The best programs for Windows 7. What programs do I install on a new computer?

Each operating system has its own advantages and disadvantages, weighing them, you have to make a choice in favor of one system or another. There are many programs for each OS and many more are being developed. Although Windows 7 can be said to be morally outdated, since after its release Windows 8 had already appeared on sale and Windows 10 is being prepared for its imminent release.

With the release of new versions of operating systems, improved versions of old useful programs appear or completely new software is developed - this has happened since the advent of Windows 7. To work comfortably in the operating system, you need various applications and programs, the so-called software for Windows 7 For example, programs for downloading files from the Internet, for cleaning the system, antiviruses, browsers, media players and other useful programs will be useful.

Tweak-7

Tweak-7 is a system cleaning program. The utility works with various system settings, the registry and the startup list. Also, using the program you can configure Internet connections, browser and mail.

Without manually configuring the system, you can trust the program and perform the automatic configuration function of Windows 7. Tweak-7 generally optimizes operation and speeds up system performance. Additionally, several useful tools are integrated into the tweaker, for example, a defragmenter and a hard drive cleaner.

Start Menu X

Start Menu X was previously known as Start Menu 7, but the name changed with the release of Windows 8. The program is designed to optimize Windows systems, in particular Windows 7. The utility is specially developed as a convenient replacement for the standard Start menu in Windows.

Start Menu X lets you create, edit, and move menu items, which opens up many possibilities, such as creating a list of frequently used folders so you can open them quickly. The utility differs from similar ones in its unique flexibility in configuration, which allows you to create a menu to your liking.

Windows 7 Manager

Windows 7 Manager is another program for optimizing Windows 7. The program's functionality includes the ability to configure Internet connections, clean up the hard drive and work with the registry, as well as a large number of functions, tools and settings for various system parameters.

Using Windows 7 Manager, you can increase the speed of booting or shutting down your computer and improve the performance of your computer as a whole. The utility also provides detailed information about the system and hardware of the computer.

Download Master

Download Master is a very convenient and beautiful download manager. The program quite effectively solves the tasks assigned to it - download speed, continuation of interrupted downloads and management of downloaded files.

Download Master integrates tightly with browsers, allowing it to replace standard download tools with itself. The program has a scheduled download function, can download files from ftp servers and supports the installation of plugins to expand its functionality.

STDU Viewer

The free STDU Viewer program is a simple and convenient tool for viewing electronic documents, text files and images. The program allows you to work simultaneously with several documents that open in separate tabs.

The functionality of STDU Viewer has added the ability to adjust the brightness and contrast of a document, search for documents, convert electronic documents into graphic formats, and many others.

7-Zip

7-Zip is a free archiver that differs from others in its high compression ratio. The program has a wide range of capabilities, high speed of archiving files, the ability to create self-extracting archives and the ability to protect archives with a password and encryption.

The archiver is integrated into Windows Explorer, which adds convenience to working with the program. 7-Zip supports popular archive formats and at the same time works with its own format.

Windows 7 Codec Pack

Windows 7 Codec Pack is a set of necessary codecs for correct playback of multimedia files. The set consists of the most popular codecs, utilities, filters, plugins and other tools.

I spent a long time choosing a new computer, and finally here it is - standing on the table, the Windows screen saver is on the screen, and what to do next, what programs need to be installed? I saw something somewhere, heard something somewhere, in general my head is a mess! Let this article be a small guide to the TOP most necessary programs for a computer, according to the site.

No matter how hard Microsoft tries to refine its operating system, a clean OS can only be used in limited conditions - for example, at work, where installing additional programs is prohibited or there are no rights.

What to choose, paid or free programs

It just so happens that free programs alone are not enough, it turns out somewhere 50/50. I in no way advocate using cracked versions, but this is our reality that “cracked” programs are used everywhere. In my experience, to solve almost any problem there is at least one free program that is sufficient. But paid software is usually more convenient and has more features. But they are needed for large-scale work or for professional activities.

Antivirus – necessary protection

I have already touched on the topic of antivirus more than once; this is an absolutely necessary program that I download on any computer immediately after installing Windows. Perhaps an antivirus is the program that is better to buy and live in peace. Paid versions eliminate the headache of searching for updated keys and signature databases. Our most common ones:

Which one to choose is a personal matter for everyone. No one will provide 100% protection, so just choose which one you like best.

