Windows recommended apps

[Hard core Rikki]

zonealarm free is among the cr*ppiest free ones (while the paid zonealarm is among the top ones, so going freeware zonealarm isnt the safest of choices)

[NamesSolidSnake]

No, I meant the PAID version, NOT the free one. Lol.

[jonc2006]

the free one shouldnt even exist its so bad.

[Hard core Rikki]

about The K-Mplayer, i just remembered it was based on various and numerous GPL and LGPL violations, not to mention its a major licence mess. Plus they've been ripping code from Gabest's own GPLed work, without compliance with the GPL terms (in case anyone forgot, Gabest is GSdx and Media Player Classic's author ;P )

just for that reason, i would not list The K-Mplayer as a recommendation, at the very least NOT without a mention to the violations of opensource licences (its not really so much for the rip acts, but also to point that the featurelist is very likely to decrease significantly anytime in the future, whatever road is taken)

[Hard core Rikki]

Neat visual customisations for XP.

Vista Transformation Pack (a contender to the Bricopacks, if not even superior ;p )
Windows X's Shrine | Vista Transformation Pack

Vista Start Menu
Vista Start Menu – Convenient alternative to Start menu

;p

[SCHUMI-4-EVA]

What about Riskyness?

Bricopacks seem so much more Risk Free whilst thise always scares me away as it looks like it has the potential to majorly bork your system.

[Hard core Rikki]

Both those do not seem to be any riskier than the Bricopacks, and the earlier does seem to rely on similar patching methods, while the latter seems to install cleanly. I'll give these a more thourough spin these days, but so far, I've seen nothing but positive feedback about these, so coupled with the longstanding version number of the VTPack, I expect it would be sufficiently reliable for safe usage in a desktop rig.

[SCHUMI-4-EVA]

yeah..should be better than V3...which glitched in a very weird but thankfully pleasent way.

Just that Bricopacks said alter, whilst the Transformation pack says replace with regards to system files. That's what has me worried...I want to keep the ability to return my system to normal.

[NamesSolidSnake]

I'd never touch those XP to Vlsta tranformation things.

I heard of people having problems after using them.

Like SCHUMI said, I don't wanna "brock" my system XD

[Anatasia]

For Image viewer,I would prefer Manga MeeYaa,PicWalker,CDisplayEx and Hamana.IMHO,they're way more superior than ACDSee or Irfanview

[SCHUMI-4-EVA]

Meh...I tried that Transformation Pack...but...the stupid thing instantly tries apply all it's changes...which obviously causes a ton of process crashes and then the installation itself to crash halfway through...esepcially when in Safe mode...at least that was when using the transform UI option...I don't want to lose my reversability by using full replacement of Windows files...so I am back to my faithfull Bricopack.

[Hard core Rikki]

which obviously causes a ton of process crashes and then the installation itself to crash halfway through...esepcially when in Safe mode

Sounds related to your system in particular actually, and not a shortcoming from the pack. Are you sure you did not have Bricopack installed in the first place btw? Patching already patched files would compromise reversal of the status of system files.

[SCHUMI-4-EVA]

Nope. I had removed it first. I was back to plain old regular XP with not a hint of transformation.

The only system file that should have still been changed was uxtheme.dll which needed to be patched to allow the Bricopack and then obviously then obviously VTP8 required the same patched file so it should not have been a problem.

[SCHUMI-4-EVA]

Woah...am I ever glad to be rid of Avast!...that thing was sucking my cap dry.....got rid of it and my net usage today is less than half of what it was yesterday...and my PC seems faster....

PCtools free versions rock aswell. Running PCtools Threatfire, PCtools Firewall Plus and now thanks the Google Pack, PCtools Spyware Doctor Starter Edition.


Also a pretty cool system performance monitoring app (unfortunately not temperatures) is Freemeter (Freemeter Professional has more...but also a price attached)
FreeMeter

[Phil]

Visual Studio 2005. Cant code PCSX3 without it

[snickothemule]

I've found Ashampoo Winoptimiser to be quite the tidy little app.

[NamesSolidSnake]

Originally Posted by snickothemule

I've found Ashampoo Winoptimiser to be quite the tidy little app.

I also use Winoptimizer.

It's a great all-around PC maintenance app.