may end up with some bloaty crap who ha on your system.

There are plenty of file recovery programs out there to choose from. I suggest downloading them only from their developers website. Sites like Softonic.com are a waste of space, Snapfiles may be the same.

Here's a list of 15 file recovery tools (apparently updated this month) http://pcsupport.abo...ry-programs.htm and another list from Whirlpool http://whirlpool.net..._data_retrieval

Restoration is also in this list, and has the same DL page -___-

I've used Recuva and found it works well enough, didn't have anything I didn't want inside it either. Piriform (it's developer) is a good private software company.

 

Onwards.

VLC is tops. Best video player, and for lossless audio formats.

I've never used GIMP but heard/read that it's great, for people unable to acquire Photoshop.

Open Office is great if you're without an MS Office subscription (key for older versions), or just don't like MS Office.

I have MalwareBytes and occasionally run a scan. But real-time protection is paid. The updates also won't run automatically, but will notify you within 1 - 28 days (you choose in settings) that it's database is out-of-date. You then have to approve the update.

Angry IP comes in handy for pinging a range of IP addresses, which is the only reason I've used it. Quicker than writing a batch file, or pinging IP addresses from a .txt.

Nice list.

 

I recommend CCleaner (also by Piriform) as the only utility tool a Windows PC needs. Not for 'average computer users', as it has the ability to remove certain things you don't want removed. If you're unsure about it, please talk to a PC savvy friend or professional. =)

Wiki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CCleaner

DL - https://www.piriform...leaner/download



#3 SpleenBeGone

SpleenBeGone

    Deer Leader of the Goriest Revolution

  • Administrators
  • 14,951 posts
  • LocationHouston

Posted 10 January 2015 - 01:57 PM

Restoration used to be on sourceforge, but the link was dead. I've updated to a cnet link, while not ideal, it should be a bit better.

 

You don't get any bloatware off of ninite, I wouldn't have listed it if you did.

 

I wouldn't trust the average person with CCleaner, you can do a lot of damage with it if you're not careful. 


nmjUGDL.jpg

#4 Big_T

Big_T

    Kilobyte

  • Members
  • 242 posts

Posted 10 January 2015 - 02:08 PM

Nice, cnet download should be clean =)

Yeah I was meaning to imply that I wouldn't use Ninite because I don't want to, I prefer to do things myself and while not an average (computer user) person it's just not my thing.

Though I appreciate how it could help people speed up multiple programs installation process, and do it without any issues, accidents etc

 

Yeah I suppose CCleaner does have a few abilities that the average PC user probably shouldn't be dabbling with. So, maybe should have specified that. (goes back and mentions that)



#5 SpleenBeGone

SpleenBeGone

    Deer Leader of the Goriest Revolution

  • Administrators
  • 14,951 posts
  • LocationHouston

Posted 10 January 2015 - 02:11 PM

I'm often setting up computer for businesses, so putting all the software, including things like adobe reader, java, etc. on 10+ computers can be a pain. 

 

CCleaner is a great tool, I use it often, but I've also had to fix more than one computer that had registry errors because of improper use. It's one of those things that's fine for anyone 99% of the time, but occasionally you delete something you shouldn't so you have to keep an eye on it. 


nmjUGDL.jpg

#6 Big_T

Big_T

    Kilobyte

  • Members
  • 242 posts

Posted 10 January 2015 - 02:28 PM

Eek installing Windows and programs like that without using a disk imaging method is just a pain. Ghosting was even annoying but at least it didn't require full attention. I'm so grateful for Windows DS.



#7 SpleenBeGone

SpleenBeGone

    Deer Leader of the Goriest Revolution

  • Administrators
  • 14,951 posts
  • LocationHouston

Posted 10 January 2015 - 02:47 PM

Yeah, it's that inbetween area where doing it over a network or having custom window installs is overkill/out of budget and doing it individually is a huge pain. 


nmjUGDL.jpg

#8 Hinesmdc

Hinesmdc

    Byte

  • Members
  • 9 posts
  • LocationUSA

Posted 28 January 2015 - 12:32 AM

I'd also recommend CCleaner. I've been using it for years, and it even comes in a portable flavor so I can store it in my Dropbox. Speak of the devil, Dropbox is also essential in my opinion. It totally changes how I use all of my devices. 

 

I love portable software. If you're interested, check out both http://portableapps.com/apps as well as http://www.portablefreeware.com/ for tons of software that you can store on either a flash drive of cloud storage of your choice.



#9 Big_T

Big_T

    Kilobyte

  • Members
  • 242 posts

Posted 29 January 2015 - 10:43 AM

Cloud storage is best.

Gone are the days of carrying a thumbdrive around with your documents on them =D



#10 Hinesmdc

Hinesmdc

    Byte

  • Members
  • 9 posts
  • LocationUSA

Posted 30 January 2015 - 02:03 PM

Couldn't agree more!



#11 SushiKitten

SushiKitten

    Coffee Cat

  • Members
  • 1,916 posts
  • LocationCanada

Posted 16 February 2015 - 01:36 PM

You know, I'm still "old school" in the way that I still like the idea of carrying around a thumb drive. I like knowing where my stuff is physically. I use Dropbox more for filesharing for the most part.