Good ones from the free ones:

Alternative browser

For the convenience of using the Internet, you will need to install one of them to replace the standard Internet Explorer/Edge. Popular in our area:

All of them are free and very useful programs. Today the browser from Yandex is rapidly gaining popularity. This is undoubtedly one of the best browsers, but everyone has their own preferences.

In terms of speed and system resource consumption, I prefer Opera. And those who like flexibility in configuration can choose Mozilla FireFox. If you remain on standard Internet Explorer, then at least update it to the latest version.

Archiver

By default, Microsoft Windows cannot work with such a common archive format as “.rar”. Probably in the West everyone only uses zip. I install a shell that supports all the necessary archive formats, including “.zip”. WinRAR is built into the operating system, allowing you to work with archives from the context menu in Explorer.

As an alternative, I can recommend the program 7-Zip. It also has all the necessary functions, but it cannot pack into the “.rar” format. But it can unpack the “.7z” format.

Office suite

A must-have for working with texts and tables: Word, Excel, PowerPoint. Although I included this in the mandatory list, not everyone needs it. But I have never seen a laptop without Microsoft Office or its free equivalent OpenOffice. Among the lighter office packages, I recommend WPS Office.

To read PDF books you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. PDF is the most common format for documentation, books and instructions. It will work without a special program, but the functionality will be limited to the simplest actions. Acrobat Reader is a completely free program.

Messenger, Internet phone

Programs for free communication around the world via the Internet:

Skype is the most famous, but is becoming outdated, there is a detailed
Viber is actively gaining popularity
WhatsApp is one of the most popular in the world

All programs support voice, video and chat. An indispensable tool for communication, in addition to social networks. To do this, headphones and a web camera (for video communication), as well as an installed program on both devices of the interlocutors. Messengers also allow you to call landlines and mobile phones, but this is no longer free.

In order for you to communicate with relatives and friends, you need to find out what programs they themselves use. But usually everything is installed at once. I note that in order for Viber and WhatsApp to work on a PC, they must be installed on the smartphone too.

I showed the basic programs for a laptop in minimal variety. For the more advanced, I recommend another package of software.

After installing the drivers, first of all I install the file manager. This program provides convenient access to the file system, replacing the standard Windows Explorer. It is much more convenient to copy, move, change files. I advise everyone! My work with the computer begins with the launch of Total Commander.

Mail client

To check their email, a person usually goes to a website such as gmail.com and looks at their inbox. But it is much more convenient to use special programs - email clients, especially if you have several email accounts.

The program connects to the server and downloads all mail to the computer. You can view it without browser delays, quickly switching between boxes. I recommend or Mozilla Thunderbird. The standard Microsoft Outlook (built into Windows XP/7 and Microsoft Office) and the Mail application in Windows 10 are not bad, but The Bat! I like it better because it is very easy to transfer mail to another computer or to a new operating system without the risk of losing important information.

Convenient video and audio player

I recommend installing separate video and audio players to replace the standard Windows Media Player. No matter how hard the developers try, they cannot combine both a video and an audio player in one program so that everyone likes it. For these purposes, it is better to use separate programs. The following have worked well for video playback:

Torrent downloader

Today, something worthwhile can be downloaded for free on the Internet either from file hosting services or using torrents. You will need the uTorrent program.

Password manager

In order not to remember all the logins and passwords that you will certainly start to acquire, I recommend using one of the password managers. The program remembers all your passwords and stores them on the server. Subsequently, they can be used from anywhere, on any computer and browser. I recommend using or LastPass.

RoboForm is the first thing I install because it stores all my access to Internet services and applications on my computer. I also have an add-on for the Mozilla Firefox browser on my smartphone, with which I always have up-to-date logins and passwords on my phone.

Cleaning the CCleaner system

I’m sure a useful thing for any system running Windows 7/8/10 is the CCleaner program. Designed for periodic, approximately once a month, cleaning of the operating system and programs from accumulated garbage. Basically, these are various temporary folders, files, caches, which not only fill up free disk space, but also often worsen the performance of the computer. Especially useful for improving the performance of browsers that begin to slow down over time.

Optional Settings

Useful only if you have special system requirements.

