Windows XP Essentials
This a list of the basic XP Essentials that are needed AFTER installing Windows XP. These programs update Windows XP to improve the functionality, security, and performance of the system.
If you are building a new XP system, or even rebuilding one, you should at least have these free, basic essentials to make sure it will run smoothly and reliably.
In addition to this list you will need a few other programs, such as: drivers for specific devices installed in or attached to your system, an anti-virus program to protect your system, and maybe a good defragmentation program.
Programs from Microsoft
- Windows XP Service Pack 2 brings Windows security and integrity up to date with an integrated firewall.
(Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 Web Site) - DirectX graphics and game acceleration drivers from Microsoft.
(Microsoft Windows DirectX Web Site) - TweakUI & Clear Type PowerToys for Windows XP. TweakUI provides the ability to customize XP features that are not normally easy to set. Clear Type lets you adjust the font display settings for better appearance.
(Microsoft Windows XP PowerToys)
- Windows Media Player music, video, and entertainment player that will also copy some content.
(Microsoft Windows Media Player Web Site) - Malicious Software Removal Tool checks computers running Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows Server 2003 for infections by specific, prevalent malicious software - including Blaster, Sasser, and Mydoom - and helps remove any infections that are found.
(Microsoft Malware Removal) - Outlook Express Spell Check instructions for fixing or installing the spell check functionality for Microsoft's Outlook Express e-mail program. (NOT directly from Microsoft but should be. Uses MS files and components.)
Other Essential Programs
- OpenOffice is a free Office application that lets you read, edit, and create files for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
(OpenOffice Web Site) - Gimp is a full graphics editing package with features comparable to Adobe Photoshop. After installing the core program, please also install these required pieces: GTK (for Win2K/XP), Help Package, and Animation Package.
(Gimp Web Site) - K-Lite Mega Codec Pack supports a wide variety of video and audio codecs like MPEG, DVD movies, Real Media, and Quicktime.
(K-Lite Codec Pack Web Site)
- Google's Picasa is a fine image management program. This program lets you create slideshows, create collages, e-mail pictures, create image CD's, or print multiple image copies to a page in a range of sizes.
(Google's Picasa Web Site) - LavaSoft Ad-aware Personal Edition is used to remove spy and advertizement products from your system to help you maintain peak performance. (run monthly)
(Lavasoft Web Site) - SpyBot Search and Destroy will further remove spy and advertizement products, plus it will detect, remove, and correct trojans and security risks. SpyBot even has a utility that will actively block these from being installed to the computer. (run monthly)
(Spybot Web Site)
More Good Basic Programs
- Adobe's Photoshop Albumn Starter Edition is a nice free utility for managing and making small touchups to your ditigal images.
(Adobe's Photoshop Albumn Starter Edition Web Site) - Adobe Acrobat Reader is essential for anyone who needs to open, read, print, or use Public Document Format (PDF) files.
(Adobe Acrobat Reader Web Site)
- Star Downloader (free version) will accelerate downloads and has the ability to resume lost connections.
(StarDownloader Web Site) - 4T Tray Minimizer Free gives you the ability to minimize any or all programs to the system tray, reducing any program to a tray icon instead of a bar item.
(4t Niagara Software Web Site) - Windows ME Boot Floppy maker (WinME) for those times when Windows just won't start up.
(BootMe Web Site)
[Updated: Sunday, November 18, 2007]
