So you've just installed Windows 8 on your Computer or just bought a new computer preloaded with Windows 8
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 7 users should check this out Windows 7 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
NOTE: Depending on whether or not your computer has a touch-screen will decide on some of the options presented here
Don't follow blindly - pay attention to what you're doing and why
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: Software should be installed in the order listed....at least until you complete the MultiMedia section )
If you're not used to Windows 8 finding things like the Control Panel can be difficult
To get to most administrative functions (i.e. Control Panel, Task Manager, Command Line, etc.)
Simply move the mouse to the bottom left corner and Right-Click
For Desktop users without touch-screen monitors the following is suggested:
Click Internet Options icon
Select Programs Tab
In the Choose How You Open Links drop-box
Select Always in Internet Explorer on the Desktop
Check Open Internet Explorer Tiles On The Desktop
Click Apply
Click OK
(This will help keep you away from the touch based version of Internet Explorer and all its full-screen problems)
Once completed not only should your Windows 8 system be secure,
but you should also have all the latest updates for:
Operating System (including drivers); Internet Explorer, Adobe Flash for IE and Windows Defender
Note: Windows Defender also protects against Virii as well as Malware
So there is NO need for 3rd party anti-virus products
Windows Update does NOT update apps
That is done through the Windows Store application
If you bought a computer preloaded with Windows 8 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
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
With Internet Explorer visit Adblock Plus
If you use Google Chrome exclusively then this is NOT required
Click the Install For Internet Explorer button
Adblock Plus blocks banners, pop-ups and video ads
NOTE: In Windows 8, Adobe Flash is integrated with Internet Explorer
So there is no need to install it separately
Windows 8 comes with a built-in PDF viewer that is optimized for a touch-screen interface
People with non-touch screens may prefer the traditional Adobe Reader
Adobe Reader
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
NOTE: The built-in Windows 8 app Video, is next to worthless.
It CANNOT play MKV files and is designed more to sell online content then to play local content
Luckily good old VideoLAN VLC Media Player is available or use the still included Windows Media Player
NOTE: Windows Media Player cannot play MKV files so VideoLAN VLC Media Player will still be needed for those files
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 2003 or 2007 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 8 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
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