setting up new PC

[Qalbert]

It has windows 7, which is new to me.
Firefox is browser atm, thinking about getting Chrome as well.
I need software/virus protection and add-on suggestions please, been a while since I've had to do this.
Got VLC media player, winrar, and klite mega codec pack with media play classic etc.

[Epical]

Get both Firefox and Chrome, stick with FF as your default.
Addons: AdBlock Plus (available for both FF and Chrome) is really the only necessary one, you can go with something like Forecastbar Enhanced as well for weather listings at the top of your browser. If you use Gmail, use Gmail Manager as well.

Virus protection go with Microsoft Security Essentials. It's great, and it's free. Get CCleaner and Defraggler while you're at it.

Klite mega codec pack is kinda redundant with VLC/MPCHC, but whatever! Check out Filehippo.com for some ideas on some software, it's an amazing site. Also, get their update checker to make sure you're always up to date!

[Qalbert]

Klite codec comes bundled with MPC, or at least it did, like I said been a while so I added what stuff I remembered.
also any cool/cosmetic stuff for windows/desktop/dashboard?

[Skjie]

Virus protection go with Microsoft Security Essentials. Get CCleaner and Defraggler while you're at it.

Yes, no, no.

[Caiyuo]

Here's a nice "starting anew" software site, Qalbert: http://ninite.com/ - I'll go over picks shortly, but what it does is download and install all the software you choose as one in a bundle to expedite the install process. Super handy! Filehippo as mentioned is also great, and again, their update checker saves lives. Runs at every start-up if you choose and checks a majority of programs for updates and provides download links as well.

All the same picks as Epical, but I'd prefer CCCP w/MPC-HC personally. I've only heard CCCP as the codec pack that got cleared for "not being a codec pack from hell sent to fuck your life up". Other software I'd recommend from Ninite's listings would be Revo Uninstaller, Teracopy, Launchy (executer), 7-zip, Notepad++, Foxit Reader, CutePDF (if you don't have a printer but need to document) and Paint.NET.

As for cosmetic stuff, I'd check out the Windows 7 theme/styles listings here if you want to change any of that. My current favorite is the X2 style!

- http://browse.deviantart.com/customi...yles/?order=15
- http://browse.deviantart.com/customi...kins/windows7/

If you want something like a really great looking overlay desktop I'd suggest Rainmeter with the Enigma desktop. I think that's the default now. I've never used anything like that I'm on a slower laptop, but they look pretty amazing. [Here's a sample]

[Asai]

Noscript is a great plugin for FF, really recommend it. Only annoying thing about it is the first time you visit a new site you have to allow permissions but after that it'll remember your settings. Stops background flash ads and pop ups and all kinds of crap.

http://noscript.net/

[Elesirdur]

Greasemokey is nice to have on FF as well. There are a few good scripts that are worth having, like ones to bypass Rapidshare, etc. queues, and there are some good YouTube ones. I can't remember the YouTube one I have (on a friend's Mac atm) but it will automatically switch to HD mode, when available, mute the volume and stop playback for about 5sec to allow the video to buffer. Really handy.

Though beware of random Greasemonkey scripts as there can be some malicious stuff you can inanvertedly get.

[Qalbert]

quick windows7 question.
yesterday when I was installing games on steam, the clearish part of the icon worked like a status bar, I think anyways. Filled up green as I downloaded the games. It isn't doing that anymore, did I just misunderstand what it was doing/can I turn it back on as it would be nifty.

[Caiyuo]

quick windows7 question.
yesterday when I was installing games on steam, the clearish part of the icon worked like a status bar, I think anyways. Filled up green as I downloaded the games. It isn't doing that anymore, did I just misunderstand what it was doing/can I turn it back on as it would be nifty.

I don't know of any way to turn it off unless you disabled Aero or the Desktop Window Manager 7 uses or changed themes, really not sure which is responsible for the effect, but try using CCleaner and see if it has the progress bar appears during the "cleaning" phase just to see if it's not working at all for some reason. I haven't noticed it very much so I'm just kind of guessing.

[The_OG_Nelta]

AVG

[Deadgye]

AVG

is a memory hog. I'd rather use avast.

[Gokulo]

I use Avira, free'n'stuff and really nice.

[fishstix]

avast totally killed nelta's computer last time he tried i think lol, had the opposite memory hog reaction vs avg

i do use avast myself though

[Pikarya]

Diskeeper 2010, foobar2000, utorrent, Vista/7 Services Optimizer, Peerblock, Spybot, Malwarebytes, Notepad2, Office/Excel 07, CCleaner, Registry Booster 2010, Winrar, Digsby, GOM player, Firefox 3.6, Chrome, Opera 10, etc.

Pick your poison.

[Caiyuo]

For free AVs at this point I use MS Essentials as it got some really great marks, even amongst paid AVs, but am currently using NOD32 just because MS is severely lacking in any sort of options outside of like, a scanning schedule. It gets the job done, though and it's lack of options makes it's exceptionally straight-forward.

Also giving a nod to Vista Services Optimizer, works for 7 and despite sounding like total random shitware, it's quite handy, especially the "gaming mode" if you're on older hardware. Essentially just temporarily disables some luxuries and services like Aero and Windows Update.

[Asai]

I don't know of any way to turn it off unless you disabled Aero or the Desktop Window Manager 7 uses or changed themes, really not sure which is responsible for the effect, but try using CCleaner and see if it has the progress bar appears during the "cleaning" phase just to see if it's not working at all for some reason. I haven't noticed it very much so I'm just kind of guessing.

I don't exactly know how to change that setting itself but I noticed changing themes affected it. My current theme is awesome. Also, the button fills up green on things like media player clasic and even firefox if youtube is playing, pretty much any player it will pick up on will show it.