A set of codecs for video and audio

By default, Windows can only play the most basic video and audio file formats. To support other formats, you will need one of the codec sets, such as K-Lite Codec Pack or Win7Codecs. This installation is not necessary because any modern multimedia player already has all the common codecs built-in, or it immediately offers to download them.

Disc burning program

DVD drives are used less frequently than before, but are still found in almost every computer. I use the program to burn discs. For free ones, I recommend JetBee FREE or ImgBurn.

Outdated, somewhere else popular ICQ

A popular client for communicating via the ICQ protocol (“ICQ” in popular parlance). Previously, every computer had a former “de facto” standard for exchanging instant messages via the Internet, such as free SMS, only in a larger volume. You can often see it in contacts on various service sites and online stores.

I use social networks, Telegram and ICQ at the same time. This way you can keep in constant contact with people. Instead of the cumbersome ICQ program, I recommend installing a convenient QIP client. The program is in Russian and has a simple and intuitive interface. ( 98 votes, average: 4.4 out of 5)

The seventh generation operating system from Microsoft is the most popular OS among all currently existing ones, and, of course, the most successful of the Windows family. This is the last “OS”, which was a not fully optimized tool for working with a computer, requiring modifications and configurations. Starting with Windows 8, the procedure for installing and configuring the operating system has become accessible to the majority of average users, and the system itself has received, by default, many useful tools for working with documents and files. In the case of Windows 7, users had to independently install the most necessary programs for the computer.

Let's look at the package of the most necessary software, which must certainly be present on any modern or not the most modern PC running the legendary “Seven”.

Uninstallers
Perhaps the first of the most necessary programs that are recommended to be installed immediately after installing/reinstalling Windows 7 are uninstallers. The seventh generation OS is a representative of the old line of systems, when they could easily be “ruined” by installing an excessive number of unnecessary programs, utilities and games. Therefore, users are recommended to use special uninstallers that allow them to remove existing programs without a trace, restoring the computer to the state it was before installing unnecessary software.
And among uninstaller programs, there are two obvious leaders:
CCleaner;
Uninstall Tool

Both solutions allow you to perform comprehensive removal of programs from your computer, however, unlike its opponent, the Uninstall Tool is a paid software. However, finding a key or crack on the Internet for home use of the software is not so difficult.
As for CCleaner, this tool is also capable of removing programs installed on the system efficiently and without leaving a trace. In addition, the “software” also has a set of functions for cleaning the computer.

Programs for media files.
Of course, when it comes to what programs are needed for a computer with Windows 7, we must not forget that at home computers are often used for entertainment. And entertainment, first of all, is watching films and television series, listening to music. And for all this to be played correctly, the system must have not only the appropriate players, but also codec packages. This will probably come as news to fans of newer members of the Windows family, but versions released before Windows 8 were not able to play all media file formats by default.
Therefore, first of all, the most necessary programs for Windows 7 are tools such as K-Lite Mega Codec Pack. This software includes all the necessary codecs to play most of the media formats known today. In addition, the software also includes a simple, concise and fast media player “Media player Classic”, which is indispensable when viewing video files.

Archivers
Next on the list of programs you need after reinstalling Windows 7 are archivers. This, as they say, is our everything, because most files downloaded from the Internet are packed into archives. And, which will again be news for users of newer versions of Windows, “Seven” by default is not trained to open files in the “.rar” format, etc.
Therefore, it is recommended that immediately after installing the OS you think about installing the following software to choose from:
WinRar;
7zip.

These two options will be enough for you, because these are unprecedented leaders in the field of unpacking any archives. As for leadership among these two software giants, WinRar certainly wins the battle for leadership, but this “software” has one drawback - it is paid. However, here there is no need for users to even think about activators or cracks, because the software does not require a mandatory purchase, and users can continue to use it for decades. The only inconvenience will be an annoying window notifying them that the program needs to be purchased.
If you do not want to see such pop-up information on your PC screen, then you should think about installing the 7zip archiver.

Web browsers
Of course, we must not forget about something without which today it is truly impossible to imagine any computer, laptop, tablet or even smartphone. We are talking about a web browser, a program that allows us to access the Internet. And here the answer to the question of what browser programs are needed after installing Windows 7 has three options:
Mozilla Firefox;
Opera;
Google Chrome.

