Just wondering if anyone has a list/suggestions for must have programs to install on a new laptop…? I get that everyone's needs are different, but I'd imagine there are lots of programs that people install as soon as they boot up a new computer…..?
I guess WinRAR would be one for me, and maybe a PDF program?
Happy to hear your suggestions!
Wait, game files get compressed and decompressing them loads quicker than just loading them as is? Is that correct? I would think the game would break at worst and load slower at best.
Given it is a gui over existing file system functionality from microsoft the odds of it breaking anything are low to nil.
It being faster is one of those hand wavey claims that could be true in some circumstances but even if it were doesn't particularly matter IRL. The vast majority of software is not disk access speed critical, including most games.
It uncompressed in ram. I've noticed loading times from a 7400MB/S name the load times are faster, even more so from a slow 130mb/s HDD.
The only games that I've come across that have issues with lzx compression are Ubisoft games (the division 2, breakpoint). The hundreds of other games are fine. You can uncompress specific files/folders if needed.
It can reduce ark from 200gb+ to 60gb.
It won't 'recompress' already compressed stuff so for example GTA5 doesn't reduce in size at all.
Anything copied or touched by an update loses its compression so I run this tool about once a month.
PowerToys - productivity
AutoHotkey - automation
ShareX - screen capture
VLC - media
Steam - gaming
perfect - autohotkey is the best - I love my big hotkey script that I have been evolving and running for 15years more than most things in life
Why not windows Snipping tool?
Snipping tool is basic, ShareX is not.
I'd say Snagit is probably the best, but not free.
Greenshot for screenshooting and easy editing
WIN-SHIFT-S
For me, greenshot is more intuitive than snipping tool.
Fair enough. TBH most of the time I'm just shotting and cropping a webpage and prefer Firefox's built in CTRL-SHIFT-S over Snipping Tool too.
@bamzero: I do a lot of screenshooting, highlighting, etc. & compiling information from different sources for work so ST is just too clanky for me. But for most users, ST would do just fine :)
Greenshot is excellent and simpler - but I have move on to ShareX
I don't use all the share/upload features but the after captured tools to mark up images are fantastic
Remove whole parts of the image
Capture multiple images and paste into one with option to paste beside or below
Screen colour picker
Heaps more I haven't event looked at
Free and I think Open Source - I donated a couple of bucks :)
Greenshot simpler but worth a look to see if you use the extra stuff
@Noblejoker: Thank you. I will have a look as I do a quite a lot of screenshooting & compiling information at work. Anything better would make it easier to do my job.
I tried Greenshot but settled on ShareX - works better for me.
NC
?
Norton Commander
VPN
SkiFree
Firefox, LibreOffice, foobar2000
you should probably consider a different line of work based on this post
Setup a PC recently for a sibling.
Followed this:
https://youtu.be/M-Td3Ba206Y?si=hih83wh5UMe5tDBh
Ran this: (default mode)
https://github.com/Raphire/Win11Debloat
Went to https://ninite.com/
Surprised paint.net has not been mentioned yet.
Microsoft Plus!
Ahhh memories
Free HEVC codec for iPhone users.
PDFExchange. I use it intensively for work and it blows my mind that such a useful and complete program can be free. Powerful yet easy to use.
I won’t go into detail but just try it. No need for anything else.
Good god yes. Stay well away from Adobe bloatware.I have Foxit for the basics
GeoPort for my 7-11 fuel.
As mentioned Firefox (with Ublock origin)
Super Alt F4
-Close any application instantly no "Do you want to save changes? "
-Can close applications even if task manager can't
VLC
-Good video player
7zip
-Good file zip and unzipper
Notepad++
-Good for editing config files and other such things
Quickshare
-Quickly and easily share files, text or links between Android and PCs
Lightshot
-Quick and easy screenshotting tool with the ability to add in nice red boxes
Teamviewer
-Remote access for either connecting to your own pc or helping family/friends with theirs
Everything
-Instantly find that file that windows refuses to show you in the start menu search
-Filter by file type and other attributes
Most of these are availialbe on Ninite, otherwise just search for them.
