New System - New OS

[roe-ur-boat]

Ok guys I need your help. I got a new computer with windows vista basic on it. I need your help to pick what programs would be the best for it. e.g. What security software, miscellaneous stuff. Thanks

-- roe-ur-boat

[Cheezeball99]

Hmm.... Well, for starters, for security, safety, function, and general awesomeness, I would suggest installing WINDOWS XP. End.

[roe-ur-boat]

I know i need to install windows xp. But until i get that i want to be able to browse the web without the fear of getting a virus, so any suggestions

[Chilly Willy]

To browse without fear, use linux. Get various bits of security software for Windows - a good firewall and virus checker - as well as Firefox (never use IE in Windows except to go to MS's update page). Once you download all those in linux, burn them to a CDR. Install Windows with the network cable unplugged. Install the security software and Firefox from the CDR, then plugin the network and go to MS's update page. Then use Firefox from then on.

[roe-ur-boat]

Thanks for your help but i got some good news. My friend in work just text me to say she has a windows xp install disc. So I can get rid of this Vista.

[Darkchild]

well...untill you get XP I can advise you this:

Browser : Firefox
Anti Virus : AVG Free/Avast!
Media Player : MADamp/Winamp (Yeah, madamp works in vista :3)
Did that help?

[roe-ur-boat]

Well i'm already using firefoz and MADamp but i didnt know whether the antiviruses worked in vista so thanks

[XTM_Rage]

Well i'm already using firefoz and MADamp but i didnt know whether the antiviruses worked in vista so thanks

Get Eset NOD32 for Windows. It does an awesome job at antivirus protection, it's $39 US for a year. http://www.eset.com/products/windows.php <- that's the page you want. :D

[Darkchild]

But AVG is free <,<

OR you could get avira, it has vista support now! =D

[Cheezeball99]

as well as Firefox (never use IE in Windows except to go to MS's update page)

THAT IS RIGHT.:biggrin: I haven't used IE since, uh, late 2003, I believe. Other than for Gunz, and at school, and even then only times that I didn't have time to install FF.

Get Eset NOD32 for Windows.

I have to say, I was truly surprised with this one- I thought I was pretty much the only person I knew that used NOD32 (other than people I've convinced to do so)- it's the best pay-for Anti-virus, bar none. Very lightweight/non resource-eating, frequent (4+ a day) updates, don't have to buy every year (it updates the actual program itself as well as the definitions), and catches stuff no other AV does.

[Darkchild]

yeah, but I haven't got the money to buy it XD

[Chilly Willy]

Another free one to consider is ClamAV. It's consistently been ranked in the top five AVs, including commercial AVs. It almost always has the latest updates first - part of what contributes to its high ranking in tests.

[bwalker]

okay nod 32 is awsome, second vista basic sucks i would suggest get premium depending on your righ. If you have 2 gigs of ram and decent video get premium if not xp. There is no poin in buying xp now. Vista runs just as well and more and more programs can use it. The only real downside is if you have programs that dont support it yet. Games run pretty much just as well in vista and some games run better. I would go vista cuase it is the future and in a couple months when vista is even better do you want to spend money again. You can get an oem vista premium for 100 bucks or ugrade your own copy to premium.

[Raymond_N]

Why is everyone against Vista, it has crazy security, it only lacks driver support. I would suggest an upgrade to Premium, Vista has a good spy-ware protector and get NOD32 antivirus. This way you'll be set for DX 10 (WINDOWS XP DOES NOT SUPPORT DIRECT X 10)

[Darkchild]

well..at least NOT vista in 64 bits, 32 bits is acceptable xD

[Cheezeball99]

(WINDOWS XP DOES NOT SUPPORT DIRECT X 10)

Well, no kiddin', but that still doesn't make Vista not suck.:p I'm one of those 'If it ain't b0rked, don't fix it' kinda people. Plus, XP SP3 is coming out first half of '08, so XP isn't dead, not by a long shot.

[bwalker]

yeah but sp1 will be out for vista as well so that could work wonders. and the driver support is awsome now. I belong to an overclocking forum and the only driver problems that members seem to be having is for x-fi cause creative drivers suck. I would stick with vista cause it is the future. And its only getting better.

[roe-ur-boat]

I have the install disc for vista so if it gets better I might decide to go back to it but for now I'll stick with my xp.