Every time I reformat my PC there are always the hassle of re-installing almost every applications and softwares that are usually needed in everyday PC use. I have a special folder that includes most of these softwares, and I usually back it up to a blank DVD in case of accidental system crash or virus screw up.
Let’s face it, after you’ve installed Windows on your PC, the next thing is hunting down the softwares you most likely use. Some of those softwares are easily forgotten because, (1) you don’t usually run the app because it’s just a plugin and a support software and, (2) you’ve already installed so many softwares, mostly freewares downloaded off the Internet, and that you’ve lost track of the names.
It is recommended that before you reformat your PC you have to:
- Backup your files. Make sure the files you’ve backup contains no viruses.
- Backup your important documents.
- Backup your system drivers, like video card drivers, sound card, etc.
- Backup and export individual software settings, like your bookmarks at Firefox.
- Make sure you have all the installer CDs like Windows installer, motherboard installer, soundcard, video card, modems, webcam, printer, scanner, or whatever hardware you have that includes an installer CD. Also your installer for your mobile phone to PC support, your MP3/MP4 player, and every other gadget you have that connects to USB that needs installing.
- List all the applications and software currently installed in your PC. Look at your Start menu and in your Add/Remove programs. Find the installer for these, if it is from the Internet, download it, then backup (burn) it on a CD/DVD.
After reformatting, the pain of re-installing begins. Softwares are usually a user preference, but there are those programs that are essential in a PC. Most of these essential applications are hardly noticeable because they support your PC internally.
Here are some of the list that are usually needed installed in a PC. Most of these are freely available in the Internet. And some are needed to run a certain program or extend the capabilities of your PC.
- Your favorite anti-virus and firewall software. The first one to install, after installing Windows OS.
- DirectX, an essential Windows driver that extends your 3D video capabilities.
- Mozilla Firefox, an alternative Internet browser. Install if you don’t like Internet Explorer.
- Java runtime environment software, this is needed when browsing the web and a site needs you to have Java installed. Either you install this now, or when wait till you come across a website that requires it.
- Adobe Flash Player, for running flash based websites, and FLV (YouTube) videos.
- Adobe Shockwave Player, for running sites that have embedded shockwaves.
- Adobe AIR, a new technology that is better than Flash.
- Adobe Reader, the app you need to view PDF document files in your browser or in your hard drive.
- Video/Audio Codecs, used to play all video formats like avi, mpg, mov, rm, flv, etc.
That’s it. Those are all the essential softwares that is needed installed in your PC. Other softwares are based on the user’s needs or preference. If I forgot some app or program, please post it at the comments.
Tags: backup, computer, PC, reformat, tips, Windows
Here is another batch of tips regarding computers, tech, and life.
Tags: computer, life, tech, tips
The tips section in my reader is mostly filled with ’starred’ items. I found out that there are lots of ‘very’ useful information I can get from those sites. So in order to prevent my ’starred’ items from piling up, I decided to create a series of blog posts that will accumulate and store all the ones I like.
Here are the most recent favorite topics I starred. Most of the links points directly to the origin/source of the topic.
Sources: Lifehacker, Lifehack, How-To Geek
Most of you probably know that I’m not a Vista advocate, and you might wonder why there are lots of Windows Vista tips and tricks in my list. Those are for the ones who uses Vista, and if by any chance, I’m ‘forced’ to work in a Windows Vista environment, I will know may way around.
This is a first of a series of posts.
Tags: computer, life, tech, tips
In my Google Reader, I have a folder (actually its a tag) that I named Tech-tips, this is where I place websites that I’m subscribed to that gives useful tidbits of information regarding my computer and the internet, and other stuff. Currently there are two subscriptions there, lifehacker.com and howtogeek.com, both are a wonderful source and resource of information.
Here are some of the posts that I’ve recently “starred” from my reader. These are the ones I found interesting.
Lifehacker.com
How-To-Geek
That’s it. You can visit their site for more tech-tips and life-tips, or better yet subscribe to their feeds.
Tags: computer, tech, tips
I just created an account in Imeem today. I’ve known about this service for quite a while now, but back then I didn’t have any reason to register there, that is until now. While in the process of completing my profile, I came across the “find friend” feature of the site. At first I thought, like other social networks, I’ll just login using my email account to import all the contacts from that address book to Imeem. But unfortunately you have to do it the semi-manual way. You have to export your address book contact then import them to Imeem. Most of my contacts are stored in my Yahoo! email, so I need to export it to a CSV file, then upload it to Imeem.
Here’s how I exported my Yahoo! mail contacts (address book) to a readable CSV file.
- Select mail options from the options menu located at the upper right corner of your Yahoo! mail.
- On the next page, click on Contacts Options. After you click on this, a new window will appear. This will open the address book portion of Yahoo!
- On the upper right corner of this page, you will see an import/export link. Click on it.
- Lastly, scroll near the lower portion of the page. Click on the “Export Now” button at the right side of the text “Yahoo! CSV:” Save the file on your computer.
That’s it.
You can now use this file on other websites that require you to import a CSV file. Like the one on Imeem.
Tags: CSV, export, imeem, tips, Yahoo! Mail
