Name a non-Security related software that you can't live without

[ejr]

Many of us in this forum are security freaks. But outside of security software, what one program or utility would absolutely not be without? As in, this piece of software will be on every PC that you own from now on. It could be a Windows Tweaker, a Registry Cleaner, I continuos defragger, really anything.

But please name the program and then explain why you simply must have it.

[phasechange]

AnyDVD ... because it corrects non-Red Book Complaint CDs and allows them to play correctly on my PC (and it stops DRM infections from installing with it). Frequent updates (a bit too frequent) mean that it was money well spent and over the years it's earned every penny.

Firefox/Thunderbird... allow me to keep my profiles and email/bookmarks on my data drive so I can restore my system disk without effecting my browser bookmarks/prefs or email history.

TrueCrypt.... A recent adoption by me however it secures my data from prying eyes, malware, and thieves. (edit: soz security related, it's "in me")

EAC (Exact Audio Copy).... great secure ripper (one of the reasons I'm not on Linux, apart from support for my printer!)

Paint.NET ... Free. Nice N easy image manipulation. Great for quick crops of screenshots and saving as PNGs.

OpenOffice .... I don't have to buy MS Office.

7-Zip.... very handy little archive manager.

gknujon script for reporting my gmail spam folder contents to knujon. (edit: soz security related)

Microsoft Synctoy.... great way of synchronising my USB drive on my desktop with my FLAC collection on my file server. Best powertoy ever!

Here is my "clean build + apps" image application list:


Acronis True Image 10
AVS (or other antivirus)
AnyDVD
Truecrypt
Thunderbird
Firefox
GameJackal
7-Zip
FoxItReader
iTunes
Nero
FLAC (after Nero)
Microsoft Synctoy
OpenOffice
Paint.net
Canon EOS400D Software
Python, gmail library, and gknujon script.
Autoroute
MSN Messenger
Real/Quicktime Alternative
Bart PE Builder

[zopzop]

1) HD backup programs (current favorites are norton ghost 10 and paragon HD manager)

2) bootable windows recovery cds (bartpe and knoppix)

3) anydvd and clonedvd (my nephews would have slaughtered my original disney dvds if it weren't for these programs).

4) firefox with noscript and adblocker.


that's it :D

[Green Giant]

Courier 3.5 e-mail client.

[Peter2150]

First Defense - ISR

[Pedro]

I can live without the pc obviously, and some of the programs i mention aren't essential, but that i remember, i'll always install these:

7-zip, IZarc, EULAlyzer, CCleaner, Process Explorer, What's running, Open Office, CD Burner XP Pro, Opera, Emule, VMware, VideoLan, foobar2000, TrueCrypt, FastStone Capture.

When i change to Linux, which could take some time, i hope all of these can be run in it.

[Mrkvonic]

Hello,
Not really a life question but here are a few reason why one should bother to use computers in the first place:

eMule
Firefox
Linux

Mrk

[wilbertnl]

My internet browser and my finance manager.

[ASM]

MS Window XP
Browser - Firefox/Opera/Avant Broswer - for surfing Net
Outlook/Thunderbird - for email
MSN - Instant Message
KMP/WMP/PowerDVD - for enterainment
Ace Utilities - PC maintainece
O&O Defrag - Defrag

[CatFan432]

V-Com PowerDesk. As for living without it, I spent two weeks recently blissfully unaware that computers existed, and not only survived but seemed to be better for it. Must be something wrong with me.

[Davidpr]

Football Manager 2007- the bug has bitten again.

[gerardwil]

notepad ++ 4.0

[lodore]

diskeeper 2007 pro
firefox and opera sometimes i use the portable versions at college.
sonicstage

thats about it
lodore

[egghead]

1. BootIt NG
Digital viagra of 719 KB. Saved my bacon more than once. Gives great
peace of mind when downloading/running stuff.

2. Erunt autobackup
backup program for the registry. Bacon saver also.

3. RegSeeker
keeping my registry clean

[BuckSnort_]

Rollback.........saved me many times.
Online Armor
Firefox/Opera
Ace Utilities to keep my system running smooth
Yankee Clipper to replace clipboard....real nice!
DVDXCopy/AnyDVD

[JimIT]

Thunderbird
Ghost, or equivalent imaging/backup tool
Diskeeper
Regseeker

[vhick]

-{ Quote: "First Defense - ISR" }-



smae here plus internet browser (firefox) and of course, internet connection.

