So you've just installed Windows 7 on your Computer or just bought a new computer preloaded with Windows 7
Now you want to get all the software you need installed
The following is a good list of free software packages that will cover most end-user's needs
NOTE: Windows 8 users should check this out Windows 8 Setup Guide
NOTE: Windows 10 users should check this out Windows 10 Setup Guide
Best of all, you don't have to pirate any software to do it
Once completed the system will be safe and secure,
with the ability to view/play/edit 99% of the content that is out there
To the best of my knowledge all the following software is free and legal not only for Private/Personal use but also for Business/Corporate use
This being said you should always verify legal usage for these products with the respective vendor
( NOTE: The following does NOT cover installing Windows from scratch or installing drivers for hardware peripherals. )
( NOTE: This only covers Windows 7 based systems. Other Windows users should check out the links listed above, Linux and Mac users are on their own :)
( NOTE: Software should be installed in the order listed....at least until you complete the MultiMedia section )
Repeat this process until no updates are shown in the High Priority and Software Optional sections
NOTE: This process may require numerous reboots
Once completed not only should your Windows 7 system be secure,
but you should also have all the latest updates for: dotNET, Windows Media Player, Internet Explorer, etc.
Check Always Show Menus
Select Show Hidden Files And Folder radial button
Un-Check Hide Extensions For Known Files Types
Click Apply
Click OK
Click Start
Right-Click Computer and Select Properties
Click System Protection
Select System Protection tab if not already selected
Click Create button
Type in a description
Click Create
Click Close
Click OK button in System Properties window to close said window
Now you have a back-out plan should anything go wrong during the following installs
If you bought a computer preloaded with Windows 7 you will probably want to clean it up a bit
You can manually un-install any crappy Trial-Ware that the vendor pre-loaded on your system or you can try:
PC Decrapifier
This is a useful utility for uninstalling all that crap that Vendors like to install on your system
i.e. It removes those trial versions of trial versions of Microsoft Office; Google and Yahoo Toolbars; etc.
NOTE: You should still uninstall AntiVirus packages through the Programs and Features applet in the Control Panel
Now that your system is clean you can start to load software
NOTE: If something goes wrong during this clean up, you can restore your system from the point you created earlier
It is sad that vendors can't guarantee stability of their systems once 3rd party crap is removed
Install Chrome
It is always good to have an alternative Web Browser to Internet Explorer
And Chrome comes with built-in Flash support, so no worries about it being up to date.
With Chrome visit Adblock Plus
Click the Install For Chrome button
Adblock Plus blocks banners, pop-ups and video ads
Microsoft Security Essentials
NOTE: Requires a legal copy of Windows that can pass Microsofts Genuine Windows validation test
Installation is as simple as following the wizard
By default it well setup an automated scan for 2:00am on Sundays
If you prefer to do this at another time, make the changes on the Settings tab
Adobe Flash
If you use Google Chrome exclusively then this is NOT required
If you want/need to have Adobe Flash working in Internet Explorer
visit the above link with Internet Explorer
NOTE: Make sure to uncheck any Optional Offer BEFORE clicking the Install Now button on the website
Adobe Reader
Adobe's PDF Reader is the mainstay of PDF document readers
NOTE: Make sure to uncheck any Optional Offer BEFORE clicking the Install Now button on the website
There is 1 deciding factor to think about before installing iTunes
Do you use an iPod/iPhone/iPad? If the answer is no, Don't install iTunes
NOTE: iTunes will also install a package called Bonjour
Bonjour can cause conflicts with Juniper's VPN software (and possibly others)
If you need Juniper's VPN software uninstall Bonjour or don't use iTunes at all
FYI: Juniper is a VPN package used by some businesses and governments to connect to their corporate networks
VideoLAN VLC Media Player
To get playback ability for all known Video and Audio files
VLC will associate itself with most known media file types. i.e.: MKV, M4V, MP3 etc.
If this is not desired, you can make it so that it only plays MKV files and let Windows Media Player be the default players for other files types
Choose the following options during installation:
Select English, Click OK
Click Next
Click Next
Uncheck everything but Media Player (required) and Start Menu Shortcut
Expand File Type Associations
Expand Video Files
Check .MKV
Click Next
Click Install
Click Finish
Paint .NET
A very good and intuitive Photo/Picture/JPG editor
Libre Office
The Libre Office Suite is all that you need.
It is compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents
NOTE: Password protected Office documents CANNOT be opened in LibreOffice
NOTE: Some features (i.e. Base) require Java
If java is needed the program will prompt you to install it
Get Java
Depending on how your computer is setup the installation of LibreOffice may or may not use the correct language settings
To verify or change the language settings do the following:
Open any Libre Office application
Click Tools -> Options
Expand Language Settings
Click Languages
In the Default Language For Documents Section
In the Western Drop-Box Select English (Canada), English (USA) or English (UK)
Click OK
NOTE: To make Libre Office save all files as Microsoft Office type files by default, do the following:
Open any Libre Office application
Click Tools -> Options
Expand Load/Save, Select General
In the 'Default File Format' section
Select 'Text Document' from the 'Document Type' drop-box
In the 'Always Save As' drop-box
Select 'Microsoft Word 97/2000/XP/2003'
In the 'Default File Format' section
Select 'Spreadsheet' from the 'Document Type' drop-box
In the 'Always Save As' drop-box
Select 'Microsoft Excel 97/2000/XP/2003'
In the 'Default File Format' section
Select 'Presentation' from the 'Document Type' drop-box
In the 'Always Save As' drop-box
Select 'Microsoft PowerPoint 97/2000/XP/2003'
Click OK
Now Libre Office: Writer, Calc and Impress will save to Microsoft: Word DOC, Excel XLS and PowerPoint PPT file types by default......so you will be 100% compatible with all those people who are using those products.
doPDF
Create PDFs from virtually any Windows application with this PDF virtual printer
7-Zip
NOTE: Windows 7 does support ZIP files
But if you need support for other formats such as RAR
7-ZIP is a utility with decompression support for all major formats
If in doubt to which version to install
Get the 1st one listed, (32-bit x86, 7-Zip for 32-bit Windows)
It will work on all versions of Windows
Convert
Metric-Imperial Conversion utility
Converts about any measurement to any other measurement
CDBurnerXP
NOTE: Only install, if the computer has an optical drive
A great, full featured CD-DVD writing package
Adjust Built-In Windows Defragmentation Utility
NOTE: If you are using a Solid State Drive you can skip this....you'll know if you're using one as you paid a serious premium to get it
Click Start > Computer
Right Click a drive and Select Properties
Select the Tools tab
Click Defragment Now button
Click Configure Schedule button
I suggest a weekly schedule, remember to choose a time when the computer is likly to be turned on
If you have multiple disks and/or partitions Click Select Disks
Select the disks you want defragmentation to run on (most people will want all disks checked - but those with operating systems on other drives may not want those selected and people with external drives may or may not want them selected)
Click OK when complete
NOTE: qBittorrent should NOT be installed on business systems
(unless your employer is very liberally minded)
It is generally a home use only application
qBittorrent is is an excellent torrent client with no adds or 3rd party software
I suggest the following websites to do your uTorrent searches on:
EZTV Only has TV shows....but it is the best site for TV
RARBG
ThePirateBay
Kick Ass Torrents
Well, now your system should be ready for just about anything but,
If you find something it isn't ready for,
you should check out these websites to find free solutions:
Gizmo's Best Ever Freeware This site has excellent in-depth reviews
FileHippo NOTE: Not all Software listed here is free
The Free Country
Free Byte