We strongly recommend that you do not pay attention to other analogues, such as the browser from Yandex, Amigo and other dubious software solutions. Often this software is built on the basis of Google Chrome, and will bring nothing but annoying advertising and unnecessary plugins into your life.
The choice should be made on user-recognized, world-famous, convenient and reliable browsers, which we listed above. They all have their advantages. However, for the average user it is almost impossible to identify any significant differences between such software. Therefore, you can make a choice in favor of the browser interface that best suits your preferences.

Work with documents
Even if the list of the most necessary programs for Windows 7 is selected for a home computer, text editors must be present in it. And among the most suitable options are the following:

Microsoft Office is an application that includes all the necessary tools for working with text documents, tables, presentations, databases, etc. It is offered for use only for a fee, but you can always find solutions for using the software in the form of license code generators and cracks;

Libre Office is a completely free analogue of the office software package from Microsoft, which includes all the most necessary tools for text editing, working with tables and presentations.
These two options will be more than enough for both home use and work.

Antivirus
The last thing on the list of the most necessary programs for Windows 7 we want to mention is antivirus software. If in Windows 10 the standard “Defender” is at a high level and, in principle, does not require replacement with any analogues, then the standard “Firewall” of Windows 7 from antivirus software has, alas, only a name, and requires mandatory replacement.

The most suitable options for use include Avast antivirus. This is shareware software that offers a full range of tools to reliably protect your computer from malware, Trojans and other “evil spirits” that are so often found on the Internet.
The free version includes all the functionality necessary to safely use your computer. The only thing that users need to use Avast software for free is to provide their email address to complete the registration procedure.
This was a list of the most necessary programs for Windows 7, which are necessary for correct and comfortable work on a computer or laptop running the legendary OS. As for further optimization of the system, the software should be installed solely at the discretion and needs of the users. This applies to graphic editors, instant messengers, cloud systems and services, remote support utilities, email clients and other software that can be found on the Internet.
We recommend that you do not overdo it with experiments and do not install too many unnecessary programs on your PC, as this may affect the speed of the computer in the future.

Have you bought a brand new laptop or assembled a computer, installed Windows and... what's next? We went to the Desktop, and there was only the Recycle Bin. Even if you bought a laptop with Windows already installed, you still need to configure and install other programs. For what? To improve the performance of your device.

Everyone should have a list of programs that need to be installed immediately after installing the operating system. I have prepared my list. The programs below are suitable for most versions of Windows (XP, 7, 8 or 10). But first of all, you need to understand the drivers.

For those who have a pirated version! First of all, turn off “Firewall” and “Windows Update” - they are located in the “Control Panel”. Then activate Windows.

1. Drivers

Drivers(or more "firewood") is software that is responsible for the functionality and correct connection of other programs to the hardware of a computer or laptop, for example: Wi-Fi will not work without the appropriate driver, the monitor will distort the image (stretch, use the wrong resolution), there will be no sound etc.

Note: In Windows 10, after connecting to Wi-Fi, the system itself finds and installs all the necessary drivers.

The first step is to check what is installed and what is not. Many people have pirated versions of Windows, and many people also buy laptops with DOS(lack of an installed operating system) and then install pirated versions. Even when it’s a pure licensed Windows, you still need to install drivers. But before that, you need to check which of them are installed and which are not. To do this, right-click on the shortcut My Computer > Properties > Device Manager:

If you have all the drivers installed, you will see something like this:

If a driver is not installed, a yellow exclamation mark will appear next to it:

There are three ways to install drivers:

From the official website of the manufacturer. For example, if the laptop is ASUS, then you need to search on the website asus.com.

From the disk that was included (if there was one at all).

Using Driver Pack Solution.

Some drivers are automatically installed by default, which we don't need. For example, a standard driver for a video card can be installed, and then the video card will not work at full capacity, which will affect the graphics in games or when working in serious photo or video editors.

The best way to install drivers- download from disk (if it was in the box) or from the official website. Each driver is installed separately. The included disc usually contains drivers for only one specific version of Windows. The best and optimal solution is to go to the manufacturer’s official website, find the “Drivers” item in the “Support” menu, select your version of Windows and install from there. This way, you will get maximum efficiency and performance from your device.

Rule: Always download and install drivers from the manufacturer's official website.