Stardock Fences
Moonlight/ Sunshine
Winzip and Winrar aren't required anymore as Windows can do it now.
"Everything" is a great program that sorts and finds any of your files etc.
Haven't heard of that one - thanks. Also, some have said windows doesn't work with rar/zip files with passwords. Not sure if true though….
I've always hated MS's integration of compressed files in to the file browser so WinRAR and 7-Zip always get installed.
7-Zip at minimum for better compression, but I do like WinRAR better for working with compressed files afterwards.
+1 for Everything. I don't install it on all machines, but I'd be lost without it on my own.
I also have some Autohotkey scripts I can't live without (like hotkeys to turn monitors on and off (send power controls over HDMI or DP), sleep the computer and turn off monitors, even something simple like opening calculator (which reminds me Old Calculator (not sure if this is the one I use) to bring back my preferred old one.) No dedicated button special function buttons on my KB, so Autohotkeys lets me make use of double and triple taps of the media function keys instead.
Best tips for windows:
Then maybe install a couple programs
Keep your system debloated and don't install garbage you don't use
Or hell just use linux
I do like my Edge, didn't know Cortana was still a thing.
linux can't do VR yet
PS C:\ wsl --install
ShareX - Open source screenshot. Very configurable.
PDF Sam - Open source for PDF merger / split by file size.
Kee Pass - Open source password manager.
Any suggestion for replacement of File Explorer? I personally use Total Commander both at home and at work for the last 20 years
Everything Search, Malwarebytes, Speedtest, WhatsApp, MSToDo, LibreOffice, Chrome, TreeSize Free
I use WinDirStat instead of TreeSize (no particular reason). It's really nice having the storage shown as boxes across all your files so you can see what's hogging all your memory and delete things as needed
How does it compare to wiztree? I'll go install it later 😸
this, windirstat ive been using for years and like it
Windirstat is slow. Use wiztree which uses NTFS hacks to figure everything out in something like 100x faster - my old drive took 10 minutes to scan with windirstat and like 2 seconds with wiztree
Can anyone recommend a tool like Teamviewer but free where I can install it on family computers and control them easily without me having to login or them seeing my login saved on that tool that will allow them to also connect to other computers?
Like Chrome Remote Desktop but without it being tied to my account somehow
DWService.
Thanks, will give it a try!
They are great
set up chrome remote desktop but through their account then
How will I access it if it's under their Google account?
Seems you like your images and thumbnails :-P
VLC - video player
qBittorent - because
LibreOffice - like MS Office, but free and won't steal your DNA (I think)
Tinker.
If you do a quick search, there is a version of commander keen 2 available in a web browser now.
Great trip down memory lane…
Actually found the article to where I found a whole heap and I hope you guys get to enjoy them as well.
https://www.howtogeek.com/best-fan-made-browser-ports-of-cla…
Hope I dont get into trouble for cross linking to another site…
Great article though.
Patchmypc app
What winrar when it is not open source? Peazip or 7Zip. Then Chrome in order to google he answer to the questions posed.
First Aid 95
Encarta 96
Microsoft Works
Microsoft Money
Microsoft Golf
lemme get my Windows ME CD
You left out my favourite: Cinemania
Dr Watson was a good built-in app for XP and prior Windows OS.
Trumpet Winsock
Johnny Castaway screensaver
Blubeam Revu, PDF editor.
EK Switch Hitter
MPC (media player classic - combined comunity codec pack)
Anydesk
RealVNC
there is no must have list, it all depends on what you want to do with it. If you shed some light into that you might get more useful info than everyone’s favourite random list of things.
That being said assuming you want to use pc for complete everyday simple tasks.
1. free pdf reader might be helpful
2. adblocker plugin for inbuilt web browser
3. Brave web browser just for ad free youtube experience
4. VLC media player
Everything else is more than enough to do everyday tasks and beyond that is where you’d find specific software to do specific tasks.
