Essential Software for a New Windows 8 PC

Acert93 - Mr. Bad Cop
Acert93
Since 6744 Days
What are your "essential" programs for a new Windows install?

"Fixes" for Windows 8?

Antivirus?

Malware?

Browser?

Backup Software to an external HDD/NAS?

Media players? (I have a Blu-ray burner/player in my new rig)

I am getting prepped to setup my new laptop and I realized I was planning to just use what I always use. e.g. I always use Avast so I was going to uninstall McAfee and install Avast but thought, "My good friends at GS can probably drag me out of 2005!" Maybe there is a much better option now?

After using Paragon, Marcium, and a couple other programs for disk copy I noticed there are some quality back up programs for free. Maybe the tech studs at GS know the best?

Some are obvious, like Chrome and Firefox+Zotero. Others, like Office are out of necessity (yes, LibreOffice is very good). But after that I am pretty open to suggestions!

I am considering Startisback / Start8 / Classic Shell for a Start Button/Menu fix (I hate what MS did to the desktop!) for some of my fixes.
In reply to

Pwn'd by Phaethon360.

LEBATO - IS WRONG
LEBATO
Since 6895 Days
Fixes for Windows 8? Install Windows 7...
In reply to

Mods, stop changing my SIG! I'm going to end up banning you!

Acert93 - Mr. Bad Cop
Acert93
Since 6744 Days
I would if it was free.

That said I installed START8 and my system boots to the Desktop and has a Start Button/Menu. Boots in like 8 seconds, too, from cold boot. SSD+Win8 is a nice combo.

That said I looked at a lot of Win8 "apps" and I must say I have no interest them. They don't tend to be multitask friendly or play nicely w/o a touch screen.
In reply to

Pwn'd by Phaethon360.

Isomac
Isomac
Since 6540 Days
Start8 is cool. Windows 8.1 is coming sometime, that will allow you to boot to desktop too :O heh.

I am currently just using Microsoft Defender and built in firewall. For malware I got Malwarebytes anti-malware. Nothing fancy but seems to work ok.

I use VLC as my media player but I don't have any optical drives. So no idea about Blu-ray compatibility.

If you have SSD: delete hibernation file, disable defragmenting, move temp folders and browser cache to another drive.

Oh and Steam!
In reply to

Hail to the king, baby!
Victory needs no explanation, defeat allows none.

crookedmind
crookedmind
Since 6115 Days
I just got paid 5k last week to remove windows 8 from about 7 laptops and install windows 7 on them. I don't recommend it at all and actually think it's a step backwards in the evolution of computing & technology. I recommend to try before you buy.
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