4. Antivirus

There are paid and free ones. Leaders among paid ones - Kaspersky, Eset,Dr.Web. Leaders among free ones - Comodo,Avira,Avast. I have it free Comodo Internet Security, which fully copes with its functions. If you have extra money, then buy a paid antivirus for a year. But protection must be mandatory.

Telegram. Where would we be without him? Very useful and fast messenger. Must have.

Notepad++. A convenient and functional text code editor with support for dozens of programming languages and more. Syntax highlighting, plugins, themes and a lot more.

VirtualBox. A program that allows you to have two operating systems on one computer. For example, you can install Windows 10 as the main one and Linux as the secondary one. The program completely virtualizes the presence of a second OS.

In the virtual world, as in the real world, it is often necessary to hide important data from third parties. In the real world, we do this with a safe, a personal locker with a key, and so on. In the virtual world it looks about the same, hiding personal data (files, photos, documents, videos) using passwords.

Each of us needs to maintain order both in our home, car and in our own head. Without order in our heads, how can we correctly formulate our new ideas? Clutter in any area drains us and adds a lot of stress.

One of the most deplorable problems that can sooner or later appear on computers is the failure of its most important component - the hard drive. Usually only 50% of hard drives reach 6 years of operation. If it fails, it means that all your data is irretrievably lost.

It's been a while since we talked about speeding up and optimizing your computer. So, we would like to recommend you a very powerful and useful program to speed up your computer. This program is called Smart Defrag 4, it is included in the paid package of utilities of the Advanced SystemCare program. And it speeds up the computer by defragmenting disks and it copes with its task with a bang.

Do you work in the office or at home on a computer and would like to improve your performance and efficiency with programs? This way you can spend the saved time on something else. Yes, it is possible, the main thing is to understand the logic of the program.

I spent a long time choosing which computer to buy, and finally here it is - standing on the table, Windows screen saver on the screen, and what to do next? After purchasing, the first question that comes to mind is what programs are needed for the computer. I saw something somewhere, heard something somewhere, in general my head is a mess!

Paid or free?

It just so happens that free programs alone are not enough, it turns out somewhere 50/50. I in no way advocate using cracked versions, but this is our reality that “cracked” programs are used everywhere. In my experience, to solve almost any problem there is at least one free program that is sufficient. But paid ones are usually more convenient and with more functions. But they are needed for large-scale work or for professional activities.

Computer programs for every day

No matter how hard Microsoft tries to modernize its operating system, a clean OS can only be used in limited conditions - for example, at work, where installing additional programs is prohibited or there are no rights.

Antivirus – necessary protection

I have already touched on the topic of antivirus more than once. An absolutely necessary thing on any computer. Perhaps an antivirus is the only program that is needed for a computer, which is better to buy and live in peace. Paid versions eliminate the headache of searching for updated keys and signature databases. Our most common ones are:, and. Which one to choose is a personal matter for everyone. No one will provide 100% protection, so just choose which one you like best.

Alternative browser

For the convenience of using the Internet, you will need to install one of the alternative Internet browsers to replace the standard Internet Explorer. Popular in our area, etc. All of them are free and very useful programs for the computer. Today, Google's browser is rapidly gaining popularity. This is undoubtedly one of the best browsers, but everyone has their own preferences.

By default, it cannot work with such a common archive format as “.rar”. Probably in the West everyone only uses zip. I install a shell that supports all the necessary archive formats, including “.zip”. WinRAR is built into the operating system, allowing you to work with archives from the context menu in Explorer. As an alternative, I can recommend the program. It also has all the necessary functions, but it cannot pack into the “.rar” format. But it can unpack the “.7z” format.

Office suite

A must-have for working with texts and tables. Although I included this in the mandatory list, not everyone needs it. But I have never seen a computer without Microsoft Office or its free equivalent.

Acrobat Reader

You will need it to read PDF books. PDF is the most common format for documentation, books and instructions. It won't work without a special program. Acrobat Reader is a completely free program.

Skype

A program for free communication around the world via the Internet. Supports voice, video and chat. An indispensable tool for communication, in addition to social networks. To do this, you will need a microphone (read), headphones and a web camera (for video communication), as well as an installed program on both computers of the interlocutors. It also allows you to call landlines and mobile phones, but this is no longer free. I already wrote earlier.

Programs for advanced

I showed what programs are needed for a computer in a minimal variety. For the more advanced, I recommend another package of software.