I would start by uninstalling the bloatware that came with your laptop for a start tbh :-)
Steam
Jbm
Or mariner but that's agentic AI.
We have a huge list of free software in this Wiki. Hasn't got update in many years so I put in some work earlier this year and fixed up all the links.
Sejda PDF Desktop
Whatsapp
Servarr stack
Plex
Autohotkey
Malwarebytes
Except if you don’t need the integrated gpu, plus runs 10x faster in a docker container on a hyper-v virtual machine.
I recently started exploring Docker after seeing it mentioned so often, but I ran into some issues—even with ChatGPT’s help—so I decided to take the long route first to really understand how things work. I ended up building Jellyseerr from source using Node.js, which was a great learning experience. Now that I’ve got a better grasp of the internals, I’m planning to go back and give Docker another try.
Thanks for the tip, I'll try the docker and hyper-v combo.
Utorrent 2.2.1
7zip
VLC
Mozilla Firefox
Microsoft Office
if you know what programs you want, you can use winget to install them all through terminal
i.e. you want firefox just run:
winget search firefox
then run:
winget install Mozilla.Firefox
then you want steam, just run:
winget search steam
then run:
winget install Valve.Steam
7zip, notepad++, qbittorrent, openvpn, gimp,
I really like this PDF software:
winget install TrackerSoftware.PDF-XChangeViewer
this is also my favourite video transcoder:
winget install Avidemux.Avidemux
I've got a batch script for installing 99% of the stuff I need. I just run it and it winget installs everything. Useful for fresh windows installs, which I do once every 2-3 years
crystaldiskmark, hwmonitor, windirstat, they are my general ones
Came here for the comments and memories.
Interesting to see so many people installing so many things. For me, at home I would install Chrome (though not necessary, Edge is good), Notepad++ and VLC.
I feel dirty saying this, but seriously Edge (build on Chromium) is far more efficient, Chrome is a friggin virus with so much bloatware built onto of Chromium.
Has been this way for over a year now.
Sorry need to shower after saying that.
Yeah for a period of time Chrome kept on crashing intermittently, so I gave Edge a go and haven't changed since… my ONLY gripe would be the lack of syncing between Chrome on my phone and Edge on my desktop, but I can live with that.
Steam
Epic
Foobar2k (with ASIO plugin)
There are other programs but these are the first that come to mind (and the reason I haven't moved away from Windows).
OpenOffice, Thunderbird, Gimp, Malwarebytes, ImgBurn, CanoScan, OpenRGB, OBS Studio, AutoHotKey.
I only use AutoHotKey for a few games with annoying controls, like Titan Quest.
Irfanview has always been a favourite of mine
CTRL+SHIFT+S - to snip/screenshot anything
There's also win+shift+s but can't remember if it's the same or not. Will try later
Chrome, Winrar, VLC, Steam(for gamers),MS Office
Chrome? I'm going to need an extra 8GB of RAM. Stick with Firefox
Whatever floats your boat. To each their own.
I'm not sure I've ever had much of an issue with Chrome, but I've been tempted to switch to Brave or Firefox…
You know they are free to try right? Decluttered Brave is good.
f.lux it reduces eye strain, especially, after sunset
Windows has a less good, builtin version now. More performant but not configurable
I think none of these have been mentioned above.
Revo Uninstaller
Hard Disk Sentinel
Tor Browser
Daily Wallpaper Viewer
Video Proc Converter
Greenshot (screenshots, better than built-in functionality IMO)
1Password
PDFgear
NotePad++
Microsoft Office
Steam
Remote Desktop app (Windows Store version, being discontinued though)
Streaming computer:
PIA VPN
Plex
qBittorrent
Sonarr (TV)
Radarr (Movies)
Jackett (Subtitles)
Bazarr (Indexers)
Malwarebytes (old paid lifetime key)
Must haves? Not nice-to-haves, not useful, not pretty-handy, but must haves:
Faststone Image Viewer
PotPlayer
7-Zip
Notepad++
PDF-Xchange Viewer
I can't even build a test VM (or even a Sandbox) without these.
Very interesting if it works