[Alphalutra1]

Opera
Vim
OpenSSH
gcc (and possibly jdk & jre)


Cheers,

Alphalutra1

[lucas1985]

WMware, Firefox/Thunderbird, Notepad++, 2xExplorer, Cathy, Locate32, GreatNews, EAC/REACT, Foobar2000, Zoom Player, Burrn, The Godfather, MP3Tag, Emule and lots more ;D

[Pedro]

Alphalutra1, i'm curious on what these mean, or what they are*puppy*
-{ Quote: "Vim
OpenSSH
gcc (and possibly jdk & jre)
" }-

[herbalist]

There's too many!
Irfan View
BurnAtOnce
Open Office.org
Splinterware System Scheduler
Launchkey
Clipboards
Sea Monkey
Notepad++
HTTrack website copier
WinRar
WinHex
Big Jig, a super nice jigsaw puzzle program.

Most useful of all for me, DOS.
Rick

[Reposed]

Half a dozen utilities from Sysinternals
Firefox Portable
Opera USB
GOM player
Openoffice
Flashget
Unlocker
Altiris SVS
Any good archive extracter

[Antarctica]

FD ISR
OpenOffice
Thunderbird
Firefox
TuneUp Utilities

[lodore]

omg i forgot to put process exoplorer and autoruns.
lodore

[screamer]

hmm, lemme see...

Clipboard Recorder = 99 clipboard slots
FD-ISR = sys recovery
ATI = image
SyncBack = sync app
PowerDesk = explorer replacement
TuneUp Utilities 2007 = sys tune up & clean
JV-16 Power Tools 2006 = sys tune up & clean
EditPad Lite = NotePad replacement
FastStone Capture = Capture utility
Locate32 = search utility

Firefox as browser
Add ons:

[Osaban]

Opera + ShadowUser Pro

MS Word, and Photoshop

[Texcritter]

Apart from my web browser (maxthon) which I only use because you need a program to access the WWW. My most used and most useful program is Windows Explorer.

[Alphalutra1]

-{ Quote: "Alphalutra1, i'm curious on what these mean, or what they are*puppy*" }-
OpenSSH (http://www.openssh.com/) - I can remotely access all of my machines securely, transfer files, share that internet connection, etc. Also is very cool if the system locks up, and to avoid a hard power down I just remotely ssh in and tell it to shut down.

Vim (http://www.vim.org/) the best text editor out there. Pretty small, awesome and productive keybindings, highlighting depending what language you are in, etc. I use it for all my programming and word processing (in conjuction with latex)

gcc (http://gcc.gnu.org/) GNU Compiler Collection, means I can install any program out there that provides the source code, compile my own kernel and make my system run really fast, etc.

jdk and jre are the Java Development Kit and the Java Runtime Environment, and since I do a lot of programming in java, they are pretty useful ;D

Alphalutra1

[WSFuser]

some of my must-have software:

nlite/vlite - lets me slim down and tweak Windows

firefox+thunderbird - very configurable programs with great themes and extensions

media player classic+vista codec pack - powerful combo for file playback

ad muncher - very effective ad blocker and it filters many programs

shareaza+utorrent - excellent p2p programs

windowblinds+iconpackager (xp) - gives my OS a new (and better) look

syncback - backing up files is easy as pie

paint.net - handy program for editing pictures

notepad++ - notepad replacement

winrar - good archiving program

[ashishtx]

Internet explorer

firefox

Opera

last but not least first defense ISR

[farmerlee]

CrapCleaner
Firefox
Gaim
K-Lite mega codec pack
Norton Ghost
Winrar
Winamp

[KikiBibi]

Can't live without:

AI Roboform

Too many passwords. :D

[cthorpe]

foobar2000 for music
truelaunchbar for starting programs
Find and Run Robot also for starting programs

[Pedro]

-{ Quote: "
Vim (http://www.vim.org/) the best text editor out there. Pretty small, awesome and productive keybindings, highlighting depending what language you are in, etc. I use it for all my programming and word processing (in conjuction with latex)

gcc (http://gcc.gnu.org/) GNU Compiler Collection, means I can install any program out there that provides the source code, compile my own kernel and make my system run really fast, etc.
Alphalutra1" }-

humm, i try to compile a hello message in ubuntu (vmware) - cc hello.c - and when running it, it says invalid..., i don't remember the message.

Some Q's, hope you'll answer, or someone else who knows:
1.Why does the executable come out as "a.out"?
2.What's the native compiler for ubuntu, and do i need anything else that ubuntu doesn't have? Are there better, or gcc is already in ubuntu???
3. What's the best OS with all the tools necessary built in, for development also? (so i don't have to look for them, and loose myself - by the way, it's a jungle out there:o )