Mail client

To check their email, a person usually goes to a website, for example mail.ru, and looks at the “Inbox” folder. But it is much more convenient to use special programs - email clients, especially if you have more than one email account. The program connects to the server and downloads all mail to the computer. You can view it without browser delays, quickly switching between boxes. I recommend

On a “clean” newly installed Windows, for normal operation it is simply necessary to install many more programs, because without them, as you understand, there is nowhere. Let's try to make a small list of the most necessary programs for a computer, without which full use of a computer is simply impossible. Please note that in the article, in the description of any program there is a link to its working version
So...

The most necessary and important program is your antivirus protection.It is usually divided into 4 categories: antivirus, firewall, comprehensive protection and computer scanning programs. I prefer comprehensive protection, consisting of an antivirus + firewall. At the moment I am using one of the free ones - Avast! I would recommend using only the most proven anti-virus programs: Kaspersky, Norton, ESET(nod32), DrWeb, Avast, Panda, McAfee and other popular ones. In general, it's a matter of taste. If you don’t want to pick up some Trojan, be sure to install it!

Next we will install the archiver. Since most files on the Internet are in archives (.rar .zip .7z), we will definitely need an archiver program. I suggest using two simultaneously: WinRar and 7Zip.
Their differences can be described in one line: WinRar- a beautiful and advanced archiver, but with 7zip it’s free. Well, as a bonus - only an archiver 7zip opens archives in .7z format

Next on the list we will have disc burning program(although in recent years I have increasingly begun to doubt its need... I use discs once every 3 months). Dominates here Nero, the most popular program for burning discs (the fact that it’s paid doesn’t bother anyone). I can recommend as a free alternative ImgBurn or shareware Ashampoo Burning Studio- the functionality is less, but for its main task - burning discs - it is more than enough.

Further... we need Office. And most likely - Microsoft Office(Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.). I think there is no need to describe it - you yourself know perfectly well what it is. For lovers of free software, I can recommend Open Office or better yet LibreOffice- they are almost as good as the brainchild of Microsoft Corporation, and they work with Microsoft formats without problems.

Now we will look codecs. Why is this thing needed? And so that when watching your favorite film, you, dear readers, do not have any problems. Without them, many video and audio formats simply will not play! The most popular codec package is K-Lite Codec Pack. By the way, a very good video player is installed with it - Media Player Classic.

Video viewer necessary for any PC user. Even if you have a brand new home theater, very often you have to watch a variety of videos on your computer - from clips to video seminars. They will cope with this task perfectly KMplayer And QuickTime Player.

Listening to music- It’s simply not possible to listen to music using the standard Windows Media Player, no matter how hard the developers try... the 2 most popular players are suitable for this purpose: Winamp And AIMP. The second player consumes less resources, and is also free. But even here it’s a matter of taste and habit. For example, I use two.

I would also recommend universal players which read both video and audio files without problems: GOM Media Player And VLC media player- they read all formats and by the way they are completely free!

Also, to use the Internet you need to install Internet browser.
Why not use standard Internet Explorer so that viruses can be transmitted through it?
Download from this link

After purchasing a new computer or laptop, you will definitely need programs to solve various problems: creating text documents, watching movies, chatting with friends, etc. However, as after. Indeed, in this case, local drive C will be formatted and all files will be deleted.

What programs are needed for a computer or laptop? There are a lot of them. This article contains the most important ones - those that are installed on almost every second PC or laptop. Therefore, if you want to know what programs are needed after installing Windows, I recommend that you familiarize yourself with the list below.

For convenience, an example is given of what programs are needed for a Windows 7 computer, and in the order in which it is recommended to install them. Although all these programs are also needed for PCs and laptops running Windows 10, 8 or XP.

The first thing you need to do after setting up Windows and installing drivers is to protect your computer or laptop. That is, install an antivirus. It is not recommended to install other programs without it, as you may get a virus. And you may even have to reinstall Windows. Again.

There are more than enough antiviruses today. Free ones include:

Avast;
Avira;
Comodo Antivirus.

There is also NOD32, Dr.Web, Kaspersky Anti-Virus.

Which one is better to choose? This is a purely personal matter. Everyone chooses what they like best. Personally, I use Kaspersky Internet Security. There are no viruses, the computer works fine. In general, I have no complaints.

