new rig - essential software

AHarvey

AHarvey

AHarvey

Soldato
Joined
6 Mar 2008
Posts
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Stoke area
Hello,

A friend has asked me to build him a new system, install XP Home on it for him and set it up.

He wants to be able to use it for everything, from games to video editing, music creation to programming.

The first main issue is that he wants me to customise the case and the windows install with a Transformers theme. Going to cut the Transformers logo on the side of the case and light it up for him. He then wants me to customise the XP install, the look and all the sounds etc. Never done anything like this so it is going to be a challenge, which I like :D

Can anyone recommend where I should look regarding customising XP?

Also, it has a been a long time since I last started fresh. I am creating a list of different software for him, all latest version:

Openoffice
Opera
Internet Explorer
Firefox with Firebug
Photoshop & Gimp
AVG Free

He will be adding his own programming programs to that but is there anything I have missed?

Suggestions welcome especially for things like:

Optimization & monitoring
Virus/spyware/malware protection
anything else you suggest


EDIT: And what is best for running and configuring 2 monitors? Trying to set it up so he has 2 different backgrounds on each monitor but can't get it to work :(
 
Last edited:
AntiVir, WinRar, CoreTemp? Ad-Aware, Defraggler.

To customize, you can simply use the uxtheme.dll mod, and get a new style from deviant art. Windows blinds might be worth a look too.. although theres loads of programs that alter windows.
 
avg is possibly one of the worst free anti virus programs out there. try avast or antivir as mentioned above. (this is based on what i read here - i don't actually use any myself... :p)

i use this for setting different wallpapers on 2 monitors....

http://www.binaryfortress.com/displayfusion/

it comes as a pro version (pay for) but the basic feature to set 2 different wallpapers is free and there are no nags. it just has menu options you have to pay for. :)
 
Imgburn for burning cds data & audio

Firefox 3 awesome!

Utorrent if you use torrents

Winamp/Foobar2000 for music/media

VLC for videos

Convertxtodvd for converting avi & many other file types to burn onto dvd
 
AHarvey said:
EDIT: And what is best for running and configuring 2 monitors? Trying to set it up so he has 2 different backgrounds on each monitor but can't get it to work :(
Click to expand...

have a look around for ultramon, i don't use it but i've seen it mentioned around by people running dual monitors.
 
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