What to put on, or keep off new laptop

witchypoo

I'm getting a laptop tomorrow, it's 2 months old and should be reset back to shipping condition. It's a Sony Vaio CW series and I've bookmarked the Sony support pages on my desktop in case I need them.

As I'm starting fresh with windows 7 (I'm accustomed to XP) has anyone got advice/recommendations of what to put on/avoid - I'm determined not to fill it with useless junk that I later delete. Here's what I usually use for general use:

Internet Explorer for surfing
iTunes for iPod touch sync and file management
MSN messenger (or whatever they call it lately) for chat and checking mail
Outlook express to keep tabs on household emails (with o2) and eBay emails via different hotmail account
ccleaner
Kaspersky Internet Security (slows xp down greatly)

Any further or better suggestions please let me know, I figure it would be useful to others too.

bat999

That's a good attitude.
Just install the programs that you use.
And only add extra programs as and when you definitely need them.

Keep that laptop lean and mean.:cool:

witchypoo

Thanks I will
I'm really wondering if there's a better program for messaging other hotmail users, not ebuddy cos I tried it once before and it wouldn't even let me register my email address!

Syman

The latest incarnation of Messenger is windows live
AFAIK, outlook express is no longer bundled with windows 7, it's replacment (also part of windows live i think) is reasonably easy to set up for multiple accounts and does the job.

I prefer Google chrome for browsing, but that is a personal choice.

Hammyman

Must haves:
Windows Live Messenger (Adium and Pidgin are good alternatives but may not have webcam support)
Windows Live Mail
Windows Live Photo Gallery
Windows Live Movie Maker

....all from download.live.com

Next:
Foxit PDF Reader
OpenOffice
IOBit Smartdefrag
Piriform CCleaner
Microsoft Security Essentials
Adobe Flash
Firefox/Google Chrome (both with Adblock extension added)

The_Grandmaster

How about running hijack this log as then you can see what's running?

witchypoo

It's currently doing updates and then I need to make my recovery discs.
had initial problem, now sorted out.
It reminded me to start mccaffee trial but I don't want to.
Would appreciate opinions on Kaspersky Internet security though.
I'll download hijack this after discs created.
Cheers everyone

gonzo127

Kaspersky is the best paid for security however you can get just as good for free if you need it

Avira / Avast / Microsoft security essentials (one off) for your virus scan
Malwarebytes anti malware for your anti spyware (this is a on demand scanner so you do need to set this running manually)
comodo / online armour / windows firewall (one off) for your firewall

Fuzzy_Logic_2

witchypoo wrote: »

It's currently doing updates and then I need to make my recovery discs.
had initial problem, now sorted out.
It reminded me to start mccaffee trial but I don't want to.
Would appreciate opinions on Kaspersky Internet security though.
I'll download hijack this after discs created.
Cheers everyone

Don't use Mcafee, they are pants.

Kaspersky can be a resource hog but try it on your new laptop as I'd imagine that it has better specs than your XP one, so may not slow it down as much.
There are some good FREE AV's and Firewalls, try Comodo, Agnitum FREE, AVG, Avira and Avast.
Malwarebytes' AntiMalware is a must have and also free. Spybot Search & Destroy also good free spyware program.
Enjoy your new laptop and have fun :beer:

JasX

A good general rule is to put on as little as possible, only what you definitely need and nothing else.

Sowilo_2

Hammyman wrote: »

Must haves:
Windows Live Messenger (Adium and Pidgin are good alternatives but may not have webcam support)
Windows Live Mail
Windows Live Photo Gallery
Windows Live Movie Maker

....all from download.live.com

Next:
Foxit PDF Reader
OpenOffice
IOBit Smartdefrag
Piriform CCleaner
Microsoft Security Essentials
Adobe Flash
Firefox/Google Chrome (both with Adblock extension added)

Why IOBit Smartdefrag when Windows 7 defrags anyway? I got well told off by a popular adviser on this site for having this installed.
Personally can't see the sense in all the Windows Live stuff unless you are actually going to use them.