Browser for comfortable gatherings on the Internet

Any version of Windows already has Internet Explorer (IE) installed by default. But the question is: who uses it? It’s not for nothing that they joke on the Internet that Internet Explorer is a browser for installing other browsers. Or maybe this is not a joke at all, because in most cases it is so: IE is launched only once in its life to install another browser - Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Safari.

Which is better? And again it's a matter of taste. Therefore, choose the one you like best. Unlike antiviruses, the differences between browsers are mostly purely visual. Therefore, it is not so important what exactly you choose, the main thing is that it is convenient to use.

Office suite Microsoft Office

There is also a free competitor to OpenOffice, but it is used much less often. Perhaps for the reason that many users have not even heard of its existence.

Which version is better to use? If a computer or laptop is too weak and is designed for work, then Microsoft Office 2003 will be enough. And in order to open files in .docx and .xlsx formats (they are created in the program of new versions from 2007 and higher), you only need to additionally install a compatibility package from Microsoft.

Archivers

Typically, to transfer folders with files over a network, they are packed into an archive and then transferred to the recipient. Firstly, it’s more convenient. Secondly, archivers compress files, reducing their size. But to open such an archive, you need to install this program.

Popular archivers today:

WinRAR;
WinZip;

Each of them does an excellent job, so choose any one.

Here are the programs you need for your computer and laptop. This is the minimum set, which is enough to work and perform basic tasks.

This is clearly not enough for home use. Therefore, let’s continue our list and consider what programs are needed for the average user’s PC.

Audio and video codecs

We usually watch movies and listen to music on our home computer or laptop. And in order for all video and audio formats to open without errors, you need to install a codec package.

For example, K-Lite Code Pack is popular today. There are several versions of this program, so it is best to install the full version (“Full”).

Audio and video players

The K-Lite Code Pack also has a built-in video player - Media Player. In principle, it is enough to watch movies of any format (avi, mp4, mkv).

Alternatively, you can install KMPlayer. This is also a popular video player: simple, convenient and, perhaps, the loudest (for some users this is extremely important).

There are 2 excellent programs for listening to music - Winamp and Aimp. They are quite similar, so you can install either one. If you listen to music online (VKontakte or somewhere else), then you don’t have to install the audio player.

Programs for reading PDF files

Most often, people come across PDF files during their studies (books, essays, manuals, etc.). Sometimes they slip through at work - in the form of reports, documents, etc. To open PDF files, you can install Foxit Reader or Acrobat Reader. Both of them are free.

These 7 programs are enough for the average owner of a home computer or laptop.

And finally, let’s look at what programs will be needed after reinstalling Windows for advanced users who actively use the Internet and play games.

Messengers for communication

You can communicate with friends not only through VKontakte. One of the popular programs today is Skype (by the way, it can also be installed on a smartphone). It supports text chat, as well as voice and video calling. That is, you can call your friends and see them through a web camera.

Another popular option is ICQ. It's also ICQ. Also an excellent program for instant text messaging.

Instead of ICQ, you can also install QIP. It is simple and convenient and takes up less space than ICQ.

Disc burning programs

Discs are recorded quite rarely today, but still. Nero is considered a popular DVD burning program. If you don't use it often, you can install Nero Mini - it takes up less space.

Another option is CDBurnerXP. The program is free and also takes up little space.

Reading ISO images

For those who like to play computer games, you will need a program that can open .iso or .mdf files. After all, sometimes games are recorded in these formats. In this case, Daemon Tools or Alcohol 120% are suitable.

Direct X

Also, to be able to play games you will need the latest version of Direct X. Where can I find it? As a rule, along with any game, a set of additional software is always included, including Direct X. Therefore, when installing the game, simply check the “Install Direct X” box.

That's all. Now you know what programs you need for your computer or laptop after installing Windows. Although it is not at all necessary to install them all. Simply go through this list and select only what you need.

Let's look at the package of the most necessary software, which must certainly be present on any modern or not the most modern PC running the legendary “Seven”.

Both solutions allow you to perform comprehensive removal of programs from your computer, however, unlike its opponent, the Uninstall Tool is a paid software. However, finding a key or crack on the Internet for home use of the software is not so difficult.
As for CCleaner, this tool is also capable of removing programs installed on the system efficiently and without leaving a trace. In addition, the “software” also has a set of functions for cleaning the computer.

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