#12 SpleenBeGone

SpleenBeGone

    Deer Leader of the Goriest Revolution

  • Administrators
  • 14,951 posts
  • LocationHouston

Posted 17 February 2015 - 07:15 AM

I carry a thumb drive with me everywhere, but it's generally tools and such. I do use it to transfer psd files for some reason though. Old habits die hard. 


nmjUGDL.jpg

#13 Senpie

Senpie

    Byte

  • Members
  • 12 posts

Posted 23 October 2016 - 10:30 AM

Ninite is a great tool to use, especially if you're setting up a new computer. I haven't tried Open Office but I prefer Libre Office at the most.



#14 HemoGoblin

HemoGoblin

    Kilobyte

  • Members
  • 136 posts
  • LocationMichigan

Posted 16 March 2017 - 07:35 AM

To be fair, Ninite's core purpose is to provide crap-free, self-updating(you just run the installer again) and simple installation of generally-useful software. 

It's pretty clean, we used it at my helpdesk position to reinstall basic software on freshly imaged computers.

I keep Open Office so I can open DocXs locally but I use Google's cloud office stuff for most basic documents. I like having everything everywhere and I'd never put anything senstive on any cloud regardless of provider, so it works for me.

I'll be honest and say I don't run an antivirus, I scan periodically but I've never been convinced of the value of devoting a non-trivial amount of resources to protecting me from things I'm going to avoid anyway. I also just try not to be attached to the state of my computer at a given time, I nuke-and-pave periodically because there's just too much...crap built  up. I store data I want to preserve in  external drives, clouds and the like so I can recover anything that matters to me. I also run Linux at work so it's not the exact same, but my gaming PC with Win7(I rolled back after a week with 10) is shut off when not in use and i just don't do that much downloading anyway.


1013385_10200951650460726_1725076785_n.j


#15 Mister Sympa

Mister Sympa

    Ascended Prophet

  • Moderators
  • 4,444 posts
  • LocationUSA, Earth, Milky Way

Posted 20 March 2017 - 06:05 PM

WOW, old thread.

 

I'll check out GIMP when I have some time. And VLC is the legit deal.


tumblr_ojjqahjSmc1rtecnto2_400.gif


#16 HemoGoblin

HemoGoblin

    Kilobyte

  • Members
  • 136 posts
  • LocationMichigan

Posted 21 March 2017 - 08:24 PM

In my defense it was not far down the list when I decided to look for something to respond to.


1013385_10200951650460726_1725076785_n.j


#17 SpleenBeGone

SpleenBeGone

    Deer Leader of the Goriest Revolution

  • Administrators
  • 14,951 posts
  • LocationHouston

Posted 22 March 2017 - 06:06 AM

To be fair, Ninite's core purpose is to provide crap-free, self-updating(you just run the installer again) and simple installation of generally-useful software. 

It's pretty clean, we used it at my helpdesk position to reinstall basic software on freshly imaged computers.

I keep Open Office so I can open DocXs locally but I use Google's cloud office stuff for most basic documents. I like having everything everywhere and I'd never put anything senstive on any cloud regardless of provider, so it works for me.

I'll be honest and say I don't run an antivirus, I scan periodically but I've never been convinced of the value of devoting a non-trivial amount of resources to protecting me from things I'm going to avoid anyway. I also just try not to be attached to the state of my computer at a given time, I nuke-and-pave periodically because there's just too much...crap built  up. I store data I want to preserve in  external drives, clouds and the like so I can recover anything that matters to me. I also run Linux at work so it's not the exact same, but my gaming PC with Win7(I rolled back after a week with 10) is shut off when not in use and i just don't do that much downloading anyway.

It works really well, too. 9/10 I'll download the ninite installer even for a single piece of software over getting it from the creator's site. 

 

Work provides a copy of Office, so I don't need Open Office, but it's good stuff to have. I have run my home computer without an antivirus for a good bit of time before and not had any issues, but I download *a lot* of stuff, so I figure it's best to air on the side of caution with that. I lock down all the work computers though. People click on everything. 


nmjUGDL.jpg

#18 Mister Sympa

Mister Sympa

    Ascended Prophet

  • Moderators
  • 4,444 posts
  • LocationUSA, Earth, Milky Way

Posted 22 March 2017 - 06:48 AM

Open Office is essential now that MS Office is a fucking SUBSCRIPTION.


tumblr_ojjqahjSmc1rtecnto2_400.gif


#19 CrazyRabbitParty

CrazyRabbitParty

    Byte

  • Members
  • 77 posts
  • Locationsitting on a blade of grass floating in iced tea

Posted 22 March 2017 - 05:55 PM

It's so odd to see Open Office on this thread. I've been using it for years and I kept on urging my friends and family to try it instead of buying MS Office but they all just dismissed it. No one I knew had ever heard of it before. I had begun to think that it was just some unknown program I had gotten lucky to find.

 

Also, does anyone have an opinion on ATF Cleaner? A family member gave me a copy ages ago and I've been using it on every computer I've had. It's worked well for me. Just please don't tell me something along the lines of 'Oh! It's the most well known trojan horse program out there!' because I may have a heart attack. Give me the news gently.


I hope you're having a nice day. :)


#20 SpleenBeGone

SpleenBeGone

    Deer Leader of the Goriest Revolution

  • Administrators
  • 14,951 posts
  • LocationHouston

Posted 24 March 2017 - 07:40 AM

I've never heard of ATF Cleaner, honestly. 


nmjUGDL.jpg